RUTLAND, Vt., Oct. 23, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CWST), a regional solid waste, recycling and resource management services company, today reported its results for the period ended September 30, 2015. 

Highlights for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015:

  • Revenues were $146.2 million for the third quarter, up $4.3 million, or 3.0%, from the same period in 2014.  Revenues year-to-date were $406.5 million, up $14.1 million, or 3.6%, from the same period in 2014.
  • Adjusted EBITDA* was $33.1 million for the third quarter, up $2.4 million, or 7.8%, from the same period in 2014.  Adjusted EBITDA year-to-date was $78.3 million, up $5.9 million, or 8.1%, from the same period in 2014.
  • Operating income for the third quarter was $12.7 million, up $2.1 million, or 19.5%, from the same period in 2014.  Operating income year-to-date was $27.2 million, up $20.7 million, or 319.5%, from the same period in 2014.
  • Free Cash Flow* for the third quarter was $0.8 million, up $7.0 million from the same period in 2014.  Free Cash Flow year-to-date was $11.6 million, up $19.8 million from the same period in 2014.
  • Overall solid waste pricing for the third quarter was up 2.9%, mainly driven by strong residential and commercial collection pricing up 5.2%.

“During our third quarter, we continued to execute well against our key strategies of increasing landfill returns, improving collection route profitability, creating incremental value through resource solutions, reducing financial and operational risks, and improving our balance sheet,” said John W. Casella, Chairman and CEO of Casella Waste Systems.  “I am pleased with the third quarter results and our continued improvement across our key operating and financial metrics.”

“As a result, we continued to expand Adjusted EBITDA margins, up roughly 100 bps year-over-year, and we used positive free cash flow generated on a year-to-date basis to repay debt during the quarter,” Casella said.  “We repurchased and permanently retired $9.7 million of our 7.75% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2019 during the quarter, demonstrating our commitment to reduce leverage and accelerate free cash flow generation by retiring our highest cost debt.  With our continued cash flow growth and debt repayment during the third quarter, we reduced our consolidated leverage ratio as defined by our ABL Revolver to 4.98x as of September 30, 2015, down from 5.43x on March 31, 2015.” 

“From an operating standpoint, our solid waste pricing programs continued to gain traction in the quarter with overall solid waste pricing up 2.9%, driven by strong residential and commercial pricing up 5.2% and higher pricing in the disposal line-of-business, with our average landfill price per ton up 3.3%,” Casella said.  “These strong pricing gains were complemented by further improvements in our operating efficiency programs with our fleet and routing programs driving lower costs.”

“We continued to have success implementing the Sustainability/Recycling Adjustment (“SRA”) fee to offset lower recycling commodity prices and driving higher returns in the recycling line-of-business,” Casella said.  “Through the third quarter we have rolled out the SRA fee to over 80% of our target collection customers.”

For the third quarter, revenues were $146.2 million, up $4.3 million, or 3.0%, from the same period in 2014, with revenue growth mainly driven by strong collection and disposal pricing, continued growth in solid waste and recycling volumes, partially offset by lower recycling commodity pricing, lower energy pricing and lower processing volumes. 

Adjusted EBITDA was $33.1 million for the quarter, up $2.4 million, or 7.8%, from the same three-month period in 2014 mainly driven by strong performance in the collection line-of-business, where strong pricing and volume growth was complemented by continued cost controls and operating efficiency programs.  Operating income was $12.7 million for the quarter, up $2.1 million from the same period in 2014.  Adjusted Operating Income* was $13.2 million, up $2.2 million from the same period in 2014. 

The company’s net income attributable to common stockholders was $2.3 million, or $0.06 per common share for the quarter, compared to net income of $1.1 million, or $0.03 per common share for the same period in 2014.  The third quarter includes $0.5 million of proxy contest costs and a $0.3 million loss on debt extinguishment, while the same period in 2014 included $0.4 million of other unusual items, primarily relating to fiscal year-end transition costs.

Free Cash Flow was $0.8 million in the quarter, as compared to ($6.3) million for the same period in 2014.  Net cash provided by operating activities was $16.6 million in the quarter, as compared to $14.8 million for the same period in 2014.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2015, revenues were $406.5 million, up $14.1 million, or 3.6%, from the same period in 2014, mainly driven by strong collection pricing and higher disposal and recycling volumes, partially offset by lower recycling commodity pricing and lower energy pricing. 

Adjusted EBITDA was $78.3 million for the nine month period, up $5.9 million from the same period in 2014.  Operating income was $27.2 million for the nine month period, up $20.7 million from the same period in 2014.  Adjusted Operating Income was $22.3 million, up $7.2 million from the same period in 2014.  The company’s net loss attributable to common stockholders was ($6.0) million, or ($0.15) per common share for the nine month period, compared to ($19.0) million, or ($0.47) per share for the same period in 2014. 

Free Cash Flow was $11.6 million for the nine month period, as compared to ($8.2) million for the same period in 2014.  Net cash provided by operating activities was $40.5 million for the nine month period, as compared to $37.3 million for the same period in 2014.

2015 Outlook

Given the solid performance for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, the company reaffirms its previously provided guidance for the year ending December 31, 2015 by estimating results in the following ranges:

  • Revenues between $525 million and $535 million;
  • Adjusted EBITDA between $103 million and $107 million; and
  • Free Cash Flow between $15 million and $19 million.

Conference call to discuss quarter

The company will host a conference call to discuss these results at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Friday, October 23, 2015.  Individuals interested in participating in the call should dial (877) 838-4153 or for international participants (720) 545-0037 at least 10 minutes before start time.  The call will also be webcast; to listen, participants should visit Casella Waste Systems’ website at http://ir.casella.com and follow the appropriate link to the webcast.

A replay of the call will be available on the company’s website, or by calling (855) 859-2056 or (404) 537-3406 (Conference ID 55444991) until 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, October 30, 2015. 

About Casella Waste Systems, Inc.

Casella Waste Systems, Inc., headquartered in Rutland, Vermont, provides solid waste management services consisting of collection, transfer, disposal, and recycling services in the northeastern United States.  For further information, investors should contact Ned Coletta, Chief Financial Officer at (802) 772-2239; media should contact Joseph Fusco, Vice President at (802) 772-2247; and anyone may visit the company’s website at http://www.casella.com.

*Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to disclosing financial results prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States (“GAAP”), the company also discloses earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, adjusted for accretion, depletion of landfill operating lease obligations, gains on asset sales, development project charge write-offs, legal settlement costs, tax settlement costs, bargain purchase gains, asset impairment charges, environmental remediation charges, severance and reorganization costs, (gains) expenses from divestiture, acquisition and financing costs, gains on the settlement of acquisition related contingent consideration, fiscal year-end transition costs, proxy contest costs, as well as impacts from divestiture transactions (“Adjusted EBITDA”), which is a non-GAAP measure. 

The company also discloses earnings before interest, taxes, adjusted for gains on asset sales, development project charge write-offs, legal settlement charges, tax settlement costs, bargain purchase gains, asset impairment charges, environmental remediation charges, severance and reorganization costs, (gains) expenses from divestiture, acquisition and financing costs, gains on the settlement of acquisition related contingent consideration, fiscal year-end transition costs, proxy contest costs, as well as impacts from divestiture transactions (“Adjusted Operating Income”), which is a non-GAAP measure. 

The company also discloses net cash provided by operating activities, less capital expenditures (excluding acquisition related capital expenditures), less payments on landfill operating lease contracts, less assets acquired through financing leases, plus proceeds from divestiture transactions, plus proceeds from the sale of property and equipment, plus proceeds from property insurance settlement, less contributions from (distributions to) noncontrolling interest holders (“Free Cash Flow”), which is a non-GAAP measure. 

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Operating Income are reconciled to net income (loss), while Free Cash Flow is reconciled to net cash provided by operating activities.

The company presents Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Operating Income, and Free Cash Flow because it considers them important supplemental measures of its performance and believes they are frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of the company’s results.  Management uses these non-GAAP measures to further understand the company’s “core operating performance.” The company believes its “core operating performance” is helpful in understanding its ongoing performance in the ordinary course of operations. The company believes that providing Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Operating Income and Free Cash Flow to investors, in addition to corresponding income statement and cash flow statement measures, affords investors the benefit of viewing its performance using the same financial metrics that the management team uses in making many key decisions and understanding how the core business and its results of operations has performed. The company further believes that providing this information allows its investors greater transparency and a better understanding of its core financial performance. In addition, the instruments governing the company’s indebtedness use EBITDA (with additional adjustments) to measure its compliance with covenants.

Non-GAAP financial measures are not in accordance with or an alternative for GAAP.  Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Operating Income, and Free Cash Flow should not be considered in isolation from or as a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with GAAP, and may be different from Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Operating Income or Free Cash Flow presented by other companies.

Safe Harbor Statement

Certain matters discussed in this press release, including, but not limited to, the statements regarding financial results, are “forward-looking statements” intended to qualify for the safe harbors from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can generally be identified as such by the context of the statements, including words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “may,” “would,” “intend,” “estimate,” “guidance” and other similar expressions, whether in the negative or affirmative. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the industry and markets in which we operate and management’s beliefs and assumptions. We cannot guarantee that we actually will achieve the financial results, plans, intentions, expectations or guidance disclosed in the forward-looking statements made. Such forward-looking statements, and all phases of our operations, involve a number of risks and uncertainties, any one or more of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in our forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include or relate to, among other things: adverse weather conditions that have negatively impacted and may continue to negatively impact our revenues and our operating margin; current economic conditions that have adversely affected and may continue to adversely affect our revenues and our operating margin; we may be unable to increase volumes at our landfills or improve our route profitability; our need to service our indebtedness may limit our ability to invest in our business; we may be unable to reduce costs or increase pricing or volumes sufficiently to achieve estimated Adjusted EBITDA and other targets; landfill operations and permit status may be affected by factors outside our control; we may be required to incur capital expenditures in excess of our estimates; fluctuations in energy pricing or the commodity pricing of our recyclables may make it more difficult for us to predict our results of operations or meet our estimates; we may incur environmental charges or asset impairments in the future; and actions of activist investors and the cost and disruption of responding to those actions;. There are a number of other important risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. These additional risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, those detailed in Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in our Form 10-KT for the transition period ended December 31, 2014 and in our Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2015.

We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES  
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS  
(Unaudited)  
(In thousands, except amounts per share)  
           
     Three Months Ended
September 30, 
   Nine Months Ended
September 30, 
 
      2015       2014       2015       2014    
                   
                   
Revenues   $   146,185     $   141,924     $   406,476     $   392,400    
                   
Operating expenses:                  
Cost of operations       99,656         98,228         286,225         281,850    
General and administration       17,448         17,211         52,324         49,192    
Depreciation and amortization       16,385         15,787         46,374         46,562    
Divestiture transactions       –          –          (5,611 )       7,455    
Development project charge       –          –          –          1,394    
Severance and reorganization costs       –          –          –          430    
Environmental remediation charge       –          75         –          75    
Expense from divestiture, acquisition and financing costs       –          –          –          24    
Gain on settlement of acquisition related contingent consideration       –          –          –          (1,058 )  
        133,489         131,301         379,312         385,924    
                   
Operating income       12,696         10,623         27,164         6,476    
                   
Other expense/(income):                  
Interest expense, net        10,031         9,440         30,096         28,439    
Loss on debt extinguishment       345         –          866         –     
Loss (gain) on derivative instruments       41         (82 )       239         366    
Income from equity method investments       –          –          –          (90 )  
Loss on sale of equity method investment       –          –          –          221    
Other income       (178 )       (204 )       (387 )       (772 )  
Other expense, net       10,239         9,154         30,814         28,164    
                   
Income (loss) before income taxes       2,457         1,469         (3,650 )       (21,688 )  
Provision for income taxes        198         229         1,112         1,060    
                   
Net income (loss)        2,259         1,240         (4,762 )       (22,748 )  
                   
 Less: Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests        (37 )       160         1,189         (3,750 )  
                   
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders    $   2,296     $   1,080     $   (5,951 )   $   (18,998 )  
                   
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding     40,810       40,313       40,560       40,074    
                   
Basic earnings per common share   $   0.06     $   0.03     $   (0.15 )   $   (0.47 )  
                   
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding     41,283       40,581       40,560       40,074    
                   
Diluted earnings per common share   $   0.06     $   0.03     $   (0.15 )   $   (0.47 )  
                   
Adjusted EBITDA    $   33,116     $   30,716     $   78,309     $   72,453    
                   

 

                 
CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES        
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS        
(In thousands)        
                 
ASSETS    September 30,
2015
  December 31,
2014
       
    (Unaudited)            
CURRENT ASSETS:                
Cash and cash equivalents   $   2,019     $   2,205          
Restricted cash       –         76          
Accounts receivable – trade, net of allowance for doubtful accounts       63,835         55,750          
Other current assets       19,902         20,638          
Total current assets       85,756         78,669          
                 
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization       397,378         414,542          
Goodwill       118,976         119,170          
Intangible assets, net       9,842         11,808          
Restricted assets       5,283         6,632          
Cost method investments       14,115         14,432          
Other non-current assets       29,315         24,542          
                 
Total assets   $   660,665     $   669,795          
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT                
                 
CURRENT LIABILITIES:                
Current maturities of long-term debt and capital leases   $   1,306     $   1,656          
Accounts payable       50,106         48,518          
Other accrued liabilities       29,485         36,258          
Total current liabilities       80,897         86,432          
                 
Long-term debt and capital leases, less current maturities       530,439         534,055          
Other long-term liabilities       64,885         61,328          
                 
Total stockholders’ deficit       (15,556 )       (12,020 )        
                 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit   $   660,665     $   669,795          
                 

 

                 
CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES        
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS        
(Unaudited)        
(In thousands)        
             
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
       
      2015       2014        
                 
 Cash Flows from Operating Activities:                 
 Net loss    $   (4,762 )   $   (22,748 )        
 Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities –                 
 Gain on sale of property and equipment        (137 )       (349 )        
 Depletion of landfill operating lease obligations        7,019         8,104          
 Interest accretion on landfill and environmental remediation liabilities        2,572         2,655          
 Stock-based compensation expense        2,325         1,740          
 Depreciation and amortization        46,374         46,562          
 Divestiture transactions        (5,611 )       7,455          
 Development project charge        –         1,394          
 Gain on settlement of acquisition related contingent consideration        –         (1,058 )        
 Amortization of discount of long-term debt        269         190          
 Loss on debt extinguishment        866         –          
 Loss on derivative instruments        239         366          
 Income from equity method investments       –         (90 )        
 Loss on sale of equity method investment       –         221          
 Excess tax benefit on the vesting of share based awards        (179 )       (14 )        
 Deferred income taxes        627         901          
 Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and divestitures        (9,072 )       (8,065 )        
 Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities        40,530         37,264          
 Cash Flows from Investing Activities:                 
 Acquisitions, net of cash acquired        –         (62 )        
 Acquisition related additions to property, plant and equipment        –         (266 )        
 Additions to property, plant and equipment        (31,038 )       (43,014 )        
 Payments on landfill operating lease contracts        (2,956 )       (3,017 )        
 Proceeds from divestiture transactions        5,335         –          
 Proceeds from sale of property and equipment        636         559          
 Proceeds from sale of equity method investment        –         597          
 Proceeds from property insurance settlement        546         –          
 Payments related to investments        –         (84 )        
 Net Cash Used In Investing Activities        (27,477 )       (45,287 )        
 Cash Flows from Financing Activities:                 
 Proceeds from long-term borrowings        296,929         134,560          
 Principal payments on long-term debt        (301,220 )       (126,713 )        
 Change in restricted cash        1,319         –          
 Payments of financing costs        (8,991 )       (24 )        
 Payment of redemption premium on long-term debt        (121 )       –          
 Proceeds from the exercise of share based awards        161         286          
 Excess tax benefit on the vesting of share based awards        179         14          
 Distribution to noncontrolling interest holder        (1,495 )       –          
 Net Cash (Used In) Provided By Financing Activities        (13,239 )       8,123          
 Net Cash Provided By Discontinued Operations        –         263          
 Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents        (186 )       363          
 Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period        2,205         2,695          
 Cash and cash equivalents, end of period    $   2,019     $   3,058          
                 
 Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information:                 
 Cash interest    $   33,364     $   32,495          
 Cash income taxes, net of refunds    $   31     $   28          
                 
 Supplemental Disclosures of Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities:                 
 Receivable due from noncontrolling interest holder    $   –     $   152          
                 
                 
                 

 

CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES  
RECONCILIATION OF CERTAIN NON-GAAP MEASURES  
(Unaudited)  
(In thousands)  
         
                   
Following is a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Operating Income to Net Income (Loss):        
                   
     Three Months Ended
September 30, 
   Nine Months Ended
September 30, 
 
      2015       2014       2015       2014    
                   
Net Income (Loss)    $    2,259     $    1,240     $    (4,762 )   $    (22,748 )  
Provision for income taxes       198         229         1,112         1,060    
Other expense (income), net       208         (286 )       718         (275 )  
Interest expense, net       10,031         9,440         30,096         28,439    
Gain on settlement of acquisition related contingent consideration       –         –         –         (1,058 )  
Expense from divestiture, acquisition and financing costs       –         –         –         24    
Severance and reorganization costs       –         –         –         430    
Environmental remediation charge       –         75             75    
Development project charge       –         –         –         1,394    
Divestiture transactions       –         –         (5,611 )       7,455    
Depreciation and amortization       16,385         15,787         46,374         46,562    
Fiscal year-end transition costs       –         336         –         336    
Proxy contest costs       507         –         791         –    
Depletion of landfill operating lease obligations       2,660         3,066         7,019         8,104    
Interest accretion on landfill and environmental remediation liabilities       868         829         2,572         2,655    
Adjusted EBITDA    $    33,116     $    30,716     $    78,309     $    72,453    
 Depreciation and amortization        (16,385 )       (15,787 )       (46,374 )       (46,562 )  
 Depletion of landfill operating lease obligations        (2,660 )       (3,066 )       (7,019 )       (8,104 )  
 Interest accretion on landfill and environmental remediation liabilities        (868 )       (829 )       (2,572 )       (2,655 )  
Adjusted Operating Income    $    13,203     $    11,034     $    22,344     $    15,132    
                   
Following is a reconciliation of Free Cash Flow to Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities:        
         
    Three Months Ended
September 30,
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
      2015       2014       2015       2014    
Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities   $    16,641     $    14,818     $    40,530     $    37,264    
Capital expenditures (i)       (14,727 )       (19,709 )       (31,038 )       (43,014 )  
Payments on landfill operating lease contracts       (1,531 )       (1,491 )       (2,956 )       (3,017 )  
Proceeds from divestiture transactions       –          –          5,335         –     
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment       377         111         636         559    
Proceeds from property insurance settlement       –          –          546         –     
Distribution to noncontrolling interest holder       –          –          (1,495 )       –     
Free Cash Flow    $    760     $    (6,271 )   $    11,558     $    (8,208 )  
                   

 

CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES    
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA TABLES    
(Unaudited)    
(In thousands)    
                       
  Amounts of our total revenues attributable to services provided for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 are as follows:    
                       
      Three Months Ended September 30,    
        2015     % of Total
Revenue
    2014     % of Total
Revenue
   
  Collection    $   63,588       43.5 %   $   60,648       42.7 %    
  Disposal       43,168       29.5 %       39,561       27.9 %    
  Power generation       1,694       1.2 %       1,902       1.3 %    
  Processing       1,866       1.3 %       2,818       2.0 %    
  Solid waste operations       110,316       75.5 %       104,929       73.9 %    
  Organics       9,753       6.6 %       10,130       7.1 %    
  Customer solutions       13,416       9.2 %       13,559       9.6 %    
  Recycling       12,700       8.7 %       13,306       9.4 %    
  Total revenues   $    146,185       100.0 %   $    141,924       100.0 %    
                       
      Nine Months Ended September 30,    
        2015     % of Total
Revenue
    2014     % of Total
Revenue
   
  Collection    $   177,550       43.7 %   $   171,559       43.7 %    
  Disposal       114,999       28.3 %       101,764       25.9 %    
  Power generation       5,305       1.3 %       7,249       1.8 %    
  Processing       4,652       1.1 %       7,343       1.9 %    
  Solid waste operations       302,506       74.4 %       287,915       73.3 %    
  Organics       29,619       7.3 %       30,121       7.7 %    
  Customer solutions       39,895       9.8 %       38,718       9.9 %    
  Recycling       34,456       8.5 %       35,646       9.1 %    
  Total revenues   $    406,476       100.0 %   $    392,400       100.0 %    
                       
  Components of revenue growth for the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2014 are as follows:    
       
      Amount   % of Related
Business
  % of Solid Waste
Operations
  % of Total
Company
   
  Solid Waste Operations:                    
  Collection   $   2,624       4.3 %     2.5 %     1.8 %    
  Disposal       459       1.2 %     0.4 %     0.3 %    
  Solid Waste Yield       3,083           2.9 %     2.1 %    
                       
  Collection       605           0.6 %     0.4 %    
  Disposal       3,225           3.0 %     2.3 %    
  Processing        (644 )         -0.6 %     -0.5 %    
  Solid Waste Volume       3,186           3.0 %     2.2 %    
                       
  Fuel surcharge       (176 )         -0.2 %     -0.1 %    
  Commodity price & volume       (509 )         -0.5 %     -0.3 %    
  Acquisitions, net divestitures       (133 )         -0.1 %     -0.1 %    
  Closed landfill        (64 )         -0.1 %     0.0 %    
  Total Solid Waste       5,387           5.0 %     3.8 %    
                       
  Organics       (377 )             -0.3 %    
                       
  Customer Solutions       (143 )             -0.1 %    
                       
  Recycling Operations:           % of Recycling
Operations
       
  Commodity price       (1,390 )         -10.4 %     -1.0 %    
  Commodity volume       784           5.9 %     0.6 %    
  Total Recycling       (606 )         -4.5 %     -0.4 %    
                       
  Total Company   $    4,261               3.0 %    
                       
  Solid Waste Internalization Rates by Region for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 are as follows:        
                       
      Three Months Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30,    
        2015       2014       2015       2014      
  Eastern region     57.5 %     54.7 %     50.6 %     53.5 %    
  Western region     70.9 %     80.5 %     72.2 %     78.7 %    
  Solid waste internalization     63.8 %     67.3 %     60.8 %     65.8 %    
     
  Components of Capital Expenditures for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 are as follows (i):    
                       
      Three Months Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30,    
        2015       2014       2015       2014      
  Total Growth Capital Expenditures   $    938     $    4,025     $    3,387     $    8,703      
                       
  Replacement Capital Expenditures:                    
  Landfill development   $   6,334     $   7,021     $   11,952     $   16,824      
  Vehicles, machinery, equipment and containers     6,330         7,866         13,037         15,432      
  Facilities       659         619         1,162         1,453      
  Other       466         178         1,500         602      
  Total Replacement Capital Expenditures   $    13,789     $    15,684     $    27,651     $    34,311      
                       
  Total Growth and Replacement Capital Expenditures $    14,727     $    19,709     $    31,038     $    43,014      
                       
  (i) Our capital expenditures are broadly defined as pertaining to either growth, replacement or acquisition activities. Growth capital expenditures are defined as costs related to development of new airspace, permit expansions, and new recycling contracts along with incremental costs of equipment and infrastructure added to further such activities. Growth capital expenditures include the cost of equipment added directly as a result of organic business growth as well as expenditures associated with adding infrastructure to increase throughput at transfer stations and recycling facilities. Replacement capital expenditures are defined as landfill cell construction costs not related to expansion airspace, costs for normal permit renewals, and replacement costs for equipment due to age or obsolescence. Acquisition capital expenditures, which are not included in the table above, are defined as costs of equipment added directly as a result of new business growth related to an acquisition.     

 

CONTACT: Investors:
Ned Coletta
Chief Financial Officer 
(802) 772-2239

Media:
Joseph Fusco
Vice President 
(802) 772-2247

http://www.casella.com