Edgar Filing: US ECOLOGY, INC.

ecol_Current folio_10Q

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

☒QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2018

☐TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO Section 13 or 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from to .

Commission file number: 0000-11688

US ECOLOGY, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware		95-3889638
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
organization)

101 S. Capitol Blvd., Suite 1000
Boise, Idaho		83702
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (208) 331-8400

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.


Large accelerated filer ☒	Accelerated filer ☐	Non-accelerated filer ☐	Smaller reporting company ☐	Emerging growth company ☐

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ☐ No ☒

At May 2, 2018, there were 21,931,488 shares of the registrant’s Common Stock outstanding.

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US ECOLOGY, INC.

FORM 10-Q

TABLE OF CONTENTS


Item		Page

	PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

1.	Financial Statements (Unaudited)	3

	Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017	3

	Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017	4

	Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017	5

	Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017	6

	Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements	7

	Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm	23

2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	24
3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	34
4.	Controls and Procedures	35

	PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

	Cautionary Statement	36
1.	Legal Proceedings	36
1A.	Risk Factors	37
2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	37
3.	Defaults Upon Senior Securities	37
4.	Mine Safety Disclosures	37
5.	Other Information	37
6.	Exhibits	38
	SIGNATURE	39

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PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

US ECOLOGY, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except par value amount)


	March 31, 2018		December 31, 2017
Assets
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	44,251	$	27,042
Receivables, net		95,642		110,777
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		9,943		9,138
Income taxes receivable		565		—
Total current assets		150,401		146,957

Property and equipment, net		232,352		234,432
Restricted cash and investments		5,793		5,802
Intangible assets, net		219,806		222,812
Goodwill		188,883		189,373
Other assets		3,850		2,700
Total assets	$	801,085	$	802,076

Liabilities And Stockholders’ Equity

Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	11,380	$	14,868
Deferred revenue		8,793		8,532
Accrued liabilities		20,715		22,888
Accrued salaries and benefits		11,763		14,242
Income taxes payable		3,149		2,970
Current portion of closure and post-closure obligations		2,333		2,330
Total current liabilities		58,133		65,830

Long-term closure and post-closure obligations		74,490		73,758
Long-term debt		277,000		277,000
Other long-term liabilities		3,082		3,828
Deferred income taxes, net		58,233		57,583
Total liabilities		470,938		477,999

Commitments and contingencies

Stockholders’ Equity:
Common stock $0.01 par value, 50,000 authorized; 21,931 and 21,849 shares issued, respectively		219		218
Additional paid-in capital		178,840		177,498
Retained earnings		160,838		155,533
Treasury stock, at cost, 8 and 3 shares, respectively		(370)		(68)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(9,380)		(9,104)
Total stockholders’ equity		330,147		324,077
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	801,085	$	802,076

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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US ECOLOGY, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except per share amounts)


	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2018		2017
Revenue	$	120,059	$	110,234
Direct operating costs		84,388		78,361
Gross profit		35,671		31,873
Selling, general and administrative expenses		22,232		19,714
Operating income		13,439		12,159
Other income (expense):
Interest income		24		10
Interest expense		(2,809)		(4,130)
Foreign currency gain (loss)		(14)		88
Other		2,123		137
Total other expense		(676)		(3,895)

Income before income taxes		12,763		8,264
Income tax expense		3,520		3,079
Net income	$	9,243	$	5,185

Earnings per share:
Basic	$	0.42	$	0.24
Diluted	$	0.42	$	0.24

Shares used in earnings per share calculation:
Basic		21,801		21,725
Diluted		21,957		21,845
Dividends paid per share	$	0.18	$	0.18

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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US ECOLOGY, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Unaudited)

(In thousands)


	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2018		2017
Net income	$	9,243	$	5,185
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)		(1,871)		439
Net changes in interest rate hedge, net of taxes of $425 and $288, respectively		1,595		534
Comprehensive income, net of tax	$	8,967	$	6,158

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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US ECOLOGY, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

(In thousands)


	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2018		2017
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	9,243	$	5,185
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment		6,605		6,633
Amortization of intangible assets		2,302		2,670
Accretion of closure and post-closure obligations		1,074		1,073
Unrealized foreign currency loss (gain)		654		(168)
Deferred income taxes		450		179
Share-based compensation expense		1,068		918
Net loss on disposition of assets		17		219
Amortization and write-off of debt issuance costs		202		504
Amortization and write-off of debt discount		—		37
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Receivables		14,947		2,991
Income taxes receivable		(573)		2,045
Other assets		(792)		(417)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		(4,163)		(2,577)
Deferred revenue		301		2,037
Accrued salaries and benefits		(2,432)		(124)
Income taxes payable		215		(61)
Closure and post-closure obligations		(288)		(271)
Net cash provided by operating activities		28,830		20,873

Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment		(7,558)		(7,151)
Purchases of restricted investments		(498)		(2)
Proceeds from sale of restricted investments		417		—
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment		42		40
Net cash used in investing activities		(7,597)		(7,113)

Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments on long-term debt		—		(4,726)
Payments on short-term borrowings		—		(13,438)
Proceeds from short-term borrowings		—		11,260
Dividends paid		(3,937)		(3,923)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options		731		496
Payment of equipment financing obligations		(108)		(85)
Other		(313)		(74)
Net cash used in financing activities		(3,627)		(10,490)

Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash		(488)		29

Increase in Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash		17,118		3,299
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period		28,799		8,722
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	$	45,917	$	12,021

Reconciliation of Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		27,042		7,015
Restricted cash at beginning of period		1,757		1,707
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	$	28,799	$	8,722
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		44,251		10,309
Restricted cash at end of period		1,666		1,712
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	$	45,917	$	12,021
Supplemental Disclosures:
Income taxes paid, net of receipts	$	3,429	$	886
Interest paid	$	2,554	$	3,618
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Capital expenditures in accounts payable	$	245	$	1,766
Restricted stock issued from treasury shares	$	11	$	—

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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US ECOLOGY, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

NOTE 1. GENERAL

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include the results of operations, financial position and cash flows of US Ecology, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All inter-company balances have been eliminated. Throughout these financial statements words such as “we,” “us,” “our,” “US Ecology” and “the Company” refer to US Ecology, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly, in all material respects, the results of the Company for the periods presented. These consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) have been omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the entire year ending December 31, 2018.

The Company’s consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2017 has been derived from the Company’s audited consolidated balance sheet as of that date.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ materially from the estimates and assumptions that we use in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements. As it relates to estimates and assumptions in amortization rates and environmental obligations, significant engineering, operations and accounting judgments are required. We review these estimates and assumptions no less than annually. In many circumstances, the ultimate outcome of these estimates and assumptions will not be known for decades into the future. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates and assumptions due to changes in applicable regulations, changes in future operational plans and inherent imprecision associated with estimating environmental impacts far into the future.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2018-02, Income Statement-Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220). This ASU amends the guidance in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 220 on the reclassification of certain tax effects from accumulated other comprehensive income. The primary purpose of the ASU is to address industry concerns related to the application of ASC 740 to certain provisions of the new tax reform legislation also known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “Tax Act”). An entity will apply this guidance to each period in which the effect of the Tax Act (or portion thereof) is recorded and may apply it either (1) retrospectively as of the date of enactment or (2) as of the beginning of the period of adoption. The Company plans to adopt this pronouncement in the second half of 2018 and does not expect the impact on its consolidated financial statements to be material.

In January 2018, the FASB released guidance on the accounting for tax on the global intangible low-taxed income (“GILTI”) provisions of the Tax Act. The GILTI provisions impose a tax on foreign income in excess of a deemed return on tangible assets of foreign corporations. Because of the complexity of the new GILTI tax rules, we are continuing to

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evaluate this provision of the Tax Act and the application of ASC 740. Under GAAP, we are allowed to make an accounting policy choice of either (1) treating taxes due on future U.S. inclusions in taxable income related to GILTI as a current-period expense when incurred (the “period cost method”) or (2) factoring such amounts into a company’s measurement of its deferred taxes (the “deferred method”). Our selection of an accounting policy with respect to the new GILTI tax rules will depend, in part, on analyzing our global income to determine whether we expect to have future U.S. inclusions in taxable income related to GILTI and, if so, what the impact is expected to be. Whether we expect to have future U.S. inclusions in taxable income related to GILTI depends on not only our current structure and estimated future results of global operations but also our intent and ability to modify our structure and/or our business. We are not yet able to reasonably estimate the effect of this provision of the Tax Act. Therefore, we have not made any adjustments related to potential GILTI tax in our consolidated financial statements and have not made a policy decision regarding whether to record deferred taxes on GILTI.

On December 22, 2017, the Tax Act was signed into law making significant changes to the Internal Revenue Code. Changes include, but are not limited to, a corporate tax rate decrease from 35% to 21% effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017, the transition of U.S. international taxation from a worldwide tax system to a territorial system, and a one-time transition tax on the mandatory deemed repatriation of cumulative foreign earnings as of December 31, 2017.

On December 22, 2017, the SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 (“SAB 118”), which provides guidance on accounting for the tax effects of the Tax Act. SAB 118 provides a measurement period that should not extend beyond one year from the Tax Act enactment date for companies to complete the accounting under ASC 740. In accordance with SAB 118, a company must reflect the income tax effects of those aspects of the Tax Act for which the accounting under ASC 740 is complete. To the extent that a company’s accounting for certain income tax effects of the Tax Act is incomplete but it is able to determine a reasonable estimate, it must record a provisional estimate in the financial statements. If a company cannot determine a provisional estimate to be included in the financial statements, it should continue to apply ASC 740 on the basis of the provisions of the tax laws that were in effect immediately before the enactment of the Tax Act. Where the Company was able to make reasonable estimates of the effects of elements for which the analysis is not yet complete, the Company has recorded provisional amounts. For the three months ended March 31, 2018, the Company did not obtain additional information affecting the provisional amounts initially recorded. Any subsequent adjustment to these amounts will be recorded to current tax expense in the quarter of 2018 when the analysis is complete.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, Restricted Cash (Topic 230). This ASU amends the guidance in ASC 230 to add or clarify guidance on the classification and presentation of restricted cash in the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-18 is based on the Emerging Issues Task Force’s consensuses reached on Issue 16-A. The guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company adopted ASU 2016-18 as of January 1, 2018 using the retrospective adoption method. Restricted cash is now included with Cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period amounts presented in the Company’s consolidated statements of cash flows.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Statements of Cash Flows (Topic 230). This ASU amends the guidance in ASC 230 on the classification of certain cash receipts and payments in the statement of cash flows. The primary purpose of the ASU is to reduce the diversity in practice that has resulted from the lack of consistent principles on this topic. The guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company adopted ASU 2016-15 as of January 1, 2018 using the retrospective adoption method. The only provision applicable to the Company relates to the treatment of proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims in connection with damaged property and equipment. There was no related impact on the classification of insurance settlement proceeds in the Company’s consolidated statements of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The ASU significantly changes the accounting model used by lessees to account for leases, requiring that all material leases be presented on the balance sheet. Lessees will recognize substantially all leases on the balance sheet as a right-of-use asset and a corresponding lease liability. The liability will be equal to the present value of lease payments. The asset will be based on the liability, subject to adjustment, such as for initial direct costs. The guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The guidance must be applied using the modified retrospective approach. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently

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assessing the impact the adoption of ASU 2016-02 may have on our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which provides guidance for revenue recognition. The ASU’s core principle is that a company will recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The Company adopted Topic 606 as of January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective transition method. See Note 2 for additional information.

NOTE 2. REVENUES

Adoption of ASC Topic 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”

As of January 1, 2018, we adopted Topic 606 using the modified retrospective method applied to those contracts which were not completed as of January 1, 2018. Results for reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2018 are presented under Topic 606, while prior period amounts are not adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with our historic accounting under Revenue Recognition (Topic 605).

Adoption of the guidance did not materially affect the timing or amount of revenue recognized, and no cumulative effect adjustment was recognized as a result of initially applying Topic 606.

Revenue Recognition

Revenues are recognized when control of the promised services is transferred to our customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to in exchange for those services.

We recognize revenue from three primary sources: 1) waste treatment, recycling and disposal services, 2) field and industrial waste management services, and 3) waste transportation services.

Our waste treatment and disposal customers are legally obligated to properly treat and dispose of their waste in accordance with local, state, and federal laws and regulations. As our customers do not possess the resources to properly treat and dispose of their waste independently, they contract with the Company to perform the services. Waste treatment, recycling, and disposal revenue results primarily from fixed fees charged to customers for treatment and/or disposal or recycling of specified wastes. Waste treatment, recycling, and disposal revenue is generally charged on a per-ton or per-yard basis based on contracted prices and is recognized over time as the services are performed. Our treatment and disposal services are generally performed as the waste is received and considered complete upon final disposal.

Field and industrial waste management services revenue results primarily from specialty onsite services such as high-pressure cleaning, tank cleaning, decontamination, remediation, transportation, spill cleanup and emergency response at refineries, chemical plants, steel and automotive plants, and other government, commercial and industrial facilities. We also provide hazardous waste packaging and collection services and total waste management solutions at customer sites and through our 10-day transfer facilities. These services are provided based on purchase orders or agreements with the customer and include prices based upon daily, hourly or job rates for equipment, materials and personnel. Generally, the pricing in these types of contracts is fixed, but the quantity of services to be provided during the contract term is variable and revenues are recognized over the term of the agreements or as services are performed. As we have a right to consideration from our customers in an amount that corresponds directly with the value to the customer of the Company’s performance completed to date, we have applied the practical expedient to recognize revenue in the amount to which we have the right to invoice. Revenue is recognized on contracts with retainage when services have been performed and it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized on the contracts will not occur.

Transportation and logistics revenue results from delivering customer waste to a disposal facility for treatment and/or disposal or recycling. Transportation services are generally not provided on a stand-alone basis and instead are bundled with other Company services. However, in some instances we provide transportation and logistics services for shipment of waste from cleanup sites to disposal facilities operated by other companies. For such arrangements, we allocate revenue

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to each performance obligation based on its relative standalone selling price. We generally determine standalone selling prices based on the prices charged to customer or using expected cost plus margin. Transportation revenue is recognized over time as the waste is transported.

Taxes and fees collected from customers concurrent with revenue-producing transactions to be remitted to governmental authorities are excluded from revenue.

Our operations are managed in two reportable segments, Environmental Services and Field & Industrial Services, reflecting our internal reporting structure and nature of services offered. The operations not managed through our two reportable segments are recorded as Corporate. See Note 15 for additional information.

The following table presents our revenue disaggregated by our reportable segments and service lines:


	Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
			Field &
	Environmental		Industrial
$s in thousands	Services		Services		Total
Treatment & Disposal Revenue (1)	$	72,301	$	2,737	$	75,038
Services Revenue:
Transportation and Logistics (2)		14,170		5,697		19,867
Industrial Cleaning (3)		—		3,505		3,505
Technical Services (4)		—		20,405		20,405
Remediation (5)		—		353		353
Other (6)		—		891		891
Revenue	$	86,471	$	33,588	$	120,059


	Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
			Field &
	Environmental		Industrial
$s in thousands	Services		Services		Total
Treatment & Disposal Revenue (1)	$	68,703	$	2,637	$	71,340
Services Revenue:
Transportation and Logistics (2)		12,600		5,320		17,920
Industrial Cleaning (3)		—		4,219		4,219
Technical Services (4)		—		15,662		15,662
Remediation (5)		—		606		606
Other (6)		—		487		487
Revenue	$	81,303	$	28,931	$	110,234

(1)

We categorize our treatment and disposal revenue as either “Base Business” or “Event Business” based on the underlying nature of the revenue source. We define Event Business as non-recurring projects that are expected to equal or exceed 1,000 tons, with Base Business defined as all other business not meeting the definition of Event Business. For the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, approximately 17% and 16%, respectively, of our treatment and disposal revenue was derived from Event Business projects. Base Business revenue was approximately 83% and 84% of our treatment and disposal revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

(2)

Includes such services as collection and transportation of non-hazardous and hazardous waste.

(3)

Includes such services as industrial cleaning and maintenance for refineries, chemical plants, steel and automotive plants, and refinery services such as tank cleaning and temporary storage.

(4)

Includes such services as total waste management programs, retail services, laboratory packing, less-than-truck-load service and household hazardous waste collection. Contracts for Technical Services may extend beyond one year and a portion of the transactions price can be fixed.

(5)

Includes such services as site assessment, onsite treatment, project management and remedial action planning and execution. Contracts for Remediation may extend beyond one year and a portion of the transaction price can be fixed.

(6)

Includes such services as emergency response and marine.

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We provide services in the United States and Canada. The following table presents our revenue disaggregated by our reportable segments and geographic location where the underlying services were performed:


	Three Months Ended March 31, 2018						Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
			Field &						Field &
	Environmental		Industrial				Environmental		Industrial
$s in thousands	Services		Services		Total		Services		Services		Total
United States	$	74,986	$	33,588	$	108,574	$	67,261	$	28,931	$	96,192
Canada		11,485		—		11,485		14,042		—		14,042
Total revenue	$	86,471	$	33,588	$	120,059	$	81,303	$	28,931	$	110,234

Deferred Revenue

We record deferred revenues when cash payments are received, or advance billings are charged, prior to performance of services. Deferred revenues include waste that has been received but not yet treated or disposed, which are recognized when services are performed. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, we recognized $6.3 million in revenues that were included in the deferred revenue balance at the beginning of the period.

Receivables

Our receivables include invoiced and unbilled amounts where the Company has an unconditional right to payment.

Principal versus Agent Considerations

The Company commonly contracts with third-parties to perform certain waste-related services that we have promised in our customer contracts. We consider ourselves the principal in these arrangements as we direct the timing, nature and pricing of the services ultimately provided by the third-party to the customer.

Costs to obtain a contract

The Company pays sales commissions to employees, which qualify as costs to obtain a contract. Sales commissions are expensed as incurred as the commissions are earned by the employee and paid by the Company over time as the related revenue is recognized.

Practical Expedients and Optional Exemptions

Our payment terms may vary based on type of service or customer; however, we do not adjust the promised amount of consideration in our contracts for the time value of money as payment terms extended to our customers do not exceed one year and are not considered a significant financing component in our contracts.

We do not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations as contracts with an original expected length of more than one year and contracts for which we do not recognize revenue at the amount to which we have the right to invoice for services performed is insignificant and the aggregate amount of fixed consideration allocated to unsatisfied performance obligations is not material.

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NOTE 3. ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

Changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“AOCI”) consisted of the following:


	Foreign		Unrealized Gain
	Currency		(Loss) on Interest
$s in thousands	Translation		Rate Hedge		Total
Balance at December 31, 2017	$	(8,603)	$	(501)	$	(9,104)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications, net of tax		(1,871)		1,382		(489)
Amounts reclassified out of AOCI, net of tax (1)		—		213		213
Other comprehensive income, net		(1,871)		1,595		(276)
Balance at March 31, 2018	$	(10,474)	$	1,094	$	(9,380)

(1)

Before-tax reclassifications of $273,000 ($213,000 after-tax) and $740,000 ($481,000 after-tax) for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, were included in Interest expense in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. Amounts relate to the Company’s interest rate swap which is designated as a cash flow hedge. Changes in fair value of the swap recognized in AOCI are reclassified to interest expense when hedged interest payments on the underlying long-term debt are made. Amounts in AOCI expected to be recognized in interest expense over the next 12 months total approximately $1.1 million ($862,000 after-tax).

NOTE 4. CONCENTRATIONS AND CREDIT RISK

Major Customers

No customer accounted for more than 10% of total revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2018 or 2017. No customer accounted for more than 10% of total trade receivables as of March 31, 2018 or December 31, 2017.

Credit Risk Concentration

We maintain most of our cash and cash equivalents with nationally recognized financial institutions. Substantially all balances are uninsured and are not used as collateral for other obligations. Concentrations of credit risk on accounts receivable are believed to be limited due to the number, diversification and character of the obligors and our credit evaluation process.

NOTE 5. RECEIVABLES

Receivables consisted of the following:


	March 31,		December 31,
$s in thousands	2018		2017
Trade	$	78,622	$	96,760
Unbilled revenue		18,640		16,176
Other		1,265		637
Total receivables		98,527		113,573
Allowance for doubtful accounts		(2,885)		(2,796)
Receivables, net	$	95,642	$	110,777

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NOTE 6. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Assets and liabilities recorded at fair value are categorized using defined hierarchical levels directly related to the amount of subjectivity associated with the inputs to fair value measurements, as follows:

Level 1 - Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

Level 2 - Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are either directly or indirectly observable;

Level 3 - Unobservable inputs in which little or no market activity exists, requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions that market participants would use to value the asset or liability.

The Company’s financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, restricted cash and investments, accounts payable, accrued liabilities, debt and interest rate swap agreements. The estimated fair value of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate their carrying value due to the short-term nature of these instruments.

The Company estimates the fair value of its variable-rate debt using Level 2 inputs, such as interest rates, related terms and maturities of similar obligations. At March 31, 2018, the carrying value of the Company’s variable-rate debt approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of the interest rates.

The Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis consisted of the following:


	March 31, 2018
	Quoted Prices in		Other Observable		Unobservable
	Active Markets		Inputs		Inputs
$s in thousands	(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)		Total
Assets:
Fixed-income securities (1)	$	1,385	$	2,742	$	—	$	4,127
Money market funds (2)		1,666		—		—		1,666
Interest rate swap agreement (3)		—		1,385		—		1,385
Total	$	3,051	$	4,127	$	—	$	7,178


	December 31, 2017
	Quoted Prices in		Other Observable		Unobservable
	Active Markets		Inputs		Inputs
$s in thousands	(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)		Total
Assets:
Fixed-income securities (1)	$	1,396	$	2,649	$	—	$	4,045
Money market funds (2)		1,757		—		—		1,757
Total	$	3,153	$	2,649	$	—	$	5,802

Liabilities:
Interest rate swap agreement (3)	$	—	$	638	$	—	$	638
Total	$	—	$	638	$	—	$	638

(1)

We invest a portion of our Restricted cash and investments in fixed-income securities, including U.S. Treasury and U.S. agency securities. We measure the fair value of U.S. Treasury securities using quoted prices for identical assets in active markets. We measure the fair value of U.S. agency securities using observable market activity for similar assets. The fair value of our fixed-income securities approximates our cost basis in the investments.

(2)

We invest a portion of our Restricted cash and investments in money market funds. We measure the fair value of these money market fund investments using quoted prices for identical assets in active markets. Money market funds are

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considered restricted cash for purposes of reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period amounts presented in the Company’s consolidated statements of cash flows.

(3)

In order to manage interest rate exposure, we entered into an interest rate swap agreement in October 2014 that effectively converts a portion of our variable-rate debt to a fixed interest rate. The swap is designated as a cash flow hedge, with gains and losses deferred in other comprehensive income to be recognized as an adjustment to interest expense in the same period that the hedged interest payments affect earnings. The interest rate swap has an effective date of December 31, 2014 with an initial notional amount of $250.0 million. The fair value of the interest rate swap agreement represents the difference in the present value of cash flows calculated at the contracted interest rates and at current market interest rates at the end of the period. We calculate the fair value of the interest rate swap agreement quarterly based on the quoted market price for the same or similar financial instruments. The fair value of the interest rate swap agreement is included in Other assets and Other long-term liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.

NOTE 7. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

Property and equipment consisted of the following:


	March 31,		December 31,
$s in thousands	2018		2017
Cell development costs	$	143,749	$	142,144
Land and improvements		37,038		36,499
Buildings and improvements		87,494		87,034
Railcars		17,299		17,299
Vehicles and other equipment		125,539		122,697
Construction in progress		21,025		23,334
Total property and equipment		432,144		429,007
Accumulated depreciation and amortization		(199,792)		(194,575)
Property and equipment, net	$	232,352	$	234,432

Depreciation and amortization expense for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 was $6.6 million, respectively.

NOTE 8. GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Changes in goodwill for the three months ended March 31, 2018 consisted of the following:


					Field &
	Environmental				Industrial
	Services				Services
			Accumulated				Accumulated
$s in thousands	Gross		Impairment		Gross		Impairment		Total
Balance at December 31, 2017	$	150,699	$	(5,457)	$	44,131	$	—	$	189,373
Foreign currency translation and other adjustments		(490)		—		—		—		(490)
Balance at March 31, 2018	$	150,209	$	(5,457)	$	44,131	$	—	$	188,883

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Intangible assets, net consisted of the following:


	March 31, 2018						December 31, 2017
			Accumulated						Accumulated
$s in thousands	Cost		Amortization		Net		Cost		Amortization		Net
Amortizing intangible assets:
Permits, licenses and lease	$	111,219	$	(12,990)	$	98,229	$	111,818	$	(12,459)	$	99,359
Customer relationships		84,871		(21,530)		63,341		84,977		(20,168)		64,809
Technology - formulae and processes		7,055		(1,643)		5,412		7,250		(1,630)		5,620
Customer backlog		3,652		(1,383)		2,269		3,652		(1,291)		2,361
Tradename		4,318		(4,318)		—		4,318		(4,318)		—
Developed software		2,918		(1,385)		1,533		2,926		(1,319)		1,607
Non-compete agreements		748		(748)		—		748		(748)		—
Internet domain and website		540		(108)		432		540		(100)		440
Database		391		(157)		234		393		(153)		240
Total amortizing intangible assets		215,712		(44,262)		171,450		216,622		(42,186)		174,436
Nonamortizing intangible assets:
Permits and licenses		48,224		—		48,224		48,241		—		48,241
Tradename		132		—		132		135		—		135
Total intangible assets	$	264,068	$	(44,262)	$	219,806	$	264,998	$	(42,186)	$	222,812

Amortization expense for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 was $2.3 million and $2.7 million, respectively. Foreign intangible asset carrying amounts are affected by foreign currency translation.

NOTE 9. DEBT

Long-term debt consisted of the following:


	March 31,		December 31,
$s in thousands	2018		2017
Revolving credit facility	$	277,000	$	277,000
Long-term debt	$	277,000	$	277,000

Credit Agreement

On April 18, 2017, the Company entered into a senior secured credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (“Wells Fargo”), as administrative agent for the lenders, swingline lender and issuing lender, and Bank of America, N.A., as an issuing lender, that provides for a $500.0 million, five-year revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”), including a $75.0 million sublimit for the issuance of standby letters of credit and a $25.0 million sublimit for the issuance of swingline loans used to fund short-term working capital requirements. The Credit Agreement also contains an accordion feature whereby the Company may request up to $200.0 million of additional funds through an increase to the Revolving Credit Facility, through incremental term loans, or some combination thereof.

The Revolving Credit Facility provides up to $500.0 million of revolving credit loans or letters of credit with the use of proceeds restricted solely for working capital and other general corporate purposes (including acquisitions and capital expenditures). Under the Revolving Credit Facility, revolving credit loans are available based on a base rate (as defined in the Credit Agreement) or LIBOR, at the Company’s option, plus an applicable margin which is determined according to a pricing grid under which the interest rate decreases or increases based on our ratio of funded debt to consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (as defined in the Credit Agreement), as set forth in the table below:

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Total Net Leverage Ratio	LIBOR Rate Loans Interest Margin	Base Rate Loans Interest Margin
Equal to or greater than 3.25 to 1.00	2.00%	1.00%
Equal to or greater than 2.50 to 1.00, but less than 3.25 to 1.00	1.75%	0.75%
Equal to or greater than 1.75 to 1.00, but less than 2.50 to 1.00	1.50%	0.50%
Equal to or greater than 1.00 to 1.00, but less than 1.75 to 1.00	1.25%	0.25%
Less than 1.00 to 1.00	1.00%	0.00%

At March 31, 2018, the effective interest rate on the Revolving Credit Facility, after giving effect to the impact of our interest rate swap, was 3.42%. Interest only payments are due either quarterly or on the last day of any interest period, as applicable.

In October 2014, the Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement, effectively fixing the interest rate on $185.0 million, or 67%, of the Revolving Credit Facility borrowings as of March 31, 2018.

The Company is required to pay a commitment fee ranging from 0.175% to 0.35% on the average daily unused portion of the Revolving Credit Facility, with such commitment fee to be reduced based upon the Company’s total net leverage ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement). The maximum letter of credit capacity under the Revolving Credit Facility is $75.0 million and the Credit Agreement provides for a letter of credit fee equal to the applicable margin for LIBOR loans under the Revolving Credit Facility. At March 31, 2018, there were $277.0 million of revolving credit loans outstanding on the Revolving Credit Facility. These revolving credit loans are due upon the earliest to occur of (a) April 18, 2022 (or, with respect to any lender, such later date as requested by us and accepted by such lender), (b) the date of termination of the entire revolving credit commitment (as defined in the Credit Agreement) by us, and (c) the date of termination of the revolving credit commitment and are presented as long-term debt in the consolidated balance sheets.

The Company has entered into a sweep arrangement whereby day-to-day cash requirements in excess of available cash balances are advanced to the Company on an as-needed basis with repayments of these advances automatically made from subsequent deposits to our cash operating accounts (the “Sweep Arrangement”). Total advances outstanding under the Sweep Arrangement are subject to the $25.0 million swingline loan sublimit under the Revolving Credit Facility. The Company’s revolving credit loans outstanding under the Revolving Credit Agreement are not subject to repayment through the Sweep Arrangement. As of March 31, 2018, there were no amounts outstanding subject to the Sweep Arrangement.

As of March 31, 2018, the availability under the Revolving Credit Facility was $216.7 million with $6.3 million of the Revolving Credit Facility issued in the form of standby letters of credit utilized as collateral for closure and post-closure financial assurance and other assurance obligations.

The Company may at any time and from time to time prepay revolving credit loans and swingline loans, in whole or in part, without premium or penalty, subject to the obligation to indemnify each of the lenders against any actual loss or expense (including any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain a LIBOR rate loan (as defined in the Credit Agreement) or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained) with respect to the early termination of any LIBOR rate loan. The Credit Agreement provides for mandatory prepayment at any time if the revolving credit outstandings exceed the revolving credit commitment (as such terms are defined in the Credit Agreement), in an amount equal to such excess. Subject to certain exceptions, the Credit Agreement provides for mandatory prepayment upon certain asset dispositions, casualty events and issuances of indebtedness.

Pursuant to (i) an unconditional guarantee agreement and (ii) a collateral agreement, each entered into by the Company and its domestic subsidiaries on April 18, 2017, the Company’s obligations under the Credit Agreement are (or will be) jointly and severally and fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior basis by all of the Company’s existing and certain future domestic subsidiaries and are secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company and the Company’s existing and certain future domestic subsidiaries (subject to certain exclusions), including 100% of the equity interests of the Company’s domestic subsidiaries and 65% of the voting equity interests of the Company’s directly owned foreign subsidiaries (and 100% of the non-voting equity interests of the Company’s directly owned foreign subsidiaries).

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The Credit Agreement contains customary restrictive covenants, subject to certain permitted amounts and exceptions, including covenants limiting the ability of the Company to incur additional indebtedness, pay dividends and make other restricted payments, repurchase shares of our outstanding stock and create certain liens. Upon the occurrence of an event of default (as defined in the Credit Agreement), among other things, amounts outstanding under the Credit Agreement may be accelerated and the commitments may be terminated.

The Credit Agreement also contains financial maintenance covenants, a maximum consolidated total net leverage ratio and a consolidated interest coverage ratio (as such terms are defined in the Credit Agreement). Our consolidated total net leverage ratio as of the last day of any fiscal quarter, commencing with the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2017, may not exceed 3.50 to 1.00, subject to certain exceptions. Our consolidated interest coverage ratio as of the last day of any fiscal quarter, commencing with the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2017, may not be less than 3.00 to 1.00.

At March 31, 2018, we were in compliance with all of the financial covenants in the Credit Agreement.

NOTE 10. CLOSURE AND POST-CLOSURE OBLIGATIONS

Our accrued closure and post-closure liability represents the expected future costs, including corrective actions, associated with closure and post-closure of our operating and non-operating disposal facilities. We record the fair value of our closure and post-closure obligations as a liability in the period in which the regulatory obligation to retire a specific asset is triggered. For our individual landfill cells, the required closure and post-closure obligations under the terms of our permits and our intended operation of the landfill cell are triggered and recorded when the cell is placed into service and waste is initially disposed in the landfill cell. The fair value is based on the total estimated costs to close the landfill cell and perform post-closure activities once the landfill cell has reached capacity and is no longer accepting waste. We perform periodic reviews of both non-operating and operating facilities and revise accruals for estimated closure and post-closure, remediation or other costs as necessary. Recorded liabilities are based on our best estimates of current costs and are updated periodically to include the effects of existing technology, presently enacted laws and regulations, inflation and other economic factors.

Changes to closure and post-closure obligations consisted of the following:


	Three Months Ended
$s in thousands	March 31, 2018
Closure and post-closure obligations, beginning of period	$	76,088
Accretion expense		1,074
Payments		(287)
Foreign currency translation		(52)
Closure and post-closure obligations, end of period		76,823
Less current portion		(2,333)
Long-term portion	$	74,490

NOTE 11. INCOME TAXES

Our effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was 27.6%, down from 37.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2017. The decrease for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared with the three months ended March 31, 2017 was primarily the result of the impact of the Tax Act, enacted on December 22, 2017 by the U.S. government which reduced the federal corporate tax rate to 21% from the existing maximum rate of 35%. The decrease in the rate was partially offset by earnings from our Canadian operations, which are taxed at a higher corporate tax rate, as well as a higher overall effective state tax rate resulting from changes in our apportionment between the various states in which we operate.

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On December 22, 2017, Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 was issued to address the application of U.S. GAAP in situations when a registrant does not have the necessary information available, prepared, or analyzed (including computations) in reasonable detail to complete the accounting for certain income tax effects of the Tax Act. For the three months ended March 31, 2018, the Company did not obtain additional information affecting the provisional amounts initially recorded based upon the best available interpretation of the Tax Act and may change as the Company receives additional clarification and implementation guidance. Any subsequent adjustment to these amounts will be recorded to current tax expense in the quarter of 2018 when the analysis is complete.

We file a consolidated U.S. federal income tax return with the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) as well as tax returns in various states, Canada, and Mexico. The Company is subject to examination by the IRS for tax years 2014 through 2017. EQ is subject to examination by the IRS for pre-acquisition tax year 2014. We may be subject to examinations by various state and local taxing jurisdictions for tax years 2013 through 2017. The Company is not aware of any significant foreign jurisdiction audits underway. The tax years 2013 through 2017 remain subject to examination by foreign jurisdictions.

NOTE 12. EARNINGS PER SHARE


	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2018				2017
$s and shares in thousands, except per share amounts	Basic		Diluted		Basic		Diluted
Net income	$	9,243	$	9,243	$	5,185	$	5,185
Weighted average basic shares outstanding		21,801		21,801		21,725		21,725

Dilutive effect of stock-based awards				156				120
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding				21,957				21,845

Earnings per share	$	0.42	$	0.42	$	0.24	$	0.24
Anti-dilutive shares excluded from calculation				95				112

NOTE 13. EQUITY

Stock Repurchase Program

On June 1, 2016, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of $25.0 million of the Company’s outstanding common stock. Repurchases may be made from time to time in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions. The timing of any repurchases will be based upon prevailing market conditions and other factors. The Company did not repurchase any shares of common stock under the repurchase program during the three months ended March 31, 2018. The repurchase program will remain in effect until June 2, 2018, unless extended by our Board of Directors.

Omnibus Incentive Plan

On May 27, 2015, our stockholders approved the Omnibus Incentive Plan (“Omnibus Plan”), which was approved by our Board of Directors on April 7, 2015. The Omnibus Plan was developed to provide additional incentives through equity ownership in US Ecology and, as a result, encourage employees and directors to contribute to our success. The Omnibus Plan provides, among other things, the ability for the Company to grant restricted stock, performance stock, options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), performance stock units (“PSUs”) and other stock-based awards or cash awards to officers, employees, consultants and non-employee directors. Subsequent to the approval of the Omnibus Plan in May 2015, we stopped granting equity awards under our 2008 Stock Option Incentive Plan and our 2006 Restricted Stock Plan (collectively, the “Previous Plans”). The Previous Plans will remain in effect solely for the settlement of awards granted under the Previous Plans. No shares that are reserved but unissued under the Previous Plans or that are outstanding under the Previous Plans and reacquired by the Company for any reason will be available for issuance under the Omnibus

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Plan. The Omnibus Plan expires on April 7, 2025 and authorizes 1,500,000 shares of common stock for grant over the life of the Omnibus Plan. As of March 31, 2018, 1,026,581 shares of common stock remain available for grant under the Omnibus Plan.

PSUs, RSUs and Restricted Stock

On January 2, 2018, the Company granted 14,100 PSUs to certain employees. Each PSU represents the right to receive, on the settlement date, one share of the Company’s common stock. The total number of PSUs each participant is eligible to earn ranges from 0% to 200% of the target number of PSUs granted. The actual number of PSUs that will vest and be settled in shares is determined at the end of a three-year performance period beginning January 1, 2018, based on total stockholder return relative to a set of peer companies. The fair value of the PSUs estimated on the grant date using a Monte Carlo simulation was $63.56 per unit. Compensation expense is recorded over the awards’ vesting period.

Assumptions used in the Monte Carlo simulation to calculate the fair value of the PSUs granted in 2018 are as follows:


	2018
Stock price on grant date	$	51.00
Expected term		3.0	years
Expected volatility		30	%
Risk-free interest rate		2.0	%
Expected dividend yield		1.4	%

A summary of our PSU, restricted stock and RSU activity for the three months ended March 31, 2018 is as follows:


	PSUs			Restricted Stock			RSUs
		Weighted			Weighted			Weighted
		Average			Average			Average
		Grant Date			Grant Date			Grant Date
	Shares	Fair Value		Shares	Fair Value		Shares	Fair Value
Outstanding as of December 31, 2017	30,963	$	53.76	66,701	$	44.83	47,151	$	45.56
Granted	14,100		63.56	23,600		50.99	28,760		54.25
Vested	(5,863)		65.78	(15,197)		49.97	(17,612)		44.83
Cancelled, expired or forfeited	—		—	(116)		49.97	(682)		44.07
Outstanding as of March 31, 2018	39,200	$	55.48	74,988	$	45.72	57,617	$	50.14

During the three months ended March 31, 2018, 5,863 PSUs vested and PSU holders earned 5,996 shares of the Company’s common stock.

Stock Options

A summary of our stock option activity for the three months ended March 31, 2018 is as follows:



		Weighted
		Average
		Exercise
	Shares	Price
Outstanding as of December 31, 2017	429,729	$	38.58
Granted	40,900		51.00
Exercised	(66,353)		30.09
Cancelled, expired or forfeited	(5,000)		43.71
Outstanding as of March 31, 2018	399,276	$	41.20
Exercisable as of March 31, 2018	288,455	$	39.57

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Treasury Stock

During the three months ended March 31, 2018, the Company repurchased 5,564 shares of the Company’s common stock in connection with the net share settlement of employee equity awards at an average cost of $56.20 per share. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, option holders exercised 66,353 options with a weighted-average exercise price of $30.09 per option, and 22,570 shares were tendered to option holders in connection with options exercised via net share settlement.

NOTE 14. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Litigation and Regulatory Proceedings

In the ordinary course of business, we are involved in judicial and administrative proceedings involving federal, state, provincial or local governmental authorities, including regulatory agencies that oversee and enforce compliance with permits. Fines or penalties may be assessed by regulators for non-compliance. Actions may also be brought by individuals or groups in connection with permitting of planned facilities, modification or alleged violations of existing permits, or alleged damages suffered from exposure to hazardous substances purportedly released from our operated sites, as well as other litigation. We maintain insurance intended to cover property and damage claims asserted as a result of our operations. Periodically, management reviews and may establish reserves for legal and administrative matters, or other fees expected to be incurred in relation to these matters.

We are not currently a party to any material pending legal proceedings and are not aware of any other claims that could, individually or in the aggregate, have a materially adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

NOTE 15. OPERATING SEGMENTS

Financial Information by Segment

Our operations are managed in two reportable segments reflecting our internal reporting structure and nature of services offered as follows:

Environmental Services - This segment provides a broad range of hazardous material management services including transportation, recycling, treatment and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous waste at Company-owned landfill, wastewater and other treatment facilities.

Field & Industrial Services - This segment provides packaging and collection of hazardous waste and total waste management solutions at customer sites and through our 10-day transfer facilities. Services include on-site management, waste characterization, transportation and disposal of non-hazardous and hazardous waste. This segment also provides specialty services such as high-pressure cleaning, tank cleaning, decontamination, remediation, transportation, spill cleanup and emergency response and other services to commercial and industrial facilities and to government entities.

The operations not managed through our two reportable segments are recorded as "Corporate." Corporate selling, general and administrative expenses include typical corporate items such as legal, accounting and other items of a general corporate nature. Income taxes are assigned to Corporate, but all other items are included in the segment where they originated. Inter-company transactions have been eliminated from the segment information and are not significant between segments.

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Summarized financial information of our reportable segments is as follows:


	Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
			Field &
	Environmental		Industrial
$s in thousands	Services		Services		Corporate		Total
Revenue	$	86,471	$	33,588	$	—	$	120,059
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	$	8,510	$	1,355	$	116	$	9,981
Capital expenditures	$	6,004	$	1,038	$	516	$	7,558
Total assets	$	595,304	$	124,184	$	81,597	$	801,085


	Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
			Field &
	Environmental		Industrial
$s in thousands	Services		Services		Corporate		Total
Revenue	$	81,303	$	28,931	$	—	$	110,234
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	$	8,790	$	1,458	$	128	$	10,376
Capital expenditures	$	4,214	$	2,038	$	899	$	7,151
Total assets	$	594,310	$	118,995	$	58,421	$	771,726

Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”)

The primary financial measure used by management to assess segment performance is Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income before interest expense, interest income, income tax expense, depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation, accretion of closure and post-closure liabilities, foreign currency gain/loss and other income/expense. Adjusted EBITDA is a complement to results provided in accordance with GAAP and we believe that such information provides additional useful information to analysts, stockholders and other users to understand the Company’s operating performance. Since Adjusted EBITDA is not a measurement determined in accordance with GAAP and is thus susceptible to varying calculations, Adjusted EBITDA as presented may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. Items excluded from Adjusted EBITDA are significant components in understanding and assessing our financial performance. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to, or substitute for, net income, cash flows generated by operations, investing or financing activities, or other financial statement data presented in the consolidated financial statements as indicators of financial performance or liquidity. Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool and should not be considered in isolation or a substitute for analyzing our results as reported under GAAP. Some of the limitations are:

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs;

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect our interest expense, or the requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments on our debt;

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect our income tax expenses or the cash requirements to pay our taxes;

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect our cash expenditures or future requirements for capital expenditures or contractual commitments; and

Although depreciation and amortization charges are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future, and Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements.

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A reconciliation of Net income to Adjusted EBITDA is as follows:


	Three Months Ended March 31,
$s in thousands	2018		2017
Net income	$	9,243	$	5,185
Income tax expense		3,520		3,079
Interest expense		2,809		4,130
Interest income		(24)		(10)
Foreign currency (gain) loss		14		(88)
Other income		(2,123)		(137)
Depreciation and amortization of plant and equipment		6,605		6,633
Amortization of intangibles		2,302		2,670
Stock-based compensation		1,068		918
Accretion and non-cash adjustment of closure & post-closure liabilities		1,074		1,073
Adjusted EBITDA	$	24,488	$	23,453

Adjusted EBITDA, by operating segment, is as follows:


	Three Months Ended March 31,
$s in thousands	2018		2017
Adjusted EBITDA:
Environmental Services	$	34,672	$	31,856
Field & Industrial Services		2,345		2,064
Corporate		(12,529)		(10,467)
Total	$	24,488	$	23,453

Property and Equipment and Intangible Assets Outside of the United States

We provide services in the United States and Canada. Long-lived assets, comprised of property and equipment and intangible assets net of accumulated depreciation and amortization, by geographic location are as follows:


	March 31,		December 31,
$s in thousands	2018		2017
United States	$	392,700	$	396,066
Canada		59,458		61,178
Total long-lived assets	$	452,158	$	457,244

NOTE 16. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

Quarterly Dividend

On April 2, 2018, we declared a quarterly dividend of $0.18 per common share to stockholders of record on April 20, 2018. The dividend was paid using cash on hand on April 27, 2018 in an aggregate amount of $3.9 million.

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of US Ecology, Inc.

Results of Review of Interim Financial Information

We have reviewed the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of US Ecology, Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of March 31, 2018, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, and cash flows for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “interim financial information”). Based on our reviews, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the accompanying interim financial information for it to be in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

We have previously audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of December 31, 2017, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the year then ended (not presented herein); and in our report dated February 26, 2018, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2017, is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.

Basis for Review Results

This interim financial information is the responsibility of the Company’s management. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our reviews in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB, the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boise, Idaho

May 7, 2018

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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The information contained in this section should be read in conjunction with our unaudited consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q. In this report words such as “we,” “us,” “our,” “US Ecology” and “the Company” refer to US Ecology, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

OVERVIEW

US Ecology, Inc. is a leading North American provider of environmental services to commercial and government entities. The Company addresses the complex waste management needs of its customers, offering treatment, disposal and recycling of hazardous, non-hazardous and radioactive waste, as well as a wide range of complementary field and industrial services. US Ecology’s comprehensive knowledge of the waste business, its collection of waste management facilities and focus on safety, environmental compliance, and customer service enables us to effectively meet the needs of our customers and to build long-lasting relationships.

We have fixed facilities and service centers operating in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Our fixed facilities include five Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, subtitle C, hazardous waste landfills and one low-level radioactive waste landfill located near Beatty, Nevada; Richland, Washington; Robstown, Texas; Grand View, Idaho; Detroit, Michigan and Blainville, Québec, Canada. These facilities generate revenue from fees charged to treat and dispose of waste and from fees charged to perform various field and industrial services for our customers.

Our operations are managed in two reportable segments reflecting our internal management reporting structure and nature of services offered as follows:

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In order to provide insight into the underlying drivers of our waste volumes and related treatment and disposal (“T&D”) revenues, we evaluate period-to-period changes in our T&D revenue for our Environmental Services segment based on the industry of the waste generator, based on North American Industry Classification System (“NAICS”) codes.

The composition of Environmental Services segment T&D revenues by waste generator industry for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows:


	% of Treatment and Disposal Revenue (1) for the
	Three Months Ended March 31,
Generator Industry	2018	2017
Metal Manufacturing	14%	16%
Chemical Manufacturing	13%	11%
Broker / TSDF	13%	15%
General Manufacturing	12%	14%
Refining	11%	14%
Government	5%	6%
Utilities	4%	4%
Waste Management & Remediation	4%	2%
Transportation	3%	2%
Mining, Exploration and Production	2%	3%
Other (2)	19%	13%

(1)

Excludes all transportation service revenue

(2)

Includes retail and wholesale trade, rate regulated, construction and other industries

We also categorize our Environmental Services T&D revenue as either “Base Business” or “Event Business” based on the underlying nature of the revenue source.

Base Business consists of waste streams from ongoing industrial activities and tends to be recurring in nature. We define Event Business as non-recurring projects that are expected to equal or exceed 1,000 tons, with Base Business defined as all other business not meeting the definition of Event Business. The duration of Event Business projects can last from a several-week cleanup of a contaminated site to a multiple year cleanup project.

For the three months ended March 31, 2018, Base Business revenue increased 2% compared to the three months ended March 31, 2017. For the three months ended March 31, 2018, approximately 83% of our total T&D revenue was derived from our Base Business, down from 84% for the three months ended March 31, 2017. Our business is highly competitive and no assurance can be given that we will maintain these revenue levels or increase our market share.

A significant portion of our disposal revenue is attributable to discrete Event Business projects which vary widely in size, duration and unit pricing. For the three months ended March 31, 2018, approximately 17% of our total T&D revenue was derived from Event Business projects, up from 16% for the three months ended March 31, 2017. For the three months ended March 31, 2018, Event Business revenue increased 8% compared to the three months ended March 31, 2017. The one-time nature of Event Business, diverse spectrum of waste types received and widely varying unit pricing necessarily creates variability in revenue and earnings. This variability may be influenced by general and industry-specific economic conditions, funding availability, changes in laws and regulations, government enforcement actions or court orders, public controversy, litigation, weather, commercial real estate, closed military bases and other project timing, government appropriation and funding cycles and other factors. The types and amounts of waste received from Base Business also vary from quarter to quarter.

This variability can also cause significant quarter-to-quarter and year-to-year differences in revenue, gross profit, gross margin, operating income and net income. While we pursue many projects months or years in advance of work performance, cleanup project opportunities routinely arise with little or no prior notice. These market dynamics are inherent to the waste disposal business and are factored into our projections and externally communicated business outlook statements. Our projections combine historical experience with identified sales pipeline opportunities, new or expanded service line projections and prevailing market conditions.

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Depending on project-specific customer needs and competitive economics, transportation services may be offered at or near our cost to help secure new business. For waste transported by rail from the eastern United States and other locations distant from our Grand View, Idaho and Robstown, Texas facilities, transportation-related revenue can account for as much as 75% of total project revenue. While bundling transportation and disposal services reduces overall gross profit as a percentage of total revenue (“gross margin”), this value-added service has allowed us to win multiple projects that management believes we could not have otherwise competed for successfully. Our Company-owned fleet of gondola railcars, which is periodically supplemented with railcars obtained under operating leases, has reduced our transportation expenses by largely eliminating reliance on more costly short-term rentals. These Company-owned railcars also help us to win business during times of demand-driven railcar scarcity.

The increased waste volumes resulting from projects won through this bundled service strategy further drive operating leverage benefits inherent to the disposal business, increasing profitability. While waste treatment and other variable costs are project-specific, the incremental earnings contribution from large and small projects generally increases as overall disposal volumes increase. Based on past experience, management believes that maximizing operating income, net income and earnings per share is a higher priority than maintaining or increasing gross margin. We intend to continue aggressively bidding bundled transportation and disposal services based on this proven strategy.

We serve oil refineries, chemical production plants, steel mills, waste brokers/aggregators serving small manufacturers and other industrial customers that are generally affected by the prevailing economic conditions and credit environment. Adverse conditions may cause our customers as well as those they serve to curtail operations, resulting in lower waste production and/or delayed spending on off-site waste shipments, maintenance, waste cleanup projects and other work. Factors that can impact general economic conditions and the level of spending by customers include, but are not limited to, consumer and industrial spending, increases in fuel and energy costs, conditions in the real estate and mortgage markets, labor and healthcare costs, access to credit, consumer confidence and other global economic factors affecting spending behavior. Market forces may also induce customers to reduce or cease operations, declare bankruptcy, liquidate or relocate to other countries, any of which could adversely affect our business. To the extent business is either government funded or driven by government regulations or enforcement actions, we believe it is less susceptible to general economic conditions. Spending by government agencies may be reduced due to declining tax revenues resulting from a weak economy or changes in policy. Disbursement of funds appropriated by Congress may also be delayed for various reasons.

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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2018 COMPARED TO THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2017

Operating results and percentage of revenues were as follows:


	Three Months Ended March 31,								2018 vs. 2017
$s in thousands	2018		%		2017		%		$ Change		% Change
Revenue
Environmental Services	$	86,471	72	%	$	81,303	74	%	$	5,168	6	%
Field & Industrial Services		33,588	28	%		28,931	26	%		4,657	16	%
Total		120,059	100	%		110,234	100	%		9,825	9	%
Gross Profit
Environmental Services		32,452	38	%		28,686	35	%		3,766	13	%
Field & Industrial Services		3,219	10	%		3,187	11	%		32	1	%
Total		35,671	30	%		31,873	29	%		3,798	12	%
Selling, General & Administrative Expenses
Environmental Services		6,376	7	%		5,731	7	%		645	11	%
Field & Industrial Services		2,257	7	%		2,641	9	%		(384)	(15)	%
Corporate		13,599	n/m			11,342	n/m			2,257	20	%
Total		22,232	19	%		19,714	18	%		2,518	13	%
Adjusted EBITDA
Environmental Services		34,672	40	%		31,856	39	%		2,816	9	%
Field & Industrial Services		2,345	7	%		2,064	7	%		281	14	%
Corporate		(12,529)	n/m			(10,467)	n/m			(2,062)	20	%
Total	$	24,488	20	%	$	23,453	21	%	$	1,035	4	%

Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”)


	Three Months Ended March 31,				2018 vs. 2017
$s in thousands	2018		2017		$ Change		% Change
Net income	$	9,243	$	5,185	$	4,058	78	%
Income tax expense		3,520		3,079		441	14	%
Interest expense		2,809		4,130		(1,321)	(32)	%
Interest income		(24)		(10)		(14)	140	%
Foreign currency (gain) loss		14		(88)		102	(116)	%
Other income		(2,123)		(137)		(1,986)	1,450	%
Depreciation and amortization of plant and equipment		6,605		6,633		(28)	(0)	%
Amortization of intangibles		2,302		2,670		(368)	(14)	%
Stock‑based compensation		1,068		918		150	16	%
Accretion and non‑cash adjustment of closure and post‑closure liabilities		1,074		1,073		1	0	%
Adjusted EBITDA	$	24,488	$	23,453	$	1,035	4	%

Adjusted EBITDA is a complement to results provided in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) and we believe that such information provides additional useful information to analysts, stockholders and other users to understand the Company’s operating performance. Since Adjusted EBITDA is not a measurement determined in accordance with GAAP and is thus susceptible to varying calculations, Adjusted EBITDA as presented may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. Items excluded from Adjusted

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EBITDA are significant components in understanding and assessing our financial performance. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to, or substitute for, net income, cash flows generated by operations, investing or financing activities, or other financial statement data presented in the consolidated financial statements as indicators of financial performance or liquidity.

Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool and should not be considered in isolation or a substitute for analyzing our results as reported under GAAP. Some of the limitations are:

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs;

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect our interest expense, or the requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments on our debt;

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect our income tax expenses or the cash requirements to pay our taxes;

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect our cash expenditures or future requirements for capital expenditures or contractual commitments; and

Revenue

Total revenue increased 9% to $120.1 million for the first quarter of 2018 compared with $110.2 million for the first quarter of 2017.

Environmental Services

Environmental Services segment revenue increased 6% to $86.5 million for the first quarter of 2018 compared to $81.3 million for the first quarter of 2017. T&D revenue increased 5% compared to the first quarter of 2017, primarily as a result of an 8% increase in project-based Event Business revenue and a 2% increase in Base Business revenue. Transportation service revenue increased 12% compared to the first quarter of 2017, reflecting more Event Business projects utilizing the Company’s transportation and logistics services. Total tons of waste disposed of or processed across all of our facilities decreased 2% for the first quarter of 2018 compared to the first quarter of 2017. Tons of waste disposed of or processed at our landfills increased 4% for the first quarter of 2018 compared to the first quarter of 2017.

T&D revenue from recurring Base Business waste generators increased 2% for the first quarter of 2018 compared to the first quarter of 2017 and comprised 83% of total T&D revenue for the first quarter of 2018. During the first quarter of 2018, increases in Base Business T&D revenue from the chemical manufacturing, “Other” and general manufacturing industry groups were partially offset by a decrease in Base Business T&D revenue from the refining, broker/TSDF and metal manufacturing industry groups.

T&D revenue from Event Business waste generators increased 8% for the first quarter of 2018 compared to the first quarter of 2017 and comprised 17% of total T&D revenue for the first quarter of 2018. During the first quarter of 2018, increases in Event Business T&D revenue from the “Other”, waste management & remediation and utilities industry groups were partially offset by decreases in Event Business T&D revenue from the general manufacturing and refining industry groups.

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The following table summarizes combined Base Business and Event Business T&D revenue growth, within the Environmental Services segment, by generator industry for the first quarter of 2018 as compared to the first quarter of 2017:


		Treatment and Disposal Revenue Growth
		Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 vs.
		Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
Waste Management & Remediation		73%
Other		35%
Transportation		22%
Chemical Manufacturing		19%
Utilities		7%
Metal Manufacturing		-5%
Government		-7%
Broker / TSDF		-7%
General Manufacturing		-9%
Mining, Exploration & Production		-14%
Refining		-17%

Field & Industrial Services

Field & Industrial Services segment revenue increased 16% to $33.6 million for the first quarter of 2018 compared with $28.9 million for the first quarter of 2017. The increase in Field & Industrial Services segment revenue is primarily attributable to growth in our Total Waste Management and Small Quantity Generation business lines as well as stronger overall market conditions.

Gross Profit

Total gross profit increased 12% to $35.7 million for the first quarter of 2018, up from $31.9 million for the first quarter of 2017. Total gross margin was 30% for the first quarter of 2018 compared with 29% for the first quarter of 2017.

Environmental Services

Environmental Services segment gross profit increased 13% to $32.5 million for the first quarter of 2018, up from $28.7 million for the first quarter of 2017. Total segment gross margin for the first quarter of 2018 was 38% compared with 35% for the first quarter of 2017. T&D gross margin was 40% for the first quarter of 2018 compared with 38% for the first quarter of 2017. The increase in T&D gross margin is primarily attributable to a more favorable service mix in the first quarter of 2018.

Field & Industrial Services

Field & Industrial Services segment gross profit increased 1% to $3.2 million for the first quarter of 2018. Total segment gross margin was 10% for the first quarter of 2018 compared with 11% for the first quarter of 2017, primary reflecting a less favorable service mix in the first quarter of 2018.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses (“SG&A”)

Total SG&A was $22.2 million, or 19% of total revenue, for the first quarter of 2018 compared with $19.7 million, or 18% of total revenue, for the first quarter of 2017.

Environmental Services

Environmental Services segment SG&A increased 11% to $6.4 million, or 7% of segment revenue, for the first quarter of 2018 compared with $5.7 million, or 7% of segment revenue, for the first quarter of 2017, primarily reflecting higher

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employee labor costs, lower insurance proceeds received, higher bad debt expense and higher property tax expense in the first quarter of 2018 compared to the first quarter of 2017.

Field & Industrial Services

Field & Industrial Services segment SG&A decreased 15% to $2.3 million, or 7% of segment revenue, for the first quarter of 2018 compared with $2.6 million, or 9% of segment revenue, for the first quarter of 2017, primarily reflecting lower bad debt expense, amortization expense and employee labor costs in the first quarter of 2018 compared to the first quarter of 2017.

Corporate

Corporate SG&A was $13.6 million, or 11% of total revenue, for the first quarter of 2018 compared with $11.3 million, or 10% of total revenue, for the first quarter of 2017, primarily reflecting higher employee labor costs and higher consulting and professional services in the first quarter of 2018 compared with the first quarter of 2017.

Components of Adjusted EBITDA

Income tax expense

Our effective income tax rate for the first quarter of 2018 was 27.6% compared with 37.3% for the first quarter of 2017. The decrease was primarily the result of the impact of the Tax Act, enacted on December 22, 2017 by the U.S. government which reduced the federal corporate tax rate to 21% from the existing maximum rate of 35%. The decrease in the rate was partially offset by earnings from our Canadian operations, which are taxed at a higher corporate tax rate, as well as a higher overall effective state tax rate resulting from changes in our apportionment between the various states in which we operate.

Interest expense

Interest expense was $2.8 million for the first quarter of 2018 compared with $4.1 million for the first quarter of 2017.

The decrease was primarily the result of a lower effective interest rate under our new credit agreement.

Foreign currency gain (loss)

We recognized a $14,000 non-cash foreign currency loss for the first quarter of 2018 compared with an $88,000 non-cash foreign currency gain for the first quarter of 2017. Foreign currency gains and losses reflect changes in business activity conducted in a currency other than the United States dollar (“USD”), our functional currency. Additionally, we established intercompany loans between our Canadian subsidiaries, whose functional currency is the Canadian dollar (“CAD”), and our parent company, US Ecology, as part of a tax and treasury management strategy allowing for repayment of third-party bank debt. These intercompany loans are payable by our Canadian subsidiaries to US Ecology in CAD requiring us to revalue the outstanding loan balance through our statements of operations based on USD/CAD currency movements from period to period. At March 31, 2018, we had $21.1 million of intercompany loans subject to currency revaluation.

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Other income

Other income was $2.1 million for the first quarter of 2018 compared with other income of $137,000 for the first quarter of 2017, primarily reflecting a $2.0 million gain in the first quarter of 2018 on the issuance of a property easement on a portion of unutilized Company-owned land at one of our operating facilities.

Depreciation and amortization of plant and equipment

Depreciation and amortization expense was $6.6 million for the first quarter of both 2018 and 2017.

Amortization of intangibles

Intangible assets amortization expense was $2.3 million for the first quarter of 2018 compared with $2.7 million for the first quarter of 2017, primarily reflecting the full amortization of certain intangible assets in 2017.

Stock-based compensation

Stock-based compensation expense increased 16% to $1.1 million for the first quarter of 2018 compared with $918,000 for the first quarter of 2017 as a result of an increase in equity-based awards granted to employees.

Accretion and non-cash adjustment of closure and post-closure liabilities

Accretion and non-cash adjustment of closure and post-closure liabilities was $1.1 million for the first quarter of both 2018 and 2017.

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CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Financial statement preparation requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect reported assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements are prepared using the same critical accounting policies disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, other than the adoption of the Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, described in Note 2 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in “Part I, Item 1. Financial Statements (Unaudited)” of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

For information about recently issued accounting standards, see Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in “Part I, Item 1. Financial Statements (Unaudited)” of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Our primary sources of liquidity are cash and cash equivalents, cash generated from operations and borrowings under our senior secured Credit Agreement entered into on April 18, 2017. At March 31, 2018, we had $44.3 million in cash and cash equivalents immediately available and $216.7 million of borrowing capacity available under our Credit Agreement. We assess our liquidity in terms of our ability to generate cash to fund our operating, investing and financing activities. Our primary ongoing cash requirements are funding operations, capital expenditures, paying interest on our long-term debt, and paying declared dividends pursuant to our dividend policy. We believe future operating cash flows will be sufficient to meet our future operating, investing and dividend cash needs for the foreseeable future. Furthermore, existing cash balances and availability of additional borrowings under our Credit Agreement provide additional sources of liquidity should they be required.

Operating Activities

For the three months ended March 31, 2018, net cash provided by operating activities was $28.8 million. This primarily reflects net income of $9.2 million, non-cash depreciation, amortization and accretion of $10.0 million and a decrease in accounts receivable of $14.9 million, partially offset by a decrease in accounts payable and accrued liabilities of $4.2 million and a decrease in accrued salaries and benefits of $2.4 million. Impacts on net income are due to the factors discussed above under “Results of Operations.” The decrease in receivables is primarily attributable to the timing of customer payments. The decrease in accounts payable and accrued liabilities is primarily attributable to the timing of payments to vendors for products and services. The decrease in accrued salaries and benefits is primarily attributable to cash payments during the first quarter of 2018 for accrued 2017 incentive compensation.

Days sales outstanding were 72 days as of March 31, 2018, compared to 77 days as of December 31, 2017 and 75 days as of March 31, 2017.

For the three months ended March 31, 2017, net cash provided by operating activities was $20.9 million. This primarily reflects net income of $5.2 million, non-cash depreciation, amortization and accretion of $10.4 million, a decrease in accounts receivable of $3.0 million, a decrease in income taxes receivable of $2.0 million, an increase in deferred revenue of $2.0 million and share-based compensation expense of $918,000, partially offset by a decrease in accounts payable and accrued liabilities of $2.6 million. Impacts on net income are due to the factors discussed above under “Results of Operations.” The decrease in accounts receivable is primarily attributable to the timing of customer payments. The decrease in income taxes receivable is primarily attributable to the timing of income tax payments. The decrease in accounts payable and accrued liabilities is primarily attributable to the timing of payments to vendors for products and services. The increase in deferred revenue is primarily attributable to the timing of the treatment and disposal of waste received but not yet processed.

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Investing Activities

For the three months ended March 31, 2018, net cash used in investing activities was $7.6 million, primarily related to capital expenditures. Significant capital projects included continuing construction of additional disposal capacity and railway expansion at our Blainville, Quebec, Canada location and equipment purchases and infrastructure upgrades at our corporate and operating facilities.

For the three months ended March 31, 2017, net cash used in investing activities was $7.1 million, primarily related to capital expenditures. Significant capital projects included construction of additional disposal capacity at our Beatty, Nevada and Blainville, Quebec, Canada locations and equipment purchases and infrastructure upgrades at our corporate and operating facilities.

Financing Activities

For the three months ended March 31, 2018, net cash used in financing activities was $3.6 million, consisting primarily of dividend payments to our stockholders.

For the three months ended March 31, 2017, net cash used in financing activities was $10.5 million, consisting primarily of $4.7 million of payments on the Company’s long-term debt under our former credit agreement (which was terminated in its entirety when the Company entered into the new Credit Agreement on April 18, 2017), $2.2 million of net short-term payments under our former credit agreement to fund working capital requirements and $3.9 million of dividend payments to our stockholders.

Credit Agreement

The Credit Agreement provides for a $500.0 million, five-year revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”), including a $75.0 million sublimit for the issuance of standby letters of credit and a $25.0 million sublimit for the issuance of swingline loans used to fund short-term working capital requirements. The Credit Agreement also contains an accordion feature whereby the Company may request up to $200.0 million of additional funds through an increase to the Revolving Credit Facility, through incremental term loans, or some combination thereof. Proceeds from the Revolving Credit Facility are restricted solely for working capital and other general corporate purposes (including acquisitions and capital expenditures). Under the Revolving Credit Facility, revolving credit loans are available based on a base rate (as defined in the Credit Agreement) or LIBOR, at the Company’s option, plus an applicable margin which is determined according to a pricing grid under which the interest rate decreases or increases based on our ratio of funded debt to consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (as defined in the Credit Agreement).

At March 31, 2018, the effective interest rate on the Revolving Credit Facility, including the impact of our interest rate swap, was 3.42%. Interest only payments are due either quarterly or on the last day of any interest period, as applicable. In October 2014, the Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement, effectively fixing the interest rate on $185.0 million, or 67%, of the Revolving Credit Facility borrowings as of March 31, 2018.

The Company is required to pay a commitment fee ranging from 0.175% to 0.35% on the average daily unused portion of the Revolving Credit Facility, with such commitment fee to be reduced based upon the Company’s total net leverage ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement). The maximum letter of credit capacity under the Revolving Credit Facility is $75.0 million and the Credit Agreement provides for a letter of credit fee equal to the applicable margin for LIBOR loans under the Revolving Credit Facility. At March 31, 2018, there were $277.0 million of borrowings outstanding on the Revolving Credit Facility. These borrowings are due on the revolving credit maturity date (as defined in the Credit Agreement) and presented as long-term debt in the consolidated balance sheets.

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Company’s revolving credit loans outstanding under the Revolving Credit Agreement are not subject to repayment through the Sweep Arrangement. As of March 31, 2018, there were no amounts outstanding subject to the Sweep Arrangement.

As of March 31, 2018, the availability under the Revolving Credit Facility was $216.7 million with $6.3 million of the Revolving Credit Facility issued in the form of standby letter of credit utilized as collateral for closure and post-closure financial assurance and other assurance obligations.

For more information about our debt, see Note 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in “Part I, Item 1. Financial Statements (Unaudited)” of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS AND GUARANTEES

There were no material changes in the amounts of our contractual obligations and guarantees during the three months ended March 31, 2018. For further information on our contractual obligations and guarantees, refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Interest Rate Risk

We do not maintain equities, commodities, derivatives, or any other similar instruments for trading purposes. We have minimal interest rate risk on investments or other assets due to our preservation of capital approach to investments. At March 31, 2018, $5.8 million of restricted cash was invested in fixed-income U.S. Treasury and U.S. government agency securities and money market accounts.

We are exposed to changes in interest rates as a result of our borrowings under the Credit Agreement. Under the Credit Agreement, Revolving Credit Facility borrowings incur interest at a base rate (as defined in the Credit Agreement) or LIBOR, at the Company’s option, plus an applicable margin which is determined according to a pricing grid under which the interest rate decreases or increases based on our ratio of funded debt to consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (as defined in the Credit Agreement). On October 29, 2014, the Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement with the intention of hedging the Company’s interest rate exposure on a portion of the Company’s outstanding LIBOR-based variable rate debt. Under the terms of the swap, the Company pays interest at the fixed effective rate of 3.67% and receives interest at the variable one-month LIBOR rate on an initial notional amount of $250.0 million.

As of March 31, 2018, there were $277.0 million of revolving loans outstanding under the Credit Agreement. If interest rates were to rise and outstanding balances remain unchanged, we would be subject to higher interest payments on our outstanding debt. Subsequent to the effective date of the interest rate swap on December 31, 2014, we are subject to higher interest payments on only the unhedged borrowings under the Credit Agreement.

Based on the outstanding indebtedness of $277.0 million under the Credit Agreement at March 31, 2018 and the impact of our interest rate hedge, if market rates used to calculate interest expense were to average 1% higher in the next twelve months, our interest expense would increase by approximately $995,000 for the corresponding period.

Foreign Currency Risk

We are subject to currency exposures and volatility because of currency fluctuations. The majority of our transactions are in USD; however, our Canadian subsidiaries conduct business in both Canada and the United States. In addition, contracts for services that our Canadian subsidiaries provide to U.S. customers are generally denominated in USD. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, our Canadian subsidiaries transacted approximately 56% of their revenue in USD and at any time have cash on deposit in USD and outstanding USD trade receivables and payables related to these transactions. These USD cash, receivable and payable accounts are subject to non-cash foreign currency translation gains or losses. Exchange rate movements also affect the translation of Canadian generated profits and losses into USD.

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We established intercompany loans between our Canadian subsidiaries and our parent company, US Ecology, as part of a tax and treasury management strategy allowing for repayment of third-party bank debt. These intercompany loans are payable using CAD and are subject to mark-to-market adjustments with movements in the CAD. At March 31, 2018, we had $21.1 million of intercompany loans outstanding between our Canadian subsidiaries and US Ecology. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, the CAD strengthened as compared to the USD resulting in a $565,000 non-cash foreign currency translation loss being recognized in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations related to the intercompany loans. Based on intercompany balances as of March 31, 2018, a $0.01 CAD increase or decrease in currency rate compared to the USD at March 31, 2018 would have generated a gain or loss of approximately $211,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2018.

We had a total pre-tax foreign currency loss of $14,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2018. We currently have no foreign exchange contracts, option contracts or other foreign currency hedging arrangements. Management evaluates the Company’s risk position on an ongoing basis to determine whether foreign exchange hedging strategies should be employed.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Management of the Company, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, have evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) as of March 31, 2018. Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures, including the accumulation and communication of disclosures to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure, are effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the rules and forms of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the most recently completed fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Cautionary Statement for Purposes of “Safe Harbor Provisions” of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

This quarterly report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words “may,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “estimate,” “target,” “project,” “intend” and similar expressions. These statements include, among others, statements regarding our financial and operating results, strategic objectives and means to achieve those objectives, the amount and timing of capital expenditures, repurchases of its stock under approved stock repurchase plans, the amount and timing of interest expense, the likelihood of our success in expanding our business, financing plans, budgets, working capital needs and sources of liquidity.

Forward-looking statements are only predictions and are not guarantees of performance. These statements are based on management’s beliefs and assumptions, which in turn are based on currently available information. Important assumptions include, among others, those regarding demand for Company services, expansion of service offerings geographically or through new or expanded service lines, the timing and cost of planned capital expenditures, competitive conditions and general economic conditions. These assumptions could prove inaccurate. Forward-looking statements also involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Many of these factors are beyond our ability to control or predict. Such factors include the replacement of non-recurring event cleanup projects, a loss of a major customer, our ability to permit and contract for timely construction of new or expanded disposal cells, our ability to renew our operating permits or lease agreements with regulatory bodies, loss of key personnel, compliance with and changes to applicable laws, rules, or regulations, access to insurance, surety bonds and other financial assurances, a deterioration in our labor relations or labor disputes, our ability to perform under required contracts, failure to realize anticipated benefits and operational performance from acquired operations, adverse economic or market conditions, government funding or competitive pressures, incidents or adverse weather conditions that could limit or suspend specific operations, access to cost effective transportation services, fluctuations in foreign currency markets, lawsuits, our willingness or ability to repurchase stock or pay dividends, implementation of new technologies, limitations on our available cash flow as a result of our indebtedness and our ability to effectively execute our acquisition strategy and integrate future acquisitions.

Except as required by applicable law, including the securities laws of the United States and the rules and regulations of the SEC, we are under no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results or performance. Before you invest in our common stock, you should be aware that the occurrence of the events described in the “Risk Factors” section in our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 and in other reports we file with the SEC could harm our business, prospects, operating results, and financial condition.

Investors should also be aware that while we do, from time to time, communicate with securities analysts, it is against our policy to disclose to them any material non-public information or other confidential commercial information. Accordingly, stockholders should not assume that we agree with any statement or report issued by any analyst irrespective of the content of the statement or report. Furthermore, we have a policy against issuing or confirming financial forecasts or projections issued by others. Thus, to the extent that reports issued by securities analysts contain any projections, forecasts or opinions, such reports are not the responsibility of US Ecology, Inc.

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

The Company is subject to various risks and uncertainties that could have a material impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. The discussion of these risk factors is included in Part I, Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 and there have been no material changes from the risk factors reported on the Form 10-K.

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

On June 1, 2016, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of $25.0 million of the Company’s outstanding common stock. Repurchases may be made from time to time in open market or through privately negotiated transactions. The timing of any repurchases will be based upon prevailing market conditions and other factors. The Company did not repurchase any shares of common stock under the repurchase program during the three months ended March 31, 2018. The repurchase program will remain in effect until June 2, 2018, unless extended by our Board of Directors.

The following table summarizes the purchases of shares of our common stock during the three months ended March 31, 2018:


				Total Number of	Approximate Dollar
				Shares Purchased as	Value of Shares that
				Part of Publicly	May Yet be Purchased
	Total Number of	Average Price		Announced Plan or	Under the Plans or
Period	Shares Purchased	Paid per Share		Program	Programs
January 1 to 31, 2018	—	$	—	—	$	25,000,000
February 1 to 28, 2018	—		—	—		25,000,000
March 1 to 31, 2018 (1)	5,564		56.20	—		25,000,000
Total	5,564	$	56.20	—	$	25,000,000

(1)

Represents shares surrendered or forfeited in connection with certain employees’ tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of shares of restricted stock.

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

None.

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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS


10.1		US Ecology, Inc. 2018 Management Incentive Plan (Executive) *

10.2		Form of Performance Stock Unit Award Agreement *

10.3		Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement *

15		Letter re: Unaudited Interim Financial Statements

31.1		Certification of CEO Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

31.2		Certification of CFO Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

32		Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

101		The following materials from the quarterly report on Form 10-Q of US Ecology, Inc. for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 formatted in Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) include: (i) Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations, (iii) Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (iv) Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (v) Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

* Identifies management contracts or compensatory plans or arrangements required to be filed as an exhibit hereto.

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SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


	US Ecology, Inc.
	(Registrant)

Date: May 7, 2018	/s/ Eric L. Gerratt
	Eric L. Gerratt
	Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer