Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc. Announces Second Quarter 2023 Financial Results

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill.--Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc. (Nasdaq: HCCI), a leading provider of parts cleaning, hazardous and non-hazardous waste services, used oil re-refining, antifreeze recycling, industrial and field services, and emergency and spill response services today announced results for the second quarter which ended June 30, 2023.

Second Quarter Review

Beginning with our 2023 fiscal year, we changed our financial reporting cycle to a calendar year-end and end-of-month quarterly reporting cycle. The second quarter of 2023 includes 5 additional working days as a result of our fiscal quarter change. We estimate that the additional working days resulted in an increase in revenues of 7.8% in the second quarter of 2023 when compared to the second quarter of 2022 for the Environmental Services and Industrial & Field Services segments. Absent the significant decrease in base oil pricing, we would have otherwise estimated a similar impact in the Oil Business from the change in fiscal quarter.

Revenue for the second quarter of 2023 was $192.2 million compared to $156.6 million for the second quarter of 2022, an increase of 22.7%.

Overall operating profit decreased by $9.5 million and as a percentage of revenue decreased to 19.3% compared to 29.7% during the second quarter of 2022. This decrease in profit margin was driven primarily by the decrease in revenues in the Oil Business segment as well as higher costs due to lower solvent and oil inventory values, and higher re-refinery turnaround expenses. Our second quarter corporate SG&A expense was $23.4 million, or 12.2% of revenue, compared to $16.5 million, or 10.5% of revenue, for the second quarter of 2022. As a result of the 5 additional working days in the second quarter of 2023 compared to the second quarter of 2022, we estimate current quarter corporate SG&A expenses were higher by $1.8 million.

Net income for the second quarter was $8.6 million compared to net income of $21.1 million in the year-ago quarter. Basic earnings per share were $0.36 compared to $0.90 in the year-ago quarter.

Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc. Acquisition by J.F. Lehman & Company

On July 19, 2023, the Company announced that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement (the “merger agreement”) to be acquired by an investment affiliate of J.F. Lehman & Company (“JFLCO”), a leading private equity investment firm focused on the aerospace, defense, maritime and environmental sectors, in an all-cash transaction that values the Company at approximately $1.2 billion (the “merger”). Under the terms of the merger agreement, JFLCO will acquire all the outstanding shares of the Company for $45.50 per share in cash. The purchase price represents a premium of approximately 24.9% to the Company’s 60-day volume-weighted average price on July 19, 2023, the last full trading day prior to the public announcement of the transaction. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2023, subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by the Company shareholders and the expiration of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976. Upon completion of the transaction, the Company will become a privately held company and shares of the Company common stock will no longer be listed on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange or trade in any other public market.

Due to the pending transaction with J.F. Lehman, the Company will not be hosting a conference call for the second quarter of 2023.

Segments

Effective January 1, 2023, the Company revised its reportable segments based on our investment in Patriot Environmental Services in 2022. Previously we had two reportable segments: "Environmental Services," and "Oil Business." Under the revised segment presentation, the Company now has three reportable segments: "Environmental Services," "Oil Business," and "Industrial & Field Services." Prior period segment results presented for comparative purposes below have been recast to reflect the newly reportable segment, Industrial & Field Services, as a separate segment.

Our Environmental Services segment includes parts cleaning, containerized waste management, wastewater vacuum services, and antifreeze recycling activities. Environmental Services revenue was $96.0 million during the quarter compared to $78.2 million during the second quarter of fiscal 2022. The 22.8% increase in revenue was mainly due to the continued increase in demand and higher prices for our services compared to the prior year quarter. We experienced revenue increases across all service lines in the segment when compared to the second quarter of 2022. Environmental Services profit before corporate selling, general, and administrative expenses was $23.9 million, or 24.9% of revenue, compared to the recast profit of $18.6 million, or 23.8% of revenue, in the year-ago quarter. The increase in operating margin was mainly driven by increased revenues in comparison with the increase in our labor and transportation expenses.

President and CEO Brian Recatto commented, "We are pleased with the strong revenue growth and continued improvement in the operating margin in this segment. Early in the third quarter, we implemented another price increase in our containerized waste business to help offset continual cost increases from some of our disposal vendors. We are confident this action will allow us to show continued, incremental improvement in our operating margin percentage in this segment in the coming quarters."

The Industrial & Field Services segment consists of the Company's industrial and field services, as well as the activities at our non-hazardous waste processing facilities. Industrial & Field Services revenue was $47.1 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2023 compared to $13.7 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2022. The $33.4 million increase in revenue was mainly driven by revenue from our acquisition of Patriot Environmental Services during the second half of 2022 and, to a lesser extent, by higher demand and increased prices for our products and services. Industrial & Field Services profit before corporate SG&A expense increased $6.3 million, or 538.7%, in the second quarter of 2023 compared to the second quarter of fiscal 2022 mainly driven by revenue from our acquisition of Patriot Environmental Services. Operating margin for the second quarter of 2023 was 16.0% compared to the recast margin of 8.6% in the second quarter of 2022. The increase in operating margin was mainly driven by the higher margin from our acquisition of Patriot Environmental Services compared to our legacy Industrial & Field Services business.

Recatto commented, "Despite activity at some of our customers in this segment being less than forecasted, we were still able to produce incremental revenue growth and higher operating margin dollars compared to the first quarter of 2023. We are also optimistic that we will generate additional growth as we continue to invest and expand our PFAS infrastructure and service offering."

Our Oil Business segment includes used oil collection and re-refining activities, as well as sales of recycled fuel oil. During the second quarter of 2023, Oil Business revenue was $49.1 million, a decrease of $15.6 million, or 24.1%, compared to $64.8 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2022. A decrease in base oil sales price was the main driver of the decrease in revenue compared to the prior year quarter. Oil Business segment operating margin decreased to 11.6% in the second quarter of 2023 compared to 41.4% in the second quarter of fiscal 2022. The lower operating margin compared to the second quarter of 2022 was mainly due to a decrease in revenue along with increased transportation expenses, labor costs and higher cost of goods sold.

Recatto commented, "Despite a significant decline in base oil netback, a soft demand market for base oil, and intentionally moving up the timing of our annual extended turnaround to the second quarter, we were still able to produce an operating margin percentage which was consistent with our second quarter conference call expectations.

Since the end of the second quarter we have made great progress on lowering our pay-for-oil. Early in the third quarter of 2023, on a run-rate basis, our pay-for-oil has decreased by approximately $0.10 per gallon compared to our weighted average for the second quarter. We also see signs that the base oil market should improve from both a pricing and a demand standpoint compared to the end of the second quarter."