The following MD&A is intended to help the reader understand the results of operations and financial condition ofCovanta for the three and nine months endedSeptember 30, 2021 . The financial information as ofSeptember 30, 2021 should be read in conjunction with the financial statements for the year endedDecember 31, 2020 contained in our 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Factors Affecting Business Conditions and Financial Results
Impact of novel coronavirus ("COVID-19") on
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted our employees, our operations, our business and the economy. While we have experienced a normalization in commercial activity and general business conditions, the extent of potential impacts from COVID-19 in the future remains uncertain. We cannot predict the potential future impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with new variants of the virus circulating and it could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations in the future. While a limited number of our employees have contracted COVID-19, we have followed recommended protocols and have thus far not experienced material disruptions to our operations as result of workforce availability issues. Depending upon the rate, extent, and location of future COVID-19 infection, more widespread infection of our employees could cause significant increases to operating expenses at specific facilities, or the curtailment of operations at such facilities on a temporary basis. Our WtE plants and material processing facilities provide a vital service to our municipal and commercial clients. As waste disposal facilities, they have been recognized as part of Critical Infrastructure by theDepartment of Homeland Security and as essential services by state and local governments. Residential waste represents the substantial majority of our contracted volumes, and there has been limited impact on these volumes to date. We also process commercial waste, including profiled waste, at many facilities, and while overall volumes of these materials for disposal in the market fell during the early stages of the pandemic, volumes have generally returned to pre-pandemic levels, and our average revenue per ton levels have returned as well. As the COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing with new variants and the near term worldwide economic outlook remains uncertain, we cannot reasonably estimate the length or severity of this pandemic, or the extent to which the disruption may materially impact our consolidated financial statements.
Commodity Markets - Our quarterly results within an operating year may be affected substantially by movements in commodity markets relevant to our business, principally those relating to energy and metals.
Energy Markets - A portion of our energy revenue is sold under short term arrangements at prevailing market prices. Underlying market prices are affected by a variety of factors not within our control such as weather, natural gas supply/demand conditions (including seasonal storage), regional electricity transmission and system conditions, and global demand. We maintain a disciplined program to hedge our exposure to market price volatility, see Item 1. Financial Statements - Note 11. Derivative Instruments. As a result of our hedging program, we have only a limited amount of exposure to market price volatility in the near term, including for the remainder of 2021. Metals Markets - We sell recycled ferrous and non-ferrous metals under short term arrangements based on prevailing rates that are affected by regional and global demand for specific types of recycled metals. In addition, recycled metal prices for both ferrous and non-ferrous materials are potentially impacted, directly and indirectly, by tariff and trade actions both by theU.S. as well as foreign countries. 25 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table of Contents The following are various published pricing indices relating to theU.S. economic drivers that are relevant to those aspects of our business where we have market exposure; however, there is not an exact correlation between our results and changes in these metrics.
2021 2020 Consumer Price Index (1) 5.4% 1.4% PJM Pricing (Electricity) (2)$ 37.18 $ 18.77 NE ISO Pricing (Electricity) (3)$ 44.88 $ 22.68 Henry Hub Pricing (Natural Gas) (4)$ 4.36 $ 2.00 #1 HMS Pricing (Ferrous Metals) (5)$ 438 $ 221 Old Sheet & Old Cast (Non-Ferrous Metals) (6) $
0.69
(1)Represents the year-over-year percent change in the Headline CPI number. The Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) data is provided by theU.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics . (2)Average price per megawatt hours ("MWh") for Q3 2021 and Q3 2020. Pricing for thePJM PSEG Zone is provided by the PJM ISO. (3)Average price per MWh for Q3 2021 and Q3 2020. Pricing for theMass Hub Zone is provided by the NE ISO. (4)Average price per MMBtu for Q3 2021 and Q3 2020. The Henry Hub Pricing data is provided by the Natural Gas Weekly Update,Energy Information Administration ,Washington DC . (5)Average price per gross ton for Q3 2021 and Q3 2020. The #1 Heavy Melt Steel ("HMS") composite index ($/gross ton) price as published byAmerican Metal Market . (6)Average price per pound for Q3 2021 and Q3 2020. Calculated using the high price of Old Cast Aluminum Scrap ($/lb.) as published byAmerican Metal Market . Seasonal - Our quarterly operating results within the same fiscal year typically differ substantially due to seasonal factors, primarily as a result of the timing of scheduled plant maintenance. We conduct scheduled maintenance periodically each year, which requires that individual boiler and/or turbine units temporarily cease operations. During these scheduled maintenance periods, we incur material repair and maintenance expense and receive less revenue until the boiler and/or turbine units resume operations. This scheduled maintenance usually occurs during periods of off-peak electric demand and/or lower waste volumes, which are our first, second and fourth fiscal quarters. The scheduled maintenance period in the first half of the year (primarily first quarter and early second quarter) is typically the most extensive, while the third quarter scheduled maintenance period is the least extensive. Given these factors, we normally experience our lowest operating income from our projects during the first half of each year. Our operating results may also be affected by seasonal weather extremes during summers and winters. Increased demand for electricity and natural gas during unusually hot or cold periods may affect certain operating expenses and may trigger material price increases for a portion of the electricity and steam we sell.
Completion of Strategic Review
InOctober 2020 , we announced the launch of a comprehensive strategic review of our assets, operations, growth priorities, and capital structure. This review was an opportunity to explore all options to enhance stockholder value, including assessing plans for each of our business lines and geographies. The board of directors appointedMichael Ranger as President and Chief Executive Officer to lead this review and its subsequent execution. OnJuly 14, 2021 , we announced that we had entered into a definitive agreement withEQT Infrastructure whereby EQT will acquire all shares ofCovanta common stock for$20.25 per share. The Merger is subject to customary government approvals and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of this year.Covanta obtained the required approval of its stockholders at a special meeting of stockholders held onOctober 12, 2021 . The agreement resulted from a competitive sale process and is not subject to a financing condition. This Merger represents the conclusion of the strategic review. 26 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table of Contents CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following general discussions should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated financial statements, the notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements and other financial information appearing and referred to elsewhere in this report.
The comparability of the information provided below with respect to our revenue, expense and certain other items for the periods presented was affected by several factors. As outlined in Item 1. Financial Statements - Note 1. Organization and Basis of Presentation in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q and in Item 8. Financial Statements And Supplementary Data - Note 1. Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Note 3. New Business and Asset Management of our 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K, our business development initiatives, contract transitions, and acquisitions resulted in various transactions, which are reflected in comparative revenue and expense. Certain reclassifications of the prior years' amounts have been made to conform to the current year's presentation. The change in presentation did not affect our total operating revenue, total operating expense or operating loss. For further information on the reclassifications, see Item 1. Financial Statements - Note 1. Organization and Basis of Presentation. In addition, comparability of our results was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic as discussed above under Impact of COVID-19 on theU.S. and the global economy. These factors must be taken into account in developing meaningful comparisons between the periods compared below. As discussed in Item 8. Financial Statements And Supplementary Data - Note 1. Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies of our 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K, we have one reportable segment which comprises our entire operating business.
The following terms used within the Results of Operations discussion are defined as follows:
•"Organic growth": reflects the performance of the business on a comparable period-over-period basis, excluding the impacts of transactions and contract transitions. •"Transactions": includes the impacts of acquisitions, divestitures, and the addition or loss of operating contracts. •Contract "transitions": includes the impact of the expiration of: (a) long-term major waste contracts, most typically representing the transition to a new contract structure, and (b) long-term energy contracts.
Certain amounts in our Consolidated Results of Operations may not total due to rounding.
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