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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 September 30, 2019
or
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 1-06732
COVANTA HOLDING CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
 
 
 
Delaware
 
 
95-6021257
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
 
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
 
 
 
 
445 South Street
Morristown
NJ
07960
(Address of Principal Executive Office)
 
 
(Zip Code)
(862345-5000
(Registrant’s telephone number including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
Class A common stock
CVA
New York Stock Exchange
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  þ  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 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes  þ  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. (Check one):
Large Accelerated Filer
Accelerated
filer
Non-accelerated
filer
Smaller reporting 
company
Emerging growth
company
þ
o
o
 
 
(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 Exchange Act).  Yes    No  þ
Applicable Only to Corporate Issuers:
Indicate the number of shares of the registrant’s Common Stock outstanding as of the latest practicable date.
Class
  
Outstanding at October 18, 2019
Common Stock, $0.10 par value
  
131,432,871





COVANTA HOLDING CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
FORM 10-Q QUARTERLY REPORT
FOR THE QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2019
 
 
 
 
Page
3
4
 
4
 
5
 
6
 
7
 
8
 
9
 
9
 
10
 
10
 
11
 
12
 
13
 
14
 
15
 
15
 
17
 
18
 
19
 
21
23
 
24
 
31
 
33
 
35
37
37
 
 
38
38
38
38
38
38
38
 
OTHER
 
39

2


CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This report contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements are those that address activities, events or developments that we or our management intends, expects, projects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future. They are based on management’s assumptions and assessments in light of past experience and trends, current economic and industry conditions, expected future developments and other relevant factors. They are not guarantees of future performance and actual results. Developments and business decisions may differ from those envisaged by our forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements are also subject to risks and uncertainties, which can affect our performance in both the near and long-term. These forward-looking statements should be considered in light of the information included in this report and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, the Risk Factors, as well as the description of trends and other factors in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, set forth in our 2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K ("10K").



3


PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
COVANTA HOLDING CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Unaudited)
(In millions, except per share amounts)
OPERATING REVENUE:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Waste and service revenue
 
$
353

 
$
332

 
$
1,039

 
$
977

Energy revenue
 
81

 
81

 
247

 
257

Recycled metals revenue
 
19

 
23

 
61

 
72

Other operating revenue
 
12

 
20

 
38

 
62

Total operating revenue
 
465

 
456

 
1,385

 
1,368

OPERATING EXPENSE:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Plant operating expense
 
325

 
308

 
1,038

 
987

Other operating expense, net
 
10

 
17

 
43

 
44

General and administrative expense
 
29

 
27

 
90

 
85

Depreciation and amortization expense
 
55


53


165


162

Impairment charges
 
2

 
49

 
3

 
86

Total operating expense
 
421

 
454

 
1,339

 
1,364

Operating income
 
44

 
2

 
46

 
4

OTHER (EXPENSE) INCOME:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest expense
 
(36
)

(37
)

(108
)

(111
)
Net gain on sale of business and investments
 
1

 
7

 
49

 
217

Loss on extinguishment of debt
 


(3
)



(3
)
Other (expense) income, net
 
(1
)
 

 
1

 
(1
)
Total other (expense) income
 
(36
)
 
(33
)
 
(58
)
 
102

Income (loss) before income tax benefit and equity in net income from unconsolidated investments
 
8

 
(31
)
 
(12
)
 
106

Income tax benefit
 
5


3


6


34

Equity in net income from unconsolidated investments
 
1

 
1

 
4

 
3

Net income (loss)
 
$
14

 
$
(27
)
 
$
(2
)
 
$
143

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
131

 
130

 
131


130

Diluted
 
133

 
130

 
131


132

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings (Loss) Per Share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
$
0.11

 
$
(0.21
)
 
$
(0.02
)

$
1.10

Diluted
 
$
0.10


$
(0.21
)
 
$
(0.02
)

$
1.09

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash Dividend Declared Per Share
 
$
0.25

 
$
0.25

 
$
0.75

 
$
0.75




The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

4


COVANTA HOLDING CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
 
 
 
Three Months Ended September 30,

Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2019

2018

2019

2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Unaudited, in millions)
Net income (loss)
 
$
14

 
$
(27
)
 
$
(2
)
 
$
143

Foreign currency translation
 
(10
)
 
(1
)
 
(11
)
 
1

Net unrealized loss on derivative instruments, net of tax (benefit) expense of ($3), ($1), $2 and ($2), respectively
 
(14
)
 
(7
)
 
(8
)
 
20

Net loss on intra-entity foreign currency transactions, net of tax expense of $0, $0, $0 and $1, respectively
 

 
(1
)
 
(1
)
 
(1
)
Other comprehensive (loss) income
 
(24
)

(9
)
 
(20
)
 
20

Comprehensive (loss) income
 
$
(10
)
 
$
(36
)
 
$
(22
)
 
$
163



The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

5


COVANTA HOLDING CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
September 30, 2019

December 31, 2018
 
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
(In millions, except per
share amounts)
ASSETS
 
 
 
Current:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
65

 
$
58

Restricted funds held in trust
25

 
39

Receivables (less allowances of $8 and $8, respectively)
307

 
338

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
78

 
64

Total Current Assets
475

 
499

Property, plant and equipment, net
2,465

 
2,514

Restricted funds held in trust
8

 
8

Intangible assets, net
263

 
279

Goodwill
321

 
321

Other assets
266

 
222

Total Assets
$
3,798

 
$
3,843

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
 
 
 
Current:
 
 
 
Current portion of long-term debt
$
16

 
$
15

Current portion of project debt
8

 
19

Accounts payable
63

 
76

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
252

 
333

Total Current Liabilities
339

 
443

Long-term debt
2,457

 
2,327

Project debt
126

 
133

Deferred income taxes
372

 
378

Other liabilities
127

 
75

Total Liabilities
3,421

 
3,356

Commitments and Contingencies (Note 13)

 

Equity:
 
 
 
Preferred stock ($0.10 par value; authorized 10 shares; none issued and outstanding)

 

Common stock ($0.10 par value; authorized 250 shares; issued 136 shares, outstanding 131 shares)
14

 
14

Additional paid-in capital
853

 
841

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(51
)
 
(33
)
Accumulated deficit
(439
)
 
(334
)
Treasury stock, at par

 
(1
)
Total equity
377

 
487

Total Liabilities and Equity
$
3,798

 
$
3,843


The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

6


COVANTA HOLDING CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
 
 
 
 
(Unaudited, in millions)
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
Net (loss) income
$
(2
)
 
$
143

Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization expense
165

 
162

Amortization of deferred debt financing costs
3

 
4

Net gain on sale of business and investments
(49
)
 
(217
)
Impairment charges
3

 
86

Loss on extinguishment of debt

 
3

Stock-based compensation expense
20

 
18

Equity in net income from unconsolidated investments
(4
)
 
(3
)
Deferred income taxes
(9
)
 
(32
)
Dividends from unconsolidated investments
5

 
1

Other, net
5

 
(5
)
Change in working capital, net of effects of acquisitions and dispositions
(33
)
 
(14
)
Changes in noncurrent assets and liabilities, net
8

 
1

Net cash provided by operating activities
112

 
147

INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
(121
)
 
(158
)
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired
2

 
(50
)
Proceeds from the sale of assets, net of restricted cash
28

 
125

Property insurance proceeds

 
7

Payment of indemnification claim related to sale of asset

 
(7
)
Investment in equity affiliate
(9
)
 

Other, net
(1
)
 
(4
)
Net cash used in investing activities
(101
)
 
(87
)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
Proceeds from borrowings on long-term debt
75

 
765

Proceeds from borrowings on revolving credit facility
441

 
474

Payments on long-term debt
(12
)
 
(532
)
Payments on revolving credit facility
(375
)
 
(713
)
Payments on project debt
(16
)
 
(21
)
Payment of deferred financing costs
(1
)
 
(9
)
Cash dividends paid to stockholders
(100
)
 
(98
)
Payment of insurance premium financing
(20
)
 
(20
)
Other, net
(8
)
 
(4
)
Net cash used in financing activities
(16
)
 
(158
)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
(2
)

2

Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
(7
)
 
(96
)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period
105

 
194

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period
$
98

 
$
98

 
 
 
 
Reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
65

 
$
51

Restricted funds held in trust- short term
25

 
39

Restricted funds held in trust- long term
8

 
8

Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
$
98

 
$
98


The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

7


COVANTA HOLDING CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY
 
 
 
 
Total
 
 
Common Stock
 
Additional
Paid-In
Capital
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss
 
Accumulated
Earnings (Deficit)
 
Treasury Stock
 
 
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Unaudited, in millions)
Balance as of December 31, 2018
 
136

 
$
14

 
$
841

 
$
(33
)
 
$
(334
)
 
5

 
$
(1
)
 
$
487

Cumulative effect change in accounting for ASU 2018-02 (see Note1)
 

 

 

 
2

 
(2
)
 

 

 

Stock-based compensation expense
 

 

 
8

 

 

 

 

 
8

Dividend declared
 

 

 

 

 
(34
)
 

 

 
(34
)
Shares repurchased for tax withholdings for vested stock awards
 

 

 
(8
)
 

 

 

 

 
(8
)
Other
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
1

 
1

Comprehensive (loss) income, net of income taxes
 

 

 

 
(5
)
 
5

 

 

 

Balance as March 31, 2019
 
136

 
$
14

 
$
841

 
$
(36
)
 
$
(365
)
 
5

 
$

 
$
454

Stock-based compensation expense
 

 

 
7

 

 

 

 

 
7

Dividend declared
 

 

 

 

 
(34
)
 

 

 
(34
)
Other
 

 

 

 

 
1

 

 

 
1

Comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes
 

 

 

 
9

 
(21
)
 

 

 
(12
)
Balance as of June 30, 2019
 
136

 
$
14

 
$
848

 
$
(27
)
 
$
(419
)
 
5

 
$

 
$
416

Stock-based compensation expense
 

 

 
5

 

 

 

 

 
5

Dividend declared
 

 

 

 

 
(34
)
 

 

 
(34
)
Other
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive (loss) income, net of income taxes
 

 

 

 
(24
)
 
14

 

 

 
(10
)
Balance as of September 30, 2019
 
136

 
$
14

 
$
853

 
$
(51
)
 
$
(439
)
 
5

 
$

 
$
377

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance as of December 31, 2017
 
136

 
$
14

 
$
822

 
$
(55
)
 
$
(353
)
 
5

 
$
(1
)
 
$
427

Cumulative effect change in accounting for revenue recognition
 

 

 

 

 
1

 

 

 
1

Stock-based compensation expense
 

 

 
9

 

 

 

 

 
9

Dividend declared
 

 

 

 

 
(33
)
 

 

 
(33
)
Shares repurchased for tax withholdings for vested stock awards
 

 

 
(4
)
 

 

 

 

 
(4
)
Other
 

 

 
1

 

 
(1
)
 

 

 

Comprehensive income, net of income taxes
 

 

 

 
44

 
201

 

 

 
245

Balance as of March 31, 2018
 
136

 
$
14

 
$
828

 
$
(11
)
 
$
(185
)
 
5

 
$
(1
)
 
$
645

Stock-based compensation expense
 

 

 
5

 

 

 

 

 
5

Dividend declared
 

 

 

 

 
(33
)
 

 

 
(33
)
Comprehensive loss, net of income taxes
 

 

 

 
(15
)
 
(31
)
 

 

 
(46
)
Balance as of June 30, 2018
 
136

 
$
14

 
$
833

 
$
(26
)
 
$
(249
)
 
5

 
$
(1
)
 
$
571

Stock-based compensation expense
 

 

 
4

 

 

 

 

 
4

Dividend declared
 

 

 

 

 
(33
)
 

 

 
(33
)
Other
 

 

 

 

 
(1
)
 

 

 
(1
)
Comprehensive loss, net of income taxes
 

 

 

 
(9
)
 
(27
)
 

 

 
(36
)
Balance as of September 30, 2018
 
136

 
$
14

 
$
837

 
$
(35
)
 
$
(310
)
 
5

 
$
(1
)
 
$
505

 



The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

8

COVANTA HOLDING CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)




NOTE 1. ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION
The terms “we,” “our,” “ours,” “us”, "Covanta" and “Company” refer to Covanta Holding Corporation and its subsidiaries; the term “Covanta Energy” refers to our subsidiary Covanta Energy, LLC and its subsidiaries.

Organization
Covanta is one of the world’s largest owners and operators of infrastructure for the conversion of waste to energy (known as “energy-from-waste” or “EfW”), and also owns and operates related waste transport, processing and disposal assets. EfW serves as both a sustainable waste management solution that is environmentally superior to landfilling and as a source of clean energy that reduces overall greenhouse gas emissions and is considered renewable under the laws of many states and under federal law. Our facilities are critical infrastructure assets that allow our customers, which are principally municipal entities, to provide an essential public service.

Our EfW facilities earn revenue from both the disposal of waste and the generation of electricity and/or steam as well as from the sale of metal recovered during the EfW process. We process approximately 21 million tons of solid waste annually. We operate and/or have ownership positions in 41 energy-from-waste facilities, which are primarily located in North America and Ireland. In total, these assets produce approximately 10 million megawatt hours (“MWh”) of baseload electricity annually. We also operate a waste management infrastructure that is complementary to our core EfW business.

In addition, we offer a variety of sustainable waste management solutions in response to customer demand, including industrial, consumer products and healthcare waste handling, treatment and assured destruction, industrial wastewater treatment and disposal, product depackaging and recycling, on-site cleaning services, and transportation services. Together with our processing of non-hazardous "profiled waste" for purposes of assured destruction or sustainability goals in our EfW facilities, we offer these services under our Covanta Environmental Solutions brand.

Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all information and notes thereto required by GAAP for complete consolidated financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for fair presentation have been included in our condensed consolidated financial statements. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Operating results for the interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2019. The condensed consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2018, was derived from audited annual consolidated financial statements, but does not contain all of the notes thereto from the annual consolidated financial statements. This Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the Audited Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying Notes in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 (“Form 10-K”).

Accounting Pronouncements Recently Adopted
In February 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2018-02 Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. The amendments in this update allow a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income ("AOCI") to retained earnings for adjustments to the tax effect of items in AOCI, that were originally recognized in other comprehensive income, related to the new statutory rate prescribed in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act enacted on December 22, 2017, which reduced the US federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%. The amendments in this update should be applied either in the period of adoption or retrospectively to each period (or periods) in which the effect of the change in the US federal corporate income tax rate in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is recognized. Effective January 1, 2019, we adopted this standard and recorded a reclassification of AOCI to accumulated deficit totaling $2 million.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02 Leases (Topic 842) which amended guidance for lease arrangements to increase transparency and comparability by providing additional information to users of financial statements regarding an entity's leasing activities. Subsequent to the issuance of Topic 842, the FASB clarified the guidance through several ASUs; hereinafter the collection of lease guidance is referred to as Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC") 842. The revised guidance seeks to achieve this objective by requiring reporting entities to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet for substantially all lease arrangements. The standard requires a modified retrospective basis adoption.

9

COVANTA HOLDING CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - (Continued)


On January 1, 2019, we adopted ASC 842 using the modified retrospective method and recognized a right of use ("ROU") asset and liability in our condensed consolidated balance sheet in the amount of $57 million and $62 million, respectively, related to our operating leases where we are the lessee. There was no effect on our operating leases as lessor. Results for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 are presented under ASC 842, while prior period amounts were not adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with the historic accounting guidance under ASC Topic 840, Leases.

As part of the adoption, we elected the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance within the new standard, which, among other things, allowed us to:
 
1.
Continue to apply the ASC 840 guidance, including the disclosure requirements, in the comparative periods presented in the year of adoption, the hindsight practical expedient;
2.
Continue applying our current policy for accounting for land easements that existed as of, or expired before, January 1, 2019;
3.
Not separate non-lease components from lease components and instead to account for each separate lease component and the non-lease components associated with that lease component as a single lease component. We elected to apply this practical expedient to all underlying asset classes;
4.
Not apply the recognition requirements in ASC 842 to short-term leases; and
5.
Not record a right of use asset or right of use liability for leases with an asset or liability balance that would be considered immaterial.

Refer to Note 12. Leases for additional disclosures required by ASC 842.

NOTE 2. RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
The following table summarizes recent ASU's issued by the FASB that could have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
Standard
Description
Effective Date
Effect on the financial statements
or other significant matters
ASU 2016-13
Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments as amended by ASU 2018-19, 2019-04 and 2019-05.
The standard amends guidance on the impairment of financial instruments. The ASU estimates credit losses based on expected losses and provides for a simplified accounting model for purchased financial assets with credit deterioration. The standard requires a modified retrospective basis adoption through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the period of adoption.
First quarter of 2020, early adoption is permitted.
We will adopt the standard using a modified retrospective approach, on January 1, 2020. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that ASU 2016-13 will have on its consolidated financial statements, if any.


NOTE 3. NEW BUSINESS AND ASSET MANAGEMENT

Green Investment Group Limited Joint Venture

Rookery EfW

In March 2019, we reached financial close on the Rookery South Energy Recovery Facility (“Rookery”), a 1,600 metric ton-per-day, 60 megawatt EfW facility under construction in Bedfordshire, England. Rookery is our second investment in the UK with our strategic partner, Green Investment Group Limited (“GIG”). Through a 50/50 jointly-owned and governed entity (“Covanta Green”), we and GIG own an 80% interest in the project. We co-developed the project with Veolia ES (UK) Limited (“Veolia”), who owns the remaining 20%. We provide technical oversight during construction and will provide operations and maintenance (“O&M”) services for the facility, and Veolia will be responsible for supplying at least 70% of the waste processing capacity. The facility is expected to commence commercial operations in 2022.

In connection with the transaction, we received $44 million (£34 million) of total consideration for the value of our development costs incurred to date and related fees, and for GIG’s right to invest 40% in the project (50% investment in Covanta Green). For the nine months ended September 30, 2019, as a result of this consideration and a step-up in the fair value of our retained equity

10

COVANTA HOLDING CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - (Continued)


investment, we recorded a gain of $57 million in Net gain on sale of business and investments in our condensed consolidated statement of operations. As of September 30, 2019, $22 million of the consideration received remains in Covanta Green, and as such this amount is included in Prepaid expenses and other current assets and our $8 million equity method investment is included in Other assets in our condensed consolidated balance sheet. The fair value of our retained equity investment in Covanta Green was determined by the fair value of the consideration received from GIG for the right to invest 40% in the project.

Dublin EfW

In February 2018, we completed our first investment with GIG, Covanta Europe Assets Limited, which is structured as a 50/50 jointly-owned and governed entity between Covanta and GIG. As an initial step, we contributed 100% of our Dublin EfW project ("Dublin EfW") to the entity, and GIG acquired a 50% ownership in the entity. We retained a 50% equity interest in the entity and retained our role as O&M service provider for the facility. We received gross proceeds of $167 million ($98 million, net of existing restricted cash), which we used to repay borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility. The sale resulted in our loss of a controlling interest in Dublin EfW, which required the entity to be deconsolidated from our financial statements as of the sale date. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, we recorded a gain on the loss of a controlling interest of the business of $204 million which is included in Net gain on sale of business and investments on our condensed consolidated statement of operations. The gain resulted from the excess of proceeds received plus the fair value of our non-controlling interest in Dublin EfW over our carrying value.

Our 50% equity interest is accounted for under the equity method of accounting. As of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, our equity investment of $139 million and $149 million, respectively, is included in Other assets on our condensed consolidated balance sheet. The fair value of our investment was determined by the fair value of the consideration received for the 50% acquired by GIG. There were no basis differences between the fair value of the acquired investment and the carrying amounts of the underlying net assets as they were fair valued contemporaneously as of the sale date.

Divestiture of Springfield and Pittsfield EfW facilities

During the second quarter of 2019, as part of our ongoing asset rationalization and portfolio optimization efforts, we divested our Pittsfield and Springfield EfW facilities. During the first quarter, we determined that the assets and liabilities associated with these facilities met the criteria for classification as assets held for sale, but did not meet the criteria for classification as discontinued operations as this sale did not represent a strategic shift in our business. During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, we recognized a loss of $11 million, which is included in Net gain on sale of business and investments in our condensed consolidated statement of operations.

NOTE 4. EARNINGS PER SHARE AND EQUITY
Earnings Per Share

We calculate basic Earnings Per Share ("EPS") using net earnings for the period and the weighted average number of outstanding shares of our common stock, par value $0.10 per share, during the period. Diluted earnings per share computations, as calculated under the treasury stock method, include the weighted average number of shares of additional outstanding common stock issuable for stock options, restricted stock awards and restricted stock units whether or not currently exercisable. Diluted earnings per share does not include securities if their effect was anti-dilutive.

Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding were as follows (in millions):
 
 
Three Months Ended September 30,

Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2019

2018

2019

2018
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding
 
131

 
130

 
131

 
130

Dilutive effect of stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units
 
2

 

 

 
2

Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding
 
133

 
130

 
131

 
132

Anti-dilutive stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units excluded from the calculation of EPS
 

 
2

 
2

 



11

COVANTA HOLDING CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - (Continued)



Equity

Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income ("AOCI")

The changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss are as follows (in millions):
 
Foreign Currency Translation
 
Pension and Other Postretirement Plan Unrecognized Net Gain
 
Net Unrealized (Loss) Gain On Derivatives
 
Unrealized loss on intra-entity foreign currency transactions
 
Total
Balance at December 31, 2017
$
(17
)
 
$
2

 
$
(33
)
 
$
(7
)
 
$
(55
)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications
(1
)
 

 
(7
)
 
(1
)
 
(9
)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other income
2

 

 
27

 

 
29

Net current period comprehensive income (loss)
1

 

 
20

 
(1
)
 
20

Balance at September 30, 2018
$
(16
)
 
$
2

 
$
(13
)
 
$
(8
)
 
$
(35
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2018
$
(19
)
 
$
2

 
$
(12
)
 
$
(4
)
 
$
(33
)
Cumulative effect change in accounting for ASU 2018-02 (see Note1)

 

 
2

 

 
2

Balance at January 1, 2019
(19
)
 
2

 
(10
)
 
(4
)
 
(31
)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications
(11
)
 

 
(8
)
 
(1
)
 
(20
)
Net current period comprehensive loss
(11
)
 

 
(8
)
 
(1
)
 
(20
)
Balance at September 30, 2019
$
(30
)
 
$
2

 
$
(18
)
 
$
(5
)
 
$
(51
)
Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income
Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income Component
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018
 
Affected Line Item in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation
 
$
2

 
Net gain on sale of business and investments (1)
Interest rate swap
 
27

 
Net gain on sale of business and investments (1)
 
 
29

 
Total before tax
 
 

 
Tax benefit
Total reclassifications
 
$
29

 
Net of tax
(1) Reclassification from AOCI to Net gain on sale of business and investments, related to the loss of a controlling interest in Dublin EfW, which required the entity to be deconsolidated from our financial statements in February 2018. For additional information see Item 1. Financial Statements, Note 3. New Business and Asset Management- Green Investment Group Limited Joint Venture.

NOTE 5. REVENUE

Disaggregation of revenue

A disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers is presented in our condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018. We have one reportable segment which comprises our entire operating business. 


12

COVANTA HOLDING CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - (Continued)


Performance Obligations and Transaction Price Allocated to Remaining Performance Obligations

ASC 606 requires disclosure of the aggregate amount of transaction price that is allocated to performance obligations that have not yet been satisfied as of September 30, 2019. The guidance provides certain conditions (identified as "practical expedients") that limit this disclosure requirement. We have contracts that meet the following practical expedients provided by ASC 606:

1.
The performance obligation is part of a contract that has an original expected duration of one year or less;
2.
Revenue is recognized from the satisfaction of the performance obligations in the amount billable to our customer that corresponds directly with the value to the customer of our performance completed to date (i.e. “right-to-invoice” practical expedient); and/or
3.
The variable consideration is allocated entirely to a wholly unsatisfied performance obligation or to a wholly unsatisfied promise to transfer a distinct service or a series of distinct services that are substantially the same and that have the same pattern of transfer to our customer (i.e. “series practical expedient”).

The following table shows our remaining performance obligations which primarily consists of the fixed consideration contained in our contracts as of September 30, 2019 (dollars in millions):
 
Total
Total remaining performance obligation
$
6,262

Percentage expected to be recognized:
 
Remainder of 2019
3
%
2020
10
%


Contract Balances

The following table reflects the balance in our contract assets, which we classify as accounts receivable unbilled and present net in Receivables, and our contract liabilities, which we classify as deferred revenue and present in Accrued expenses and other current liabilities in our condensed consolidated balance sheet (in millions):
 
 
September 30,
2019
 
December 31,
2018
Unbilled receivables
 
$
18

 
$
16

Deferred revenue
 
$
17

 
$
15



For the nine months ended September 30, 2019, revenue recognized that was included in deferred revenue in our condensed consolidated balance sheet at the beginning of the period totaled $14 million.

NOTE 6. STOCK-BASED AWARD PLANS
During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, we awarded certain employees grants of 1,110,680 restricted stock units ("RSUs"). The RSUs will be expensed over the requisite service period. The terms of the RSUs include vesting provisions based solely on continued service. If the service criteria are satisfied, the RSUs will generally vest during March of 2020, 2021, and 2022.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, we awarded certain employees 395,320 performance based RSUs of which 50% will vest based upon our cumulative Free Cash Flow per share target over a three year performance period and 50% will vest based on a total shareholder return ("TSR") against metrics consistent with market practices and our peers.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, we awarded 81,635 RSUs and 6,236 restricted stock awards ("RSAs") for annual director compensation. In addition, during the nine months ended September 30, 2019, we awarded 18,179 RSUs for quarterly director fees to certain of our directors who elected to receive RSUs in lieu of cash payments. We determined the service vesting condition of these RSU's and RSA's to be non-substantive and, in accordance with accounting principles for stock compensation, recorded the entire fair value of the awards as compensation expense on the grant date.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, we withheld 452,025 shares of our common stock in connection with tax withholdings for vested stock awards.


13

COVANTA HOLDING CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - (Continued)


Compensation expense related to our stock-based awards was as follows (in millions):
 
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Share based compensation expense
 
$
5

 
$
4

 
$
20

 
$
18



Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense and weighted-average years to be recognized are as follows (in millions, except for weighted average years):
 
 
As of September 30, 2019
 
 
Unrecognized stock-
based compensation    
 
    Weighted-average years    
to be recognized
Restricted stock awards
 
$
1

 
0.50
Restricted stock units
 
$
21

 
1.68


NOTE 7. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
Pass through costs

Pass through costs are costs for which we receive a direct contractually committed reimbursement from the public sector client that sponsors an EfW project. These costs generally include utility charges, insurance premiums, ash residue transportation and disposal, and certain chemical costs. These costs are recorded net of public sector client reimbursements as a reduction to Plant operating expense in our condensed consolidated statement of operations.

Pass through costs were as follows (in millions):
 
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Pass through costs
 
$
12

 
$
12

 
$
37

 
$
38



Other operating expenses, net

Insurance Recoveries

Fairfax County Energy-from-Waste Facility

In February 2017, our Fairfax County energy-from-waste facility experienced a fire in the front-end receiving portion of the facility. During the first quarter of 2017, we completed our evaluation of the impact of this event and recorded an immaterial asset impairment, which we have since recovered from insurance proceeds. The facility resumed operations in December 2017. We expect to receive the remaining insurance recoveries for both property loss and business interruption during the fourth quarter of 2019.

The cost of repair or replacement of assets and business interruption losses are insured under the terms of applicable insurance policies, subject to deductibles. We recorded insurance gains, as a reduction to Other operating expense, net, in our condensed consolidated statement of operations as follows (in millions):
 
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Insurance gains for property and clean-up costs, net of impairment charges
 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
7

Insurance gains for business interruption costs, net of costs incurred
 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
8




14

COVANTA HOLDING CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - (Continued)


Impairment Charges

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, we identified an indicator of impairment associated with certain of our EfW facilities where the expectation was, more likely than not, that the assets would not be operated through their previously estimated economic useful lives. We performed recoverability tests to determine if these facilities were impaired the respective balance sheet date. As a result, based on expected cash flows utilizing Level 3 inputs, we recorded a non-cash impairment charge for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 of $49 million and $86 million, respectively, to reduce the carrying value of the facilities to their estimated fair value.

Equity Method Investments

Summarized financial information of our significant equity method investments is presented as follows (in millions):

 
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Statement of Operations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating revenue
 
$
27

 
$
25

 
$
81

 
$
66

Operating income
 
$
7

 
$
7

 
$
23

 
$
19

Net income
 
$
2

 
$
2

 
$
9

 
$
6



NOTE 8. INCOME TAXES

We generally record our interim tax provision based upon a projection of the Company’s annual effective tax rate ("AETR"). This AETR is applied to the year-to-date consolidated pre-tax income to determine the interim provision for income taxes before discrete items. We update the AETR on a quarterly basis as the pre-tax income projections are revised and tax laws are enacted. The effective tax rate ("ETR") each period is impacted by a number of factors, including the relative mix of domestic and international earnings, adjustments to the valuation allowances and discrete items. The currently forecasted ETR may vary from the actual year-end due to the changes in these factors.

The Company’s global ETR for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 was 48% and (32)%, respectively, including discrete tax items. The increase in the ETR is primarily due to the change in the mix of earnings, the impact of non-recurring transactions and the discrete tax benefits attributable to the New Jersey State Tax Law change in 2018.

NOTE 9. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
Fair Value Measurements
Authoritative guidance associated with fair value measurements provides a framework for measuring fair value and establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value, giving the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 inputs), then significant other observable inputs (Level 2 inputs) and the lowest priority to significant unobservable inputs (Level 3 inputs). The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments:

For marketable securities, the carrying value of these amounts is a reasonable estimate of their fair value.
Fair values for long-term debt and project debt are determined using quoted market prices (Level 1).
The fair value of our floating to fixed rate interest rate swaps is determined using discounted cash flow valuation methodologies that apply the appropriate forward floating rate curve observable in the market to the contractual terms of our swap agreements. The fair value of the interest rate swaps is adjusted to reflect counterparty risk of non-performance, and is based on the counterparty’s credit spread in the credit derivatives market.
The fair values of our energy hedges were determined using the spread between our fixed price and the forward curve information available within the market.

The estimated fair value amounts have been determined using available market information and appropriate valuation methodologies. However, considerable judgment is required in interpreting market data to develop estimates of fair value. Accordingly, the estimates presented herein are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that we would realize in a current market

15

COVANTA HOLDING CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - (Continued)


exchange and are based on pertinent information available to us as of September 30, 2019. Such amounts have not been comprehensively revalued for purposes of these financial statements and current estimates of fair value may differ significantly from the amounts presented herein.

The following table presents information about the fair value measurement of our assets and liabilities as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 (in millions):
Financial Instruments Recorded at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis:
 
Fair Value Measurement Level
 
September 30, 2019

December 31, 2018
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments — mutual and bond funds (1)
 
1
 
$
2

 
$
2

Total assets
 
 
 
$
2

 
$
2

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative liability — energy hedges (2)
 
2
 
$

 
$
13

Derivative liability — interest rate swaps (2)
 
2
 
3

 

Total liabilities
 
 
 
$
3

 
$
13

(1)
Included in Other assets in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.
(2)
The short-term balance is included in Accrued expenses and other current liabilities and the long-term balance is included in Other liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

The following financial instruments are recorded at their carrying amount (in millions):
 
 
As of September 30, 2019
 
As of December 31, 2018
Financial Instruments Recorded at Carrying Amount:
 
Carrying
Amount
 
Estimated
Fair Value
 
Carrying
Amount
 
Estimated
Fair Value
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Long-term debt 
 
$
2,473

 
$
2,546

 
$
2,342

 
$
2,245

Project debt
 
$
134

 
$
140

 
$
152

 
$
154



We are required to disclose the fair value of financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate that value. The fair value of short-term financial instruments such as cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximates their carrying value on the condensed consolidated balance sheets due to their short-term nature.

In addition to the recurring fair value measurements, certain assets are measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis when an indication of impairment is identified. Long-lived assets, such as property and equipment and identifiable intangibles with finite useful lives, are periodically evaluated for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. For the purpose of impairment testing, we review the recoverable amount of individual assets or groups of assets at the lowest level of which there are there are identifiable cash flows, which is generally at the facility level. Assets are reviewed using factors including, but not limited to, our future operating plans and projected cash flows. The determination of whether impairment has occurred is based on the assets fair value as compared to the carrying value. Fair value is generally determined using an income approach, which requires discounting the estimated future cash flows associated with the asset. If the asset carrying amount exceeds its fair value, an impairment charge is recognized in the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the fair value of the asset.


16

COVANTA HOLDING CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - (Continued)


NOTE 10. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
Energy Price Risk

We have entered into a variety of contractual hedging arrangements, designated as cash flow hedges, in order to mitigate our exposure to energy market risk, and will continue to do so in the future. Our efforts in this regard involve only mitigation of price volatility for the energy we produce and do not involve taking positions (either long or short) on energy prices in excess of our physical generation. The amount of energy generation which we have hedged on a forward basis under agreements with various financial institutions as of September 30, 2019 is indicated in the following table (in millions):
Calendar Year
 
Hedged MWh
2019
 
0.7
2020
 
1.4
2021
 
0.6
2022
 
0.1
Total
 
2.8


As of September 30, 2019, the fair value of the energy derivative asset and liability were immaterial. The change in fair value was recorded as a component of AOCI.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, cash provided by and used in energy derivative settlements of $16 million and $1 million, respectively, was included in net cash provided by operating activities on our condensed consolidated statement of cash flows.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, cash provided by and used in energy derivative settlements of $8 million and $17 million, respectively, was included in the change in net cash provided by operating activities on our condensed consolidated statement of cash flows.

Interest Rate Swaps

We may utilize derivative instruments to reduce our exposure to fluctuations in cash flows due to changes in variable interest rates paid on our direct borrowings under the senior secured revolving credit facility and term loan of our subsidiary Covanta Energy (collectively referred to as the "Credit Facilities"). To achieve that objective, during the nine months ended September 30, 2019, we entered into pay-fixed, receive-variable swap agreements with a financial institution on $150 million notional amount of our variable rate debt under the Credit Facilities. The interest rate swaps are designated specifically to the Credit Facilities as a cash flow hedge and are recorded at fair value with changes in fair value recorded as a component of AOCI. For further information on our Credit Facilities see Note 11. Consolidated Debt.

As of September 30, 2019, the fair value of the interest rate swap derivative liability of $3 million was recorded in Other long-term liabilities on our condensed consolidated balance sheet.


17

COVANTA HOLDING CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - (Continued)


NOTE 11. CONSOLIDATED DEBT
Consolidated debt is as follows (in millions):
 
Average
 Rate (1)
 
September 30, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
LONG-TERM DEBT:
 
 
 
 
 
Revolving credit facility
4.39%
 
$
278

 
$
212

Term loan, net
4.35%
 
387

 
394

Credit Facilities subtotal
 
 
665

 
606

Senior Notes, net of deferred financing costs
 
 
1,185

 
1,184

Tax-Exempt Bonds, net of deferred financing costs
 
 
538

 
488

Equipment financing arrangements
 
 
85

 
64

Total long-term debt
 
 
2,473

 
2,342

Less: Current portion
 
 
(16
)
 
(15
)
Noncurrent long-term debt
 
 
$
2,457

 
$
2,327

 
 
 
 
 
 
PROJECT DEBT:
 
 
 
 
 
Total project debt, net of deferred financing costs and unamortized debt premium
 
 
$
134

 
$
152

Less: Current portion
 
 
(8
)
 
(19
)
Noncurrent project debt
 
 
$
126

 
$
133

 
 
 
 
 
 
TOTAL CONSOLIDATED DEBT
 
 
$
2,607

 
$
2,494

Less: Current debt
 
 
(24
)

(34
)
TOTAL NONCURRENT CONSOLIDATED DEBT
 
 
$
2,583

 
$
2,460


(1) During the nine months ended September 30, 2019 we entered into interest rate swap agreements to swap the LIBOR portion of our floating interest rate to a fixed rate for our variable rate debt under the Credit Facilities. See Note 10. Derivative Instruments for further information.

Our subsidiary, Covanta Energy, has a senior secured credit facility consisting of a revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”) and a term loan (the “Term Loan”). The nature and terms of our Credit Facilities, Senior Notes, Tax-Exempt Bonds, project debt and other long-term debt are described in detail in Note 16. Consolidated Debt in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.

Revolving Credit Facility
As of September 30, 2019, we had unutilized capacity under the Revolving Credit Facility as follows (in millions):
 
Total Facility Commitment
 
Expiring
 
Direct Borrowings
 
Outstanding Letters of Credit
 
Unutilized Capacity
Revolving Credit Facility
$
900

 
2023
 
$
278

 
$
229

 
$
393


Credit Agreement Covenants
The loan documentation governing the Credit Facilities contains various affirmative and negative covenants, as well as financial maintenance covenants (financial ratios), that limit our ability to engage in certain types of transactions. We were in compliance with all of the affirmative and negative covenants under the Credit Facilities as of September 30, 2019.

Equipment Financing

During March 2019, we commenced operations at the East 91st Street Marine Transfer Station, which is the second of a pair of marine transfer stations utilized under a 20-year waste transport and disposal agreement between Covanta and New York City's Department of Sanitation ("DSNY"). In accordance with the contract, we are responsible for purchasing and maintaining a sufficient number of transportation assets to allow the DSNY owned transfer stations to effectively handle the expected volumes of waste. As such, we entered into financing arrangements for the purchase of railcars, trailers, containers and barges (the "Equipment") to continue to meet the requirements of the DSNY contract. We commenced investing in the Equipment during 2019 and borrowed

18

COVANTA HOLDING CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - (Continued)


$25 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2019. Payments on these borrowings began in May 2019 and will continue monthly for a duration of 10 to 12 years with fixed interest rates ranging from 3.58% to 4.75%.

Pennsylvania Tax-Exempt Bonds

In August 2019, we entered into a loan agreement with the Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority under which they agreed to issue $50 million in aggregate principal amount of tax-exempt Solid Waste Disposal Bonds for the purpose of funding qualified capital expenditures at certain of our facilities in Pennsylvania and paying related costs of issuance (the “Pennsylvania Bonds”). The Pennsylvania Bonds bear interest at a fixed rate of 3.25%, payable on February 1 and August 1 of each year, and have a legal maturity of August 1, 2039. The Pennsylvania Bonds are senior unsecured obligations of Covanta Holding Corporation and are not guaranteed by any of our subsidiaries.

NOTE 12. LEASES

We determine if an arrangement contains a lease at inception. ROU assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the estimated present value of lease payments over the lease term.

Our leases consist of leaseholds on EfW facilities, land, trucks and automobiles, office space and machinery and equipment. We utilized a portfolio approach in determining our discount rate. The portfolio approach takes into consideration the range of the term, the range of the lease payments, the category of the underlying asset and our estimated incremental borrowing rate, which is derived from information available at the lease commencement date, in determining the present value of lease payments. We also give consideration to our recent debt issuances as well as publicly available data for instruments with similar characteristics when calculating our incremental borrowing rates.

Our lease term includes options to extend the lease when it is reasonably certain that we will exercise that option. Leases with a term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet, per the election of the practical expedient noted above in Note 1. Organization and Basis of Presentation - Accounting Pronouncements Recently Adopted.

We recognize lease expense for these leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term. We recognize variable lease payments in the period in which the obligation for those payments is incurred. Variable lease payments that depend on an index or a rate are initially measured using the index or rate at the commencement date, otherwise variable lease payments are recognized in the period incurred.

The components of lease expense were as follows (in millions):
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30, 2019
Finance lease:
 
 
 
Amortization of assets, included in Depreciation and amortization expense
$
1

 
$
5

Interest on lease liabilities, included in Interest expense
1

 
3

Operating lease:
 
 
 
Amortization of assets, included in Total operating expense
2

 
6

Interest on lease liabilities, included in Total operating expense
1

 
2

Total net lease cost
$
5

 
$
16


 

19

COVANTA HOLDING CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - (Continued)


Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases was as follows (in millions, except lease term and discount rate):
 
 
September 30, 2019
Operating leases:
 
 
Operating lease ROU assets, included in Other assets
 
$
48

 
 
 
Current operating lease liabilities, included in Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
 
$
6

Noncurrent operating lease liabilities, included in Other liabilities
 
47

Total operating lease liabilities
 
$
53

 
 
 
Finance leases:
 
 
Property and equipment, at cost
 
$
166

Accumulated amortization
 
(23
)
Property and equipment, net
 
$
143

 
 
 
Current obligations of finance leases, included in Current portion of long-term debt
 
$
6

Finance leases, net of current obligations, included in Long-term debt
 
83

Total finance lease liabilities
 
$
89



Supplemental cash flow and other information related to leases was as follows (in millions):
 
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
 
 
Operating cash flows related to operating leases
 
$
7

Financing cash flows related to finance leases
 
$
4

 
 
 
Weighted average remaining lease term (in years):
 
 
Operating leases
 
11.8

Finance leases
 
33.4

 
 
 
Weighted average discount rate:
 
 
Operating leases
 
4.65
%
Finance leases
 
5.06
%


Maturities of lease liabilities were as follows (in millions):
 
September 30, 2019
 
Operating Leases
 
Finance Leases
Remainder of 2019
$
2

 
$
3

2020
8

 
11

2021
8

 
11

2022
7

 
11

2023
7

 
10

2024 and thereafter
38

 
111

Total lease payments
70

 
157

Less: Amounts representing interest
(17
)
 
(68
)
Total lease obligations
$
53

 
$
89



As of September 30, 2019, we had no additional significant operating or finance leases that had not yet commenced.

Disclosures related to periods prior to the adoption of ASC 842

Rental expense was $5 million and $17 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively.


20

COVANTA HOLDING CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - (Continued)


NOTE 13. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

We and/or our subsidiaries are party to a number of claims, lawsuits and pending actions, most of which are routine and all of which are incidental to our business. We assess the likelihood of potential losses on an ongoing basis to determine whether losses are considered probable and reasonably estimable prior to recording an estimate of the outcome. If we can only estimate the range of a possible loss, an amount representing the low end of the range of possible outcomes is recorded. The final consequences of these proceedings are not presently determinable with certainty. As of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, accruals for our loss contingencies recorded in Accrued expenses and other current liabilities in our condensed consolidated balance sheets were $1 million and $16 million, respectively.

Environmental Matters

Our operations are subject to environmental regulatory laws and environmental remediation laws. Although our operations are occasionally subject to proceedings and orders pertaining to emissions into the environment and other environmental violations, which may result in fines, penalties, damages or other sanctions, we believe that we are in substantial compliance with existing environmental laws and regulations.

We may be identified, along with other entities, as being among parties potentially responsible for contribution to costs associated with the correction and remediation of environmental conditions at disposal sites subject to federal and/or analogous state laws. In certain instances, we may be exposed to joint and several liabilities for remedial action or damages. Our liability in connection with such environmental claims will depend on many factors, including our volumetric share of waste, the total cost of remediation, and the financial viability of other companies that also sent waste to a given site and, in the case of divested operations, the contractual arrangement with the purchaser of such operations.

The potential costs related to the matters described below and the possible impact on future operations are uncertain due in part to the complexity of governmental laws and regulations and their interpretations, the varying costs and effectiveness of cleanup technologies, the uncertain level of insurance or other types of recovery and the questionable level of our responsibility. Although the ultimate outcome and expense of any litigation, including environmental remediation, is uncertain, we believe that the following proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on our condensed consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

Lower Passaic River Matter. In August 2004, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (the “EPA”) notified our subsidiary, Covanta Essex Company (“Essex”), that it was a potentially responsible party (“PRP”) for Superfund response actions in the Lower Passaic River Study Area (“LPRSA”), a 17 mile stretch of river in northern New Jersey. Essex’s LPRSA costs to date are not material to its financial position and results of operations; however, to date the EPA has not sought any LPRSA remedial costs or natural resource damages against PRPs. In March 2016, the EPA released the Record of Decision (“ROD”) for its Focused Feasibility Study of the lower 8 miles of the LPRSA; the EPA’s selected remedy includes capping/dredging of sediment, institutional controls and long-term monitoring. In June 2018, PRP Occidental Chemical Corporation (“OCC”) filed a federal Superfund lawsuit against 120 PRPs including Essex with respect to past and future response costs expended by OCC with respect to the LPRSA. The Essex facility started operating in 1990 and Essex does not believe there have been any releases to the LPRSA, but in any event believes any releases would have been de minimis considering the history of the LPRSA; however, it is not possible at this time to predict that outcome or to estimate the range of possible loss relating to Essex’s liability in the matter, including for LPRSA remedial costs and/or natural resource damages.

Other Matters

Durham-York Contractor Arbitration

In January 2019, the arbitrator issued a decision regarding outstanding disputes with our primary contractor for the Durham-York construction project, which related to: (i) claims by the contractor for the balance of the contract price withheld, change orders, delay damages and other expense reimbursement and (ii) claims by us for charges and liquidated damages for project completion delays. During July 2019, we paid the final settlement for this matter.
 

21

COVANTA HOLDING CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) - (Continued)


Other Commitments

Other commitments as of September 30, 2019 were as follows (in millions):
Letters of credit issued under the Revolving Credit Facility
 
$
229

Letters of credit - other
 
38

Surety bonds
 
134

Total other commitments — net
 
$
401



The letters of credit were issued to secure our performance under various contractual undertakings related to our domestic and international projects or to secure obligations under our insurance program. Each letter of credit relating to a project is required to be maintained in effect for the period specified in related project contracts, and generally may be drawn if it is not renewed prior to expiration of that period.

We believe that we will be able to fully perform under our contracts to which these existing letters of credit relate, and that it is unlikely that letters of credit would be drawn because of a default of our performance obligations. If any of these letters of credit were to be drawn by the beneficiary, the amount drawn would be immediately repayable by us to the issuing bank. If we do not immediately repay such amounts drawn under letters of credit issued under the Revolving Credit Facility, unreimbursed amounts would be treated under the Credit Facilities as either additional term loans or as revolving loans.

The surety bonds listed in the table above relate primarily to construction and performance obligations and support for other obligations, including closure requirements of various energy projects when such projects cease operating. Were these bonds to be drawn upon, we would have a contractual obligation to indemnify the surety company.

We have certain contingent obligations related to our Senior Notes and Tax-Exempt Bonds. Holders may require us to repurchase their Senior Notes and Tax-Exempt Bonds if a fundamental change occurs. For specific criteria related to the redemption features of the Senior Notes and Tax-Exempt Bonds, see Note 11. Consolidated Debt of this report and Item 8. Financial Statements And Supplementary Data — Note 16. Consolidated Debt of our Annual Report on Form 10-K.

We have issued or are party to guarantees and related contractual support obligations undertaken pursuant to agreements to construct and operate waste and energy facilities. For some projects, such performance guarantees include obligations to repay certain financial obligations if the project revenue is insufficient to do so, or to obtain or guarantee financing for a project. With respect to our businesses, we have issued guarantees to municipal clients and other parties that our subsidiaries will perform in accordance with contractual terms, including, where required, the payment of damages or other obligations. Additionally, damages payable under such guarantees for our energy-from-waste facilities could expose us to recourse liability on project debt. If we must perform under one or more of such guarantees, our liability for damages upon contract termination would be reduced by funds held in trust and proceeds from sales of the facilities securing the project debt and is presently not estimable. Depending upon the circumstances giving rise to such damages, the contractual terms of the applicable contracts, and the contract counterparty’s choice of remedy at the time a claim against a guarantee is made, the amounts owed pursuant to one or more of such guarantees could be greater than our then-available sources of funds. To date, we have not incurred material liabilities under such guarantees.

We have entered into certain guarantees of performance in connection with our recent divestiture activities. Under the terms of the arrangements, we guarantee performance should the guaranteed party fail to fulfill its obligations under the specified arrangements.


22


Item 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS ("MD&A")

The following MD&A is intended to help the reader understand the results of operations and financial condition of Covanta Holding Corporation and its subsidiaries; ("Covanta" or the "Company") for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019. The term "Covanta Energy" refers to our subsidiary Covanta Energy, LLC and its subsidiaries. The financial information as of September 30, 2019 should be read in conjunction with the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018 contained in our 2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Factors Affecting Business Conditions and Financial Results

The following are various published pricing indices relating to the U.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.
 
 
September 30, 2019
 
September 30, 2018
Consumer Price Index (1)
 
1.7
%
 
2.3
%
PJM Pricing (Electricity) (2)
 
$
22.06

 
$
30.23

NE ISO Pricing (Electricity) (3)
 
$
25.54

 
$
34.65

Henry Hub Pricing (Natural Gas) (4)
 
$
2.38

 
$
2.93

#1 HMS Pricing (Ferrous Metals) (5)
 
$
229

 
$
323

Old Sheet & Old Cast (Non-Ferrous Metals) (6)
 
$
0.41

 
$
0.59

(1)
Represents the year-over-year percent change in the Headline CPI number. The Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) data is provided by the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics.
(2)
Average price per MWh for Q3 2019 and Q3 2018. Pricing for the PJM PSEG Zone is provided by the PJM ISO.
(3)
Average price per MWh for Q3 2019 and Q3 2018. Pricing for the Mass Hub Zone is provided by the NE ISO.
(4)
Average price per MMBtu for Q3 2019 and Q3 2018. The Henry Hub Pricing data is provided by the Natural Gas Weekly Update, U.S. Energy Information Administration.
(5)
Average price per gross ton for Q3 2019 and Q3 2018. The #1 Heavy Melt Steel ("HMS") composite index ($/gross ton) price as published by American Metal Market.
(6)
Average price per pound for Q3 2019 and Q3 2018. Calculated using the high price of Old Cast Aluminum Scrap ($/lb) as published by American Metal Market.

Seasonal - Our quarterly Operating income within the same fiscal year typically differs 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 income 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.

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. Such factors have caused, and may continue to cause, our energy revenue and/or our recycled metals revenue to fluctuate to an extent that may materially affect our quarterly and annual financial results.The commodity markets into which sell energy and metals are currently at levels significantly below prior periods.

Energy Markets - A portion of our energy revenue is sold under short term arrangements at prevailing market prices. While we have a disciplined program to hedge our exposure to market price volatility (see Item 1. Financial Statements - Note 10. Derivative Instruments), 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.


23


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. Demand for ferrous metals is not always consistent with demand for non-ferrous metals, or among different types of non-ferrous metals. In addition, recycled metal prices for both ferrous and non-ferrous materials are impacted directly and indirectly by tariff and trade actions both by the US as well as foreign countries. Recent efforts by the US government to place tariffs on imported steel and aluminum have increased domestic demand for our products. The ultimate impact of these tariffs is unclear as retaliation to these tariffs by foreign counties could reduce or eliminate any benefits to us.

Brexit Implications - In March, 2017, the UK notified the EU of its intention to leave the EU (so-called “Brexit”). The parties have since been negotiating terms of a Brexit agreement covering rights and obligations during a transition period and future relations between the UK and the EU on a range of issues. Any final agreement must be approved by Britain’s Parliament and all EU member states. Negotiations have resulted in several versions of a proposed agreement, each of which thus far has failed to receive approval from Parliament. It is unclear whether any proposed agreement regarding Brexit will receive required approvals, or whether another course of action will be taken. We have studied and consulted with local experts regarding the potential market and economic impacts of Brexit on the UK, with a particular focus on potential impacts to the waste and energy markets as they might affect our plans to expand our business with GIG. For further information see Item 1. Financial Statements - Note 3. New Business and Asset Management - Green Investment Group Limited Joint Venture. The government of the UK has shown no indication of an intention to rollback or reverse its policy support for environmental protection generally, the renewables market, or for EfW specifically. As such, while Brexit, if it occurs, may have some impact on construction costs for future UK EfW projects, we do not believe Brexit, if it occurs, will materially impact the key market and economic drivers for investment in the combined pipeline of EfW projects we are pursuing jointly with GIG.

Quarter Updates

Capital Allocation

Our key capital allocation activities for the three months ended September 30, 2019 included the following:

$34 million in dividends declared to stockholders; and

$12 million for growth investments, including $2 million to service a second marine transfer station under our New York City waste transport and disposal agreement, $1 million in our UK equity affiliate. Other growth investment projects include metals recovery, ash processing technology and investments related to our profiled waste and environmental services businesses.

New Business Development and Asset Management

We have executed on the following during the third quarter of 2019:

As part of our ongoing asset rationalization and portfolio optimization efforts, we divested our Wallingford transfer station.

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. We have one reportable segment which comprises our entire operating business.

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 and Note 3. New Business and Asset Management 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 Polices and Note 3. New Business and Asset Management of our annual report on Form 10-K, our business development initiatives, contract transitions, and acquisitions resulted in various transactions that are reflected in comparative revenue and expense. These factors must be taken into account in developing meaningful comparisons between the periods compared below.

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.

24


Contract “transitions”: includes the impact of the expiration of: (a) long-term major waste and service 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.

25


CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS — OPERATING INCOME

 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Variance
Increase (Decrease)
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019 vs 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(In millions)
OPERATING REVENUE:
 
 
 
 
 
Waste and service revenue
$
353

 
$
332

 
$
21

Energy revenue
81

 
81

 

Recycled metals revenue
19

 
23

 
(4
)
Other operating revenue
12

 
20

 
(8
)
Total operating revenue
465

 
456

 
9

OPERATING EXPENSE:
 
 
 
 
 
Plant operating expense
325

 
308

 
17

Other operating expense, net
10

 
17

 
(7
)
General and administrative expense
29

 
27

 
2

Depreciation and amortization expense
55

 
53

 
2

Impairment charges
2

 
49

 
(47
)
Total operating expense
421

 
454

 
(33
)
Operating income
$
44

 
$
2

 
$
42


 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
Variance
Increase (Decrease)
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019 vs 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(In millions)
OPERATING REVENUE:
 
 
 
 
 
Waste and service revenue
$
1,039

 
$
977

 
$
62

Energy revenue
247

 
257

 
(10
)
Recycled metals revenue
61

 
72

 
(11
)
Other operating revenue
38

 
62

 
(24
)
Total operating revenue
1,385

 
1,368

 
17

OPERATING EXPENSE:
 
 
 
 
 
Plant operating expense
1,038

 
987

 
51

Other operating expense, net
43

 
44

 
(1
)
General and administrative expense
90

 
85

 
5

Depreciation and amortization expense
165

 
162

 
3

Impairment charges
3

 
86

 
(83
)
Total operating expense
1,339

 
1,364

 
(25
)
Operating income
$
46

 
$
4

 
$
42


26


Operating Revenue

Waste and Service Revenue
In millions:
Three Months Ended September 30,

Nine Months Ended September 30,

Variance
Increase (Decrease)
 
2019
 
2018

2019
 
2018

Three Months

Nine Months
EfW tip fees
$
163

 
$
155

 
$
474

 
$
465


$
8


$
9

EfW service fees
114

 
104

 
348

 
304

 
10


44

Environmental services
36

 
36

 
105

 
105

 



Municipal services
64

 
55

 
174

 
154

 
9


20

Other revenue
8

 
9

 
25

 
29


(1
)

(4
)
Intercompany
(34
)
 
(27
)
 
(87
)
 
(80
)

(7
)

(7
)
Total waste and service revenue
$
353


$
332


$
1,039


$
977


$
21


$
62

Certain amounts may not total due to rounding.
EfW facilities - Tons (1) (in millions):
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
Variance
Increase (Decrease)
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
 
Three Months
 
Nine Months
Tip fee - contracted
2.3

 
2.3

 
6.6

 
6.7

 

 
(0.1
)
Tip fee - uncontracted
0.5

 
0.5

 
1.4

 
1.6

 

 
(0.2
)
Service fee
2.7

 
2.4

 
8.1

 
6.8

 
0.3

 
1.3

Total tons
5.5

 
5.1

 
16.1

 
15.0

 
0.4

 
1.1

(1) Includes solid tons only.
Certain amounts may not total due to rounding.

For the three month comparative period, waste and service revenue increased by $21 million, primarily driven by $11 million of organic growth and the acquisition of two Palm Beach County EfW facility operating contracts in the third quarter of 2018 ($13 million). Within organic growth, EfW tip fee revenue increased by $10 million, with $6 million due to higher prices and $4 million due to increased volume processed.

For the nine month comparative period, waste and service revenue increased by $62 million, primarily driven by $36 million of organic growth and the acquisition of two Palm Beach County EfW facility operating contracts in the third quarter of 2018 ($41 million), partially offset by $7 million due to service contract transitions. Within organic growth, EfW tip fee revenue increased by $21 million, driven by higher prices, EfW service fees increased by $11 million, and municipal services revenue increased by $9 million.

Energy Revenue

Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Variance
Increase (Decrease)
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019 vs 2018
 
Revenue (2)
 
Volume (2) (3)
 
Revenue (2)
 
Volume (2) (3)
 
Revenue
 
Volume
Energy Sales (1)
$
72

 
 
 
$
67

 
 
 
$
5

 
 
Capacity
9

 
 
 
13

 
 
 
(4
)
 


Total energy
$
81

 
1.7

 
$
81

 
1.6

 
$

 



27



Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
Variance
Increase (Decrease)
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019 vs 2018
 
Revenue (2)
 
Volume (2) (3)
 
Revenue (2)
 
Volume (2) (3)
 
Revenue
 
Volume
Energy Sales (1)
$
213

 
 
 
$
219

 
 
 
$
(6
)
 
 
Capacity
34

 
 
 
39

 
 
 
(5
)
 


Total energy
$
247

 
4.8

 
$
257

 
4.9

 
$
(10
)
 

(1) Includes non-energy portion of wholesale load serving.
(2) Covanta share only. Represents the sale of electricity and steam based upon output delivered and capacity provided.
(3) Steam converted to MWh at an assumed average rate of 11 klbs of steam / MWh.
Certain amounts may not total due to rounding.

For the three month comparative period, energy revenue was flat, with new wholesale load serving revenue of $6 million and a $2 million increase in production at EfW facilities offset by unfavorable EfW energy pricing and capacity.

For the nine month comparative period, energy revenue decreased by $10 million, driven by unfavorable pricing of $13 million, decreased production at EfW facilities ($2 million), and the deconsolidation of the Dublin EfW facility ($5 million), partially offset by increases related to contract transitions of $5 million and new retail load serving revenue of $8 million.
 
Recycled Metals Revenue
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Metal Revenue
(in millions)
 
Tons Recovered
(in thousands)
 
Tons Sold
(in thousands)
(1)
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Ferrous Metal
$
11

 
$
14

 
112

 
111

 
96

 
90

Non-Ferrous Metal
8

 
9

 
13

 
13

 
8

 
7

Total
$
19

 
$
23

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
Metal Revenue
(in millions)
 
Tons Recovered
(in thousands)
 
Tons Sold
(in thousands)
(1)
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Ferrous Metal
$
35

 
$
44

 
319

 
320

 
275

 
248

Non-Ferrous Metal
26

 
28

 
38

 
36

 
23

 
21

Total
$
61

 
$
72

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1) Represents the portion of total volume from Covanta's share of revenue under applicable client revenue sharing arrangements.
Certain amounts may not total due to rounding.

For the three month comparative period, recycled metals revenue decreased $4 million as a result of lower market pricing.

For the nine month comparative period, recycled metals revenue decreased $11 million as a result of lower pricing.

Other Operating Revenue

Other operating revenue decreased by $8 million for the three month comparative period due to lower construction revenue.

Other operating revenue decreased by $24 million for the nine month comparative period, primarily due to lower construction revenue.
 


28


Operating Expense

Plant Operating Expense
In millions:
Three Months Ended September 30,

Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
Variance
Increase (Decrease)
 
2019

2018

2019
 
2018
 
Three Months
 
Nine Months
Plant maintenance (1)
$
62

 
$
55

 
$
241

 
$
224

 
$
7

 
$
17

All other
262

 
253

 
797

 
763

 
9

 
34

Plant operating expense
$
325

 
$
308

 
$
1,038

 
$
987

 
$
17

 
$
51

(1) Plant maintenance costs include our internal maintenance team and non-facility employee costs for facility scheduled and unscheduled maintenance and repair expense. Certain amounts may not total due to rounding.

Plant operating expenses increased by $17 million for the three month comparable period, primarily related to the acquisition of two Palm Beach County EfW facility operating contracts in the third quarter of 2018 and other cost increases of $9 million in existing operations.

Plant operating expenses increased by $51 million for the nine month comparable period, primarily related to the acquisition of two Palm Beach County EfW facility operating contracts in the third quarter of 2018 and other cost increases of $26 million in existing operations.

Other Operating Expense

Other operating expenses decreased by $7 million for the three month comparable period primarily due to lower construction expense.
 
Other operating expenses decreased by $1 million for the nine month comparable period, with lower construction expense ($20 million) largely offset by lower insurance recoveries, which are recorded as a contra expense ($15 million), and closure costs related to our Warren facility, which was shut down in March 2019 ($4 million).

General and Administrative Expense

General and administrative expenses increased by $2 million for three month comparative period primarily due to escalation in compensation expense.
 
General and administrative expenses increased by $5 million for the nine month comparative period primarily due to escalation in compensation expense.

Impairment Charges

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, we identified an indicator of impairment associated with certain of our EfW facilities where the current expectation was that, more likely than not, the assets will not be operated through their previously estimated economic useful life. We performed recoverability tests to determine if these facilities were impaired as of the respective balance sheet dates. As a result, based on expected cash flows utilizing Level 3 inputs, we recorded a non-cash impairment charge for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 of $49 million and $86 million respectively, to reduce the carrying value of the facilities to their estimated fair value.


29


CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS — NON-OPERATING INCOME ITEMS

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 and 2018

Other (Expense) Income:
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
Variance
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
 
Three Months
 
Nine Months
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(In millions)
Interest expense
$
(36
)
 
$
(37
)
 
$
(108
)
 
$
(111
)
 
$
1


$
3

Net gain on sale of business and investments
1

 
7

 
49

 
217

 
(6
)

(168
)
Loss on extinguishment of debt

 
(3
)
 

 
(3
)
 
3


3

Other (expense) income, net
(1
)
 

 
1

 
(1
)
 
(1
)

2

Total other (expense) income
$
(36
)
 
$
(33
)
 
$
(58
)
 
$
102

 
$
(3
)

$
(160
)

During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, we recorded a $57 million gain related to the Rookery South Energy Recovery Facility development project and a $11 million loss related to the divestiture of our Springfield and Pittsfield EfW facilities.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, we recorded a $7 million gain on the sale of our equity interests in a hydroelectric facility. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, we recorded a $204 million gain on the sale of 50% of our Dublin EfW to our joint venture with GIG and $6 million gain on the sale of our remaining interests in China. For additional information see Item 1. Financial Statements — Note 3. New Business and Asset Management.

During the three months ended September 30, 2018, we recorded a loss on extinguishment of debt related to our tax-exempt bond refinancing.

Income Tax Benefit:
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
Variance
Increase (Decrease)
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
 
Three Months
 
Nine Months
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(In millions, except percentages)
Income tax benefit
$
5

 
$
3

 
$
6

 
$
34

 
$
2

 
$
(28
)
Effective income tax rate
(55
)%
 
10
%
 
48
%
 
(32
)%
 
N/A

 
N/A


The differences between the effective tax rates for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, are primarily due to changes in the mix of earnings, the impacts of non-recurring transactions and the discrete tax benefits attributable to the New Jersey State Law change in 2018. For additional information see Item 1. Financial Statements — Note 8. Income Taxes.

30


Supplementary Financial Information — Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP Discussion)

To supplement our results prepared in accordance with GAAP, we use the measure of Adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP financial measure as defined by the SEC. This non-GAAP financial measure is described below, and is not intended as a substitute for and should not be considered in isolation from measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, our use of non-GAAP financial measures may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies, limiting their usefulness for comparison purposes. The presentation of Adjusted EBITDA is intended to enhance the usefulness of our financial information by providing a measure which management internally uses to assess and evaluate the overall performance of our business and those of possible acquisition and divestiture candidates, and highlight trends in the overall business.

We use Adjusted EBITDA to provide additional ways of viewing aspects of operations that, when viewed with the GAAP results provide a more complete understanding of our core business. As we define it, Adjusted EBITDA represents earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, as adjusted for additional items subtracted from or added to net income including the effects of impairment losses, gains or losses on sales, dispositions or retirements of assets, adjustments to reflect the Adjusted EBITDA from our unconsolidated investments, adjustments to exclude significant unusual or non-recurring items that are not directly related to our operating performance, plus adjustments to capital type expenses for our service fee facilities in line with our credit agreements. We adjust for these items in our Adjusted EBITDA as our management believes that these items would distort their ability to efficiently view and assess our core operating trends. As larger parts of our business are conducted through unconsolidated investments that we do not control, we adjust EBITDA for our proportionate share of the entities depreciation and amortization, interest expense and taxes in order to improve comparability to the Adjusted EBITDA of our wholly owned entities.

Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to net income or cash flow provided by operating activities as indicators of our performance or liquidity or any other measures of performance or liquidity derived in accordance with GAAP.

In order to provide a meaningful basis for comparison, we are providing information with respect to our Adjusted EBITDA for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, reconciled for each such period to net income (loss) and cash flow provided by operating activities, which are believed to be the most directly comparable measures under GAAP. The following is a reconciliation of Net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA (in millions):
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Unaudited)
Net income (loss)
$
14

 
$
(27
)
 
$
(2
)
 
$
143

Depreciation and amortization expense
55

 
53

 
165

 
162

Interest expense
36

 
37

 
108

 
111

Income tax benefit
(5
)
 
(3
)
 
(6
)
 
(34
)
Impairment charges (a)
2

 
49

 
3

 
86

Net gain on sale of businesses and investments (b)
(1
)
 
(7
)
 
(49
)
 
(217
)
Loss on extinguishment of debt (c)

 
3

 

 
3

Property insurance recoveries, net

 

 

 
(7
)
Capital type expenditures at client owned facilities (d)
8

 
5

 
28

 
28

Debt service billings in excess of revenue recognized
(1
)
 
(1
)
 
(1
)
 

Business development and transaction costs
1

 
1

 
2

 
4

Severance and reorganization costs
2

 
1

 
6

 
5

Stock-based compensation expense
5

 
4

 
20

 
18

Adjustments to reflect Adjusted EBITDA from unconsolidated investments
6

 
5

 
18

 
16

Other (e)
3

 
2

 
11

 
7

Adjusted EBITDA
$
125

 
$
122

 
$
303

 
$
325

(a)
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, we identified an indicator of impairment associated with certain of our EfW facilities and recorded a non-cash impairment charge of $49 million and $86 million, respectively to reduce the carrying value of the facilities to their estimated fair value.
(b)
During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, we recorded a $57 million gain related to the Rookery South Energy Recovery Facility development project and a $11 million loss related to the divestiture of our Springfield and Pittsfield EfW facilities.

31


During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, we recorded a $7 million gain on the sale of our equity interests in a hydroelectric facility, a $204 million gain on the sale of 50% of our Dublin project to our joint venture with GIG and a $6 million gain on the sale of our remaining interests in China.
(c)
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, we recorded a $3 million loss related to the refinancing of our tax-exempt bonds.
(d)
Adjustment for impact of adoption of FASB ASC 853 - Service Concession Arrangements. These types of capital equipment related expenditures at our service fee operated facilities were historically capitalized prior to adoption of this new accounting standard effective January 1, 2015 and are capitalized at facilities that we own.
(e)
Includes certain other items that are added back under the definition of Adjusted EBITDA in Covanta Energy, LLC's credit agreement.

The following is a reconciliation of cash flow provided by operating activities to Adjusted EBITDA (in millions):
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Net cash provided by operating activities
$
25

 
$
84

 
$
112

 
$
147

Capital type expenditures at service fee operated facilities (a)
8

 
5

 
28

 
28

Cash paid for interest
64

 
42

 
123

 
115

Cash paid for taxes, net
1

 

 
5

 
2

Equity in net income from unconsolidated investments
1

 
1

 
4

 
3

Adjustments to reflect Adjusted EBITDA from unconsolidated investments
6

 
5

 
18

 
16

Dividends from unconsolidated investments

 

 
(5
)
 
(1
)
Adjustment for working capital and other
20

 
(15
)
 
18

 
15

Adjusted EBITDA
$
125

 
$
122

 
$
303

 
$
325


(a) See Adjusted EBITDA - Note (c).

For additional discussion related to management’s use of non-GAAP measures, see Liquidity and Capital Resources — Supplementary Financial Information — Free Cash Flow (Non-GAAP Discussion) below.


32


LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Our principal sources of liquidity are our unrestricted cash and cash equivalents, cash flow generated from our ongoing operations, and unutilized capacity under our Revolving Credit Facility, which we believe will allow us to meet our liquidity needs. Our business is capital intensive and our ability to successfully implement our strategy is, in part, dependent on the continued availability of capital on desirable terms. For additional information regarding our credit facilities and other debt, see Item 1. Financial Statements - Note 11. Consolidated Debt.

We expect to utilize a combination of cash flows from operations, borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility, and other financing sources, as necessary, to fund growth investments in our business.

In 2019, we expect to generate net cash from operating activities which alone may not alone meet all of our cash requirements including funding capital expenditures to maintain our existing assets and paying our ongoing dividends to shareholders. We would utilize our Revolving Credit Facility to cover any shortfall. For a full discussion of the factors impacting our 2019 business outlook, see Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Business Outlook of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018

We generally intend to refinance our debt instruments prior to maturity with like-kind financing in the bank and/or debt capital markets in order to maintain a capital structure comprised primarily of long-term debt, which we believe appropriately matches the long-term nature of our assets and contracts.

The loan documentation governing the Credit Facilities contains various affirmative and negative covenants, as well as financial maintenance covenants (financial ratios), that limit our ability to engage in certain types of transactions. We do not anticipate our existing debt covenants to restrict our ability to meet future liquidity needs. For additional information regarding the covenants under our Credit Facilities, see Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data — Note 16. Consolidated Debt of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.

Our primary future cash requirements will be to fund capital expenditures to maintain our existing businesses, service our debt, invest in the growth of our business, and return capital to our shareholders. We believe that our liquidity position and ongoing cash flow from operations will be sufficient to finance these requirements.

Recent Financing Activities

In August 2019, we entered into a loan agreement with the Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority under which they agreed to issue $50 million in aggregate principal amount of tax-exempt Solid Waste Disposal Bonds for the purpose of funding qualified capital expenditures at certain of our facilities in Pennsylvania and paying related costs of issuance. For additional information see Item 1. Financial Statements - Note 11. Consolidated Debt

To reduce our exposure to fluctuations in cash flows due to changes in variable interest rates paid on our direct borrowings under the Credit Facilities, during the nine months ended September 30, 2019, we entered into pay-fixed, receive-variable swap agreements with a financial institution on $150 million notional amount of our variable rate debt under the Credit Facilities.

Other Factors Affecting Liquidity

As of September 30, 2019, we held unrestricted cash balances of $65 million, of which $44 million was held by international subsidiaries and not generally available for near-term liquidity in our domestic operations. In addition, as of September 30, 2019, we held restricted cash balances of $33 million. Restricted funds held in trust are generally amounts received and held by third-party trustees relating to certain projects we own. We generally do not control these accounts and these funds may be used only for specified purposes.

As of September 30, 2019, we had unutilized capacity under our Revolving Credit Facility of $393 million and were in compliance with all of the covenants under our Credit Facilities. For additional information regarding the Credit Facilities, see Item 1. Financial Statements — Note 11. Consolidated Debt.

During the three months ended September 30, 2019, dividends declared to stockholders were $34 million or $0.25 per share. Such amounts were paid on October 4, 2019. We may repurchase outstanding shares from time to time, the amount and timing of future repurchases may vary depending on market conditions and the level of operating, financing and other investing activities. As of September 30, 2019, the amount remaining under our currently authorized share repurchase program was $66 million.

33



Except as discussed in Item 1. Financial Statements — Note 11. Consolidated Debt, our projected contractual obligations remain consistent with amounts disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.

Sources and Uses of Cash Flow for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 and 2018

Net cash provided by operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was $112 million, a decrease of $35 million from the same period in the prior year, primarily attributable to the settlement of the Durham York matter as discussed in Item 1. Financial Statements — Note 13. Commitments and Contingencies.

Net cash used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was $101 million, an increase of $14 million from the prior year period. The increase in net investing outflow was primarily due to lower proceeds from asset sales in 2019 as compared to the prior year period.

Net cash used in financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was $16 million, as compared to $158 million in the prior period. The decrease in cash used was primarily a result of net borrowings in 2019 as compared to net debt repayment in the prior year period.

Supplemental Information on Unconsolidated Non-Recourse Project Debt

Below is a summary of our proportion of gross non-recourse project debt held by unconsolidated equity investments as of September 30, 2019 (in millions):
 
 
Total Project Debt
 
Percentage Ownership
 
Proportionate Unconsolidated Project Debt
 
Project Stage
Dublin EfW (Ireland) (1)
 
$
436

 
50%
 
$
218

 
Operational
Earls Gate (UK) (2)
 
7

 
25%
 
2

 
Under construction
Rookery (UK) (3)
 
11

 
40%
 
4

 
Under construction
Total
 
$
454

 
 
 
$
224

 
 
(1)
We have a 50% indirect ownership of Dublin EfW, through our 50/50 joint venture with GIG, Covanta Europe Assets Ltd.
(2)
We have a 25% indirect ownership of Earls Gate, through our 50/50 joint venture with GIG, Covanta Green Jersey Assets Ltd., which owns 50% of Earls Gate. The total estimated project cost is £210 million; £147 million is financed through non-recourse project-based debt.
(3)
We have a 40% indirect ownership of Rookery through our 50/50 joint venture with GIG, Covanta Green UK Ltd. The total estimated project cost is £457 million; £310 million is financed through non-recourse project-based debt.

For additional information on our unconsolidated equity investments see Item 8. Financial Statements And Supplementary Data — Note 3. New Business and Asset Management and Note 13. Equity Method Investments of our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 and Item 1. Financial Statements — Note 3. New Business and Asset Management.



34


Supplementary Financial Information — Free Cash Flow (Non-GAAP Discussion)

To supplement our results prepared in accordance with GAAP, we use the measure of Free Cash Flow, which is a non-GAAP measure as defined by the SEC. This non-GAAP financial measure is not intended as a substitute and should not be considered in isolation from measures of liquidity prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, our use of Free Cash Flow may be different from similarly identified non-GAAP measures used by other companies, limiting its usefulness for comparison purposes. The presentation of Free Cash Flow is intended to enhance the usefulness of our financial information by providing measures which management internally uses to assess and evaluate the overall performance of its business and those of possible acquisition candidates, and highlight trends in the overall business.

We use the non-GAAP financial measure of Free Cash Flow as criteria of liquidity and performance-based components of employee compensation. Free Cash Flow is defined as cash flow provided by operating activities, plus changes in operating restricted funds, less maintenance capital expenditures, which are capital expenditures primarily to maintain our existing facilities. We use Free Cash Flow as a measure of liquidity to determine amounts we can reinvest in our core businesses, such as amounts available for acquisitions, invest in construction of new projects, make principal payments on debt, or return capital to our shareholders through dividends and/or stock repurchases. 

For additional discussion related to management’s use of non-GAAP measures, see Consolidated Results of Operations — Supplementary Financial Information — Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP Discussion) above.

In order to provide a meaningful basis for comparison, we are providing information with respect to our Free Cash Flow for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, reconciled for each such period to cash flow provided by operating activities, which we believe to be the most directly comparable measure under GAAP.


35


The following is a reconciliation of Free Cash Flow (in millions):
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Unaudited)
Net cash provided by operating activities
$
25

 
$
84

 
$
112

 
$
147

Add: Changes in restricted funds - operating (a)
13

 
18

 
18

 
7

Less: Maintenance capital expenditures (b)
(16
)
 
(17
)
 
(81
)
 
(95
)
Free Cash Flow
$
22

 
$
85

 
$
49

 
$
59

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(a) Adjustment for the impact of the adoption of ASU 2016-18 effective January 1, 2018. As a result of adoption, the statement of cash flows explains the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. Therefore, changes in restricted funds are eliminated in arriving at net cash, cash equivalents and restricted funds provided by operating activities.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(b) Purchases of property, plant and equipment are also referred to as capital expenditures. Capital expenditures that primarily maintain existing facilities are classified as maintenance capital expenditures. The following table provides the components of total purchases of property, plant and equipment:
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Maintenance capital expenditures
$
(16
)
 
$
(17
)
 
$
(81
)
 
$
(95
)
Net maintenance capital expenditures paid but incurred in prior periods
(1
)
 
2

 
(7
)
 
(10
)
Capital expenditures associated with construction of Dublin EfW facility

 
(1
)
 

 
(22
)
Capital expenditures associated with the New York City MTS contract
(2
)
 
(9
)
 
(19
)
 
(9
)
Capital expenditures associated with organic growth initiatives
(9
)
 
(3
)
 
(14
)
 
(18
)
Total capital expenditures associated with growth investments (c)
(11
)
 
(13
)
 
(33
)
 
(49
)
Capital expenditures associated with property insurance events

 

 

 
(4
)
Total purchases of property, plant and equipment
$
(28
)
 
$
(28
)
 
$
(121
)
 
$
(158
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(c)  Growth investments include investments in growth opportunities, including organic growth initiatives, technology, business development, and other similar expenditures.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Capital expenditures associated with growth investments
$
(11
)
 
$
(13
)
 
$
(33
)
 
$
(49
)
UK business development projects

 
(3
)
 
(1
)
 
(4
)
Investment in equity affiliate
(1
)
 

 
(9
)
 

Asset and business acquisitions, net of cash acquired

 
(46
)
 
2

 
(50
)
Total growth investments
$
(12
)
 
$
(62
)
 
$
(41
)
 
$
(103
)
 
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See Item 1. Financial Statements — Note 2. Recent Accounting Pronouncements for information related to new accounting pronouncements.


36


Discussion of Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
In preparing our condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP, we are required to use judgment in making estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in our financial statements and related notes. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. These estimates form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Many of our critical accounting policies are subject to significant judgments and uncertainties, which could result in materially different results under different conditions and assumptions. Future events rarely develop exactly as forecasted, and the best estimates routinely require adjustment. Management believes there have been no material changes during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 to the items discussed in Discussion of Critical Accounting Policies in Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.

Item 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

In the normal course of business, our subsidiaries are party to financial instruments that are subject to market risks arising from changes in commodity prices, interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, and derivative instruments. Our use of derivative instruments is very limited and we do not enter into derivative instruments for trading purposes.

The use of the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) is expected to be phased out by the end of 2021. LIBOR is currently used as a reference rate for certain of our debt, including our Credit Facilities. At this time, there is no definitive information regarding the future utilization of LIBOR or of any particular replacement rate; however, we continue to monitor the efforts of various parties, including government agencies, seeking to identify an alternative rate to replace LIBOR.

Except as discussed above and in Item 1. Financial Statements — Note 10. Derivative Instruments - Interest Rate Swaps, there were no material changes during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 to the items discussed in Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.

Item 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of Covanta’s disclosure controls and procedures, as required by Rule 13a-15(b) and 15d-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) as of September 30, 2019. Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to reasonably assure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure and is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms.

Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, based on their reviews, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to provide such reasonable assurance.

Our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, believes that any disclosure controls and procedures or internal controls and procedures, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must consider the benefits of controls relative to their costs. Inherent limitations within a control system include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by unauthorized override of the control. While the design of any system of controls is to provide reasonable assurance of the effectiveness of disclosure controls, such design is also based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and such assumptions, while reasonable, may not take into account all potential future conditions. Accordingly, because of the inherent limitations in a cost effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and may not be prevented or detected.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There have not been any changes in our system of internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended September 30, 2019 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, internal control over financial reporting.



37


PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

For information regarding legal proceedings, see Item 1. Financial Statements — Note 13. Commitments and Contingencies, which information is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 1A. RISK FACTORS

There have been no material changes during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 to the risk factors discussed in Item 1A. Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.

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

None

Item 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None.

Item 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

Item 5. OTHER INFORMATION

(a)    None.

(b)    Not applicable.

Item 6. EXHIBITS
Exhibit
Number
 
Description
 
 
32
 
Exhibit 101.INS:
 
XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.
Exhibit 101.SCH:
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema
Exhibit 101.CAL:
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
Exhibit 101.DEF:
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase
Exhibit 101.LAB:
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase
Exhibit 101.PRE:
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase
 
 
 
* Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.




38


SIGNATURES
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.
 
 
COVANTA HOLDING CORPORATION
(Registrant)
 
 
 
 
By:
/S/ BRADFORD J. HELGESON
 
 
Bradford J. Helgeson
 
 
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
 
 
 
 
By:
/S/ MANPREET S. GREWAL
 
 
Manpreet S. Grewal
 
 
Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer
Date: November 4, 2019

39
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