UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): September 25, 2020

Advanced Disposal Services, Inc.

(Exact Name of Issuer as Specified in Charter)

90 Fort Wade Road

Ponte Vedra, Florida 32081

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(904) 737-7900

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐          Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐          Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐          Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐          Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

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.  ¨

Advanced Disposal Services, Inc. (the “Company”) is filing this Current Report on Form 8-K to update its prior timing expectations with respect to the acquisition of the Company by an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Waste Management, Inc. (“Waste Management”) and the corresponding sale of regulatory divestitures to GFL Environmental, Inc. The Company now anticipates closing these transactions early in the fourth quarter of 2020, following the anticipated completion of the U.S. Department of Justice’s regulatory review of the acquisition.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This communication contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. Such statements include statements concerning anticipated future events and expectations that are not historical facts. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “target,” “estimate,” “continue,” “positions,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “forecast,” “guidance,” “goal,” “objective,” “prospects,” “possible” or “potential,” by future conditional verbs such as “assume,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “could” or “may,” or by variations of such words or by similar expressions or the negative thereof. Actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements based on a number of factors, including, without limitation: (1) risks related to the consummation of the merger (the “Merger”) between the Company and Waste Management in accordance with the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 14, 2019, as amended by Amendment No. 1 thereto, dated as of June 24, 2020, as may be further amended from time to time, (the “Amended Merger Agreement”), including the risks that (a) the Merger may not be consummated within the anticipated time period, or at all, (b) the parties may fail to secure the termination or expiration of any waiting period applicable under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and (c) other conditions to the consummation of the Merger under Amended Merger Agreement may not be satisfied; (2) the effects that any termination of the Amended Merger Agreement may have on the Company or its business, including the risks that (a) the Company’s stock price may decline significantly if the Merger is not completed, (b) the Amended Merger Agreement may be terminated in circumstances requiring the Company to pay Waste Management a termination fee, or (c) the circumstances of the termination, including the possible imposition of a 12-month tail period during which the termination fee could be payable upon certain subsequent transactions, may have a chilling effect on alternatives to the Merger; (3) the effects that the announcement or pendency of the Merger may have on the Company and its business, including the risks that as a result (a) the Company’s business, operating results or stock price may suffer, (b) the Company’s current plans and operations may be disrupted, (c) the Company’s ability to retain or recruit key employees may be adversely affected, (d) the Company’s business relationships (including, customers and suppliers) may be adversely affected, or (e) the Company’s management’s or employees’ attention may be diverted from other important matters; (4) the effect of limitations that the Amended Merger Agreement places on the Company’s ability to operate its business, return capital to stockholders or engage in alternative transactions; (5) the nature, cost and outcome of pending and future litigation and other legal proceedings, including any such proceedings related to the Merger and instituted against the Company and others; (6) the risk that the Merger and related transactions may involve unexpected costs, liabilities or delays; (7) other economic, business, competitive, legal, regulatory, and/or tax factors, including the scope and duration of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic and actions taken by governmental authorities in response thereto and the significant market disruption caused by the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic and its impact on the businesses, operations and financial conditions of the Company and Waste Management; and (8) other factors described under the heading “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 and the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2020 as updated or

supplemented by subsequent reports that the Company has filed or files with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Potential investors, stockholders and other readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. The Company does not assume any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement after it is made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

Exhibit Index

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 hereunto duly authorized.

Date: September 25, 2020

Advanced Disposal Services, Inc.

By:  /s/ Jeffrey C. Everett                               

      Name:  Jeffrey C. Everett

      Title:    Vice President, Associate General Counsel