Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include
a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See Rule 240.13d-7(b) for other parties to whom copies
are to be sent.
*The remainder of this cover page shall be
filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent
amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required on the remainder of this
cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of
the Act (however, see the Notes).
CUSIP No. 91734M103 |
SCHEDULE
13D |
Page 2 of 10 |
1. |
NAME OF REPORTING PERSON:
Magnetar Financial LLC
|
2. |
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP |
(a) ¨
(b) x |
3. |
SEC USE ONLY
|
4. |
SOURCE OF FUNDS
OO
|
5. |
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e) ¨
|
6. |
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
|
NUMBER OF
SHARES |
7. |
SOLE
VOTING POWER
0 |
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY |
8. |
SHARED
VOTING POWER
2,060,731 |
EACH REPORTING
PERSON |
9. |
SOLE
DISPOSITIVE POWER
0 |
WITH |
10. |
SHARED
DISPOSITIVE POWER
2,060,731 |
11. |
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY
EACH REPORTING PERSON
2,060,731 |
12. |
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES ¨
|
13. |
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT
IN ROW (11)
6.59% |
14. |
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
IA; OO |
CUSIP No. 91734M103 |
SCHEDULE
13D |
Page 3 of 10 |
1. |
NAME OF REPORTING PERSON:
Magnetar Capital Partners LP
|
2. |
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP |
(a) ¨
(b) x |
3. |
SEC USE ONLY
|
4. |
SOURCE OF FUNDS
OO
|
5. |
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e) ¨
|
6. |
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
|
NUMBER OF
SHARES |
7. |
SOLE
VOTING POWER
0 |
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY |
8. |
SHARED
VOTING POWER
2,060,731 |
EACH REPORTING
PERSON |
9. |
SOLE
DISPOSITIVE POWER
0 |
WITH |
10. |
SHARED
DISPOSITIVE POWER
2,060,731 |
11. |
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY
EACH REPORTING PERSON
2,060,731 |
12. |
CHECK BOX IF
THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES ¨
|
13. |
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT
IN ROW (11)
6.59% |
14. |
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
HC; OO |
CUSIP No. 91734M103 |
SCHEDULE
13D |
Page 4 of 10 |
1. |
NAME OF REPORTING PERSON:
Supernova Management LLC
|
2. |
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP |
(a) ¨
(b) x |
3. |
SEC USE ONLY
|
4. |
SOURCE OF FUNDS
OO
|
5. |
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e) ¨
|
6. |
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
|
NUMBER OF
SHARES |
7. |
SOLE
VOTING POWER
0 |
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY |
8. |
SHARED
VOTING POWER
2,060,731 |
EACH REPORTING
PERSON |
9. |
SOLE
DISPOSITIVE POWER
0 |
WITH |
10. |
SHARED
DISPOSITIVE POWER
2,060,731 |
11. |
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY
EACH REPORTING PERSON
2,060,731 |
12. |
CHECK BOX IF
THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES ¨
|
13. |
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT
IN ROW (11)
6.59% |
14. |
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
HC; OO |
CUSIP No. 91734M103 |
SCHEDULE
13D |
Page 5 of 10 |
1. |
NAME OF REPORTING PERSON:
Alec N. Litowitz
|
2. |
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP |
(a) ¨
(b) x |
3. |
SEC USE ONLY
|
4. |
SOURCE OF FUNDS
OO
|
5. |
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e) ¨
|
6. |
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
United States of America
|
NUMBER OF
SHARES |
7. |
SOLE
VOTING POWER
0 |
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY |
8. |
SHARED
VOTING POWER
2,060,731 |
EACH REPORTING
PERSON |
9. |
SOLE
DISPOSITIVE POWER
0 |
WITH |
10. |
SHARED
DISPOSITIVE POWER
2,060,731 |
11. |
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY
EACH REPORTING PERSON
2,060,731 |
12. |
CHECK BOX IF
THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES ¨
|
13. |
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT
IN ROW (11)
6.59% |
14. |
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
HC; IN |
SCHEDULE
13D
| item 1. | security and issuer |
This
Schedule 13D (this “Statement”) relates to the common stock, $0.00001 par value (the “Shares”),
of US Ecology, Inc., a company incorporated in Delaware (the “Company”). The principal executive offices of the
Company is 101 S. Capitol Blvd., Suite 1000, Boise, Idaho 83702.
| Item 2. | identity and background |
(a) The
persons filing this Statement are Magnetar Financial LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Magnetar Financial”),
Magnetar Capital Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“Magnetar Capital Partners”), Supernova Management LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company (“Supernova Management”), and Alec N. Litowitz (“Mr. Litowitz”)
(collectively, the “Reporting Persons”).
This Statement relates to
Shares held for the accounts of each of (i) Magnetar PRA Master Fund Ltd, a Cayman Islands exempted company (“PRA Master Fund”),
(ii) Magnetar Constellation Fund II-PRA LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“Constellation Fund”), and (iii) Magnetar
Systematic Multi-Strategy Master Fund Ltd, a Cayman Islands exempted company, (“Systematic Master Fund”), and one Managed
Account for the clients of Magnetar Financial (the “Managed Account”), collectively (the “Funds”).
Magnetar Financial is a Securities
and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) registered investment adviser under Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act
of 1940, as amended, and manager of investment funds and managed accounts. Magnetar Financial serves as investment adviser to each of
the Funds. In such capacity, Magnetar Financial exercises voting and investment power over the Shares held for the accounts of each of
the Funds. Magnetar Capital Partners serves as the sole member and parent holding company of Magnetar Financial. Supernova Management
is the general partner of Magnetar Capital Partners. The manager of Supernova Management is Mr. Litowitz.
(b) The
business address of each of the Reporting Persons is 1603 Orrington Avenue, 13th Floor, Evanston, Illinois 60201.
(c) Each
of the Funds is a private investment fund; Magnetar Financial is a privately-held SEC registered investment adviser and manager of investment
funds and managed accounts; Magnetar Capital Partners is a privately-held limited partnership and serves as the sole member and parent
holding company of Magnetar Financial; Supernova Management is a privately-held limited liability company and is the general partner of
Magnetar Capital Partners; and Mr. Litowitz is a citizen of the United States of America, manager of Supernova Management and Chief
Executive Officer of Magnetar Financial.
(d) None
of the Reporting Persons has, during the last five years, been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar
misdemeanors).
(e) None
of the Reporting Persons has, during the last five years, been a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent
jurisdiction as a result of which such Reporting Person was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations
of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such
laws.
(f) Magnetar
Financial is a Delaware limited liability company. Magnetar Capital Partners is a Delaware limited partnership. Supernova Management is
a Delaware limited liability company. Mr. Litowitz is a citizen of the United States of America.
| Item 3. | source and amount of funds or other consideration |
The aggregate amount of funds used by the Reporting
Persons in purchasing the 2,060,731 Shares reported herein on behalf of the Funds have come directly from the assets of the Funds, which
may at any given time, have included margin loans made by brokerage firms in the ordinary course of business. The aggregate amount of
funds used by the Reporting Persons in purchasing the Shares on behalf of the Funds was $97,573,895.61 (excluding commissions and other
execution-related costs).
| ITEM 4. | PURPOSE OF TRANSACTION |
The Reporting Persons acquired
the 2,060,731 Shares reported herein on behalf of the Funds after the public announcement of the Merger Agreement (as defined below) for
purposes of receiving the merger consideration described below upon consummation of the Merger (as described below).
Each of the Reporting Persons
reserves the right to acquire additional securities of the Company in the open market, in privately negotiated transactions, or otherwise,
to dispose of all or a portion of the Shares and/or other securities reported in this Statement, or to change their intention with respect
to any or all of the matters referred to in this Item 4.
Other than as described above
in this Item 4, the Reporting Persons do not have any plans or proposals that relate to, or would result in, any actions or events specified
in clauses (a) through (j) of Item 4 to Schedule 13D.
| ITEM 5. | INTEREST IN SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER |
The Company reported in their
Form 8-K filed on February 8, 2022 that 31,269,829 Shares were issued and outstanding as of January 31, 2022.
(a) As
of the close of business February 15, 2022, each of the Reporting Persons may have been deemed to have beneficial ownership of 2,060,731
Shares, which consisted of (i) 1,182,183 Shares held for the benefit of PRA Master Fund, (ii) 633,245 Shares held for the benefit
of Constellation Fund, (iii) 231,969 Shares held for the benefit of Systematic Master Fund, and (iv) 13,334 Shares held for
the benefit of the Managed Account and all such Shares represented beneficial ownership of approximately 6.59% of the Shares.
(b) As
of the close of business February 15, 2022, each of the Reporting Persons may have been deemed to share the power to vote and direct
the disposition of 2,060,731 Shares, which consisted of (i) 1,182,183 Shares held for the benefit of PRA Master Fund, (ii) 633,245
Shares held for the benefit of Constellation Fund, (iii) 231,969 Shares held for the benefit of Systematic Master Fund, and (iv) 13,334
Shares held for the benefit of the Managed Account and all such and all such Shares represented beneficial ownership of approximately
6.59% of the Shares.
(c) Except
as set forth on Schedule A attached hereto and Item 6, the Funds had no transactions in the Shares during the 60 days preceding
the date of filing of this Statement. All of the transactions set forth on Schedule A attached hereto were effected in the ordinary
course of business of Magnetar Financial for the accounts of each of the Funds. The transactions in the Shares set forth on Schedule
A were effected in open market transactions on the NASDAQ and various other trading markets.
As disclosed by the Company in the 8-K filed with the SEC on February 8,
2022:
On February 8, 2022, US Ecology, Inc.,
a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”)
with Republic Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), and Bronco Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation
and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”).
The Merger Agreement provides that,
upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”),
with the Company continuing as the surviving corporation and as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent.
At the effective time of the Merger
(“Effective Time”), each share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Company Common Stock”),
issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than shares of Company Common Stock owned by Parent or the Company
(as treasury stock or otherwise) or any of their respective direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries as of immediately prior to the
Effective Time or for which appraisal rights have been demanded properly in accordance with Section 262 of the General Corporation
Law of the State of Delaware), will be converted into the right to receive $48.00 per share in cash, without interest (the “Merger
Consideration”).
(d) No
other person is known by the Reporting Persons to have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the
proceeds from the sale of, any Shares that are beneficially owned by the Reporting Persons.
Item 6. contracts, arrangements, understandings or relationships with respect to the securities of the issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13d-1(k)(1) promulgated
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Reporting Persons have entered into an agreement with respect to the joint
filing of this Statement, and any amendment or amendments hereto.
A client of Magnetar Financial
has entered into a total return swap agreement giving it economic exposure to the Company.
Magnetar Asset Management
LLC (“Magnetar Asset Management”) is an SEC registered investment adviser and an affiliate of Magnetar Financial. Magnetar
Capital Partners serves as the sole member and parent holding company of Magnetar Asset Management. Certain clients of Magnetar Asset
Management have entered into total return swap agreements giving them economic exposure to the Company.
Except
as otherwise described herein, no contracts, arrangements, understandings or similar relationships exist with respect to the securities
of the Company among or between the Reporting Persons or any other person or entity.
| ITEM
7. | MATERIAL
TO BE FILED AS EXHIBITS |
SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry and
to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
|
magnetar
financial llc |
|
|
|
By: Magnetar Capital Partners LP,
its Sole Member |
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/
Alec N. Litowitz |
|
|
Name: |
Alec N. Litowitz |
|
|
Title:
|
Manager of Supernova Management LLC, the General
Partner of Magnetar Capital Partners LP |
|
magnetar
capital partners LP |
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Alec N. Litowitz |
|
|
Name: |
Alec N. Litowitz |
|
|
Title: |
Manager of Supernova Management LLC, the General
Partner of Magnetar Capital Partners LP |
|
supernova
management llc |
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Alec N. Litowitz |
|
|
Name: |
Alec N. Litowitz |
|
|
Title: |
Manager |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Alec N. Litowitz |
|
Alec N. Litowitz |
SCHEDULE A
Funds
Date | | |
Number of Shares Bought | | |
Price Per Share($) (1)(2) | |
2/9/2022 | | |
| 1,580,966 | | |
| 47.41129
(3 | ) |
2/10/2022 | | |
| 442,059 | | |
| 47.15221(4 | ) |
2/11/2022 | | |
| 37,706 | | |
| 47.05337
(5 | ) |
(1) Excludes commissions
and other execution-related costs.
(2) Upon request by the staff of the Securities and
Exchange Commission, full information regarding the number of shares bought or sold (as the case may be) at each separate price will
be provided.
(3) Reflects a weighted average purchase
price of $47.41129 per share, at prices ranging from $47.15 to $47.75 per share.
(4) Reflects a weighted average purchase
price of $47.15221 per share, at prices ranging from $47.06 to $47.40 per share.
(5) Reflects a weighted average purchase price
of $47.05337 per share, at prices ranging from $46.98 to $47.22 per share.
EXHIBIT INDEX