Aircastle Announces Second Quarter 2013 Results

STAMFORD, Conn., Aug. 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --  

Highlights

• Lease rental including finance lease revenues of $162.0 million and Adjusted EBITDA¹ of $183.4 million
• Net income of $32.9 million, or $0.48 per diluted common share
• Adjusted net income¹ of $46.0 million, or $0.67 per diluted common share
• More than $960 million of closed or committed aircraft investments year to date
• Eleven aircraft sold during the first half of 2013; second quarter gains on sale of $21.3 million
• Fleet utilization of 98% with an aircraft portfolio yield of 13.4%
• Issued 12.3 million shares of common equity, at $17.00 per share, to Marubeni Corporation on July 12, 2013 for $209 million of gross proceeds
• Increased our unsecured revolving credit facility from $150 million to $335 million and expanded the size of the bank group to seven
• 29^th consecutive dividend declared by Aircastle's Board of Directors

Aircastle Limited (the "Company" or "Aircastle") (NYSE: AYR) reported second quarter 2013 net income of $32.9 million, or $0.48 per diluted common share, and adjusted net income of $46.0 million, or $0.67 per diluted common share.  The second quarter results included lease rental and finance lease revenues of $162.0 million versus $154.6 million in the second quarter of 2012. 

Commenting on the results, Ron Wainshal, Aircastle's CEO, stated: "Aircastle's second quarter financial results were very good, reflecting strong portfolio performance and effective asset management.  I'm particularly encouraged by our acquisition activity, where we have been able to find attractive investment values consistent with our disciplined approach and return targets.   In that regard, the majority of our recent investments have been for new wide-body aircraft on long-term leases with high quality lessees, and this is gradually transforming and enhancing the mix of our portfolio.  We're in an excellent position to capitalize on our team's transaction origination capabilities with the new capital we've sourced."  Mr. Wainshal added, "We're extremely pleased to welcome Marubeni as an important new strategic shareholder. Marubeni brings a long-term, globally minded perspective to our business and we believe there are exciting business opportunities for us as we work together."   

Mike Inglese, Aircastle's CFO, stated:  "We continue to broaden and diversify our funding sources to strengthen Aircastle's overall liquidity profile.  Our enlarged unsecured revolving credit facility, along with the recent Marubeni transaction, complements our capital markets and export credit agency funding sources, strengthening our already deep access to capital."

Second Quarter Results

Lease rental and finance lease revenues for the second quarter were $162.0 million, up $7.5 million or 5% year over year, due primarily to the impact of aircraft acquisitions of $26.1 million, partially offset by lower revenues due to aircraft dispositions of $9.5 million and from the effect of lease extensions, transitions and terminations of $9.1 million.

Total revenues for the second quarter were $170.4 million, a decrease of $1.8 million, or 1% versus the previous year.  This was primarily due to the amortization of lease premiums, discounts and lease incentives being $10.8 million higher in 2013.  In the second quarter of 2012, lease incentive amortization was driven lower by lease incentive reversals resulting from early lease terminations.  This revenue decrease was partially offset by $7.5 million of higher lease rental and finance lease revenue, and $1.8 million of higher other revenues, primarily early lease termination fees relating to an aircraft that transitioned during the quarter.  

Adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter was $183.4 million, up $26.3 million or 17% from the second quarter of 2012.  The increase was primarily driven by higher lease rental and finance lease revenue of $7.5 million, higher gain on the sale of flight equipment of $18.5 million, and higher other revenue of $1.8 million.  The second quarter gain on sale included the disposition of three A330-200 freighter aircraft. 

Net income for the second quarter was $32.9 million, up $16.5 million, or 101%.  The increase was primarily due to higher gains from the sale of aircraft of $18.5 million and lower aircraft impairment charges of $10.1 million.  These improvements were partially offset by higher depreciation of $5.0 million, higher interest expense of $2.5 million, a higher tax provision of $2.4 million and lower total revenues of $1.8 million.  

Adjusted net income for the quarter was $46.0 million, up $20.3 million year over year, and reflects higher gain on sale of $18.5 million, lower non-cash impairment charges of $10.1 million, and lower adjusted interest of $1.1 million.  Partially offsetting these increases were higher depreciation of $5.0 million, a higher tax provision of $2.4 million and higher SG&A of $1.5 million. 

Aviation Assets

To date, we have closed or committed to acquire 17 aircraft for more than $960 million in 2013.  During the first half of the year, we acquired ten aircraft for more than $450 million, including nine aircraft in the second quarter.  In addition, during the first half of the year we sold eleven aircraft, including three A330-200 freighter aircraft and eight older aircraft with a total net book value of approximately $250 million. 

As of June 30, 2013, Aircastle owned 158 aircraft having a net book value of $4.8 billion.

(1)     Calculated using net book value of flight equipment held for lease, net investment in finance leases and flight equipment held for sale at period end.
(2)     Weighted average age (years) by net book value.
(3)     Weighted average remaining lease term (years) by net book value.
(4)     Aircraft on-lease days as a percent of total days in period weighted by net book value.
(5)     Lease rental revenue for the period as a percent of the average net book value of flight equipment held for lease for the period; quarterly information is annualized. 

Common Share Purchase by Marubeni Corporation

On July 12, 2013, we successfully completed the issuance to Marubeni Corporation of 12,320,000 common shares, representing 15.25% of Aircastle's issued and outstanding common shares, after giving effect to the issuance, at a price of $17.00 per share, for gross proceeds of approximately $209 million.

Financing Update

In early August we increased our unsecured revolving credit facility from $150 million to $335 million.  We also expanded the bank group from four to seven global financial institutions and extended the maturity of the facility to a three year term to expire in August 2016.  The bank group includes Citibank, N.A., Goldman Sachs Bank USA, J.P. Morgan Chase Bank N.A., Royal Bank of Canada, Credit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank, DBS Bank Ltd., Los Angeles Agency, and Union Bank, N.A.   

Common Dividend and Share Repurchases

On August 2, 2013, Aircastle's Board of Directors declared a third quarter 2013 cash dividend on its common shares of $0.165 per share, payable on September 13, 2013 to shareholders of record on August 30, 2013. 

Since early 2011, we have repurchased 11.7 million common shares at an average cost of $11.87 per share, and we continue to have $30 million remaining under the current repurchase authorization. 

Conference Call

In connection with this earnings release, management will host an earnings conference call on Tuesday, August 6, 2013 at 10:30AM Eastern time.  All interested parties are welcome to participate on the live call.  The conference call can be accessed by dialing (800) 575-5790 (from within the U.S. and Canada) or (719) 457-2638 (from outside of the U.S. and Canada) ten minutes prior to the scheduled start and referencing the passcode "7828965".

A simultaneous webcast of the conference call will be available to the public on a listen-only basis at www.aircastle.com.  Please allow extra time prior to the call to visit the site and download the necessary software required to listen to the internet broadcast.  A replay of the webcast will be available for one month following the call.  In addition to this earnings release, an accompanying power point presentation has been posted to the Investor Relations section of Aircastle's website.

For those who are not available to listen to the live call, a replay will be available until 12:30PM Eastern time on Thursday, September 5, 2013 by dialing (888) 203-1112 (from within the U.S. and Canada) or (719) 457-0820 (from outside of the U.S. and Canada); please reference passcode "7828965".

About Aircastle Limited

Aircastle Limited acquires, leases and sells high-utility commercial jet aircraft to airlines throughout the world.  As of June 30, 2013, Aircastle's aircraft portfolio consisted of 158 aircraft on lease with 67 customers located in 36 countries.

Safe Harbor

Certain items in this press release and other information we provide from time to time, may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 including, but not necessarily limited to, statements relating to our ability to acquire, sell, lease or finance aircraft, raise capital, pay dividends, and increase revenues, earnings, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income and the global aviation industry and aircraft leasing sector. Words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "projects," "believes," "may," "will," "would," "could," "should," "seeks," "estimates" and variations on these words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of factors that could lead to actual results materially different from those described in the forward-looking statements; Aircastle can give no assurance that its expectations will be attained. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements contained in this report. Factors that could have a material adverse effect on our operations and future prospects or that could cause actual results to differ materially from Aircastle expectations include, but are not limited to, capital markets disruption or volatility which could adversely affect our continued ability to obtain additional capital to finance new investments or our working capital needs; government fiscal or tax policies, general economic and business conditions or other factors affecting demand for aircraft or aircraft values and lease rates; our continued ability to obtain favorable tax treatment in Bermuda, Ireland and other jurisdictions; our ability to pay dividends; high or volatile fuel prices, lack of access to capital, reduced load factors and/or reduced yields, operational disruptions caused by political unrest in North Africa, the Middle East or elsewhere, and other factors affecting the creditworthiness of our airline customers and their ability to continue to perform their obligations under our leases; termination payments on our interest rate hedges; and other risks detailed from time to time in Aircastle's filings with the SEC, including as previously disclosed in Aircastle's 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K, and elsewhere in this report. In addition, new risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Aircastle to predict or assess the impact of every factor that may cause its actual results to differ from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this report. Aircastle Limited expressly disclaims any obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.

Contact:
Frank Constantinople, SVP Investor Relations
Tel: +1-203-504-1063
fconstantinople@aircastle.com  

The IGB Group
Leon Berman
Tel: +1-212-477-8438
lberman@igbir.com

Refer to the selected information accompanying this press release for a reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP information.

We define EBITDA as income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes, interest expense, and depreciation and amortization.  We use EBITDA to assess our consolidated financial and operating performance, and we believe this non-US GAAP measure is helpful in identifying trends in our performance.  This measure provides an assessment of controllable expenses and affords management the ability to make decisions which are expected to facilitate meeting current financial goals as well as achieving optimal financial performance. It provides an indicator for management to determine if adjustments to current spending decisions are needed.  EBITDA provides us with a measure of operating performance because it assists us in comparing our operating performance on a consistent basis as it removes the impact of our capital structure (primarily interest charges on our outstanding debt) and asset base (primarily depreciation and amortization) from our operating results. Accordingly, this metric measures our financial performance based on operational factors that management can impact in the short-term, namely the cost structure, or expenses, of the organization.  EBITDA is one of the metrics used by senior management and the board of directors to review the consolidated financial performance of our business.  We define Adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA (as defined above) further adjusted to give effect to adjustments required in calculating covenant ratios and compliance as that term is defined in the indenture governing our senior unsecured notes.  Adjusted EBITDA is a material component of these covenants.

(1)  Included in Interest, net.
(2)  Included in Other income (expense).
(3)  Included in Selling, general and administrative expenses.

Beginning with our report for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, management, to be more consistent with reporting practices of peer aircraft leasing companies, has revised the calculation of ANI to no longer exclude gains (losses) on sales of assets, and to exclude non-cash share based payment expense in the calculation of ANI.  Beginning with our quarterly report for the quarter ended June 30, 2012, we also excluded Term Financing No. 1 hedge loss amortization charges which will be reported in Interest, net on our consolidated statement of income from the calculation of ANI. The same applies to hedge loss amortization charges associated with Securitization No. 1, which began in the first quarter of 2013.  The calculation of ANI for the three months ended March 31, 2012 has been revised to be comparable with the current period presentation.

Management believes that ANI, when viewed in conjunction with the Company's results under US GAAP and the below reconciliation, provides useful information about operating and period-over-period performance, and provides additional information that is useful for evaluating the underlying operating performance of our business without regard to periodic reporting elements related to interest rate derivative accounting and gains or losses related to flight equipment and debt investments.

(1)    For the three and twelve months ended June 30, 2013 the company had no dilutive shares.
(2)    Percentages rounded to two decimal places.

(1)    For the three and twelve months ended June 30, 2012 the company had no dilutive shares.
(2)    Percentages rounded to two decimal places.

SOURCE Aircastle Limited