Aircastle Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2012 Results

STAMFORD, Conn., Feb. 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Aircastle Limited (the "Company" or "Aircastle") (NYSE: AYR) reported fourth quarter 2012 net income of $29.8 million, or $0.43 per diluted common share and adjusted net income of $36.4 million, or $0.52 per diluted common share.  Net income for the year ended December 31, 2012 was $32.9 million, or $0.46 per diluted common share, and adjusted net income was $57.0 million, or $0.80 per diluted common share.  The fourth quarter results included total revenues of $176.6 million, an increase of 13%, versus $156.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2011.  For the full year 2012 total revenues were $686.6 million, up 13% versus $605.2 million in 2011. 

Commenting on the results, Ron Wainshal, Aircastle's CEO, stated: "Aircastle continued to execute on its value-oriented growth strategy in 2012, finishing the year with solid top line growth thanks to $843 million of investments and 99% portfolio utilization.  We also continued to transform our balance sheet by building the unencumbered asset base to over $2 billion in aircraft and more than $600 million in unrestricted cash while pushing out the nearest debt maturity to 2017.  We demonstrated our strong standing in the capital markets, where we raised $1.3 billion in unsecured debt during the year, including a $500 million issue in late November, which provides us with attractive growth capital for 2013.  Looking ahead, we believe the market for new acquisitions looks good and we will continue pursuing investment opportunities in a disciplined way."

Michael Inglese, Aircastle's CFO, commented: "In addition to pursuing accretive new investments, we remain committed to returning capital to our shareholders.  To that end, we repurchased $20 million of common shares under our current $50 million program since October, bringing the total to $138.5 million repurchased since the beginning of 2011, at an average price of $11.87 per share.  In addition, we increased our dividend 10% during the year for a cumulative increase of 65% over the past eight quarters, reflecting the Company's increased earnings base." 

Fourth Quarter Results

Lease rental revenue for the fourth quarter was $158.1 million, up $8.2 million or 6% year over year, due primarily to the impact of new aircraft acquisitions of $25.0 million, partially offset by lower revenue due to aircraft sales of $5.2 million and the year over year impact of lease extensions, transitions and terminations of $11.6 million.

Total revenues for the fourth quarter were $176.6 million, an increase of $19.7 million, or 13% from the previous year, reflecting higher lease rental revenue of $8.2 million, higher maintenance revenue of $4.2 million from a year over year increase in transitions, and an increase in other revenues of $8.0 million reflecting our purchase of a secured loan during the first quarter of 2012 and revenue from finance leases, primarily from acquisitions in 2012.    

Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter was $172.3 million, up $10.5 million, or 6% from the fourth quarter of 2011, due primarily to higher lease rental, maintenance and other revenue totaling $20.5 million, partially offset by a $7.4 million year-over year decline in gains from the sale of aircraft.

The fourth quarter 2012 results include aircraft impairment charges totaling $7.7 million and primarily reflects the impairment of one A320-200 that came off lease during the quarter for $6.7 million.  These charges were largely offset by end of lease maintenance revenue related to the impaired aircraft totaling $7.5 million.     

Adjusted net income for the quarter was $36.4 million, down $6.0 million year over year.  The change reflects higher net revenues of $19.7 million that was offset by higher aircraft impairment charges of $7.7 million, lower gains from the sale of aircraft of $7.4 million, higher depreciation of $6.1 million, higher selling, general and administrative costs of $2.1 million, and higher adjusted interest expense of $1.9 million.

Full Year Results

Lease rental revenue for the full year was $623.5 million, up $43.3 million, or 7% year over year, reflecting the net impact of aircraft acquisitions made during 2012 and 2011 totaling $106.1 million, offset by lower lease rentals due to aircraft sales and disposals of $28.6 million and the impact of transitions, extensions and terminations totaling $34.2 million.

Total revenues for 2012 were $686.6 million, an increase of $81.4 million, up 13% from the previous year.  The increase reflects higher lease rental revenue of $43.3 million, higher maintenance revenue of $16.4 million, lower amortization of net lease discounts and lease incentives of $3.6 million, higher revenues resulting from interest on our debt investments and finance leases of $12.2 million, and an increase of $5.9 million in early termination fees paid by lessees during 2012 versus 2011. 

During the year we recorded maintenance revenue from 13 scheduled lease terminations of $18.4 million versus $21.7 million for nine scheduled lease terminations in 2011.  In addition, we recorded $34.9 million of maintenance revenue from 13 aircraft returned early in 2012 versus $15.3 million from seven aircraft returned early in 2011.  We recorded total non-cash impairment charges of $96.5 million and $6.4 million in 2012 and 2011, respectively. 

During 2012 we impaired 18 aircraft, and the total $96.5 million non-cash charge was partially offset by maintenance and lease incentive revenue associated with seven of these aircraft, in the amount of $27.7 million. 

Adjusted EBITDA for the full year was $647.6 million, up 7% from $607.9 million in 2011, due primarily to higher lease rental, maintenance and other revenues totaling $77.8 million, partially offset by a $33.3 million decrease in gains from aircraft sold during 2012. 

Adjusted net income for the full year was $57.0 million, down $88.0 million year over year.  The change reflects higher revenues of $81.4 million, primarily offset by higher aircraft impairment charges of $90.0 million, lower gains from the sale of aircraft of $33.3 million, higher depreciation of $27.8 million, and higher adjusted interest expense of $13.6 million.

Aviation Assets

During 2012, we acquired 24 aircraft investments for $843 million.  We also sold or disposed of eight aircraft, which resulted in a pre-tax gain of approximately $5.7 million for the year.

As of December 31, 2012, Aircastle owned 159 aircraft having a net book value of $4.8 billion.

Financing Update

During 2012 we raised approximately $1.6 billion of total debt financing, including more than $730 million during the fourth quarter. 

In December 2012, we closed a $150 million unsecured revolving credit facility with Citibank, N.A., Goldman Sachs Bank USA, J.P. Morgan Chase Bank N.A. and an affiliate of RBC Capital Markets, which has a three-year term scheduled to expire in December 2015.  This facility is currently undrawn.

In late November of 2012, Aircastle issued $500 million aggregate principal amount of unsecured 6.25% Senior Notes due 2019.  The proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes, including the purchase of aviation assets.  The notes were issued at par value.

In April 2012, we closed an $800 million unsecured notes offering, consisting of $500 million of 6.75% senior notes due 2017 and $300 million of 7.63% senior notes due in 2020, both of which were issued at par.  Aircastle used the net proceeds from the offering to repay outstanding indebtedness under its Term Financing No. 1 and the termination of associated interest rate derivatives, with the balance used for general corporate purposes, including the purchase of aviation assets.

During 2012, we entered into two 12 year term loans which are supported by guarantees from Compagnie Francaise d'Assurance pour le Commerce Exterieur, or COFACE, for the financing of two new Airbus Model A330-200 aircraft. The borrowings under these financings at December 31, 2012 had a weighted average rate of interest equal to 3.22%.

Dividends and Share Repurchase Program

On February 18, 2013 Aircastle's Board of Directors declared a first quarter 2013 cash dividend on its common shares of $0.165 per share, payable on March 15, 2013 to shareholders of record on March 4, 2013.  This is our 27^th consecutive dividend.  During 2012, Aircastle increased the dividend to common shareholders to the current quarterly rate of $0.165 per share, a 10% increase over the quarterly rate at the end of 2011. 

Also during 2012, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to a total of $78.5 million of the Company's common shares.  As of February 20, 2013, under this authorization we repurchased 4.1 million shares at a total cost of $48.5 million, including commissions.  We have $30 million remaining under the current authorization. 

Conference Call

In connection with this earnings release, management will host an earnings conference call on Thursday, February 21, 2013 at 10:00 A.M. Eastern time.  All interested parties are welcome to participate on the live call.  The conference call can be accessed by dialing (800) 946-0709 (from within the U.S. and Canada) or (719) 457-2653 (from outside of the U.S. and Canada) ten minutes prior to the scheduled start and referencing the passcode "5347970".

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 1:00 P.M. Eastern time on Saturday, March 23, 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 "5347970."

About Aircastle Limited

Aircastle Limited is a global company that acquires, leases and sells high-utility commercial jet aircraft to airlines throughout the world.  As of December 31, 2012, Aircastle's aircraft portfolio consisted of 159 aircraft on lease with 69 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 Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including as described in Item 1A. "Risk Factors" 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 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.

¹ Refer to Supplemental Financial Information accompanying this press release for a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP numbers.

Contact:
Frank Constantinople, SVP Investor Relations
Tel: +1-203-504-1063
[email protected]

The IGB Group
Leon Berman
Tel: +1-212-477-8438
[email protected]

We define EBITDA as income 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-GAAP measure is helpful in identifying trends in our performance. Using EBITDA assists us in comparing our operating performance on a consistent basis by removing the impact of our capital structure (primarily interest charges on our outstanding debt) and asset base (primarily depreciation and amortization) from our operating results.  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.

SOURCE Aircastle Limited