MIC Reports First Quarter 2021 Financial And Operational Results

NEW YORK, May 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Macquarie Infrastructure Corporation (NYSE: MIC) (the "Company") today announced its operational and financial results for the first quarter 2021. The results reflect better than expected contributions from Atlantic Aviation driven by increasing general aviation flight activity, and from MIC Hawaii driven by increasing numbers of visitors to Hawaii.

"We are pleased to report improved overall results this quarter. The ongoing recovery in economic activity lifted general aviation flight activity in March above the corresponding 2019 levels in markets served by Atlantic Aviation," said Christopher Frost, chief executive officer of MIC. "While visitor arrivals in Hawaii have yet to reach 2019 numbers, they are ahead of our expectations and contributing to a recovery in the performance of our MIC Hawaii businesses."

"On the strength of our financial performance in the first quarter, we are raising our earnings estimates for 2021. We remain confident in our ability to execute on our strategic priorities heading into the second half of the year," added Frost.

MIC reported net income from continuing operations of $13.8 million compared with a net loss of $7.0 million in the first quarter of 2020. The improvement reflects primarily a reduction in selling, general and administrative expenses and lower interest expense.

The Company recorded Adjusted EBITDA excluding non-cash items from continuing operations of $76.9 million for the quarter, up 2% versus the first quarter of 2020.

MIC generated cash from operating activities of $40.0 million for the quarter, down 22% versus the prior comparable period. The decline primarily reflects a net unfavorable impact to working capital resulting from the reduction in business activity in March 2020 and payment of expenses in the first quarter of 2021 related to the sale of IMTT in December 2020.

The Company recorded Adjusted Free Cash Flow from continuing operations of $57.0 million, up 23% versus the prior comparable period. The increase reflects lower cash interest expense, maintenance capital expenditures and cash taxes together with the increase in Adjusted EBITDA excluding non-cash items versus the first quarter of 2020.

Update on Sales Processes

On October 31, 2019, MIC announced its intention to pursue strategic alternatives for the Company and has since been actively engaged in processes to sell its operating businesses. The Company completed the sale of its International-Matex Tank Terminals business in December 2020.

"The sale processes for our remaining businesses are progressing," noted Frost. "We are pleased with the level of interest from potential buyers, particularly in our Atlantic Aviation business, and we remain confident in our ability to unlock value for shareholders through sales of both Atlantic Aviation and MIC Hawaii."

The Company currently expects to sell Atlantic Aviation before the end of 2021. The regulatory approval process associated with a sale of the businesses comprising MIC Hawaii makes it more likely that a sale of that segment occurs in 2022.

To facilitate the tax-efficient sale of Atlantic Aviation prior to a sale of MIC Hawaii, shareholders will be asked to approve a plan of merger that could result in the reorganization of MIC from a corporation to a listed limited liability company treated as a partnership for tax purposes. The Company will seek approval of the plan of merger at a Special Meeting of Shareholders scheduled for May 6, 2021.

In connection with the sales processes, MIC is winding down operations at its shared services center in Plano, Texas. Functions other than those supporting the public company will be allocated to or reconstituted in both of its operating businesses.

First Quarter 2021 Segment Results

Atlantic Aviation

"Atlantic Aviation performed well during the first quarter, driven by the continued improvement in general aviation flight activity. The improvement was supported by strong demand at leisure-oriented destinations that exceeded expectations and increased demand at business-oriented destinations. Flight activity surpassed pre-pandemic levels in regions of the country that have shown consistent strength over the past year, including the Intermountain West and Florida. In addition, the business benefitted from steady growth in tenant hangar rental revenue," Frost observed.

Atlantic Aviation generated EBITDA excluding non-cash items of $67.3 million in the first quarter of 2021, up 2% versus the first quarter of 2020, but 16% below the $79.8 million recorded in the first quarter of 2019.

As reported by the Federal Aviation Administration, same store general aviation flight activity at airports on which Atlantic Aviation operates increased by 5% in the first quarter compared with the first quarter of 2020 and decreased by 6% versus the first quarter of 2019. Flight activity at these airports was up 3% in March 2021 compared with March 2019.

MIC Hawaii

"The businesses that comprise our MIC Hawaii segment benefitted from a larger than anticipated number of visitors to the islands in the first quarter of the year. While the rate of recovery in visitor arrivals going forward remains uncertain, Hawaii appears to be a beneficiary of a low incidence of COVID-19 and pent-up consumer travel demand. At quarter end, visitor arrivals were approximately 60% below 2020 levels and 67% below 2019 levels, but well higher than those recorded in in the fourth quarter of 2020," Frost noted.

MIC Hawaii generated EBITDA excluding non-cash items of $13.6 million in the first quarter of 2021, down 11% versus the first quarter in 2020 and down 30% versus the $19.5 million recorded in the first quarter in 2019. Residential gas consumption was flat during the quarter, as expected, while commercial and industrial gas consumption (including by hotels and restaurants) rose with the increase in visitor arrivals. Total gas consumption declined by 18% versus the first quarter in 2020 and 21% versus the first quarter in 2019.

Corporate and Other

MIC's Corporate and Other segment includes primarily interest expense on holding company level debt, fees payable to the Company's external manager and public company expenses. Reduced expenditures in the first quarter of 2021, including lower costs incurred in connection with efforts to sell the Company's operating businesses, resulted in the generation of EBITDA excluding non-cash items of ($8.2) million compared with ($16.7) million the first quarter of 2020.

2021 Guidance Revision

On the strength of the Company's financial results for the first quarter, MIC management has raised its earnings estimates for 2021.

MIC has raised its 2021 Adjusted EBITDA excluding non-cash items guidance for Atlantic Aviation to between $245 and $260 million from between $220 and $240 million. Based on demand during the first quarter, the Company believes that the rapid rollout of effective COVID-19 vaccines will continue to boost activity at leisure-oriented destinations through the summer. Consistent with prior guidance, the Company assumes that activity at business-oriented destinations, as well as international and event-driven travel, will recover during the second half of the year. Factors that could affect the outcome include, on the upside, an acceleration in the reopening of the economy or sustained leisure demand above historical levels through the remainder of 2021.  The current guidance does not assume a spreading of COVID-19 variants resistant to the current therapies or a resurgence of COVID-19 generally.

The better-than-expected number of visitors to Hawaii during the first quarter supported an upward revision in the Company's 2021 Adjusted EBITDA excluding non-cash items guidance for its MIC Hawaii segment to between $35 and $45 million from between $30 and $40 million. MIC believes the rapid rollout of effective COVID-19 vaccines and the expected reopening of Hawaii to visitors from around the world will result in gas sales being above those previously anticipated, partially offset by an expected higher wholesale cost of propane and higher operating expenses due to the wind-down of the Company's shared service center.

MIC revised its 2021 Adjusted EBITDA excluding non-cash items guidance for its Corporate and Other segment to ($15) million down from a previous estimate of ($20) million. The reduction primarily reflects lower professional services costs at the holding company level and the wind-down of the Company's shared services center in Plano, Texas.

Balance Sheet Strength and Financial Flexibility

MIC reported aggregate leverage of approximately 3.8x net debt/Adjusted EBITDA excluding non-cash items (trailing twelve-month basis) on March 31, 2021. The Company expects its aggregate leverage to be below 3.0x net debt/Adjusted EBITDA at year-end.

The Company conducted a tender offer for any or all of its 2% Convertible Senior Notes due October 2023 during the first quarter. Including open market purchases made after quarter-end, MIC repurchased $364.3 million, or 91%, of the Notes outstanding.

On April 19, 2021, MIC's Hawaii Gas business fully repaid its $100 million senior secured notes outstanding. The business incurred a $4.7 million 'make-whole' payment in connection with the repayment.

The Company continues to forecast deployment of growth capital of between $70 and $80 million in 2021, primarily on projects to which it has previously committed. MIC deployed $11.1 million in the first quarter of the year.

Conference Call and Webcast

When: MIC has scheduled a conference call for 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, May 4, 2021 during which management will review and comment on the first quarter 2021 results.

How: To listen to the conference call dial +1 877-407-2991 or +1 201-389-0925 at least ten minutes prior to the scheduled start time. A webcast of the call will be accessible via the Company's website at www.macquarie.com/mic. Allow extra time prior to the call to visit the site and download the software needed to listen to the webcast.

Slides: MIC will prepare supplemental materials that will be available for downloading from the Company's website prior to the call.

Replay: For interested individuals unable to participate in the live conference call, a replay will be available after 2:00 p.m. May 4, 2021 through midnight May 11, 2021, at +1 877-660-6853 or +1 201-612-7415, Passcode: 13718895. An online archive of the webcast will be available on the Company's website for one year following the call.

About MIC

MIC owns and operates businesses providing basic services to customers in the United States. Its businesses consist of an airport services business, Atlantic Aviation; and entities comprising an energy services, production and distribution segment, MIC Hawaii. For additional information, please visit the MIC website at www.macquarie.com/mic.

Use of Non-GAAP Measures

Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) excluding non-cash items and Free Cash Flow

In addition to MIC's results under U.S. GAAP, the Company uses the non-GAAP measures EBITDA excluding non-cash items and Free Cash Flow to assess the performance and prospects of its businesses.

MIC measures EBITDA excluding non-cash items as a reflection of its businesses' ability to effectively manage the volume of products sold or services provided, the operating margin earned on those transactions and the management of operating expenses independent of the capitalization and tax attributes of those businesses. The Company believes investors use EBITDA excluding non-cash items primarily to assess the operating performance of its businesses and to make comparisons with the operating performance of other businesses whose depreciation and amortization expense may vary widely from MIC's, particularly where acquisitions and other non-operating factors are involved. MIC defines EBITDA excluding non-cash items as net income (loss) or earnings —the most comparable GAAP measure— before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and non-cash items including impairments, unrealized derivative gains and losses, adjustments for other non-cash items and pension expense reflected in the statements of operations. Other non-cash expenses, net, excludes the adjustment to bad debt expense related to the specific reserve component, net of recoveries. EBITDA excluding non-cash items also excludes base management fees and performance fees, if any, whether paid in cash or stock.

The Company's businesses can be characterized as owners of high-value, long-lived assets capable of generating substantial Free Cash Flow. MIC defines Free Cash Flow as cash from operating activities —the most comparable GAAP measure —less maintenance capital expenditures and adjusted for changes in working capital.

Management uses Free Cash Flow as a measure of its ability to fund acquisitions, invest in growth projects, reduce, or repay indebtedness and/or return capital to shareholders. GAAP metrics such as net income (loss) do not provide MIC management with the same level of visibility into the performance and prospects of the business as a result of: (i) the capital intensive nature of MIC's businesses and the generation of non-cash depreciation and amortization; (ii) shares issued to the Company's external manager under the Management Services Agreement, (iii) the Company's ability to defer all or a portion of current federal income taxes; (iv) non-cash mark-to-market adjustment of the value of derivative instruments; (v) gains (losses) related to the write-off or disposal of assets or liabilities, (vi) non-cash compensation expense incurred in relation to the incentive plans for senior management of the Company's operating business; and (vii) pension expense. Pension expenses primarily consist of interest expense, expected return on plan assets and amortization of actuarial and performance gains and losses. Any cash contributions to pension plans are reflected as a reduction in Free Cash Flow and are not included in pension expense. Management believes that external consumers of its financial statements, including investors and research analysts, use Free Cash Flow to assess the Company's ability to fund acquisitions, invest in growth projects, reduce or repay indebtedness, and/or return capital to shareholders.

In its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the Company has disclosed Free Cash Flow on a consolidated basis and for each of its operating segments and MIC Corporate and Other. Management believes that both EBITDA excluding non-cash items and Free Cash Flow support a more complete and accurate understanding of the financial and operating performance of its businesses than would otherwise be achieved using GAAP results alone.

Free Cash Flow does not take into consideration required payments on indebtedness and other fixed obligations or other cash items that are excluded from MIC's definition of Free Cash Flow. Management notes that Free Cash Flow may be calculated differently by other companies thereby limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure. Free Cash Flow should be used as a supplemental measure to help understand MIC's financial performance and not in lieu of its financial results reported under GAAP.

See the tables below for a reconciliation of Net Income (loss) to EBITDA excluding non-cash items from continuing operations and a reconciliation of cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations to Free Cash Flow from continuing operations.

With respect to the Company's guidance for EBITDA and Free Cash Flow in 2021, a reconciliation of EBITDA to net income (loss), the most comparable GAAP measure and a reconciliation of Free Cash Flow to cash from operating activities, the most comparable GAAP measure, are not available without unreasonable effort due to the Company's limited visibility into and an inability to make accurate projections and estimates of items including management fees, hedging agreements, depreciation and any (benefit) provision for income taxes. These items may vary greatly from year to year and could significantly impact MIC's results as reported in accordance with GAAP.

Classification of Maintenance Capital Expenditures and Growth Capital Expenditures

MIC categorizes capital expenditures as either maintenance capital expenditures or growth capital expenditures. As neither maintenance capital expenditure nor growth capital expenditure is a GAAP term, the Company has adopted a framework to categorize specific capital expenditures. In broad terms, maintenance capital expenditures primarily maintain MIC's businesses at current levels of operations, capability, profitability, or cash flow, while growth capital expenditures primarily provide new or enhanced levels of operations, capability, profitability, or cash flow. Management considers various factors in determining whether a specific capital expenditure will be classified as maintenance or growth.

MIC does not bifurcate specific capital expenditures into growth and maintenance components. Each discrete capital expenditure is considered within the above framework and the entire capital expenditure is classified as either maintenance or growth.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. MIC may, in some cases, use words such as "project", "believe", "anticipate", "plan", "expect", "estimate", "intend", "should", "would", "could", "potentially", or "may" or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. Such statements include, among others, those concerning expected financial performance and strategic and operational plans, statements regarding potential sales of the Company's operating businesses (including the Company's proposed reorganization) and the anticipated uses of any proceeds therefrom, statements regarding the anticipated specific and overall impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as all assumptions, expectations, predictions, intentions or beliefs about future events. Forward-looking statements in this release are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond MIC's control including, among other things: changes in general economic or business conditions; the short and long term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; its ability to complete the sale of the Company of its businesses of favorable terms, its ability to service, comply with the terms of and refinance debt, successfully integrate and manage acquired businesses, retain or replace qualified employees, complete growth projects, deploy growth capital and manage growth, make and finance future acquisitions, and implement its strategy; the regulatory environment; demographic trends, the political environment, the economy, tourism, construction and transportation costs, air travel, environmental costs and risks; fuel and gas and other commodity costs; its ability to recover increases in costs from customers, cybersecurity risks, work interruptions or other labor stoppages; risks associated with acquisitions or dispositions, litigation risks; reliance on sole or limited source suppliers, risks or conflicts of interests involving its relationship with the Macquarie Group and changes in U.S. federal tax law.

MIC's actual results, performance, prospects or opportunities could differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements. Additional risks of which MIC is not currently aware could also cause its actual results to differ. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. The forward-looking events discussed in this release may not occur. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release. MIC undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

MIC is not an authorized deposit-taking institution for the purposes of the Banking Act 1959 (Commonwealth of Australia). The obligations of MIC do not represent deposits or other liabilities of Macquarie Bank Limited ABN 46 008 583 542 (MBL). MBL does not guarantee or otherwise provide assurance in respect of the obligations of MIC.

The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash from both continuing and discontinued operations reported within the consolidated condensed balance sheets that is presented in the consolidated condensed statements of cash flows:

SOURCE Macquarie Infrastructure Corporation

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