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8-K - CURRENT REPORT - Air Transport Services Group, Inc.q32012form8kcover-earnings.htm

 
 
Page 1

ATSG Reports Results for Third Quarter 2012
WILMINGTON, Ohio, November 8, 2012 - Air Transport Services Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATSG) today reported financial results as follows for the third quarter of 2012:
Summary GAAP Results
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Quarter Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
(in millions, except per share amounts)
2012
2011
Chg.
 
2012
2011
Chg.
Revenues
$
153.8

$
195.5

$
(41.7
)
 
$
452.9

$
563.7

$
(110.8
)
Pre-tax Earnings (Loss) from Continuing Operations
$
19.0

$
(6.7
)
$
25.7

 
$
47.9

$
17.6

$
30.3

Net Earnings (Loss) from Continuing Operations
$
11.6

$
(4.8
)
$
16.4

 
$
29.4

$
10.3

$
19.1

Earnings (Loss) Per Share from Continuing Operations
$
0.18

$
(0.08
)
$
0.26

 
$
0.46

$
0.16

$
0.30

Adjusted (non-GAAP) Results *
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenues excluding Reimbursed Expenses
$
133.4

$
151.4

$
(18.0
)
 
$
395.2

$
425.7

$
(30.5
)
Adjusted Pre-tax Earnings from Continuing Operations
$
18.7

$
22.4

$
(3.7
)
 
$
46.9

$
53.0

$
(6.1
)
Adjusted EBITDA from Continuing Operations
$
43.4

$
48.3

$
(4.9
)
 
$
120.6

$
132.7

$
(12.1
)
* A table defining and reconciling adjusted results to comparable GAAP measures is provided at the end of this release.

Joe Hete, President and CEO of ATSG, said, "Our results for the third quarter of 2012 were in line with the outlook we provided in August. We continued to pursue further deployment of freighter aircraft and the reorganization of two of our airlines, which will result in meaningful savings in 2013. However, we continue to experience the effects of the soft air-freight market."

Earnings for the nine months of 2011 included $6.8 million in net charges related to the 2011 refinancing of ATSG's credit facilities, and $27.1 million in pre-tax impairment charges related primarily to the 2011 termination of the company's business with D.B. Schenker (“Schenker”), a North American logistics company. Adjusted EBITDA from Continuing Operations excludes the effect of those items. Revenues also include reimbursement of certain expenses, particularly fuel, from some of ATSG's customers, including $94.6 million in reimbursement revenues from Schenker for the first nine months of 2011. Excluding revenues from reimbursed expenses and from Schenker-related business, revenues for the third quarter and first nine months of 2012 increased 5 percent and 12 percent, respectively, from 2011 levels.
Operating Results
Aircraft Leasing

Pre-tax third-quarter earnings for Cargo Aircraft Management (CAM) were $17.3 million, up 7 percent from the year-earlier period. Revenues increased 6 percent to $39.2 million.

At the end of September, CAM owned 53 aircraft in service condition, including 21 leased to external customers and 32 leased to its ATSG airline affiliates. ATSG airline affiliates pay market rates on aircraft leased from CAM. ATSG's airlines operate an additional six freighters (four Boeing 767-200s, and two 767-300s) under operating leases with third parties. ATSG's aircraft fleet at year-end 2011, at




 
 
Page 2

Sept. 30, 2012, and its current outlook for aircraft in service at the end of 2012 are summarized in a table at the end of this release.
ACMI Services
Third quarter revenues for ATSG's airline operations were $102.9 million, excluding fuel and other reimbursed expenses, down from $118.9 million in the third quarter of 2011. The third-quarter pre-tax loss of $1.7 million was down from a $2.8 million pre-tax profit in the third quarter of 2011, excluding third-quarter 2011 impairment charges.
Results for the third quarter of 2011 included $24.2 million in airline services revenues from Schenker, excluding reimbursed amounts. As previously reported, Schenker ended its North American air freight network agreements with ATSG at the end of 2011. Decreased segment results for the third quarter of 2012 primarily reflect the loss of the Schenker business, and upfront expenses incurred in anticipation of future freighter deployments.
ATSG is reorganizing its two airlines that served Schenker, Air Transport International (ATI) and Capital Cargo International Airlines (CCIA). CCIA's operations will merge into ATI, generating significant savings in these operations beginning in 2013.
Delayed aircraft deployments also affected ACMI Services results. Two Boeing 767-300 freighters entered service on an ACMI basis in October on international routes. Those aircraft had been projected to enter service in August. ATSG's latest two-year combi (combination passenger/freighter) service award from the U.S. Military also began in October, under terms that will allow ATSG to replace its four DC-8 combis with more modern, efficient 757-200s. The combi business has been a steady, reliable source of cash flow generation to ATI for several years.
Third-quarter ACMI block hours were down 16 percent overall from a year ago, but increased 6 percent excluding block hours operated for Schenker in the third quarter of 2011.
Other Activities
Third quarter revenues from ATSG's other businesses increased 2 percent, to $26.8 million, before the elimination of inter-company results. Pre-tax profit from other activities was $3.4 million down 8 percent from the year-earlier quarter but up sequentially from the second quarter this year. During the third quarter, ATSG completed agreements with the U.S. Postal Service extending ATSG's management of USPS sorting facilities in Indianapolis, Dallas, and Memphis for two more years.

Outlook for the Fourth Quarter and 2013

Hete said that ATSG continues to project strong gains in its GAAP earnings for 2012 as a whole, improved results for the second half of 2012 versus the first half, and substantial growth in revenues, earnings and cash flow in 2013.

"But when setting our $170 million target for Adjusted EBITDA for 2012, we had assumed no further delays in our projections of aircraft deployments," he said. "Unfortunately, those delays have continued beyond what we projected in August. We now expect our Adjusted EBITDA for 2012 to approximate $160 million, including approximately $40 million in the fourth quarter."

Hete noted that some of ATSG's customers are delaying commitments, which will impact the fourth quarter. In addition, he said that certain international customers have faced unexpected regulatory hurdles unrelated to market conditions, leading to new-service delays.





 
 
Page 3

"Deployment of our modified freighter aircraft are occurring later than we had anticipated, due to both delays in the modification process and longer transition periods for aircraft returned from customers,” he said. “Given that there are meaningful fixed costs associated with each aircraft in service, having revenue lag for even one month can have a near-term negative impact on EBITDA and earnings.”

Hete concluded that while those delays will negatively affect this year's Adjusted EBITDA and earnings, they do not affect the intrinsic earnings power of ATSG's business model and its strong cash flow generation characteristics when deployments are completed.

“With reduced growth capital expenditure commitments for 2013, and the benefit of our significant investment in our fleet becoming more evident, we expect to reap substantial earnings, EBITDA, and free cash flow gains in 2013."
Conference Call
ATSG will host a conference call on Friday, November 9, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time to review its financial results for the third quarter of 2012. Participants should dial 888-895-5479 and international participants should dial 847-619-6250 ten minutes before the scheduled start of the call and ask for conference pass code 33635520. The call will also be webcast live (listen-only mode) via www.atsginc.com and www.earnings.com for individual investors, and via www.streetevents.com for institutional investors.

A replay of the conference call will be available by phone on November 9, 2012, beginning at 2:00 p.m. and continuing through Friday, November 16, 2012, at 888-843-7419 (international callers 630-652-3042); use pass code 33635520#. The webcast replay will remain available via www.atsginc.com and www.earnings.com for 30 days.
About ATSG
ATSG is a leading provider of aircraft leasing and air cargo transportation and related services to domestic and foreign air carriers and other companies that outsource their air cargo lift requirements. ATSG, through its leasing and airline subsidiaries, is the world's largest owner and operator of converted Boeing 767 freighter aircraft. Through its principal subsidiaries, including three airlines with separate and distinct U.S. FAA Part 121 Air Carrier certificates, ATSG provides aircraft leasing, air cargo lift, aircraft maintenance services and airport ground services. ATSG's subsidiaries include ABX Air, Inc.; Airborne Global Solutions, Inc.; Air Transport International, LLC; Cargo Aircraft Management, Inc.; Capital Cargo International Airlines, Inc.; and Airborne Maintenance and Engineering Services, Inc. For more information, please see www.atsginc.com.
 
Except for historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this release contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There are a number of important factors that could cause Air Transport Services Group's ("ATSG's") actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, changes in market demand for our assets and services, the costs and timing associated with the modification and deployment of Boeing 767 and Boeing 757 aircraft, the timing associated with the redeployment of aircraft among customers, ATSG's effectiveness in restructuring its airline operations affected by DB Schenker's restructuring of its U.S. air cargo operations, and other factors that are contained from time to time in ATSG's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Readers should carefully review this release and should not place undue reliance on ATSG's forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements were based on information, plans and estimates as of the date of this release. ATSG undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, new information, future events or other changes.
 
Contact:
Quint O. Turner, ATSG Inc. Chief Financial Officer
937-382-5591





AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(In thousands, except per share data)
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2012
 
2011
 
2012
 
2011
REVENUES
$
153,826

 
$
195,480

 
$
452,886

 
$
563,668

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OPERATING EXPENSES
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Salaries, wages and benefits
44,153

 
48,872

 
135,827

 
140,546

Fuel
12,038

 
41,829

 
39,962

 
130,145

Maintenance, materials and repairs
26,751

 
23,740

 
75,135

 
67,426

Depreciation and amortization
21,057

 
22,616

 
62,871

 
68,865

Landing, ramp, rent and insurance
12,566

 
14,283

 
36,322

 
42,538

Travel
5,618

 
7,575

 
17,162

 
20,803

Other operating expenses
9,348

 
10,931

 
27,908

 
29,481

Impairment of aircraft, goodwill and acquired intangibles

 
27,144

 

 
27,144

 
131,531

 
196,990

 
395,187

 
526,948

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)
22,295

 
(1,510
)
 
57,699

 
36,720

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest income
38

 
29

 
104

 
128

Interest expense
(3,668
)
 
(3,304
)
 
(10,886
)
 
(10,944
)
Unrealized gain/(loss) on derivative instruments
294

 
(1,881
)
 
956

 
(5,437
)
Write off of unamortized debt issuance costs

 

 

 
(2,886
)
 
(3,336
)
 
(5,156
)
 
(9,826
)
 
(19,139
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EARNINGS (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES
18,959

 
(6,666
)
 
47,873

 
17,581

INCOME TAX EXPENSE
(7,403
)
 
1,840

 
(18,436
)
 
(7,246
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EARNINGS (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
11,556

 
(4,826
)
 
29,437

 
10,335

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EARNINGS (LOSS) FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET OF TAX
(186
)
 
24

 
(576
)
 
(74
)
NET EARNINGS (LOSS)
$
11,370

 
$
(4,802
)
 
$
28,861

 
$
10,261

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE - Basic
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Continuing operations
$
0.18

 
$
(0.08
)
 
$
0.46

 
$
0.16

Discontinued operations

 

 
(0.01
)
 

NET EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE
$
0.18

 
$
(0.08
)
 
$
0.45

 
$
0.16

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE - Diluted
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Continuing operations
$
0.18

 
$
(0.08
)
 
$
0.46

 
$
0.16

Discontinued operations

 

 
(0.01
)
 

NET EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE
$
0.18

 
$
(0.08
)
 
$
0.45

 
$
0.16

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
63,456

 
63,334

 
63,439

 
63,267

Diluted
64,667

 
63,334

 
64,478

 
64,078






AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share data)
 
September 30,
 
December 31,
 
2012
 
2011
ASSETS
 
 
 
CURRENT ASSETS:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
28,213

 
$
30,503

Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $677 in 2012 and $434 in 2011
41,043

 
42,278

Inventory
9,440

 
8,906

Prepaid supplies and other
9,716

 
9,785

Deferred income taxes
17,418

 
31,548

Aircraft and engines held for sale
4,400

 
9,831

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS
110,230

 
132,851

 
 
 
 
Property and equipment, net
802,291

 
748,913

Other assets
20,351

 
18,579

Intangibles
5,653

 
6,396

Goodwill
86,980

 
86,980

TOTAL ASSETS
$
1,025,505

 
$
993,719

 
 
 
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
 
 
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
 
 
 
Accounts payable
$
48,018

 
$
48,360

Accrued salaries, wages and benefits
23,673

 
23,226

Accrued expenses
9,026

 
10,291

Current portion of debt obligations
19,251

 
13,223

Unearned revenue
10,636

 
12,487

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES
110,604

 
107,587

Long term debt obligations
338,604

 
333,681

Post-retirement liabilities
160,873

 
185,562

Other liabilities
63,781

 
54,212

Deferred income taxes
47,610

 
42,530

 
 
 
 
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
 
 
 
Preferred stock, 20,000,000 shares authorized, including 75,000 Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock

 

Common stock, par value $0.01 per share; 75,000,000 shares authorized; 64,174,283 and 64,015,789 shares issued and outstanding in 2012 and 2011, respectively
642

 
640

Additional paid-in capital
523,035

 
520,613

Accumulated deficit
(119,198
)
 
(148,059
)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(100,446
)
 
(103,047
)
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
304,033

 
270,147

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
$
1,025,505

 
$
993,719







AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
PRE-TAX EARNINGS AND ADJUSTED PRE-TAX EARNINGS SUMMARY
FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION
(In thousands)
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2012
 
2011
 
2012
 
2011
Revenues
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CAM Leasing
$
39,155

 
$
37,045

 
$
115,073

 
$
101,935

ACMI Services
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Airline services
102,863

 
118,936

 
300,466

 
336,436

Reimbursables
20,454

 
44,100

 
57,676

 
138,014

Total ACMI Services
123,317

 
163,036

 
358,142

 
474,450

Other Activities
26,773

 
26,335

 
81,876

 
77,242

Total Revenues
189,245

 
226,416

 
555,091

 
653,627

Eliminate internal revenues
(35,419
)
 
(30,936
)
 
(102,205
)
 
(89,959
)
Customer Revenues
$
153,826

 
$
195,480

 
$
452,886

 
$
563,668

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pre-tax Earnings (Loss) from Continuing Operations
 
 
 
 
 
 
CAM, inclusive of interest expense
17,334

 
16,156

 
50,819

 
43,256

ACMI Services
(1,746
)
 
2,758

 
(11,543
)
 
4,808

Asset impairments

 
(27,144
)
 

 
(27,144
)
Other Activities
3,373

 
3,672

 
8,602

 
7,001

Net, unallocated interest expense
(296
)
 
(227
)
 
(961
)
 
(2,017
)
Net gain (loss) on derivative instruments
294

 
(1,881
)
 
956

 
(5,437
)
Write off of unamortized debt issuance costs

 

 

 
(2,886
)
Total Pre-tax Earnings (Loss)
$
18,959

 
$
(6,666
)
 
$
47,873

 
$
17,581

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Adjustments to Pre-tax Earnings (Loss)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Add Asset impairment charges

 
27,144

 

 
27,144

Less Net (Gain) Loss on derivative instruments
(294
)
 
1,881

 
(956
)
 
5,437

Add Write-off of unamortized debt issuance costs

 

 

 
2,886

Adjusted Pre-tax Earnings
$
18,665

 
$
22,359

 
$
46,917

 
$
53,048


Notes: During the first half of 2011, the Company refinanced its long-term debt, recorded charges to write-off unamortized debt origination costs associated with terminated credit agreements and recognized losses for certain interest rate swaps which had been designated as hedges of the previous debt. Reimbursable revenues include certain operating costs that are reimbursed to the airlines by their customers. Such costs include fuel used, landing fees and certain aircraft maintenance expenses. The decline in reimbursable revenues during 2012 compared to 2011 reflects the discontinuation of D.B. Schenker's air network in the fourth quarter of 2011.
 
Adjusted Pre-tax Earnings is defined as Earnings from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes plus derivative losses, less derivative gains, plus the write-off related to the termination of certain credit agreements in conjunction with the refinancing of the Company's debt. Management uses Adjusted Pre-tax Earnings from Continuing Operations to assess the performance of its operating results among periods. Adjusted Pre-tax earnings from Continuing Operations is a non-GAAP financial measure and should not be considered an alternative to Earnings from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP.






AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED ADJUSTED EARNINGS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INTEREST, TAXES, DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION
NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION
(In thousands)
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2012
 
2011
 
2012
 
2011
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings (Loss) from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes
$
18,959

 
$
(6,666
)
 
$
47,873

 
$
17,581

Interest Income
(38
)
 
(29
)
 
(104
)
 
(128
)
Interest Expense
3,668

 
3,304

 
10,886

 
10,944

Depreciation and Amortization
21,057

 
22,616

 
62,871

 
68,865

EBITDA from Continuing Operations
$
43,646

 
$
19,225

 
$
121,526

 
$
97,262

Add Asset impairment charges

 
27,144

 

 
27,144

Less Net (Gain) Loss on derivative instruments

 

 

 
2,886

Add Write-off of unamortized debt issuance costs
(294
)
 
1,881

 
(956
)
 
5,437

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Adjusted EBITDA from Continuing Operations
$
43,352

 
$
48,250

 
$
120,570

 
$
132,729


EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA from Continuing Operations are non-GAAP financial measures and should not be considered as alternatives to Earnings from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP.
 
EBITDA from Continuing Operations is defined as Earnings from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes plus net interest expense, depreciation, and amortization expense. Adjusted EBITDA from Continuing Operations is defined as EBITDA from Continuing Operations plus asset impairment charges, plus net derivative losses, less derivative gains, plus the write-off related to the termination of certain credit agreements in conjunction with the refinancing of the Company's debt.
 
Management uses EBITDA from Continuing Operations as an indicator of the cash-generating performance of the operations of the Company. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Pre-tax Earnings from Continuing Operations to assess the performance of its operating results among periods. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA from Continuing Operations, and Adjusted Pre-tax Earnings should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of the Company's results as reported under GAAP, or as an alternative measure of liquidity.






AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
IN-SERVICE AIRCRAFT FLEET

Aircraft Types
 
 
December 31,
 
September 30,
 
December 31,
 
 
2011
 
2012
 
2012 Projected
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating
 
 
 
 
 
Operating
 
 
 
 
 
Operating
 
 
Total
 
Owned
 
Lease
 
Total
 
Owned
 
Lease
 
Total
 
Owned
 
Lease
B767-200
 
40
 
36
 
4
 
40
 
36
 
4
 
40
 
36
 
4
B767-300
 
3
 
2
 
1
 
6
 
4
 
2
 
7
 
5
 
2
B757-200
 
3
 
3
 
 
3
 
3
 
 
4
 
4
 
DC-8
 
3
 
3
 
 
2
 
2
 
 
2
 
2
 
DC-8 Combi
 
4
 
4
 
 
4
 
4
 
 
4
 
4
 
B727-200
 
4
 
4
 
 
4
 
4
 
 
3
 
3
 
Total Aircraft In-Service
 
57
 
52
 
5
 
59
 
53
 
6
 
60
 
54
 
6
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Owned Aircraft Placements
 
 
December 31,
 
September 30,
 
December 31,
 
 
2011
 
2012
 
2012 Projected
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ATSG airlines
 
 
 
31
 
 
 
 
 
32
 
 
 
 
 
32-34
 
 
External customers
 
 
 
21
 
 
 
 
 
21
 
 
 
 
 
20-22
 
 
 
 
 
 
52
 
 
 
 
 
53