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Draft 8-4-2014
ATSG Reports Strong Second Quarter Results
Revenues up 8%, Pre-tax Earnings increase 33%, and Adjusted EBITDA grows 26% from 2Q 2013
WILMINGTON, OH, August 5, 2014 - Air Transport Services Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATSG), the leading provider of medium wide-body aircraft leasing, air cargo transportation and related services, today reported consolidated financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2014.
For the second quarter of 2014:
Revenues were $149.6 million, up $10.7 million, or 8 percent from a year ago. Excluding revenues from reimbursable expenses, revenues increased $4.8 million, or 4 percent. The year-over-year gain stemmed from an improvement in combi revenue from the U.S. military and more aircraft maintenance services performed for external customers.
Pre-tax earnings from continuing operations increased 33 percent to $14.7 million. Sharp improvement in the profitability of ATSG's airline operations more than offset margin reductions in ATSG's aircraft leasing business, which incurred greater costs without compensating revenues while preparing 767 freighters for redeployment to external lease customers.
Net earnings from continuing operations of $9.3 million, or $0.14 per share, were up 34 percent from $6.9 million, or $0.11 per share a year ago. The Company has operating loss carryforwards for U.S. federal income tax purposes that offset its federal income tax liabilities. As a result, ATSG does not expect to pay significant federal income taxes until 2016 or later.
Adjusted EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization, also adjusted for the effect of derivative transactions) was $45.3 million, up 26 percent from $35.9 million in the prior-year quarter, and up 17 percent from $38.8 million in the first quarter of 2014. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure, defined and reconciled to comparable GAAP results in separate tables at the end of this release.
Separately today, ATSG announced that its Board of Directors has authorized the purchase of up $50 million of the company's common shares, with discretion to determine whether and to what extent such repurchases might take place. Also, ATSG said that its aircraft leasing business, CAM, has agreed to purchase from Guggenheim Aviation Partners, Ltd., two 767-300 freighters that ATSG is already operating under leases from Guggenheim.
Joe Hete, President and Chief Executive Officer of ATSG, said, "The second quarter provided strong evidence of the efficiency with which our businesses convert revenue growth into cash flow and higher earnings. The new agreements with Amerijet and Cargojet we announced in May, including dry leases of four more of our 767s, led to the return of several 767 freighters from our airlines to our leasing business, CAM. That shift, plus significant reductions in personnel related costs, fewer heavy maintenance checks in the second quarter, and stronger returns from our operations for the U.S. military, led to a profitable quarter in our ACMI Services segment. I'm also pleased with the contribution of our aircraft maintenance business, AMES, which opened its new hangar facility in Wilmington in late June."





For the first half of 2014, ATSG earned $15.8 million, or $0.24 per share from continuing operations, up 3 percent from the first half of 2013. Revenues increased 4 percent to $293.2 million. Adjusted EBITDA for the first half of 2014 was $84.1 million, up 15 percent from the first half of 2013.
Capital expenditures in the first half, including expenses related to construction of new leased hangar facilities, were $23.5 million, compared with $72.8 million in the first half of 2013. The company increased its projection for 2014 capital spending from $45 million to approximately $95 million to reflect the purchase of two currently leased-in 767-300 freighters at the end of the third quarter.
Segment Results
CAM (Aircraft Leasing)
CAM
 
Second Quarter
 
($ in thousands)
 
2014
 
2013
 
Revenues
 
$
40,590

 
$
39,362

 
Pre-Tax Earnings
 
10,667

 
17,214

 
Significant Developments:
Lower pre-tax earnings from leasing operations reflect a $5.5 million increase in depreciation from additional and newer aircraft, including four Boeing 757 combis (combined passenger and main-deck cargo aircraft) that offer significant operating cost savings compared with the DC-8s they replaced. At the same time, CAM's costs to prepare aircraft for redeployment to lessees, and the associated loss of lease revenues from CAM's airline affiliates for those aircraft, reduced its second-quarter earnings by about $1.5 million.
At June 30, CAM owned 51 Boeing cargo aircraft in serviceable condition. Four CAM-owned 757 combis have entered service since the first one was deployed in June 2013, and three DC-8 combis were retired, including one that was removed at the end of the second quarter last year. One more 767-300 freighter was added earlier this year. A table reflecting cargo aircraft in service is included at the end of this release.
CAM delivered the first of two 767-200 freighters to Cargojet in June under a dry-lease agreement. It expects to deliver four more 767 freighters this year, including two 767-300s to Amerijet and another 767-200 to Cargojet this summer. Amerijet also extended for 18 months the dry-lease agreements for two of the three 767-200s that it currently leases from CAM. Finally, West Atlantic of Sweden is expected to lease a 767 freighter from CAM later this quarter.
When fully implemented, the new arrangements with Amerijet, Cargojet and West Atlantic are expected to expand the number of CAM aircraft leased to external customers from 21 to 25.
ACMI Services
ACMI Services
 
Second Quarter
 
($ in thousands)
 
2014
 
2013
 
Revenues
 
 
 
 
 
  Airline services
 
$
88,657

 
$
89,920

 
  Reimbursables
 
22,647

 
16,684

 
Total ACMI Services Revenues
 
111,304

 
106,604

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pre-Tax Earnings (Loss)
 
309

 
(9,093
)
 
Significant Developments:





A pre-tax profit in the second quarter contrasts with losses of $9 million a year ago and $7 million in the first quarter of this year. Principal factors were reductions in personnel costs including pension expense, fewer heavy maintenance checks than in the prior periods, stronger results from combi operations for the U.S. Military, and lower lease costs compared with the second quarter last year.
ACMI block hours decreased 6 percent compared with the prior-year quarter, principally reflecting reduced operations for DHL in the Mideast that ended early this year.
Other Activities
Other Activities
 
Second Quarter
 
($ in thousands)
 
2014
 
2013
 
Revenues
 
$
36,493

 
$
26,951

 
Pre-Tax Earnings
 
4,108

 
2,607

 
A $1.5 million increase in pre-tax earnings was driven largely by a $5.8 million gain in revenues from external customers at AMES. They also supported CAM's efforts to prepare its freighters during the second quarter for new dry lease assignments. A new two-bay, 105,000 square foot hangar opened in Wilmington in June, which will support AMES's growth.
Outlook
ATSG now projects that its Adjusted EBITDA for 2014 will exceed $170 million, with final results for the year dependent on its ability to continue to deploy its aircraft.
"The broad interest in our aircraft that we noted in May has persisted into the summer," Hete said. "We expect our cash flow this year to continue to benefit from operating gains from additional aircraft leases, plus reduced pension funding obligations. As we deploy more aircraft under multi-year customer arrangements, we have also demonstrated our confidence in the cash-generating power of the business through a Board authorization for share repurchase flexibility. We now have the option to choose from a wide range of non-exclusive capital allocation alternatives, mindful of the interests of our shareholders for long-term growth, a strong balance sheet, and optimal returns on their investments.”
Conference Call
ATSG will host a conference call on August 6, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time to review its financial results for the second quarter of 2014. 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 37765304. The call will also be webcast live (listen-only mode) via www.atsginc.com.
A replay of the conference call will be available by phone on August 6, 2014, beginning at 2:00 p.m. and continuing through August 13, 2014, at (888) 843-7419 (international callers 630-652-3042); use pass code 37765304#. The webcast replay will remain available via www.atsginc.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 two 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, Inc.; Cargo Aircraft Management, 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 number and timing of deployments of our aircraft, our operating airlines' ability to maintain on-time service and control costs, 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
 
Six Months Ended
 
June 30,
 
June 30,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
REVENUES
$
149,618

 
$
138,904

 
$
293,211

 
$
282,183

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OPERATING EXPENSES
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Salaries, wages and benefits
40,895

 
41,964

 
83,960

 
85,273

Maintenance, materials and repairs
23,168

 
25,005

 
48,047

 
47,139

Depreciation and amortization
27,142

 
21,765

 
52,121

 
42,685

Fuel
14,014

 
12,440

 
26,274

 
26,801

Rent
6,924

 
6,791

 
14,234

 
13,570

Travel
4,419

 
4,772

 
8,992

 
9,499

Landing and ramp
2,576

 
1,972

 
5,314

 
6,037

Insurance
1,573

 
1,396

 
2,778

 
2,907

Other operating expenses
10,790

 
8,630

 
19,538

 
17,690

 
131,501

 
124,735

 
261,258

 
251,601

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OPERATING INCOME
18,117

 
14,169

 
31,953

 
30,582

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest income
24

 
18

 
43

 
39

Interest expense
(3,481
)
 
(3,554
)
 
(7,304
)
 
(6,686
)
Net gain on derivative instruments
31

 
452

 
330

 
742

 
(3,426
)
 
(3,084
)
 
(6,931
)
 
(5,905
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EARNINGS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES
14,691

 
11,085

 
25,022

 
24,677

INCOME TAX EXPENSE
(5,393
)
 
(4,170
)
 
(9,202
)
 
(9,261
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EARNINGS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
9,298

 
6,915

 
15,820

 
15,416

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EARNINGS (LOSS) FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET OF TAX
211

 
(1
)
 
422

 
(2
)
NET EARNINGS
$
9,509

 
$
6,914

 
$
16,242

 
$
15,414

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EARNINGS PER SHARE - Basic
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Continuing operations
$
0.14

 
$
0.11

 
$
0.25

 
$
0.24

Discontinued operations
0.01

 

 

 

NET EARNINGS PER SHARE
$
0.15

 
$
0.11

 
$
0.25

 
$
0.24

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EARNINGS PER SHARE - Diluted
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Continuing operations
$
0.14

 
$
0.11

 
$
0.24

 
$
0.24

Discontinued operations
0.01

 

 
0.01

 

NET EARNINGS PER SHARE
$
0.15

 
$
0.11

 
$
0.25

 
$
0.24

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
64,285

 
64,050

 
64,217

 
63,931

Diluted
65,207

 
64,859

 
65,174

 
64,692







AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share data)
 
June 30,
 
December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
ASSETS
 
 
 
CURRENT ASSETS:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
23,763

 
$
31,699

Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $863 in 2014 and $717 in 2013
57,126

 
52,247

Inventory
9,777

 
9,050

Prepaid supplies and other
12,810

 
9,730

Deferred income taxes
13,957

 
13,957

Aircraft and engines held for sale
1,015

 
2,995

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS
118,448

 
119,678

 
 
 
 
Property and equipment, net
809,810

 
838,172

Other assets
38,214

 
21,143

Pension assets, net of obligations
18,862

 
14,855

Intangibles
4,755

 
4,896

Goodwill
34,395

 
34,395

TOTAL ASSETS
$
1,024,484

 
$
1,033,139

 
 
 
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
 
 
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
 
 
 
Accounts payable
$
33,971

 
$
34,818

Accrued salaries, wages and benefits
21,061

 
23,163

Accrued expenses
10,121

 
9,695

Current portion of debt obligations
24,027

 
23,721

Unearned revenue
9,487

 
8,733

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES
98,667

 
100,130

Long term debt
328,103

 
360,794

Post-retirement obligations
29,985

 
30,638

Other liabilities
64,134

 
62,740

Deferred income taxes
118,335

 
109,869

 
 
 
 
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; 64,939,895 and 64,618,305 shares issued and outstanding in 2014 and 2013, respectively
649

 
646

Additional paid-in capital
526,023

 
524,953

Accumulated deficit
(110,571
)
 
(126,813
)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(30,841
)
 
(29,818
)
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
385,260

 
368,968

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
$
1,024,484

 
$
1,033,139









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
 
Six Months Ended
 
June 30,
 
June 30,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Revenues
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CAM
$
40,590

 
$
39,362

 
$
81,225

 
$
78,331

ACMI Services
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Airline services
88,657

 
89,920

 
176,164

 
183,077

Reimbursables
22,647

 
16,684

 
43,736

 
34,843

Total ACMI Services
111,304

 
106,604

 
219,900

 
217,920

Other Activities
36,493

 
26,951

 
63,301

 
53,205

Total Revenues
188,387

 
172,917

 
364,426

 
349,456

Eliminate internal revenues
(38,769
)
 
(34,013
)
 
(71,215
)
 
(67,273
)
Customer Revenues
$
149,618

 
$
138,904

 
$
293,211

 
$
282,183

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pre-tax Earnings from Continuing Operations
 
 
 
 
 
 
CAM, inclusive of interest expense
10,667

 
17,214

 
25,107

 
34,087

ACMI Services
309

 
(9,093
)
 
(6,737
)
 
(14,497
)
Other Activities
4,108

 
2,607

 
7,125

 
4,788

Net, unallocated interest expense
(424
)
 
(95
)
 
(803
)
 
(443
)
Net gain on derivative instruments
31

 
452

 
330

 
742

Total Pre-tax Earnings
$
14,691

 
$
11,085

 
$
25,022

 
$
24,677

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Adjustments to Pre-tax Earnings
 
 
 
 
 
 
Less net gain on derivative instruments
(31
)
 
(452
)
 
(330
)
 
(742
)
Adjusted Pre-tax Earnings
$
14,660

 
$
10,633

 
$
24,692

 
$
23,935


Adjusted Pre-tax Earnings is defined as Earnings from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes less derivative gains. 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
 
Six Months Ended
 
June 30,
 
June 30,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes
$
14,691

 
$
11,085

 
$
25,022

 
$
24,677

Interest Income
(24
)
 
(18
)
 
(43
)
 
(39
)
Interest Expense
3,481

 
3,554

 
7,304

 
6,686

Depreciation and Amortization
27,142

 
21,765

 
52,121

 
42,685

EBITDA from Continuing Operations
$
45,290

 
$
36,386

 
$
84,404

 
$
74,009

Less net gain on derivative instruments
(31
)
 
(452
)
 
(330
)
 
(742
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Adjusted EBITDA from Continuing Operations
$
45,259

 
$
35,934

 
$
84,074

 
$
73,267


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 less derivative gains.
 
Management uses EBITDA from Continuing Operations as an indicator of the cash-generating performance of the operations of the Company. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA from Continuing Operations to assess the performance of its operating results among periods. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA from Continuing Operations 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 CARGO AIRCRAFT FLEET

Aircraft Types
 
 
December 31,
 
June 30,
 
December 31,
 
 
2013
 
2014
 
2014 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
 
8
 
6
 
2
 
9
 
7
 
2
 
9
 
9
 
B757-200
 
4
 
4
 
 
4
 
4
 
 
4
 
4
 
B757 Combi
 
3
 
3
 
 
4
 
4
 
 
4
 
4
 
Total Aircraft In-Service
 
55
 
49
 
6
 
57
 
51
 
6
 
57
 
53
 
4
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Owned Aircraft In Serviceable Condition
 
 
December 31,
 
June 30,
 
December 31,
 
 
2013
 
2014
 
2014 Projected
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ATSG airlines
 
 
 
29
 
 
 
 
 
26
 
 
 
 
 
27-28
 
 
External customers
 
 
 
20
 
 
 
 
 
21
 
 
 
 
 
25-26
 
 
Staging/Unassigned
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
49
 
 
 
 
 
51
 
 
 
 
 
53