UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

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FORM 10-Q

 

(Mark One)

 

☒QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2014

 

OR

 

☐TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Commission File Number: 001-15369

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WILLIS LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (415) 408-4700

 

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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes ☒  No ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes ☒  No ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes ☐  No ☒

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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WILLIS LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

INDEX

 

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PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 

WILLIS LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except share data, unaudited)

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

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WILLIS LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Income

(In thousands, except per share data, unaudited)

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

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WILLIS LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

(In thousands, unaudited)

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

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WILLIS LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

(In thousands, unaudited)

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

 

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WILLIS LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In thousands, unaudited)

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

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Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

 

1.  Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

(a) Basis of Presentation: Our unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Willis Lease Finance Corporation and its subsidiaries (“we” or the “Company”) and have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission for reporting on Form 10-Q. Pursuant to such rules and regulations, certain information and note disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted. The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto, together with Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013.

 

In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of only normal and recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly our financial position as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, and the results of our operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, and our cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013. The results of operations and cash flows for the period ended September 30, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations or cash flows which may be reported for the remainder of 2014.

 

(b) Fair Value Measurements:

 

Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs, to the extent possible. The standard describes a fair value hierarchy based on three levels of inputs, of which the first two are considered observable and the last unobservable, that may be used to measure fair value which are the following:

 

Level 1 - Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

 

Level 2 - Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.

 

Level 3 - Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

 

Assets and Liabilities Measured and Recorded at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

 

As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, we held no interest rate swaps. As of September 30, 2013, we measured the fair value of our interest rate swaps of $100.0 million (notional amount) based on Level 2 inputs, due to the usage of inputs that can be corroborated by observable market data. The Company estimates the fair value of derivative instruments using a discounted cash flow technique and at September 30, 2013 used creditworthiness inputs that corroborate observable market data evaluating the Company’s and counterparties’ risk of non-performance. The interest rate swap agreements as of September 30, 2013 had a net liability fair value of $0.3 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and September 30, 2013, ($0.4 million) and $1.1 million, respectively, were realized as net finance costs on the Consolidated Statements of Income.

 

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Assets Measured and Recorded at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis

 

We determine the fair value of long-lived assets held and used, such as Equipment held for operating lease and Equipment held for sale, by reference to independent appraisals, quoted market prices (e.g. an offer to purchase) and other factors. An impairment charge is recorded when the carrying value of the asset exceeds its fair value.

 

The following table shows by level, within the fair value hierarchy, the Company’s assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis as of September 30, 2014 and 2013, and the gains (losses) recorded during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 on those assets:

 

 

 

At September 30, 2014, the Company used Level 2 inputs and, due to a portion of the valuations requiring management judgment due to the absence of quoted market prices, Level 3 inputs to measure the fair value of certain assets that were held as inventory not consigned to third parties. The fair values of the assets categorized as Level 3 were based on management’s estimate considering projected future sales proceeds at September 30, 2014 and September 30, 2013. An impairment charge is recorded when the carrying value of the asset exceeds its fair value.

 

An asset write-down of $2.5 million was recorded in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 based on a comparison of the asset net book values with the net proceeds expected from part sales.    An additional asset write-down of $0.4 million was recorded in the nine months ended September 30, 2014, based upon a comparison of the asset net book values with the revised net proceeds expected from part sales arising from consignment of the parts.  An asset write-down of $3.5 million was recorded in the nine months ended September 30, 2013 based on a comparison of the asset net book values with the proceeds expected from the sale of engines. An additional asset write-down of $2.8 million was recorded in the nine months ended September 30, 2013, based upon a comparison of the asset net book values with the revised net proceeds expected from part sales arising from consignment of the parts.

 

 

(c) Recent Accounting Pronouncements:

 

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which supersedes most of the current revenue recognition requirements.  The core principle of the new guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. New disclosures about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers are also required. This guidance is effective for the Company in the first quarter of 2017 and early application is not permitted. Entities must adopt the new guidance using one of two retrospective application methods. We are currently evaluating the standard to determine the impact of its adoption on the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-11, “Income Taxes - Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists” which is part of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 740: Income Taxes. The new guidance requires an entity to present an

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unrecognized tax benefit and an NOL carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward on a net basis as part of a deferred tax asset, unless the unrecognized tax benefit is not available to reduce the deferred tax asset component or would not be utilized for that purpose, then a liability would be recognized. We adopted this ASU as of January 1, 2014.  The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

2.  Management Estimates

 

These consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the accrual basis of accounting in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

 

The preparation of consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates, including those related to residual values, estimated asset lives, impairments and bad debts. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

 

Management believes that the accounting policies on revenue recognition, maintenance reserves and expenditures, useful life of equipment, asset residual values, asset impairment and allowance for doubtful accounts are critical to the results of operations.

 

If the useful lives or residual values are lower than those estimated by us, a loss may be realized upon sale of the asset. Significant management judgment is required in the forecasting of future operating results, which are used in the preparation of projected undiscounted cash-flows and should different conditions prevail, material impairment write-downs may occur.

 

3.  Commitments, Contingencies, Guarantees and Indemnities

 

Our principal offices are located in Novato, California. We occupy space in Novato under a lease that covers approximately 20,534 square feet of office space and expires September 30, 2018. The remaining lease rental commitment is approximately $2.1 million. Equipment leasing, financing, sales and general administrative activities are conducted from the Novato location. We sub-lease office and warehouse space for our operations in San Diego, California. This lease expires October 31, 2015, and the remaining lease commitment is approximately $0.2 million. We lease office and warehouse space in Shanghai, China. The office lease expires December 31, 2014 and the warehouse lease expires July 31, 2017 and the remaining lease commitments are approximately $16,000 and $20,000, respectively. We lease office space in London, United Kingdom. The lease expires December 21, 2015 and the remaining lease commitment is approximately $93,000. We lease office space in Blagnac, France. The lease expires December 31, 2014 and the remaining lease commitment is approximately $5,000. We lease office space in Dublin, Ireland. The lease expires May 15, 2017 and the remaining lease commitment is approximately $31,000.  We lease office space in Singapore. The lease expires October  31, 2015 and the remaining lease commitment is approximately $119,000.  We lease office and warehouse space in Boynton Beach, Florida. The lease expires October 29, 2019 and the remaining lease commitment is approximately $1.2 million.

 

We have made  a purchase commitment to secure the purchase of an engine and related equipment for a gross purchase price of $9.5 million, for delivery in 2015. 

 

4.  Investments

 

On May 25, 2011, we entered into an agreement with Mitsui & Co., Ltd. to participate in a joint venture formed as a Dublin-based Irish limited company — Willis Mitsui & Company Engine Support Limited (“WMES”) for the purpose of acquiring and leasing jet engines. Each partner holds a fifty percent interest in the joint venture.

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The initial capital contribution by the Company for its investment in WMES was $8.0 million. The Company provided the initial lease portfolio by transferring 7 engines to the joint venture in June 2011. In addition, the Company made $1.0 million, $5.6 million and $11.2 million capital contributions to WMES in the years ended December 31, 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively, for the purchase of 17 engines from third parties, increasing the number of engines in the lease portfolio to 26. The Company made $2.6  million capital contributions to WMES and received $0.5 million in return of capital distributions from WMES in the nine months ended September 30, 2014. The $28.4 million of capital contributions has been partially offset by $3.6 million, representing 50% of the $7.2 million gain related to the sale by the Company of the 7 engines to WMES. The net investment of $24.8 million has been reduced by $0.5 million in distributions and increased further to $26.4 million as a result of the Company’s share of WMES reported earnings to date.

 

Our investment in the joint venture is $26.4 million and $23.5 million as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.

 

 

 

On June 3, 2014 we entered into an agreement with China Aviation Supplies Import & Export Corporation Limited (“CASC”) to participate in a joint venture named CASC Willis Engine Lease Company Limited (“CASC Willis”), a new joint venture based in Shanghai, China. Each partner holds a fifty percent interest in the joint venture. During October 2014, the Company made a $15.0 million initial capital contribution for its investment in CASC Willis.  The new company will acquire and lease jet engines to Chinese airlines and will concentrate on meeting the fast growing demand for leased commercial aircraft engines and aviation assets in the People’s Republic of China.

 

 

 

5.  Long Term Debt

 

At September 30, 2014, notes payable consists of loans totaling $761.2 million, payable over periods of approximately 2.7 to 8 years with interest rates varying between approximately 2.4% and 5.5%.

 

At September 30, 2014, we had a revolving credit facility to finance the acquisition of aircraft engines for lease as well as for general working capital purposes. On June 4, 2014, we entered into a Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement which increased this revolving credit facility to $700.0 million from $450.0 million and extended the maturity date by five years to June 2019. Debt issuance costs totaling $4.9 million were incurred related to the new facility. As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, $357.0 million and $88.0 million was available under this facility, respectively. On a quarterly basis, the interest rate is adjusted based on the Company’s leverage ratio, as calculated under the terms of the revolving credit facility.  Based on the Company’s leverage ratio of 3.75 at June 30, 2014, the interest rate on this facility is one-month LIBOR plus 2.50% as of September 30, 2014. Under the revolving credit facility, all subsidiaries except WEST II and WOLF jointly and severally guarantee payment and performance of the terms of the loan agreement. The guarantee would be triggered by a default under the agreement.

 

On September 17, 2012, we closed an asset-backed securitization (“ABS”) through a newly-created, bankruptcy-remote, Delaware statutory trust, Willis Engine Securitization Trust II, or “WEST II”, of which the Company is the sole beneficiary. WEST II issued and sold $390 million aggregate principal amount of Class 2012-A Term Notes (the “Notes”) and received $384.9 million in net proceeds. We used these funds, net of transaction expenses and swap termination costs, in combination with our revolving credit facility to pay off the prior WEST

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notes totaling $435.9 million.  At closing, 22 engines were pledged as collateral from WEST to the Company’s revolving credit facility, which provided the remaining funds to pay off the WEST notes.

 

The assets and liabilities of WEST II will remain on the Company’s balance sheet. The current portfolio of 71 commercial jet aircraft engines and leases thereof secures the obligations of WEST II under the ABS. The Notes have no fixed amortization and are payable solely from revenue received by WEST II from the engines and the engine leases, after payment of certain expenses of WEST II. The Notes bear interest at a fixed rate of 5.50% per annum. The Notes may be accelerated upon the occurrence of certain events, including the failure to pay interest for five business days after the due date thereof. The Notes are expected to be paid 10 years from the issuance date by September 17, 2022. The legal final maturity of the Notes is September 15, 2037.

 

In connection with the transactions described above, effective September 17, 2012, the Company entered into a Servicing Agreement and Administrative Agency Agreement with WEST II to provide certain engine, lease management and reporting functions for WEST II in return for fees based on a percentage of collected lease revenues and asset sales.  Because WEST II is consolidated for financial statement reporting purposes, all fees eliminate upon consolidation.

 

At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, $356.9 million and $370.6 million of WEST II term notes were outstanding, respectively.  The assets of WEST II are not available to satisfy our obligations or any of our affiliates other than the obligations specific to WEST II. WEST II is consolidated for financial statement presentation purposes. WEST II’s ability to make distributions and pay dividends to the Company is subject to the prior payments of its debt and other obligations and WEST II’s maintenance of adequate reserves and capital. Under WEST II, cash is collected in a restricted account, which is used to service the debt and any remaining amounts, after debt service and defined expenses, are distributed to the Company. Additionally, a portion of maintenance reserve payments and all lease security deposits are accumulated in restricted accounts and are available to fund future maintenance events and to secure lease payments, respectively. Cash from maintenance reserve payments are held in the restricted cash account equal to the maintenance obligations projected for the subsequent six months, and are subject to a minimum balance of $9.0 million.

 

On September 18, 2013, we completed the acquisition of the fifty percent membership interest held by the other joint venture partner in WOLF, with the transaction being accounted for as an asset acquisition. As a result of the transaction, we now own one hundred percent of WOLF and it is consolidated for financial statement presentation purposes. The WOLF assets and liabilities and the results of operations have been included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements as of the acquisition date, September 18, 2013. Two term notes with an original principal amount of $36.0 million, with a current balance outstanding of $25.6 million as of September 30, 2014, are included in Notes payable. The two term notes are non-recourse to the Company, have a maturity date of May 28, 2017 and interest is payable at one-month LIBOR plus 4.0%.

 

The assets of WOLF are not available to satisfy our obligations or those of our affiliates other than the obligations specific to WOLF. WOLF’s ability to make distributions to the Company is subject to the prior payments of all of its debt and other obligations. Under WOLF, cash related to parts sales and leasing of engine assets is collected in a restricted account and used to pay certain operating expenses, service the debt, and upon full debt repayment are distributed to the Company.

 

On July 16, 2014, we closed on a loan for a ten year term totaling $13.4 million. Interest is payable at a fixed rate of 2.83% for the initial five years of the loan and principal and interest is paid monthly. The loan provided 100% of the funding for the purchase of a corporate aircraft.  The balance outstanding on this loan is $13.2 million as of September 30, 2014.

 

On January 10, 2014, we extended the term of an existing loan that was scheduled to mature on January 11, 2014. The loan has a term of 4 years with a maturity date of January 11, 2018. Interest is payable at one-month LIBOR plus 2.25% and principal and interest is paid quarterly. The loan is secured by three engines. The balance

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outstanding on this loan is $14.8 million and $15.8 million as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.

 

On September 28, 2012, we closed on a loan for a five year term totaling $8.7 million. Interest is payable at a fixed rate of 5.50% and principal and interest is paid quarterly. The loan is secured by one engine. The funds were used to purchase the engine secured under the loan. The balance outstanding on this loan is $7.8 million and $8.2 million as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.

 

At September 30, 2014 and 2013, one-month LIBOR was 0.15% and 0.18%, respectively.

 

The following is a summary of the aggregate maturities of notes payable at September 30, 2014:

 

 

 

 

 

6.  Derivative Instruments

 

We periodically hold interest rate derivative instruments to mitigate exposure to changes in interest rates, in particular one-month LIBOR, with $383.4 million and $392.0 million of our borrowings at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, at variable rates. As a matter of policy, we do not use derivatives for speculative purposes. We currently have no interest rate swap agreements in place. During 2013 we were a party to one interest rate swap agreement with a notional outstanding amount of $100.0 million with a fixed rate of 2.10%. The swap agreement expired in November 2013.  The remaining effective portion of these hedges at the swap expiration date is being amortized into earnings over the term of the underlying borrowings.  We recorded a ($0.4 million)  benefit and $1.1 million expense to net finance costs during the nine month periods ended September 30, 2014 and September 30, 2013 respectively.

 

The Company estimates the fair value of derivative instruments using a discounted cash flow technique and uses creditworthiness inputs that can be corroborated by observable market data evaluating the Company’s and counterparties’ risk of non-performance. Valuation of the derivative instruments requires certain assumptions for underlying variables and the use of different assumptions would result in a different valuation. We apply hedge accounting and account for the change in fair value of our cash flow hedges through other comprehensive income for all derivative instruments.

 

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Earnings Effects of Derivative Instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Income

 

The following table provides information about the income effects of our cash flow hedging relationships for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:

 

 

 

Our derivatives are designated in a cash flow hedging relationship with the effective portion of the change in fair value of the derivative reported in the cash flow hedges subaccount of accumulated other comprehensive income.

 

Effect of Derivative Instruments on Cash Flow Hedging

 

The following tables provide additional information about the financial statement effects related to our cash flow hedges for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:

 

 

 

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*      These amounts are shown net of $0 and $0.5 million of other comprehensive income reclassified to the income statement during the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

 

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**    These amounts are shown net of $0 and $1.4 million of other comprehensive income reclassified to the income statement during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

 

We hold interest rate derivative instruments from time to time to mitigate exposure to changes in interest rates, in particular one-month LIBOR, with $383.4 million of our borrowings at September 30, 2014 at variable rates. The last of our interest rate derivatives terminated on November 25, 2013, at which time the liabilities under derivative instruments decreased to nil.  

 

The change in fair value on a derivative instrument designated as a cash flow hedge is reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income and is reclassified into earnings in the period during which the transaction being hedged affects earnings or it is probable that the forecasted transaction will not occur.

 

As of September 30, 2014, we held $127,000 in accumulated other comprehensive income related to a previously held derivative instrument designated as a cash flow hedge. This amount is being reclassified into interest expense through December 2014, the remaining term of the associated debt. For the quarter ended September 30, 2014 and September 30, 2013, interest expense was reduced (increased) by $122,000 and ($390,000) respectively, as a result of this reclassification out of a accumulated comprehensive income.

 

Counterparty Credit Risk

 

The Company evaluates the creditworthiness of the counterparties under its hedging agreements. The swap counterparty for the interest rate swap in place during the first eleven months of 2013 was a large financial institution in the United States that possessed an investment grade credit rating. Based on this rating, the Company believes that the counterparty was creditworthy and that their continuing performance under the hedging agreement was probable, and had not required the counterparty to provide collateral or other security to the Company.

 

7.  Stock-Based Compensation Plans

 

Our 2007 Stock Incentive Plan (the 2007 Plan) was adopted on May 24, 2007. Under this 2007 Plan, a total of 2,000,000 shares are authorized for stock based compensation in the form of either restricted stock or stock options. There have been 1,802,404 shares of restricted stock awarded to date. The fair value of the restricted

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stock awards equaled the stock price at the date of grants. The following table summarizes restricted stock activity during the years ended December 31, 2012, December 31, 2013 and the nine months ended September 30, 2014:

 

 

 

All cancelled shares have reverted to the share reserve and are available for issuance at a later date, in accordance with the 2007 Plan.

 

Our accounting policy is to recognize the associated expense of such awards on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. Approximately $2.4 million and $2.5 million in stock compensation expense was recorded in the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2014 and September 30, 2013, respectively.  The stock compensation expense related to the restricted stock awards will be recognized over the average remaining vesting period of 1.6 years and totals $3.8 million at September 30, 2014 compared to 2.3 years and totaling $6.7 million at September 30, 2013.

 

At September 30, 2014, the intrinsic value of unvested restricted stock awards issued through September 30, 2014 is $7.7 million. At September 30, 2013, the intrinsic value of unvested restricted stock awards issued through September 30, 2013 was $9.9 million. The 2007 Plan terminates on May 24, 2017.

 

In the nine months ended September 30, 2014, 26,437 options under the 1996 Stock Options/Stock Issuance Plan (the 1996 Plan) were exercised. As of September 30, 2014, there are 49,000 stock options remaining under the 1996 Plan which have an intrinsic value of $0.6 million. In the nine months ended September 30, 2013, 44,991 options under the 1996 Stock Options/Stock Issuance Plan (the 1996 Plan) were exercised and 6,500 options were canceled.

 

8.  Income Taxes

 

Income tax expense (benefit) for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 was $5.0 million and ($8.2 million), respectively. The effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 was 40.0% and 43.6%, respectively. The effective rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 differs from the U.S. federal statutory rate primarily due to an income tax benefit of $8.6 million related to an extraterritorial income (“ETI”) adjustment recorded in the year ago period for certain of our engines. We recognized this income

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tax benefit in the year ago period resulting from adjustments made to the tax basis of certain of our engines due to a decision in a recent court case on behalf of another company in which our circumstances are similar. The Company records tax expense or benefit for unusual or infrequent items discretely in the period in which they occur.  Our tax rate is subject to change based on changes in the mix of assets leased to domestic and foreign lessees, the proportions of revenue generated within and outside of California, the amount of executive compensation exceeding $1.0 million as defined in IRS code 162(m) and numerous other factors, including changes in tax law.

 

9.  Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

The carrying amount reported in the consolidated balance sheets for cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, operating lease related receivable and accounts payable approximates fair value because of the immediate or short-term maturity of these financial instruments.

 

The carrying amount of the Company’s outstanding balance on its Notes Payable as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 was estimated to have a fair value of approximately $766.8 million and $798.8 million, respectively, based on the fair value of estimated future payments calculated using the prevailing interest rates at each period end. There have been no changes in our valuation technique during the nine months ended September 30, 2014. The fair value of the Company’s notes payable at September 30, 2014 would be categorized as Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. The carrying value of the Company’s outstanding balance on its notes payable was $761.2 million as of September 30, 2014 and $787.6 million as of December 31, 2013.

 

10. Operating Segments

 

The Company operates in two business segments: (i) Leasing and Related Operations which involves acquiring and leasing, primarily pursuant to operating leases, commercial aircraft, aircraft engines and other aircraft equipment and the selective purchase and resale of commercial aircraft engines and other aircraft equipment and (ii) Spare Parts Sales which involves the purchase and resale of after-market engine and airframe parts, whole engines, engine modules and portable aircraft components and leasing of engines destined for disassembly and sale of parts.

 

The Company evaluates the performance of each of the segments based on profit or loss after general and administrative expenses and inter-company allocation of interest expense. While the Company believes there are synergies between the two business segments, the segments are managed separately because each requires different business strategies.

 

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The following tables present a summary of the operating segments (amounts in thousands):