UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-K

 

(Mark one)

 

☒	Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017

 

☐	Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the transition period from _____to _____

 

Commission File Number 001-35476

 

Air T, Inc.

 

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware	52-1206400
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

5930 Balsom Ridge Road, Denver, North Carolina 28037

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

 

                            (828) 464 8741                  

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of Class	Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
Common Stock, par value $0.25 per share	The NASDAQ Stock Market

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.                      Yes ☐                   No☒

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.                            Yes ☐                   No☒

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 if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ☐

 

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

 

Large accelerated filer ☐	Accelerated filer ☐
Non-accelerated filer ☐ (Do not check if smaller reporting company)	Smaller reporting company ☒
	Emerging growth company ☐

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act)

Yes ☐                   No☒

 

The aggregate market value of voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant based upon the closing price of the common stock on September 30, 2016 was approximately $26,783,000. As of May 31, 2017, 2,042,789 shares of common stock were outstanding.

 

 

2017 ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

			Page
	PART I
Item 1.	Business		3
Item 1A.	Risk Factors		12
Item 1B.	Unresolved Staff Comments		16
Item 2.	Properties		16
Item 3.	Legal Proceedings		17
Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures		17
	PART II
Item 5.	Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities		17
Item 6.	Selected Financial Data		18
Item 7.	Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations		18
Item 8.	Financial Statements and Supplementary Data		38
Item 9.	Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure		80
Item 9A.	Controls and Procedures		80
Item 9B.	Other Information		82
	PART III
Item 10.	Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance		83
Item 11.	Executive Compensation		85
Item 12.	Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters		89
Item 13.	Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence		91
Item 14.	Principal Accounting Fees and Services		91
	PART IV
Item 15.	Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules		92
Item 16.	Form 10-K Summary		94
	Signatures
	Interactive Data Files

 

 

PART I

 

Item 1.     Business.

 

Air T, Inc. (the “Company,” “Air T,” “we” or “us”) is a decentralized holding company with ownership interests in a broad set of operating and financial assets that are designed to expand, strengthen and diversify our cash earnings power. Our goal is to build on Air T’s core businesses, to expand into adjacent industries, and when appropriate, to acquire companies that we believe fit into the Air T family.

 

We currently operate wholly owned subsidiaries in three legacy industry segments:

 

•

overnight air cargo, comprised of our Mountain Air Cargo, Inc. (“MAC”) and CSA Air, Inc. (“CSA”) subsidiaries, which operates in the air express delivery services industry;

 

•

ground equipment sales, comprised of our Global Ground Support, LLC (“GGS”) subsidiary, which manufactures and provides mobile deicers and other specialized equipment products to passenger and cargo airlines, airports, the military and industrial customers; and

 

•

ground support services, comprised of our Global Aviation Services, LLC (“GAS”) subsidiary, which provides ground support equipment maintenance and facilities maintenance services to domestic airlines and aviation service providers.

 

In the past two years, we have organized or acquired businesses operating in three other segments. In October 2015, we formed a wholly owned equipment leasing subsidiary, Air T Global Leasing, LLC (“ATGL”), which comprises our leasing segment.  In November 2015, we acquired debt and equity interests in Delphax Technologies, Inc. (“Delphax”), a printing equipment manufacturer and maintenance provider, which comprises our printing equipment and maintenance segment.  In July 2016, our majority owned subsidiary, Contrail Aviation Support, LLC (“Contrail Aviation”), acquired the principal assets of a business based in Verona, Wisconsin engaged in acquiring surplus commercial jet engines and components and supplying surplus and aftermarket commercial jet engine components.  In October 2016, we acquired 100% of the outstanding equity interests of Jet Yard, LLC (“Jet Yard”) to provide commercial aircraft storage, maintenance and aircraft disassembly/part-out services at facilities leased at the Pinal Air Park in Marana, Arizona.  In May 2017, our newly formed subsidiaries, AirCo, LLC and AirCo Services, LLC (collectively, “AirCo”), acquired the inventory and principal assets of a business based in Wichita, Kansas that distributes and sells airplane and aviation parts.  Contrail Aviation, Jet Yard and AirCo comprise the commercial jet engines and parts segment of the Company’s operations.  This segment, formerly referred to as the commercial jet engines segment, was renamed to reflect its broader product and service offerings.

 

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, the overnight air cargo segment accounted for 47% of our consolidated revenues, the ground equipment sales segment accounted for 21% of our consolidated revenues, the ground support services segment accounted for 21% of consolidated revenues, while the printing equipment and maintenance segment, the commercial jet engines and parts segment, and the leasing segment accounted for 6%, 5% and less than 1%, respectively, of our consolidated revenues. Certain financial data with respect to the Company’s segments and geographic areas is set forth in Notes 20 and 21 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included under Part II, Item 8 of this report.

 

Air T was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware in 1980. The principal place of business of Air T, MAC and ATGL is 5930 Balsom Ridge Road, Denver, North Carolina, the principal place of business of CSA is Iron Mountain, Michigan, the principal place of business for GGS is Olathe, Kansas, the principal place of business for GAS is Eagan, Minnesota, the principal place of business of Delphax is Minneapolis, Minnesota, the principal place of business of Contrail Aviation is Verona, Wisconsin, the principal place of business of AirCo is Wichita, Kansas, and the principal place of business of Jet Yard is Marana, Arizona.  We maintain an Internet website at http://www.airt.net and our SEC filings may be accessed through links on our website.

 

 

Acquisitions.

 

Delphax. On November 24, 2015, the Company purchased (i) at face value a $2,500,000 principal amount Five-Year Senior Subordinated Promissory Note (the “Senior Subordinated Note”) issued by Delphax’s Canadian operating subsidiary, Delphax Technologies Canada Limited (“Delphax Canada”), for a combination of cash and the surrender of outstanding principal of $500,000 and accrued and unpaid interest thereunder, and cancellation of, a 90-Day Senior Subordinated Note purchased at face value by the Company from that Delphax subsidiary on October 2, 2015 and (ii) for $1,050,000 in cash a total of 43,000 shares (the “Shares”) of Delphax’s Series B Preferred Stock (the “Series B Preferred Stock”) and a Stock Purchase Warrant (the “Warrant”) to acquire an additional 95,600 shares of Series B Preferred Stock at a price of $33.4728 per share (subject to adjustment for specified dilutive events). Each share of Series B Preferred Stock is convertible into 100 shares of common stock of Delphax, subject to anti-dilution adjustments. Based on the number of shares of Delphax common stock outstanding and reserved for issuance under Delphax’s employee stock option plans, at March 31, 2017 and 2016 the number of shares of common stock underlying the Shares represent approximately 38% of the shares of Delphax common stock that would be outstanding assuming conversion of the Shares and approximately 31% of the outstanding shares assuming conversion of the Shares and the issuance of all the shares of Delphax common stock reserved for issuance under Delphax’s employee stock option plans. Under the agreement that provided for the Company’s purchase of these interests, on November 24, 2015 three designees of the Company (including Nick Swenson, the Company’s President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, and Michael Moore, the President of our GGS subsidiary) were elected to the board of directors of Delphax, which had a total of seven members following their election. Pursuant to the terms of the Series B Preferred Stock, for so long as amounts are owed to Air T under the Senior Subordinated Note or we continue to hold a specified number of the Shares and interests in the Warrant holders of the Series B Preferred Stock, voting as a separate class, the Company would be entitled to elect, after June 1, 2016, four-sevenths of the members of the board of directors of Delphax and, without the written consent or waiver of the Company, Delphax may not enter into specified corporate transactions. As a result of these transactions, we determined that we had obtained control over Delphax in conjunction with the acquisition of the interests described above, and we have consolidated the relevant financial information of Delphax in Air T’s consolidated financial statements beginning on November 24, 2015.

 

On January 6, 2017, the Company acquired all rights, and assumed all obligations, of a third-party lender under a senior credit agreement (the “Delphax Senior Credit Agreement”) with Delphax and Delphax Canada providing for a $7.0 million revolving senior secured credit facility, subject to a borrowing base of North American accounts receivable and inventory, including obligations, if any, to fund future borrowings under the Delphax Senior Credit Agreement. In connection with this transaction, the Company paid to such third-party senior lender an amount equal to the approximately $1.26 million outstanding borrowing balance, plus accrued and unpaid interest and fees. Also in connection with this transaction, the Company, Delphax and Delphax Canada entered into an amendment to the Delphax Senior Credit Agreement to reduce the maximum amount of borrowings permitted to be outstanding under the Delphax Senior Credit Agreement from $7.0 million to $2.5 million, to revise the borrowing base to include in the borrowing base 100% of purchase orders from customers for products up to $500,000, to provide that the interest rate on all borrowings outstanding until all loans under the Delphax Senior Credit Agreement are repaid in full will be a default rate equal to 2.5% per month to be paid monthly, and to provide for the payment to the Company from Delphax Canada and Delphax of fees equal to $25,000 upon execution of the amendment and of $50,000 upon repayment in full of all loans under the Delphax Senior Credit Agreement. On January 6, 2017, the Company notified Delphax and Delphax Canada of certain “Events of Default” (as defined under the Delphax Senior Credit Agreement) existing under the Delphax Senior Credit Agreement and that the Company was reserving all rights to exercise remedies under the Delphax Senior Credit Agreement and that no delay in exercising any such remedy is to be construed as a waiver of any of its remedies. Also, on January 6, 2017, the Company and Delphax Canada entered into a Forbearance and Amendment Agreement dated as of January 6, 2017, which amended the Senior Subordinated Note to increase the default rate of interest from an annual rate of 10.5% to an annual rate of 18%, to be in effect until all amounts under the Senior Subordinated Note are paid in full, and which provides that so long as no Event of Default (as defined in the Senior Subordinated Note) occurs under the Senior Subordinated Note, other than Events of Default that existed as of January 6, 2017, the Company agreed to forbear from exercising its remedies under the Senior Subordinated Note until May 31, 2017 and further provided for the payment by Delphax Canada to the Company of a forbearance fee equal to approximately $141,000. At March 31, 2017, Delphax Canada was not in compliance with financial covenants under the Delphax Senior Credit Agreement. Notwithstanding the existence of these events of default, the Company permitted additional borrowings under the Delphax Senior Credit Agreement to, among other things, fund a final production run by Delphax Canada of consumable products for its legacy printing systems, which production run was primarily completed over the first six months of calendar 2017. Delphax Canada is Delphax's sole manufacturing subsidiary.

 

 

Events of default under the Delphax Senior Credit Agreement persisted. On July 13, 2017, the Company delivered a demand for payment and Notice of Intention to Enforce Security to Delphax Canada. On August 10, 2017, the Company foreclosed on all personal property and rights to undertakings of Delphax Canada. The Company foreclosed as a secured creditor with respect to amounts owed to it by Delphax Canada under the Delphax Senior Credit Agreement. The Company provided notice of its intent to foreclose to Delphax Canada and its secured creditors and shareholder on July 26, 2017. The outstanding amount owed to the Company by Delphax Canada under the Delphax Senior Credit Agreement on July 26, 2017 was approximately $1,510,000. The Company also submitted an application to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Bankruptcy and Insolvency (the "Ontario Court") seeking that Delphax Canada be adjudged bankrupt. On August 8, 2017, the Ontario Court issued an order adjudging Delphax Canada to be bankrupt. The recipients of the foreclosure notice did not object to the foreclosure or redeem. As a result, the foreclosure was completed on August 10, 2017, and the Company accepted the personal property and rights to undertakings of Delphax Canada in satisfaction of the amount secured by the Delphax Senior Credit Agreement.

 

As disclosed above, we have consolidated Delphax into our consolidated financial statements since November 2015. Since intercompany transactions are eliminated in consolidation, amounts due from Delphax and Delphax Canada to Air T are excluded from our consolidated financial statements. Because Delphax is a variable interest entity, the effect of interest expense arising under the Senior Subordinated Note and, since January 6, 2017, under the Delphax Senior Credit Agreement, and other intercompany transactions, are reflected in the attribution of Delphax’s net income or losses to non-controlling interests in our consolidated statements of income (loss).

 

Contrail, Jet Yard and AirCo. On July 18, 2016, Contrail Aviation, a subsidiary of the Company, completed the purchase of substantially all of the business assets of Contrail Aviation Support, Inc. (“Contrail Seller”). Prior to the asset sale, Contrail Seller, based in Verona, Wisconsin, engaged in the business of acquiring surplus commercial jet engines and components and supplying surplus and aftermarket commercial jet engine components. In connection with the acquisition, Contrail Aviation offered employment to all of Contrail Seller’s employees. The acquisition consideration paid to Contrail Seller included equity membership units in Contrail Aviation representing 21% of the total equity membership units in Contrail Aviation. As a result, the Company owns equity membership units in Contrail Aviation representing the remaining 79% of the total equity membership units in Contrail Aviation. In addition, Contrail Aviation has agreed to pay as additional deferred consideration to Contrail Seller up to a maximum of $1.5 million per year and $3.0 million in the aggregate based on Contrail Aviation’s EBITDA (as defined in the purchase agreement) measured during periods over the five years following the acquisition. Contrail Aviation and Contrail Seller also entered into put and call options permitting, at any time after the fifth anniversary of the asset sale closing date, Contrail Aviation at its election to purchase from Contrail Seller, and permitting Contrail Seller at its election to require Contrail Aviation to purchase from Contrail Seller, all of Contrail Seller’s equity membership interests in Contrail Aviation at a price to be agreed upon, or failing such an agreement to be determined pursuant to third-party appraisals in a specified process.

 

On October 3, 2016, a newly formed subsidiary of the Company, Stratus Aero Partners, LLC (formerly, Global Aviation Partners, LLC), acquired 100% of the outstanding equity interests of Jet Yard. Jet Yard is registered to operate a repair station under Part 145 of the regulations of the Federal Aviation Administration and its principal asset at the time of the Company’s acquisition was a lease from Pinal County, Arizona to approximately 48.5 acres of land at the Pinal Air Park in Marana, Arizona. Jet Yard was organized in 2014, entered into the lease in June 2016 and prior to our acquisition maintained de minimus operations.

 

The aggregate cash consideration paid in these two acquisition transactions described above, after closing date adjustments and not including potential deferred payments to Contrail Seller, was approximately $4,048,000.

 

On May 2, 2017 and May 31, 2017, AirCo acquired the inventory and principal business assets, and assumed specified liabilities, of Aircraft Instrument and Radio Company, Incorporated, and Aircraft Instrument and Radio Services, Inc. (collectively the “AirCo Sellers”). The acquired business, which is based in Wichita, Kansas, distributes and sells airplane and aviation parts and maintains a license under Part 145 of the regulations of the Federal Aviation Administration. The consideration paid for the acquired business was approximately $2,400,000. The Company will reflect this acquired business in its consolidated financial statements beginning with the first quarter of fiscal year 2018.

 

D&D GSE Support. On October 31, 2016, GAS acquired, effective as of October 1, 2016, substantially all of the assets of D&D GSE Support, Inc. (“D&D”) which was in the business of marketing, selling and providing aviation repair, equipment, parts, and maintenance sales services and products at the Fort Lauderdale airport. The total amount paid at closing in connection with this acquisition was $400,000, with an additional $100,000 paid 30 days after closing and an additional $100,000 payable in equal monthly installments of $16,667 commencing on November 1, 2016. Earn-out payments of up to $100,000 may also be payable based on specified performance for the twelve-month period ending September 30, 2017.

 

 

Overnight Air Cargo.

 

MAC and CSA are two of seven companies in the U.S. that have North American feeder airlines under contract with FedEx. With a relationship with FedEx spanning over 35 years, MAC and CSA operate and maintain Cessna Caravan, ATR-42 and ATR-72 aircraft that fly daily small-package cargo routes throughout the eastern United States, upper Midwest and the Caribbean. MAC and CSA’s revenues are derived principally pursuant to “dry-lease” service contracts with FedEx. On June 1, 2015, MAC and CSA entered into new dry-lease agreements with FedEx which together cover all of the revenue aircraft operated by MAC and CSA and replaced all prior dry-lease service contracts.  These dry-lease agreements provide for the lease of specified aircraft by MAC and CSA in return for the payment of monthly rent with respect to each aircraft leased, which monthly rent was increased from the prior dry-lease service contracts to reflect an estimate of a fair market rental rate.  These dry-lease agreements provide that FedEx determines the type of aircraft and schedule of routes to be flown by MAC and CSA, with all other operational decisions made by MAC and CSA, respectively.  The current dry-lease agreements provide for the reimbursement by FedEx of MAC and CSA’s costs, without mark up, incurred in connection with the operation of the leased aircraft for the following: fuel, landing fees, third-party maintenance, parts and certain other direct operating costs. Unlike prior dry-lease contracts, under the dry-lease agreements, certain operational costs incurred by MAC and CSA in operating the aircraft are not reimbursed by FedEx at cost, and such operational costs are borne solely by MAC and CSA.  Under the dry-lease agreements, MAC and CSA are required to perform maintenance of the leased aircraft in return for a maintenance fee based upon an hourly maintenance labor rate, which has been increased from the rate in place under the prior dry-lease service contracts. Under prior dry-lease service contracts, the hourly maintenance labor rate had not been adjusted since 2008. The dry-lease agreements provide for the payment by FedEx to MAC and CSA of a monthly administrative fee based on the number and type of aircraft leased and routes operated.  The amount of the monthly administrative fee under the new dry-lease agreements is greater than under the prior dry-lease service contracts with FedEx, in part to reflect the greater monthly lease payment per aircraft and the fact that certain operational costs borne by MAC and CSA are not reimbursed. The amount of the administrative fee is subject to adjustment based on the number of aircraft operated, routes flown and whether aircraft are considered to be soft-parked. Since MAC and CSA entered into the new dry-lease agreements in 2015, they have periodically entered into amendments to the agreements with FedEx that have adjusted the administrative fees payable under these agreements. These adjustments, which have generally been made on an annual basis, have resulted in annual period-to-period volatility in MAC and CSA’s profitability. MAC and CSA entered into such an amendment effective as of June 1, 2017 which is expected to positively affect MAC and CSA’s profitability compared to results for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017.

 

The current dry-lease agreements would expire, unless renewed, on May 31, 2020.  The dry-lease agreements may be terminated by FedEx or MAC and CSA, respectively, at any time upon 90 days’ written notice and FedEx may at any time terminate the lease of any particular aircraft thereunder upon 10 days’ written notice.  In addition, each of the dry-lease agreements provides that FedEx may terminate the agreement upon written notice if 60% or more of MAC or CSA’s revenue (excluding revenues arising from reimbursement payments under the dry-lease agreement) is derived from the services performed by it pursuant to the respective dry-lease agreement, FedEx becomes MAC or CSA’s only customer, or MAC or CSA employs less than six employees. As of the date of this report, FedEx would have been permitted to terminate each of the dry-lease agreements under this provision. The Company believes that the short-term nature of its agreements with FedEx is standard within the airfreight contract delivery service industry, where performance is measured on a daily basis.

 

Under the dry-lease service contracts in place during the first two months of the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016 and prior periods, FedEx leased its aircraft to MAC and CSA for a nominal amount and paid a monthly administrative fee to MAC and CSA to operate the aircraft. Under these contracts, all direct costs related to the operation of the aircraft (including fuel, outside maintenance, landing fees and pilot costs) were passed through to FedEx without markup.

 

As of March 31, 2017, MAC and CSA had an aggregate of 80 aircraft under the dry-lease agreements with FedEx. Included within the 80 aircraft are 4 Cessna Caravan aircraft that are considered soft-parked. Soft-parked aircraft remain covered under MAC and CSA’s agreements with FedEx although at a reduced administrative fee compared to aircraft that are in operation. MAC and CSA continue to perform maintenance on soft-parked aircraft, but they are not crewed and MAC and CSA do not operate soft-parked aircraft on scheduled routes.

 

Revenues from MAC and CSA’s contracts with FedEx accounted for approximately 47% and 46% of the Company’s consolidated revenue for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The loss of FedEx as a customer would have a material adverse effect on the Company. FedEx has been a customer of the Company since 1980. MAC and CSA are not contractually precluded from providing services to other parties and MAC occasionally provides third-party maintenance services to other airline customers and the U.S. military.

 

 

MAC and CSA operate under separate aviation certifications. MAC is certified to operate under Part 121, Part 135 and Part 145 of the regulations of the Federal Aviation Administration (the “FAA”). These certifications permit MAC to operate and maintain aircraft that can carry a maximum cargo capacity of 7,500 pounds on the Cessna Caravan 208B under Part 135 and a maximum cargo capacity of 14,000 pounds for the ATR-42 and 17,800 pounds for the ATR-72 aircraft under Part 121. CSA is certified to operate and maintain aircraft under Part 135 of the FAA regulations. This certification permits CSA to operate aircraft with a maximum cargo capacity of 7,500 pounds.

 

 

MAC and CSA, together, operated the following FedEx-owned cargo aircraft as of March 31, 2017:

 

Type of Aircraft		Model Year		Form of Ownership		Number of Aircraft
Cessna Caravan 208B (single turbo prop)		1985-2012		Dry lease			63
ATR-42 (twin turbo prop)		1992		Dry lease			9
ATR-72 (twin turbo prop)		1992		Dry lease			8
							80

 

 

The Cessna Caravan 208B aircraft are maintained under an FAA Approved Aircraft Inspection Program (“AAIP”). The inspection intervals range from 100 to 200 hours. The current engine overhaul period on the Cessna aircraft is 8,000 hours.

 

The ATR-42 and ATR-72 aircraft are maintained under a FAA Part 121 continuous airworthiness maintenance program. The program consists of A and C service checks as well as calendar checks ranging from weekly to 12 years in duration. The engine overhaul period is 6,000 hours.

 

MAC and CSA operate in a niche market within a highly competitive contract cargo carrier market. MAC and CSA are two of seven carriers that operate within the United States as FedEx feeder carriers. MAC and CSA are benchmarked against the other five FedEx feeders based on safety, reliability, compliance with federal, state and applicable foreign regulations, price and other service related measurements. Accurate industry data is not available to indicate the Company’s position within its marketplace (in large measure because all of the Company’s direct competitors are privately held), but management believes that MAC and CSA, combined, constitute the largest contract carrier of the type described immediately above.

 

FedEx conducts periodic audits of MAC and CSA, and these audits are an integral part of the relationship between the carrier and FedEx. The audits test adherence to the dry-lease agreements and assess the carrier’s overall internal control environment, particularly as related to the processing of invoices of FedEx-reimbursable costs. The scope of these audits typically extends beyond simple validation of invoice data against the third-party supporting documentation. The audit teams generally investigate the operator’s processes and procedures for strong internal control procedures. The Company believes satisfactory audit results are critical to maintaining its relationship with FedEx. The audits conducted by FedEx are not designed to provide any assurance with respect to the Company’s consolidated financial statements, and investors, in evaluating the Company’s consolidated financial statements, should not rely in any way on any such examination of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

 

The Company’s overnight air cargo operations are not materially seasonal.

 

Ground Equipment Sales.

 

GGS is located in Olathe, Kansas and manufactures, sells and services aircraft deicers and other specialized equipment sold to domestic and international passenger and cargo airlines, ground handling companies, the United States Air Force (“USAF”), airports and industrial customers. GGS’s product line includes aircraft deicers, scissor-type lifts, military and civilian decontamination units, flight-line tow tractors, glycol recovery vehicles and other specialized equipment. In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, sales of deicing equipment accounted for approximately 49% of GGS’s revenues, compared to 82% in the prior fiscal year. This is principally due to the large order from a major airline in the prior year that did not reoccur in the fiscal year 2017.

 

 

GGS designs and engineers its products. Components acquired from third-party suppliers are used in the assembly of its finished products. Components are sourced from a diverse supply chain. The primary components for mobile deicing equipment are the chassis (which is a commercial medium or heavy-duty truck), the fluid storage tank, a boom system, the fluid delivery system and heating equipment. The price of these components is influenced by raw material costs, principally high-strength carbon steels and stainless steel. GGS utilizes continuous improvements and other techniques to improve efficiencies and designs to minimize product price increases to its customers, to respond to regulatory changes, such as emission standards, and to incorporate technological improvements to enhance the efficiency of GGS’s products. Improvements have included the development of single operator mobile deicing units to replace units requiring two operators, a patented premium deicing blend system and a more efficient forced-air deicing system.

 

GGS manufactures five basic models of mobile deicing equipment with capacities ranging from 700 to 2,800 gallons. GGS also offers fixed-pedestal-mounted deicers. Each model can be customized as requested by the customer, including single operator configuration, fire suppressant equipment, open basket or enclosed cab design, a patented forced-air deicing nozzle, on-board glycol blending system to substantially reduce glycol usage, and color and style of the exterior finish. GGS also manufactures five models of scissor-lift equipment, for catering, cabin service and maintenance service of aircraft, and has developed a line of decontamination equipment, flight-line tow tractors, glycol recovery vehicles and other special purpose mobile equipment.

 

GGS competes primarily on the basis of the quality and reliability of its products, prompt delivery, service and price. The market for aviation ground service equipment is highly competitive and directly related to the financial health of the aviation industry, weather patterns and changes in technology.

 

GGS’s mobile deicing equipment business has historically been seasonal, with revenues typically being lower in the fourth and first fiscal quarters as commercial deicers are typically delivered prior to the winter season. The Company has continued its efforts to reduce GGS’s seasonal fluctuation in revenues and earnings by broadening its international and domestic customer base and its product line. In July 2009, GGS was awarded a new contract to supply deicing trucks to the USAF, which expired in July 2014. On May 15, 2014, GGS was awarded a new contract to supply deicing trucks to the USAF. The initial contract award is for two years through July 13, 2016 with four additional one-year extension options that may be exercised by the USAF, the first of which was exercised, extending the contract term to July 13, 2018. The value of the contract, as well as the number of units to be delivered, depends upon annual requirements and available funding to the USAF.

 

GGS sold one deicer, the pre-production unit for the GL 1800 model deicer under this contract, to the USAF under the above contract during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, which pre-production unit was accepted by the USAF. In addition, GGS revenues and operating income have resumed their seasonal pattern. Delivery and acceptance of the pre-production unit is typically required by the USAF before further orders are submitted.

 

In September 2010, GGS was awarded a contract to supply flight-line tow tractors to the USAF. The contract award was for one year commencing September 28, 2010 with four additional one-year extension options exercisable by the USAF. All option periods under the contract have been exercised and the contract expired in September 2015, though it continues to govern orders placed under the contract prior to its expiration. For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, GGS revenues included $3,174,000 of flight-line tow tractor sales to the USAF under this contract ($708,000 for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016).

 

Because the USAF is not obligated to purchase a set or minimum number of units under these contracts, the value of these contracts, as well as the number of units to be delivered, depends upon the USAF’s requirements and available funding. GGS’s revenue from sales to the USAF, including under these contracts and for parts for units sold under prior contracts, accounted for approximately 14% and 3% of the segment’s revenue for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

 

Ground Support Services.

 

GAS, which was started by the Company in September 2007, provides aircraft ground support equipment, fleet, and facility maintenance services. At March 31, 2017, GAS was providing ground support equipment, fleet, and facility maintenance services to more than 114 customers at 84 North American airports.

 

 

Approximately 28% and 33%, respectively, of GAS’s revenues in the fiscal years ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, were derived from services under a contract with LSG SkyChefs. The LSG SkyChefs contract is an evergreen agreement without a specific termination date but does include a 60-day termination clause for either party. In addition, approximately 14% and 15% of GAS’s revenues for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, were derived from services under a contract with Delta Airlines. In December 2016, Delta awarded GAS a five-year contract at 28 locations in connection with their periodic request-for-proposal (RFP) process. Most significantly, GAS was awarded the maintenance of the baggage handling system and passenger boarding bridges for Delta’s hub operation at the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport. Not all Delta locations serviced by GAS were included in this RFP. With the new award, GAS estimates that annualized revenues for services at Delta locations, including existing Delta locations serviced by GAS that were not part of the 2016 RFP process, will be more than twice the annual run rate for services to Delta locations prior to the award. At March 31, 2017, GAS had over 90 technicians serving Delta in 44 locations. In addition to expanded locations with Delta, during the fiscal year 2017, GAS added multiple service locations to other key customers. In total, during the fiscal year 2017, GAS added 20 new served locations and over 100 additional technicians.

 

The October 2016 acquisition of the assets of D&D by GAS enhances GAS’s market position in South Florida and is expected to serve as a primary hub for ground support equipment maintenance services in South Florida and the Bahamas.

 

GAS competes primarily on the basis of the quality, reliability and pricing of its services. The market for ground support equipment and airport facility maintenance services is highly competitive and directly related to the financial health of the aviation industry. GAS’s maintenance service business is not materially seasonal.

 

Printing Equipment and Maintenance. 

 

Delphax designs, manufactures and sells advanced digital print production equipment (including high-speed, high-volume cut-sheet and continuous roll-fed printers), maintenance contracts, spare parts, supplies and consumable items for these systems.  The equipment, spare parts, supplies and consumable items have been manufactured by, and maintenance services were provided by, Delphax’s subsidiary in Canada, and such products and services are sold through Delphax and its subsidiaries located in the United Kingdom and France.  A significant portion of Delphax’s net sales has historically been related to service and support provided after the sale, including the sale of consumable items for installed printing systems.  Historically, Delphax has had a significant presence in the check production marketplace in North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East.  Delphax’s primary manufacturing facility is located in Mississauga, Ontario.  Delphax’s common stock is traded on the over-the-counter market under the symbol “DLPX.”

 

Our investments in Delphax were intended to support the commercial rollout and manufacturing costs of the new Delphax élan™ 500 digital color print system, which combines advances in inkjet and paper-handling technologies in a production class sheet-fed system offering full CMYK color and 1600 dpi print quality at speeds of up to 500 letter impressions per minute. During the quarter ended June 30, 2016, Delphax was informed by its largest customer that the customer had decided to accelerate its plans for removing Delphax legacy printing systems from production and that Delphax should, as a consequence, expect the future volume of legacy product orders from the customer to decline markedly from prior forecasts. Furthermore, the future timeframe over which orders could be expected from this customer was sharply curtailed. In addition to this specific customer communication, Delphax also experienced a broad-based decline in legacy product customer demand during the first quarter. Sales of Delphax’s new élan printer system also had not materialized to expectations.

 

The above described adverse business developments drove significant negative operating results and led to severe liquidity constraints for Delphax. In addition to other measures intended to respond to developments, Delphax engaged an outside advisory firm to assist with operations, cost reductions and expense rationalization, and to provide an objective assessment and recommendations regarding Delphax’s business outlook and alternative courses of action. During the quarter ended June 30, 2016, a number of Delphax employees were either severed or furloughed. For most of fiscal year 2017 Delphax’s operations have been maintained at a significantly curtailed level.

 

During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2017, Delphax initiated a final production run of consumable products for its legacy printing systems financed by borrowings from Air T under the Delphax Senior Credit Agreement. Upon the completion of that production run, Delphax ceased the manufacture of consumable products for these legacy printing systems. As noted above, on August 10, 2017, the Company accepted the personal property and rights to undertakings of Delphax Canada in foreclosure in satisfaction of the amount secured by the Delphax Senior Credit Agreement. Delphax Canada is Delphax’s sole manufacturing subsidiary.

 

 

As of March 31, 2017, the outstanding principal amount of the Senior Subordinated Note was approximately $2,889,000 and the outstanding borrowings under the Delphax Senior Credit Agreement was approximately $1,873,000.  

 

Commercial Jet Engines and Parts.

  

Contrail Aviation and Jet Yard, added during fiscal year 2017, and AirCo, formed in May 2017 to acquire the business of the AirCo Sellers, comprise the commercial jet engines and parts segment of the Company’s operations. Contrail Aviation is a supplier of surplus and aftermarket commercial jet engine components. Its primary focus revolves around the CFM International CFM56-3/-5/-7 engines and the International Aero Engines V2500A5 engine, which power the two most prevalent narrow body, single aisle aircraft that are currently flown commercially—the Boeing 737 Classic / 737 NG and the Airbus A320 family. Contrail Aviation acquires commercial jet engines and components for disassembly and/or overhaul to useable components. Components are overhauled by third-party FAA-authorized repair agencies and are then held in inventory for resale. Customers include major airlines, original equipment manufacturers and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) service providers. Contrail Aviation holds an ASA-100 accreditation from the Aviation Suppliers Association. Contrail Aviation’s operations are housed in a 21,000 square-foot office and warehouse facility in Verona, Wisconsin that is leased from an entity owned by the shareholder of Contrail Seller, who joined Contrail Aviation as its Chief Executive Officer in connection with the acquisition, and by the individual appointed as Chief Financial Officer of Contrail Aviation following the acquisition.

 

Jet Yard offers commercial aircraft storage, storage maintenance and aircraft disassembly/part-out services at facilities leased at the Pinal Air Park in Marana, Arizona.  The prevailing climate in this area of Arizona provides conditions conducive to long-term storage of aircraft.  Jet Yard is registered to operate a repair station under Part 145 of the regulations of the FAA and it leases approximately 48.5 acres of land under a lease agreement with Pinal County, Arizona.  Jet Yard was organized in 2014, entered into the lease in June 2016 and had maintained de minimus operations from formation through the date it was acquired by us. The lease expires in May 2046 with an option to renew for an additional 30-year period (though the lease to a 2.6 acre parcel of the leased premises may be terminated by Pinal County upon 90 days’ notice). The lease provides for an initial annual rent of $27,000, which rental rate escalates based on a schedule in annual increments during the first seven years of the lease (at which time the annual rental rate would be $152,000), and increases by an additional five percent for each three-year period thereafter. Because the rental expense will be accounted for on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease, the rental expense in the initial years will exceed the corresponding cash payments. The lease agreement permits Pinal County to terminate the lease if Jet Yard fails to make substantial progress toward the construction of facilities on the leased premises in phases in accordance with a specified timetable, which includes, as the initial phase, the construction of a demolition pad to be completed by March 2017 and, as the final and most significant phase, the construction of an aircraft maintenance hangar large enough to house a Boeing B777-300 by the first quarter of 2021. The construction of the demolition pad specified under the lease has not been completed, and Jet Yard and Pinal County are in discussions with respect to improvements on the leased premises. Jet Yard offers its services to airlines, aircraft lessors and commercial aftermarket aircraft parts companies.

 

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, Contrail Aviation and Jet Yard revenues on a combined basis represented approximately 5% of the Company’s consolidated revenues.

 

AirCo operates an established business offering commercial aircraft parts sales, exchanges, procurement services, consignment programs and overhaul and repair services. Its repair station and support facility holds FAA and European Aviation Safety Agency certifications covering aircraft instrumentation, avionics and a range of accessories for civilian, military transport, regional/commuter and business/commercial jet and turboprop aircraft. AirCo operates at a 20,000 square-foot facility leased from the shareholder of the AirCo Seller. The lease duration is one year with an option for AirCo to extend the lease up to four additional one-year periods at the same terms. The lease provides that AirCo may terminate the lease on 90 days’ notice during the first year. Customers of AirCo include airlines and commercial aircraft leasing companies.

 

 

Leasing.

 

We organized ATGL on October 6, 2015. ATGL provides funding for equipment leasing transactions, which may include transactions for the leasing of equipment manufactured by GGS and Delphax and transactions initiated by third parties unrelated to equipment manufactured by us. For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, ATGL contributed $538,000 to our consolidated revenues compared to $20,000 for the prior fiscal year.

 

Backlog.

 

GGS’s backlog consists of “firm” orders supported by customer purchase orders for the equipment sold by GGS. At March 31, 2017, GGS’s backlog of orders was $2.8 million, all of which GGS expects to be filled in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2018. At March 31, 2016, GGS’s backlog of orders was $10.0 million. In addition, at March 31, 2017, Delphax’s backlog of “firm” orders supported by customer purchase orders for the equipment, goods and services that it sells was $3.6 million, all of which it expects to fill by in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2018. Backlog is not meaningful for the Company’s other business segments.

 

Research and Development.

 

During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, Delphax incurred research and development expense of $1,042,000 compared to $778,000 from the period November 24, 2015 through March 31, 2016. Research and development expense incurred by Delphax relates to the development of its élan™ 500 digital color print system.

 

Governmental Regulation.

 

The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to regulation by various governmental agencies.

 

The Department of Transportation (“DOT”) has the authority to regulate air service. The DOT has authority to investigate and institute proceedings to enforce its economic regulations, and may, in certain circumstances, assess civil penalties, revoke operating authority and seek criminal sanctions.

 

Under the Aviation and Transportation Security Act of 2001, as amended, the Transportation Security Administration (“TSA”), an agency within the Department of Homeland Security, has responsibility for aviation security. The TSA requires MAC and CSA to comply with a Full All-Cargo Aircraft Operator Standard Security Plan, which contains evolving and strict security requirements. These requirements are not static, but change periodically as the result of regulatory and legislative requirements, imposing additional security costs and creating a level of uncertainty for our operations. It is reasonably possible that these rules or other future security requirements could impose material costs on us.  

 

The FAA has safety jurisdiction over flight operations generally, including flight equipment, flight and ground personnel training, examination and certification, certain ground facilities, flight equipment maintenance programs and procedures, examination and certification of mechanics, flight routes, air traffic control and communications and other matters. The FAA is concerned with safety and the regulation of flight operations generally, including equipment used, ground facilities, maintenance, communications and other matters. The FAA can suspend or revoke the authority of air carriers or their licensed personnel for failure to comply with its regulations and can ground aircraft if questions arise concerning airworthiness. The FAA also has power to suspend or revoke for cause the certificates it issues and to institute proceedings for imposition and collection of fines for violation of federal aviation regulations. The Company, through its subsidiaries, holds all operating airworthiness and other FAA certificates that are currently required for the conduct of its business, although these certificates may be suspended or revoked for cause. The FAA periodically conducts routine reviews of MAC and CSA’s operating procedures and flight and maintenance records.

 

In September 2010, the FAA proposed rules that would significantly reduce the maximum number of hours on duty and increase the minimum amount of rest time for our pilots, and thus require us to hire additional pilots and modify certain of our aircraft. When the FAA issued final regulations in December 2011, all-cargo carriers, including MAC and CSA, were exempt from these new pilot fatigue requirements, and instead were required to continue complying with previously enacted flight and duty time rules. In December 2012, the FAA reaffirmed the exclusion of all cargo carriers from the new rule. It is reasonably possible, however, that future security or flight safety requirements could impose material costs on us.

 

 

The FAA has authority under the Noise Control Act of 1972, as amended, to monitor and regulate aircraft engine noise. The aircraft operated by the Company are in compliance with all such regulations promulgated by the FAA. Moreover, because the Company does not operate jet aircraft, noncompliance is not likely. Aircraft operated by us also comply with standards for aircraft exhaust emissions promulgated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) pursuant to the Clean Air Act of 1970, as amended.

 

Jet Yard and AirCo operate repair stations licensed under Part 145 of the regulations of the FAA. These certifications must be renewed annually, or in certain circumstances within 24 months. Certified repair stations are subject to periodic FAA inspection and audit. The repair station may not be relocated without written approval from the FAA.

 

Because of the extensive use of radio and other communication facilities in its aircraft operations, the Company is also subject to the Federal Communications Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Maintenance and Insurance.

 

The Company, through its subsidiaries, is required to maintain the aircraft it operates under the appropriate FAA and manufacturer standards and regulations.

 

The Company has secured public liability and property damage insurance in excess of minimum amounts required by the United States Department of Transportation.

 

The Company maintains cargo liability insurance, workers’ compensation insurance and fire and extended coverage insurance for owned and leased facilities and equipment. In addition, the Company maintains product liability insurance with respect to injuries and loss arising from use of products sold and services provided.

 

In March 2014, the Company formed Space Age Insurance Company (“SAIC”), a captive insurance company licensed in Utah. SAIC insures risks of the Company and its subsidiaries that were not previously insured by the various Company insurance programs (including the risk of loss of key customers and contacts, administrative actions and regulatory changes); and may from time to time underwrite third-party risk through certain reinsurance arrangements. SAIC is included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

Employees.

 

At March 31, 2017, the Company and its subsidiaries had 708 full-time and full-time-equivalent employees. This does not include the 40 employees of Delphax and its subsidiaries employed at March 31, 2017. None of the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries are represented by labor unions. The Company believes its relations with its employees are good.

 

Item 1A.     Risk Factors.

 

The following risk factors, as well as other information included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, should be considered by investors in connection with any investment in the Company’s common stock. 

 

Risks Related to Our Dependence on Significant Customers

 

We are significantly dependent on our contractual relationship with FedEx Corporation, the loss of which would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial position.

 

In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, 47% of our consolidated operating revenues, and 100% of the operating revenues for our overnight air cargo segment, arose from services we provided to FedEx. Our current agreements may be terminated by FedEx upon 90 days’ written notice and FedEx may at any time terminate the lease of any particular aircraft thereunder upon 10 days’ written notice. In addition, FedEx may terminate the dry-lease agreement with MAC or CSA upon written notice if 60% or more of MAC or CSA’s revenue (excluding revenues arising from reimbursement payments under the dry-lease agreement) is derived from the services performed by it pursuant to the respective dry-lease agreement, FedEx becomes its only customer, or it employs less than six employees. As of the date of this report, FedEx would have been permitted to terminate each of the new dry-lease agreements under this provision. FedEx has been a customer of the Company since 1980. The loss of these contracts with FedEx would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial position.

 

 

Changes in our agreements with FedEx subject us to greater operating risks.

 

On June 1, 2015, MAC and CSA entered into new dry-lease agreements with FedEx with terms different from our prior dry-lease service contracts.  The dry-lease agreements provide for the lease of specified aircraft by us in return for the payment of monthly rent with respect to each aircraft leased, which monthly rent was increased from the prior dry-lease service contracts to reflect an estimate of a fair market rental rate. The dry-lease agreements provide for the reimbursement by FedEx of our costs, without mark up, incurred in connection with the operation of the leased aircraft for the following: fuel, landing fees, third-party maintenance, parts and certain other direct operating costs. Unlike the prior dry-lease contracts, under the new dry-lease agreements, certain operational costs incurred by us in operating the aircraft are not reimbursed by FedEx at cost, and such operational costs are to be borne solely by us.  The current dry-lease agreements provide for the payment by FedEx to us of a monthly administrative fee based on the number and type of aircraft leased and routes operated. The amount of the monthly administrative fee under the current dry-lease agreements is greater than under the prior dry-lease service contracts with FedEx, in part to reflect the greater monthly lease payment per aircraft and that certain operational costs are to be borne by MAC and CSA and not reimbursed.  Accordingly, as a result in the change in our arrangements with FedEx as reflected in the new dry-lease agreements, we are subject to the risk of rising operational costs that are no longer reimbursed to us at cost and may be in excess of the allocable portion of the increased administrative fee, which could adversely affect results of operations.  In addition, since MAC and CSA entered into the new dry-lease agreements in 2015, they have periodically entered into amendments to the agreements with FedEx that have adjusted the administrative fees payable under these agreements. These adjustments, which have generally been made on an annual basis, have resulted in annual period-to-period volatility in MAC and CSA’s profitability. Although MAC and CSA have entered into such an amendment effective as of June 1, 2017 which is expected to positively affect MAC and CSA’s profitability compared to results for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, future amendments may reduce the administrative fees and accordingly negatively affect MAC and CSA’s profitability.

 

Because of our dependence on FedEx, we are subject to the risks that may affect FedEx’s operations.

 

Because of our dependence on FedEx, we are subject to the risks that may affect FedEx’s operations.  These risks are discussed in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition—Risk Factors” in FedEx Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2017.  These risks include but are not limited to the following:

 

●

Economic conditions in the global markets in which it operates;

●

Dependence on its strong reputation and value of its brand;

●

Potential disruption to the Internet and FedEx’s technology infrastructure, including customer websites, including cyberattacks;

●

The price and availability of fuel;

●

Its ability to manage its assets, including aircraft, to match shifting and future shipping volumes;

	●	Intense competition from other providers of transportation and business services;
	●	Changes in governmental regulations that may affect its business;

●

Its ability to make prudent strategic acquisitions and realize the expected benefits;

●

Its ability to maintain good relationships with its employees and prevent attempts by labor organizations to organize groups of its employees;

●

The continued classification of owner-operators in its ground delivery business as independent contractors rather than as employees;

●

The impact of the United Kingdom’s planned withdrawal from the European Union;

●

The impact of terrorist activities including the imposition of stricter governmental security requirements;

●

Regulatory actions affecting global aviation rights or a failure to obtain or maintain aviation rights in important international markets;

●

Global climate change or legal, regulatory or market responses to such change;

●

Localized natural or man-made disasters in key locations, including its Memphis, Tennessee super-hub;

●

Disruptions or modifications in service by the United States Postal Service, a significant customer and vendor of FedEx; and

●

Widespread outbreak of an illness or other communicable disease or any other public health crisis.

 

A material reduction in the aircraft we fly for FedEx could materially adversely affect our business and results of operations.

 

Under our agreements with FedEx, we are not guaranteed a number of aircraft or routes we are to fly and FedEx may reduce the number of aircraft we lease and operate upon 10 days’ written notice.  Our compensation under these agreements, including our administrative fees, depends on the number of aircraft leased to us by FedEx.  Any material permanent reduction in the aircraft we operate could materially adversely affect our business and results of operations.  A temporary reduction in any period could materially adversely affect our results of operations for that period. 

 

 

Our ground support services segment has been dependent upon the revenues from two significant customers, the loss of which could materially impact the segment’s results.

 

In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, approximately 42% of GAS’s revenues were derived from services under contracts with two customers.  The loss of these customers, or a major decline in business activity with these customers, could materially adversely impact the results of the segment.

 

Other Business Risks

 

Our revenues for aircraft maintenance services fluctuate based on the heavy maintenance check schedule, which is based on aircraft usage, for aircraft flown by our overnight air cargo operations.

 

The maintenance revenues of our overnight air cargo segment are affected based on the level of heavy maintenance checks performed on aircraft operated by our overnight air cargo operations which is affected by the level of usage of the aircraft.  Accordingly, the maintenance revenues of our overnight air cargo segment fluctuate from period to period.  In addition, if the number of aircraft operated for FedEx were to decrease, we would likely experience fewer maintenance hours and consequently, less maintenance revenue.

 

Incidents or accidents involving products and services that we sell may result in liability or otherwise adversely affect our operating results for a period.

 

Incidents or accidents may occur involving the products and services that we sell.  While we maintain products liability and other insurance in amounts we believe are customary and appropriate, and may have rights to pursue subcontractors in the event that we have any liability in connection with accidents involving products that we sell, it is possible that in the event of multiple accidents the amount of our insurance coverage would not be adequate.

 

The suspension or revocation of FAA certifications could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

Our overnight air cargo operations are subject to regulations of the FAA.  The FAA can suspend or revoke the authority of air carriers or their licensed personnel for failure to comply with its regulations and can ground aircraft if questions arise concerning airworthiness.  The FAA also has power to suspend or revoke for cause the certificates it issues and to institute proceedings for imposition and collection of fines for violation of federal aviation regulations.  Our overnight air cargo subsidiaries, MAC and CSA, operate under separate FAA certifications.  Although it is possible that, in the event that the certification of one of our subsidiaries was suspended or revoked, flights operated by that subsidiary could be transferred to the other subsidiary, we can offer no assurance that we would be able to transfer flight operations in that manner.  Accordingly, the suspension or revocation of any one of these certifications could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial position. 

 

Sales of deicing equipment can be affected by weather conditions.

 

Our deicing equipment is used to deice commercial and military aircraft. The extent of deicing activity depends on the severity of winter weather. Mild winter weather conditions permit airports to use fewer deicing units, since less time is required to deice aircraft in mild weather conditions. As a result, airports may be able to extend the useful lives of their existing units, reducing the demand for new units.

 

Our results of operations may be affected by the value of securities we hold for investment and we may be unable to liquidate our investments in a timely manner at full value.

 

We invest a significant portion of our capital not needed for operations in marketable securities, including equity securities of publicly traded companies. At March 31, 2017, the fair value of these marketable securities was approximately $4.6 million, of which $2.5 million represents the fair value of shares of common stock of Insignia Systems, Inc. Our results of operations may be affected by gains or losses recognized upon the sale of these investments or by losses recognized upon the determination that any such investment has become impaired or suffered an “other-than-temporary” impairment. At March 31, 2017, we had gross unrealized gains associated with marketable securities aggregating $279,000 and gross unrealized losses aggregating $2,771,000.

 

 

Any investment with a fair value of less than its cost basis is assessed for possible “other-than-temporary” impairment regularly and at each reporting date. Other-than-temporary impairments of available-for-sale marketable equity securities are recognized in the consolidated statement of income (loss). On the basis of its June 30, 2016 and March 31, 2017 assessments, the Company concluded that it had suffered an “other-than-temporary” impairment in its investment in the common stock of Insignia Systems, Inc. (“Insignia”). In reaching this conclusion, management gave significant weight to the fact that, as of June 30, 2016 and as of March 31, 2017, the Company’s investment in Insignia had been in a continuous unrealized loss position for well over one year and that the magnitude of the unrealized loss had increased sharply during the quarter ended June 30, 2016 and the quarter ended March 31, 2017. While management believed that it was reasonably possible that the unrealized loss at March 31, 2017 would reverse prior to the Company’s divestment of the security, management concluded that the weight of the evidence warranted the “other-than-temporary” impairment. Consistent with the applicable accounting guidance, the Company’s cost basis in the Insignia investment was lowered to $3,604,000 at June 30, 2016 and to $2,643,000 at March 31, 2017 to reflect the impairment charge.

 

On the basis of its March 31, 2017 assessment, the Company concluded that it had suffered an additional “other-than-temporary” impairment in its investment in marketable securities for approximately $112,000.

 

In addition, from time to time we may hold positions in marketable securities that under then-current market conditions we may be unable to liquidate in a timely manner at full value. For example, at May 31, 2017, we held approximately 1.65 million shares of common stock of Insignia Systems, Inc., representing approximately 14% of the outstanding shares and approximately 110 times the average daily trading volume for such shares for the preceding 50 days. In the event that we are unable to liquidate an investment at full value our gain from the sale of that investment may be reduced or our loss from the sale of that investment may be increased.

 

Our business may be adversely affected by information technology disruptions.

 

Our business may be impacted by information technology disruptions, including information technology attacks. Cybersecurity attacks, in particular, are evolving and include, but are not limited to, malicious software, attempts to gain unauthorized access to data, and other electronic security breaches that could lead to disruptions in systems, unauthorized release of confidential or otherwise protected information and corruption of data (our own or that of third parties). Although we have adopted certain measures to mitigate potential risks to our systems from information technology-related disruptions, given the unpredictability of the timing, nature and scope of such disruptions, we could potentially be subject to production downtimes, operational delays, other detrimental impacts on our operations or ability to provide products and services to our customers, the compromising of confidential or otherwise protected information, misappropriation, destruction or corruption of data, security breaches, other manipulation or improper use of our systems or networks, financial losses from remedial actions, loss of business or potential liability, and/or damage to our reputation, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

Our business could be materially adversely affected by numerous other risks, including rising healthcare costs, changes in environmental laws and other unforeseen business interruptions.

 

Our business may be negatively impacted by numerous other risks. For example, medical and healthcare costs may continue to increase. Initiatives to address these costs, such as consumer driven health plan packages, may not successfully reduce these expenses as needed. Failure to offer competitive employee benefits may result in our inability to recruit or maintain key employees. Additional risks to our business include global or local events which could significantly disrupt our operations. Terrorist attacks, natural disasters and electrical grid disruptions and outages are some of the unforeseen risks that could negatively affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

We have identified material weaknesses related to our internal controls and there can be no assurance that material weaknesses will not be identified in the future.

 

As described elsewhere in Part II, Item 9A of this report, we have identified a number of material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting which existed at March 31, 2017. In addition, we have previously identified material weaknesses with respect to our accounting for our investments in Delphax. As a result of an error in the accounting for the attribution of the net income or loss of Delphax to non-controlling interests, we restated our consolidated financial statements at and for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016, and the selected quarterly financial data for the final two quarters in the fiscal year then ended, as well as our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2015, the three months ended June 30, 2016, the three and six months ended September 30, 2016 and the three and nine months ended December 31, 2016 and selected consolidated balance sheet data at December 31, 2015, March 31, 2016, June 30, 2016, September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2016.

 

 

Risks Related to Ownership of Our Common Stock

 

Various provisions and laws could delay or prevent a change of control.

 

Certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and provisions of Delaware corporation law could delay or prevent a change of control or may impede the ability of the holders of our common stock to change our management. In particular, our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, among other things regulate how shareholders may present proposals or nominate directors for election at shareholders’ meetings and authorize our board of directors to issue preferred stock in one or more series, without shareholder approval.

 

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.

 

None.

 

Item 2.    Properties.

 

Since 1979 the Company has leased the Little Mountain Airport in Maiden, North Carolina from a corporation whose stock is owned in part by former officers and directors of the Company and an estate of which certain former directors are beneficiaries. The facility consists of approximately 68 acres with one 3,000 foot paved runway, approximately 20,000 square feet of hangar space and approximately 12,300 square feet of office space. The operations of Air T, MAC and ATGL were headquartered at this facility until they were relocated on July 31, 2017. The lease for this facility provides for monthly rent of $14,862 and expires on January 31, 2018, though the lease may be renewed by us for three additional two-year option periods through January 31, 2024. The Company does not intend to renew this lease. The lease agreement provides that the Company shall be responsible for maintenance of the leased facilities and for utilities, taxes and insurance.

 

The Company has acquired approximately 4.626 acres in Denver, North Carolina for the construction of facilities to house the operations of Air T, MAC and ATGL which had been housed at the Little Mountain Airport facility. Construction of the new facility has been completed, and the Company relocated its corporate offices to the facility on July 31, 2017. Acquisition and construction of this facility was financed by borrowings from a bank lender, and the facility is subject to liens securing that construction loan, as well as statutory liens of contractors involved in the construction of the facility to the extent that the final construction costs have not yet been paid.

 

The Company also leases approximately 1,950 square feet of office space and approximately 4,800 square feet of hangar space at the Ford Airport in Iron Mountain, Michigan. CSA’s operations are headquartered at these facilities which are leased from a third party under an annually renewable agreement.

 

The Company leases approximately 53,000 square feet of a 66,000 square foot aircraft maintenance facility located in Kinston, North Carolina under an agreement that extends through January 2023, with the option to extend the lease for four additional five-year periods thereafter. The Company has calculated rent expense under the current lease term. The rental rate under the lease increases by increments for each of the five-year renewal periods.

 

GGS leases an 112,500 square foot production facility in Olathe, Kansas. The facility is leased from a third party under a lease agreement, which expires in August 2019.

 

As of March 31, 2017, the Company leased hangar, maintenance and office space from third parties at a variety of other locations, at prevailing market terms. The table of aircraft presented in Item 1 lists the aircraft operated by the Company’s subsidiaries and the form of ownership.

 

Contrail Aviation leases a 21,000 square foot facility in Verona, Wisconsin. The lease for this facility expires on July 17, 2021, though Contrail Aviation has the option to renew the lease on the same terms for an additional five-year period.

 

 

Jet Yard leases approximately 48.5 acres of land from Pinal County at the Pinal Air Park in Marana, Arizona. The lease expires in May 2046, though Jet Yard has an option to renew the lease for an additional 30-year period (though the lease to a 2.6 acre parcel of the leased premises may be terminated by Pinal County upon 90 days’ notice). The lease agreement permits Pinal County to terminate the lease if Jet Yard fails to make substantial progress toward the construction of facilities on the leased premises in phases in accordance with a specified timetable. The construction of a demolition pad required by March 31, 2017 under the lease has not been completed and Jet Yard and Pinal County are in discussions with respect to improvements on the leased premises.

 

Delphax’s Canadian subsidiary leases a 76,734 square foot manufacturing facility in Mississauga, Ontario under a lease which has been terminated effective upon removal of the property foreclosed upon by Air T.

 

A newly organized subsidiary of Air T leases 12,206 square feet of space in a building located in Mississauga, Ontario. The lease expires on July 31, 2020 and the subsidiary’s obligations under the lease have been guaranteed by Air T.

 

AirCo leases a 20,000 square-foot facility from the shareholder of the AirCo Seller which expires in on May 1, 2018, though AirCo may prior thereto terminate the lease on 90-days’ notice and may renew the lease for up to four successive one-year terms.

 

Item 3.     Legal Proceedings.

 

The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of their business.

 

Item 4.     Mine Safety Disclosures.

 

Not applicable.

 

 

PART II

 

Item 5.

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

 

The Company’s common stock is publicly traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol “AIRT.”

 

As of March 31, 2017, the number of holders of record of the Company’s Common Stock was 176. The range of high and low sales price per share for the Company’s common stock on the NASDAQ Stock Market from April 1, 2016 through March 31, 2017 is as follows:

 

		Fiscal Year Ended March 31,
		2017								2016
		High				Low				High				Low
First Quarter		$	26.99			$	21.50			$	24.93			$	16.38
Second Quarter			23.50				17.75				28.00				17.21
Third Quarter			25.96				17.24				26.10				16.49
Fourth Quarter			22.55				20.17				26.62				18.70

 

 

The Company’s Board of Directors in May 2014 adopted a policy to discontinue the payment of a regularly scheduled annual cash dividend.

 

On May 14, 2014, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had authorized a program to repurchase up to 750,000 shares of the Company’s common stock from time to time on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, in compliance with SEC Rule 10b-18, over an indefinite period. No shares were purchased pursuant to this authorization during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017.

 

 

Item 6.     Selected Financial Data.

 

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

		Year Ended March 31,
		2017				2016				2015				2014				2013				2012
Statements of Operations Data:
Operating revenues		$	148,472			$	148,212			$	112,181			$	100,772			$	103,064			$	89,382
Net income (loss)¹			(3,214	)			4,414				2,484				1,467				1,670				1,350
Basic earnings (loss) per share¹			(1.51	)			1.86				1.05				0.61				0.68				0.55
Diluted earnings (loss) per share¹			(1.51	)			1.84				1.04				0.60				0.68				0.55
Dividend declared per share			-				-				-				0.30				0.25				0.25
Balance sheet data (at period end):
Total assets			65,335				52,155				43,456				37,221				36,055				35,083
Long-term debt			18,413				5				5,000				-				-				-
Stockholders' equity¹			22,966				34,231				29,795				27,360				28,124				27,053

 

¹ For 2017 and 2016, amount disclosed is that amount attributable to Air T, Inc. stockholders.

 

 

Item 7.     Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

 

Overview

 

Air T, Inc. (the “Company,” “Air T,” “we” or “us”) is a decentralized holding company with ownership interests in a broad set of operating and financial assets that are designed to expand, strengthen and diversify our cash earnings power. Our goal is to build on Air T’s core businesses, to expand into adjacent industries, and when appropriate, to acquire companies that we believe fit into the Air T family.

 

We currently operate wholly owned subsidiaries in three legacy industry segments:

 

•

overnight air cargo, comprised of our Mountain Air Cargo, Inc. (“MAC”) and CSA Air, Inc. (“CSA”) subsidiaries, which operates in the air express delivery services industry;

 

•

ground equipment sales, comprised of our Global Ground Support, LLC (“GGS”) subsidiary, which manufactures and provides mobile deicers and other specialized equipment products to passenger and cargo airlines, airports, the military and industrial customers; and

 

•

ground support services, comprised of our Global Aviation Services, LLC (“GAS”) subsidiary, which provides ground support equipment maintenance and facilities maintenance services to domestic airlines and aviation service providers.

 

In the past two years, we have organized or acquired businesses operating in three other segments. In October 2015, we formed a wholly owned equipment leasing subsidiary, Air T Global Leasing, LLC (“ATGL”), which comprises our leasing segment. In November 2015 we acquired debt and equity interests in Delphax Technologies, Inc. (“Delphax”), a printing equipment manufacturer and maintenance provider, which comprises our printing equipment and maintenance segment. In July 2016, our majority owned subsidiary, Contrail Aviation Support, LLC (“Contrail Aviation”), acquired the principal assets of a business based in Verona, Wisconsin engaged in acquiring surplus commercial jet engines and components and supplying surplus and aftermarket commercial jet engine components. In October 2016, we acquired 100% of the outstanding equity interests of Jet Yard, LLC (“Jet Yard”) to provide commercial aircraft storage, maintenance and aircraft disassembly/part-out services at facilities leased at the Pinal Air Park in Marana, Arizona. In May 2017, our newly formed subsidiaries, AirCo, LLC and AirCo Services, LLC (collectively, “AirCo”), acquired the inventory and principal assets of a business based in Wichita, Kansas that distributes and sells airplane and aviation parts. Contrail Aviation, Jet Yard and AirCo comprise the commercial jet engines and parts segment of the Company’s operations. This segment, formerly referred to as the commercial jet engines segment, was renamed to reflect its broader product and service offerings.

 

 

Each business segment has separate management teams and infrastructures that offer different products and services. We evaluate the performance of our business segments based on operating income.

 

Following is a table detailing revenues (after elimination of intercompany transactions) by segment and by major customer category:

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)
		Year Ended March 31,
		2017								2016
Overnight Air Cargo Segment:
FedEx		$	69,558				47	%		$	68,227				46	%
Ground Equipment Sales Segment:
Military			2,627				2	%			1,639				1	%
Commercial - Domestic			24,536				17	%			43,536				29	%
Commercial - International			4,284				3	%			6,000				4	%
			31,447				21	%			51,175				35	%
Ground Support Services Segment			30,453				21	%			24,835				17	%
Printing Equipment and Maintenance
Domestic			4,863				3	%			2,753				2	%
International			4,156				3	%			1,202				1	%
			9,019				6	%			3,955				3	%
Commercial Jet Engines and Parts
Domestic			2,682				2	%			-				0	%
International			4,774				3	%			-				0	%
			7,456				5	%			-				0	%
Leasing			539				0	%			20				0	%
		$	148,472				100	%		$	148,212				100	%

 

MAC and CSA are two of seven companies in the U.S. that have North American feeder airlines under contract with FedEx. With a relationship with FedEx spanning over 35 years, MAC and CSA operate and maintain Cessna Caravan, ATR-42 and ATR-72 aircraft that fly daily small-package cargo routes throughout the eastern United States, upper Midwest and the Caribbean. MAC and CSA’s revenues are derived principally pursuant to “dry-lease” service contracts with FedEx.

 

On June 1, 2015, MAC and CSA entered into new dry-lease agreements with FedEx which together cover all of the revenue aircraft operated by MAC and CSA and replaced all prior dry-lease service contracts. These dry-lease agreements provide for the lease of specified aircraft by MAC and CSA in return for the payment of monthly rent with respect to each aircraft leased, which monthly rent was increased from the prior dry-lease service contracts to reflect an estimate of a fair market rental rate. These dry-lease agreements provide that FedEx determines the type of aircraft and schedule of routes to be flown by MAC and CSA, with all other operational decisions made by MAC and CSA, respectively. The current dry-lease agreements provide for the reimbursement by FedEx of MAC and CSA’s costs, without mark up, incurred in connection with the operation of the leased aircraft for the following: fuel, landing fees, third-party maintenance, parts and certain other direct operating costs. Unlike prior dry-lease contracts, under the current dry-lease agreements, certain operational costs incurred by MAC and CSA in operating the aircraft under the dry-lease agreements are not reimbursed by FedEx at cost, and such operational costs are borne solely by MAC and CSA. Under the dry-lease agreements, MAC and CSA are required to perform maintenance of the leased aircraft in return for a maintenance fee based upon an hourly maintenance labor rate, which has been increased from the rate in place under the prior dry-lease service contracts. Under prior dry-lease service contracts, the hourly maintenance labor rate had not been adjusted since 2008. The dry-lease agreements provide for the payment by FedEx to MAC and CSA of a monthly administrative fee based on the number and type of aircraft leased and routes operated. The amount of the monthly administrative fee under the current dry-lease agreements is greater than under the prior dry-lease service contracts with FedEx, in part to reflect the greater monthly lease payment per aircraft and that certain operational costs are borne by MAC and CSA and not reimbursed. The amount of the administrative fee is subject to adjustment based on the number of aircraft operated, routes flown and whether aircraft are considered to be soft-parked. Since MAC and CSA entered into the current dry-lease agreements in 2015, they have periodically entered into amendments to the agreements with FedEx that have adjusted the administrative fees payable under these agreements. These adjustments, which have generally been made on an annual basis, have resulted in annual period-to-period volatility in MAC and CSA’s profitability. MAC and CSA have entered into such an amendment effective as of June 1, 2017 which is expected to positively affect MAC and CSA’s profitability compared to results for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017.

 

 

On June 1, 2016, the current dry-lease agreements were amended to extend the expiration date to May 31, 2020. The dry-lease agreements may be terminated by FedEx or MAC and CSA, respectively, at any time upon 90 days’ written notice and FedEx may at any time terminate the lease of any particular aircraft thereunder upon 10 days’ written notice. In addition, each of the dry-lease agreements provides that FedEx may terminate the agreement upon written notice if 60% or more of MAC or CSA’s revenue (excluding revenues arising from reimbursement payments under the dry-lease agreement) is derived from the services performed by it pursuant to the respective dry-lease agreement, FedEx becomes MAC or CSA’s only customer, or MAC or CSA employs less than six employees. As of the date of this report, FedEx would have been permitted to terminate each of the dry-lease agreements under this provision. The Company believes that the short-term nature of its agreements with FedEx is standard within the airfreight contract delivery service industry, where performance is measured on a daily basis. FedEx has been a customer of the Company since 1980. Loss of its contracts with FedEx would have a material adverse effect on the Company.

 

Under the dry-lease service contracts in place during the first two months of the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016 and prior periods, FedEx leased its aircraft to MAC and CSA for a nominal amount and paid a monthly administrative fee to MAC and CSA to operate the aircraft. Under these contracts, all direct costs related to the operation of the aircraft (including fuel, outside maintenance, landing fees and pilot costs) were passed through to FedEx without markup.

 

Pass-through costs under the dry-lease agreements with FedEx totaled $23,379,000 and $24,632,000 for the years ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

 

As of March 31, 2017, MAC and CSA had an aggregate of 80 aircraft under its dry-lease agreements with FedEx.  Included within the 80 aircraft are 4 Cessna Caravan aircraft that are considered soft-parked. Soft-parked aircraft remain covered under our agreements with FedEx although at a reduced administrative fee compared to aircraft that are in operation.  MAC and CSA continue to perform maintenance on soft-parked aircraft, but they are not crewed and do not operate on scheduled routes.

 

GGS manufactures, sells and services aircraft deicers and other specialized equipment on a worldwide basis. GGS manufactures five basic models of mobile deicing equipment with capacities ranging from 700 to 2,800 gallons. GGS also offers fixed-pedestal-mounted deicers. Each model can be customized as requested by the customer, including single operator configuration, fire suppressant equipment, open basket or enclosed cab design, a patented forced-air deicing nozzle and on-board glycol blending system to substantially reduce glycol usage, color and style of the exterior finish. GGS also manufactures five models of scissor-lift equipment, for catering, cabin service and maintenance service of aircraft, and has developed a line of decontamination equipment, flight-line tow tractors, glycol recovery vehicles and other special purpose mobile equipment. GGS competes primarily on the basis of the quality, performance and reliability of its products, prompt delivery, customer service and price.

 

 

In July 2009, GGS was awarded a new contract to supply deicing trucks to the USAF, which expired in July 2014. On May 15, 2014, GGS was awarded a new contract to supply deicing trucks to the USAF. The initial contract award is for two years through July 13, 2016 with four additional one-year extension options that may be exercised by the USAF, the first of which was exercised, extending the contract term to July 13, 2017.

 

In September 2010, GGS was awarded a contract to supply flight-line tow tractors to the USAF. The contract award was for one year commencing September 28, 2010 with four additional one-year extension options exercisable by the USAF. All option periods under the contract have been exercised and the contract expired in September 2015, though it continues to govern orders placed under the contract prior to its expiration. For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, GGS revenues included $3,174,000 of flight-line tow tractors sales to the USAF under this contract ($708,000 for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016). Sales of flight-line tow tractors under this contract have been at very low margins. Because the USAF is not obligated to purchase a set or minimum number of units under these contracts, the value of these contracts, as well as the number of units to be delivered, depends upon the USAF’s requirements and available funding.

 

At March 31, 2017, GGS’s backlog of orders was $2.8 million, compared to a backlog of $10.0 million at March 31, 2016.

 

GAS provides aircraft ground support equipment, fleet, and facility maintenance services. At March 31, 2017, GAS was providing ground support equipment, fleet, and facility maintenance services to more than 114 customers at 84 North American airports. During the quarter ended March 31, 2017, GAS entered into new agreements with its principal customer which replaced certain fixed price agreements covering certain locations that had been unprofitable. GAS anticipates the terms of these new agreements will permit it to operate with improved profitability at those locations. In addition, in December 2016, GAS was awarded a five-year contract to provide a major airline customer with ground support equipment services at 28 locations. In the contract award, which was part of a periodic request-for-bid process, GAS retained 21 of its 22 incumbent locations with the customer covered by the RFP process and added seven new locations.

 

On October 31, 2016, GAS acquired, effective as of October 1, 2016, substantially all of the assets of D&D GSE Support, Inc. (“D&D”) which was in the business of marketing, selling and providing aviation repair, equipment, parts, and maintenance sales services and products at the Fort Lauderdale airport. The total amount paid at closing in connection with this acquisition was $400,000, with an additional $100,000 paid 30 days after closing and an additional $100,000 payable in equal monthly installments of $16,667 commencing on November 1, 2016. Earn-out payments of up to $100,000 may also be payable based on specified performance for the twelve-month period ending September 30, 2017.

 

On November 24, 2015, the Company purchased (i) at face value a $2,500,000 principal amount Five-Year Senior Subordinated Promissory Note (the “Senior Subordinated Note”) issued by Delphax’s Canadian operating subsidiary for a combination of cash and the surrender of outstanding principal of $500,000 and accrued and unpaid interest thereunder, and cancellation of, a 90-Day Senior Subordinated Note purchased at face value by the Company from that Delphax subsidiary on October 2, 2015 and (ii) for $1,050,000 in cash a total of 43,000 shares (the “Shares”) of Delphax’s Series B Preferred Stock (the “Series B Preferred Stock”) and a Stock Purchase Warrant (the “Warrant”) to acquire an additional 95,600 shares of Series B Preferred Stock at a price of $33.4728 per share (subject to adjustment for specified dilutive events). Each share of Series B Preferred Stock is convertible into 100 shares of common stock of Delphax, subject to anti-dilution adjustments. Based on the number of shares of Delphax common stock outstanding and reserved for issuance under Delphax’s employee stock option plans, at March 31, 2016 the number of shares of common stock underlying the Shares represent approximately 38% of the shares of Delphax common stock that would be outstanding assuming conversion of the Shares and approximately 31% of the outstanding shares assuming conversion of the Shares and the issuance of all the shares of Delphax common stock reserved for issuance under Delphax’s employee stock option plans. Under the agreement that provided for the Company’s purchase of these interests, on November 24, 2015 three designees of the Company (including Nick Swenson, the Company’s President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, and Michael Moore, the President of our GGS subsidiary) were elected to the board of directors of Delphax, which had a total of seven members following their election. Pursuant to the terms of the Series B Preferred Stock, for so long as amounts are owed to Air T under the Senior Subordinated Note or we continue to hold a specified number of the Shares and interests in the Warrant holders of the Series B Preferred Stock, voting as a separate class, the Company would be entitled to elect, after June 1, 2016, four-sevenths of the members of the board of directors of Delphax and, without the written consent or waiver of the Company, Delphax may not enter into specified corporate transactions. As a result of these transactions, we determined that we had obtained control over Delphax in conjunction with the acquisition of the interests described above, and we have consolidated Delphax in Air T’s consolidated financial statements beginning on November 24, 2015. The operating loss attributable to Delphax in our consolidated financial statements for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016 was approximately $5,938,000 and $1,967,000, respectively.

 

 

Delphax designs, manufactures and sells advanced digital print production equipment (including high-speed, high-volume cut-sheet and continuous roll-fed printers), maintenance contracts, spare parts, supplies and consumable items for these systems. The equipment, spare parts, supplies and consumable items are manufactured, and maintenance and services are provided by Delphax Canada and such products and services are sold through Delphax, Delphax Canada and Delphax subsidiaries located in Canada, the United Kingdom and France. A significant portion of Delphax’s net sales has historically been related to service and support provided after the sale, including the sale of consumable items for installed printing systems. Delphax’s legacy consumables production business was expected to generate cash flow while Delphax rolled-out its next generation élan commercial inkjet printer.

 

During the quarter ended June 30, 2016, Delphax was informed by its largest customer that the customer had decided to accelerate its plans for removing Delphax legacy printing systems from production and that Delphax should, as a consequence, expect the future volume of legacy product orders from the customer to decline markedly from prior forecasts. Furthermore, the future timeframe over which orders could be expected from this customer was being sharply curtailed. In addition to this specific customer communication, Delphax also experienced a broad-based decline in legacy product customer demand during the first quarter. Sales of Delphax’s new élan printer system also had not materialized to expectations.

 

The adverse business developments during the quarter ended June 30, 2016 and the significantly deteriorated outlook for future orders of legacy and élan product caused the Company to reevaluate the recoverability of Delphax’s assets, both tangible and intangible. Based on this reevaluation, which involved material estimation and subjectivity (including with respect to the recovery on assets in an operating liquidation), the Company concluded that a significant increase to inventory reserves was necessary. In addition, the Company concluded that Delphax related intangible assets, both amortizable assets and goodwill, should be fully impaired. The Company also recorded a partial impairment of Delphax related long-lived tangible assets. Furthermore, there was an assessment regarding whether, at June 30, 2016, future severance actions under existing Delphax employee benefit plans were both probable and estimable. This assessment led to the Company establishing an estimated accrual for future severance actions. The effects of these various adjustments, which aggregated to approximately $5,610,000, were reflected in the operating results of Delphax for the quarter ended June 30, 2016. There were no significant additions to inventory and severance reserves from June 30, 2016 to March 31, 2017.

 

Intangible assets of Delphax had a net book value of approximately $1.4 million as of March 31, 2016. During the quarter ended June 30, 2016, the Company recognized an impairment charge which resulted in the remaining net book value of Delphax intangible assets being fully written off.

 

The above described adverse business developments drove significant negative operating results and led to severe liquidity constraints for Delphax. In addition to other measures intended to respond to developments, Delphax engaged an outside advisory firm to assist with operations, cost reductions and expense rationalization, and to provide an objective assessment and recommendations regarding Delphax’s business outlook and alternative courses of action. During the quarter ended June 30, 2016, a number of Delphax employees were either severed or furloughed. For most of fiscal year 2017, Delphax’s operations have been maintained at a significantly curtailed level.

 

 

On January 6, 2017, the Company acquired all rights, and assumed all obligations, of a third-party lender under a senior credit agreement (the “Delphax Senior Credit Agreement”) with Delphax and Delphax Canada providing for a $7.0 million revolving senior secured credit facility, subject to a borrowing base of North American accounts receivable and inventory., including obligations, if any, to fund future borrowings under the Delphax Senior Credit Agreement. In connection with this transaction, the Company paid to such third-party senior lender an amount equal to the approximately $1.26 million outstanding borrowing balance, plus accrued and unpaid interest and fees. Also in connection with this transaction, the Company, Delphax and Delphax Canada entered into an amendment to the Delphax Senior Credit Agreement to reduce the maximum amount of borrowings permitted to be outstanding under the Delphax Senior Credit Agreement from $7.0 million to $2.5 million, to revise the borrowing base to include in the borrowing base 100% of purchase orders from customers for products up to $500,000, to provide that the interest rate on all borrowings outstanding until all loans under the Delphax Senior Credit Agreement are repaid in full will be a default rate equal to 2.5% per month to be paid monthly, and to provide for the payment to the Company from Delphax Canada and Delphax of fees equal to $25,000 upon execution of the amendment and of $50,000 upon repayment in full of all loans under the Delphax Senior Credit Agreement. On January 6, 2017, the Company notified Delphax and Delphax Canada of certain “Events of Default” (as defined under the Delphax Senior Credit Agreement) existing under the Delphax Senior Credit Agreement and that the Company was reserving all rights to exercise remedies under the Delphax Senior Credit Agreement and that no delay in exercising any such remedy is to be construed as a waiver of any of its remedies. Also, on January 6, 2017, the Company and Delphax Canada entered into a Forbearance and Amendment Agreement dated as of January 6, 2017, which amended the Senior Subordinated Note to increase the default rate of interest from an annual rate of 10.5% to an annual rate of 18%, to be in effect until all amounts under the Senior Subordinated Note are paid in full, and which provides that so long as no Event of Default (as defined in the Senior Subordinated Note) occurs under the Senior Subordinated Note, other than Events of Default that existed as of January 6, 2017, the Company agreed to forbear from exercising its remedies under the Senior Subordinated Note until May 31, 2017 and further provided for the payment by Delphax Canada to the Company of a forbearance fee equal to approximately $141,000. At March 31, 2017, Delphax Canada was not in compliance with financial covenants under the Delphax Senior Credit Agreement. Notwithstanding the existence of these events of default, the Company permitted additional borrowings under the Delphax Senior Credit Agreement to, among other things, fund a final production run by Delphax Canada of consumable products for its legacy printing systems, which production run was primarily completed over the first six months of calendar 2017. Delphax Canada is Delphax's sole manufacturing subsidiary.

 

Events of default under the Delphax Senior Credit Agreement persisted. On July 13, 2017, the Company delivered a demand for payment and Notice of Intention to Enforce Security to Delphax Canada. On August 10, 2017, the Company foreclosed on all personal property and rights to undertakings of Delphax Canada. The Company foreclosed as a secured creditor with respect to amounts owed to it by Delphax Canada under the Delphax Senior Credit Agreement. The Company provided notice of its intent to foreclose to Delphax Canada and its secured creditors and shareholder on July 26, 2017. The outstanding amount owed to the Company by Delphax Canada under the Delphax Senior Credit Agreement on July 26, 2017 was approximately $1,510,000. The Company also submitted an application to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Bankruptcy and Insolvency (the "Ontario Court") seeking that Delphax Canada be adjudged bankrupt. On August 8, 2017, the Ontario Court issued an order adjudging Delphax Canada to be bankrupt. The recipients of the foreclosure notice did not object to the foreclosure or redeem. As a result, the foreclosure was completed on August 10, 2017, and the Company accepted the personal property and rights to undertakings of Delphax Canada in satisfaction of the amount secured by the Delphax Senior Credit Agreement.

 

We organized ATGL on October 6, 2015. ATGL provides funding for equipment leasing transactions, which may include transactions for the leasing of equipment manufactured by GGS and Delphax and transactions initiated by third parties unrelated to equipment manufactured by us. On April 4, 2016, ATGL purchased two élan™ 500 printers from Delphax for $650,000 for lease to a third party. One of those acquired printers was subject to an existing lease to a third party which has been assigned to ATGL.

 

On July 18, 2016, Contrail Aviation, a subsidiary of the Company, completed the purchase of substantially all of the business assets of Contrail Aviation Support, Inc. (the “Contrail Seller”). Prior to the asset sale, the Contrail Seller, based in Verona, Wisconsin, engaged in the business of acquiring surplus commercial jet engines or components and supplying surplus and aftermarket commercial jet engine components. The acquisition consideration paid to the Contrail Seller included equity membership units in Contrail Aviation representing 21% of the total equity membership units in Contrail Aviation. As a result, the Company owns equity membership units in Contrail Aviation representing the remaining 79% of the total equity membership units in Contrail Aviation. In addition, Contrail Aviation has agreed to pay as additional deferred consideration to the Contrail Seller up to a maximum of $1.5 million per year and $3.0 million in the aggregate based on Contrail Aviation’s EBITDA (as defined in the purchase agreement) measured during periods over the five years following the acquisition. Contrail Aviation and the Contrail Seller also entered into put and call options permitting, at any time after the fifth anniversary of the asset sale closing date, Contrail Aviation at its election to purchase from Contrail Seller, and permitting Contrail Seller at its election to require Contrail Aviation to purchase from Contrail Seller, all of Contrail Seller’s equity membership interests Contrail Aviation at price to be agreed upon, or failing such an agreement to be determined pursuant to third-party appraisals in a specified process. On October 3, 2016, a newly formed subsidiary of the Company, Stratus Aero Partners, LLC (formerly, Global Aviation Partners LLC), acquired 100% of the outstanding equity interests of Jet Yard, LLC (“Jet Yard”). Jet Yard was organized in 2014, entered into the lease in June 2016 and prior our acquisition maintained de minimus operations. The aggregate cash consideration paid in these two acquisition transactions, after closing date adjustments and not including potential deferred payments to the Contrail Seller described above, was approximately $4,048,000.

 

 

In May 2017, AirCo acquired the inventory and principal business assets, and assumed specified liabilities, of Aircraft Instrument and Radio Company, Incorporated, and Aircraft Instrument and Radio Services, Inc. (collectively the “AirCo Sellers”). The acquired business, which is based in Wichita, Kansas, distributes and sells airplane and aviation parts and maintains a license under Part 145 of the regulations of the Federal Aviation Administration. The consideration paid for the acquired business was approximately $2,400,000.

 

In March 2014, the Company formed Space Age Insurance Company (“SAIC”), a captive insurance company licensed in Utah, and initially capitalized with $250,000. SAIC insures risks of the Company and its subsidiaries that were not previously insured by the Company’s insurance programs; and underwrites third-party risk through certain reinsurance arrangements. SAIC is included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

At March 31, 2017, we held approximately 1.65 million shares of common stock of Insignia Systems, Inc. (“Insignia”), representing approximately 14% of the outstanding shares, which shares were acquired commencing in our fiscal year ended March 31, 2015. Any investment with a fair value of less than its cost basis is assessed for possible “other-than-temporary” impairment regularly and at each reporting date. Other-than-temporary impairments of available-for-sale marketable equity securities are recognized in the consolidated statement of income (loss). On the basis of its June 30, 2016 and March 31, 2017 assessments, the Company concluded that it had suffered an other-than-temporary impairment in its investment in the common stock of Insignia. Consistent with the applicable accounting guidance, the Company’s cost basis in the Insignia investment was lowered from $4,711,000 to $3,604,000 at June 30, 2016 and then to $2,643,000 at March 31, 2017 to reflect the impairment charge. On January 6, 2017, Insignia paid a special dividend of $0.70 per share to stockholders owning Insignia shares on that date. The receipt of such special dividend is included in the other investment income (loss) in the Company’s consolidated statements of income (loss) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017. During the fourth quarter of the 2017 fiscal year, we recognized an additional investment loss of approximately $116,000 principally due to an other-than-temporary decline in fair value of other investment securities that had been in a continuous loss position for more than 12 months.

 

Fiscal 2017 Summary

 

Revenues for our overnight air cargo segment totaled $69,558,000 for the year ended March 31, 2017, representing a $1,331,000 (2%) increase over the prior year. The segment’s administrative fee revenues increased by $2,170,000, reflecting the greater administrative fee amount paid under the dry-lease agreements which became effective on June 1, 2016 for the full fiscal year 2017 compared to ten months for the prior fiscal year. In addition, the segment’s maintenance revenues decreased by $1,799,000 (7%) as a result of a decrease in pass-through maintenance revenues. The segment’s operating income decreased by $776,000 in fiscal 2017 due to higher operating costs not passed through to the customer, principally increased flight crew costs.

 

Revenues for GGS, net of intercompany eliminations, totaled approximately $31,447,000 for the year ended March 31, 2017, a decrease of $19,728,000 (39%) from the prior year, while operating income decreased by $4,108,000 (63%).  The decrease in GGS revenues and reduction in operating income is attributable principally to the significant sales of commercial domestic deicers in the prior year associated with a significant order that did not reoccur. Operating income was also adversely affected by a reduction in operating margin, as efficiencies gained in the prior-year period from the production of a large volume of identical units under that order did not reoccur in the current-year period.

 

During the year ended March 31, 2017, revenues from our GAS subsidiary totaled approximately $30,453,000, representing a $5,619,000 (23%) increase from the prior year. The segment’s fiscal year 2017 operating loss, $501,000, was $535,000 (52%) lower than the 2016 loss principally due to the impact of increased revenues. Revenue increased with growth into new markets and services for both new and existing customers and strong parts sales. During the fourth quarter of the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, GAS entered into new agreements with its principal customer which replaced certain fixed price agreements covering certain locations that had been unprofitable. GAS anticipates the terms of these new agreements will permit it to operate with improved profitability at those locations.

 

Our new commercial jet engines and parts segment formed through the acquisitions of the businesses of Contrail Aviation and Jet Yard during the fiscal year 2017 contributed $7,456,000 to consolidated revenues for the fiscal year.

 

Revenues for Delphax, net of intercompany eliminations, totaled approximately $9,019,000, representing a $5,064,000 (128%) increase from the prior fiscal year, primarily due to the inclusion of Delphax in our consolidated results for the full fiscal year following our acquisition of interests in Delphax on November 24, 2015. In addition, Delphax implemented a final production run of consumable products for its legacy printing systems during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017. Consolidated operating income was adversely affected by the $5,938,000 operating loss of the printing equipment and maintenance segment for the fiscal year.

 

 

During the quarter ended June 30, 2016, Delphax was informed by its largest customer that the customer had decided to accelerate its plans for removing Delphax legacy printing systems from production and that Delphax should, as a consequence, expect the future volume of legacy product orders from the customer to decline markedly from prior forecasts. Furthermore, the future timeframe over which orders could be expected from this customer was being sharply curtailed. In addition to this specific customer communication, Delphax also experienced a broad-based decline in legacy product customer demand during the quarter. Sales of Delphax’s new élan printer system also did not materialize to expectations in the quarter.

 

The above described adverse business developments drove significant negative operating results and led to severe liquidity constraints for Delphax. In addition to other measures intended to respond to developments, Delphax engaged an outside advisory firm to assist with operations, cost reductions and expense rationalization, and to provide an objective assessment and recommendations regarding Delphax’s business outlook and alternative courses of action. During the quarter ended June 30, 2016, a number of Delphax employees were either severed or furloughed.

 

The adverse business developments during the quarter ended June 30, 2016 and the significantly deteriorated outlook for future orders of legacy and élan product caused the Company to reevaluate the recoverability of Delphax’s assets, both tangible and intangible. Based on this reevaluation, which involved material estimation and subjectivity (including with respect to the recovery on assets in an operating liquidation), the Company concluded that a significant increase to inventory reserves was necessary. In addition, the Company concluded that Delphax related intangible assets, both amortizable assets and goodwill, should be fully impaired. The Company also recorded a partial impairment of Delphax related long-lived tangible assets. Furthermore, there was an assessment regarding whether, at June 30, 2016, future severance actions under existing Delphax employee benefit plans were both probable and estimable. This assessment led to the Company establishing an estimated accrual for future severance actions. The effects of these various adjustments, which aggregated to approximately $5,610,000, are reflected in the operating results of Delphax for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017.

 

For most of fiscal year 2017, Delphax’s operations have been maintained at a significantly curtailed level.

 

During fiscal year 2017, the Company recognized approximately $2,755,000 in other-than-temporary impairment losses on investments (of which approximately $2,643,000 was attributable to the Company’s investment in Insignia), though the Company recognized approximately $1,158,000 in other investment income from the Insignia special dividend paid in January 2017.

 

Fiscal 2017 vs. 2016

 

Consolidated revenue, net of intercompany eliminations, of $148,472,000 for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017 was essentially flat compared to the prior fiscal year amount of $148,212,000. The slight increase in the fiscal year 2017 revenue is due principally to the increase in the ground support services revenues and the inclusion of the printing equipment and maintenance segment for the full fiscal year and the commercial jet engines and parts segment almost entirely offset by the large order of deicers from a major airline in the prior year that did not reoccur in the 2017 fiscal year.

 

Revenues in the overnight air cargo segment increased $1,331,000 (2%) to $69,558,000 principally due to the greater administrative fee amount paid under the new dry-lease agreements as discussed above. In addition, the segment’s maintenance revenues decreased $1,799,000 (7%) principally due to a decrease in pass-through maintenance revenues.

 

Revenues for GGS, net of intercompany eliminations, totaled approximately $31,447,000 for the year ended March 31, 2017, a decrease of $19,728,000 (39%) from the prior year. The decrease in GGS revenues and reduction in operating income is attributable principally to the significant sales of commercial domestic deicers in the prior year associated with a significant order that did not reoccur.

 

During the year ended March 31, 2017, revenues from our GAS subsidiary totaled approximately $30,453,000, representing a $5,619,000 (23%) increase from the prior year. Revenue increased with growth into new markets and services for both new and existing customers and strong annual part sales.

 

 

Revenues for Delphax, net of intercompany eliminations, totaled approximately $9,019,000, representing a $5,064,000 (128%) increase from the prior fiscal year, primarily due to the inclusion of Delphax in our consolidated results for the full fiscal year following our acquisition of interests in Delphax on November 24, 2015. In addition, Delphax initiated a final production run of consumable products for its legacy printing systems during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017.

 

Our new commercial jet engines and parts segment formed through the acquisitions of the businesses of Contrail Aviation and Jet Yard during the fiscal year 2017 contributed $7,456,000 to consolidated revenues for the fiscal year.

 

Consolidated operating expenses, net of intercompany eliminations, increased by $9,392,000 (7%) to $151,572,000 for fiscal year 2017 compared to fiscal year 2016. Operating expenses in the overnight air cargo segment increased $1,891,000 (3%) over the prior year principally due to higher operating costs not passed through to the customer, principally increased flight crew costs. Of the segment’s $66,834,000 of operating costs in the current year, $23,379,000 were costs passed through to our air cargo customer without markup. Ground equipment sales operating costs decreased $16,103,000 (36%) compared to the prior fiscal year principally due to the order of a major airlines in fiscal year 2016 that did not reoccur. Operating expenses in the ground support services segment increased by $5,083,000 (20%) driven principally by investments made in infrastructure to help position the segment for growth, including facility upgrades, leadership, marketing and data analysis roles, and training. 

 

General and administrative expense increased $4,041,000 (22%) to $22,180,000 in fiscal year 2017. General and administrative expense increased by $2,315,000 due to inclusion of the commercial jet engines and parts segment as a result of the acquisition of the Contrail Aviation business and Jet Yard. General and administrative expense also increased $1,657,000 due to the inclusion of Delphax in consolidated results for the full fiscal year. General and administrative expense also increased due to professional fees related to the acquisitions and the stock repurchase effected in the second quarter of the fiscal year 2017.

 

Operating loss for the year ended March 31, 2017 was $3,101,000, a $9,132,000 (151%) deterioration from fiscal 2016. The printing equipment and maintenance segment saw an increase in its operating loss in fiscal year 2017 principally due to the significant negative operating results of Delphax related to the asset impairments and other costs described earlier. In addition, the ground equipment sales segment operating income decreased 63% driven principally by decreased sales volume compared to the prior fiscal year. During the fiscal year 2016, the operating income for the ground equipment sales segment was higher as a result of significantly greater volumes and enhanced margins, principally as a result of production efficiencies obtained in connection with the assembly of similar units under a significant order by a major airline company received and completed that did not reoccur in fiscal year 2017. The air cargo operating income decreased 17% compared to the prior year mainly due to the lower billable hours coupled with higher operating costs not passed through to the customer, principally increased flight crew costs. The operating loss of the ground support services segment improved by $535,000 (52%) in fiscal year 2017 principally due to the impact of increased revenues from growth into new markets and services for both new and existing customers and strong parts sales. The commercial jet engines and parts and leasing segments contributed operating income of approximately $533,000 and $423,000, respectively, in the fiscal year 2017. Consolidated operating results included a loss on sale of assets of $25,000 in the current fiscal year compared to a gain of $6,000 in the prior fiscal year.

 

Non-operating loss, net for the year ended March 31, 2017 was $1,118,000, a $1,240,000 deterioration from fiscal year 2016. This change was caused principally by the impairment loss on investments of $2,755,000 during the fiscal year 2017.

 

During the year ended March 31, 2017, the Company recorded $725,000 in income tax expense, which resulted in an annual tax effective rate of (17.1%), compared to the rate of 38.9%, for the prior year. The effective income tax rates for both periods differ from the U. S. federal statutory rate of 34% partially due to the effect of state income taxes, the benefit of the federal domestic production activities deduction under Section 199 of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), the valuation allowance recorded against Delphax’s net deferred tax asset, and the benefit for the exclusion of income for SAIC afforded under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 831(b). SAIC has elected under Section 831(b) to be taxed solely on their net investment income. Section 831(b) is a special provision for certain insurance companies with net annual written premiums of $1,200,000 or less. The benefit of the Section 831(b) election for the March 31, 2017 fiscal year end resulted in a decrease to tax expense of $281,000. The reason for the negative effective tax rate for the year ended March 31, 2017 was the tax impact related to Delphax. Delphax contributed a $6,041,000 pre-tax loss, however given that Delphax is not included in the Air T, Inc.’s consolidated tax returns and has established a full deferred tax valuation allowance, there was no tax benefit recorded for Delphax’s loss. Furthermore, for the year ended March 31, 2017 a partial valuation allowance was recorded for the other-than-temporary loss relating to the investment in Insignia and a benefit was reflected for the dividend received deduction which provides an exclusion from taxable income of 70% of the dividends the Company received.

 

 

Net loss attributable to Air T, Inc. stockholders for fiscal year 2017 was $3,214,000, or $1.51 per diluted share, compared to a net income attributable to Air T, Inc. stockholders of $4,414,000, or $1.84 per diluted share, for fiscal year 2016.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

As of March 31, 2017, the Company held approximately $2.8 million in cash and cash equivalents. The Company also held approximately $890,000 in restricted cash with $250,000 in cash held as statutory reserve of SAIC and the remaining $640,000 pledged to secure SAIC’s participation in certain reinsurance pools, and $345,000 was invested in accounts not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”).

 

As of March 31, 2017, the Company’s working capital amounted to $28,590,000, an increase of $5,348,000 compared to March 31, 2016.

 

As of March 31, 2017, the Company had a senior secured revolving credit facility of $25.0 million (the “Revolving Credit Facility”). The Revolving Credit Facility includes a sublimit for issuances of letters of credit of up to $500,000. Under the Revolving Credit Facility, each of the Company, MAC, CSA, GGS, GAS, Jet Yard, AirCo and ATGL may make borrowings. Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility bear interest (payable monthly) at an annual rate of one-month LIBOR plus an incremental amount ranging from 1.50% to 2.00% based on a consolidated leverage ratio. At March 31, 2017, the applicable annual interest rate was one-month LIBOR plus 2.00%. In addition, a commitment fee accrues with respect to the unused amount of the Revolving Credit Facility at an annual rate of 0.15%. The Company includes commitment fee expense within the interest expense and other line item of the accompanying consolidated statements of income (loss). Amounts applied to repay borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility may be reborrowed, subject to the terms of the facility. The Revolving Credit Facility matures on April 1, 2019. A total of $17,908,000 in borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility was outstanding at March 31, 2017.

 

Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility, together with hedging obligations, if any, owing to the lender under the Revolving Credit Facility or any affiliate of such lender, are secured by a first-priority security interest in substantially all assets of the Company and the other borrowers (including, without limitation, accounts receivable, equipment, inventory and other goods, intellectual property, contract rights and other general intangibles, cash, deposit accounts, equity interests in subsidiaries and joint ventures, investment property, documents and instruments, and proceeds of the foregoing), but excluding interests in real property.

 

The agreement governing the Revolving Credit Facility contains affirmative and negative covenants, including covenants that restrict the ability of the Company and the other borrowers to, among other things, incur or guarantee indebtedness, incur liens, dispose of assets, engage in mergers and consolidations, make acquisitions or other investments, make changes in the nature of their business, enter into certain operating leases, and make certain capital expenditures. The credit agreement governing the Revolving Credit Facility also contains financial covenants, including a minimum consolidated tangible net worth of $18.0 million plus, on a cumulative basis and commencing with the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, 50% of consolidated net income for the fiscal year then ended, a minimum consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.35 to 1.0, a minimum consolidated asset coverage ratio of 1.50 to 1.0 for the quarter ended March 31, 2017 and 1.75 to 1.0 thereafter (though the consolidated asset coverage ratio is not to be tested under the agreement governing the Revolving Credit Facility for the quarters ending June 30, 2017, September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2017), a maximum consolidated leverage ratio of 3.5 to 1.0, and a covenant limiting the aggregate amount of assets the Company and its subsidiaries lease, or hold for leasing, to others to no more than $5,000,000 at any time. The Company was not in compliance with the maximum consolidated leverage ratio covenant as of the March 31, 2017, December 31, 2016 and September 30, 2016 measurement dates and the minimum tangible net worth covenant at the March 31, 2017, December 31, 2016, and September 30, 2016 measurement dates. The lender has waived compliance with these covenants as of these measurement dates and has agreed that the maximum consolidated leverage ratio covenant will not be tested at the June 30, 2017 measurement date. The agreement governing the Revolving Credit Facility contains events of default including, without limitation, nonpayment of principal, interest or other obligations, violation of covenants, misrepresentation, cross-default to other debt, bankruptcy and other insolvency events, judgments, certain ERISA events, certain changes of control of the Company, termination of, or modification to materially reduce the scope of the services required to be provided under, certain agreements with FedEx, and the occurrence of a material adverse effect upon the Company and the other borrowers as a whole. Except as indicated above, the Company was in compliance with covenants under the Revolving Credit Facility at March 31, 2017.

 

 

The Company is exposed to changes in interest rates on its revolving credit facility. If the LIBOR interest rate had been increased by one percentage point, based on the weighted average balance outstanding for the year, the change in annual interest expense would have been approximately $114,000.

 

On May 2, 2017, the Company and certain of its subsidiaries entered into an amendment to the agreement governing the Revolving Credit Facility to establish a separate $2.4 million term loan facility under that agreement (the “Term Loan”). Each of the Company and such subsidiaries are obligors with respect to the Term Loan, which matures on May 1, 2018, with equal $200,000 installments of principal due monthly, commencing June 1, 2017. Interest on the Term Loan is payable monthly at a per annum rate equal to 25 basis points above the interest rate applicable to the Revolving Credit Facility. The proceeds of the Term Loan were used to fund the acquisition of the AirCo business. The Term Loan is secured by the existing collateral securing borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility, including such acquired assets. The amendment also provided that the consolidated asset coverage ratio covenant will not be measured for the fiscal quarters ending June 30, 2017, September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2017.

 

Pursuant to an amendment to the agreement governing the Revolving Credit Facility that became effective as of June 28, 2017, the interest rates on the revolving loans and Term Loan made under the Revolving Credit Facility were each increased by an additional 0.25% per annum from the date of the amendment until the second business day after delivery of a compliance certificate for the quarter ending March 31, 2017 or any subsequent fiscal quarter end showing compliance with the financial covenants required under the Revolving Credit Facility, other than with respect to covenants as to which compliance had been waived. The lender has also waived the default under the agreement governing the Revolving Credit Facility that arose from the Company’s failure to deliver consolidated financial statements and compliance certificates at and for the respective periods ended March 31, 2017 and June 30, 2017.

 

On October 31, 2016, the Company and its subsidiaries, MAC, GGS, CSA, GAS, ATGL, Jet Yard and Stratus Aero entered into a Loan Agreement dated as of October 31, 2016, (the “Construction Loan Agreement”) with the lender to borrow up to $1,480,000 to finance the acquisition and development of the Company’s new corporate headquarters facility to be located in Denver, North Carolina. Under the Construction Loan Agreement, the Company may make monthly drawings to fund construction costs until October 2017. Borrowings under the Construction Loan Agreement bear interest at the same rate charged under the Revolving Credit Facility. Monthly interest payments began in November 2016. Monthly principal payments (based on a 25-year amortization schedule) are to commence in November 2017, with the final payment of the remaining principal balance due in October 2026. Borrowings under the Construction Loan Agreement are secured by a mortgage on the new headquarters facility and a collateral assignment of the Company’s rights in life insurance policies with respect to certain former executives, as well as the same collateral securing borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility. At March 31, 2017, outstanding borrowings under the Construction Loan were $562,000.

 

In connection with and upon consummation of the Contrail Aviation acquisition in July 2016, Contrail Aviation entered into a Credit Agreement (the “Contrail Credit Agreement”) with a bank lender. The Contrail Credit Agreement provided for revolving credit borrowings by Contrail Aviation in an amount up to the lesser of $12,000,000 or a borrowing base. The borrowing base was computed monthly and was equal to the sum of 75% of the value of eligible inventory (up to a maximum of $9,000,000) and 80% of outstanding eligible accounts receivable. The borrowing base at March 31, 2017 was $3.2 million, and the outstanding principal balance of borrowings under the Contrail Credit Agreement were $0 as of that date. Borrowings under the Contrail Credit Agreement bear interest at a rate equal to one-month LIBOR plus 2.80%, and mature in January 2018. The obligations of Contrail Aviation under the Contrail Credit Agreement were required to be guaranteed by each of its subsidiaries (if any), and were (and the guaranty obligations of any such subsidiary guarantors were required to be) secured by a first-priority security interest in substantially all of the assets of Contrail Aviation and any such subsidiary guarantors, as applicable (including, without limitation, accounts receivable, equipment, inventory and other goods, intellectual property, contract rights and other general intangibles, cash, deposit accounts, equity interests in subsidiaries and joint ventures, investment property, documents and instruments, real property, and proceeds of the foregoing). The obligations of Contrail Aviation under the Contrail Credit Agreement were also guaranteed by the Company, with such guaranty limited in amount to a maximum of $1,600,000, plus interest on such amount at the rate of interest in effect under the Contrail Credit Agreement, plus costs of collection.

 

The Contrail Credit Agreement contained affirmative and negative covenants, including covenants that restricted the ability of Contrail Aviation and its subsidiaries to, among other things, incur or guarantee indebtedness, incur liens, dispose of assets, engage in mergers and consolidations, make acquisitions or other investments, make changes in the nature of its business, and engage in transactions with affiliates. The Contrail Credit Agreement also contained financial covenants applicable to Contrail Aviation and its subsidiaries, including a minimum debt service coverage ratio of 1.75 to 1.0, a maximum ratio of total liabilities to tangible net worth of 2.5 to 1.0, and a $10,000 limitation on annual operating lease payments. At March 31, 2017, Contrail Aviation was in compliance with its bank covenants.

 

 

On May 5, 2017, Contrail Aviation entered into a loan agreement (the “Contrail Loan Agreement”) with a different bank lender to replace the Contrail Credit Agreement described above. The Contrail Loan Agreement provides for revolving credit borrowings by Contrail Aviation in an amount up to $15,000,000, with the available borrowing amount not limited by a borrowing base, though the Contrail Loan Agreement provides that the lender is not obligated to advance loans under the Contrail Loan Agreement if there occurs a material adverse change in Contrail Aviation’s or Air T’s financial condition or in the value of any collateral securing the loans made thereunder and an annual appraisal of inventory is required. Borrowings under the Contrail Loan Agreement bear interest at an annual rate equal to one-month LIBOR plus 3.00%.

 

The obligations of Contrail Aviation under the Contrail Loan Agreement are secured by a first-priority security interest in substantially all of the assets of Contrail Aviation and are also guaranteed by Air T, with such guaranty limited in amount to a maximum of $1,600,000, plus interest on such amount at the rate of interest in effect under the Contrail Loan Agreement, plus costs of collection. The Contrail Loan Agreement contains affirmative and negative covenants, including covenants that restrict Contrail Aviation’s ability to make acquisitions or investments, make certain changes to its capital structure, and engage in any business substantially different that it presently conducts. The Contrail Loan Agreement also contains financial covenants applicable to Contrail Aviation, including maintenance of a Cash Flow Coverage Ratio of 2.0 to 1.0, a Tangible Net Worth of not less than $3,500,000, and a Debt Service Coverage Ratio of 1.1 to 1.0, as such terms are defined in the Contrail Loan Agreement.

 

The Contrail Loan Agreement contains events of default including, without limitation, nonpayment of principal, interest or other obligations, violation of covenants, if both Contrail Aviation’s current Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer cease to oversee day-to-day operations of Contrail Aviation, cross-default to other debt, bankruptcy and other insolvency events, actual or asserted invalidity of loan documentation, or material adverse changes in Contrail Aviation’s financial condition.

 

The Contrail Loan Agreement provides that all loan proceeds are to be used solely for Contrail Aviation’s business operations, unless specifically consented to the contrary by lender in writing. Accordingly, without the written consent of the lender, borrowings under the Contrail Loan Agreement are not a source of liquidity to Air T or any subsidiary of Air T other than Contrail Aviation.

 

Following is a table of changes in cash flow for the respective years ended March 31, 2017 and 2016:

 

		Year Ended March 31,
		2017				2016
Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Operating Activities		$	(7,554,000	)		$	3,215,000
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities			(3,700,000	)			(5,266,000	)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities			8,688,000				(5,994,000	)
Effect of foreign currency exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents			(16,000	)			2,000
Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents		$	(2,582,000	)		$	(8,043,000	)

 

 

Cash used in operating activities in fiscal year 2017 reflected a change of $10,769,000 compared to fiscal 2016 cash flow provided by operations principally due to the change in inventory and accounts receivable.

 

Cash used in investing activities was $1,566,000 less in fiscal 2017 primarily due a change in the Company’s marketable securities and business acquisition activities between the two fiscal years.

 

Cash provided by financing activities in fiscal year 2017 reflected a change of $14,682,000 compared to the cash used for such activities in prior year period due primarily to $17,910,000 in borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility in the current-year period, offset by the use of $7,917,000 for the repurchase of 329,738 shares of common stock effected by the Company on July 1, 2016. Cash used in financing activities in 2017 was also affected by a net $1,864,000 repayment of Delphax’s senior credit facility. As of March 31, 2016, no amounts were outstanding under Air T, Inc.’s Revolving Credit Facility. Delphax had outstanding borrowings of approximately $1,833,000 under its senior credit facility as of March 31, 2016.

 

 

In June 2016, the Company acquired land and entered into an agreement to construct a new corporate headquarters facility in Denver, North Carolina for an aggregate amount of approximately $1.9 million. Construction of the facility has been completed and the Company relocated its corporate headquarters to this facility on July 31, 2017. This facility replaced the Company’s prior headquarters which has been leased from an entity owned by certain former officers and directors at an annual rental payment of approximately $178,000. There are currently no other commitments for significant capital expenditures.

 

In May 2014, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted a policy to discontinue the payment of a regularly scheduled annual cash dividend.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

The Company defines an off-balance sheet arrangement as any transaction, agreement or other contractual arrangement involving an unconsolidated entity under which a Company has (1) made guarantees, (2) a retained or a contingent interest in transferred assets, (3) an obligation under derivative instruments classified as equity, or (4) any obligation arising out of a material variable interest in an unconsolidated entity that provides financing, liquidity, market risk or credit risk support to the Company, or that engages in leasing, hedging, or research and development arrangements with the Company. The Company is not currently engaged in the use of any of these arrangements.

 

Impact of Inflation

 

The Company believes that inflation has not had a material effect on its manufacturing operations, because increased costs to date have been passed on to its customers. Under the terms of its overnight air cargo business contracts the major cost components of its operations, consisting principally of fuel, crew and other direct operating costs, and certain maintenance costs are reimbursed by its customer. Significant increases in inflation rates could, however, have a material impact on future revenue and operating income.

 

Seasonality

 

GGS’s business has historically been seasonal, with the revenues and operating income typically being lower in the first and fourth fiscal quarters as commercial deicers are typically delivered prior to the winter season. The Company had worked to reduce GGS’s seasonal fluctuation in revenues and earnings by increasing military and international sales and broadening its product line to increase revenues and earnings throughout the year. In July 2009, GGS was awarded a new contract to supply deicing trucks to the USAF, which expired in July 2014. On May 15, 2014, GGS was awarded a new contract to supply deicing trucks to the USAF. The initial contract award is for two years through July 13, 2016 with four additional one-year extension options that may be exercised by the USAF, the first of which was exercised, extending the contract term to July 13, 2017. The value of the contract, as well as the number of units to be delivered, depends upon annual requirements and available funding to the USAF. Although GGS has retained the USAF deicer contract, orders under the contract have not been sufficient to offset the seasonal trend for commercial sales. As a result, GGS revenues and operating income have resumed their seasonal nature. Our other reporting segments are not susceptible to seasonal trends.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

The Company’s significant accounting policies are more fully described in Note 1 of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8. The preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires the use of estimates and assumptions to determine certain assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. Management bases these estimates and assumptions upon the best information available at the time of the estimates or assumptions. The Company’s estimates and assumptions could change materially as conditions within and beyond our control change. Accordingly, actual results could differ materially from estimates. The Company believes that the following are its most significant accounting policies:

 

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts. An allowance for doubtful accounts receivable is established based on management’s estimates of the collectability of accounts receivable. The required allowance is determined using information such as customer credit history, industry information, credit reports, customer financial condition and the collectability of outstanding receivables. The estimates can be affected by changes in the financial strength of the aviation industry, customer credit issues or general economic conditions.

 

 

Inventories. The Company’s inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market. Provisions for excess and obsolete inventories are based on assessment of the marketability of slow-moving and obsolete inventories. Historical parts usage, current period sales, estimated future demand and anticipated transactions between willing buyers and sellers provide the basis for estimates. Estimates are subject to volatility and can be affected by reduced equipment utilization, existing supplies of used inventory available for sale, the retirement of aircraft or ground equipment, changes in the financial strength of the aviation industry, and market developments impacting both legacy and next-generation products and services of our printing equipment and maintenance segment.

 

Warranty Reserves. The Company warranties its ground equipment products for up to a three-year period from date of sale. Product warranty reserves are recorded at time of sale based on the historical average warranty cost and are adjusted as actual warranty cost becomes known. Delphax warranties its equipment for a period of 90 days commencing with installation, except in the European Union, where it is generally one year from product shipment date. Similarly, Delphax warranties spare parts and supplies for a period of 90 days from shipment date. These warranty reserves are reviewed quarterly and adjustments are made based on actual claims experience in order to properly estimate the amounts necessary to settle future and existing claims.

 

Income Taxes. Income taxes have been provided using the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax laws and rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

 

Revenue Recognition. The Company recognizes revenue when it is earned. This occurs when services have been rendered or products are shipped to the customer in accordance with the terms of an agreement of sale, there is a fixed or determinable selling price, title and risk of loss have been transferred, and collectability is reasonably assured. Revenues from our Overnight Air Cargo segment are generally recognized as flight operation and maintenance services are provided or, in the case of certain pass-through costs for things like maintenance parts and fuel, as the Company incurs the related expenditure. Within the Company’s Ground Equipment Sales segment, revenues are generally recognized at the time the related equipment has been shipped to the customer and risk of loss has transferred. In the case of certain contracts with the U.S. Government or related prime contractors, the Company applies contract accounting and uses either the percentage-of-completion or completed contract method, as appropriate. Revenues of our Ground Support Services segment are generally recognized as the contracted services are completed. Substantially all Printing Equipment and Maintenance segment revenues are recognized upon product shipment, which is generally when transfer to the customer of loss occurs. Service revenue is recognized upon completion of services. Similarly, Commercial Jet Engines and Parts segment revenues are recognized upon shipment of parts and transfer of loss or, as applicable, upon completion of services. Leasing revenues are recognized consistent with contract terms and are generally recognized on a straight-line basis due to the operating lease classification of the underlying leases.

 

Although infrequent, the Company does occasionally enter into customer arrangements that involve the delivery of multiple elements. For any such arrangements, the Company applies the applicable accounting guidance in order to identify the individual accounting elements and to determine the most appropriate revenue recognition model for such elements.

 

We evaluate gross versus net presentation on revenues from products or services purchased and resold in accordance with the revenue recognition criteria outlined in Codification section 605-45, Principal Agent Considerations.

 

Business Combinations. The Company accounts for business combinations in accordance with FASB Codification Section 805 (“ASC 805”) Business Combinations. Consistent with ASC 805, the Company accounts for each business combination by applying the acquisition method. Under the acquisition method, the Company records the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their respective fair values on the acquisition date. Goodwill is recognized for the excess of the purchase consideration over the fair value of identifiable net assets acquired. Included in purchase consideration is the estimated acquisition date fair value of any earn-out obligation incurred. For business combinations where non-controlling interests remain after the acquisition, assets (including goodwill) and liabilities of the acquired business are recorded at the full fair value and the portion of the acquisition date fair value attributable to non-controlling interests is recorded as a separate line item within the equity section or, as applicable to redeemable non-controlling interests, between the liabilities and equity sections of the Company’s consolidated balance sheet.

 

 

The acquisition method permits the Company a period of time after the acquisition date during which the Company may adjust the provisional amounts recognized in a business combination. This period of time is referred to as the “measurement period”. The measurement period provides an acquirer with a reasonable time to obtain the information necessary to identify and measure the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. If the initial accounting for a business combination is incomplete by the end of the reporting period in which the combination occurs, the Company reports in its consolidated financial statements provisional amounts for the items for which the accounting is incomplete. Under accounting standards in effect as of the Company’s acquisition of interests in Delphax, the Company had two alternatives available to account for subsequent adjustments to the provisional amounts recognized at the acquisition date to reflect new information obtained about facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date that, if known, would have affected the measurement of the amounts recognized as of that date. Under the first method, which will no longer be an available option beginning with the Company’s first fiscal 2017 quarter, the Company would retrospectively adjust the provisional amounts recognized at the acquisition date to reflect new information obtained. Under the second method, which will be the only allowed method beginning with the Company’s first fiscal 2017 quarter, the Company is required to recognize adjustments to the provisional amounts, with a corresponding adjustment to goodwill, in the reporting period in which the adjustments to the provisional amounts are determined. Thus, the Company would adjust its consolidated financial statements as needed, including recognizing in its current-period earnings the full effect of changes in depreciation, amortization, or other income effects, by line item, if any, as a result of the change to the provisional amounts calculated as if the accounting had been completed at the acquisition date. The Company has adopted the second of the two above-described methods.

 

Income statement activity of an acquired business is reflected within the Company’s consolidated statements of income (loss) commencing with the date of acquisition. Amounts for pre-acquisition periods are excluded.

 

Acquisition-related costs are costs the Company incurs to effect a business combination. Those costs may include such items as finder’s fees; advisory, legal, accounting, valuation, and other professional or consulting fees, and general administrative costs. The Company accounts for such acquisition-related costs as expenses in the period in which the costs are incurred and the services are received.

 

Changes in estimate of the fair value of earn-out obligations subsequent to the acquisition date are not accounted for as part of the acquisition but are rather recognized in directly in earnings.

 

Redeemable Non-Controlling Interest. As more fully described in Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company is party to a put/call option agreement concerning the non-controlling ownership interest held in the Company’s consolidated subsidiary, Contrail Aviation. The put/call option permits Contrail Aviation, at any time after the fifth anniversary of the Company’s acquisition of Contrail Aviation, to purchase the non-controlling interest from the holder of such interest. The agreement also permits the holder of the non-controlling interest to sell such interest to Contrail Aviation. Per the agreement, the price is to be agreed upon by the parties or, failing such agreement, to be determined pursuant to third-party appraisals in a process specified in the agreement. Applicable accounting guidance requires an equity instrument that is redeemable for cash or other assets to be classified outside of permanent equity if it is redeemable (a) at a fixed or determinable price on a fixed or determinable date, (b) at the option of the holder, or (c) upon the occurrence of an event that is not solely within the control of the issuer. Based on this guidance, the Company has classified the Contrail Aviation non-controlling interest between the liabilities and equity sections of the accompanying March 31, 2017 consolidated balance sheet. If an equity instrument subject to the guidance is currently redeemable, the instrument is adjusted to its maximum redemption amount at the balance sheet date. If the equity instrument subject to the guidance is not currently redeemable but it is probable that the equity instrument will become redeemable (for example, when the redemption depends solely on the passage of time), the guidance permits either of the following measurement methods: (a) accrete changes in the redemption value over the period from the date of issuance (or from the date that it becomes probable that the instrument will become redeemable, if later) to the earliest redemption date of the instrument using an appropriate methodology, or (b) recognize changes in the redemption value immediately as they occur and adjust the carrying amount of the instrument to equal the redemption value at the end of each reporting period. The amount presented in temporary equity should be no less than the initial amount reported in temporary equity for the instrument. Because the Contrail Aviation equity instrument will become redeemable solely based on the passage of time, the Company determined that it is probable that the Contrail Aviation equity instrument will become redeemable. Company has elected to apply the first of the two measurement options described above. An adjustment to the carrying amount of a non-controlling interest from the application of the above guidance does not impact net income or comprehensive income in the consolidated financial statements. Rather, such adjustments are treated as equity transactions.

 

 

Attribution of Net Income or Loss of Partially-Owned Consolidated Entities. In the case of Delphax, we determined that the attribution of net income or loss should be based on consideration of all of Air T’s investments in Delphax and Delphax Canada. Our investment in the Warrant provides that in the event that dividends are paid on the common stock of Delphax, the holder of the Warrant is entitled to participate in such dividends on a ratable basis as if the Warrant had been fully exercised and the shares of Series B Preferred Stock acquired upon such exercise had been converted into shares of Delphax common stock. This provision would have entitled Air T, Inc. to approximately 67% of any Delphax dividends paid, with the remaining 33% paid to the non-controlling interests. We concluded that this was a substantive distribution right which should be considered in the attribution of Delphax net income or loss to non-controlling interests. We furthermore concluded that our investment in the debt of Delphax should be considered in attribution. Specifically, Delphax’s net losses are attributed first to our Series B Preferred Stock and Warrant investments and to the non-controlling interest (67% /33%) until such amounts are reduced to zero. Additional losses are then fully attributed to our debt investments until they too are reduced to zero. This sequencing reflects the relative priority of debt to equity. Any further losses are then attributed to Air T and the non-controlling interests based on the initial 67% / 33% share. Delphax net income is attributed using a backwards-tracing approach with respect to previous losses. The effect of interest expense arising under the Senior Subordinated Note and, since January 6, 2017, under the Delphax Senior Credit Agreement, and other intercompany transactions, are reflected in the attribution of Delphax net income or losses to non-controlling interests because Delphax is a variable interest entity. Application of this methodology resulted in attribution of 33% of Delphax net losses to the non-controlling interests for the fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016, attribution of 32% of Delphax’s net losses to the non-controlling interests, for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2016, attribution of 33% of Delphax’s losses to the non-controlling interests for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2016, attribution of Delphax’s net income to the non-controlling interests for the fiscal quarter December 31, 2016, and attribution of 2% of Delphax net losses to the non-controlling interests for the quarter ended March 31, 2017. As a result, 33% of Delphax net losses were attributed to the non-controlling interests for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016 and 30% of Delphax’s net losses were attributed to the non-controlling interests for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017.

 

The above-described attribution methodology applies only to our investments in Delphax. We establish the appropriate attribution methodology on an entity-specific basis. In the case of Contrail Aviation, we concluded that an attribution methodology based solely on equity ownership percentages was appropriate.

 

Goodwill.  The Company tests goodwill for impairment at least once annually. An impairment test will also be carried out anytime events or changes in circumstances indicate that goodwill might be impaired. Goodwill is tested for impairment at a level of reporting referred to as a reporting unit. The applicable accounting standards provide for two methods to assess goodwill for possible impairment, one qualitative and the other a two-step quantitative method. The Company is permitted to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not (this is, a likelihood of more than 50 percent) that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value, including goodwill. In qualitatively evaluating whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, the Company assesses relevant events and circumstances such as macroeconomic conditions, industry and market developments, cost factors, and the overall financial performance of the reporting unit. If, after assessing these events and circumstances, it is determined that it is not more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then the first and second steps of the quantitative goodwill impairment test are unnecessary. In the first step of the quantitative method, recoverability of goodwill is evaluated by estimating the fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill using multiple techniques, including a discounted cash flow model income approach and a market approach. The estimated fair value is then compared to the carrying value of the reporting unit. If the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value, a second step is performed to determine the amount of impairment loss, if any. The second step requires allocation of the reporting unit’s fair value to all of its assets and liabilities using the acquisition method prescribed under authoritative guidance for business combinations. Any residual fair value is allocated to goodwill. Impairment losses, limited to the carrying value of goodwill, represent the excess of the carrying amount of goodwill over its implied fair value.

 

Long-lived Assets. Long-lived assets are tested for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. Factors which may cause an impairment include extended operating cash flow losses from the assets and management's decisions regarding the future use of assets. To conduct impairment testing, the Company groups assets and liabilities at the lowest level for which identifiable cash is largely independent of cash flows of other assets and liabilities. For assets that are to be held and used, impairment is recognized when the estimated undiscounted cash flows associated with an asset group is less than the carrying value. In the event it is determined that the carrying values of long-lived assets are in excess of the estimated undiscounted cash flows from those assets, the Company then will write-down the value of the assets by such excess. Fair values are determined considering quoted market values, discounted cash flows or internal and external appraisals, as applicable.

 

 

Marketable Securities.  On a quarterly basis, the Company reviews marketable securities for declines in market value that may be considered other than temporary.  Market value declines are considered to be other than temporary based on the length of time and the magnitude of the amount of each security that is in an unrealized loss position. The Company also consider the nature of the underlying investments and other market conditions or when other evidence indicates impairment. If the Company determines that an investment has other than a temporary decline in fair value, the Company recognizes the investment loss in non-operating income, net in the accompanying consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss). 

 

Going Concern. The Company applies Codification section 205-40 Presentation of Financial Statements – Going Concern, which became effective for the Company’s fiscal year ended March 31, 2017. In connection with preparing its consolidated financial statements, Company management evaluates whether there are conditions and events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the consolidated financial statements are available to be issued.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). ASU 2014-09 is a comprehensive new revenue recognition model that requires a company to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to a customer at an amount that reflects the consideration it expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments and assets recognized from costs incurred to obtain or fulfill a contract. ASU 2014-09 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017 (our fiscal year 2019) with earlier adoption permitted for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. ASU 2014-09 may be applied using either a full retrospective approach, under which all years included in the financial statements will be presented under the revised guidance, or a modified retrospective approach, under which financial statements will be prepared under the revised guidance for the year of adoption, but not for prior years. Under the latter method, entities would recognize a cumulative catch-up adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings at the effective date for contracts that still require performance by the entity, and disclose all line items in the year of adoption as if they were prepared under the old revenue guidance.

 

The Company is currently evaluating the methods of adoption allowed by the new standard and the effect the standard is expected to have on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows and related disclosures. Because our evaluation is not complete, we have not yet quantified and, accordingly, are not able to make a reasonable estimate of the impact of the new revenue standard on our consolidated financial statements at this time. We anticipate completing our evaluation during the second or third quarter of fiscal year 2018.

 

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11, Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory (Topic 330). This standard amends existing guidance to simplify the measurement of inventory by requiring certain inventory to be measured at the lower of cost or net realizable value. The amendment in ASU 2015-11 is for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. The amendment should be applied prospectively with earlier application permitted as of the beginning of an interim or annual reporting period. The Company does not expect the impact of adopting ASU 2015-11 to be material to the Company's consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

 

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-17, Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes (Topic 740). This standard eliminates the current requirement to present deferred tax liabilities and assets as current and noncurrent in a classified balance sheet. Under this new guidance, entities will be required to classify all deferred tax assets and liabilities as noncurrent. This guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016 with earlier adoption permitted. This amendment will not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.  

 

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, that amends the guidance on the classification and measurement of financial instruments (Subtopic 825-10). ASU 2016-01 becomes effective in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods therein. ASU 2016-01 removes equity securities from the scope of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 320 and creates ASC Topic 321, Investments – Equity Securities. Under the new guidance, all equity securities with readily determinable fair values are measured at fair value on the statement of financial position, with changes in fair value recorded through earnings. The update eliminates the option to record changes in the fair value of equity securities through other comprehensive income. The Company is evaluating the impact of the adoption of the standard on its consolidated financial statements. The Company currently has investments in available of sale securities and the fair value changes of such securities are, other than in the case of possible other-than-temporary impairments, currently reflected in other comprehensive income. Provided that the Company continues to hold available for sale securities after adoption of the amended guidance, earnings are likely to become more volatile.

 

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The new standard establishes a right-of-use (“ROU”) model that requires a lessee to record a ROU asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with terms longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition. Similarly, lessors will be required to classify leases as either sales-type, finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of income recognition. Classification for both lessees and lessors will be based on an assessment of whether risks and rewards as well as substantive control have been transferred through a lease contract. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. A modified retrospective transition approach is required for leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the consolidated financial statements, with certain practical expedients available. The Company is evaluating the impact of the adoption of the standard on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which addresses several aspects of the accounting for employee share-based payment transactions, including the accounting for income taxes, forfeitures, and statutory tax withholding requirements, as well as classification in the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-9 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and earlier adoption is permitted. The new standard requires that an entity recognize all excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies as income tax expense or benefit in the income statement as discrete items in the reporting period in which they occur. Under the previous standard, excess tax benefits are recognized in additional paid-in capital and tax deficiencies are recognized either as an offset to accumulated excess tax benefits, or in the income statement. This accounting guidance will be effective for the Company beginning with its 2018 fiscal year. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this new guidance.

 

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. This standard significantly changes how entities will measure credit losses for most financial assets and certain other instruments that are not measured at fair value through net income, including trade receivables. The standard requires an entity to estimate its lifetime “expected credit loss” for such assets at inception, and record an allowance that, when deducted from the amortized cost basis of the financial asset, presents the net amount expected to be collected on the financial asset. Early adoption is permitted for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods therein. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of the standard on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

 

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. ASU 2016-15 clarifies how cash receipts and cash payments in certain transactions are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. The effective date of this update is for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. The update requires retrospective application to all periods presented but may be applied prospectively if retrospective application is impracticable. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of the standard on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

 

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Restricted Cash (Topic 230). ASU 2016-18 requires that the statement of cash flows explain the changes in the combined total of restricted and unrestricted cash balance. Amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents will be combined with unrestricted cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning and end of period balances on the statement of cash flows. Further, the ASU requires a reconciliation of balances from the statement of cash flows to the balance sheet in situations in which the balance sheet includes more than one line item of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash. Companies will also be disclosing the nature of the restrictions. ASU 2016-18 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the standard on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

 

 

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-1, Clarifying the Definition of a Business (Topic 805). This ASU clarifies the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. The guidance is effective for fiscal years that begin after December 15, 2017 and is to be applied prospectively. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-4, Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment (Topic 350). This ASU simplifies how an entity is required to test goodwill for impairment by eliminating Step Two from the goodwill impairment test. Step Two measures a goodwill impairment loss by comparing the implied fair value of a reporting unit’s goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. Under this standard, an entity will recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value. The standard is effective for any interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and is to be applied prospectively. Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017. The Company is currently evaluating the effects that the adoption of this ASU will have on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-7, Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost (Topic 715). This ASU requires that an employer report the service cost component in the same line item or items as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by the pertinent employees during the period. The other components of net benefit cost, which include interest cost and prior service cost or credit, among others, are required to be presented in the income statement separately from the service cost component and outside a subtotal of income from operations, if one is presented. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those annual periods, and is to be applied retrospectively for the classification of pension costs on the income statement and prospectively for the criteria on capitalization of certain costs. The Company is currently evaluating the effects that the adoption of this ASU will have on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09 that provides guidance on determining which changes to the terms and conditions of share-based payment awards require an entity to apply modification accounting. This update is effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effects that the adoption of this ASU will have on its consolidated financial statements. The Company has not yet concluded how the new standard will impact the consolidated financial statements.

 

Forward Looking Statements

 

Certain statements in this Report, including those contained in “Overview,” are “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business. Forward-looking statements include those preceded by, followed by or that include the words “believes”, “pending”, “future”, “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “depends” or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements, because of, among other things, potential risks and uncertainties, such as:

 

●

Economic conditions in the Company’s markets;

 

●

The risk that contracts with FedEx could be terminated or adversely modified in connection with any renewal;

 

●

The risk that the number of aircraft operated for FedEx will be further reduced;

 

●

The risk that the United States Air Force will continue to defer significant orders for deicing equipment under its contracts with GGS;

 

●

The risk that Delphax’s future operating performance will result in Air T, Inc. being unable to fully recover its investments in Delphax;

 

●

The impact of any terrorist activities on United States soil or abroad;

 

 

●

The Company’s ability to manage its cost structure for operating expenses, or unanticipated capital requirements, and match them to shifting customer service requirements and production volume levels;

 

●

The risk of injury or other damage arising from accidents involving the Company’s overnight air cargo operations, equipment or parts sold by GGS, Contrail Aviation, AirCo or Jet Yard or services provided by GAS or Jet Yard;

 

●

Market acceptance of the Company’s new commercial and military equipment and services;

 

●

Competition from other providers of similar equipment and services;

 

●

Changes in government regulation and technology;

 

●

Changes in the value of marketable securities held as investments; and

 

●

Mild winter weather conditions reducing the demand for deicing equipment.

 

A forward-looking statement is neither a prediction nor a guarantee of future events or circumstances, and those future events or circumstances may not occur. We are under no obligation, and we expressly disclaim any obligation, to update or alter any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

 

Item 8.     Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

 

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders

Air T, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Denver, North Carolina

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Air T, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of March 31, 2017, and the related consolidated statement of loss, comprehensive loss, equity and cash flows for the year then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audit.

 

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company was not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform an audit of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audit includes consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Air T, Inc. and subsidiaries as of March 31, 2017, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the year then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

 

/s/ BDO USA, LLP

 

 

Charlotte, North Carolina

October 13, 2017

 

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

 

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders

Air T, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Denver, North Carolina

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Air T, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of March 31, 2016, and the related consolidated statements of income (loss), comprehensive income (loss), equity and cash flows for the year then ended. The Company’s management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audit.

 

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Air T, Inc. and subsidiaries as of March 31, 2016 and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for the year then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

 

 

/s/ Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP

 

 

Charlotte, North Carolina

June 29, 2016, except for the effects of the restatement due to the change in accounting related to the Company’s investment in Delphax with respect to the attribution of Delphax losses, as to which the date is October 13, 2017

 

 

AIR T, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (LOSS)

 

		Year Ended March 31,
		2017				2016
Operating Revenues:
Overnight air cargo		$	69,558,334			$	68,226,891
Ground equipment sales			31,447,408				51,175,818
Ground support services			30,453,246				24,834,616
Printing equipment and maintenance			9,019,155				3,954,797
Commercial jet engines and parts			7,455,797				-
Leasing			537,719				19,816
			148,471,659				148,211,938
Operating Expenses:
Overnight air cargo			61,661,072				59,587,142
Ground equipment sales			24,350,264				38,060,345
Ground support services			25,089,412				20,752,753
Printing equipment and maintenance			9,490,906				3,611,024
Commercial jet engines and parts			4,501,030				-
Leasing			49,460				-
Research and development			1,042,496				777,942
General and administrative			22,180,477				18,139,830
Depreciation, amortization and impairment			3,181,845				1,257,207
Loss (gain) on sale of property and equipment			25,470				(5,968	)
			151,572,432				142,180,275
Operating Income (Loss)			(3,100,773	)			6,031,663
Non-operating Income (Loss):
Gain on sale of marketable securities			576,162				49,720
Foreign currency gain, net			286,596				79,654
Other-than-temporary impairment losses on investments			(2,755,318	)			-
Other investment income, net			1,345,798				73,115
Interest expense and other			(571,651	)			(80,743	)
			(1,118,413	)			121,746
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes			(4,219,186	)			6,153,409
Income Taxes			725,000				2,395,452
Net Income (Loss)			(4,944,186	)			3,757,957
Net Loss Attributable to Non-controlling Interests			1,730,647				655,953
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Air T, Inc. Stockholders		$	(3,213,539	)		$	4,413,910
Earnings (Loss) Per Share:
Basic		$	(1.51	)		$	1.86
Diluted		$	(1.51	)		$	1.84
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding:
Basic			2,125,224				2,372,527
Diluted			2,125,224				2,396,824

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

 

AIR T, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

 

		Year Ended March 31,
		2017				2016
Net Income (Loss)		$	(4,944,186	)		$	3,757,957
Other Comprehensive Loss:
Foreign currency translation loss			(309,680	)			(78,004	)
Unrealized net gains (losses) on marketable securities			(1,779,017	)			23,182
Tax effect of unrealized net (gains) losses on marketable securities			640,446				(8,346	)
Total unrealized net gain (loss) on marketable securities, net of tax			(1,138,571	)			14,836
Reclassification of other-than-temporary impairment losses on investments, net of gains on sale of marketable securities, included in income (loss) before income taxes			2,179,155				49,720
Tax effect of reclassification			(784,446	)			(17,899	)
Reclassification adjustment, net of tax			1,394,709				31,821
Total Other Comprehensive Loss			(53,542	)			(31,347	)
Total Comprehensive Income (Loss)			(4,997,728	)			3,726,610
Comprehensive Loss Attributable to Non-controlling Interests			1,712,660				681,694
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Air T, Inc. Stockholders		$	(3,285,068	)		$	4,408,304

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

 

AIR T, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

		March 31, 2017				March 31, 2016
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents (Delphax $328,327 and $249,528)*		$	2,763,365			$	5,345,455
Marketable securities			2,130,544				4,944,572
Restricted cash			890,369				820,651
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $979,000 and $426,000 (Delphax $1,728,411 and $1,433,494)*			18,923,787				12,303,128
Notes and other receivables-current			2,297,007				592,721
Income tax receivable			402,688				719,899
Inventories, net (Delphax $1,941,729 and $4,642,298)*			19,778,843				12,274,104
Deferred income taxes			-				291,000
Prepaid expenses and other (Delphax $932,794 and $1,034,067)*			1,672,475				1,668,004
Total Current Assets			48,859,078				38,959,534
Investments in available-for-sale securities			2,463,123				4,711,343
Property and equipment, net (Delphax $8,007 and $625,684)*			5,324,488				4,577,774
Cash surrender value of life insurance policies			2,251,450				2,100,057
Notes and other receivables-long-term			66,771				103,996
Deferred income taxes			204,000				-
Other assets (Delphax $0 and $26,020)*			371,975				317,528
Intangible assets, net (Delphax $0 and $1,109,112)*			1,376,699				1,109,112
Goodwill (Delphax $0 and $275,408)*			4,417,605				275,408
Total Assets		$	65,335,189			$	52,154,752
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable (Delphax $2,482,578 and $1,684,802)*		$	11,571,156			$	7,003,660
Income tax payable (Delphax $11,312 and $11,312)*			-				11,312
Accrued expenses (Delphax $3,602,162 and $1,926,340)*			8,672,815				6,842,874
Short-term debt (Delphax $0 and $1,859,300)*			25,000				1,859,300
Total Current Liabilities			20,268,971				15,717,146
Long-term debt (Delphax $0 and $4,835)*			18,412,521				4,835
Deferred income taxes			8,000				546,000
Other non-current liabilities (Delphax $0 and $606,358)*			3,039,402				615,241
Total Liabilities			41,728,894				16,883,222
Redeemable non-controlling interest			1,443,901				-
Commitments and contingencies (Notes 8, 11, and 22)
Equity:
Air T, Inc. Stockholders' Equity:
Preferred stock, $1.00 par value, 50,000 shares authorized			-				-
Common stock, $.25 par value; 4,000,000 shares authorized, 2,042,789 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2017, 2,372,527 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2016			510,696				593,131
Additional paid-in capital			4,205,536				4,956,171
Retained earnings			18,461,347				28,821,825
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(212,047	)			(140,519	)
Total Air T, Inc. Stockholders' Equity			22,965,532				34,230,608
Non-controlling Interests			(803,138	)			1,040,922
Total Equity			22,162,394				35,271,530
Total Liabilities and Equity		$	65,335,189			$	52,154,752

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

* Amounts related to Delphax as of March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

 

 

AIR T, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

		Year Ended March 31,
		2017				2016
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income (loss)		$	(4,944,186	)		$	3,757,957
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Gain on sale of marketable securities			(576,162	)			(49,720	)
Gain (loss) on sale of property and equipment			25,470				(5,968	)
Change in inventory reserves			2,188,192				(945,354	)
Change in accounts receivable reserves			194,286				482,915
Depreciation, amortization and impairment			3,181,845				1,257,207
Change in cash surrender value of life insurance			(151,393	)			(109,386	)
Deferred income taxes			(659,000	)			90,484
Warranty reserve			(15,173	)			140,768
Other-than-temporary impairment loss on investments			2,755,318				-
Compensation expense related to stock options			-				29,334
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable			(5,524,446	)			(1,530,289	)
Notes receivable and other non-trade receivables			(1,600,290	)			119,889
Inventories			(7,845,801	)			(877,993	)
Prepaid expenses and other assets			(129,532	)			(422,547	)
Accounts payable			4,146,921				605,940
Accrued expenses			1,618,100				1,217,786
Income taxes payable/ receivable			306,900				(524,900	)
Non-current liabilities			(525,143	)			(21,606	)
Total adjustments			(2,609,908	)			(543,440	)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities			(7,554,094	)			3,214,517
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of marketable securities			(2,719,369	)			(4,481,030	)
Proceeds from sale of marketable securities			6,002,601				226,759
Business combinations, net of cash acquired			(4,573,700	)			78,000
Capital expenditures			(2,346,431	)			(1,246,071	)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment			6,281				200,634
Increase in restricted cash			(69,718	)			(44,298	)
Net cash used in investing activities			(3,700,336	)			(5,266,006	)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from line of credit			68,275,140				14,296,108
Payments on line of credit			(49,805,658	)			(19,302,273	)
Proceeds from line of credit - Delphax			5,387,338				1,832,600
Payments of debt - Delphax			(7,251,473	)			(2,827,609	)
Stock repurchase			(7,917,009	)			-
Proceeds from funding of lease			-				7,428
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			8,688,338				(5,993,746	)
Effect of foreign currency exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents			(15,998	)			1,923
NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS			(2,582,090	)			(8,043,312	)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR			5,345,455				13,388,767
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF YEAR		$	2,763,365			$	5,345,455
SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE OF NON-CASH INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Finished goods inventory transferred to equipment leased to customers		$	272,622			$	1,288,474
Non-controlling interests in acquired business			1,312,501				1,712,935
Acquired business earnout contracts and payable			3,016,667				-
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Cash paid during the year for:
Interest		$	298,150			$	47,052
Income taxes			1,092,679				2,827,000

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

 

AIR T, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY

 

		Equity
		Air T, Inc. Stockholders' Equity
																		Accumulated
		Common Stock								Additional								Other
										Paid-In				Retained				Comprehensive				Non-controlling				Total
		Shares				Amount				Capital				Earnings				Income (Loss)				Interests				Equity
Balance, March 31, 2015			2,372,527			$	593,131			$	4,929,090			$	24,407,915			$	(134,913	)		$	-			$	29,795,223
Initial consolidation of Delphax			-				-				-				-				-				1,712,935				1,712,935
Net income (loss)			-				-				-				4,413,910				-				(655,953	)			3,757,957
Net change from marketable securities, net of tax			-				-				-				-				46,657				-				46,657
Foreign currency translation loss			-				-				-				-				(52,263	)			(25,741	)			(78,004	)
Funding on residual sharing agreements			-				-				7,428				-				-				-				7,428
Stock-based compensation			-				-				19,653				-				-				9,681				29,334
Balance, March 31, 2016			2,372,527			$	593,131			$	4,956,171			$	28,821,825			$	(140,519	)		$	1,040,922			$	35,271,530

 

 

 

		Equity
		Air T, Inc. Stockholders' Equity
																		Accumulated
		Common Stock								Additional								Other
										Paid-In				Retained				Comprehensive				Non-controlling				Total
		Shares				Amount				Capital				Earnings				Income (Loss)				Interests*				Equity
Balance, March 31, 2016			2,372,527			$	593,131			$	4,956,171			$	28,821,825			$	(140,519	)		$	1,040,922			$	35,271,530
Repurchase of common stock			(329,738	)			(82,435	)			(687,635	)			(7,146,939	)			-				-				(7,917,009	)
Net loss*			-				-				-				(3,213,539	)			-				(1,862,047	)			(5,075,586	)
Net change from marketable securities, net of tax			-				-				-				-				256,139				-				256,139
Foreign currency translation income (loss)			-				-				-				-				(327,667	)			17,987				(309,680	)
Stock-based compensation			-				-				(63,000	)			-				-				-				(63,000	)
Balance, March 31, 2017			2,042,789			$	510,696			$	4,205,536			$	18,461,347			$	(212,047	)		$	(803,138	)		$	22,162,394

 

*Excludes amount attributable to redeemable non-controlling interest in Contrail Aviation $131,400

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

 

AIR T, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2017 AND 2016

 

Air T, Inc. (the “Company,” “Air T,” “we” or “us”) is a decentralized holding company with ownership interests in a broad set of operating and financial assets that are designed to expand, strengthen and diversify our cash earnings power. Our goal is to build on Air T’s core businesses, to expand into adjacent industries, and when appropriate, to acquire companies that we believe fit into the Air T family.

 

We currently operate wholly owned subsidiaries in three legacy industry segments:

 

•

overnight air cargo, comprised of our Mountain Air Cargo, Inc. (“MAC”) and CSA Air, Inc. (“CSA”) subsidiaries, which operates in the air express delivery services industry;

 

•

ground equipment sales, comprised of our Global Ground Support, LLC (“GGS”) subsidiary, which manufactures and provides mobile deicers and other specialized equipment products to passenger and cargo airlines, airports, the military and industrial customers; and

 

•

ground support services, comprised of our Global Aviation Services, LLC (“GAS”) subsidiary, which provides ground support equipment maintenance and facilities maintenance services to domestic airlines and aviation service providers.

 

During the fiscal years ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, we have organized or acquired businesses operating in three other segments. In October 2015, we formed a wholly owned equipment leasing subsidiary, Air T Global Leasing, LLC (“ATGL”), which comprises our leasing segment. In November 2015, we acquired debt and equity interests in Delphax Technologies, Inc. (“Delphax”), a printing equipment manufacturer and maintenance provider, which comprises our printing equipment and maintenance segment. In July 2016, our majority owned subsidiary, Contrail Aviation Support, LLC (“Contrail Aviation”), acquired the principal assets of a business based in Verona, Wisconsin engaged in acquiring surplus commercial jet engines and components and supplying surplus and aftermarket commercial jet engine components.  In October 2016, we acquired 100% of the outstanding equity interests of Jet Yard, LLC (“Jet Yard”) to provide commercial aircraft storage, storage maintenance and aircraft disassembly/part-out services at facilities leased at the Pinal Air Park in Marana, Arizona. At March 31, 2017, Contrail Aviation and Jet Yard comprised the commercial jet engines and parts segment of the Company’s operations. This segment, formerly referred to as the commercial jet engines segment, was renamed to reflect its broader product and service offerings.

 

In March 2014, the Company formed a wholly-owned subsidiary, Space Age Insurance Company (“SAIC”), as a single parent hybrid captive insurance company to insure risks of the Company and its subsidiaries that were not previously insured by the various Company insurance programs. SAIC also underwrites third-party risks through certain reinsurance arrangements. SAIC is included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

1.	SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Principles of Consolidation – The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Contrail Aviation and Delphax. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Reclassifications - Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current period presentation. Such reclassifications had no impact on previously reported levels of consolidated net income or equity.

 

Accounting Estimates – The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported and disclosed. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Concentration of Credit Risk – The Company’s potential exposure to concentrations of credit risk consists of trade accounts and notes receivable, and bank deposits. Accounts receivable are normally due within 30 days and the Company performs periodic credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition. Notes receivable payments are normally due monthly. The required allowance for doubtful accounts is determined using information such as customer credit history, industry information, credit reports, customer financial condition and the collectability of past-due outstanding accounts receivables. The estimates can be affected by changes in the financial strength of the aviation industry, customer credit issues or general economic conditions.

 

 

At various times throughout the year, the Company had deposits with banks in excess of amounts covered by federal depository insurance and investments in corporate notes that are not covered by insurance.

 

A majority of the Company’s revenues are concentrated in the aviation industry and revenues can be materially affected by current economic conditions and the price of certain supplies such as fuel, the cost of which is passed through to the Company’s cargo customer. The Company has a customer concentration in its overnight air cargo segment which provides service to one major customer. The loss of a major customer would have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations. See Note 16 “Major Customer”.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents – Cash equivalents consist of liquid investments with maturities of three months or less when purchased.

 

Foreign Exchange - Delphax, which is headquartered in the United States, has subsidiaries in Canada, France, and the United Kingdom. The functional currency of the Delphax’s Canadian subsidiary is the U.S. dollar, whereas the functional currency of Delphax’s subsidiaries in France and the United Kingdom is the Euro and Pound Sterling, respectively. The balance sheets of foreign operations with a functional currency of other than the U.S. dollar are translated to U.S. dollars using rates of exchange as of the applicable balance sheet date. The statements of income (loss) items of foreign operations are translated to U.S. dollar using average rates of exchange for the applicable period. The gains and losses resulting from translation of the financial statements of Delphax’s foreign operations are recorded within the accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and non-controlling interests categories of the Company’s consolidated equity.

 

Goodwill - Goodwill reflects the excess of the purchase consideration in business combinations over the estimated fair value of identifiable net assets acquired. Goodwill is not amortized; rather, it is subject to a periodic assessment for impairment.

 

Business Combinations - The Company accounts for business combinations in accordance with FASB Codification Section 805 (“ASC 805”) Business Combinations. Consistent with ASC 805, the Company accounts for each business combination by applying the acquisition method. Under the acquisition method, the Company records the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their respective fair values on the acquisition date. Goodwill is recognized for the excess of the purchase consideration over the fair value of identifiable net assets acquired. Included in purchase consideration is the estimated acquisition date fair value of any earn-out obligation incurred. For business combinations where non-controlling interests remain after the acquisition, assets (including goodwill) and liabilities of the acquired business are recorded at the full fair value and the portion of the acquisition date fair value attributable to non-controlling interests is recorded as a separate line item within the equity section or, as applicable to redeemable non-controlling interests, between the liabilities and equity sections of the Company’s consolidated balance sheet.

 

The acquisition method permits the Company a period of time after the acquisition date during which the Company may adjust the provisional amounts recognized in a business combination. This period of time is referred to as the “measurement period”. The measurement period provides an acquirer with a reasonable time to obtain the information necessary to identify and measure the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. If the initial accounting for a business combination is incomplete by the end of the reporting period in which the combination occurs, the Company reports in its consolidated financial statements provisional amounts for the items for which the accounting is incomplete. Under accounting standards in effect as of the Company’s acquisition of interests in Delphax, the Company had two alternatives available to account for subsequent adjustments to the provisional amounts recognized at the acquisition date to reflect new information obtained about facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date that, if known, would have affected the measurement of the amounts recognized as of that date. Under the first method, which will no longer be an available option beginning with the Company’s first fiscal 2017 quarter, the Company would retrospectively adjust the provisional amounts recognized at the acquisition date to reflect new information obtained. Under the second method, which will be the only allowed method beginning with the Company’s first fiscal 2017 quarter, the Company is required to recognize adjustments to the provisional amounts, with a corresponding adjustment to goodwill, in the reporting period in which the adjustments to the provisional amounts are determined. Thus, the Company would adjust its consolidated financial statements as needed, including recognizing in its current-period earnings the full effect of changes in depreciation, amortization, or other income effects, by line item, if any, as a result of the change to the provisional amounts calculated as if the accounting had been completed at the acquisition date. The Company has adopted the second of the two above-described methods.

 

 

Income statement activity of an acquired business is reflected within the Company’s consolidated statements of income (loss) commencing with the date of acquisition. Amounts for pre-acquisition periods are excluded.

 

Acquisition-related costs are costs the Company incurs to effect a business combination. Those costs may include such items as finder’s fees, advisory, legal, accounting, valuation, and other professional or consulting fees, and general administrative costs. The Company accounts for such acquisition-related costs as expenses in the period in which the costs are incurred and the services are received.

 

Changes in estimate of the fair value of earn-out obligations subsequent to the acquisition date are not accounted for as part of the acquisition but are rather recognized in directly in earnings.

 

The Company tests goodwill for impairment at least once annually. An impairment test will also be carried out anytime events or changes in circumstances indicate that goodwill might be impaired. Goodwill is tested for impairment at a level of reporting referred to as a reporting unit.

 

The Company is permitted to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not (this is, a likelihood of more than 50 percent) that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value, including goodwill. In qualitatively evaluating whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, the Company assesses relevant events and circumstances such as macroeconomic conditions, industry and market developments, cost factors, and the overall financial performance of the reporting unit. If, after assessing these events and circumstances, it is determined that it is not more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then the first and second steps of the quantitative goodwill impairment test are unnecessary. In the first step of the quantitative method, recoverability of goodwill is evaluated by estimating the fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill using multiple techniques, including a discounted cash flow model income approach and a market approach. The estimated fair value is then compared to the carrying value of the reporting unit. If the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value, a second step is performed to determine the amount of impairment loss, if any. The second step requires allocation of the reporting unit’s fair value to all of its assets and liabilities using the acquisition method prescribed under authoritative guidance for business combinations. Any residual fair value is allocated to goodwill. Impairment losses, limited to the carrying value of goodwill, represent the excess of the carrying amount of goodwill over its implied fair value.

 

Intangible Assets - Amortizable intangible assets consist of acquired patents, tradenames, customer relationships, and other finite-lived identifiable intangibles. Such intangibles are initially recorded at fair value and subsequently subject to amortization. Amortization is recorded using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. In accordance with the applicable accounting guidance, the Company evaluates the recoverability of amortizable intangible assets whenever events occur that indicate potential impairment. In doing so, the Company assesses whether the carrying amount of the asset is unrecoverable by estimating the sum of the future cash flows expected to result from the asset, undiscounted and without interest charges. If the carrying amount is more than the recoverable amount, an impairment charge must be recognized based on the estimated fair value of the asset.

 

The estimated amortizable lives of the intangible assets are as follows:

 

		Years
Software			3
Tradenames			5
Certification			5
Non-compete			5
Patents			9
Customer relationships			10

 

 

Attribution of net Income or Loss of Partially-Owned Consolidated Entities - In the case of Delphax, we determined that the attribution of net income or loss should be based on consideration of all of Air T’s investments in Delphax and its subsidiary, Delphax Canada Technologies Canada Limited (“Delphax Canada”). Our investment in the Warrant provides that in the event that dividends are paid on the common stock of Delphax, the holder of the Warrant is entitled to participate in such dividends on a ratable basis as if the Warrant had been fully exercised and the shares of Series B Preferred Stock acquired upon such exercise had been converted into shares of Delphax common stock. This provision would have entitled Air T, Inc. to approximately 67% of any Delphax dividends paid, with the remaining 33% paid to the non-controlling interests. We concluded that this was a substantive distribution right which should be considered in the attribution of Delphax net income or loss to non-controlling interests. We furthermore concluded that our investment in the debt of Delphax should be considered in attribution. Specifically, Delphax’s net losses are attributed first to our Series B Preferred Stock and Warrant investments and to the non-controlling interest (67% /33%) until such amounts are reduced to zero. Additional losses are then fully attributed to our debt investments until they too are reduced to zero. This sequencing reflects the relative priority of debt to equity. Any further losses are then attributed to Air T and the non-controlling interests based on the initial 67% / 33% share. Delphax net income is attributed using a backwards-tracing approach with respect to previous losses. See Note 8, “Acquisitions—Acquisitions of Interests in Delphax,” for a description of our investments in Delphax and Delphax Canada and for the definitions of the capitalized terms used in this paragraph. The effect of interest expense arising under the Senior Subordinated Note and, since January 6, 2017, under the Delphax Senior Credit Agreement, and other intercompany transactions, are reflected in the attribution of Delphax net income or losses to non-controlling interests because Delphax is a variable interest entity.

The above-described attribution methodology applies only to our investments in Delphax. We establish the appropriate attribution methodology on an entity-specific basis. In the case of Contrail Aviation, we concluded that an attribution methodology based solely on equity ownership percentages was appropriate.

 

Marketable Securities – In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 320, Investments – Debt and Equity Securities, and based on our intentions regarding these instruments, we classify all of our marketable equity securities as available-for-sale. Marketable equity securities are reported at fair value, with all unrealized gains (losses) reflected net of tax in stockholders’ equity on our consolidated balance sheets, and as a line item in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss). If we determine that an investment has other than a temporary decline in fair value, we recognize the investment loss in non-operating income, net in the accompanying consolidated statements of income (loss). We regularly evaluate our investments for impairment using both quantitative and qualitative criteria. For equity securities, we consider the length of time and magnitude of the amount of each security that is in an unrealized loss position. Other than our investment in Insignia Systems, Inc., all of our marketable securities investments are classified as current based on the nature of the investments and their availability for use in current operations.

 

Inventories – Inventories related to the Company’s manufacturing and service operations are carried at the lower of cost (determined by use of the first in, first out method) or market. When finished goods units are leased to customers under operating leases, the units are transferred to Property and Equipment. Consistent with aviation industry practice, the Company includes expendable aircraft parts and supplies in current assets, although a certain portion of these inventories may not be used or sold within one year.

 

Property and Equipment – Property and equipment is stated initially at cost, or fair value if purchased as part of a business combination or, in the case of equipment under capital leases, the present value of future lease payments. Depreciation and amortization are provided on a straight-line basis over the asset’s useful life. Equipment leased to customers is depreciated using an accelerated method. Useful lives range from three years for computer equipment, seven years for flight equipment and ten years for deicers and other equipment leased to customers.

 

The Company assesses long-lived assets for impairment when events and circumstances indicate the assets may be impaired and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than their carrying amount. In the event it is determined that the carrying values of long-lived assets are in excess of the estimated undiscounted cash flows from those assets, the Company then will write-down the value of the assets by such excess.

 

Asset Retirement Obligation - Under the terms of a lease for a manufacturing facility in Canada, Delphax is responsible for restoring the leased property to its original condition, normal wear and tear excepted. The Company’s accounting for the acquisition of Delphax reflects an estimated asset retirement obligation (“ARO”) liability for this matter of approximately $560,000. The ARO liability was determined using the present value of the estimated facility restoration costs. Determination of this estimated liability involves significant judgment. The liability is reflected on the accompanying March 31, 2017 and 2016 consolidated balance sheets within current liabilities. The liability will be periodically adjusted to reflect revisions to estimated future costs and the accretion of interest. The liability as reflected in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet will also change with movement in the U.S. dollar to Canadian dollar exchange rate. The balance at March 31, 2017 was left unchanged compared to the amount estimated for purchase accounting because there was no change of estimate between November 24, 2015 and March 31, 2017 and because the impact of interest accretion and exchange rate movement was deemed inconsequential.

 

 

Restricted Cash — Restricted cash consists of cash held by SAIC as statutory capital reserves and cash collateral securing SAIC’s participation in certain reinsurance pools.

 

Revenue Recognition – The Company recognizes revenue when it is earned. This occurs when services have been rendered or products are shipped to the customer in accordance with the terms of an agreement of sale, there is a fixed or determinable selling price, title and risk of loss have been transferred, and collectability is reasonably assured. Revenues from our Overnight Air Cargo segment are generally recognized as flight operation and maintenance services are provided or, in the case of certain pass-through costs for things like maintenance parts and fuel, as the Company incurs the related expenditure. Within the Company’s Ground Equipment Sales segment, revenue is generally recognized at the time the related equipment has been shipped to the customer and risk of loss has been transferred. In the case of certain contracts with the U.S. Government or related prime contractors, the Company applies contract accounting and uses either the percentage-of-completion or completed contract method, as appropriate. Revenues of our Ground Support Services segment are generally recognized as the contracted services are completed. Substantially all Printing Equipment and Maintenance segment revenues are recognized upon product shipment, which is generally when transfer to the customer of loss occurs. Service revenue is recognized upon completion of services. Similarly, Commercial Jet Engines and Parts segment revenues are recognized upon shipment of parts and transfer of loss or, as applicable, upon completion of services. Leasing revenues are recognized consistent with contract terms and are generally recognized on a straight-line basis due to the operating lease classification of the underlying leases.

 

Although infrequent, the Company does occasionally enter into customer arrangements that involve the delivery of multiple elements. For any such arrangements, the Company applies the applicable accounting guidance in order to identify the individual accounting elements and to determine the most appropriate revenue recognition model for such elements.

 

We evaluate gross versus net presentation on revenues from products or services purchased and resold in accordance with the revenue recognition criteria outlined in Codification section 605-45, Principal Agent Considerations.

 

Operating Expenses Reimbursed by Customer – The Company, under the terms of its overnight air cargo dry-lease service contracts, passes through to its air cargo customer certain cost components of its operations without markup. The cost of fuel, landing fees, outside maintenance, parts and certain other direct operating costs are included in operating expenses and billed to the customer, at cost, and included in overnight air cargo revenue on the accompanying statements of income (loss). These pass-through costs totaled $23,379,000 and $24,632,000 for the years ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

 

Stock Based Compensation – The Company has maintained a stock option plan for the benefit of certain eligible employees and directors of the Company, though no further awards may be made under this plan. The Company recognizes compensation expense on stock options based on their fair values over the requisite service period. The compensation cost we record for these awards is based on their fair value on the date of grant. The Company uses the Black Scholes option-pricing model as its method for valuing stock options. The key assumptions for this valuation method include the expected term of the option, stock price volatility, risk-free interest rate and dividend yield. Many of these assumptions are judgmental and highly sensitive in the determination of compensation expense.

 

Warranty Reserves – The Company warranties its ground equipment products for up to a three-year period from date of sale. The Company’s printing equipment and maintenance segment provides a limited short-term (typically 90 days) warranty on equipment and spare parts. Product warranty reserves are recorded at time of sale based on the historical average warranty cost and are adjusted as actual warranty cost becomes known.

 

 

Income Taxes – Income taxes have been provided using the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax laws and rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

 

A valuation allowance against net deferred tax assets is recorded when it is more likely than not that such assets will not be fully realized. Tax credits are accounted for as a reduction of income taxes in the year in which the credit originates. All deferred income taxes are classified as current and noncurrent in the consolidated balance sheets. The Company recognizes the benefit of a tax position taken on a tax return, if that position is more likely than not of being sustained on audit, based on the technical merits of the position. An uncertain income tax position is not recognized if it has a less than a 50% likelihood of being sustained.

 

Research and Development Costs – All research and development costs are expensed as incurred. The research and development costs for the fiscal year 2017 amounted approximately $1,042,000 compared to $778,000 for fiscal year 2016. All research and development expenses are incurred by our printing equipment and maintenance segment.

 

Redeemable Non-Controlling Interest - As more fully described in Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company is party to a put/call option agreement concerning the non-controlling ownership interest held in the Company’s consolidated subsidiary, Contrail Aviation. The put/call option permits Contrail Aviation, at any time after the fifth anniversary of the Company’s acquisition of Contrail Aviation, to purchase the non-controlling interest from the holder of such interest. The agreement also permits the holder of the non-controlling interest to sell such interest to Contrail Aviation. Per the agreement, the price is to be agreed upon by the parties or, failing such agreement, to be determined pursuant to third-party appraisals in a process specified in the agreement. Applicable accounting guidance requires an equity instrument that is redeemable for cash or other assets to be classified outside of permanent equity if it is redeemable (a) at a fixed or determinable price on a fixed or determinable date, (b) at the option of the holder, or (c) upon the occurrence of an event that is not solely within the control of the issuer. Based on this guidance, the Company has classified the Contrail Aviation non-controlling interest between the liabilities and equity sections of the accompanying March 31, 2017 consolidated balance sheet. If an equity instrument subject to the guidance is currently redeemable, the instrument is adjusted to its maximum redemption amount at the balance sheet date. If the equity instrument subject to the guidance is not currently redeemable but it is probable that the equity instrument will become redeemable (for example, when the redemption depends solely on the passage of time), the guidance permits either of the following measurement methods: (a) accrete changes in the redemption value over the period from the date of issuance (or from the date that it becomes probable that the instrument will become redeemable, if later) to the earliest redemption date of the instrument using an appropriate methodology, or (b) recognize changes in the redemption value immediately as they occur and adjust the carrying amount of the instrument to equal the redemption value at the end of each reporting period. The amount presented in temporary equity should be no less than the initial amount reported in temporary equity for the instrument. Because the Contrail Aviation equity instrument will become redeemable solely based on the passage of time, the Company determined that it is probable that the Contrail Aviation equity instrument will become redeemable. The Company has elected to apply the first of the two measurement options described above. An adjustment to the carrying amount of a non-controlling interest from the application of the above guidance does not impact net income or comprehensive income in the consolidated financial statements. Rather, such adjustments are treated as equity transactions.

 

Going Concern - The Company applies Codification section 205-40 Presentation of Financial Statements – Going Concern, which became effective for the Company’s fiscal year ended March 31, 2017. In connection with preparing its consolidated financial statements, Company management evaluates whether there are conditions and events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the consolidated financial statements are available to be issued.

 

 

2.	EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE

 

Basic earnings per share has been calculated by dividing net income (loss) attributable to Air T, Inc. stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during each period. For purposes of calculating diluted earnings per share, shares issuable under stock options were considered potential common shares and were included in the weighted average common shares unless they were anti-dilutive. The dilutive effect of options was excluded in fiscal 2017 given that there was a net loss attributable to Air T, Inc. stockholders. For the year ended March 31, 2016 all options to acquire shares of Air T, Inc. common stock were included in computing earnings per share because their effects were dilutive.

 

The computation of earnings per common share is as follows:

 

		Year Ended March 31,
		2017				2016
Net earnings attributable to Air T, Inc.
Stockholders		$	(3,213,539	)		$	4,413,910
Earnings Per Share:
Basic		$	(1.51	)		$	1.86
Diluted		$	(1.51	)		$	1.84
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding:
Basic			2,125,224				2,372,527
Diluted			2,125,224				2,396,824

 

 

3.	INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES

 

Marketable securities at March 31, 2017 consisted of investments in publicly traded companies with a fair value of $4,594,000, an aggregate cost basis of $4,331,000, gross unrealized gains aggregating $279,000 and gross unrealized losses aggregating $16,000. Marketable securities at March 31, 2016 consisted of investments with a fair market value of $9,656,000, an aggregate cost basis of $9,791,000, gross unrealized gains aggregating $422,000 and gross unrealized losses aggregating $557,000. Securities that had been in a continuous unrealized loss position for less than 12 months as of March 31, 2017 had an aggregate fair value and unrealized loss of $441,000 and $2,771,000, respectively ($5,903,000 and $163,000, respectively, at March 31, 2016). As of March 31, 2017, none of the Company’s investments in securities has been in a continuous loss for more than 12 months. Securities that had been in a continuous unrealized loss position for more than 12 months as of March 31, 2016 had an aggregate fair value and unrealized loss of $4,711,000 and $395,000, respectively). The Company realized gains of $576,000 and $50,000 from the sale of securities during the years ended March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016, respectively.

 

At March 31, 2017, we held approximately 1.65 million shares of common stock of Insignia Systems, Inc. (“Insignia”), representing approximately 14% of the outstanding shares, which shares were acquired commencing in our fiscal year ended March 31, 2015. Any investment with a fair value of less than its cost basis is assessed for possible “other-than-temporary” impairment regularly and at each reporting date. Other-than-temporary impairments of available-for-sale marketable equity securities are recognized in the consolidated statement of income (loss). On the basis of its June 30, 2016 and March 31, 2017 assessments, the Company concluded that it had suffered an other-than-temporary impairment in its investment in the common stock of Insignia. Consistent with the applicable accounting guidance, the Company’s cost basis in the Insignia investment was lowered from $4,711,000 to $3,604,000 at June 30, 2016 and then to $2,068,000 at March 31, 2017 to reflect an aggregate impairment charge of $2,643,000. On January 6, 2017, Insignia paid a special dividend of $0.70 per share to stockholders owning Insignia shares on that date. The receipt of such special dividend is included in the other investment income (loss) in the Company’s consolidated statements of income (loss) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017. During the fourth quarter of the 2017 fiscal year, we recognized an additional investment loss of approximately $112,000 principally due to an other-than-temporary decline in fair value of other investment securities that had been in a continuous loss position for more than 12 months.

 

 

4.	INVENTORIES

 

Inventories consisted of the following:

 

		Year Ended March 31,
		2017				2016
Ground support service parts		$	2,447,395			$	1,566,694
Ground equipment manufacturing:
Raw materials			1,452,201				1,549,810
Work in process			832,635				408,213
Finished goods			10,001,193				4,328,812
Printing equipment and maintenance:
Raw materials			3,325,142				3,319,939
Work in process			324,949				759,446
Finished goods			790,345				562,912
Commercial jet engines and parts			3,407,339