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8-K - 8-K - WILLIS LEASE FINANCE CORPa17-26333_18k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

NEWS RELEASE

 

CONTACT:

 

Scott B. Flaherty

Chief Financial Officer

(415) 408-4700

 

Willis Lease Finance Reports Third Quarter Pretax Profit Grew 27% to $8.3 Million

 

NOVATO, CA —November 7, 2017 — Willis Lease Finance Corporation (NASDAQ: WLFC) today reported that pretax income grew 27% to $8.3 million in the third quarter of 2017, compared to $6.5 million in the third quarter of 2016, on revenues of $65.9 million. The Company’s third quarter 2017 results were bolstered by continued strength in its core leasing business with $33.5 million of lease rent revenue driven by 91% utilization at quarter end. Net income attributable to common shareholders for the third quarter increased 24% to $4.9 million, or $0.80 per diluted share, from $4.0 million, or $0.62 per diluted share, in the third quarter 2016.  Earnings in the third quarter include a $7.0 million non-cash write down of equipment and parts.

 

“In the third quarter, we completed two major financings: the closing of our WEST III ABS offering and a preferred stock offering.  WEST III aligns our long-lived assets with long-term, fixed rate capital and our preferred stock offering equitizes our balance sheet for continued growth,” said Charles F. Willis, Chairman and CEO.

 

“In addition to closing two milestone financings, we were very active trading equipment in the third quarter as we continue to execute our strategy to grow and improve the efficiency of our leasing portfolio,” said Brian R. Hole, President. “Willis Aeronautical also continues to demonstrate its value to our total platform, not only in support of our effort to monetize residual values but also in support of our effort to deliver value-added programs for our customers.”

 

Third Quarter 2017 Highlights:

 

·                  Total revenue grew 28.0% to $65.9 million in the third quarter of 2017, from $51.5 million in the year ago period.

·                  Average utilization in the third quarter of 2017 remained constant at 91% from the year ago period. Utilization was 91% at the end of Q3 2017.

·                  Third quarter lease rent revenue was $33.5 million, up 7.0% year-over-year.

·                  Maintenance reserve revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 increased 40.9% to $64.2 million compared to $45.6 million in the year ago period.

·                  The equipment portfolio grew 5.6% to $1.200 billion, from $1.137 billion from the year ago period, net of asset sales and depreciation expense.

·                  Tangible book value per share increased 9.3% to $33.51 at September 30, 2017, as compared to $30.66 per share at December 31, 2016.

·                  The Company maintained $561 million of undrawn revolver capacity at September 30, 2017.

·                  The book value of owned and managed engines and aircraft, exclusive of assets managed by our WAML subsidiary, was approximately $1.6 billion at the end of the third quarter.

·                  During the quarter, the Company purchased five aircraft and two engines for a total purchase price of $58.2 million.

·                  The Company issued 1,500,000 shares of 6.5% Series A-2 Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share at a gross issue price of $20.00 per share in September 2017.

·                  The Company closed a $336 million asset-backed securitization, Willis Engine Structured Trust III (WEST III) on August 4, 2017. The Notes are secured by a portfolio of 56 engines from the revolving credit facility. We are using these funds, net of transaction expenses, to pay off part of our revolving credit facility.

 



 

Balance Sheet

 

As of September 30, 2017, Willis Lease had 214 commercial aircraft engines, 18 aircraft and 5 aircraft parts packages and other engine-related equipment in its lease portfolio, with a net book value of $1.200 billion, as compared to 208 commercial aircraft engines, 10 aircraft, 5 aircraft parts packages, and other engine-related equipment in its lease portfolio, with a net book value of $1.137 billion a year ago.  The Company’s funded debt-to-equity ratio was 4.32 to 1 at quarter end compared to 4.59 to 1 at December 31, 2016, and 4.51 to 1 a year ago.

 

Willis Lease Finance

 

Willis Lease Finance Corporation leases large and regional spare commercial aircraft engines, auxiliary power units and aircraft to airlines, aircraft engine manufacturers and maintenance, repair and overhaul providers in 120 countries. These leasing activities are integrated with engine and aircraft trading, engine lease pools and asset management services supported by cutting edge technology through its subsidiary Willis Asset Management, as well as various end-of-life solutions for aircraft, engines and aviation materials provided through its subsidiary, Willis Aeronautical Services, Inc.

 

Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.  Do not unduly rely on forward-looking statements, which give only expectations about the future and are not guarantees.  Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update them.  Our actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in forward-looking statements.  Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to: the effects on the airline industry and the global economy of events such as terrorist activity, changes in oil prices and other disruptions to the world markets; trends in the airline industry and our ability to capitalize on those trends, including growth rates of markets and other economic factors; risks associated with owning and leasing jet engines and aircraft; our ability to successfully negotiate equipment purchases, sales and leases, to collect outstanding amounts due and to control costs and expenses; changes in interest rates and availability of capital, both to us and our customers; our ability to continue to meet the changing customer demands; regulatory changes affecting airline operations, aircraft maintenance, accounting standards and taxes; the market value of engines and other assets in our portfolio; and risks detailed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and other continuing reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 



 

Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss)

(In thousands, except per share data, unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

September 30,

 

%

 

September 30,

 

%

 

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

Change

 

2017

 

2016

 

Change

 

REVENUE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lease rent revenue

 

$

33,474

 

$

31,270

 

7.0

%

$

95,045

 

$

88,727

 

7.1

%

Maintenance reserve revenue

 

20,370

 

14,229

 

43.2

%

64,212

 

45,562

 

40.9

%

Spare parts and equipment sales

 

9,294

 

4,160

 

123.4

%

41,273

 

10,465

 

294.4

%

Gain on sale of leased equipment

 

174

 

180

 

(3.3

)%

4,684

 

3,430

 

36.6

%

Other revenue

 

2,549

 

1,622

 

57.2

%

6,439

 

3,614

 

78.2

%

Total revenue

 

65,861

 

51,461

 

28.0

%

211,653

 

151,798

 

39.4

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXPENSES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization expense

 

16,142

 

16,628

 

(2.9

)%

48,786

 

49,235

 

(0.9

)%

Cost of spare parts and equipment sales

 

6,416

 

3,066

 

109.3

%

29,546

 

7,785

 

279.5

%

Write-down of equipment

 

6,958

 

1,995

 

248.8

%

22,243

 

5,924

 

275.5

%

General and administrative

 

14,308

 

12,257

 

16.7

%

40,574

 

34,694

 

16.9

%

Technical expense

 

2,605

 

1,414

 

84.2

%

7,345

 

4,913

 

49.5

%

Net finance costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

14,220

 

10,230

 

39.0

%

36,398

 

30,635

 

18.8

%

Loss on extinguishment of debt

 

 

 

0.0

%

 

137

 

(100.0

)%

Total net finance costs

 

14,220

 

10,230

 

39.0

%

36,398

 

30,772

 

18.3

%

Total expenses

 

60,649

 

45,590

 

33.0

%

184,892

 

133,323

 

38.7

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings from operations

 

5,212

 

5,871

 

(11.2

)%

26,761

 

18,475

 

44.8

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings from joint ventures

 

3,040

 

631

 

381.8

%

6,055

 

874

 

592.8

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

 

8,252

 

6,502

 

26.9

%

32,816

 

19,349

 

69.6

%

Income tax expense

 

2,960

 

2,517

 

17.6

%

13,367

 

7,987

 

67.4

%

Net income

 

$

5,292

 

$

3,985

 

32.8

%

$

19,449

 

$

11,362

 

71.2

%

Preferred stock dividends

 

344

 

 

100.0

%

988

 

 

100.0

%

Accretion of preferred stock issuance costs

 

9

 

 

100.0

%

25

 

 

100.0

%

Net income attributable to common shareholders

 

$

4,939

 

$

3,985

 

23.9

%

$

18,436

 

$

11,362

 

62.3

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per common share

 

$

0.82

 

$

0.63

 

 

 

$

3.04

 

$

1.69

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per common share

 

$

0.80

 

$

0.62

 

 

 

$

2.97

 

$

1.66

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average common shares outstanding

 

6,055

 

6,307

 

 

 

6,068

 

6,711

 

 

 

Diluted average common shares outstanding

 

6,173

 

6,448

 

 

 

6,198

 

6,849

 

 

 

 



 

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except share data, unaudited)

 

 

 

September 30, 2017

 

December 31, 2016

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

7,879

 

$

10,076

 

Restricted cash

 

64,051

 

22,298

 

Equipment held for operating lease, less accumulated depreciation

 

1,199,883

 

1,136,603

 

Maintenance rights

 

16,263

 

17,670

 

Equipment held for sale

 

32,798

 

30,710

 

Operating lease related receivable, net of allowances

 

16,422

 

16,484

 

Spare parts inventory

 

18,422

 

25,443

 

Investments

 

49,262

 

45,406

 

Property, equipment & furnishings, less accumulated depreciation

 

16,187

 

16,802

 

Intangibles assets, net

 

1,878

 

2,182

 

Other assets

 

12,854

 

14,213

 

Total assets

 

$

1,435,899

 

$

1,337,887

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

 

$

20,887

 

$

17,792

 

Deferred income taxes

 

116,685

 

103,705

 

Notes payable

 

932,132

 

900,255

 

Maintenance reserves

 

69,600

 

71,602

 

Security deposits

 

24,706

 

21,417

 

Unearned lease revenue

 

6,813

 

5,823

 

Total liabilities

 

1,170,823

 

1,120,594

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Redeemable preferred stock ($0.01 par value)

 

$

49,485

 

$

19,760

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock ($0.01 par value)

 

64

 

64

 

Paid-in capital in excess of par

 

1,624

 

2,512

 

Retained earnings

 

214,438

 

196,002

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax

 

(535

)

(1,045

)

Total shareholders’ equity

 

215,591

 

197,533

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 

$

1,435,899

 

$

1,337,887

 

 

Note:  Transmitted on GlobeNewsWire on November 7, 2017, at 5:00 am PT