Highlights for the Three Months Ended May 31, 2024

  • Total revenues of $205 million and net income of $16 million
  • Adjusted EBITDA(1) of $186 million
  • Lease rental revenue and direct financing and sales-type lease revenue increased 14% compared to first quarter 2023
  • Acquired 9 aircraft for $223 million; net book value of flight equipment is $7.3 billion, up 7% compared to first quarter 2023
  • Fleet utilization at 99%

Liquidity

  • Ratings Outlook revised to Positive by S&P
  • Received $300 million equity from shareholders in June 2024, completing a $500 million total commitment
  • Total liquidity as of July 5, 2024 of $2.6 billion includes $2.0 billion of undrawn facilities, $0.5 billion of projected adjusted operating cash flows and sales through July 5, 2025, and $0.1 billion of unrestricted cash
  • 212 unencumbered aircraft and other flight equipment with a net book value of $6.0 billion

STAMFORD, Conn., July 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Mike Inglese, Aircastle's Chief Executive Officer, commented, "The increasing demand for air travel has enabled global traffic to meet, and in some regions, exceed 2019 levels.  While IATA is predicting world passengers to increase 3.8% annually over the next 20 years, aircraft and engine manufacturers are not providing the output that meets even baseline needs of airlines.  As a result, we're seeing strong long-term demand for all narrow-body passenger aircraft types and extended viability of current technology aircraft."

Mr. Inglese concluded, "We recently announced that our shareholders, Marubeni Corporation and Mizuho Leasing, have completed their $500 million equity commitment. During the first quarter, our IG status was further bolstered by an Outlook revision to Positive from S&P. With positive tailwinds, we're pleased to be putting our equity to work and growing our fleet with the most sought-after narrow-body passenger aircraft."

(1)  Refer to the selected financial information accompanying this press release for a reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP numbers.

Aviation Assets

As of May 31, 2024, Aircastle owned 250 aircraft and other flight equipment having a net book value of $7.3 billion.  We also manage 9 aircraft with a net book value of $268 million on behalf of our joint venture with Mizuho Leasing.

Owned Aircraft

As of
May 31, 2024


As of
May 31, 2023

Net Book Value of Flight Equipment

$           7,327


$           6,862

Net Book Value of Unencumbered Flight Equipment

$           5,958


$           5,348

Number of Aircraft

250


244

Number of Unencumbered Aircraft

212


206

Number of Lessees

76


73

Number of Countries

44


43

Weighted Average Fleet Age (Years)(1)

9.6


9.6

Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term (Years)(1)

5.2


5.4

Weighted Average Fleet Utilization during the three months ended May 31, 2024 and 2023(2)

99.1 %


95.6 %





Managed Aircraft on behalf of Joint Ventures




Net Book Value of Flight Equipment

$              268


$              282

Number of Aircraft

9


9

_______________

1. Weighted by Net Book Value.

2. Aircraft on-lease days as a percentage of total days in period weighted by Net Book Value.

 

Conference Call

In connection with this press release, management will host a conference call on Thursday, July 11, 2024, at 9:00 A.M. Eastern Time.  All interested parties are welcome to participate on the live call.  The conference call can be accessed by dialing 1 (800) 836-8184 (from within the U.S. and Canada) or +1 (646) 357-8785 (outside the U.S. and Canada) ten minutes prior to the scheduled start. Please reference our company name "Aircastle" when prompted by the operator.

A simultaneous webcast of the conference call will be available to the public on a listen-only basis at www.aircastle.com.  Please allow extra time prior to the call to visit the site and download the necessary software required to listen to the internet broadcast. 

For those who are not available to listen to the live call, a replay will be available on Aircastle's website shortly after the live call.

About Aircastle Limited

Aircastle Limited acquires, leases and sells commercial jet aircraft to airlines throughout the world.  As of May 31, 2024, Aircastle owned and managed on behalf of its joint ventures 259 aircraft leased to 77 airline customers located in 44 countries.

Safe Harbor

All statements in this press release, other than characterizations of historical fact, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not necessarily limited to, statements relating to our proposed public offering of notes and our ability to acquire, sell, lease or finance aircraft, raise capital, pay dividends, and increase revenues, earnings, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA and the global aviation industry and aircraft leasing sector. Words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "projects," "believes," "may," "will," "would," "could," "should," "seeks," "estimates" and variations on these words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.  These statements are based on our historical performance and that of our subsidiaries and on our current plans, estimates and expectations and are subject to a number of factors that could lead to actual results materially different from those described in the forward-looking statements; Aircastle can give no assurance that its expectations will be attained.  Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements which are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated as of the date of this press release.  These risks or uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those described from time to time in Aircastle's filings with the SEC and previously disclosed under "Risk Factors" in Item 1A of Aircastle's most recent Form 10-K and any subsequent filings with the SEC.  In addition, new risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Aircastle to predict or assess the impact of every factor that may cause its actual results to differ from those contained in any forward-looking statements.  Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release.  Aircastle expressly disclaims any obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statement to reflect future events or circumstances.

 

Aircastle Limited and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollars in thousands, except share data)



May 31,
2024


February 29,
2024


(Unaudited)



ASSETS




Cash and cash equivalents

$        164,604


$        129,977

Accounts receivable

9,380


12,518

Flight equipment held for lease, net

7,047,120


6,940,502

Net investment in leases, net

279,901


282,439

Unconsolidated equity method investment

43,229


42,710

Other assets

278,458


271,807





Total assets

$     7,822,692


$     7,679,953





LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY




LIABILITIES




Borrowings from secured financings, net

$        855,908


$        875,397

Borrowings from unsecured financings, net

3,876,765


3,823,099

Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities

271,701


219,588

Lease rentals received in advance

63,137


52,654

Security deposits

71,488


69,544

Maintenance payments

533,838


505,897

Total liabilities

5,672,837


5,546,179





Commitments and Contingencies








SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY




Preference shares, $0.01 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized, 400 (aggregate
liquidation preference of $400,000) shares issued and outstanding at May 31, 2024
and February 29, 2024


Common shares, $0.01 par value, 250,000,000 shares authorized, 15,564 shares
issued and outstanding at May 31, 2024 and February 29, 2024


Additional paid-in capital

2,078,774


2,078,774

Retained earnings

71,081


55,000

Total shareholders' equity

2,149,855


2,133,774

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

$     7,822,692


$     7,679,953

 

Aircastle Limited and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)



Three Months Ended May 31,


2024


2023

Revenues:




Lease rental revenue

$        162,570


$        146,735

Direct financing and sales-type lease revenue

5,457


1,073

Amortization of lease premiums, discounts and incentives

(6,649)


(7,207)

Maintenance revenue

42,149


34,520





Total lease revenue

203,527


175,121

Gain on sale or disposition of flight equipment

1,010


42,594

Other revenue

636


776





Total revenues

205,173


218,491





Operating expenses:




Depreciation

89,358


88,789

Interest, net

64,813


56,891

Selling, general and administrative

22,055


20,835

Provision for credit losses

(145)


6,959

Impairment of flight equipment

5,211


1,097

Maintenance and other costs

4,443


8,533





Total operating expenses

185,735


183,104





Other income (expense):




Other

(304)


1,337

Total other income (expense)

(304)


1,337





Income from continuing operations before income taxes and earnings of unconsolidated equity method investment

19,134


36,724

Income tax provision

3,572


14,360

Earnings of unconsolidated equity method investment, net of tax

519


406





Net income

$          16,081


$          22,770





Net income available to common shareholders

$          16,081


$          22,770





Total comprehensive income available to common shareholders

$          16,081


$          22,770

 

Aircastle Limited and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)



Three Months Ended May 31,


2024


2023

Cash flows from operating activities:




Net income

$           16,081


$           22,770

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash and cash equivalents provided by operating activities:




Depreciation

89,358


88,789

Amortization of deferred financing costs

4,343


4,031

Amortization of lease premiums, discounts and incentives

6,649


7,207

Deferred income taxes

5,314


3,812

Collections on net investment in leases

713


927

Security deposits and maintenance payments included in earnings

(2,210)


(3,203)

Gain on sale or disposition of flight equipment

(1,010)


(42,594)

Impairment of flight equipment

5,211


1,097

Provision for credit losses

(145)


6,959

Other

(508)


(397)

Changes in certain assets and liabilities:




Accounts receivable

(1,273)


3,209

Other assets

(2,927)


(3,607)

Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities

17,967


2,272

Lease rentals received in advance

9,441


9,178

Net cash and cash equivalents provided by operating activities

147,004


100,450

Cash flows from investing activities:




Acquisition and improvement of flight equipment

(224,935)


(322,151)

Proceeds from sale of flight equipment

25,379


53,782

Aircraft purchase deposits and progress payments, net of returned deposits and aircraft sales deposits

35,181


4,947

Other

(209)


(2,900)

Net cash and cash equivalents used in investing activities

(164,584)


(266,322)

Cash flows from financing activities:




Proceeds from secured and unsecured debt financings

550,000


624,911

Repayments of secured and unsecured debt financings

(520,118)


(569,206)

Deferred financing costs

(48)


(527)

Security deposits and maintenance payments received

34,960


31,620

Security deposits and maintenance payments returned

(2,087)


(6,131)

Dividends paid

(10,500)


(10,500)

Net cash and cash equivalents provided by financing activities

52,207


70,167

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

34,627


(95,705)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

129,977


231,861





Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

$         164,604


$         136,156

 

Aircastle Limited and Subsidiaries
Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)



Three Months Ended May 31,


2024


2023

Net income

$       16,081


$       22,770

Depreciation

89,358


88,789

Amortization of lease premiums, discounts and incentives

6,649


7,207

Interest, net

64,813


56,891

Income tax provision

3,572


14,360





EBITDA

180,473


190,017

Adjustments:




Impairment of flight equipment

5,211


1,097





Adjusted EBITDA

$     185,684


$     191,114

 

We define EBITDA as income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes, interest expense, and depreciation and amortization.  We use EBITDA to assess our consolidated financial and operating performance, and we believe this non-U.S. GAAP measure is helpful in identifying trends in our performance.

This measure provides an assessment of controllable expenses and affords management the ability to make decisions which are expected to facilitate meeting current financial goals, as well as achieving optimal financial performance.  It provides an indicator for management to determine if adjustments to current spending decisions are needed.

EBITDA provides us with a measure of operating performance because it assists us in comparing our operating performance on a consistent basis as it removes the impact of our capital structure (primarily interest charges on our outstanding debt) and asset base (primarily depreciation and amortization) from our operating results.  Accordingly, this metric measures our financial performance based on operational factors that management can impact in the short-term, namely the cost structure, or expenses, of the organization.  EBITDA is one of the metrics used by senior management and the Board of Directors to review the consolidated financial performance of our business.

We define Adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA (as defined above) further adjusted to give effect to adjustments required in calculating covenant ratios and compliance as that term is defined in the indenture governing our senior unsecured notes.  Adjusted EBITDA is a material component of these covenants.

Contact:
Aircastle Advisor LLC
James Connelly, SVP ESG & Corporate Communications
Tel: +1-203-504-1871
jconnelly@aircastle.com

 

(PRNewsfoto/Aircastle Limited)

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