Aircastle Announces First Quarter 2021 Results

STAMFORD, Conn., July 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --

Key Financial Metrics for the Three Months ended May 31, 2021

• Total revenues of $165.8 million
• Net loss of $(9.8) million
• Adjusted EBITDA⁽¹⁾ of $148.3 million
• Gain on sale of flight equipment of $9.0 million

Highlights

• For the three months ended May 31, 2021, delivered two Embraer 195 E2 aircraft to KLM Cityhopper
• Subsequently delivered first of four A320neo aircraft to Frontier Airlines in June
• In June, successfully priced $400 million of Preferred Shares at a coupon of 5.25%; issue was four times oversubscribed
• In June, Moody's upgraded Aircastle's outlook to Stable
• For the three months ended May 31, 2021, sold three aircraft and other flight equipment for proceeds of $63 million and a total gain on sale of $9 million
• Signed amendments and extensions on aircraft leased to LATAM, our second largest customer

Liquidity

• As of July 1, 2021, total liquidity of $2.9 billion includes $1.4 billion of undrawn credit facilities, $1.0 billion of unrestricted cash, $100.0 million of contracted asset sales, and $375.0 million of projected operating cash flows through July 1, 2022
• For the three months ended May 31, 2021, collections represented approximately 89% of lease rental and direct financing and sales-type lease revenues
• 218 unencumbered aircraft with a net book value of $5.4 billion
• $1.2 billion of total adjusted contractual obligations through July 1, 2022

Mike Inglese, Aircastle's Chief Executive Officer, commented, "The widespread rollout of vaccines is leading to increased confidence and safety, and the economic rebound is releasing pent up leisure travel demand.  Air traffic demand in large domestic markets is recovering at an encouraging pace; however, with the spread of the Delta variant and cases rising in areas with low vaccination rates, cross-border travel is recovering at a much slower and more uneven pace despite considerable pent-up demand.  In time, as vaccination rates increase around the world, and as travel barriers fall, market conditions will improve further, and help solidify the airline industry's recovery."

Mr. Inglese concluded, "Our two strategic investors, Marubeni Corporation and Mizuho Leasing, have extensive global networks and broad reach across the aviation industry.  The partnership with our investors is truly unique and differentiates Aircastle from other aircraft lessors."     

Aviation Assets
As of May 31, 2021, Aircastle owned 250 aircraft and other flight equipment having a net book value of $6.6 billion.  We also manage nine aircraft with a net book value of $309 million dollars on behalf of our joint venture with Mizuho Leasing.

Deferrals   
As the airline industry recovers, airlines continue to obtain support from their respective governments, raise debt and equity, delay or cancel new aircraft orders, furlough employees, and request concessions from lessors. Some have sought judicial protection. As of July 9, 2021, six of our airline customers were subject to judicial insolvency proceedings or similar protection.  We lease 22 aircraft to these customers, which comprise 13% of our net book value of flight equipment and 11% of our reported lease rental and direct financing and sales-type lease revenues for the twelve months ended May 31, 2021.  While additional airline bankruptcies and liquidations may yet occur in future periods, we remain confident that our core customers who are leading low-cost carriers and major US and global carriers, have the means to survive the COVID-19 crisis.  

As of July 9, 2021, we have agreed deferral arrangements with 22 airlines representing 29% of our customer base.  Total deferrals approximate $112 million, of which $89 million is included in our May 31, 2021, Consolidated Balance Sheet with the balance representing future lease payments.  Approximately 76% of our total deferrals as of July 9, 2021, have been agreed to as part of broader lease restructurings, which generally include term extensions, better security packages, or other valuable consideration in exchange for near-term economic concessions, and have repayment terms that extend beyond twelve months.  Deferrals represented approximately 19% of our reported lease rental and direct financing and sales-type lease revenues for the twelve months ended May 31, 2021. 

In addition to $524 million of maintenance reserves and $78 million of security deposits, we hold an additional $148 million in letters of credit from our lessees.  These combined reserves total $750 million and provide significant protection against potential future airline failures and the unscheduled return of additional aircraft.   

Preferred Issuance
In early June we issued $400 million of preferred shares with a dividend of 5.25%.  The original proposed amount for this capital raise was $300 million at an original targeted dividend of 5.625%.  Due to strong demand, the transaction was upsized with the lower dividend.  The use of proceeds is for general corporate purposes which may include repayment, refinancing or the redemption of existing debt.  The issue has a perpetual term and receives 50% equity credit treatment from Moody's, S&P and Fitch Ratings, in line with their respective rating methodologies.  At the time of issuance, Aircastle's outlook was upgraded to Stable by Moody's. 

Conference Call
In connection with this press release, management will host a conference call on Wednesday, July 14, 2021, 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 (800) 437-2398 (from within the U.S. and Canada) or (786) 204-3966 (from outside of the U.S. and Canada) ten minutes prior to the scheduled start and referencing the passcode "8053603".

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 until 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time on Friday, August 13, 2021, by dialing (888) 203-1112 (from within the U.S. and Canada) or (719) 457-0820 (from outside of the U.S. and Canada); please reference passcode "8053603".

About Aircastle Limited
Aircastle Limited acquires, leases, and sells commercial jet aircraft to airlines throughout the world.  As of May 31, 2021, Aircastle owned and managed on behalf of its joint ventures 259 aircraft leased to 77 customers located in 43 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.   

Contact: 
Aircastle Advisor LLC 
Frank Constantinople, SVP Investor Relations 
Tel: +1-203-504-1063  
[email protected] 

SOURCE Aircastle Limited

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