Aircastle Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2013 Results

Highlights
Operating and finance lease revenue of $173.3 million for the fourth quarter and $661.1 million for the full year
Net income of $48.4 million, or $0.60 per diluted common share for the fourth quarter, and $29.8 million, or $0.40 per diluted common share, for the full year
Adjusted EBITDA1 of $196.0 million for the fourth quarter and $717.2 million for the full year
Adjusted net income1 of $54.9 million, or $0.68 per diluted common share, for the fourth quarter and $59.3 million, or $0.80 per diluted common share, for the full year
Fleet utilization of 99.5% for the fourth quarter and 98.7% for the full year, with aircraft portfolio yield of 13.6% for both the fourth quarter and the full year
Purchased eight aircraft during the fourth quarter for $472 million, and closed 25 aircraft investments in 2013 with a total cost of $1.45 billion
Sold 22 aircraft during 2013 for $548 million; realized gain on sale of $37.2 million for the year
Issued $400 million of 4.625% unsecured Senior Notes due 2018 during the fourth quarter
31st consecutive quarterly dividend declared by Aircastle’s Board of Directors
Established a joint venture with Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and we sold two A330 family aircraft to the joint venture in the fourth quarter

Aircastle Limited (the “Company” or “Aircastle”) (NYSE: AYR) reported fourth quarter 2013 net income of $48.4 million, or $0.60 per diluted common share and adjusted net income of $54.9 million, or $0.68 per diluted common share. Net income for the year ended December 31, 2013 was $29.8 million, or $0.40 per diluted common share, and adjusted net income was $59.3 million, or $0.80 per diluted common share. The fourth quarter results included total revenues of $192.0 million, an increase of 9%, versus $176.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2012. For the full year 2013, total revenues were $708.6 million, up 3% versus $686.6 million in 2012.

Commenting on the results, Ron Wainshal, Aircastle’s CEO, stated, "Thanks to a strong fourth quarter, 2013 was a successful and important year for Aircastle, as we grew and upgraded our portfolio with $1.5 billion of investments and significant and profitable asset sales, including many end-of-life aircraft. We strengthened our shareholder base and capital structure through Marubeni’s strategic investment, a larger unencumbered asset base, several well priced debt financings and an expanded unsecured revolver. Aircastle delivered strong results including a full-year cash ROE of 12.1% and asset utilization of nearly 99%.

All in all, over the past twelve months I believe we significantly enhanced the Company’s competitive standing as a nimble and flexible value-oriented investor. As we enter 2014, we remain well positioned to capitalize on a robust acquisition pipeline, very attractive financial market conditions, a terrific team and operating platform and an improving demand environment for leased aircraft."

Fourth Quarter Results
Lease rental and finance lease revenues for the fourth quarter were $173.3 million, up $11.3 million or 7% year over year, due primarily to the impact of new aircraft acquisitions of $33.5 million, partially offset by lower revenue due to aircraft sales of $16.8 million and the net year over year impact of lease extensions, transitions and terminations and other changes of $5.5 million.

Total revenues for the fourth quarter were $192.0 million, an increase of $15.4 million, or 9% from the previous year, reflecting higher lease rental and finance lease revenue of $11.3 million and higher maintenance revenue of $9.2 million associated with a year over year increase in lease transitions. These increases were partially offset by a decline in other revenues of $4.7 million reflecting early lease termination fees earned in the fourth quarter of 2012 and the maturity of a debt investment in the first quarter of 2013.

Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter was $196.0 million, up $23.7 million, or 14% from the fourth quarter of 2012, due primarily to higher total revenues excluding amortization of net lease discounts and incentives of $15.8 million and higher gains from aircraft sales of $8.9 million. These improvements were partially offset by an increase in net operating expenses of $1.2 million.

Adjusted net income for the quarter was $54.9 million, up $18.5 million or 51%, year over year. The change reflects higher total revenues of $15.4 million, higher gains from the sale of aircraft of $8.9 million and lower aircraft impairment charges of $2.7 million. These improvements were partially offset by higher adjusted interest expense of $5.2 million, higher depreciation of $2.6 million and higher net operating expenses of $1.2 million.

Full Year Results
Lease rental and finance lease revenues for the full year were $661.1 million, up $29.2 million, or 5% year over year, reflecting the net impact of 41 aircraft acquisitions made during 2013 and 2012 totaling $103.0 million and higher full year finance lease revenues of $7.8 million. These increases were offset by lower lease rentals due to aircraft sales and disposals of $52.7 million and the impact of transitions, extensions and terminations and other changes totaling $28.8 million.

Total revenues for 2013 were $708.6 million, an increase of $22.1 million, up 3% from the previous year. The increase reflects higher lease rental and finance lease revenue of $29.2 million and higher maintenance revenue from lease terminations of $15.0 million. These increases were partially offset by an increase in the amortization of net lease discounts and lease incentives of $19.6 million associated with fleet expansion, and $2.6 million of lower other revenue, primarily from a debt investment which matured in the first quarter of 2013.

During the year, we recorded maintenance revenue from seven scheduled lease terminations of $20.6 million versus $18.4 million for five scheduled lease terminations in 2012. In addition, we recorded $47.7 million of maintenance revenue from ten aircraft returned ahead of schedule in 2013, versus $34.9 million from ten aircraft that were returned early in 2012.

We recorded total non-cash impairment charges of $117.3 million in 2013 versus $96.5 million in 2012. The year over year increase was primarily driven by impairment charges taken during the third quarter 2013 annual fleet review, where we wrote down the value of six 747-400 converted freighters coming off lease in 2014. To date, three of these six converted freighters have been placed.

Adjusted EBITDA for the full year was $717.2 million, up $69.6 million or 11% versus 2012, due primarily to higher total revenues excluding amortization of net lease discounts and incentives of $41.6 million and higher gains from aircraft sales of $31.5 million. These improvements were partially offset by an increase in net operating expenses of $3.7 million.

Adjusted net income for the full year was $59.3 million compared to $57.0 million in 2012, an increase of $2.3 million. Higher total revenues of $22.1 million, higher gains from sale of aircraft of $31.5 million and higher other net income of $5.5 million were partially offset by higher aircraft impairment charges of $20.9 million, higher adjusted interest expense of $15.9 million, higher depreciation of $15.0 million, and higher SG&A, taxes and other expenses, net of $5.1 million.

Aviation Assets
During 2013, we acquired 25 aircraft investments for $1.45 billion. We also sold 22 aircraft for $548 million which resulted in a pre-tax gain of approximately $37.2 million for the year.

As of December 31, 2013, Aircastle owned 162 aircraft having a net book value of $5.2 billion.

2013 Financing Activity
During 2013, we raised approximately $971 million of capital, including the following:
Issuing 12,320,000 common shares to an affiliate of Marubeni Corporation, for gross proceeds of approximately $209 million, in the third quarter of 2013. Combined with additional subsequent purchases of Aircastle common shares in the secondary market, as of February 14, 2014, Marubeni Corporation owned approximately 20% of Aircastle’s issued and outstanding common shares.

Issuing $400 million in aggregate principal amount of unsecured 4.625% Senior Notes due 2018, in the fourth quarter of 2013.

Entering into $177 million of secured borrowings related to various aircraft.

Increasing our unsecured revolving credit from $150 million to $335 million, expanding the bank group from four to seven global financial institutions and extending the maturity of the facility to a three year term expiring in August 2016. This revolving credit facility is currently undrawn.

In February 2014, we repaid the outstanding amount, plus accrued interest and fees, due under Securitization No. 1 and terminated the related swap for a total cash payment of $255 million. In February 2014, we also raised $303 million in secured financing for two B777-300ER and one A330-200 aircraft we acquired in 2013.

Joint Venture with Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan
In December 2013, Aircastle formed a joint venture to invest in leased aircraft with an affiliate of Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan. The joint venture’s first investment is two Airbus A330 family aircraft manufactured in 2013 that we sold to the joint venture, also in December 2013.

Teachers’ holds more than 5% of our common shares and, therefore, the joint venture and the sale of the initial Airbus A330 family aircraft are related party transactions under our related party policy. Accordingly, the formation of the joint venture and the sale of these aircraft was submitted to, and approved by, our Audit Committee under that policy.

Common Dividend
On February 21, 2014, Aircastle’s Board of Directors declared a first quarter 2014 cash dividend on its common shares of $0.20 per share, payable on March 14, 2014 to shareholders of record on March 7, 2014. This is our 31st consecutive dividend. During 2013, Aircastle increased the dividend to common shareholders to the current quarterly rate of $0.20 per share, a 21% increase over the quarterly rate at the end of 2012.