NOVATO, Calif., Nov. 2, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Willis Lease Finance Corporation (NASDAQ:WLFC), the premier independent jet engine lessor in the commercial finance sector, today reported its third quarter 2015 net income increased 163% to $2.6 million, or $0.32 per diluted share, compared to $1.0 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2014. This follows a net loss in the second quarter of 2015 which totaled $0.5 million or $0.06 per share resulting from a $3.1 million non-cash write-down related to the part-out of a wide-body aircraft engine. For the first nine months of 2015, net income was $4.4 million, or $0.55 per diluted share, compared to $7.5 million, or $0.92 per diluted share, for the first nine months of 2014.
"I was very pleased with the results we achieved in the third quarter," said Charles F. Willis, Chairman and CEO. "The improvement we have made in our portfolio utilization over the last nine months has been exceptional, reaching 92% at the end of the quarter--the highest point in the last six years. Due to the improvement in utilization as well as the growth in the portfolio, we achieved the highest level of quarterly lease rent revenue in our history. All of our major revenue categories registered impressive gains compared to the previous quarter as well as the same quarter last year. Besides utilization, we also ramped up our trading activity and parts sales during the third quarter. The opportunities in the market to trade assets are attractive right now and enhance our ability to build our portfolio and acquire inventory for our spare parts subsidiary, Willis Aero."
Third quarter 2015 Highlights (at or for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2015, compared to September 30, 2014, and June 30, 2015):
- Average utilization in the current quarter was 91%, a significant improvement from 84% reported for 2Q15 and 81% reported for 1Q15 and 82% in the year ago period.
- Utilization was 92% at quarter-end, compared to 87% at the end of 2Q15 and 82% a year ago.
- Total revenues increased 32% to $57.8 million in the current quarter from $43.8 million in the preceding quarter, and increased 27% from $45.5 million in the third quarter of 2014, fueled by the growing lease portfolio, higher portfolio utilization and higher gains from the sale of equipment.
- Lease rent revenue has increased 11.6% year-over-year in 3Q15 due to improving utilization and growth in the lease portfolio. The average size of the lease portfolio for the YTD period increased 5.3% or $53 million from the year ago period.
- Maintenance reserve revenues increased to $16.1 million in the third quarter, up from $10.5 million in the preceding quarter and $13.1 million in the third quarter a year ago, reflecting higher usage of engines under lease due to improving portfolio utilization.
- Tangible book value per share increased 0.6% to $26.55 at September 30, 2015, compared to $26.39 a year ago.
- A total of 99,387 shares of common stock were repurchased in the quarter for $1.6 million under the Company's five-year repurchase plan authorized in October 2012 and reapproved in April 2015.
- Liquidity available from the revolving credit facility was $183 million, down from $357 million a year ago. The prior year liquidity was positively impacted by the upsizing of the revolver in the second quarter of 2014.
"We have been working hard all year to improve our utilization, and the results are clear and impressive," said Donald A. Nunemaker, President. "Our utilization percentage has increased from 79% at December 31, 2014 to 92% at September 30, 2015. Along the way, we registered 8 out of 9 months of consecutive increases. Besides a lot of hard work and a great team effort, some of the other main reasons for the improvement include placing engines on longer term leases, securing longer term extensions and renewals, using capex to purchase primarily on-lease assets as well as proactive portfolio management, all underpinned by favorable market conditions. Over the years, we have seen our utilization fluctuate and rarely remain constant for an extended period of time. While we expect this to continue, we feel that our efforts to manage utilization will reduce some of the variability going forward."
"In the third quarter, we booked a non-cash write-down on equipment of $5.5 million for two older wide-body engines that will be transferred to Willis Aero for part out, as well as a write-down of parts inventories related to engines we consigned to third parties in the past," said Brad Forsyth, Chief Financial Officer. The non-cash write-down expense was more than offset by profit on selling equipment and spare parts for both the quarter and the year-to-date periods.
Balance Sheet
As of September 30, 2015, Willis Lease had 197 commercial aircraft engines, 10 aircraft and 5 aircraft parts packages and other engine-related equipment in its lease portfolio, with a net book value of $1.098 billion, compared to 196 commercial aircraft engines, 4 aircraft and 5 aircraft parts packages and other engine-related equipment in its lease portfolio, with a net book value of $1.006 billion, a year ago. The Company's funded debt-to-equity ratio was 3.88 to 1 at quarter end, compared to 3.95 to 1 at June 30, 2015, and 3.50 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 supported by cutting edge technology, 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/A and other continuing reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
| Consolidated Statements of Income | ||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands, except per share data, unaudited) | Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | ||||||||||||||
| Sept 30, | June 30, | Sept 30, | % Change vs | % Change vs | September 30, | % | ||||||||||
| 2015 | 2015 | 2014 | June 30, 2015 | Sept 30, 2014 | 2015 | 2014 | Change | |||||||||
| REVENUE | ||||||||||||||||
| Lease rent revenue | $ 28,083 | $ 25,813 | $ 25,165 | 8.8% | 11.6% | $ 78,993 | $ 76,865 | 2.8% | ||||||||
| Maintenance reserve revenue | 16,119 | 10,477 | 13,066 | 53.9% | 23.4% | 40,744 | 41,657 | (2.2)% | ||||||||
| Spare parts and equipment sales | 9,133 | 3,716 | 4,628 | 145.8% | 97.3% | 15,000 | 6,690 | 124.2% | ||||||||
| Gain on sale of leased equipment | 3,804 | 3,234 | 1,891 | 17.6% | 101.2% | 7,700 | 3,713 | 107.4% | ||||||||
| Other revenue | 619 | 603 | 769 | 2.7% | (19.5)% | 1,978 | 3,800 | (47.9)% | ||||||||
| Total revenue | 57,758 | 43,843 | 45,519 | 31.7% | 26.9% | 144,415 | 132,725 | 8.8% | ||||||||
| EXPENSES | ||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization expense | 17,089 | 17,668 | 16,714 | (3.3)% | 2.2% | 52,462 | 48,159 | 8.9% | ||||||||
| Cost of spare parts and equipment sales | 5,919 | 2,820 | 4,218 | 109.9% | 40.3% | 10,219 | 6,173 | 65.5% | ||||||||
| Write-down of equipment | 5,498 | 3,058 | 450 | 79.8% | 1121.8% | 8,580 | 2,928 | 193.0% | ||||||||
| General and administrative | 11,742 | 9,112 | 9,107 | 28.9% | 28.9% | 30,826 | 28,055 | 9.9% | ||||||||
| Technical expense | 3,570 | 2,434 | 3,855 | 46.7% | (7.4)% | 7,836 | 7,743 | 1.2% | ||||||||
| Net finance costs | ||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | 9,805 | 9,860 | 9,181 | (0.6)% | 6.8% | 29,232 | 27,935 | 4.6% | ||||||||
| Gain on extinguishment of debt | -- | -- | -- | 0.0% | 0.0% | (1,151) | -- | 100.0% | ||||||||
| Total net finance costs | 9,805 | 9,860 | 9,181 | (0.6)% | 6.8% | 28,081 | 27,935 | 0.5% | ||||||||
| Total expenses | 53,623 | 44,952 | 43,525 | 19.3% | 23.2% | 138,004 | 120,993 | 14.1% | ||||||||
| Earnings (loss) from operations | 4,135 | (1,109) | 1,994 | n/a | 107.4% | 6,411 | 11,732 | n/a | ||||||||
| Earnings from joint ventures | 558 | 215 | 269 | 159.5% | 107.4% | 1,127 | 819 | 37.6% | ||||||||
| Income (loss) before income taxes | 4,693 | (894) | 2,263 | n/a | 107.4% | 7,538 | 12,551 | (39.9)% | ||||||||
| Income tax expense (benefit) | 2,116 | (402) | 1,284 | n/a | 64.8% | 3,155 | 5,026 | (37.2)% | ||||||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders | $ 2,577 | $ (492) | $ 979 | n/a | 163.2% | $ 4,383 | $ 7,525 | (41.8)% | ||||||||
| Basic earnings (loss) per common share | $ 0.33 | $ (0.06) | $ 0.12 | $ 0.56 | $ 0.95 | |||||||||||
| Diluted earnings (loss) per common share | $ 0.32 | $ (0.06) | $ 0.12 | $ 0.55 | $ 0.92 | |||||||||||
| Average common shares outstanding | 7,839 | 7,841 | 7,938 | 7,843 | 7,943 | |||||||||||
| Diluted average common shares outstanding | 7,963 | 7,991 | 8,123 | 8,011 | 8,163 | |||||||||||
| Consolidated Balance Sheets | ||||||
| (In thousands, except share data, unaudited) | ||||||
|
Sept 30, 2015 |
June 30, 2015 |
Sept 30, 2014 |
||||
| ASSETS | ||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ 9,245 | $ 16,172 | $ 10,841 | |||
| Restricted cash | 26,883 | 50,686 | 47,116 | |||
| Equipment held for operating lease, less accumulated depreciation | 1,097,815 | 1,063,950 | 1,006,316 | |||
| Equipment held for sale | 21,054 | 29,352 | 20,795 | |||
| Spare parts inventory | 22,811 | 19,006 | 12,690 | |||
| Operating lease related receivable, net of allowances | 16,576 | 13,692 | 11,532 | |||
| Investments | 41,740 | 42,789 | 26,427 | |||
| Property, equipment & furnishings, less accumulated depreciation | 20,475 | 20,828 | 18,152 | |||
| Intangible assets, net | 990 | 1,048 | 1,222 | |||
| Other assets | 27,516 | 24,704 | 31,965 | |||
| Total assets | $ 1,285,105 | $ 1,282,227 | $ 1,187,056 | |||
| LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY | ||||||
| Liabilities: | ||||||
| Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $ 18,883 | $ 19,730 | $ 20,949 | |||
| Deferred income taxes | 93,341 | 91,443 | 91,199 | |||
| Notes payable | 852,156 | 860,979 | 761,230 | |||
| Maintenance reserves | 69,789 | 67,770 | 73,298 | |||
| Security deposits | 25,973 | 19,359 | 19,899 | |||
| Unearned lease revenue | 5,115 | 5,018 | 3,046 | |||
| Total liabilities | 1,065,257 | 1,064,299 | 969,621 | |||
| Shareholders' equity: | ||||||
| Common stock ($0.01 par value) | $ 83 | $ 82 | $ 82 | |||
| Paid-in capital in excess of par | 40,880 | 41,338 | 42,284 | |||
| Retained earnings | 179,085 | 176,508 | 174,980 | |||
| Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | (200) | -- | 89 | |||
| Total shareholders' equity | 219,848 | 217,928 | 217,435 | |||
| Total liabilities and shareholders' equity | $ 1,285,105 | $ 1,282,227 | $ 1,187,056 | |||