NOVATO, Calif., May 5, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Willis Lease Finance Corporation (Nasdaq:WLFC), the premier independent jet engine lessor in the commercial finance sector, today reported first quarter 2014 net income was $4.3 million, or $0.53 per diluted share, compared to $1.6 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2013, and $6.6 million, or $0.81 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2013.
"Our year is off to a good start, with first quarter profits more than double the earnings we generated in the first quarter a year ago," said Charles F. Willis, Chairman and CEO. "All of our revenue categories exhibited sizable increases in the quarter except for gain on sale. We reported an impressive increase in our first quarter lease rent revenue, which is up nearly 10% year over year. Together with growth in the lease portfolio, improved utilization was a significant contributor to this healthy increase, reaching a three year high of 89% in January 2014. Since the middle of last year we were able to generate consecutive increases in utilization in six out of eight months."
"While the first quarter results are very encouraging, we continue to be faced with the usual challenges including, among other things, dealing with heavy competition from existing and new participants in the engine leasing space, maintaining utilization at acceptable levels and deciding the best way to invest our available capital," said Willis.
First Quarter 2014 Highlights (at or for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2014, compared to March 31, 2013, and December 31, 2013):
- Tangible book value per share increased 10.9% to $25.75 at March 31, 2014 compared to $23.21 a year ago.
- Lease rent revenues increased 9.9% year-over-year, reflecting higher average portfolio utilization and an increase in the average size of the lease portfolio.
- Total revenues increased 21.8% to $43.0 million in 1Q14 from $35.3 million in 1Q13 with increases recorded in all revenue line items except Gain on Sale.
- Average utilization in the current quarter was 87% compared to 84% in the first quarter of 2013.
- Utilization was 84% at quarter end, compared to 86% at the end of 2013 and 82% a year ago.
- Liquidity under the revolving credit facility was $101 million at quarter end, up from $83 million a year ago.
"With more than 240 engines in our portfolio or under our management, there is constant movement of assets transitioning on and off lease at any given time," said Donald Nunemaker, President. "We had an unusually high number of leases terminate in March, which brought our quarter-end utilization down to 84% from a three year high of 89% reached in January 2014. The increase in March lease terminations can be attributed to multiple causes including seasonality, natural expiration of certain long-term leases, as well as an unusually high number of short-term lease expirations. Our marketing and technical teams are working hard to place engines with our customers, and while we see solid demand across most engines types in the global markets today, it will likely take some time to move utilization back to the level reached in January of this year."
Balance Sheet
At March 31, 2014, Willis Lease had 200 commercial aircraft engines, 5 aircraft parts packages and 4 aircraft and other engine-related equipment in its lease portfolio, with a net book value of $1.02 billion, compared to 193 commercial aircraft engines, 3 aircraft parts packages and 7 aircraft and other engine-related equipment in its lease portfolio, with a net book value of 1.02 billion, a year ago. The Company's funded debt-to-equity is 3.53 to 1 at quarter end, compared to 3.70 to 1 at December 31, 2013 and 3.75 to 1 a year ago.
About Willis Lease Finance
Willis Lease Finance Corporation leases large and regional spare commercial aircraft engines, APU's and aircraft to airlines, aircraft engine manufacturers and maintenance, repair and overhaul providers in 110 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 | ||||||||||
|
March 31, 2014 |
Dec 31, 2013 |
March 31, 2013 |
% Change vs Dec 31, 2013 |
% Change vs March 31, 2013 |
||||||
| REVENUE | ||||||||||
| Lease rent revenue | $ 26,900 | $ 26,721 | $ 24,487 | 0.7% | 9.9% | |||||
| Maintenance reserve revenue | 14,030 | 16,786 | 9,229 | (16.4)% | 52.0% | |||||
| Gain on sale of leased equipment | 309 | 2,119 | 686 | (85.4)% | (55.0)% | |||||
| Other revenue | 1,761 | 1,577 | 902 | 11.7% | 95.2% | |||||
| Total revenue | 43,000 | 47,203 | 35,304 | (8.9)% | 21.8% | |||||
| EXPENSES | ||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization expense | 15,710 | 15,164 | 13,610 | 3.6% | 15.4% | |||||
| Write-down of equipment | 295 | 193 | -- | 52.8% | 100.0% | |||||
| General and administrative | 9,685 | 9,603 | 8,269 | 0.9% | 17.1% | |||||
| Technical expense | 1,520 | 2,440 | 1,674 | (37.7)% | (9.2)% | |||||
| Net finance costs | 9,359 | 9,735 | 9,227 | (3.9)% | 1.4% | |||||
| Total expenses | 36,569 | 37,135 | 32,780 | (1.5)% | 11.6% | |||||
| Earnings from operations | 6,431 | 10,068 | 2,524 | (36.1)% | 154.8% | |||||
| Earnings from joint ventures | 305 | 340 | 93 | (10.3)% | 228.0% | |||||
| Income before income taxes | 6,736 | 10,408 | 2,617 | (35.3)% | 157.4% | |||||
| Income tax expense | 2,405 | 3,855 | 1,007 | (37.6)% | 138.8% | |||||
| Net income | $ 4,331 | $ 6,553 | $ 1,610 | (33.9)% | 169.0% | |||||
| Basic earnings per common share | $ 0.55 | $ 0.84 | $ 0.20 | |||||||
| Diluted earnings per common share | $ 0.53 | $ 0.81 | $ 0.19 | |||||||
| Average common shares outstanding | 7,914 | 7,846 | 8,033 | |||||||
| Diluted average common shares outstanding | 8,129 | 8,084 | 8,273 | |||||||
| Consolidated Balance Sheets | |||
| (In thousands, except share data, unaudited) | |||
|
March 31, 2014 |
Dec 31, 2013 |
March 31, 2013 |
|
| ASSETS | |||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ 15,631 | $ 12,469 | $ 1,357 |
| Restricted cash | 53,375 | 51,126 | 32,493 |
| Equipment held for operating lease, less accumulated depreciation | 1,022,462 | 1,033,022 | 1,019,295 |
| Equipment held for sale | 30,376 | 32,491 | 23,996 |
| Operating lease related receivable, net of allowances | 13,650 | 13,286 | 9,927 |
| Inventory | 3,257 | 3,280 | -- |
| Investments | 23,790 | 23,485 | 28,070 |
| Property, equipment & furnishings, less accumulated depreciation | 4,920 | 4,950 | 5,492 |
| Intangible assets, net | 1,338 | 1,396 | -- |
| Equipment purchase deposits | 1,969 | 1,369 | 1,369 |
| Other assets | 21,849 | 22,355 | 26,002 |
| Total assets | $ 1,192,617 | $ 1,199,229 | $ 1,148,001 |
| LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY | |||
| Liabilities: | |||
| Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $ 18,917 | $ 16,283 | $ 14,061 |
| Liabilities under derivative instruments | -- | -- | 1,218 |
| Deferred income taxes | 88,924 | 86,685 | 91,363 |
| Notes payable | 767,108 | 787,614 | 757,135 |
| Maintenance reserves | 79,751 | 77,335 | 66,992 |
| Security deposits | 16,318 | 15,158 | 9,805 |
| Unearned lease revenue | 4,042 | 3,549 | 5,634 |
| Total liabilities | 975,060 | 986,624 | 946,208 |
| Shareholders' equity: | |||
| Common stock ($0.01 par value) | 84 | 84 | 87 |
| Paid-in capital in excess of par | 45,441 | 44,741 | 48,177 |
| Retained earnings | 171,786 | 167,455 | 154,521 |
| Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | 246 | 325 | (992) |
| Total shareholders' equity | 217,557 | 212,605 | 201,793 |
| Total liabilities and shareholders' equity | $ 1,192,617 | $ 1,199,229 | $ 1,148,001 |