Era Group Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2019 Results


HOUSTON, Nov. 05, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Era Group Inc. (NYSE: ERA) today reported net loss attributable to the Company of $1.9 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, for its third quarter ended September 30, 2019 (“current quarter”) on operating revenues of $58.9 million compared to net income attributable to the Company of $4.9 million, or $0.22 per diluted share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2019 (“preceding quarter”) on operating revenues of $55.5 million.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) was $10.3 million in the current quarter compared to $18.3 million in the preceding quarter.  EBITDA adjusted to exclude asset dispositions and special items was $9.5 million in the current quarter compared to $8.0 million in the preceding quarter.  Net gains on asset dispositions were $0.8 million in the current quarter compared to net losses of $0.1 million in the preceding quarter.  There were no special items in the current quarter; however, the current quarter results were adversely impacted by foreign currency losses of $0.7 million primarily due to the strengthening of the U.S. dollar relative to the Brazilian real.  Special items in the preceding quarter consisted of $10.9 million of equity earnings related to gains on the sale of the Dart Holding Company Limited (“Dart”) joint venture, a $0.6 million loss on the sale of investments and a less than $0.1 million loss on the extinguishment of debt.

The Company generated $23.9 million of free cash flow in the first nine months of 2019, of which $16.6 million was generated in the current quarter, continuing the Company’s track record of positive free cash flow generation since 2015.

Sequential Quarter Results

Operating revenues in the current quarter were $3.4 million higher compared to the preceding quarter primarily due to higher utilization of helicopters in U.S. oil and gas operations.

Operating expenses were $0.7 million higher in the current quarter primarily due to increased personnel, insurance and fuel costs, partially offset by lower repairs and maintenance expenses.

Administrative and general expenses were $0.2 million higher in the current quarter primarily due to increased professional services fees.

Gains on asset dispositions were $0.8 million in the current quarter due to the sale of three light twin helicopters, two hangar facilities and other property and equipment.

Foreign currency losses were $0.7 million in the current quarter primarily due to the strengthening of the U.S. dollar relative to the Brazilian real.

Income tax expense was $0.9 million lower in the current quarter primarily due to the sale of the Dart joint venture in the preceding quarter.

Calendar Quarter Results

Operating revenues in the current quarter were $4.3 million higher compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2018 (“prior year quarter”) primarily due to higher utilization of helicopters in oil and gas operations and the commencement of new dry-leasing and emergency response services contracts.

Operating expenses were $3.0 million higher in the current quarter primarily due to increased repairs and maintenance and personnel costs.

Administrative and general expenses were $0.3 million higher in the current quarter primarily due to increased professional services fees.

Foreign currency losses were $0.6 million higher in the current quarter primarily due to the strengthening of the U.S. dollar relative to the Brazilian real.

Income tax expense was $7.3 million lower in the current quarter primarily due to the recognition of litigation settlement proceeds in the prior year quarter.

Net loss attributable to the Company was $1.9 million in the current quarter compared to net income attributable to the Company of $31.3 million in the prior year quarter.  EBITDA was $41.2 million lower in the current quarter compared to the prior year quarter.  EBITDA adjusted to exclude asset dispositions and special items was $0.2 million higher in the current quarter.  Net gains on asset dispositions were $0.8 million in the current quarter compared to net losses of $0.1 million in the prior year quarter.  There were no special items in the current quarter.  Special items in the prior year quarter consisted of $0.2 million of non-routine professional services fees related to litigation that has now been settled, $42.0 million in litigation settlement proceeds and $0.5 million of equity earnings from the Dart joint venture.

Liquidity

As of September 30, 2019, the Company had $107.7 million in cash balances and $124.3 million of remaining availability under its Amended and Restated Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility (the “Facility”) for total liquidity of $232.0 million. As of September 30, 2019, the Company’s senior secured leverage ratio, as defined in the Facility, was 0.4x compared to the covenant requirement of not more than 3.25x, and the Company’s interest coverage ratio was 2.9x compared to the covenant requirement of not less than 1.75x.

Capital Commitments

The Company had unfunded capital commitments of $78.2 million as of September 30, 2019. The Company may terminate all of its commitments without further liability other than aggregate liquidated damages of $2.1 million.

Included in these capital commitments are agreements to purchase three AW189 heavy helicopters and five AW169 light twin helicopters. The AW189 helicopters are scheduled to be delivered in 2020 and 2021.  Delivery dates for the AW169 helicopters have yet to be determined. In addition, the Company has outstanding options to purchase up to ten additional AW189 helicopters. If these options are exercised, the helicopters would be scheduled for delivery in 2021 and 2022.

Conference Call

Management will conduct a conference call starting at 10:00 a.m. ET (9:00 a.m. CT) on Wednesday, November 6, 2019, to review the results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2019. The conference call can be accessed as follows:

All callers will need to reference the access code 3219118.

Within the U.S.:  Operator Assisted Toll-Free Dial-In Number: (800) 353-6461

Outside the U.S.:  Operator Assisted International Dial-In Number: (334) 323-0501

Replay

A telephone replay will be available through November 20, 2019 by dialing 888-203-1112 and utilizing the access code above.  An audio replay will also be available on the Company’s website at www.erahelicopters.com shortly after the call and will be accessible through November 20, 2019. The accompanying investor presentation will be available on November 6, 2019 on Era’s website at www.erahelicopters.com.

For additional information concerning Era, contact Jennifer Whalen at (713) 369-4636 or visit Era Group’s website at https://ir.erahelicopters.com/.

About Era Group

Era is one of the largest helicopter operators in the world and the longest serving helicopter transport operator in the United States (“U.S.”).  In addition to servicing its U.S. customers, Era provides helicopters and related services to customers and third-party helicopter operators in other countries, including Brazil, Colombia, India, Mexico, Spain, and Suriname.  Era’s helicopters are primarily used to transport personnel to, from and between offshore oil and gas production platforms, drilling rigs and other installations. In addition, Era’s helicopters are used to perform emergency response services, firefighting, utility, VIP transport and other services.  Era also provides a variety of operating lease solutions and technical fleet support to third party operators.

Forward-Looking Statements Disclosure

This release contains “forward-looking statements.” Forward-looking statements give the Company’s current expectations or forecasts of future events. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “project,” or “continue,” or other similar words. These statements are made under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and reflect management’s current views with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown. The Company’s actual results may vary materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements. The Company cautions investors not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties and other important factors include, among others, the Company’s dependence on, and the cyclical and volatile nature of, offshore oil and gas exploration, development and production activity, and the impact of general economic conditions and fluctuations in worldwide prices of and demand for oil and natural gas on such activity levels; the Company’s reliance on a limited number of customers and the reduction of its customer base resulting from bankruptcies or consolidation; risks that the Company’s customers reduce or cancel contracted services or tender processes or obtain comparable services through other forms of transportation; dependence on U.S. government agency contracts that are subject to budget appropriations; cost savings initiatives implemented by the Company’s customers; risks inherent in operating helicopters; the Company’s ability to maintain an acceptable safety record and level of reliability; the impact of increased U.S. and foreign government regulation and legislation, including potential government implemented moratoriums on drilling activities; the impact of a grounding of all or a portion of the Company’s fleet for extended periods of time or indefinitely on the Company’s business, including its operations and ability to service customers, results of operations or financial condition and/or the market value of the affected helicopter(s); the Company’s ability to successfully expand into other geographic and aviation service markets; risks associated with political instability, governmental action, war, acts of terrorism, trade policies and changes in the economic condition in any foreign country where the Company does business, which may result in expropriation, nationalization, confiscation or deprivation of the Company’s assets or result in claims of a force majeure situation; the impact of declines in the global economy and financial markets; the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates on the Company’s asset values and cost to purchase helicopters, spare parts and related services; risks related to investing in new lines of aviation service without realizing the expected benefits; risks of engaging in competitive processes or expending significant resources for strategic opportunities, with no guaranty of recoupment; the Company’s reliance on a small number of helicopter manufacturers and suppliers; the Company’s ongoing need to replace aging helicopters; the Company’s reliance on the secondary helicopter market to dispose of used helicopters and parts; the Company’s reliance on information technology and potential harm from cyber-security incidents; the impact of allocation of risk between the Company and its customers; the liability, legal fees and costs in connection with providing emergency response services; adverse weather conditions and seasonality; risks associated with the Company’s debt structure; the Company’s counterparty credit risk exposure; the impact of operational and financial difficulties of the Company’s joint ventures and partners and the risks associated with identifying and securing joint venture partners when needed; conflict with the other owners of the Company’s non-wholly owned subsidiaries and other equity investees; adverse results of legal proceedings, significant increases in costs; the Company’s ability to obtain insurance coverage and the adequacy and availability of such coverage; the possibility of labor problems; the attraction and retention of qualified personnel; restrictions on the amount of foreign ownership of the Company’s common stock; and various other risk factors described from time to time in the Company’s Form 10-K, Form 10-Q, and Form 8-K reports (including all amendments to those reports) filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. It is not possible to predict or identify all such factors. Consequently, the foregoing should not be considered a complete discussion of all potential risks or uncertainties. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of the document in which they are made. Era Group disclaims any obligation or undertaking to provide any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in Era Group's expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which the forward-looking statement is based.

The Facility requires that the Company maintain certain financial ratios on a rolling four-quarter basis.  The interest coverage ratio is a trailing four-quarter quotient of (i) EBITDA (as defined in the Facility) less dividends and distributions divided by (ii) interest expense.  The interest coverage ratio is not a measure of operating performance or liquidity defined by GAAP and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies.  The senior secured leverage ratio is calculated by dividing (i) the sum of secured debt for borrowed money, capital lease obligations and guaranties of obligations of non-consolidated entities by (ii) EBITDA (as defined in the Facility).  The senior secured leverage ratio is not a measure of operating performance or liquidity defined by GAAP and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies.  EBITDA is calculated differently under the Facility than as presented elsewhere in this release.

ERA GROUP INC. 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS 
(unaudited, in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
  Three Months Ended
  Sep 30,
2019
 Jun 30,
2019
 Mar 31,
2019
 Dec 31,
2018
 Sep 30,
2018
Total revenues $58,909  $55,480  $51,293  $52,016  $54,610 
Costs and expenses:          
Operating 39,522  38,820  36,696  37,018  36,513 
Administrative and general 9,142  8,895  8,875  9,412  8,837 
Depreciation and amortization 9,312  9,520  9,450  9,530  9,541 
Total costs and expenses 57,976  57,235  55,021  55,960  54,891 
Gains (losses) on asset dispositions, net 754  (68) (124) (694) (148)
Litigation settlement proceeds         42,000 
Loss on impairment       (991)  
Operating income (loss) 1,687  (1,823) (3,852) (5,629) 41,571 
Other income (expense):          
Interest income 956  934  752  818  732 
Interest expense (3,464) (3,432) (3,461) (3,485) (3,549)
Loss on sale of investments   (569)      
Foreign currency gains (losses), net (718) 270  (126) 77  (94)
Loss on debt extinguishment   (13)      
Other, net (5) (9) (11) 33  15 
Total other income (expense) (3,231) (2,819) (2,846) (2,557) (2,896)
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity earnings (1,544) (4,642) (6,698) (8,186) 38,675 
Income tax expense (benefit) 515  1,394  (1,588) (1,609) 7,861 
Income (loss) before equity earnings (2,059) (6,036) (5,110) (6,577) 30,814 
Equity earnings (losses), net of tax   10,910  (975) 629  465 
Net income (loss) (2,059) 4,874  (6,085) (5,948) 31,279 
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiary 149  66  142  154  10 
Net income (loss) attributable to Era Group Inc. $(1,910) $4,940  $(5,943) $(5,794) $31,289 
           
Basic earnings (loss) per common share $(0.09) $0.22  $(0.28) $(0.27) $1.44 
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share $(0.09) $0.22  $(0.28) $(0.27) $1.44 
           
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic 20,625,408  21,448,115  21,323,312  21,251,638  21,215,576 
Weighted average common shares outstanding, diluted 20,629,328  21,448,115  21,323,312  21,251,638  21,239,189 
           
EBITDA $10,276  $18,286  $4,486  $4,640  $51,498 
Adjusted EBITDA $10,276  $7,958  $5,461  $5,002  $9,213 
Adjusted EBITDA excluding asset dispositions $9,522  $8,026  $5,585  $5,696  $9,361 
                     


ERA GROUP INC. 
REVENUES BY LINE OF SERVICE 
(unaudited, in thousands)
  Three Months Ended
  Sep 30,
 2019
 Jun 30,
 2019
 Mar 31,
 2019
 Dec 31,
 2018
 Sep 30,
 2018
Oil and gas:(1)          
U.S. $36,226  $33,270  $32,466  $33,876  $35,473 
International 14,740  14,499  13,616  13,357  13,665 
Total oil and gas 50,966  47,769  46,082  47,233  49,138 
Dry-leasing 4,250  4,287  3,463  2,938  2,716 
Emergency response 3,693  3,424  1,748  1,845  2,756 
  $58,909  $55,480  $51,293  $52,016  $54,610 


FLIGHT HOURS BY LINE OF SERVICE(2)
(unaudited)
  Three Months Ended
  Sep 30,
 2019
 Jun 30,
 2019
 Mar 31,
 2019
 Dec 31,
 2018
 Sep 30,
 2018
Oil and gas:(1)          
U.S. 6,181  5,689  5,101  5,235  6,132 
International 2,599  2,548  2,224  2,410  2,288 
Total oil and gas 8,780  8,237  7,325  7,645  8,420 
Emergency response 144  110  76  90  108 
  8,924  8,347  7,401  7,735  8,528 

____________________

(1) Primarily oil and gas services, but also includes revenues and flight hours from utility services, such as firefighting.

(2) Does not include hours flown by helicopters in our dry-leasing line of service.


ERA GROUP INC. 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS 
(in thousands)
  Sep 30,
 2019
 Jun 30,
 2019
 Mar 31,
 2019
 Dec 31,
 2018
 Sep 30,
 2018
ASSETS (unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited)   (unaudited)
Current assets:          
Cash and cash equivalents $107,736  $88,430  $49,612  $50,753  $47,631 
Receivables:          
Trade, net of allowance for doubtful accounts 37,176  35,658  37,178  37,109  39,488 
Tax receivables 2,705  2,680  2,843  3,187  3,117 
Other 11,567  16,478  7,204  2,343  2,701 
Inventories, net 20,826  21,004  20,893  20,673  20,157 
Prepaid expenses 2,851  2,822  2,233  1,807  2,367 
Total current assets 182,861  167,072  119,963  115,872  115,461 
Property and equipment 901,580  918,972  918,252  917,161  927,477 
Accumulated depreciation (334,730) (336,825) (327,444) (317,967) (314,736)
Net property and equipment 566,850  582,147  590,808  599,194  612,741 
Operating lease right-of-use

 9,907  8,080  8,460     
Equity investments and advances     24,427  27,112  26,600 
Intangible assets 1,094  1,098  1,102  1,107  1,111 
Other assets 6,363  6,487  21,081  21,578  18,421 
Total assets $767,075  $764,884  $765,841  $764,863  $774,334 
           
LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTEREST AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY          
Current liabilities:          
Accounts payable and accrued expenses $11,940  $13,467  $12,643  $13,161  $10,438 
Accrued wages and benefits 8,960  8,222  5,524  9,267  8,605 
Accrued interest 3,321  536  3,376  569  3,404 
Accrued income taxes 2,945  938  2,874  973  2,993 
Current portion of long-term debt 1,845  1,859  1,938  2,058  2,158 
Accrued other taxes 1,986  1,410  1,414  1,268  2,396 
Accrued contingencies 548  647  656  630  1,014 
Other current liabilities 2,851  2,902  3,092  878  1,033 
Total current liabilities 34,396  29,981  31,517  28,804  32,041 
Long-term debt 158,731  158,981  159,961  160,217  160,476 
Deferred income taxes 105,440  106,929  104,824  108,357  108,138 
Operating lease liabilities
 8,166  6,387  6,773     
Deferred gains and other liabilities 850  850  721  747  1,753 
Total liabilities 307,583  303,128  303,796  298,125  302,408 
           
Redeemable noncontrolling interest 2,945  3,094  3,160  3,302  3,456 
Equity:          
Era Group Inc. stockholders’ equity:          
Common stock 224  224  224  219  219 
Additional paid-in capital 451,103  449,687  448,690  447,298  447,013 
Retained earnings 15,372  17,282  12,342  18,285  24,079 
Treasury shares, at cost (10,152) (8,531) (2,481) (2,476) (2,951)
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax     110  110  110 
Total equity 456,547  458,662  458,885  463,436  468,470 
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interest and stockholders’ equity $767,075  $764,884  $765,841  $764,863  $774,334 
                     

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Metrics

The Company’s management uses EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to assess the performance and operating results of its business. EBITDA is defined as Earnings before Interest (includes interest income and interest expense), Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA further adjusted for certain special items that occur during the reported period, as noted below. The Company includes EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to provide investors with a supplemental measure of its operating performance. Neither EBITDA nor Adjusted EBITDA is a recognized term under generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. (“GAAP”). Accordingly, they should not be used as an indicator of, or an alternative to, net income as a measure of operating performance. In addition, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not intended to be measures of free cash flow available for management’s discretionary use, as they do not consider certain cash requirements, such as debt service requirements. Because the definitions of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA (or similar measures) may vary among companies and industries, they may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures used by other companies.

The following table provides a reconciliation of net income, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA (in thousands).

  Three Months Ended
  Sep 30,
 2019
 Jun 30,
 2019
 Mar 31,
 2019
 Dec 31,
 2018
 Sep 30,
 2018
Net income (loss) $(2,059) $4,874  $(6,085) $(5,948) $31,279 
Depreciation and amortization 9,312  9,520  9,450  9,530  9,541 
Interest income (956) (934) (752) (818) (732)
Interest expense 3,464  3,432  3,461  3,485  3,549 
Income tax expense (benefit) 515  1,394  (1,588) (1,609) 7,861 
EBITDA $10,276  $18,286  $4,486  $4,640  $51,498 
Special items (1)   (10,328) 975  362  (42,285)
Adjusted EBITDA $10,276  $7,958  $5,461  $5,002  $9,213 
Losses (gains) on asset dispositions, net (754) 68  124  694  148 
Adjusted EBITDA excluding asset dispositions $9,522  $8,026  $5,585  $5,696  $9,361 
                     

Free Cash Flow represents the Company’s net cash provided by operating activities plus proceeds from disposition of property and equipment, less expenditures related to purchases of property and equipment. Adjusted Free Cash Flow is Free Cash Flow adjusted to exclude professional services fees paid in respect of litigation settled in the third quarter of 2018 and the proceeds on settlement of that litigation.  Management believes that the use of Adjusted Free Cash Flow is meaningful as it measures the Company’s ability to generate cash from its business after excluding cash payments for special items. Management uses this information as an analytical indicator to assess the Company’s liquidity and performance.  However, investors should note numerous methods may exist for calculating a company's free cash flow. As a result, the method used by management to calculate Adjusted Free Cash Flow may differ from the methods used by other companies to calculate their free cash flow.

The following table provides a reconciliation of net cash provided by operating activities, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, to Free Cash Flow and Adjusted Free Cash Flow (in thousands).

  Three Months Ended
  Sep 30,
 2019
 Jun 30,
 2019
 Mar 31,
 2019
 Dec 31,
 2018
 Sep 30,
 2018
Net cash provided by operating activities $9,970  $7,240  $2,635  $4,002  $45,189 
Plus: Proceeds from disposition of property and equipment 9,252      70  23 
Less: Purchases of property and equipment (2,588) (1,268) (1,312) (1,530) (1,728)
Free cash flow $16,634  $5,972  $1,323  $2,542  $43,484 
Plus: Non-routine litigation expenses(1)         180 
Less: Litigation settlement proceeds(1)         (42,000)
Adjusted free cash flow $16,634  $5,972  $1,323  $2,542  $1,664 

____________________

(1) Special items include the following:

  • Equity earnings (losses) of $10.9 million, $(1.0) million, $0.6 million and $0.5 million, in Q2 2019, Q1 2019, Q4 2018 and Q3 2018, respectively;
  • In the three months ended June 30, 2019, a $0.6 million loss on the sale of corporate securities and a less than $0.1 million loss on  the extinguishment of debt;
  • In the three months ended December 31, 2018, a non-cash impairment charge of $1.0 million related to the impairment of the Company’s last remaining H225 helicopter;
  • Non-routine litigation expenses related to the H225 helicopters of $0.2 million in Q3 2018;  and
  • In the three months ended September 30, 2018, $42.0 million in litigation settlement proceeds.
ERA GROUP INC. 
FLEET COUNT 
(unaudited)
  Sep 30,
 2019
 Jun 30,
 2019
 Mar 31,
 2019
 Dec 31,
 2018
 Sep 30,
 2018
Heavy:          
S92 4  4  4  4  4 
H225 1  1  1  1  2 
AW189 4  4  4  4  4 
  9  9  9  9  10 
           
Medium:          
AW139 36  36  36  36  36 
S76 C+/C++ 5  5  5  5  5 
B212 5  5  5  5  5 
  46  46  46  46  46 
           
Light—twin engine:          
A109 7  7  7  7  7 
EC135 10  13  13  13  15 
BO105 3  3  3  3  3 
  20  23  23  23  25 
           
Light—single engine:          
A119 13  13  13  13  13 
AS350 17  17  17  17  17 
  30  30  30  30  30 
Total Helicopters 105  108  108  108  111