AeroCentury Corp. Reports Profitable Fourth Quarter 2014

BURLINGAME, Calif., March 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — AeroCentury Corp. (NYSE MKT: ACY), an independent aircraft leasing company, today reported its unaudited operating results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2014.

Effective as of January 1, 2014, the Company adopted an alternate method of accounting for non-refundable maintenance reserves and certain lessor maintenance costs. In order to provide a meaningful comparison for 2014 results, the 2013 results stated below and in the accompanying tables were calculated as if the new method of accounting were in effect throughout 2013.

In the fourth quarter of 2014, net income was $0.5 million, or $0.32 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $0.8 million, or $0.54 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2013. The Company reported that, primarily as a result of a total of $18.7 million of non-cash, pre-tax write-downs of certain aircraft, it had a net loss of $11.3 million, or $7.32 per diluted share, in 2014, compared to net income of $8.3 million, or $5.26 per diluted share, in 2013.

“We are pleased to return to profitability this quarter. The financial results posted for 2014 were heavily impacted by $15.6 million of non-cash write-downs we took in the year on six older aircraft which we have classified as held for sale,” said Neal D. Crispin, President and Chief Executive Officer. “At the same time, 2014 was a year of continued strong growth of our portfolio with the addition of three CRJ-700 and two CRJ-900 mid-life regional jets and one new ATR 42-600 turboprop, all on long-term leases. These 2014 aircraft acquisitions, together with the aircraft sales and impairment charges taken on selected older aircraft, reflect our strategic growth plan to add mid-life regional jet aircraft and new generation turboprops, while reducing the older aircraft in our portfolio. With the addition of these aircraft, we believe that the Company is positioned for continued operating lease revenue growth. We continue to see strong lessee demand for larger, mid-life regional jets and turboprop aircraft to meet forecasted traffic growth throughout the world.”

“As a result of the aircraft acquisitions and aircraft sales during the year, the average age of the Company’s leasing portfolio at year-end 2014 is about 13 years compared to 18 years at year-end 2013, a 28% decrease in age,” Crispin continued. “In addition, the average remaining lease term for aircraft leases in place today is approximately 60 months, a 66% increase from approximately 36 months at the end of 2013.”

“By adding new lessees and lease renewals, the Company has been able to better diversify its lessee credit risk,” said Toni M. Perazzo, Chief Financial Officer. “For 2014, approximately 29% of 2014 operating lease revenue was derived from lessees in North America compared to 8% from North American lessees in 2013. In addition, these same lessees accounted for approximately 35% of the net book value of the Company’s leased aircraft, up from 12% in 2013.”

The Company expanded the board from five to six members in February 2015 with the addition of Dave Wilson who recently retired after 21 years from GECAS, the world’s largest aircraft leasing company.

Fourth Quarter 2014 Highlights (at or for the periods ended December 31, 2014, compared to December 31, 2013)

Total revenues were $6.2 million and $28.7 million for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2014, respectively, compared to total revenues of $5.6 million and $38.2 million, respectively, for the same periods a year ago.

Operating lease revenues increased 22% in the fourth quarter and 17% for the year, compared to the same periods a year ago primarily because of operating lease revenue from aircraft purchased during the fourth quarter of 2013 and in 2014.

Average portfolio utilization was 82% during 2014, compared to 76% in 2013.

Total expenses decreased 21% to $5.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2014 as compared to the same period in 2013 primarily as a result of JetFleet Management Corp.‘s one-time waiver of its fourth quarter management fees of $1.2 million. For the full year 2014, total expenses were $46.0 million compared to $25.6 million for 2013, primarily due to the non-cash, pre-tax write-downs totaling $18.7 million on certain of the Company’s older aircraft.

Balance Sheet

The net book value of the Company’s portfolio increased by 26% from $153.7 million at December 31, 2013 to $193.3 million at December 31, 2014. Currently, the Company’s portfolio consists of thirty-nine aircraft and five engines, covering ten different aircraft types compared to forty-one aircraft and six engines at December 31, 2013.

The Company’s current customer base consists exclusively of regional carriers – twelve airlines operating worldwide.

AeroCentury is an aircraft operating lessor and finance company specializing in leasing regional aircraft and engines utilizing triple net leases. The Company’s aircraft and engines are leased to regional airlines and commercial users worldwide.