2014 10K
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM 10-K
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014
Commission file number 000-50368
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware | | 26-1631624 |
(State of Incorporation) | | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
145 Hunter Drive, Wilmington, OH 45177
(Address of principal executive offices)
937-382-5591
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Common Stock, Par Value $.01 per share
(Title of class)
Name of each exchange on which registered: NASDAQ Stock Market LLC
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
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Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. YES o NO x
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. YES o NO x
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES x NO o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulations S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). YES x NO o
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
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Large accelerated filer o | | Accelerated filer x |
Non-accelerated filer o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | | Smaller reporting company o |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). YES o NO x
The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold, as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter: $438,608,807. As of March 9, 2015, 64,928,664 shares of the registrant’s common stock, par value $0.01, were outstanding.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders scheduled to be held May 7, 2015 are incorporated by reference into Part III.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
Statements contained in this annual report on Form 10-K, including “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” in Item 7, that are not historical facts are considered forward-looking statements (as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Words such as “projects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “will,” “estimates,” “plans,” “expects,” “intends” and similar words and expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the date of this filing, and involve risks and uncertainties that are inherently difficult to predict. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements for any number of reasons, including those described in “Risk Factors” starting on page 10 and in “Results of Operations” starting on page 23.
AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
2014 FORM 10-K ANNUAL REPORT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PART I |
Item 1. | | | |
Item 1A. | | | |
Item 1B. | | | |
Item 2. | | | |
Item 3. | | | |
Item 4. | | | |
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PART II |
Item 5. | | | |
Item 6. | | | |
Item 7. | | | |
Item 7A. | | | |
Item 8. | | | |
Item 9. | | | |
Item 9A. | | | |
Item 9B. | | | |
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PART III |
Item 10. | | | |
Item 11. | | | |
Item 12. | | | |
Item 13. | | | |
Item 14. | | | |
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PART IV |
Item 15. | | | |
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PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
General Development of Business
Air Transport Services Group, Inc. ("ATSG"), is a holding company that, through its subsidiaries, provides aircraft leasing, airline operations, aircraft maintenance and other support services to the air cargo transportation and package delivery industries. We offer a range of complementary services to delivery companies, freight forwarders, airlines and government customers (When the context requires, we may use the terms “Company” and “ATSG” in this report to refer to the business of ATSG and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.). Our services are summarized below.
Aircraft leasing: ATSG's leasing subsidiary, Cargo Aircraft Management, Inc. (“CAM”) leases cargo aircraft to ATSG's airlines and to external customers. CAM services global demand for medium range and medium capacity airlift by offering Boeing 767 and 757 aircraft leases. CAM is able to provide competitive lease rates by monitoring the related passenger aircraft sale markets, acquiring passenger aircraft based on projected into-service costs and rate of return targets, then managing the modification of passenger aircraft into freighters. As a result, the converted freighters can be deployed into regional markets more economically than larger capacity aircraft or competing alternatives. CAM's aircraft leases are typically under multi-year agreements.
ACMI services: ATSG wholly owns two airlines, ABX Air, Inc. (“ABX”) and Air Transport International, Inc. (“ATI”), each independently certificated by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The Company's airlines contract directly with customers to supply a combination of aircraft, crews, maintenance and insurance services, commonly referred to as ACMI services. ABX operates Boeing 767 freighter aircraft, while ATI operates Boeing 767 and Boeing 757 freighter and 757 "combi" aircraft. Combi aircraft are capable of carrying passengers and cargo containers on the main flight deck. The airlines can conduct cargo operations worldwide.
Support services: Customers who lease our aircraft typically need related services, such as scheduled aircraft maintenance, aircraft line maintenance, crew training and other transportation related solutions which our subsidiaries can provide. The support services we provide to freight forwarders and other airlines provide us with a competitive advantage for diversification and incremental revenues. Our businesses and subsidiaries providing support services are summarized below.
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• | ABX provides flight crew training, flight simulator rental and aircraft line maintenance services; |
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• | Airborne Maintenance and Engineering Services, Inc. (“AMES”) is an aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul business; |
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• | AMES Material Services, Inc. ("AMS") resells and brokers aircraft parts; |
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• | LGSTX Services, Inc. (“LGSTX”) provides material handling and ground equipment maintenance and ground equipment rentals for aircraft support; |
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• | LGSTX Distribution Services, Inc. ("LDS") operates mail sorting centers for the U.S Postal Service ("USPS"); |
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• | Global Flight Source, Inc. ("GFS") provides aircraft dispatch and flight tracking services. |
Airborne Global Solutions, Inc. ("AGS") is our subsidiary that assists our businesses in achieving their sales and marketing plans. AGS leverages the entire portfolio of the Company's subsidiaries' capabilities to develop bundled, turn-key cargo airline solutions that are flexible, customized and built on our experience in global cargo airline operations. AGS provides sales leads to our subsidiaries by identifying customers' business and operational requirements.
ATSG is incorporated in Delaware and its headquarters is in Wilmington, Ohio. ATSG's common shares are publicly traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol ATSG. ATSG was formed on December 31, 2007, from the reorganization of ABX for the purpose of creating a holding company structure. ABX was incorporated in 1980. Between 1980 and August 2003, ABX was an affiliate of Airborne, Inc. (“Airborne”), a publicly traded, integrated delivery service provider. On August 15, 2003, ABX was separated from Airborne and became an independent publicly traded company, in conjunction with the acquisition of Airborne by an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of DHL Worldwide Express, B.V. In 2004, we established LDS to provide mail sorting services to the USPS. The Company acquired CAM, ATI and Capital Cargo International Airlines, Inc. ("CCIA") on December 31, 2007. ATI began operations in 1979 and was an affiliate of BAX Global, Inc. (“BAX/Schenker”) prior to 2006. In 2009, the aircraft maintenance operations of ABX, including a hangar facility in Wilmington, were spun-out into AMES, a wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Company. Similarly, in 2010, the material handling and aviation ground support operations of ABX were spun-out into a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, now known as LGSTX. During 2013, we merged CCIA into ATI, with ATI as the surviving entity.
In January 2014, the Company acquired a 25 percent equity interest in West Atlantic AB of Gothenburg, Sweden. West Atlantic AB, through its two airlines, Atlantic Airlines Ltd. and West Air Sweden AB, operates a fleet of approximately 40 aircraft and is Europe’s largest regional cargo aircraft operator. West Atlantic AB operates its aircraft on behalf of European regional mail carriers and express logistics providers. The airlines operate a combined fleet of British Aerospace ATPs, Bombardier CRJ-200-PFs, and Boeing 737 aircraft. In addition, West Air Sweden AB is adding the Boeing 767 aircraft to its operating capability.
Description of Business
The Company has two reportable segments, “ACMI Services" and "CAM." Due to the similarities among the Company's airline operations, they are aggregated into a single reportable segment - ACMI Services. The Company’s other business operations, including aircraft maintenance and modification services, aircraft part sales, equipment leasing and maintenance and mail handling for the USPS do not constitute reportable segments due to their size. Customer revenues for 2014 are summarized below. Additional financial information about our segments and geographical revenues is presented in Note N to the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
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| | | ACMI Services | | Aircraft leasing | | Support services |
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| External revenues (in thousands) | | $439,919 | | $77,668 | | $72,005 |
| Subsidiaries and businesses | | ABX, ATI | | CAM | | ABX, AMES, AMS, GFS, LDS, LGSTX |
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DHL Network Operations (USA), Inc. and its affiliates (individually and collectively, "DHL"), is the Company's largest customer. Business with DHL totaled 55% of the Company's consolidated revenues in 2014, while the U.S. Military comprised 16% of the Company's consolidated revenues in 2014.
The Company, through ABX, has had long term contracts with DHL since August 15, 2003. Under the current commercial agreements, which began in March of 2010, DHL leases 13 Boeing 767 freighter aircraft from CAM, each for a term of seven years and ABX separately operates those aircraft for DHL in its U.S. network under a five year crew, maintenance and insurance agreement ("CMI agreement") which was set to expire in March 2015. As of December 31, 2014, ABX was also operating seven other Boeing 767 aircraft under short -term arrangements, as well as two DHL owned Boeing 767 aircraft, for DHL's U.S network. Additionally, ATI operates four Boeing 757 aircraft under ACMI agreements in DHL's U.S network.
In January 2015, the Company and DHL entered into an amended and restated CMI agreement ("restated CMI agreement") pursuant to which ABX will continue to operate Boeing 767 aircraft for DHL, and that adds at least two Boeing 767 aircraft leases and extends the existing 13 long term aircraft leases through March of 2019. As a result, effective April 1, 2015, CAM will lease to DHL two more Boeing 767 aircraft that presently support DHL under short-term arrangements, the existing monthly aircraft lease rates will decline approximately 5% and all Boeing 767 aircraft lease terms with DHL will extend through March 2019. Further, the Company will continue to operate and maintain the aircraft through March 2019 under the restated CMI agreement.
CAM
As of December 31, 2014, CAM’s fleet consisted of 53 serviceable Boeing 767 and 757 cargo aircraft. A complete list of the Company's aircraft is included in Item 2, Properties.
CAM leases aircraft to ATSG's airlines and to external customers, including DHL, usually under multi-year contracts with a schedule of fixed monthly payments. Under a typical lease arrangement, the customer maintains the aircraft in serviceable condition at its own cost. At the end of the lease term, the customer is typically required to return the aircraft in approximately the same maintenance condition that existed at the inception of the lease, as measured by
airframe and engine time since the last scheduled maintenance event. CAM examines the credit worthiness of potential customers, their short and long term growth prospects, their financial condition and backing, the experience of their management, and the impact of governmental regulation when determining the lease rate that is offered to the customer. In addition, CAM monitors the customer’s business and financial status throughout the term of the lease.
Through CAM, we have expanded in recent years the Company's combined fleet of Boeing 767 and 757 aircraft and retired less efficient Boeing 727 and McDonnell Douglas DC-8 freighter aircraft. CAM has managed the modification of aircraft into cargo aircraft as well as purchased previously modified cargo aircraft. Since the beginning of 2012, CAM has deployed six Boeing 767-300 and five Boeing 757 aircraft into its fleet.
ACMI Services
Through the Company's two airline subsidiaries, we provide airline operations to DHL, other airlines, freight forwarders and the U.S. Military. A typical operating agreement requires our airline to supply, at a specific rate per block hour and/or per month, the aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance ("ACMI") for specified cargo operations. The customer is responsible for substantially all other aircraft operating expenses, including fuel, landing fees, parking fees and ground and cargo handling expenses. The airlines also operate charter agreements, including with the U.S. Military, which require the airline to provide full service, including fuel and other operating expenses, in addition to aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance, for a fixed, all-inclusive price.
Demand for air cargo services correlates closely with general economic conditions and the level of commercial activity in a geographic area. Stronger general economic conditions and growth in a region typically increase the need for product transportation. Historically, the cargo industry has experienced higher volumes during the fourth calendar quarter of each year due to increased shipments during the holiday season. Generally, time-critical delivery needs, such as just-in-time inventory management, increase the demand for air cargo delivery, while higher costs of aviation fuel generally reduces the demand for air delivery services. When aviation fuel prices increase, shippers will consider using ground transportation if the delivery time allows.
Our airlines operate medium payload and medium wide-body aircraft freighters usually on intra-continental flights and medium range inter-continental flights. The airlines typically operate our aircraft in the customers' regional networks that connect to and from global cargo networks. We do not operate larger capacity, long haul inter-continental freighters such as the Boeing 747 or Airbus A380 aircraft. The freighter types we operate have lower investment and ongoing maintenance costs and can operate cost efficiently with smaller loads on shorter routes than the larger capacity freighters.
Our airlines provide airlift to the Air Mobility Command ("AMC") through contracts awarded by the U.S. Transportation Command ("USTC"), both of which are organized under the U.S. Military. ATI contracts with the AMC for the operation of its unique fleet of four Boeing 757 "combi" aircraft, which are capable of simultaneously carrying passengers and cargo containers on the main flight deck. ATI has been operating combi aircraft for the U.S. Military since 1993. During 2013, ATI retired its four DC-8 combi aircraft and replaced the aircraft with the more modern Boeing 757 combi aircraft. The USTC awards flights to U.S. certificated airlines through annual contracts and awarded ATI three international routes for combi aircraft through September of 2015. These routes are not based on or related to conflicts in the Middle East. Additionally, our airlines may operate temporary "expansion" routes for the U.S Military using its Boeing 757 combi and Boeing 767 freighter aircraft.
CCIA and ATI each provided airlift to BAX/Schenker's North American network through ACMI agreements using Boeing 727 and DC-8 aircraft, respectively. However, in 2011, BAX/Schenker announced its decision to phase out its dedicated air cargo network in North America, which was supported by the Company. Instead of a dedicated aircraft network, BAX/Schenker began to utilize DHL and other delivery services for its air transportation delivery requirements. Beginning in January 2012, the Company contracted with DHL to supplement DHL's U.S. air network to service BAX/Schenker's freight volumes on DHL's expanded air network. By the end of 2012, we retired the remaining Boeing 727 and DC-8 freighter aircraft, replacing their capacity with Boeing 767 aircraft. To further streamline our operations, we completed the merger of ATI and CCIA's airline operations in the first quarter of 2013. The combined operation benefits from a standardized fleet, two person flight crew, common pilot type rating and the improved reliability of the Boeing 767 and Boeing 757 aircraft as compared to the Boeing 727 and DC-8 freighter aircraft formerly operated.
Approximately 13% of the Company's consolidated revenues for 2014 were derived from providing airline operations for customers other than DHL and the U.S. Military. These ACMI and charter operations are typically provided to freight forwarders or other airlines and have non-U.S. destinations.
We have limited exposure to fluctuations in the price of aviation fuel under contracts with our customers. DHL, like most of our ACMI customers, procures the aircraft fuel and fueling services necessary for their flights. Our charter agreements with the U.S. Military are based on a preset pegged fuel price and include a subsequent true-up to the actual fuel prices.
Aircraft Maintenance and Modification Services
We provide aircraft maintenance and modification services to other air carriers through our ABX and AMES subsidiaries. ABX and AMES have technical expertise related to aircraft modifications as a result of ABX’s long history in aviation. They own many Supplemental Type Certificates (“STCs”). An STC is granted by the FAA and represents an ownership right, similar to an intellectual property right, which authorizes the alteration of an airframe, engine or component.
AMES operates a Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) certificated 145 repair station in Wilmington, Ohio, including hangars, a component shop and engineering capabilities. AMES is AS9100 quality certified for the aerospace industry. AMES markets its capabilities by identifying aviation-related maintenance and modification opportunities and matching them to its capabilities. AMES’ marketable capabilities include the installation of avionics systems and flat panel displays for Boeing 757 and 767 aircraft. The flat panel display modernizes aircraft avionics equipment and reduces maintenance costs by combining multiple display units into a single instrumentation panel. In 2014, the Company completed the construction of a new hangar facility bringing the total hangar square footage to 310,000. While the original facility houses aircraft as large as the Boeing 767, the new hangar provides the capability of servicing airframes as large as the Boeing 747 and the Boeing 777 aircraft. AMES has the capability to perform line maintenance and airframe maintenance on McDonnell Douglas DC-9, MD-80, Boeing 767, 757, 737, 777, 727 and Airbus A320 aircraft. AMES also has the capability to refurbish airframe components, including approximately 60% of the components utilized by Boeing 767 aircraft.
Aircraft Parts Sales and Brokerage
AMS is an Aviation Suppliers Association 100 Certified reseller and broker of aircraft parts. AMS carries an inventory of Boeing 767, DC-9 and DC-8 spare parts and also maintains inventory on consignment from original equipment manufacturers, resellers, lessors and other airlines. AMS customers include the commercial air cargo industry, passenger airlines, aircraft manufacturers and contract maintenance companies serving the commercial aviation industry, as well as other resellers.
Equipment and Facility Maintenance
LGSTX provides contract maintenance services for material handling equipment and aviation ground support equipment throughout the U.S. LGSTX has a large inventory of ground support equipment, such as power units, airstarts, deicers and pushback vehicles that it rents to airports, airlines and other customers. LGSTX is also licensed to resell aircraft fuel.
U.S. Postal Service
Since September 2004, we have provided mail sorting services under contracts with the USPS. Our subsidiary, LDS, manages USPS mail sort centers in Indianapolis, Dallas and Memphis. Under each of these three contracts, we are compensated at a firm price for fixed costs and an additional amount based on the volume of mail handled at each sort center. LDS also provides labor for load transfer services to the USPS at two facilities. The contacts for the five facilities have been extended from their original expiration dates in 2014 and are currently scheduled to expire during 2015. We understand that the USPS is evaluating contract renewals and internal alternatives for these five facilities. The contract for some or all of these facilities may not be renewed. LDS also provides international mail forwarding services through the Miami International Airport and the Los Angeles International Airport.
Flight Support
ABX is FAA-certificated to offer flight crew training to customers and rent usage of its flight simulators for outside training programs. ABX has three flight simulators in operation. ABX’s Boeing 767 and DC-9 flight simulators are level C certified. The level C flight simulators allow ABX to qualify flight crewmembers under FAA requirements without performing check flights in an aircraft. The DC-8 simulator is level B certified, which allows ABX to qualify flight crewmembers by performing a minimum number of flights in an aircraft.
The Company's GFS business provides aircraft dispatch and flight monitoring to ABX and ATI. GFS can provide these services to U.S certificated supplemental air carriers and foreign air carriers.
Competitive Conditions
Our airline subsidiaries compete with other cargo airlines to place aircraft under ACMI arrangements and charter contracts. Other cargo airlines include Amerijet International, Inc., Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc., Kalitta Air LLC, National Air Cargo Group, Inc. and Southern Air, Inc. The primary competitive factors in the air cargo industry are operating costs, fuel efficiency, geographic coverage, aircraft range, aircraft reliability and capacity. The cost of airline operations is significantly impacted by the cost of flight crewmembers, which can vary among airlines depending on their collective bargaining agreements. Cargo airlines also compete for cargo volumes with passenger airlines that have substantial belly cargo capacity. The air cargo industry is capital intensive and highly competitive, especially during periods of excess capacity of aircraft compared to cargo volumes.
The scheduled delivery industry is dominated by integrated door-to-door carriers including DHL, TNT Holdings B.V., the USPS, FedEx Corporation and United Parcel Service, Inc. Although the volume of our business is impacted by competition among these integrated carriers, we do not usually compete directly with them.
Competition for aircraft lease placements is generally affected by aircraft type, aircraft availability and lease rates. We target our leases to cargo airlines and delivery companies seeking medium widebody airlift. The Airbus A300-600 and A330 aircraft can provide capabilities similar to the Boeing 767 for medium widebody airlift.
The aircraft maintenance industry is labor intensive and typically competes based on cost, capabilities and reputation for quality. U.S. airlines may contract for aircraft maintenance with maintenance and repair organizations ("MROs") in other countries or geographies with a lower labor wage base, making the industry highly cost competitive.
Airline Operations
Flight Operations and Control
Each of the Company's airline operations are conducted pursuant to authority granted to them by the FAA. Airline flight operations, including aircraft dispatching, flight tracking and crew scheduling are planned and controlled by personnel within each airline. The Company staffs aircraft dispatching and flight tracking 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
Aircraft Maintenance
Our airlines’ operations are regulated by the FAA for aircraft safety and maintenance. Each airline performs routine inspections and airframe maintenance, including Airworthiness Directive and Service Bulletin compliance on all of their aircraft. The airlines’ maintenance and engineering personnel coordinate routine and non-routine maintenance requirements. Each airline’s maintenance program includes tracking the maintenance status of each aircraft, consulting with manufacturers and suppliers about procedures to correct irregularities and training maintenance personnel on the requirements of its FAA-approved maintenance program. The airlines contract with MROs, including AMES, to perform heavy maintenance on airframes and engines. Each airline owns and maintains an inventory of spare aircraft engines, auxiliary power units, aircraft parts and consumable items. The quantity of spare items maintained is based on the fleet size, engine type operated and the reliability history of the item types.
Insurance
Our airline subsidiaries are required by the Department of Transportation (“DOT”) to carry a minimum amount of aircraft liability insurance. Their aircraft leases, loan agreements and ACMI agreements also require them to carry such insurance. The Company currently maintains public liability and property damage insurance, and our airline subsidiaries
currently maintain aircraft hull and liability insurance and war risk insurance for their respective aircraft fleets in amounts consistent with industry standards. CAM’s customers are also required to maintain similar insurance coverage.
Employees
As of December 31, 2014, the Company had approximately 1,810 full-time and part-time employees. The Company employed approximately 320 flight crewmembers, 880 aircraft maintenance technicians and flight support personnel, 320 warehousing, sorting and logistics personnel, 115 employees for airport maintenance and logistics, 20 employees for sales and marketing and 155 employees for administrative functions. On December 31, 2013, the Company had approximately 1,800 full-time and part-time employees. In addition to full time and part time employees, the Company typically has approximately 800 temporary employees mainly serving the USPS operations and aircraft line maintenance operations.
Labor Agreements
The Company’s flight crewmembers are unionized employees. The table below summarizes the representation of the Company’s flight crewmembers at December 31, 2014.
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Airline | | Labor Agreement Unit | | Contract Amendable Date | | Percentage of the Company’s Employees |
ABX | | International Brotherhood of Teamsters | | 12/31/2014 | | 12.0% |
ATI | | Air Line Pilots Association | | 5/28/2014 | | 5.9% |
Under the Railway Labor Act (“RLA”), as amended, the crewmember labor agreements do not expire, so the existing contract remains in effect throughout any negotiation process. If required, mediation under the RLA is conducted by the National Mediation Board, which has the sole discretion as to how long mediation can last and when it will end. In addition to direct negotiations and mediation, the RLA includes a provision for potential arbitration of unresolved issues and a 30-day “cooling-off” period before either party can resort to self-help, including, but not limited to, a work stoppage.
Training
The flight crewmembers are required to be licensed in accordance with Federal Aviation Regulations (“FARs”), with specific ratings for the aircraft type to be flown, and to be medically certified as physically fit to operate aircraft. Licenses and medical certifications are subject to recurrent requirements as set forth in the FARs, to include recurrent training and minimum amounts of recent flying experience.
The FAA mandates initial and recurrent training for most flight, maintenance and engineering personnel. Mechanics and quality control inspectors must also be licensed and qualified to perform maintenance on Company operated and maintained aircraft. Our airline subsidiaries pay for all of the recurrent training required for their flight crewmembers and provide training for their ground service and maintenance personnel. Their training programs have received all required FAA approvals. Similarly, our flight dispatchers and flight followers receive FAA approved training on the airlines' requirements and specific aircraft.
Intellectual Property
The Company owns a small number of U.S. patents that have a nominal commercial value. The Company also owns many STCs issued by the FAA. The Company uses these STCs mainly in support of its own fleets; however, AMES has marketed certain STCs to other airlines.
Information Systems
The Company has invested significant management and financial resources in the development of information systems to facilitate flight and maintenance operations. We utilize systems to maintain records about the maintenance status and history of each major aircraft component, as required by FAA regulations. Using the systems, we track and control inventories and costs associated with each maintenance task, including the personnel performing those tasks.
In addition, the Company’s flight operations systems coordinate flight schedules and crew schedules. We have developed and procured systems to track crewmember flight and duty times, and crewmember training status.
Regulation
Our subsidiaries’ airline operations are generally regulated by the DOT, the FAA and the Transportation Security Administration (“TSA”). Those operations must comply with numerous economic, safety, security and environmental laws, ordinances and regulations. In addition, they must also comply with various other federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations.
Environment
Under current federal, state and local environmental laws, ordinances and regulations, a current or previous owner or operator of real property may be liable for the costs of removal or clean-up of hazardous or toxic substances on, under, or in such property. These laws often impose liability whether or not the owner or operator knew of, or was responsible for, the presence of hazardous or toxic substances. In addition, the presence of contamination from hazardous or toxic substances, or the failure to properly clean up contaminated property, may adversely affect the ability of the owner of the property to use the property as collateral for a loan or to sell such property. Environmental laws also may impose restrictions on the manner in which a property may be used or transferred or in which a business located thereon may be operated and may impose remediation or compliance costs. Under its former air park sublease with DHL, ABX and DHL are required to defend, indemnify and hold each other harmless from and against certain environmental claims associated with the Air Park in Wilmington, Ohio.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is authorized to regulate aircraft emissions and has historically implemented emissions control standards adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization ("ICAO"). Our subsidiaries’ aircraft currently meet all known requirements for engine emission levels as applicable by engine design date. Under the Clean Air Act, individual states or the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency may adopt regulations requiring reductions in emissions for one or more localities based on the measured air quality at such localities. These regulations may seek to limit or restrict emissions by restricting the use of emission-producing ground service equipment or aircraft auxiliary power units. Further, the U.S. Congress has, in the past, considered legislation that would regulate greenhouse gas emissions, and some form of federal climate change legislation is possible in the future.
In addition, the European Commission has approved the extension of the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme ("ETS") for greenhouse gas emissions to the airline industry. Currently, under the European Union’s ETS, all ABX and ATI flights that are wholly within the European Union are covered by the ETS requirements, and each year our airlines are required to submit emission allowances in an amount equal to the carbon dioxide emissions from such flights. If the airlines flight activity during the year produced carbon emissions exceeding the number of carbon emissions allowances that it had been awarded, the airline must acquire allowances from other airlines in the open market. ABX and ATI currently operate intra-EU flights and management believes that such flights are operated in compliance with ETS requirements.
In October 2013, at the 38th ICAO Assembly, the ICAO reached a non-binding agreement committing ICAO to develop a global market-based measure to assist in achieving carbon neutral growth by 2020. The U.S. government, working through the ICAO, has in the past adopted more stringent aircraft engine emissions regulations with regard to newly certificated engines and aircraft noise regulations applicable to newly certificated aircraft. Although these rules will not apply to any of our airline subsidiaries’ existing aircraft, additional rules could be adopted in the future that would either apply these more stringent noise and emissions standards to aircraft already in operation or require that some portion of the fleet be converted over time to comply with these new standards.
The federal government generally regulates aircraft engine noise at its source. However, local airport operators may, under certain circumstances, regulate airport operations based on aircraft noise considerations. The Airport Noise and Capacity Act of 1990 provides that, in the case of Stage 3 aircraft (all of our operating aircraft satisfy Stage 3 noise compliance requirements), an airport operator must obtain the carriers’ consent to, or the government’s approval of, the rule prior to its adoption. We believe the operation of our airline subsidiaries’ aircraft either complies with or is exempt from compliance with currently applicable local airport rules. However, some airport authorities have adopted local noise regulations, and, to the extent more stringent aircraft operating regulations are adopted on a widespread
basis, our airline subsidiaries may be required to spend substantial funds, make schedule changes or take other actions to comply with such local rules.
Department of Transportation
The DOT maintains authority over certain aspects of domestic air transportation, such as requiring a minimum level of insurance and the requirement that a person be “fit” to hold a certificate to engage in air transportation. In addition, the DOT continues to regulate many aspects of international aviation, including the award of international routes. The DOT has issued ABX a Domestic All-Cargo Air Service Certificate for air cargo transportation between all points within the U.S., the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The DOT has issued ATI certificate authority to engage in scheduled interstate air transportation, which is currently limited to all-cargo operations. ATI's DOT certificate authority also authorizes it to engage in interstate and foreign charter air transportation of persons, property and mail. Additionally, the DOT has issued ABX and ATI Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity authorizing each of them to engage in scheduled foreign air transportation of cargo and mail between the U.S. and all current and future U.S. open-skies partner countries, which currently consists of over 100 foreign countries. ABX also holds exemption authorities issued by the DOT to conduct scheduled all-cargo operations between the U.S. and certain foreign countries with which the U.S. does not have an open-skies air transportation agreement.
By maintaining these certificates, the Company, through its airline subsidiaries, can conduct all-cargo charter operations worldwide subject to the receipt of any necessary foreign government approvals. Prior to issuing such certificates, and periodically thereafter, the DOT examines a company’s managerial competence, financial resources and plans, compliance, disposition and citizenship in order to determine whether the carrier is fit, willing and able to engage in the transportation services it has proposed to undertake.
The DOT has the authority to impose civil penalties, or to modify, suspend or revoke our certificates for cause, including failure to comply with federal laws or DOT regulations. A corporation holding the above-referenced certificates must qualify as a citizen of the United States, which, pursuant to federal law, requires that (1) it be organized under the laws of the U.S. or a state, territory or possession thereof, (2) that its president and at least two-thirds of its Board of Directors and other managing officers be U.S. citizens, (3) that less than 25% of its voting interest be owned or controlled by non-U.S. citizens, and (4) that it not otherwise be subject to foreign control. We believe our airline subsidiaries possess all necessary DOT-issued certificates and authorities to conduct our current operations and continue to qualify as a citizen of the United States.
Federal Aviation Administration
The FAA regulates aircraft safety and flight operations generally, including equipment, ground facilities, maintenance, flight dispatch, training, communications, the carriage of hazardous materials and other matters affecting air safety. The FAA issues operating certificates and operations specifications to carriers that possess the technical competence to conduct air carrier operations. In addition, the FAA issues certificates of airworthiness to each aircraft that meets the requirements for aircraft design and maintenance. ABX and ATI believe they hold all airworthiness and other FAA certificates and authorities required for the conduct of their business and the operation of their aircraft, although the FAA has the power to suspend, modify or revoke such certificates for cause, or to impose civil penalties for any failure to comply with federal laws and FAA regulations.
The FAA has the authority to issue regulations, airworthiness directives and other mandatory orders relating to, among other things, the inspection, maintenance and modification of aircraft and the replacement of aircraft structures, components and parts, based on industry safety findings, the age of the aircraft and other factors. For example, the FAA has required ABX to perform inspections of its Boeing 767 aircraft to determine if certain of the aircraft structures and components meet all aircraft certification requirements. If the FAA were to determine that the aircraft structures or components are not adequate, it could order operators to take certain actions, including but not limited to, grounding aircraft, reducing cargo loads, strengthening any structure or component shown to be inadequate, or making other modifications to the aircraft. New mandatory directives could also be issued requiring the Company’s airline subsidiaries to inspect and replace aircraft components based on their age or condition. As a routine matter, the FAA issues airworthiness directives applicable to the aircraft operated by our airline subsidiaries, and our airlines comply, sometimes at considerable cost, as part of their aircraft maintenance program.
In addition to the FAA practice of issuing regulations and airworthiness directives as conditions warrant, the FAA has adopted new regulations to address issues involving aging, but still economically viable, aircraft on a more systematic basis. FAA regulations mandate that aircraft manufacturers establish aircraft limits of validity and service action requirements based on aircraft flight cycles and flight hours before which widespread fatigue damage might occur. Service action requirements include inspections and modifications to preclude development of widespread fatigue damage in specific aircraft structural areas. The Boeing Company has provided its recommendations of the limits of validity to the FAA, and the FAA has now approved the limits for the Boeing 757 and 767 model aircraft. Consequently, after the limit of validity is reached for a particular model aircraft, air carriers will be unable to continue to operate the aircraft without the FAA first granting an extension of time to the operator. There can be no assurance that the FAA would extend the deadline, if one were to be requested. For the oldest aircraft in our fleets, we estimate the limit of validity would not be reached for at least 20 years.
The FAA requires each of the airline subsidiaries to implement a drug and alcohol testing program with respect to all employees that engage in safety sensitive functions. Each of the airlines comply with these regulations.
Transportation Security Administration
The TSA, an administration within the Department of Homeland Security, is responsible for the screening of passengers, baggage and cargo and the security of aircraft and airports. Our airline subsidiaries comply with all applicable aircraft and cargo security requirements. The TSA has adopted cargo security-related rules that have imposed additional burdens on our airlines and our customers. Among other things, the TSA requires each airline to perform criminal history background checks on all employees. In addition, we may be required to reimburse the TSA for the cost of security services it may provide to the Company’s airline subsidiaries in the future.
Department of Defense
ABX and ATI participate in the Department of Defense ("DOD") Civil Reserve Air Fleet ("CRAF") program. Our participation in the CRAF program allows the DOD to requisition specified aircraft for military use during a national defense emergency. The DOD compensates us for the use of aircraft under the CRAF program. In addition, participation in CRAF entitles our airlines to bid for military cargo charter operations.
International Regulations
When operating in other countries, our airlines are subject to aviation agreements between the U.S. and the respective countries or, in the absence of such an agreement, by principles of reciprocity. International aviation agreements are periodically subject to renegotiation, and changes in U.S. or foreign governments could result in the alteration or termination of the agreements affecting our international operations. Commercial arrangements such as ACMI agreements between our airlines and our customers in other countries, may require the approval of foreign governmental authorities. Foreign authorities may limit or restrict the use of our aircraft in certain countries. Also, foreign government authorities often require licensing and business registration before beginning operations.
Other Regulations
Various regulatory authorities have jurisdiction over significant aspects of our business, and it is possible that new laws or regulations or changes in existing laws or regulations or the interpretations thereof could have a material adverse effect on our operations. In addition to the above, other laws and regulations to which we are subject, and the agencies responsible for compliance with such laws and regulations, include the following:
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• | The labor relations of our airline subsidiaries are generally regulated under the Railway Labor Act, which vests in the National Mediation Board certain regulatory powers with respect to disputes between airlines and labor unions arising under collective bargaining agreements; |
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• | The Federal Communications Commission regulates our airline subsidiaries’ use of radio facilities pursuant to the Federal Communications Act of 1934, as amended; |
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• | U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspects cargo imported from our subsidiaries’ international operations; |
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• | Our airlines must comply with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services regulations regarding the citizenship of our employees; |
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• | The Company and its subsidiaries must comply with wage, work conditions and other regulations of the Department of Labor regarding our employees. |
Security and Safety
Security
The Company’s subsidiaries have instituted various security procedures and protocols to comply with FAA and TSA regulations. The airline subsidiaries’ customers are required to inform them in writing of the nature and composition of any freight which is classified as “Dangerous Goods” by the DOT. In addition, the Company and its subsidiaries conduct background checks on our respective employees, restrict access to aircraft, inspect aircraft for suspicious persons or cargo, and inspect all dangerous goods. Notwithstanding these procedures, our airline subsidiaries could unknowingly transport contraband or undeclared hazardous materials for customers, which could result in fines and penalties and possible damage to the aircraft.
Safety and Inspections
Management is committed to the safe operation of its aircraft. In compliance with FAA regulations, our subsidiaries’ aircraft are subject to various levels of scheduled maintenance or “checks” and periodically go through phased overhauls. In addition, a comprehensive internal audit and evaluation program is in place and active. Our subsidiaries’ aircraft maintenance efforts are monitored closely by the FAA. They also conduct extensive safety checks on a regular basis.
Executive Officers of the Registrant
Information about executive officers of the Company is provided in Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance, of this report, and is incorporated in this item by reference.
Available Information
Our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to these reports, are available free of charge from our website at www.atsginc.com as soon as reasonably practicable after filing with the SEC. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding Air Transport Services Group, Inc. at www.sec.gov.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
The risks described below could adversely affect our financial condition or results of operations. The risks below are not the only risks that the Company faces. Additional risks that are currently unknown to us or that we currently consider immaterial or unlikely could also adversely affect the Company.
The economic conditions in the U.S. and throughout the globe may negatively impact the demand for the Company’s aircraft and services.
Air cargo transportation volumes are strongly correlated to general economic conditions, including the price of aviation fuel. An economic downturn could reduce the demand for delivery services offered by DHL and other delivery businesses, in particular expedited services shipped via aircraft. Further, during an economic slowdown, customers generally prefer to use ground-based or marine delivery services instead of more expensive air delivery services. Accordingly, an economic downturn could reduce the demand for airlift and cargo aircraft leases. Additionally, if the price of aviation fuel rises significantly, the demand for cargo aircraft and air delivery services may decline. During periods of downward economic trends and rising fuel costs, freight forwarders and integrated delivery businesses are more likely to defer market expansion plans. As a result, we may experience delays in the deployment of available aircraft with customers under lease, ACMI or charter arrangements.
The recent agreement executed with DHL may impact the Company’s operating results and financial condition differently than historical results.
In January 2015, the Company and DHL amended and restated the CMI agreement that would otherwise expire in March 2015. The restated CMI agreement, which will be effective April 1, 2015, contains provisions that will effect future operating results differently than the previous CMI agreement. Under the restated CMI agreement, the cost of Boeing 767 airframe maintenance is included in the pre-defined price for services that ABX charges to DHL. Currently, DHL is directly responsible for the costs of airframe maintenance of leased aircraft. Similarly, ABX may be required, under the restated CMI agreement, to pay certain costs associated with engine maintenance events, currently paid or reimbursed by DHL. Further, under the new agreement, the aircraft rental rates for 13 Boeing 767 aircraft were reduced, effective April 1, 2015, while the term of the respective leases was extended through March of 2019.
Our costs incurred in providing airline services could be more than the contractual revenues generated.
Each airline develops business proposals for ACMI, charter, DHL and other operating contracts by projecting operating costs, crew productivity and maintenance expenses. Projections contain key assumptions, including maintenance costs, flight hours, aircraft reliability, crewmember productivity and crewmember compensation and benefits. We may overestimate revenues, the level of crewmember productivity, and/or underestimate the actual costs of providing services when preparing business proposals. If actual costs are higher than projected or aircraft reliability is less than expected, future operating results may be negatively impacted.
The Company’s airlines rely on flight crews that are unionized. If collective bargaining agreements increase our costs and we cannot recover such increases, it may be necessary for us to terminate customer contracts or curtail planned growth. If disagreements arise, airline operations could be interrupted and business could be adversely affected until agreements are reached with the crewmembers.
The rate of aircraft deployments may impact the Company’s operating results and financial condition.
The Company's future operating results and financial condition will depend in part on our subsidiaries’ ability to successfully deploy aircraft in operations that provide a positive return on investment. Our success will depend, in part, on their ability to secure additional cargo volumes from customers, in both U.S. and international markets. Deploying aircraft in international markets can pose additional risks, regulatory requirements and costs.
The actual demand for Boeing 767 and 757 aircraft may be less than we anticipate. The actual lease rates for aircraft available for lease may be less than we projected, or new leases may start later than we expect. Further, other airlines and lessors may be willing to offer aircraft to the market under terms more favorable to lessees.
Our airline operating agreements include on-time reliability requirements which can impact the Company's operating results and financial condition.
Certain of our airline operating agreements contain monthly incentive payments for reaching specific on-time reliability thresholds. Additionally, such airline operating agreements contain monetary penalties for aircraft reliability below certain thresholds. As a result, our operating revenues may vary from period to period depending on the achievement of monthly incentives or the imposition of penalties. Further, an airline could be found in default of an agreement if it does not maintain minimum thresholds over an extended period of time.
If ABX fails to maintain aircraft reliability above a minimum threshold under the restated CMI agreement for two consecutive calendar months or three months in a rolling twelve month period, ABX would be in default of the restated CMI agreement with DHL. In that event, DHL may elect to terminate the restated CMI agreement, unless ABX maintains the minimum reliability threshold during a 60-day cure period. If DHL terminates the CMI agreement due to an ABX event of default, ABX would be subject to a monetary penalty payable to DHL. The monetary penalty starts at $12 million through the first contract year, and amortizes to $3 million during the next two contract years of the restated CMI agreement.
Under provisions of the restated CMI and lease agreements with DHL, DHL can terminate the restated CMI or lease agreements subject to early termination provisions.
DHL may terminate one or more of the aircraft from the restated CMI agreement for convenience at any time during the four year term (through March 31, 2019), subject to providing a 60 day notice period and paying to ABX a termination fee for certain aircraft. DHL may terminate the restated CMI agreement in its entirety after providing 180
days of advance notice after the first six months of the term and paying a significant termination fee which amortizes down during the term.
The lease agreements with DHL contain terms for terminating an aircraft lease for convenience, including a notice period and paying a lump sum amount to CAM. DHL may terminate one or more of the respective 13 aircraft leases for convenience through the original expiration date, upon providing six months' notice and paying to CAM a lump sum amount and, further, may thereafter terminate one or more of such aircraft leases for convenience upon providing four months’ notice and paying to CAM a lump sum amount. Additional Boeing 767 aircraft that DHL is committed to lease from CAM may be terminated upon providing four months' notice and paying to CAM a lump sum amount.
The U.S. Military may not renew our contracts or may reduce the number of routes that we operate.
Our contracts with the U.S. Military are typically for one year and are not required to be renewed. The U.S. Military may terminate the contracts for convenience or in the event we were to fail to satisfy reliability requirements or for other reasons. The number and frequency of routes is sensitive to changes in military priorities and U.S. defense budgets.
Our business could be negatively impacted by adverse audit findings by the U.S. Government.
Our U.S. Military contracts are subject to audit by government agencies, including with respect to performance, costs, internal controls and compliance with applicable laws and regulations. If an audit uncovers improprieties, we may be subject to civil or criminal penalties, including termination of such contracts, forfeiture of profits, fines and suspension from doing business with the U.S. Military.
Our USPS operations may be negatively impacted by U.S. Government regulations and contract expirations.
The contracts for the five facilities we operate for the USPS have been extended from their original expiration dates in 2014 and are currently scheduled to expire during 2015. We understand that the USPS is evaluating contract renewals and internal alternatives for these five facilities. The contracts for some or all of these facilities may not be renewed.
As a result of the Affordable Care Act, some of the Company's employees that perform services in support of the USPS operations may qualify for additional employee benefits which could increase our costs. In such event, the Company may seek contractual amendments with the USPS for additional compensation. However such compensation may not occur, could be delayed or may not be sufficient to cover our incremental costs.
Proposed rules from the DOT, FAA and TSA could increase the Company's operating costs and reduce customer utilization of airfreight.
New FAA rules for Flightcrew Member Duty and Rest Requirements (FMDRR) for passenger airline operations became effective in January 2014. The new rules apply to our operation of combi aircraft for the U.S military and impact the required amount and timing of rest periods for pilots between work assignments and modified duty and rest requirements based on the time of day, number of scheduled segments, flight types, time zones and other factors. Failure to remain in compliance with these rules may subject us to fines or other enforcement action.
If applied to cargo carriers, the new rules would require a pilot to have the opportunity to rest for nine hours before reporting to flight duty and place other restrictions on the number of duty hours in particular time periods. In May 2012, the FAA indicated that it would reconsider its initial decision to exclude cargo pilots from these new requirements. While not currently required for the Company's cargo operations, if such rest requirements and restrictions were imposed on our cargo operations, these rules could have a significant impact on the costs incurred by our airlines. The airlines would attempt to pass such additional costs through to their customers in the form of price increases. Customers, as a result, may seek to reduce their utilization of aircraft in favor of less expensive transportation alternatives.
The concentration of aircraft types and engines in the Company's airlines could adversely affect our operating and financial results.
The combined aircraft fleet is concentrated in two aircraft types. If any of these aircraft types encounter technical difficulties that resulted in significant FAA airworthiness directives or grounding, our ability to lease the aircraft would be adversely impacted, as would our airlines' operations. The market growth in demand for the Boeing 767 and 757 aircraft types and configurations may be less than we anticipate. Customers may develop preferences for the Airbus A300-600 and A330 aircraft or other mid-size aircraft types, instead of the Boeing 767 and 757 aircraft.
The cost of aircraft repairs and unexpected delays in the time required to complete aircraft maintenance could negatively affect our operating results.
Our aircraft provide ACMI services throughout the world, sometimes operating in remote regions. Our aircraft may experience maintenance events in locations that do not have the necessary repair capabilities or are difficult to reach. As a result, we may incur additional expenses and lose billable revenues that we would have otherwise earned. Under the restated CMI agreement with DHL, we are required to provide a spare aircraft while the scheduled maintenance is completed. We are likewise required to provide a spare aircraft under the restated CMI agreement while the Boeing 767 aircraft that DHL leases from CAM are undergoing scheduled maintenance. If delays occur in the completion of aircraft maintenance, we may incur additional expense to provide airlift capacity and forego revenues.
We rely on third parties to modify aircraft and provide aircraft and engine maintenance.
We rely on certain third party aircraft modification service providers and aircraft and engine maintenance service providers that have expertise or resources that we do not have. Third party service providers may seek to impose price increases that could negatively affect our competitiveness in the airline markets. An unexpected termination or delay involving service providers could have a material adverse effect on our operations and financial results. A delay in an aircraft modification could adversely impact our revenues and our ability to place the aircraft in the market. We must manage third party service providers to meet schedules and turn-times and to control costs in order to remain competitive to our customers.
Delta TechOps, a division of Delta Airlines, Inc., is the primary engine maintenance provider for the Company's General Electric CF6 engines that power our fleet of Boeing 767-200 aircraft. If Delta TechOps does not complete the refurbishment of our engines within the contractual turn-times or if we must replace Delta TechOps as the maintenance provider for some or all of the Company's CF6 engines, our operations and financial results may be adversely impacted.
The Company's operating results could be negatively impacted by disruptions of its information technology and communication systems.
Our businesses depend heavily on information technology and computerized systems to communicate and operate effectively. The Company's systems and technologies, or those of third parties on which we rely, could fail or become unreliable due to equipment failures, software viruses, cyberattacks, natural disasters, power failures, telecommunication outages, or other causes. Certain disruptions could prevent our airlines from flying as scheduled, possibly for an extended period of time, which could have a negative impact on our operating results and reliability. We continually monitor the risks of disruption, take preventative measures, develop backup plans and maintain redundancy capabilities. The measures we use may not prevent the causes of disruptions we could experience or help us recover failed systems quickly.
The costs of maintaining preventive maintenance measures may continue to rise. Further, the costs of recovering or replacing a failed system could be very expensive.
The costs of our aircraft maintenance facilities could negatively impact our financial results.
We lease and operate a 310,000 square foot aircraft maintenance facility and a 100,000 square foot component repair shop in Wilmington, Ohio. Accordingly, a large portion of our MRO's operating costs are fixed. As a result, we need to retain existing aircraft maintenance business levels while securing additional customers to maintain a profitable operation. The actual level of revenues may not be sufficient to cover our operating costs.
The Company could violate debt covenants.
The Senior Credit Agreement contains covenants including, among other requirements, limitations on certain additional indebtedness and guarantees of indebtedness. The Senior Credit Agreement is collateralized by certain of the Company's Boeing 767 and 757 aircraft that are not collateralized under aircraft loans. Under the terms of the Senior Credit Agreement, the Company is required to maintain aircraft collateral coverage equal to 150% of the outstanding balance of the term loan and the maximum capacity of the revolving credit facility or 175% of the outstanding balance of the term loan and the total funded revolving credit facility, whichever is less. The Senior Credit Agreement stipulates events of default, including unspecified events that may have material adverse effects on the Company. The Senior Credit Agreement and aircraft loans cross default. If an event of default occurs, the Company may be forced to repay, renegotiate or replace the Senior Credit Agreement and loans. In such an event, the Company’s cost of borrowings could increase, and our ability to modify and deploy aircraft could be limited as a result.
The Company's share buy-back plan may reduce liquidity.
During 2014, the Company's Board of Directors approved a share repurchase plan to buy up to $50 million of ATSG 's common stock. While no shares were purchased during 2014, future purchases, if any, would be funded from the Company's cash balances and could reduce the Company's liquidity.
The Company's existing sources of liquidity may not be sufficient if opportunities to expand the aircraft fleet or make strategic investment in other companies arise.
While we have planned for minimal aircraft acquisitions for 2015, opportunities to grow revenues could arise that require more aircraft, an aircraft type that we do not currently have, or other strategic investments. As of December 31, 2014, the Company's liquidity included $30.6 million of cash balances and $86.0 million available under the revolving credit facility through the Senior Credit Agreement and with the creditors consent, $50 million through an accordion feature of the Senior Credit Agreement. The existing sources of liquidity may not be sufficient to support further fleet expansion or other strategic investments. Raising additional sources of credit could result in an increase in our borrowing costs and additional covenant requirements.
Operating results may be affected by fluctuations in interest rates.
Effective March 31, 2011, in conjunction with our decision to refinance the unsubordinated term loan, we ceased hedge accounting for certain interest rate swaps which we continue to hold. In addition to these interest rate swaps, the Company's Senior Credit Agreement requires the Company to maintain derivative instruments for fluctuating interest rates for at least 50% of the outstanding balance of the new unsubordinated term loan. Accordingly, in July 2011, the Company entered into new derivative instruments. Also, in June 2013, the Company entered into an interest rate swap with a forward start date of December 31, 2013. We did not designate the derivative instruments as hedges. Future fluctuations in LIBOR interest rates will result in the recording of gains and losses on interest rate derivatives that the Company holds.
Under the Senior Credit Agreement, interest rates are adjusted quarterly based on the prevailing LIBOR or prime rates and a ratio of the Company's outstanding debt level to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization expenses ("EBITDA"). At the Company's current debt-to-EBITDA ratio, the unsubordinated term loan and the revolving credit facility both bear a variable interest rate of 2.17%. Additional debt or lower EBITDA may result in higher interest rates on the variable rate portion of the Company's debt.
The Company sponsors defined benefit pension plans and post-retirement healthcare plans for certain eligible employees. The Company's related pension expense and funding requirements are sensitive to changes in interest rates used to discount the estimated future benefit payments that have been earned by participants in the plans. The annual pension expense is recalculated at the beginning of each calendar year using market interest rates at that point in time. Future fluctuations in interest rates could result in the recording of additional expense for pension and other post-retirement healthcare plans.
The costs of insurance coverage or changes to our reserves for self-insured claims could affect our operating results and cash flows.
The Company is self-insured for certain claims related to workers’ compensation, aircraft, automobile, general liability and employee healthcare. We record a liability for reported claims and an estimate for incurred claims that have not yet been reported. Accruals for these claims are estimated utilizing historical paid claims data and recent claims trends. Changes in claim severity and frequency could impact our results of operations and cash flows.
The ability to use net operating loss carryforwards to offset future taxable income for U.S. federal income tax purposes may be further limited.
Limitations imposed on the ability to use net operating losses (“NOLs”) to offset future taxable income could cause U.S. federal income taxes to be paid earlier than otherwise would be paid if such limitations were not in effect and could cause such NOLs to expire unused, in each case reducing or eliminating the benefit of such NOLs. Similar rules and limitations may apply for state income tax purposes.
Changes in the ownership of the Company on the part of significant shareholders could limit our ability to use NOLs to offset future taxable income. In general, under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), a corporation that undergoes an “ownership change” is subject to limitations on its ability to utilize its
pre-change NOLs to offset future taxable income. In general, an ownership change occurs if the aggregate stock ownership of significant stockholders increases by more than 50 percentage points over such stockholders’ lowest percentage ownership during the testing period (generally three years).
We may need to reduce the carrying value of the Company’s assets.
The Company owns a significant amount of aircraft, aircraft parts and related equipment. Additionally, the balance sheet reflects assets for income tax carryforwards and other deferred tax assets. The removal of aircraft from service or continual losses from aircraft operations could require us to evaluate the recoverability of the carrying value of those aircraft, related parts and equipment and record an impairment charge through earnings to reduce the carrying value.
We have recorded goodwill and other intangible assets related to acquisitions. If we are unable to achieve the projected levels of operating results, it may be necessary to record an impairment charge to reduce the carrying value of goodwill and related intangible assets. Similarly, if we were to lose a key customer or one of our airlines were to lose its authority to operate, it could be necessary to record an impairment charge.
If the Company incurs operating losses or our estimates of expected future earnings indicate a decline, it may be necessary to reassess the need for a valuation allowance for some or all of the Company’s net deferred tax assets.
Penalties, fines and sanctions levied by governmental agencies or the costs of complying with government regulations could negatively affect our results of operations.
The operations of the Company’s subsidiaries are subject to complex aviation, transportation, security, environmental, labor, employment and other laws and regulations. These laws and regulations generally require our subsidiaries to maintain and comply with a wide variety of certificates, permits, licenses and other approvals. Their inability to maintain required certificates, permits or licenses, or to comply with applicable laws, ordinances or regulations could result in substantial fines or, in the case of DOT and FAA requirements, possible suspension or revocation of their authority to conduct operations.
The costs of maintaining our aircraft in compliance with government regulations could negatively affect our results of operations and require further investment in our aircraft fleet.
All aircraft in the Company’s fleet were manufactured prior to 1995. Manufacturer Service Bulletins and FAA regulations and FAA airworthiness directives issued under its “Aging Aircraft” program cause operators of such aged aircraft to be subject to additional inspections and modifications to address problems of corrosion and structural fatigue at specified times. The FAA may issue airworthiness directives that could require significant inspections and major modifications to such aircraft. The FAA may issue airworthiness directives that could limit the usability of certain aircraft types. In 2012, the FAA issued an airworthiness directive that requires the replacement of the aft pressure bulkhead on Boeing 767-200 aircraft based on a certain number of landing cycles. As a result, we expect that 24 of the Company's Boeing 767-200 aircraft will be affected. The cost of compliance is estimated to be $1.0 million per aircraft over the next ten years.
In addition, FAA regulations require that aircraft manufacturers establish limits on aircraft flight cycles to address issues involving aging, but still economically viable, aircraft, as described in Item 1 of this report, under "Federal Aviation Administration." These regulations may increase our maintenance costs and eventually limit the use of our aircraft.
The FAA and ICAO are in the process of developing programs to modernize air traffic control and management systems. The FAA's program, Next Generation Air Transportation Systems, is an integrated system that requires updating aircraft navigation and communication equipment. The FAA has mandated the replacement of current ground based radar systems with more accurate satellite based systems on our aircraft by 2020. The ICAO is phasing in similar requirements for aircraft operating in Europe, beginning in 2015. These programs may increase our costs and limit the use of our aircraft. Aircraft not equipped with advanced communication systems may be restricted to certain airspace.
Failure to maintain the operating certificates and authorities of our airlines would adversely affect our business.
The airline subsidiaries have the necessary authority to conduct flight operations pursuant to the economic authority issued by the DOT and the safety based authority issued by the FAA. The continued effectiveness of such authority is subject to their compliance with applicable statutes and DOT, FAA and TSA rules and regulations, including any new rules and regulations that may be adopted in the future. The loss of such authority by an airline subsidiary could cause
a default of covenants within the Senior Credit Agreement and would materially and adversely affect its airline operations, effectively eliminating the airline's ability to operate air services.
The Company may be affected by global climate change or by legal, regulatory or market responses to such potential climate change.
The Company is subject to the regulations of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and state and local governments regarding air quality and other matters. In part, because of the highly industrialized nature of many of the locations where the Company operates, there can be no assurance that we have discovered all environmental contamination or other matters for which the Company may be responsible.
Concern over climate change, including the impact of global warming, has led to significant federal, state and international legislative and regulatory efforts to limit greenhouse gas emissions. The European Commission has mandated the extension of the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme ("ETS") for greenhouse gas emissions to the airline industry. Under the European Union ETS, all ABX and ATI flights that are wholly within the European Union are now covered by the ETS requirements, and each year we are required to submit emission allowances in an amount equal to the carbon dioxide emissions from such flights. Exceedance of the airlines' emission allowances would require the airlines to purchase additional emission allowances on the open market. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is also expected to consider mechanisms for reducing greenhouse gas emissions related to aviation.
The U.S. Congress and certain states have also considered legislation regulating greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, even in the absence of such legislation, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency could regulate greenhouse gas emissions, especially aircraft engine emissions. The cost to comply with potential new laws and regulations could be substantial for the Company. These costs could include an increase in the cost of the fuel and capital costs associated with updating aircraft. Until the timing, scope and extent of any future regulation becomes known, we cannot predict its effect on the Company’s cost structure or operating results. Further, even without such legislation or regulation, increased awareness and adverse publicity in the global marketplace about greenhouse gas emitted by companies in the airline and transportation industries could harm our reputation and reduce demand for our services.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
The Company leases portions of the air park in Wilmington, Ohio, under leases agreement with a regional port authority, the terms of which expire in May of 2019 and June 2036 with options to extend. The leases include corporate offices, 310,000 square feet of maintenance hangars and a 100,000 square foot component repair shop at the air park. ABX also has the non-exclusive right to use the airport, which includes one active runway, taxi ways and ramp space.
As of December 31, 2014, the Company and its subsidiaries' in-service aircraft fleet consisted of 53 owned aircraft and three leased aircraft on an operating basis, for a total of 56 aircraft. The aircraft were all formerly passenger aircraft that have been modified for cargo operations. The aircraft are generally described as being mid-size or having medium wide-body cargo capabilities. The cargo aircraft carry gross payloads ranging from approximately 58,000 to 129,000 pounds. These aircraft are well suited for intra-continental flights and medium range inter-continental flights. Because an airline's flight operations can be hindered by inclement weather, sophisticated landing systems and other equipment are utilized to minimize the effect that weather may have on flight operations. For example, ABX’s Boeing 767-200 and 767-300 aircraft are operated for Category III landings. This allows their crews to land under weather conditions with forward runway visibility of only 600 feet at airports with Category III Instrument Landing Systems.
The table below shows the combined fleet of aircraft in service condition.
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| | In-service Aircraft as of December 31, 2014 | | | | | | |
Aircraft Type | | Total | | Owned | | Operating Lease | | Year of Manufacture | | Gross Payload (Lbs.) | | Still Air Range (Nautical Miles) |
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767-200 SF (1) | | 38 | | 36 | | 2 | | 1982 - 1987 | | 85,000 - 100,000 | | 1,700 - 5,300 |
767-300 SF (1) | | 10 | | 9 | | 1 | | 1988 - 1991 | | 121,000 - 129,000 | | 3,200 - 7,100 |
757-200 PCF (1) | | 4 | | 4 | | — | | 1984 - 1991 | | 68,000 | | 2,100 - 4,800 |
757-200 Combi (2) | | 4 | | 4 | | — | | 1989 - 1992 | | 58,000 | | 2,600 - 4,300 |
Total in-service | | 56 | | 53 | | 3 | | | | | | |
____________________
| |
(1) | These aircraft are configured for standard cargo containers, including large standard main deck cargo doors. |
| |
(2) | These aircraft are configured as “combi” aircraft capable of carrying passenger and cargo containers on the main flight deck. |
In addition, as of December 31, 2014, CAM has one Boeing 767-200 passenger aircraft, not reflected in the table above, under lease to an external airline during 2014.
We believe that our existing facilities and aircraft fleet are appropriate for our current operations and growth plans. We may make additional investments in aircraft and facilities if we identify favorable opportunities in the markets that we serve.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Brussels Noise Ordinance
The Brussels Instituut voor Milieubeheer ("BIM"), a governmental authority in the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium that oversees the enforcement of environmental matters, imposed four separate administrative penalties on ABX in the approximate aggregate amount of €0.4 million ($0.4 million) for numerous alleged violations of an ordinance limiting the noise caused by aircraft overflying the Brussels-Capital Region (which is located near the Brussels Airport) during the period from May 2009 through December 2010. ABX has exhausted its appeals with respect to all four of the administrative penalties.
The ordinance in question is controversial for the reason that it was adopted by the Brussels-Capital Region and is more restrictive than the noise limitations in effect in the Flemish Region, which is where the Brussels Airport is located. Numerous airlines have been levied fines under the ordinance, which is currently the subject of several court cases pending before the Belgian courts, including with respect to demands for payment. The Brussels government has suspended issuing demands for payment of the penalties pending the outcome of the litigation. ABX has yet to receive a demand for payment of the penalties.
Other
In addition to the foregoing matters, we are also currently a party to legal proceedings, including FAA enforcement actions, in various federal and state jurisdictions arising out of the operation of the Company's business. The amount of alleged liability, if any, from these proceedings cannot be determined with certainty; however, we believe that the Company's ultimate liability, if any, arising from the pending legal proceedings, as well as from asserted legal claims and known potential legal claims which are probable of assertion, taking into account established accruals for estimated liabilities, should not be material to our financial condition or results of operations.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS, AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Common Stock
ATSG's common stock is publicly traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol ATSG. The following table shows the range of high and low prices per share of ATSG common stock for the periods indicated:
|
| | | | | | | |
2014 Quarter Ended: | Low | | High |
December 31, 2014 | $ | 6.93 |
| | $ | 8.90 |
|
September 30, 2014 | $ | 7.27 |
| | $ | 9.21 |
|
June 30, 2014 | $ | 7.38 |
| | $ | 9.57 |
|
March 31, 2014 | $ | 5.81 |
| | $ | 8.12 |
|
| | | |
2013 Quarter Ended: | Low | | High |
December 31, 2013 | $ | 6.64 |
| | $ | 8.20 |
|
September 30, 2013 | $ | 5.95 |
| | $ | 7.70 |
|
June 30, 2013 | $ | 5.23 |
| | $ | 6.85 |
|
March 31, 2013 | $ | 4.08 |
| | $ | 6.09 |
|
On March 6, 2015, there were 1,629 stockholders of record of the ATSG’s common stock. The closing price of the ATSG’s common stock was $9.33 on March 6, 2015.
Performance Graph
The graph below compares the cumulative total stockholder return on a $100 investment in the ATSG’s common stock with the cumulative total return of a $100 investment in the NASDAQ Composite Index and the cumulative total return of a $100 investment in the NASDAQ Transportation Index for the period beginning on December 31, 2009 and ending on December 31, 2014.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 12/31/2009 | | 12/31/2010 | | 12/31/2011 | | 12/31/2012 | | 12/31/2013 | | 12/31/2014 |
Air Transport Services Group, Inc. | 100.00 |
| | 299.24 |
| | 178.79 |
| | 151.89 |
| | 306.44 |
| | 324.24 |
|
NASDAQ Composite Index | 100.00 |
| | 117.61 |
| | 118.70 |
| | 139.00 |
| | 196.83 |
| | 223.74 |
|
NASDAQ Transportation Index | 100.00 |
| | 128.91 |
| | 111.44 |
| | 122.10 |
| | 161.38 |
| | 229.56 |
|
Dividends
We are restricted from paying dividends on ATSG's common stock in excess of $50.0 million during any calendar year under the provisions of the Senior Credit Agreement. Under the provisions of ABX's promissory note due to DHL, the Company is required to prepay the DHL note in the amount of $0.20 for each dollar of dividend distributed to the stockholders of ATSG. The same prepayment stipulation applies to stock repurchases. No cash dividends have been paid or declared. The promissory note due to DHL is expected to fully amortize by March 31, 2015, and as such, the prepayment requirement will not apply thereafter.
Stock Repurchases
On August 5, 2014, we announced that the Board of Directors authorized us to repurchase up to $50 million dollars of ATSG's common shares. No stock repurchases have occurred to date. The Board authorization does not require the repurchase of a specific number of shares and the Board may terminate the repurchase program at any time. Repurchases may be made from time-to-time on the open market, or in privately negotiated transactions. The timing, price and volume of any such repurchases will be based on market conditions, relevant securities laws and other factors.
Securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans
For the response to this Item, see Item 12.
ITEM 6. SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
The following selected consolidated financial data should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto and the information contained in Item 7 of Part II, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” The selected consolidated financial data and the consolidated operations data below are derived from the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| As of and for the Years Ended December 31 |
| 2014 | | 2013 | | 2012 | | 2011 | | 2010 |
| (In thousands, except per share data) |
OPERATING RESULTS: | | | | | | | | | |
Continuing revenues | $ | 589,592 |
| | $ | 580,023 |
| | $ | 607,438 |
| | $ | 730,133 |
| | $ | 667,382 |
|
Operating expenses (1) (3) | 525,067 |
| | 566,838 |
| | 528,750 |
| | 667,504 |
| | 585,706 |
|
Net interest expense and other non operating charges (2) | 12,749 |
| | 13,544 |
| | 12,368 |
| | 21,769 |
| | 18,359 |
|
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes | 51,776 |
| | (359 | ) | | 66,320 |
| | 40,860 |
| | 63,317 |
|
Income tax expense | (19,702 | ) | | (19,266 | ) | | (24,672 | ) | | (16,995 | ) | | (23,413 | ) |
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations | 32,074 |
| | (19,625 | ) | | 41,648 |
| | 23,865 |
| | 39,904 |
|
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes (3) | (2,214 | ) | | (3 | ) | | (774 | ) | | (673 | ) | | (70 | ) |
Net earnings (loss) | $ | 29,860 |
| | $ | (19,628 | ) | | $ | 40,874 |
| | $ | 23,192 |
| | $ | 39,834 |
|
EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS: | | | | | | | | | |
Basic | $ | 0.50 |
| | $ | (0.31 | ) | | $ | 0.66 |
| | $ | 0.38 |
| | $ | 0.64 |
|
Diluted | $ | 0.49 |
| | $ | (0.31 | ) | | $ | 0.65 |
| | $ | 0.37 |
| | $ | 0.62 |
|
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES: | | | | | | | | | |
Basic | 64,253 |
| | 63,992 |
| | 63,461 |
| | 63,284 |
| | 62,807 |
|
Diluted | 65,211 |
| | 63,992 |
| | 64,420 |
| | 64,085 |
| | 64,009 |
|
SELECTED CONSOLIDATED | | | | | | | | | |
FINANCIAL DATA: | | | | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 30,560 |
| | $ | 31,699 |
| | $ | 15,442 |
| | $ | 30,503 |
| | $ | 46,543 |
|
Deferred income tax asset | 19,770 |
| | 13,957 |
| | 19,154 |
| | 31,548 |
| | 12,879 |
|
Property and equipment, net (1) | 847,268 |
| | 838,172 |
| | 818,924 |
| | 748,913 |
| | 658,756 |
|
Goodwill and intangible assets (1) | 39,010 |
| | 39,291 |
| | 92,126 |
| | 93,376 |
| | 99,036 |
|
Total assets | 1,031,629 |
| | 1,033,139 |
| | 1,035,611 |
| | 993,719 |
| | 900,654 |
|
Post-retirement liabilities (3) | 94,368 |
| | 32,865 |
| | 187,533 |
| | 188,110 |
| | 119,746 |
|
Capital lease obligations | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 6,103 |
|
Long term debt and current maturities, other than leases | 344,094 |
| | 384,515 |
| | 364,481 |
| | 346,904 |
| | 296,425 |
|
Deferred income tax liability | 102,993 |
| | 109,869 |
| | 46,422 |
| | 42,530 |
| | 39,746 |
|
Stockholders’ equity | 347,489 |
| | 368,968 |
| | 299,256 |
| | 270,147 |
| | 302,077 |
|
____________________
| |
(1) | In 2011, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $22.1 million on aircraft, $2.8 million on goodwill and $2.3 million on acquired intangibles. In 2013, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $52.6 million on goodwill. |
| |
(2) | During 2011, in conjunction with the execution of the Senior Credit Agreement (see Note F to the accompanying consolidated financial statements) the Company terminated its previous credit agreement, which resulted in the write-off of $2.9 million of unamortized debt issuance costs associated with that credit agreement and recognized $3.9 million of losses for certain interest rate swaps previously designated as cash flow hedges of interest payments stemming from the former term loan. |
| |
(3) | During 2014, ABX offered vested, former employee participants of the qualified pension plan and vested employee participants of the crewmembers qualified pension plan a one-time option to settle their pension benefit with the Company through a single payment or a nonparticipating annuity contract. As a result, ABX settled $98.7 million of pension obligation in December of 2014 from the pension plans assets. The settlement resulted in pre-tax charges of $6.7 million to continued operations and $5.0 million to discontinued operations for 2014. As a result of fluctuating interest rates and investment returns, the funded status of the Company's defined benefit pension and retiree medical plans vary from year to year. (See notes H and K to the accompanying consolidated financial statements.) |
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis has been prepared with reference to the historical financial condition and results of operations of Air Transport Services Group, Inc., and its subsidiaries and should be read in conjunction with the “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of this report, our historical financial statements, and the related notes contained in this report.
INTRODUCTION
The Company leases aircraft, provides air cargo lift and performs aircraft maintenance and other support services primarily to the air cargo transportation and package delivery industries. Through the Company's subsidiaries, we offer a range of complementary services to delivery companies, freight forwarders, airlines and government customers. The Company's principal subsidiaries include two independently certificated airlines, ABX Air, Inc. (“ABX”) and Air Transport International, Inc. (“ATI”), and an aircraft leasing company, Cargo Aircraft Management, Inc. (“CAM”).
The Company has two reportable segments: ACMI Services, which primarily includes the cargo transportation operations of its airlines, and the CAM segment. The Company's other business operations, which primarily provide support services to the transportation industry, include aircraft maintenance, aircraft parts sales, ground equipment leasing and mail handling services. These operations do not constitute reportable segments due to their size.
At December 31, 2014, the Company owned 53 cargo aircraft and leased three more under operating leases that were either in or available for revenue service. The combined fleets consisted of 38 Boeing 767-200 aircraft, 10 Boeing 767-300 aircraft, four Boeing 757-200 aircraft and four Boeing 757 "combi" aircraft. In recent years, we have modernized the Company's aircraft fleet, retiring less efficient Boeing 727 and DC-8 aircraft and adding Boeing 767-200, Boeing 767-300 and Boeing 757 freighter and combi aircraft to the fleet. The Boeing 757 combi aircraft are capable of simultaneously carrying passengers and cargo containers on the main flight deck.
The Company's largest customer is DHL Network Operations (USA), Inc. and its affiliates ("DHL"), which accounted for 55%, 54% and 53% of the Company's consolidated revenues during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The Company has had long term contracts with DHL since August 2003. Commencing March 31, 2010, the Company and DHL executed commercial agreements under which DHL leases 13 Boeing 767-200 freighter aircraft from CAM and ABX operates those aircraft under a separate crew, maintenance and insurance (“CMI”) agreement. The CMI agreement pricing is based on pre-defined fees, scaled for the number of aircraft operated and the number of flight crews provided to DHL for its U.S. network. The initial term of the CMI agreement is five years, ending March 31, 2015 and the terms of the aircraft leases are seven years, with early termination provisions. In addition to the 13 CAM-owned Boeing 767 aircraft, ABX also operates two DHL-owned Boeing 767 aircraft under the CMI agreement. ATI provides four Boeing 757 freighter aircraft to DHL's U.S. network. Additionally ABX provides seven other Boeing 767 aircraft primarily to DHL's U.S network under contracts and arrangements having durations of one year or less. During 2013, ATI provided three Boeing 767 aircraft to DHL's Middle East operations, however, these agreements were terminated during the first quarter of 2014.
In January 2015, the Company and DHL entered into an amended and restated CMI agreement ("restated CMI agreement") pursuant to which ABX will continue to operate Boeing 767 aircraft for DHL, and that adds at least two Boeing 767 aircraft leases and extends the existing 13 long term aircraft leases through March of 2019. As a result, effective April 1, 2015, CAM will lease to DHL two Boeing 767 aircraft that presently support DHL under short-term arrangements, the existing monthly aircraft lease rates for the Boeing 767-200 freighter aircraft will decline approximately 5% and all Boeing 767 aircraft lease terms with DHL will extend through March 2019. Further, ABX will continue to operate and maintain the aircraft through March 2019 under the restated CMI agreement. Under the new pricing structure of the restated CMI agreement, ABX will assume responsibility for the costs of complying with FAA airworthiness directives, the costs of Boeing 767 airframe maintenance and certain engine maintenance events for the DHL leased aircraft that it operates. While the Company's operating results will be negatively impacted by provisions of the restated CMI agreement, we project that the reduced earnings from the CMI operations for DHL will be offset through additional aircraft lease revenues, international ACMI opportunities, cost controls and aircraft maintenance growth.
The U.S. Military comprised 16%, 17% and 16% of the Company's consolidated revenues during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The Company's airlines contract their services to the Air Mobility
Command ("AMC"), through the U.S. Transportation Command ("USTC"), both of which are organized under the U.S. Military. During 2013, ATI retired its four DC-8 combi aircraft and replaced them with three Boeing 757 combi aircraft operating for the U.S. Military. Our fourth and final Boeing 757 combi aircraft entered service in the first quarter of 2014 after completing the necessary regulatory certification and serves as a maintenance spare.
At the end of 2012, we ceased Boeing 727 operations at the Company's former airline, Capital Cargo International Airlines, Inc. ("CCIA"), and DC-8 freighter operations at ATI. During the first quarter of 2013, we merged CCIA with and into ATI, with ATI as the surviving entity. The combined operation benefits from a standardized fleet, two person flight crew, improved reliability of the Boeing 767 and 757 aircraft and from a common pilot type rating. Additionally, we have reduced administrative and overhead costs as a result of combining positions, information technology and facilities.
In January 2014, we acquired a 25 percent equity interest in West Atlantic AB of Gothenburg, Sweden ("West") for $15 million. West, through its two airlines, Atlantic Airlines Ltd. and West Air Sweden AB, operates a fleet of approximately 40 aircraft and is Europe’s largest regional cargo aircraft operator. West operates its aircraft on behalf of European regional mail carriers and express logistics providers. The airlines operate a combined fleet of British Aerospace ATPs, Bombardier CRJ-200-PFs, and Boeing 737 aircraft. In addition, West Air Sweden AB is adding the Boeing 767 aircraft to its operating capability.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
2014 and 2013
Summary
The consolidated net earnings from continuing operations were $32.1 million for 2014 compared with a net loss of $19.6 million for 2013. The pre-tax earnings from continuing operations were $51.8 million for 2014, including a one-time charge of $6.7 million for pension obligation settlements. The pre-tax loss from continuing operations for 2013 was $0.4 million which included a goodwill impairment charge of $52.6 million that is not deductible for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Adjusted pre-tax earnings from continuing operations, a non-GAAP measure (a definition and reconciliation of adjusted pre-tax earnings follows), after removing the pension settlement charge and the impairment charge, were $57.4 million for 2014 compared to $51.6 million for 2013. Adjusted pre-tax earnings from continuing operations for 2014 increased compared to 2013 due to operating improvements primarily in the ACMI Services segment. Improved earnings were driven by improved fleet utilization, including deployment of the more fuel efficient Boeing 757 combi aircraft for the U.S. Military, reduced employee expenses and lower aircraft maintenance expenses compared to 2013.
External customer revenues from continuing operations increased by $9.6 million to $589.6 million during 2014 compared to 2013. Excluding directly reimbursed revenues, customer revenues decreased 1%, or by $6.8 million during 2014 compared with 2013. Increased external customer revenues from CAM, aircraft maintenance and support services were offset by lower revenues from airline services. Airline service revenues declined primarily due to the discontinuation of ACMI service for DHL's Middle East operations in the first quarter of 2014.
The notification from DHL that it would cease using three ATI Boeing 767 aircraft for services in the Middle East by the end of February 2014 and stagnant growth conditions, including projections published by the U.S. Military that reflected continued reductions in their demand for cargo (non combi) airlift caused us to allocate fewer Boeing 767 aircraft to ATI. As a result, we recorded an impairment charge of $52.6 million at the end of 2013 to write-off ATI's goodwill. Subsequently, during 2014, we deployed more Boeing 767 aircraft with external airlines.
During 2014, we offered vested, former employee participants of the qualified pension plan and vested employee participants of the crewmembers qualified pension plan a one-time option to settle their pension benefit with the Company through a single payment or a nonparticipating annuity contract. As a result, ABX settled $98.7 million of pension obligations in December of 2014 funded by pension plan assets. The settlement resulted in a pre-tax charge of $6.7 million to continued operations.
A summary of our revenues and pre-tax earnings from continuing operations is shown below (in thousands):
|
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Years Ending December 31 |
| 2014 | | 2013 | | 2012 |
Revenues from Continuing Operations: | | | | | |
CAM | $ | 166,303 |
| | $ | 160,342 |
| | $ | 154,565 |
|
ACMI Services | | | | | |
Airline services | 355,678 |
| | 376,592 |
| | 404,053 |
|
Reimbursable | 84,241 |
| | 67,912 |
| | 74,940 |
|
Total ACMI Services | 439,919 |
| | 444,504 |
| | 478,993 |
|
Other Activities | 142,294 |
| | 117,292 |
| | 112,343 |
|
Total Revenues | 748,516 |
| | 722,138 |
| | 745,901 |
|
Eliminate internal revenues | (158,924 | ) | | (142,115 | ) | | (138,463 | ) |
Customer Revenues | $ | 589,592 |
| | $ | 580,023 |
| | $ | 607,438 |
|
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
Pre-Tax Earnings from Continuing Operations: | | | | | |
CAM, inclusive of interest expense | $ | 53,159 |
| | $ | 66,208 |
| | $ | 68,499 |
|
ACMI Services | | | | | |
Airline services | (5,381 | ) | | (25,601 | ) | | (14,503 | ) |
Pension settlement charge | (6,700 | ) | | — |
| | — |
|
Asset impairment charges | — |
| | (52,585 | ) | | — |
|
Total ACMI Services | (12,081 | ) | | (78,186 | ) | | (14,503 | ) |
Other Activities | 11,363 |
| | 12,200 |
| | 11,650 |
|
Net unallocated interest expense | (1,761 | ) | | (1,212 | ) | | (1,205 | ) |
Net gain on derivative instruments | 1,096 |
| | 631 |
| | 1,879 |
|
Pre-Tax Earnings (Loss) from Continuing Operations | 51,776 |
| | (359 | ) | | 66,320 |
|
Add Pension settlement charge | 6,700 |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Add Asset impairment charges | — |
| | 52,585 |
| | — |
|
Less Net gain on derivative instruments | (1,096 | ) | | (631 | ) | | (1,879 | ) |
Adjusted Pre-Tax Earnings | $ | 57,380 |
| | $ | 51,595 |
| | $ | 64,441 |
|
Reimbursable revenues include certain operating costs that are reimbursed to the airlines by their customers. Such costs include fuel expense, landing fees and certain aircraft maintenance expenses. The types of costs that are reimbursed varies by customer operating agreement. Reimbursed revenues increased during 2014 due to additional aircraft fuel expenses for DHL's U.S. domestic network.
Adjusted pre-tax earnings, a non-GAAP measure, is pre-tax earnings excluding asset impairment charges, interest rate derivative gains and losses and the pension settlement costs. Management uses adjusted pre-tax earnings to compare the performance of core operating results between periods. Adjusted pre-tax earnings should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of the Company's results as reported under GAAP.
CAM
CAM offers aircraft leasing and related services to external customers and also leases aircraft internally to the Company's airlines. Aircraft leases normally cover a term of five to seven years. In a typical leasing agreement, customers pay rent and maintenance deposits on a monthly basis.
As of December 31, 2014, CAM had 53 freighter aircraft either under or available for lease, 28 of them leased internally to the Company's airlines. CAM's revenues grew $6.0 million during 2014 compared to 2013, primarily as a result of additional aircraft leases to external customers. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, CAM had 24 and 20 aircraft under lease to external customers, respectively. Revenues from external customers totaled $77.7 million and $71.6 million for 2014 and 2013, respectively. CAM's revenues from the Company's airlines totaled $88.6 million during 2014, compared to $88.7 million for 2013. CAM's 2014 revenues were temporarily reduced during the time necessary to prepare and transfer four aircraft to external customers.
CAM's pre-tax earnings, inclusive of an interest expense allocation, were $53.2 million and $66.2 million during 2014 and 2013, respectively. Reduced earnings reflect additional external lease revenues offset by higher depreciation expense for Boeing 767 and Boeing 757 aircraft and increased expenses to place and support the larger fleet of Boeing 767 and 757 aircraft. Since mid -2013, we have added nine Boeing aircraft to CAM's fleet through December 31, 2014.
During 2014, CAM's fourth and final Boeing 757 combi aircraft completed its airworthiness certification and began operations for ATI. CAM completed the modification of a Boeing 767-300 in the first quarter of 2014. CAM purchased two Boeing 767-300 freighter aircraft in September of 2014 and leased the aircraft to ABX. As of December 31, 2014, CAM had one Boeing 767-300 aircraft available for lease. The aircraft was subsequently placed with an external customer in February 2015 under a multi-year lease.
ACMI Services Segment
The ACMI Services segment provides airline operations to its customers, typically under contracts providing for a combination of aircraft, crews, maintenance and insurance ("ACMI"). Our customers are usually responsible for supplying the necessary aviation fuel and cargo handling services and reimbursing our airline for other operating expenses such as landing fees, ramp expenses, certain aircraft maintenance expenses and fuel procured directly by the airline. Aircraft charter agreements, including those for the U.S. Military, usually require the airline to provide full service, including fuel and other operating expenses for a fixed, all-inclusive price. As of December 31, 2014, ACMI Services included 44 in-service aircraft, including 28 leased internally from CAM, three leased from external providers and 13 CAM-owned freighter aircraft which are under lease to DHL and operated by ABX under the CMI agreement.
Revenues from ACMI Services declined $4.6 million during 2014 compared with 2013 to $439.9 million. Airline services revenues from external customers, which do not include revenues for the reimbursement of fuel and certain operating expenses, declined $20.9 million. Lower revenues resulted primarily from operating fewer international cargo lanes for our customers, including the DHL routes in the Middle East and the for the U.S. Military. Billable block hours declined 7% for 2014 compared to 2013. Excluding billable block hours for DHL's Middle East operations which ATI stopped servicing in February 2014, block hours grew 2% for 2014 compared to 2013. Block hours flown for the U.S. Military were down 1% compared to 2013, due to fewer ad hoc and expansion flying opportunities.
ACMI Services incurred pre-tax losses of $12.1 million during 2014, compared to pre-tax losses of $78.2 million for 2013. Excluding pension settlement charges of $6.7 million and asset impairment charges of $52.6 million recorded during 2014 and 2013, respectively, ACMI Services incurred pre-tax losses of $5.4 million and $25.6 million in 2014 and 2013, respectively. Smaller pre-tax losses in 2014 compared to 2013 were primarily a result of improved fleet utilization, lower aircraft maintenance expense and reduced airline personnel expenses. During 2014, ACMI Services returned under-utilized aircraft to CAM, which subsequently leased those aircraft to external customers. Additionally the number of scheduled airframe heavy checks that were expensed, declined by three during 2014 compared to 2013.
Beginning in May of 2014, DHL terminated the services of three of the Company's Boeing 767 aircraft which ABX operated under short term contracts in lower volume U.S. markets and replaced them with smaller Boeing 737 aircraft operated by another airline. We do not expect DHL to replace more Boeing 767 aircraft operated by ABX with additional Boeing 737 aircraft. ABX submitted bids to DHL to retain the operation of four Boeing 767-200 aircraft that are owned by DHL and operated by ABX under the CMI agreement. However, in August 2014, ABX received termination notices for these four aircraft and at the end of 2014, two of the DHL owned Boeing 767-200 aircraft were returned to DHL. We expect the last two DHL-owned Boeing 767-200 aircraft to be returned to DHL by the end of the first quarter of 2015.
We expect the recent operational improvements in ACMI Services to continue during 2015. However, due to higher pension expense as actuarially determined, aircraft maintenance schedules and the new pricing structure under the restated CMI, we expect this segment to generate a larger pre-tax loss for the full year in 2015. Under the new pricing structure of the restated CMI agreement, ABX will assume responsibility, effective April 1, 2015, for the cost of complying with FAA airworthiness directives, the cost of Boeing 767 airframe maintenance and certain engine maintenance events for the aircraft leased to DHL that it operates. Achieving profitability in the ACMI Services segment will depend on new revenue opportunities for airline services, the number of aircraft we operate, crewmember productivity, the cost of employee benefits and other factors. Our airlines may return lower utilized aircraft to CAM for lease to external customers after considering a number of factors including the duration of the customer commitment,
the underlying credit quality of the customer and market pricing for each opportunity. The ACMI Services segment currently has one aircraft that is underutilized at this time.
Other Activities
The Company sells aircraft parts and provides aircraft maintenance and modification services primarily through its aircraft maintenance and repair business, Airborne Maintenance and Engineering Services, Inc. ("AMES"). The Company also provides services to the U.S. Postal Service (“USPS”), which mainly consists of sorting services at five USPS facilities. The Company also leases and maintains ground support equipment and provides facility maintenance services. Other activities also include the management of workers' compensation claims under an agreement with DHL and gains from the reduction in employee post-retirement obligations.
External customer revenues from all other activities were $72.0 million and $63.9 million for 2014 and 2013, respectively. Revenues from services provided to the USPS increased $3.9 million during 2014 primarily due to increased volumes handled by the facilities that we operate for the USPS. In addition to the increased revenues from the USPS, aircraft maintenance revenues from external customers increased by $3.2 million.
The pre-tax earnings from other activities were $11.4 million and $12.2 million for 2014 and 2013, respectively. The decrease of $0.8 million of pre-tax earnings for 2014 compared to 2013 primarily reflects additional personnel costs to support increased business volumes processed for the USPS and the start up of expanded aircraft maintenance operations which began in mid-2014.
In 2014, AMES expanded into a new 100,000 square foot aircraft hangar facility adjacent to the existing aircraft maintenance facility in Wilmington, Ohio. During construction of the hangar, we were the construction agent for the Clinton County Port Authority and were reimbursed for construction costs during 2014. We began to make lease payments for the new hangar during 2014. Additionally, we have been incurring other incremental costs associated with the new hangar, including the costs of aircraft maintenance personnel, as we seek to grow aircraft maintenance revenues utilizing the expanded hangar capabilities. Our future operating results could be adversely impacted if anticipated revenues do not coincide with our costs of operating the new facility.
The Company has been providing mail sorting services to the USPS since September 2004. The contracts for five facilities we service have been extended from their original expiration dates in 2014 and are currently scheduled to expire during 2015. We understand that the USPS is evaluating contract renewals and internal alternatives for these five facilities. The contract for some or all of these facilities may not be renewed.
Discontinued Operations
Discontinued operations relate to hub operations, package sorting and aircraft fuel services that ABX provided to DHL under previous agreements through 2009. The financial results of discontinued operations primarily reflect pension expense, workers' compensation cost adjustments and other benefits for former employees previously associated with ABX's former hub operations, package sorting and aircraft fueling services provided to DHL. Pre-tax losses related to the former sorting operations were $3.5 million for 2014 compared to pre-tax losses of less than $0.1 million for 2013. During 2014, pension expense for discontinued operations increased approximately $3.6 million due primarily to the effects of the pension settlement charge for former sorting operation employees.
Fleet Summary 2014
The Company’s cargo aircraft fleet is summarized below as of December 31, 2014 ($'s in thousands):
|
| | | | | | | | | |
| ACMI Services | | CAM | | Total |
In-service aircraft | | | | | |
Aircraft owned | | | | | |
Boeing 767-200 | 14 |
| | 22 |
| | 36 |
|
Boeing 767-300 | 6 |
| | 2 |
| | 8 |
|
Boeing 757-200 | 4 |
| | — |
| | 4 |
|
Boeing 757-200 Combi | 4 |
| | — |
| | 4 |
|
Total | 28 |
| | 24 |
| | 52 |
|
Carrying value | | | | | $ | 734,465 |
|
Operating lease | | | | | |
Boeing 767-200 | 2 |
| | — |
| | 2 |
|
Boeing 767-300 | 1 |
| | — |
| | 1 |
|
Total | 3 |
| | — |
| | 3 |
|
Other aircraft | | | | | |
Owned Boeing 767 available or staging for lease | — |
| | 1 |
| | 1 |
|
As of December 31, 2014, ACMI Services leased 28 of its in-service aircraft internally from CAM. As of December 31, 2014, 13 of CAM's 22 Boeing 767-200 aircraft were leased to DHL and operated by ABX. CAM leased the other nine Boeing 767-200 and two Boeing 767-300 aircraft to external airlines.
Aircraft fleet activity during 2014 is summarized below:
- CAM completed the modification of one Boeing 767-300 freighter aircraft and it was available for lease until it was placed with an external customer in February, 2015 under a multi-year lease.
- CAM completed the modification of one Boeing 757 combi aircraft and leased the aircraft internally to ATI, which deployed the aircraft for the U.S. Military.
- ABX returned two Boeing 767-200 freighter aircraft and ATI returned one Boeing 767-200 freighter aircraft and two Boeing 767-300 freighter aircraft to CAM. CAM leased two Boeing 767-200 aircraft and two Boeing 767-300 aircraft to external customers and leased a Boeing 767-200 to ABX for peak season flying.
- Near the end of September 2014, CAM purchased the two Boeing 767-300 freighter aircraft that ABX was leasing from an external lessor and began to lease them to ABX.
- During the fourth quarter of 2014, ABX began leasing one Boeing 767-300 freighter aircraft from an external lessor. (CAM purchased this aircraft in February 2015 and released it to ABX.)
- Two DHL owned Boeing 767-200 aircraft, previously leased by ABX for operation in DHL's network, were returned to DHL.
- The table above does not reflect CAM's only Boeing 767-200 passenger aircraft. This aircraft was under lease to an external airline at December 31, 2014.
As of December 31, 2014, the Company had Boeing 727 and DC-8 airframes and engines with a carrying value of $0.7 million that were available for sale. This carrying value is based on fair market values less the estimated costs to sell the airframes, engines and parts.
Expenses from Continuing Operations
Salaries, wages and benefits expense decreased $8.9 million during 2014 compared to 2013 due to lower pension expense and a reduced number of airline employees. Pension expense for continuing operations decreased $7.5 million during 2014 due to strong investment returns on pension plan assets and the impact of a higher interest rate on pension plan obligations at the beginning of 2014. The number of airline employees declined 18% during 2014 compared to 2013. Total headcount increased slightly during 2014 compared to 2013 as we added employees for facility and aircraft maintenance operations, driven by additional revenue and expanded hangar capabilities.
Fuel expense increased by $4.1 million during 2014 compared to 2013. Fuel expense reflects the cost of fuel to operate U.S. Military charters, reimbursable fuel billed to DHL and fuel used to position aircraft for service and for maintenance purposes. The increase reflects a higher level of customer reimbursed fuel which increased $16.2 million in 2014 compared 2013. The cost of fuel that is not reimbursed declined due to lower prices for aviation fuel and the operation of more fuel efficient Boeing 757 combi aircraft which replaced the DC-8 aircraft previously operated for the U.S Military. The average price per gallon of fuel decreased about 3.4% for 2014 compared to 2013.
Maintenance, materials and repairs expense decreased by $5.5 million during 2014 compared to 2013. Maintenance expense decreased due to fewer block hours flown and fewer airframe heavy checks performed during 2014 compared to 2013. Aircraft maintenance expenses can vary among periods due to the number of scheduled airframe maintenance checks and the scope of the checks that are performed.
Depreciation and amortization expense increased $16.5 million during 2014 compared to 2013. The increase in depreciation expense reflects incremental depreciation expense for four Boeing 767 aircraft, one Boeing 757 freighter aircraft and four Boeing 757 combi aircraft added to the in-service fleet since mid-2013, offset by the removal of the DC-8 combi aircraft from service.
Travel expense decreased by $1.0 million during 2014 compared to 2013. The decrease reflects the lower level of employee headcount in airline operations and less international travel needed to support fewer international flight operations during 2014 compared to 2013.
Rent expense decreased by $0.8 million during 2014 compared to 2013. Rent expense decreased primarily due to the purchase of two Boeing 767-300 aircraft in 2014 which were previously leased from an external provider.
Landing and ramp expense, which includes the cost of deicing chemicals, decreased by $0.9 million during 2014 compared to 2013. The decrease was due to the reduction in block hours and flights operated in 2014 compared to 2013.
Insurance expense decreased by $0.9 million during 2014 compared to 2013. While aircraft fleet insurance has declined as the DC-8 aircraft were retired, the cost of employee insurance has risen compared to 2013.
Other operating expenses increased by $1.5 million during 2014 compared to 2013. Other operating expenses include professional fees, navigational services, employee training, utilities, and the cost of parts sold to customers. Operating expenses also includes net gains associated with the sale of spare aircraft engines. Other operating expenses increased due to additional parts sold to aircraft maintenance customers and lower gains from the sale of spare equipment during 2014.
Interest expense decreased by $0.3 million during 2014 compared to 2013. Interest expense decreased due to a lower average debt level and interest rates on the Company's outstanding loans during 2014 compared to 2013. Lower interest expenses were partially offset by less capitalized interest during 2014. Capitalized interest was $0.9 million higher in 2013 while aircraft were undergoing the freighter modification process.
The Company recorded pre-tax net gains on derivatives of $1.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to $0.6 million during 2013, reflecting the impact of fluctuating market interest rates.
Income tax expense from continuing operations increased $0.4 million for 2014 compared to 2013, due to higher pre-tax earnings. The Company's effective income tax rate from continuing operations was 38.1% for the year ended December 31, 2014. The effective tax rate from continuing operations was approximately 36.9% for the year ended December 31, 2013 after adjusting for $52.6 million of non-deductible impairment charges. The increase in the effective tax rate primarily reflects increased state income taxes as proportionally more earnings occurred in the U.S. during 2014 compared to 2013.
We estimate that the Company's effective tax rate for 2015 will be approximately 38.6%. As of December 31, 2014, the Company had operating loss carryforwards for U.S. federal income tax purposes of approximately $94.7 million, which will begin to expire in 2024 if not utilized before then. We expect to utilize the loss carryforwards to offset federal income tax liabilities in the future. As a result, we do not expect to pay federal income taxes until 2017 or later. The Company may, however, be required to pay alternative minimum taxes and certain state and local income taxes before then. The Company's taxable income earned from international flights are primarily sourced to the United States under international aviation agreements and treaties. If we begin to operate in countries without such agreements, the Company could incur additional foreign income taxes.
2013 compared to 2012
Summary
The consolidated net loss from continuing operations was $19.6 million for 2013 compared with net earnings of $41.6 million for 2012. The pre-tax loss from continuing operations was $0.4 million for 2013 compared with pre-tax earnings from continuing operations of $66.3 million for 2012. The decrease in earnings from continuing operations in 2013 as compared to 2012 was primarily due to the recognition of a goodwill impairment charge of $52.6 million that is not deductible for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Adjusted pre-tax earnings from continuing operations, a non-GAAP measure (a definition and reconciliation of adjusted pre-tax earnings follows), after removing the impairment charges were $51.6 million for 2013 compared to $64.4 million for 2012. Adjusted pre-tax earnings from continuing operations for 2013 declined compared to 2012 due to lower revenues, primarily in the ACMI Services segment, as well as higher depreciation expenses, due to additional aircraft in service condition.
Total customer revenues from continuing operations decreased by $27.4 million to $580.0 million during 2013 compared to 2012. Revenues were negatively impacted by FAA requirements which delayed the deployment of Boeing 757 aircraft and the training of the related flight crews, as well as continued softness in international cargo markets. Excluding directly reimbursed revenues, customer revenues decreased 4%, or by $20.4 million during 2013 compared with 2012. Total operating expenses, without impairment charges, declined as we restructured the ATI airline, falling 3% during 2013 compared with 2012.
CAM
As of December 31, 2013, CAM had 49 freighter aircraft in service condition, 29 of them leased internally to the Company's airlines. CAM's revenues grew $5.8 million during 2013 compared to 2012, as a result of additional internal aircraft leases. CAM's revenues from the Company's airlines totaled $88.7 million during 2013, compared to $80.0 million for 2012. Since the beginning of 2012, CAM has placed one Boeing 767-200 freighter aircraft, four Boeing 767-300 freighter aircraft, one Boeing 757-200 freighter aircraft and three Boeing 757 combi aircraft under leases with internal airlines. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, CAM leased 20 aircraft to external customers. Revenues from external customers decreased $3.0 million for 2013 compared to 2012. During the fourth quarter of 2012, a regional carrier returned a Boeing 767-200 aircraft to CAM before the end of the original lease term. The aircraft was redeployed internally within ACMI services.
CAM's pre-tax earnings, inclusive of an interest expense allocation were $66.2 million and $68.5 million during 2013 and 2012, respectively. Reduced earnings reflect additional internal lease revenues offset by higher depreciation expense for Boeing 767 and Boeing 757 aircraft, increased expenses to place and support the larger fleet of Boeing 767 and 757 aircraft and higher allocated interest expense compared to 2012.
ACMI Services Segment
Revenues from ACMI Services were $444.5 million and $479.0 million during 2013 and 2012, respectively. ACMI Services incurred pre-tax losses of $78.2 million during 2013, compared to pre-tax losses of $14.5 million for 2012. Excluding asset impairment charges of $52.6 million recorded during 2013, ACMI Services incurred pre-tax losses of $25.6 million in 2013. Larger pre-tax losses in 2013 compared to 2012 were primarily a result of lower revenues. Revenues from ACMI Services declined $34.5 million during 2013 compared with 2012. Airline services revenues from external customers, which do not include revenues for the reimbursement of fuel and certain operating expenses, declined $26.2 million. Lower revenues resulted from operating fewer international cargo lanes for our customers, including the U.S. Military, as well as fewer ad hoc charters. Since mid-2012, some of our aircraft were replaced by
our customer's own airlift capacity on certain international cargo lanes. Block hours flown for the U.S. Military were down 4% compared to 2012, primarily due to the phase-in of the Boeing 757 combi aircraft, which replaced the DC-8 combi aircraft operated by ATI. Revenues for the U.S. Military were negatively impacted by delays in FAA approvals for the Boeing 757 combi aircraft and the pilot training program. Before the Boeing 757 combi aircraft could begin operations, the aircraft had to be certified by the FAA and our pilots trained to conduct Boeing 757 passenger operations. Additionally, during the phase-in of the Boeing 757 aircraft, we experienced reduced availability of combi aircraft as the DC-8 combi airframe maintenance requirements became due. In addition, expenses for non-reimbursed airframe maintenance checks increased $3.6 million compared to 2012. The increase is primarily due to a larger required work scope for the checks scheduled in 2013 compared to 2012.
Billable block hours declined 13% for 2013 compared to 2012. Revenues declined relatively less than block hours because a larger portion of our 2013 revenues were derived from shorter express routes instead of longer international routes flown during 2012. The effective average revenue rates per block hour paid by non-military customers are higher for express routes in which aircraft utilization is lower, compared to lower rates per block hour for longer, international routes.
Operating expense for ACMI Services declined $15.1 million during 2013 compared to 2012, excluding impairment charges, in part as a result of combining the ATI and CCIA operations, which resulted in a 28% reduction in airline related headcount compared to the beginning of 2012. Operating expenses for landings, ramp and travel declined due to the lower level of international block hours flown. These expense reductions, which were related to personnel and the level of flights, were partially offset by higher aircraft depreciation expense and aircraft rent expense, which increased due to the addition of Boeing 767-300 aircraft.
Fleet Summary 2013
The Company’s cargo aircraft fleet is summarized below as of December 31, 2013 ($'s in thousands):
|
| | | | | | | | | |
| ACMI Services | | CAM | | Total |
In-service aircraft | | | | | |
Aircraft owned | | | | | |
Boeing 767-200 | 16 |
| | 20 |
| | 36 |
|
Boeing 767-300 | 6 |
| | — |
| | 6 |
|
Boeing 757-200 | 4 |
| | — |
| | 4 |
|
Boeing 757-200 Combi | 3 |
| | — |
| | 3 |
|
Total | 29 |
| | 20 |
| | 49 |
|
Carrying value | | | | | $ | 714,835 |
|
Operating lease | | | | | |
Boeing 767-200 | 4 |
| | — |
| | 4 |
|
Boeing 767-300 | 2 |
| | — |
| | 2 |
|
Total | 6 |
| | — |
| | 6 |
|
Carrying value | | | | | $ | 1,275 |
|
Aircraft for freighter and combi modification | | | | | |
Boeing 767-300 | — |
| | 1 |
| | 1 |
|
Boeing 757-200 Combi | — |
| | 1 |
| | 1 |
|
Total | — |
| | 2 |
| | 2 |
|
Carrying value | | | | | $ | 58,533 |
|
As of December 31, 2013, ACMI Services leased 29 of its in-service aircraft internally from CAM. As of December 31, 2013, 13 of CAM's 20 Boeing 767-200 aircraft shown above were leased to DHL and operated by ABX. CAM leased the other seven Boeing 767-200 aircraft to external airlines.
Aircraft fleet activity during 2013 is summarized below:
- CAM completed the modification of one Boeing 767-300 freighter aircraft and leased the aircraft internally to ABX.
- CAM completed the modification of one Boeing 757 freighter aircraft and leased the aircraft internally to ATI.
- CAM purchased two Boeing 757 combi aircraft that had not been certified for airworthiness. CAM completed the airworthiness requirements for three Boeing 757 combi aircraft and leased them internally to ATI, which deployed the aircraft for the U.S. Military.
- We removed four DC-8 combi aircraft from the in-service fleet.
As of December 31, 2013, CAM also had a Boeing 767-200 passenger aircraft which was placed in temporary storage when its airframe maintenance cycle expired. As of December 31, 2013, the Company had Boeing 727 and DC-8 airframes and engines with a carrying value of $3.0 million that were available for sale. This carrying value was based on fair market values less the estimated costs to sell the airframes, engines and parts.
Other Activities
External customer revenues from all other activities were $63.9 million and $55.1 million for 2013 and 2012, respectively. Revenues from services provided to the USPS increased $6.4 million during 2013 primarily due to increased volumes at the facilities that we operate for the USPS. In addition to the increased revenues from the USPS, aircraft maintenance revenues from external customers increased by $1.5 million.
The pre-tax earnings from other activities were $12.2 million and $11.7 million for 2013 and 2012, respectively. The increase of $0.5 million of pre-tax earnings for 2013 compared to 2012 primarily reflects additional volumes processed for the USPS during the year and additional aircraft maintenance revenues for external customers.
Discontinued Operations
Pre-tax losses related to the former sorting operations were less than $0.1 million for 2013 compared to $1.2 million for 2012. During 2013, pension expense for discontinued operations decreased approximately $1.2 million due primarily to the effects of recent investment returns used to actuarially calculate the Company's annual pension expense.
Expenses from Continuing Operations
Salaries, wages and benefits expense decreased $9.3 million during 2013 compared to 2012. The lower expenses are the result of the lower number of employees after merging and restructuring ATI and CCIA. Headcount declined 10% between the beginning of 2012 and the end of 2013. Pension expense for continuing operations decreased $4.4 million during 2013 due to strong investment returns on pension plan assets.
Fuel expense decreased by $4.6 million during 2013 compared to 2012. Fuel expense primarily reflects the costs of fuel to operate U.S. Military charters, position aircraft for service and for maintenance purposes. The decrease during 2013 compared to 2012 reflects a decline in the number of flights flown for the U.S. Military, fewer ad hoc charter flights and the use of the more fuel efficient Boeing 757 combi aircraft instead of DC-8 combi aircraft.
Maintenance, materials and repairs expense decreased by $0.5 million during 2013 compared to 2012. The decline in maintenance expense reflects fewer customer reimbursed airframe heavy maintenance events, offset by higher engine maintenance expenses compared to the previous year. Engine maintenance expenses increased during 2013 due to higher costs for engine parts and engine maintenance services.
Depreciation and amortization expense increased $7.3 million during 2013 compared to 2012. The increase in depreciation expense reflects the removal of the Boeing 727 aircraft and the DC-8 aircraft from service, offset by incremental depreciation expense for one Boeing 767 aircraft, one Boeing 757 freighter aircraft and three Boeing 757 combi aircraft added to the in-service fleet since December 2012.
Travel expense decreased by $4.0 million during 2013 compared to 2012. The decrease reflects the lower level of employee headcount and less international travel needed to support fewer international flight operations during 2013.
Rent expense increased by $1.5 million during 2013 compared to 2012. Rent expense increased primarily due to the lease of an additional Boeing 767-300 aircraft beginning in May 2012.
Landing and ramp expense, which includes the cost of deicing chemicals, decreased by $4.8 million during 2013 compared to 2012. The decrease was due to the reduction in block hours and flights operated in 2013 compared to 2012.
Insurance expense decreased by $1.5 million during 2013 compared to 2012, primarily due to the reduction in Boeing 727 and DC-8 aircraft.
Other operating expenses increased by $1.3 million during 2013 compared to 2012. Other operating expenses include professional fees, navigational services, employee training, utilities, the cost of parts sold to customers and the net gains from the sales of spare aircraft engines. The increase was primarily due to lower gains from the sales of spare equipment in 2013 compared to 2012.
Interest expense decreased by $0.1 million during 2013 compared to 2012. Lower interest expense on interest rate swaps held by the Company was partially offset by higher interest expense on additional borrowings under the Senior Credit Agreement and lower capitalized interest during 2013 compared to 2012.
The Company recorded pre-tax net gains on derivatives of $0.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2013 compared to pre-tax net gains on derivatives of $1.9 million during 2012, reflecting the impact of fluctuating market interest rates.
Income tax expense from continuing operations decreased $5.4 million for 2013 compared to 2012, due to lower pre-tax earnings. The Company's effective income tax rate from continuing operations was approximately 36.9% for the year ended December 31, 2013 after adjusting for $52.6 million of non-deductible impairment charges. The effective tax rate from continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2012 was to 37.2%.
FINANCIAL CONDITION, LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Cash Flows
Net cash generated from operating activities totaled $148.8 million, $94.4 million and $110.6 million in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Cash flows generated from operating activities increased in 2014 compared to 2013 primarily due to additional payments received from DHL, decreased pension contributions and better operating profitability. Cash flows generated from operating activities decreased in 2013 compared to 2012 primarily due to lower receipts from DHL and lower operating profits in the ACMI Services segment. Cash outlays for pension contributions were $6.1 million, $27.5 million and $24.7 million in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
Capital spending levels were primarily the result of aircraft modification costs and the acquisition of aircraft for freighter modification. Cash payments for capital expenditures were $112.2 million, $112.7 million and $155.2 million in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Capital expenditures in 2014 included $61.9 million for the acquisition of two Boeing 767-300 aircraft and next generation navigation and communication modifications, $26.0 million for required heavy maintenance, $7.3 million for construction of the new aircraft hangar and $17.0 million for other equipment, including purchases of aircraft engines and rotables. Our capital expenditures in 2013 included $79.0 million for the acquisition of two Boeing 757 combi aircraft and the costs of Boeing 757 and Boeing 767 aircraft modifications, $23.9 million for required heavy maintenance, $6.7 million for construction of the new aircraft hangar and $3.1 million for other equipment costs. Our capital expenditures in 2012 included $134.9 million for the acquisition and modification of aircraft, $11.3 million for required heavy maintenance and $9.0 million for other equipment costs. During 2014, we made an investment in West Atlantic AB for $15 million.
Cash proceeds of $3.6 million, $1.5 million and $5.8 million were received in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, for the sale of aircraft engines, airframes and parts.
During 2014, net cash used for financing activities was $26.3 million, as we paid down debt obligations. Net cash provided by financing activities was $26.2 million and $23.8 million in 2013 and 2012, respectively. Our borrowing activities were necessary to acquire and modify aircraft for deployment into air cargo markets and modernize the combi fleet we operate for the U.S. Military. During 2014, we drew $45.0 million from the revolving credit facility under the Senior Credit Agreement to fund capital spending and we made debt principal payments of $79.2 million. Additionally, $6.2 million of the principal balance of the DHL promissory note was extinguished during 2014, pursuant to the CMI agreement with DHL.
Commitments
The table below summarizes the Company's contractual obligations and commercial commitments (in thousands) as of December 31, 2014.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Payments Due By Period |
Contractual Obligations | Total | | Less Than 1 Year | | 2-3 Years | | 4-5 Years | | After 5 Years |
Long term debt, including interest payments | $ | 376,696 |
| | $ | 34,322 |
| | $ | 78,275 |
| | $ | 262,549 |
| | $ | 1,550 |
|
Facility leases | 33,445 |
| | 4,723 |
| | 8,627 |
| | 6,315 |
| | 13,780 |
|
Other leases | 1,411 |
| | 894 |
| | 434 |
| | 83 |
| | — |
|
Total contractual cash obligations | $ | 411,552 |
| | $ | 39,939 |
| | $ | 87,336 |
| | $ | 268,947 |
| | $ | 15,330 |
|
The long term debt bears interest at 2.55% to 7.36% per annum.
The Company provides defined benefit pension plans to certain employee groups. The table above does not include cash contributions for pension funding, due to the absence of scheduled maturities. The timing of pension and post-retirement healthcare payments cannot be reasonably determined, except for $7.3 million expected to be funded in 2015.
We estimate that capital expenditures for 2015 will total $80 million for an aircraft purchase, airframe and engine maintenance and other expenditures. Actual capital spending for any future period will be impacted by aircraft acquisitions, maintenance and modification processes. We expect to finance the capital expenditures from current cash balances, future operating cash flow and the Senior Credit Agreement.
Liquidity
The Company has a Senior Credit Agreement with a consortium of banks that includes an unsubordinated term loan of $116.3 million and a revolving credit facility from which the Company has drawn $180.0 million, net of repayments as of December 31, 2014. On May 6, 2014, the Company executed the third amendment to the Senior Credit Agreement (the "Third Credit Amendment"). The Third Credit Amendment extends the maturity of the term loan and revolving credit facility to May 6, 2019, provides for annual, one year extension options, provides for an accordion feature whereby the Company can draw up to an additional $50 million subject to the lenders' consent, reduces the EBITDA based pricing, eases requirements for stock dividends and stock buybacks and reduces the collateral requirements. The Senior Credit Agreement is collateralized by the Company's fleet of Boeing 767 and 757 aircraft that are not collateralized under aircraft loans. Under the amended terms of the Senior Credit Agreement, the Company is required to maintain collateral coverage equal to 150% of the outstanding balances of the term loan and the maximum capacity of the revolving credit facility or 175% of the outstanding balance of the term loan and the total funded revolving credit facility, whichever is less. The minimum collateral coverage which must be maintained is 50% of the outstanding balance of the term loan plus the revolving credit facility commitment of $275 million. Beginning May 6, 2015, and each year thereafter through May 6, 2019, the Company may request a one year extension of the final maturity date, subject to the lenders' consent.
Under the Senior Credit Agreement, the Company is subject to covenants and warranties that are usual and customary, including among other things, limitations on certain additional indebtedness, guarantees of indebtedness, as well as a total debt to EBITDA ratio and a fixed charge coverage ratio. The Senior Credit Agreement stipulates events of default including unspecified events that may have a material adverse effect on the Company. If an event of default occurs, the Company may be forced to repay, renegotiate or replace the Senior Credit Agreement.
Additional debt or lower EBITDA may result in higher interest rates. Under the Senior Credit Agreement, interest rates are adjusted quarterly based on the prevailing LIBOR or prime rates and a ratio of the Company's outstanding debt level to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization expenses ("EBITDA"). At the Company's current debt-to-EBITDA ratio, the unsubordinated term loan and the revolving credit facility both bear a variable interest rate of 2.17%
At December 31, 2014, the Company had $30.6 million of cash balances. The Company had $86.0 million available under the revolving credit facility, net of outstanding letters of credit, which totaled $9.0 million. As specified under the terms of ABX's CMI agreement with DHL, the $1.6 million balance at December 31, 2014 of the unsecured note
payable to DHL will be extinguished ratably without payment through March 31, 2015. We believe that the Company's current cash balances and forecasted cash flows provided from its operating agreements, combined with its Senior Credit Agreement, will be sufficient to fund operations, scheduled debt payments, required pension funding and planned capital expenditures for at least the next 12 months.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
As part of our ongoing business, we do not participate in transactions that generate relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities (“SPEs”), which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, we were not involved in any material unconsolidated SPE transactions.
Certain of our operating leases and agreements contain indemnification obligations to the lessor or one or more other parties that are considered usual and customary (e.g. use, tax and environmental indemnifications), the terms of which range in duration and are often limited. Such indemnification obligations may continue after the expiration of the respective lease or agreement. No amounts have been recognized in our financial statements for the underlying fair value of guarantees and indemnifications.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” as well as certain disclosures included elsewhere in this report, are based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to select appropriate accounting policies and make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosures of contingencies. In certain cases, there are alternative policies or estimation techniques which could be selected. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our selection of policies and the estimation techniques we use, including those related to revenue recognition, post-retirement liabilities, bad debts, self-insurance reserves, valuation of spare parts inventory, useful lives, salvage values and impairment of property and equipment, income taxes, contingencies and litigation. We base our estimates on historical experience, current conditions and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Those factors form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources, as well as for identifying and assessing our accounting treatment with respect to commitments and contingencies. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. We believe the following significant and critical accounting policies involve the more significant judgments and estimates used in preparing the consolidated financial statements.
Revenue Recognition
Revenues generated from airline service agreements are typically recognized based on hours flown or the amount of aircraft and crew resources provided during a reporting period. Certain agreements include provisions for incentive payments based upon on-time reliability. These incentives are typically measured on a monthly basis and recorded to revenue in the corresponding month earned. Revenues for operating expenses that are reimbursed through customer agreements, including consumption of aircraft fuel, are generally recognized as the costs are incurred. Revenues from charter service agreements are recognized on scheduled and non-scheduled flights when the specific flight has been completed. Aircraft lease revenues are recognized as operating lease revenues on a straight-line basis over the term of the applicable lease agreements. Revenues from the sale of aircraft parts and engines are recognized when the parts are delivered. Revenues earned and expenses incurred in providing aircraft-related maintenance, repair or technical services are recognized in the period in which the services are completed and delivered to the customer. Revenues derived from sorting parcels are recognized in the reporting period in which the services are performed. Revenue is not recognized until collectibility is reasonably assured.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
We assess in the fourth quarter of each year whether the Company’s goodwill acquired in acquisitions is impaired in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification (“FASB ASC”) Topic
350-20 Intangibles—Goodwill and Other. Additional assessments may be performed on an interim basis whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate an impairment may have occurred. Indefinite-lived intangible assets are not amortized but are assessed for impairment annually, or more frequently if impairment indicators occur. Finite-lived intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful economic lives and are periodically reviewed for impairment.
The application of the goodwill impairment test requires significant judgment, including the determination of the fair value of each reporting unit that has goodwill. We estimate the fair value using a market approach and an income approach utilizing discounted cash flows applied to a market-derived rate of return. The market approach utilizes market multiples from comparable publicly traded companies. The market multiples include revenues and EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization). We derive cash flow assumptions from many factors including recent market trends, expected revenues, cost structure, aircraft maintenance schedules and long term strategic plans for the deployment of aircraft. Key assumptions under the discounted cash flow models include projections for the number of aircraft in service, capital expenditures, long term growth rates, operating cash flows and market-derived discount rates.
The first step of the goodwill impairment test requires a comparison of the fair value of the reporting unit to its respective carrying value. If the carrying value of a reporting unit is less than its fair value, no indication of impairment exists and a second step is not performed. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit is higher than its fair value, there is an indication that an impairment may exist and a second step is performed. In the second step, fair values are assigned to all of the assets and liabilities of a reporting unit, including any unrecognized intangible assets, and the implied fair value of goodwill is calculated. If the implied fair value of goodwill is less than the recorded goodwill, an impairment loss is recorded for the difference and charged to operations.
We have used the assistance of an independent business valuation firm in estimating an expected market rate of return, and in the development of a market approach for CAM using multiples of EBITDA and revenues from comparable publicly traded companies. Based on our analysis, as of December 31, 2014, CAM's fair value exceeded its carrying value by more than 25%. The Company's key assumptions used for goodwill testing include uncertainties, including the level of demand for cargo aircraft by shippers, the U.S. Military and freight forwarders and CAM's ability to lease aircraft and the lease rates that will be realized. The demand for customer airlift is projected based on input from customers, management's interface with customer planning personnel and aircraft utilization trends. Certain events or changes in circumstances could negatively impact our key assumptions. Customer preferences for cargo aircraft may be impacted by changes in aviation fuel prices. Key customers, including DHL and the U.S. Military, may decide that they do not need as many aircraft as projected, or they may find alternatives.
Long-lived assets
Aircraft and other long-lived assets are tested for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. Factors which may cause an impairment include termination of aircraft from a customer's network, extended operating cash flow losses from the assets and management's decisions regarding the future use of assets. To conduct impairment testing, we group assets and liabilities at the lowest level for which identifiable cash is largely independent of cash flows of other assets and liabilities. For assets that are to be held and used, impairment is recognized when the estimated undiscounted cash flows associated with an asset group is less than the carrying value. If impairment exists, an adjustment is made to write the assets down to fair value, and a loss is recorded as the difference between the carrying value and fair value. Fair values are determined considering quoted market values, discounted cash flows or internal and external appraisals, as applicable.
Depreciation
Depreciation of property and equipment is provided on a straight-line basis over the lesser of an asset’s useful life or lease term. We periodically evaluate the estimated service lives and residual values used to depreciate our property and equipment. The acceleration of depreciation expense or the recording of significant impairment losses could result from changes in the estimated useful lives of our assets. We may change the estimated useful lives due to a number of reasons, such as the existence of excess capacity in our air networks, or changes in regulations grounding or limiting the use of aircraft.
Self-Insurance
We self-insure certain claims related to workers’ compensation, aircraft, automobile, general liability and employee healthcare. We record a liability for reported claims and an estimate for incurred claims that have not yet been reported.
Accruals for these claims are estimated utilizing historical paid claims data and recent claims trends. Changes in claim severity and frequency could result in actual claims being materially different than the costs provided for in our results of operations. We maintain excess claim coverage with common insurance carriers to mitigate our exposure to large claim losses.
Contingencies
We are involved in legal matters that have a degree of uncertainty associated with them. We continually assess the likely outcomes of these matters and the adequacy of amounts, if any, provided for these matters. There can be no assurance that the ultimate outcome of these matters will not differ materially from our assessment of them. There also can be no assurance that we know all matters that may be brought against us at any point in time.
Income Taxes
We account for income taxes under the provisions of FASB ASC Topic 740-10 Income Taxes. The objectives of accounting for income taxes are to recognize the amount of taxes payable or refundable for the current year and deferred tax liabilities and assets for the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the Company’s financial statements or tax returns. Judgment is required in assessing the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the Company’s financial statements or tax returns. Fluctuations in the actual outcome of expected future tax consequences could materially impact the Company’s financial position or its results of operations.
The Company has significant deferred tax assets including net operating loss carryforwards (“NOL CFs”) for federal income tax purposes which begin to expire in 2024. Based upon projections of taxable income, we determined that it was more likely than not that the NOL CF’s will be realized prior to their expiration. Accordingly, we do not have an allowance against these deferred tax assets at this time.
We recognize the impact of a tax position, if that position is more likely than not of being sustained on audit, based on the technical merits of the position.
Post-retirement Obligations
The Company sponsors qualified defined benefit pension plans for ABX’s flight crewmembers and other eligible employees. The Company also sponsors non-qualified, unfunded excess plans that provide benefits to executive management and crewmembers that are in addition to amounts permitted to be paid through our qualified plans under provisions of the tax laws. Employees are no longer accruing benefits under any of the defined benefit pension plans. The Company also sponsors unfunded post-retirement healthcare plans for ABX’s flight crewmembers and non-flight crewmember employees.
The accounting and valuation for these post-retirement obligations are determined by prescribed accounting and actuarial methods that consider a number of assumptions and estimates. The selection of appropriate assumptions and estimates is significant due to the long time period over which benefits will be accrued and paid. The long term nature of these benefit payouts increases the sensitivity of certain estimates on our post-retirement costs. In actuarially valuing our pension obligations and determining related expense amounts, key assumptions include discount rates, expected long term investment returns, retirement ages and mortality. Actual results and future changes in these assumptions could result in future costs that are materially different than those recorded in our annual results of operations.
Our actuarial valuation includes an assumed long term rate of return on pension plan assets of 6.25%. Our assumed rate of return is based on a targeted long term investment allocation of 30% equity securities, 65% fixed income securities and 5% real estate. The actual asset allocation at December 31, 2014 was 28% equities, 68% fixed income, 4% real estate and 0% cash. The pension trust includes $55.5 million of investments (8% of the plans' assets) whose fair values have been estimated in the absence of readily determinable fair values. Such investments include private equity, hedge fund investments and real estate funds. Management’s estimates are based on information provided by the fund managers or general partners of those funds.
In evaluating our assumptions regarding expected long term investment returns on plan assets, we consider a number of factors, including our historical plan returns in connection with our asset allocation policies, assistance from investment consultants hired to provide oversight over our actively managed investment portfolio, and long term inflation assumptions. The selection of the expected return rate materially affects our pension costs. Our expected long term rate of return was 6.25% after analyzing expected returns on investment vehicles and considering our long term asset allocation expectations. If we were to lower our long term rate of return assumption by a hypothetical 100 basis
points, expense in 2014 would be increased by approximately $7.1 million. We use a market value of assets as of the measurement date for determining pension expense.
In selecting the interest rate to discount estimated future benefit payments that have been earned to date to their net present value (defined as the projected benefit obligation), we match the plan’s benefit payment streams to high-quality bonds of similar maturities. The selection of the discount rate not only affects the reported funded status information as of December 31 (as shown in Note H to the accompanying consolidated financial statements), but also affects the succeeding year’s pension and post-retirement healthcare costs. The discount rates selected for December 31, 2014, based on the method described above, were 4.35% for crewmembers and 4.40% for non-crewmembers. If we were to lower our discount rates by a hypothetical 50 basis points, pension expense in 2014 would be increased by approximately $6.1 million.
Our mortality assumptions at December 31,2014, reflect the most recent projections released by the Actuaries Retirement Plans Experience Committee, a committee within the Society of Actuaries, a professional association in North America. The assumed future increase in salaries and wages is not a significant estimate in determining pension costs because each defined benefit pension plan was frozen during 2009 with respect to additional benefit accruals.
The following table illustrates the sensitivity of the aforementioned assumptions on our pension expense, pension obligation and accumulated other comprehensive income (in thousands):
|
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Effect of change |
| | | December 31, 2014 |
Change in assumption | 2014 Pension expense | | Pension obligation | | Accumulated other comprehensive income (pre-tax) |
100 basis point decrease in rate of return | $ | 7,053 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
|
50 basis point decrease in discount rate | 6,116 |
| | (55,762 | ) | | 55,762 |
|
Aggregate effect of all the above changes | 13,169 |
| | (55,762 | ) | | 55,762 |
|
Discontinued Operations
In accordance with the guidance of FASB ASC Topic 205-20 Presentation of Financial Statements, a business component whose operations are discontinued is reported as discontinued operations if the cash flows of the component have been eliminated from the ongoing operations of the Company and the Company will no longer have any significant continuing involvement in the business component. The results of discontinued operations are aggregated and presented separately in the consolidated statement of operations. FASB ASC Topic 205-20 requires the reclassification of amounts presented for prior years to reflect their classification as discontinued operations.
Exit Activities
We account for the costs associated with exit activities in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 420-10 Exit or Disposal Cost Obligations. One-time, involuntary employee termination benefits are generally expensed when the Company communicates the benefit arrangement to the employee that it will no longer require the services of the employee beyond a minimum retention period. Liabilities for contract termination costs associated with exit activities are recognized in the period incurred and measured initially at fair value.
New Accounting Pronouncements
For information regarding recently issued accounting pronouncements and the expected impact on our annual statements, see Note A "SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL STATEMENT PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES" in the accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The Company is exposed to market risk for changes in interest rates and changes in the price of jet fuel. The risk associated with jet fuel, however, is largely mitigated by reimbursement through the agreements with our customers.
The Company's Senior Credit Agreement requires the Company to maintain derivative instruments for fluctuating interest rates, for at least fifty percent of the outstanding balance of the unsubordinated term loan. Accordingly, in July 2011, the Company entered into an interest rate swap instrument. Additionally, the Company entered into another interest rate swap in June 2013. As a result, future fluctuations in LIBOR interest rates will result in the recording of unrealized gains and losses on interest rate derivatives held by the Company. The notional values were $58.1 million as of December 31, 2014. See Note J in the accompanying consolidated financial statements for a discussion of our accounting treatment for these hedging transactions.
As of December 31, 2014, the Company has $47.8 million of fixed interest rate debt and $296.3 million of variable interest rate debt outstanding. Variable interest rate debt exposes us to differences in future cash flows resulting from changes in market interest rates. Variable interest rate risk can be quantified by estimating the change in annual cash flows resulting from a hypothetical 20% increase in interest rates. A hypothetical 20% increase or decrease in interest rates would have resulted in a change in interest expense of approximately $1.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2014.
The debt issued at fixed interest rates is exposed to fluctuations in fair value resulting from changes in market interest rates. Fixed interest rate risk can be quantified by estimating the increase in fair value of our long term debt through a hypothetical 20% increase in interest rates. As of December 31, 2014, a 20% increase in interest rates would have decreased the fair value of our fixed interest rate debt by approximately $0.5 million.
The Company is exposed to concentration of credit risk primarily through cash deposits, cash equivalents, marketable securities and derivatives. As part of our risk management process, we monitor and evaluate the credit standing of the financial institutions with which we do business. The financial institutions with which we do business are generally highly rated. The Company is exposed to counterparty risk, which is the loss we could incur if a counterparty to a derivative contract defaulted.
The Company sponsors defined benefit pension plans and post-retirement healthcare plans for certain eligible employees. The Company's related pension expense and funding requirements are sensitive to changes in interest rates used to discount the estimated future benefits payments that have been earned by participants in the plans. The annual pension expense is recalculated at the beginning of each calendar year using market interest rates at that point in time. At December 31, 2014, ABX's defined benefit pension plans had total investment assets of $719.8 million under investment management. See Note H in the accompanying consolidated financial statements for further discussion of these assets.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Air Transport Services Group, Inc.
Wilmington, Ohio
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Air Transport Services Group, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2014. Our audits also include the financial statement schedule listed in the Table of Contents at Item 15a(2). These financial statements and and the financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial statements and the financial statement schedule based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2014, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United State of America. Also, in our opinion, such financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.
As discussed in Note B to the consolidated financial statements, the Company’s two principal customers account for a substantial portion of the Company’s revenue. The Company’s financial security is dependent on its ongoing relationship with its principal customers existing as of December 31, 2014.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, based on the criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated March 9, 2015 expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Dayton, Ohio
March 9, 2015
AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share data)
|
| | | | | | | |
| December 31, | | December 31, |
| 2014 | | 2013 |
ASSETS | | | |
CURRENT ASSETS: | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 30,560 |
| | $ | 31,699 |
|
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $812 in 2014 and $717 in 2013 | 43,513 |
| | 52,247 |
|
Inventory | 10,665 |
| | 9,050 |
|
Prepaid supplies and other | 11,898 |
| | 9,730 |
|
Deferred income taxes | 19,770 |
| | 13,957 |
|
Aircraft and engines held for sale | 715 |
| | 2,995 |
|
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS | 117,121 |
| | 119,678 |
|
Property and equipment, net | 847,268 |
| | 838,172 |
|
Other assets | 28,230 |
| | 21,143 |
|
Goodwill and acquired intangibles | 39,010 |
| | 39,291 |
|
Pension assets, net of obligations | — |
| | 14,855 |
|
TOTAL ASSETS | $ | 1,031,629 |
| | $ | 1,033,139 |
|
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | | | |
CURRENT LIABILITIES: | | | |
Accounts payable | $ | 40,608 |
| | $ | 34,818 |
|
Accrued salaries, wages and benefits | 25,633 |
| | 23,163 |
|
Accrued expenses | 8,201 |
| | 9,695 |
|
Current portion of debt obligations | 24,344 |
| | 23,721 |
|
Unearned revenue | 12,914 |
| | 8,733 |
|
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES | 111,700 |
| | 100,130 |
|
Long term debt | 319,750 |
| | 360,794 |
|
Post-retirement obligations | 92,050 |
| | 30,638 |
|
Other liabilities | 57,647 |
| | 62,740 |
|
Deferred income taxes | 102,993 |
| | 109,869 |
|
TOTAL LIABILITIES | 684,140 |
| | 664,171 |
|
Commitments and contingencies (Note G) |
| |
|
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY: | | | |
Preferred stock, 20,000,000 shares authorized, including 75,000 Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock | — |
| | — |
|
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share; 75,000,000 shares authorized; 64,854,950 and 64,618,305 shares issued and outstanding in 2014 and 2013, respectively | 649 |
| | 646 |
|
Additional paid-in capital | 526,669 |
| | 524,953 |
|
Accumulated deficit | (96,953 | ) | | (126,813 | ) |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (82,876 | ) | | (29,818 | ) |
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | 347,489 |
| | 368,968 |
|
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | $ | 1,031,629 |
| | $ | 1,033,139 |
|
| | | |
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share data)
|
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year Ended December 31 |
| 2014 | | 2013 | | 2012 |
REVENUES | $ | 589,592 |
| | $ | 580,023 |
| | $ | 607,438 |
|
OPERATING EXPENSES | | | | | |
Salaries, wages and benefits | 166,526 |
| | 175,383 |
| | 184,644 |
|
Fuel | 53,521 |
| | 49,376 |
| | 53,928 |
|
Maintenance, materials and repairs | 91,528 |
| | 97,053 |
| | 97,540 |
|
Depreciation and amortization | 108,254 |
| | 91,749 |
| | 84,477 |
|
Travel | 17,662 |
| | 18,693 |
| | 22,683 |
|
Rent | 26,650 |
| | 27,468 |
| | 25,970 |
|
Landing and ramp | 10,305 |
| | 11,204 |
| | 15,973 |
|
Insurance | 5,304 |
| | 6,216 |
| | 7,716 |
|
Pension settlement | 6,700 |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Impairment of goodwill | — |
| | 52,585 |
| | — |
|
Other operating expenses | 38,617 |
| | 37,111 |
| | 35,819 |
|
| 525,067 |
| | 566,838 |
| | 528,750 |
|
OPERATING INCOME | 64,525 |
| | 13,185 |
| | 78,688 |
|
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE) | | | | | |
Interest income | 92 |
| | 74 |
| | 136 |
|
Net gain on derivative instruments | 1,096 |
| | 631 |
| | 1,879 |
|
Interest expense | (13,937 | ) | | (14,249 | ) | | (14,383 | ) |
| (12,749 | ) | | (13,544 | ) | | (12,368 | ) |
| | | | | |
EARNINGS (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES | 51,776 |
| | (359 | ) | | 66,320 |
|
INCOME TAX EXPENSE | (19,702 | ) | | (19,266 | ) | | (24,672 | ) |
EARNINGS (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS | 32,074 |
| | (19,625 | ) | | 41,648 |
|
LOSS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET OF TAXES | (2,214 | ) | | (3 | ) | | (774 | ) |
NET EARNINGS (LOSS) | $ | 29,860 |
| | $ | (19,628 | ) | | $ | 40,874 |
|
| | | | | |
BASIC EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE | | | | | |
Continuing operations | $ | 0.50 |
| | $ | (0.31 | ) | | $ | 0.66 |
|
Discontinued operations | (0.04 | ) | | — |
| | (0.02 | ) |
TOTAL BASIC EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE | $ | 0.46 |
| | $ | (0.31 | ) | | $ | 0.64 |
|
| | | | | |
DILUTED EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE | | | | | |
Continuing operations | $ | 0.49 |
| | $ | (0.31 | ) | | $ | 0.65 |
|
Discontinued operations | (0.03 | ) | | — |
| | (0.02 | ) |
TOTAL DILUTED EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE | $ | 0.46 |
| | $ | (0.31 | ) | | $ | 0.63 |
|
| | | | | |
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES | | | | | |
Basic | 64,253 |
| | 63,992 |
| | 63,461 |
|
Diluted | 65,211 |
| | 63,992 |
| | 64,420 |
|
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(In thousands)
|
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Years Ended December 31 |
| 2014 | | 2013 | | 2012 |
NET EARNINGS (LOSS) | $ | 29,860 |
| | $ | (19,628 | ) | | $ | 40,874 |
|
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS): | | | | | |
Defined Benefit Pension | (50,119 | ) | | 90,530 |
| | (10,976 | ) |
Defined Benefit Post-Retirement | (1,875 | ) | | (3,032 | ) | | (3,227 | ) |
Gains and Losses on Derivatives | (5 | ) | | (29 | ) | | (37 | ) |
Foreign Currency Translation | (1,059 | ) | | — |
| | — |
|
| | | | | |
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS), net of tax | $ | (23,198 | ) | | $ | 67,841 |
| | $ | 26,634 |
|
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands) |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Years Ended December 31 |
| 2014 | | 2013 | | 2012 |
OPERATING ACTIVITIES: | | | | | |
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations | $ | 32,074 |
| | $ | (19,625 | ) | | $ | 41,648 |
|
Net loss from discontinued operations | (2,214 | ) | | (3 | ) | | (774 | ) |
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities: | | | | | |
Impairment of goodwill and acquired intangibles | — |
| | 52,585 |
| | — |
|
Depreciation and amortization | 108,254 |
| | 91,749 |
| | 84,477 |
|
Pension and post-retirement | 8,492 |
| | 7,061 |
| | 5,562 |
|
Deferred income taxes | 17,757 |
| | 18,772 |
| | 23,749 |
|
Amortization of stock-based compensation | 2,924 |
| | 2,732 |
| | 3,231 |
|
Amortization of DHL promissory note | (6,200 | ) | | (6,200 | ) | | (6,200 | ) |
Net gain on derivative instruments | (1,096 | ) | | (631 | ) | | (1,879 | ) |
Changes in assets and liabilities: | | | | | |
Accounts receivable | 9,582 |
| | (4,994 | ) | | (4,328 | ) |
Inventory and prepaid supplies | (4,164 | ) | | (900 | ) | | (1,759 | ) |
Accounts payable | (803 | ) | | 2,012 |
| | (5,688 | ) |
Unearned revenue | 1,148 |
| | (6,205 | ) | | 654 |
|
Accrued expenses, salaries, wages, benefits and other liabilities | 344 |
| | (112 | ) | | 4,898 |
|
Pension and post-retirement assets | (14,662 | ) | | (38,352 | ) | | (27,926 | ) |
Other | (2,651 | ) | | (3,478 | ) | | (5,032 | ) |
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES | 148,785 |
| | 94,411 |
| | 110,633 |
|
INVESTING ACTIVITIES: | | | | | |
Capital expenditures | (112,184 | ) | | (112,712 | ) | | (155,243 | ) |
Proceeds from property and equipment | 3,602 |
| | 1,521 |
| | 5,772 |
|
Investment in nonconsolidated affiliate | (15,000 | ) | | — |
| | — |
|
Other proceeds | — |
| | 6,803 |
| | — |
|
NET CASH (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES | (123,582 | ) | | (104,388 | ) | | (149,471 | ) |
FINANCING ACTIVITIES: | | | | | |
Principal payments on long term obligations | (79,221 | ) | | (53,766 | ) | | (26,223 | ) |
Proceeds from borrowings | 45,000 |
| | 80,000 |
| | 50,000 |
|
Funding for hangar construction | 7,879 |
| | — |
| | — |
|
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES | (26,342 | ) | | 26,234 |
| | 23,777 |
|
| | | | | |
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | (1,139 | ) | | 16,257 |
| | (15,061 | ) |
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR | 31,699 |
| | 15,442 |
| | 30,503 |
|
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD | $ | 30,560 |
| | $ | 31,699 |
| | $ | 15,442 |
|
| | | | | |
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION: | | | | | |
Interest paid, net of amount capitalized | $ | 13,576 |
| | $ | 13,752 |
| | $ | 13,195 |
|
Federal alternative minimum and state income taxes paid | $ | 604 |
| | $ | 1,313 |
| | $ | 377 |
|
SUPPLEMENTAL NON-CASH INFORMATION: | | | | | |
Debt extinguished | $ | 6,200 |
| | $ | 6,200 |
| | $ | 6,200 |
|
Accrued capital expenditures | $ | 7,648 |
| | $ | 1,055 |
| | $ | 4,770 |
|
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(In thousands, except share data)
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Common Stock | | Additional Paid-in Capital | | Accumulated Deficit | | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) | | Total |
| Number | | Amount | |
BALANCE AT JANUARY 1, 2012 | 64,015,789 |
| | $ | 640 |
| | $ | 520,613 |
| | $ | (148,059 | ) | | $ | (103,047 | ) | | $ | 270,147 |
|
Stock-based compensation plans | | | | | | | | | | | |
Grant of restricted stock | 254,200 |
| | 3 |
| | (3 | ) | | | | | | — |
|
Withholdings of common shares, net of issuances | (83,933 | ) | | (1 | ) | | (755 | ) | | | | | | (756 | ) |
Forfeited restricted stock | (56,000 | ) | | (1 | ) | | 1 |
| | | | | | — |
|
Amortization of stock awards and restricted stock | | | | | 3,231 |
| | | | | | 3,231 |
|
Total comprehensive income (loss) | | | | | | | 40,874 |
| | (14,240 | ) | | 26,634 |
|
BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2012 | 64,130,056 |
| | $ | 641 |
| | $ | 523,087 |
| | $ | (107,185 | ) | | $ | (117,287 | ) | | $ | 299,256 |
|
Stock-based compensation plans | | | | | | | | | | | |
Grant of restricted stock | 258,800 |
| | 3 |
| | (3 | ) | | | | | | — |
|
Withholdings of common shares, net of issuances | 238,049 |
| | 2 |
| | (1,050 | ) | | | | | | (1,048 | ) |
Forfeited restricted stock | (8,600 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| | | | | | — |
|
Tax benefit from common stock compensation | | | | | 187 |
| | | | | | 187 |
|
Amortization of stock awards and restricted stock | | | | | 2,732 |
| | | | | | 2,732 |
|
Total comprehensive income (loss) | | | | | | | (19,628 | ) | | 87,469 |
| | 67,841 |
|
BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2013 | 64,618,305 |
| | $ | 646 |
| | $ | 524,953 |
| | $ | (126,813 | ) | | $ | (29,818 | ) | | $ | 368,968 |
|
Stock-based compensation plans | | | | | | | | | | | |
Grant of restricted stock | 196,000 |
| | 2 |
| | (2 | ) | | | | | | — |
|
Issuance of common shares, net of withholdings | 49,545 |
| | 1 |
| | (939 | ) | | | | | | (938 | ) |
Forfeited restricted stock | (8,900 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| | | | | | — |
|
Tax benefit from common stock compensation | | | | | (267 | ) | | | | | | (267 | ) |
Amortization of stock awards and restricted stock | | | | | 2,924 |
| | | | | | 2,924 |
|
Total comprehensive income (loss) | | | | | | | 29,860 |
| | (53,058 | ) | | (23,198 | ) |
BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2014 | 64,854,950 |
| | $ | 649 |
| | $ | 526,669 |
| | $ | (96,953 | ) | | $ | (82,876 | ) | | $ | 347,489 |
|
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE A—SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL STATEMENT PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Nature of Operations
Air Transport Services Group, Inc. is a holding company whose principal subsidiaries include an aircraft leasing company and two independently certificated airlines. The Company provides airline operations, aircraft leases, aircraft maintenance and other support services primarily to the cargo transportation and package delivery industries. Through the Company's subsidiaries, it offers a range of complementary services to delivery companies, freight forwarders, airlines and government customers.
The airlines, ABX Air, Inc. (“ABX”) and Air Transport International, Inc. (“ATI”), each have the authority, through their separate U.S. Department of Transportation ("DOT") and Federal Aviation Administration ("FAA") certificates, to transport cargo worldwide. The Company's leasing subsidiary, Cargo Aircraft Management, Inc. (“CAM”), leases aircraft to each of the Company's airlines as well as to non-affiliated airlines and other lessees.
The Company provides aircraft and airline operations to its customers, typically under contracts providing for a combination of aircraft, crews, maintenance and insurance ("ACMI") services. The Company serves a base of concentrated customers who have a diverse line of international cargo traffic. DHL Network Operations (USA), Inc. and its affiliates, “DHL,” is the Company's largest customer. ATI provides passenger transportation, primarily to the U.S. Military, using "combi" aircraft, which are certified to carry passengers as well as cargo on the main deck.
In addition to its airline operations and aircraft leasing services, the Company sells aircraft parts, provides aircraft and equipment maintenance services, and operates mail sorting facilities for the U.S. Postal Service (“USPS”).
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Air Transport Services Group, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Investments in an affiliate in which the Company has significant influence but does not exercise control are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. Using the equity method, the Company’s share of the nonconsolidated affiliate's income or loss is recognized in the consolidated statement of earnings and cumulative post-acquisition changes in the investment are adjusted against the carrying amount of the investment. Inter-company balances and transactions are eliminated. The financial statements of the Company are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP").
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements. Estimates and assumptions are used to record allowances for uncollectible amounts, self-insurance reserves, spare parts inventory, depreciation and impairments of property, equipment, goodwill and intangibles, post-retirement obligations, income taxes, contingencies and litigation. Changes in estimates and assumptions may have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company classifies short-term, highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less at the time of purchase as cash and cash equivalents. These investments, consisting of money market funds, are recorded at cost, which approximates fair value. Substantially all deposits of the Company’s cash are held in accounts that exceed federally insured limits. The Company deposits cash in common financial institutions which management believes are financially sound.
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts
The Company's accounts receivable is primarily due from its significant customers (see Note B), other airlines, the USPS and freight forwarders. The Company performs a quarterly evaluation of the accounts receivable and the
allowance for uncollectible accounts by reviewing specific customers' recent payment history, growth prospects, financial condition and other factors that may impact a customer's ability to pay. The Company establishes an allowance for uncollectible accounts for probable losses due to a customer's potential inability or unwillingness to make contractual payments. Account balances are written off against the allowance when the Company ceases collection efforts.
Inventory
The Company’s inventory is comprised primarily of expendable aircraft parts and supplies used for aircraft maintenance. Inventory is generally charged to expense when issued for use on a Company aircraft. The Company values its inventory of aircraft parts and supplies at weighted-average cost and maintains a related obsolescence reserve. The Company records an obsolescence reserve on a base stock of inventory for each fleet type. The amortization of base stock for the obsolescence reserve corresponds to the expected life of each fleet type. Additionally, the Company monitors the usage rates of inventory parts and segregates parts that are technologically outdated or no longer used in its fleet types. Slow moving and segregated items are actively marketed and written down to their estimated net realizable values based on market conditions.
Management analyzes the inventory reserve for reasonableness at the end of each quarter. That analysis includes consideration of the expected fleet life, amounts expected to be on hand at the end of a fleet life, and recent events and conditions that may impact the usability or value of inventory. Events or conditions that may impact the expected life, usability or net realizable value of inventory include additional aircraft maintenance directives from the FAA, changes in DOT regulations, new environmental laws and technological advances.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
The Company assesses, during the fourth quarter of each year, the carrying value of goodwill. Finite-lived intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful economic lives. The Company also conducts impairment assessments of goodwill, indefinite-lived intangible assets and finite-lived intangible assets whenever events or changes in circumstance indicate an impairment may have occurred.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment held for use is stated at cost, net of any impairment recorded. The cost and accumulated depreciation of disposed property and equipment are removed from the accounts with any related gain or loss reflected in earnings from operations.
Depreciation of property and equipment is provided on a straight-line basis over the lesser of the asset’s useful life or lease term. Depreciable lives are summarized as follows:
|
| |
Boeing 767 and 757 aircraft and flight equipment | 10 to 18 years |
Ground equipment | 3 to 10 years |
Leasehold improvements, facilities and office equipment | 3 to 25 years |
The Company periodically evaluates the useful lives, salvage values and fair values of property and equipment. Acceleration of depreciation expense or the recording of significant impairment losses could result from changes in the estimated useful lives of assets due to a number of reasons, such as excess aircraft capacity or changes in regulations governing the use of aircraft.
Aircraft and other long-lived assets are tested for impairment when circumstances indicate the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. To conduct impairment testing, the Company groups assets and liabilities at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of cash flows of other assets and liabilities. For assets that are to be held and used, impairment is recognized when the estimated undiscounted cash flows associated with the asset group is less than the carrying value. If impairment exists, an adjustment is made to write the assets down to fair value, and a loss is recorded as the difference between the carrying value and fair value. Fair values are determined considering quoted market values, discounted cash flows or internal and external appraisals, as applicable. For assets held for sale, impairment is recognized when the fair value less the cost to sell the asset is less than the carrying value.
The Company’s accounting policy for major airframe and engine maintenance varies by subsidiary and aircraft type. The costs for ABX's Boeing 767-200 airframe maintenance, which is the majority of the Company's aircraft fleet, are expensed as they are incurred. The costs of major airframe maintenance for the Company's other aircraft are capitalized and amortized over the useful life of the overhaul. Most of the Company's General Electric CF6 engines that power the Boeing 767-200 aircraft are maintained under “power by the hour” agreements with an engine maintenance provider. Under the power by the hour agreements, the engines are maintained by the service provider for a fixed fee per flight hour; accordingly, the cost of engine maintenance is generally expensed as flight hours occur. Maintenance for the airlines’ other aircraft engines, including those on the Boeing 767-300 and Boeing 757 aircraft, are typically contracted to service providers on a time and material basis and the costs of those engine overhauls are capitalized and amortized over the useful life of the overhaul.
Under certain leases, the Company is required to make periodic payments to the lessor for future maintenance events such as engine overhauls and major airframe maintenance. These payments are recorded as deposits until drawn for qualifying maintenance costs. The maintenance costs are expensed or capitalized in accordance with the airline's accounting policy for major airframe and engine maintenance. The Company evaluates at the balance sheet date, whether it is probable that an amount on deposit will be returned by the lessor to reimburse the costs of the maintenance activities. When an amount on deposit is less than probable of being returned, it is recognized as additional maintenance expense.
Capitalized Interest
Interest costs incurred while aircraft are being modified are capitalized as an additional cost of the aircraft until the date the asset is placed in service. Capitalized interest was $0.1 million, $1.1 million and $2.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
Discontinued Operations
A business component whose operations are discontinued is reported as discontinued operations if the cash flows of the component have been eliminated from the ongoing operations of the Company, and the Company will no longer have any significant continuing involvement in the business component. The results of discontinued operations are aggregated and presented separately in the consolidated statements of operations.
Exit Activities
The Company accounts for the costs associated with exit activities in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 420-10 Exit or Disposal Cost Obligations. One-time, involuntary employee termination benefits are generally expensed when the Company communicates the benefit arrangement to the employee that it will no longer require the services of the employee beyond a minimum retention period. Liabilities for contract termination costs associated with exit activities are recognized in the period incurred and measured initially at fair value.
Self-Insurance
The Company is self-insured for certain workers’ compensation, employee healthcare, automobile, aircraft, and general liability claims. The Company maintains excess claim coverage with common insurance carriers to mitigate its exposure to large claim losses. The Company records a liability for reported claims and an estimate for incurred claims that have not yet been reported. Accruals for these claims are estimated utilizing historical paid claims data and recent claims trends. Other liabilities included $25.8 million and $28.3 million at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, for self-insured reserves. Changes in claim severity and frequency could result in actual claims being materially different than the costs accrued.
Pension and Post-Retirement Benefits
The costs of benefits provided by defined benefits pension and post-retirement health care plans are recorded in the period the employees provide service. Costs adjustments for plan amendments are amortized over the expected working life or the life expectancy of plan participants. The funded status of the Company's plans is measured as the difference between the fair value of plan assets and the accumulated benefit obligations to plan participants. The overfunded or
underfunded status of a plan is recorded as an asset or liability. The funded status is ordinarily measured annually at year end.
Income Taxes
Income taxes have been computed using the asset and liability method, under which deferred income taxes are provided for the temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of the Company’s assets and liabilities. Deferred taxes are measured using provisions of currently enacted tax laws. A valuation allowance against net deferred tax assets is recorded when it is more likely than not that such assets will not be fully realized. Tax credits are accounted for as a reduction of income taxes in the year in which the credit originates.
The Company recognizes the benefit of a tax position taken on a tax return, if that position is more likely than not of being sustained on audit, based on the technical merits of the position. An uncertain income tax benefit is not recognized if it has a less than a 50% likelihood of being sustained. The Company recognizes interest and penalties accrued related to uncertain tax positions in operating expense.
Comprehensive Income
Comprehensive income includes net earnings and other comprehensive income or loss. Other comprehensive income or loss results from certain changes in the Company’s liabilities for pension and other post retirement benefits, gains and losses associated with interest rate hedging instruments and fluctuations in currency exchange rates related to the foreign affiliate.
Fair Value Information
Assets or liabilities that are required to be measured at fair value are reported using the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. FASB ASC Topic 820-10 Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures establishes three levels of input that may be used to measure fair value:
| |
• | Level 1: Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities. |
| |
• | Level 2: Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. |
| |
• | Level 3: Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. Level 3 assets and liabilities include items where the determination of fair value requires significant management judgment or estimation. |
Revenue Recognition
Revenues generated from airline service agreements are typically recognized based on hours flown or the amount of aircraft and crew resources provided during a reporting period. Certain agreements include provisions for incentive payments based upon on-time reliability. These incentives are typically measured on a monthly basis and recorded to revenue in the corresponding month earned. Revenues for operating expenses that are reimbursed through customer agreements, including consumption of aircraft fuel, are generally recognized as the costs are incurred. Revenues from charter service agreements are recognized on scheduled and non-scheduled flights when the specific flight has been completed. Aircraft lease revenues are recognized as operating lease revenues on a straight-line basis over the term of the applicable lease agreements. Revenues from the sale of aircraft parts and engines are recognized when the parts are delivered. Revenues earned and expenses incurred in providing aircraft-related maintenance, repair or technical services are recognized in the period in which the services are completed and delivered to the customer. Revenues derived from sorting parcels are recognized in the reporting period in which the services are performed. Revenue is not recognized until collectibility is reasonably assured.
New Accounting Pronouncements
In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-08, "Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360): Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity." The objective of the update is to change the requirements for reporting discontinued operations in Subtopic 205-20. It is effective in the first quarter of 2015, and the impact to the consolidated financial statements is not expected to be material.
In May 2014, FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)” (“ASU 2014-09”). ASU 2014-09 is a comprehensive new revenue recognition model that requires a company to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to a customer at an amount that reflects the consideration it expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments and assets recognized from costs incurred to obtain or fulfill a contract. ASU 2014-09 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and early adoption is not permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the methods of adoption allowed by the new standard and the effect the standard is expected to have on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows and related disclosures.
NOTE B—SIGNIFICANT CUSTOMERS
DHL
The Company's largest customer is DHL Network Operations (USA), Inc. and its affiliates ("DHL"). The Company has had long term contracts with DHL since August 2003. Revenues from continuing operations performed for DHL were approximately 55%, 54% and 53% of the Company's consolidated revenues from continuing operations for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The Company’s balance sheets include accounts receivable with DHL of $12.2 million and $24.1 million as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.
The Company leases Boeing 767 aircraft to DHL under both long-term and short-term lease agreements. Under a separate crew, maintenance and insurance (“CMI”) agreement, the Company operates Boeing 767 aircraft that DHL leases from the Company and Boeing 767 aircraft that DHL owns. Pricing for services provided through the CMI agreement is based on pre-defined fees, scaled for the number of aircraft operated and the number of flight crews provided to DHL for its U.S. network. The Company provides DHL with scheduled maintenance services for aircraft that DHL leases or owns. The Company also provides Boeing 767 and Boeing 757 air cargo transportation services for DHL through additional ACMI agreements in which the Company provides the aircraft, crews, maintenance and insurance under a single contract. Revenues generated from the ACMI agreements are typically based on hours flown. The Company also provides ground equipment, such as power units, air starts and related maintenance services to DHL under separate agreements.
U.S. Military
A substantial portion of the Company's revenues are also derived from the U.S. Military. The U.S. Military awards flights to U.S. certificated airlines through annual contracts and through temporary "expansion" routes. Revenues from services performed for the U.S. Military were approximately 16%, 17% and 16% of the Company's total revenues from continuing operations for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The Company's balance sheets included accounts receivable with the U.S. Military of $6.0 million and $4.8 million as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.
NOTE C—GOODWILL, ACQUIRED INTANGIBLES AND EQUITY INVESTMENTS
As of December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, the goodwill amounts were retested for impairment. The goodwill included in the CAM segment was not impaired. The ATI goodwill, included in ACMI Services segment, was found to be impaired as of December 31, 2013. The Company recorded an impairment charge of $52.6 million in 2013 to write-off the ATI goodwill. As a result of past events and market changes, the Company did not expect ATI to generate
the forecasted net cash flows from ATI's Boeing 767 operations as previously expected. In December 2013 and in January 2014, the Company received notification from DHL that it would cease using ATI's Boeing 767 services in the Middle East by the end of February 2014. Further, as a result of persistent stagnant growth conditions at the end of 2013 and excess airlift capacity, including the projections published by the U.S. Military that reflected continued reductions in their demand for cargo (non combi) airlift, the Company allocated fewer Boeing 767 aircraft to ATI than previously expected. The Company instead deployed more Boeing 767 aircraft with other airlines during 2014.
The Company determined the fair values of ATI and CAM separately using industry market multiples and discounted cash flows utilizing a market-derived rate of return (level 3 fair value inputs).
The carrying amounts of goodwill by reportable segment, are as follows (in thousands):
|
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| ACMI Services | | CAM | | Total |
Carrying value as of December 31, 2012 | $ | 52,585 |
| | $ | 34,395 |
| | $ | 86,980 |
|
Impairment | (52,585 | ) | | — |
| | (52,585 | ) |
Carrying value as of December 31, 2013 | $ | — |
| | $ | 34,395 |
| | $ | 34,395 |
|
Impairment | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
|
Carrying value as of December 31, 2014 | $ | — |
| | $ | 34,395 |
| | $ | 34,395 |
|
The Company's intangible assets relate to the ACMI Services segment and are as follows (in thousands):
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Customer | | Airline | | |
| | Relationships | | Certificates | | Total |
Carrying value as of December 31, 2012 | | $ | 2,146 |
| | $ | 3,000 |
| | $ | 5,146 |
|
Amortization | | (250 | ) | | — |
| | (250 | ) |
Carrying value as of December 31, 2013 | | $ | 1,896 |
| | $ | 3,000 |
| | $ | 4,896 |
|
Amortization | | (281 | ) | | — |
| | (281 | ) |
Carrying value as of December 31, 2014 | | $ | 1,615 |
| | $ | 3,000 |
| | $ | 4,615 |
|
The customer relationship intangible amortizes through 2020. The Company recorded amortization expense for the customer relationship intangible asset of $0.3 million, $0.3 million and $0.3 million for the years ending December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The airline certificates have an indefinite life and therefore are not amortized.
In January 2014, the Company acquired a 25 percent equity interest in West Atlantic AB of Gothenburg, Sweden ("West"). West, through its two airlines, Atlantic Airlines Ltd. and West Air Sweden AB, operates a fleet of approximately 40 aircraft and is Europe’s largest regional cargo aircraft operator. West operates its aircraft on behalf of European regional mail carriers and express logistics providers. The airlines operate a combined fleet of British Aerospace ATPs, Bombardier CRJ-200-PFs, and Boeing 737 aircraft. In addition, West Air Sweden AB is adding the Boeing 767 aircraft to its operating capability.
The Company has significant influence, but does not exercise control, over West. Accordingly, the investment in West is accounted for using the equity method of accounting and was initially recognized at cost. At December 31, 2014, the Company’s carrying value of West was $13.8 million, including $5.5 million of excess purchase price over the Company's proportional fair value of West's net assets in January of 2014, is reflected in “Other Assets” in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.
NOTE D—FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
The Company’s money market funds and interest rate swaps are reported on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets at fair values based on market values from identical or comparable transactions. The fair value of the Company’s money market funds and interest rate swaps are based on observable inputs (Level 2) from comparable market transactions. The use of significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) was not necessary in determining the fair value of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities.
The following table reflects assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis (in thousands):
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
As of December 31, 2014 | Fair Value Measurement Using | | Total |
| Level 1 | | |