ATSG Air Transport Services Group Inc

Second-Quarter Adjusted EBITDA from Continuing Operations up 13 Percent to $51 Million

Air Transport Services Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATSG), the leading provider of medium wide-body freighter aircraft leasing, air cargo transportation and related services, today reported consolidated financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2015.

For the second quarter of 2015, compared with the second quarter of 2014 except as noted:

• Pre-tax earnings from continuing operations increased 17 percent to $17.2 million, including a 35 percent increase in Cargo Aircraft Management's pre-tax earnings, driven by eight additional freighters leased to external customers.
• Net earnings from continuing operations increased 14 percent to $10.6 million, or 16 cents per diluted share. Operating loss carryforwards for U.S. federal income tax purposes offset much of the company’s federal tax liabilities. ATSG does not expect to pay significant federal income taxes until 2017 at the earliest.
• Consolidated revenues were approximately flat at $148.4 million. Excluding revenues from reimbursed expenses, revenues increased 3 percent. Revenues from cargo aircraft leasing were up 12 percent.
• Adjusted EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization) increased 13 percent to $51.2 million, and increased 16 percent to $97.7 million year to date. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure, defined and reconciled to comparable GAAP results in a table at the end of this release.

Joe Hete, President and Chief Executive Officer of ATSG, said, “Our record first-half Adjusted EBITDA stems from a combination of improved airline operations and continued growth in aircraft leasing, leading us closer to full deployment of our available aircraft and reflects strong appetites from current and new customers for more of our highly efficient Boeing 767 freighters and related services."

The second quarter marked the commencement of a new four-year commercial agreement governing air network services that ATSG provides to DHL. It began with fifteen dry leases for Boeing 767 freighters dedicated to DHL through March 2019, currently operating in its U.S. network. DHL added a sixteenth dry lease, a 767-300 freighter delivered in June, and we expect to place two additional 767-300s, both under eight-year lease terms, during the fourth quarter of 2015. Accordingly, ATSG has purchased two more passenger-configured 767-300s for freighter conversion to meet DHL's requirement.

Segment Results

Cargo Aircraft Management (CAM)

CAM     Second Quarter     Six Months ($ in thousands)     2015     2014     2015     2014 Revenues $ 45,632 $ 40,590 $ 88,486 $ 81,225 Pre-Tax Earnings     $ 14,441     $ 10,667     $ 28,879     $ 25,107  

Significant Developments:

• The increase in CAM’s second-quarter revenue was driven by eight additional dry-leased 767 freighters to external customers, which increased to 29 as of June 30, 2015 from 21 at June 30, 2014, and from 24 at March 31, 2015.
• The 35 percent increase in pre-tax earnings for the quarter reflects the increased number of dry-leased aircraft, along with increased depreciation costs.
• At June 30, 2015, CAM owned 54 Boeing cargo aircraft in serviceable condition, three more than a year ago. CAM has purchased two additional 767-300 aircraft, one in June and one in July, which will be converted to freighters and dry-leased during the fourth quarter.

ACMI Services

ACMI Services     Second Quarter     Six Months ($ in thousands)     2015     2014     2015     2014 Revenues Airline services $ 97,897 $ 100,288 $ 195,592 $ 199,805 Reimbursables $ 5,995 $ 11,016 $ 13,768   $ 20,095   Total ACMI Services Revenues $ 103,892 $ 111,304 $ 209,360 $ 219,900   Pre-Tax Earnings (Loss)     $ 1,126     $ 309     $ (1,445 )     $ (6,737 )  

Significant Developments:

• Quarterly results for the segment improved on a year-over-year and sequential quarter basis. Results benefited from a full quarter of 767 ACMI service for Raya Airways of Malaysia, which began in February. West Coast operations for Aloha Airlines, which began in the third quarter of 2014, also contributed to improved year-over-year results.
• The quarter also benefited from fewer heavy maintenance checks for our Boeing 767-200 freighters than a year ago, and from net insurance recoveries of just over $2 million. During the third quarter of 2015, the cost of unreimbursed expensed heavy maintenance checks for 767-200s is expected to be higher than in the second quarter.
• Our airlines leased from CAM and operated on an ACMI basis fifteen Boeing 767 freighters as of June 30, 2015, five fewer than at March 31, 2015 and three fewer than on June 30, 2014, reflecting increasing allocations of our fleet to dry lease opportunities based upon strong customer demand.

Other Activities

Other Activities     Second Quarter     Six Months ($ in thousands)     2015     2014     2015     2014 Revenues $ 32,179 $ 36,493 $ 67,785 $ 63,301 Pre-Tax Earnings     $ 1,840     $ 4,108     $ 4,916     $ 7,125  

Significant Developments:

• External customer revenues from all other activities in the second quarter were $20 million, down slightly compared to second quarter 2014. The earnings comparison reflects timing variances in revenue recognition for maintenance services for outside customers, offset in part by increased revenues for management of sorting centers for the USPS.

Outlook

As a result of strong first-half performance and a positive outlook for the rest of 2015, ATSG now projects that its baseline Adjusted EBITDA from Continuing Operations for 2015 will be in a range of $190-195 million.

Hete noted that, "In 2015, we are achieving growing returns from the significant investments we have made in our fleet and operations, as customers are stepping up to make major commitments to our assets and operating capabilities. For example, Delta Air Lines recently selected AMES, our maintenance MRO, to provide airframe maintenance services for its fleet of more than eighty Boeing 717 aircraft at AMES's expanded hangar facilities in Wilmington. This new five-year arrangement is expected to be finalized and start in the fourth quarter this year. We are pleased that Delta, our long-term engine maintenance partner, has entrusted us with airframe maintenance support for this portion of their fleet.

"We also have other multi-year commitments in the works with customers that we expect to announce and launch later this year, in addition to the two 767-300s we plan to deliver to DHL in the fourth quarter. At the same time, we will also incur some transition effects in the third quarter as we prepare our aircraft for long-duration dry-lease arrangements. But with continued strong industry demand and continued share repurchases, our shareholders can expect even greater long-term returns under our differentiated business model," Hete said.

Conference Call

ATSG will host a conference call on Thursday, August 6, 2015, at 10 a.m. Eastern time to review its financial results for the second quarter of 2015. Participants should dial (888) 895-5479 and international participants should dial (847) 619-6250 ten minutes before the scheduled start of the call and ask for conference pass code 40193425.

The call will also be webcast live (listen-only mode) via a link at www.atsginc.com.

A replay of the conference call will be available by phone on Thursday, August 6, 2015, beginning at 2 p.m. and continuing through August 13, 2015, at (888) 843-7419 (international callers (630) 652-3042); use pass code 40193425#. The webcast replay will remain available via www.atsginc.com for 30 days.

About ATSG

ATSG is a leading provider of aircraft leasing and air cargo transportation and related services to domestic and foreign air carriers and other companies that outsource their air cargo lift requirements. ATSG, through its leasing and airline subsidiaries, is the world's largest owner and operator of converted Boeing 767 freighter aircraft. Through its principal subsidiaries, including two airlines with separate and distinct U.S. FAA Part 121 Air Carrier certificates, ATSG provides aircraft leasing, air cargo lift, aircraft maintenance services and airport ground services. ATSG's subsidiaries include ABX Air, Inc.; Airborne Global Solutions, Inc.; Air Transport International, Inc.; Cargo Aircraft Management, Inc.; and Airborne Maintenance and Engineering Services, Inc. For more information, please see www.atsginc.com.

Except for historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this release contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There are a number of important factors that could cause Air Transport Services Group's ("ATSG's") actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, changes in market demand for our assets and services, the number and timing of deployments of our aircraft, our operating airlines' ability to maintain on-time service and control and reduce costs, and other factors that are contained from time to time in ATSG's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Readers should carefully review this release and should not place undue reliance on ATSG's forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements were based on information, plans and estimates as of the date of this release. ATSG undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, new information, future events or other changes.

AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIESCONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS(In thousands, except per share data)

    Three Months Ended Six Months Ended June 30, June 30, 2015   2014 2015   2014 REVENUES $ 148,353 $ 149,618 $ 295,378 $ 293,211   OPERATING EXPENSES Salaries, wages and benefits 42,036 40,895 85,715 83,960 Depreciation and amortization 31,400 27,142 60,393 52,121 Maintenance, materials and repairs 23,993 23,168 46,686 48,047 Fuel 12,275 14,014 23,053 26,274 Rent 2,447 6,924 6,654 14,234 Travel 4,342 4,419 8,765 8,992 Landing and ramp 2,166 2,576 4,874 5,314 Insurance 546 1,573 1,804 2,778 Other operating expenses 9,354   10,790   20,111   19,538   128,559 131,501 258,055 261,258         OPERATING INCOME 19,794 18,117 37,323 31,953 OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE) Interest income 24 24 46 43 Interest expense (2,839 ) (3,481 ) (5,904 ) (7,304 ) Net gain (loss) on derivative instruments 264   31   251   330   (2,551 ) (3,426 ) (5,607 ) (6,931 )         EARNINGS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES 17,243 14,691 31,716 25,022 INCOME TAX EXPENSE (6,673 ) (5,393 ) (12,251 ) (9,202 )         EARNINGS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS 10,570 9,298 19,465 15,820   EARNINGS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET OF TAX 214   211   428   422   NET EARNINGS $ 10,784   $ 9,509   $ 19,893   $ 16,242     EARNINGS PER SHARE - Basic Continuing operations $ 0.16 $ 0.14 $ 0.30 $ 0.25 Discontinued operations 0.01   0.01   0.01   —   NET EARNINGS PER SHARE $ 0.17   $ 0.15   $ 0.31   $ 0.25     EARNINGS PER SHARE - Diluted Continuing operations $ 0.16 $ 0.14 $ 0.30 $ 0.24 Discontinued operations —   0.01   —   0.01   NET EARNINGS PER SHARE $ 0.16   $ 0.15   $ 0.30   $ 0.25     WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES Basic 64,541   64,285   64,498   64,217   Diluted 65,471   65,207   65,404   65,174    

AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIESCONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS(In thousands, except share data)

    June 30, December 31, 2015 2014 ASSETS CURRENT ASSETS: Cash and cash equivalents $ 22,182 $ 30,560 Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $315 in 2015 and $812 in 2014 36,663 43,513 Inventory 10,709 10,665 Prepaid supplies and other 10,583 12,613 Deferred income taxes 19,770   19,770   TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS 99,907 117,121   Property and equipment, net 859,482 847,268 Other assets 26,904 28,230 Goodwill and acquired intangibles 38,870   39,010   TOTAL ASSETS $ 1,025,163   $ 1,031,629     LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY CURRENT LIABILITIES: Accounts payable $ 39,316 $ 40,608 Accrued salaries, wages and benefits 20,485 25,633 Accrued expenses 8,022 8,201 Current portion of debt obligations 24,672 24,344 Unearned revenue 12,812   12,914   TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES 105,307 111,700   Long term debt 290,781 319,750 Post-retirement obligations 86,102 92,050 Other liabilities 59,266 57,647 Deferred income taxes 115,985 102,993   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; 64,987,351 and 64,854,950 shares issued and outstanding in 2015 and 2014, respectively 650 649 Additional paid-in capital 525,104 526,669 Accumulated deficit (77,060 ) (96,953 ) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (80,972 ) (82,876 ) TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY 367,722   347,489   TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY $ 1,025,163   $ 1,031,629    

AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIESPRE-TAX EARNINGS AND ADJUSTED PRE-TAX EARNINGS SUMMARYFROM CONTINUING OPERATIONSNON-GAAP RECONCILIATION(In thousands)

    Three Months Ended Six Months Ended June 30, June 30, 2015   2014 2015   2014 Revenues CAM $ 45,632 $ 40,590 $ 88,486 $ 81,225 ACMI Services Airline services 97,897 100,288 195,592 199,805 Reimbursables 5,995   11,016   13,768   20,095   Total ACMI Services 103,892 111,304 209,360 219,900 Other Activities 32,179   36,493   67,785   63,301   Total Revenues 181,703 188,387 365,631 364,426 Eliminate internal revenues (33,350 ) (38,769 ) (70,253 ) (71,215 ) Customer Revenues $ 148,353   $ 149,618   $ 295,378   $ 293,211     Pre-tax Earnings from Continuing Operations CAM, inclusive of interest expense 14,441 10,667 28,879 25,107 ACMI Services 1,126 309 (1,445 ) (6,737 ) Other Activities 1,840 4,108 4,916 7,125 Net, unallocated interest expense (428 ) (424 ) (885 ) (803 ) Net gain on derivative instruments 264   31   251   330   Total Pre-tax Earnings $ 17,243 $ 14,691 $ 31,716 $ 25,022   Adjustments to Pre-tax Earnings Less net gain on derivative instruments (264 ) (31 ) (251 ) (330 ) Adjusted Pre-tax Earnings $ 16,979   $ 14,660   $ 31,465   $ 24,692    

Adjusted Pre-tax Earnings is defined as Earnings from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes less derivative gains. Management uses Adjusted Pre-tax Earnings from Continuing Operations to assess the performance of its operating results among periods. Adjusted Pre-tax earnings from Continuing Operations is a non-GAAP financial measure and should not be considered an alternative to Earnings from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP.

Reimbursable revenues shown above include revenues related to fuel, landing fees, navigation fees, aircraft rent and certain other operating costs that are directly reimbursed to the airlines by their customers. Effective April 1, 2015, the costs of engine and airframe maintenance for all CAM-owned aircraft operated for DHL are the responsibility of the airlines, including Boeing 767-200 maintenance costs previously reimbursed directly by DHL. For all periods presented above, airline service revenues include compensation for maintenance provided by the airlines on aircraft operated for DHL. Reimbursables revenues declined for the three and six month periods ending June 30, 2015 compared to the corresponding periods of 2014 due to lower fuel prices and the return of four DHL-owned Boeing 767-200 aircraft.

AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIESUNAUDITED ADJUSTED EARNINGS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INTEREST, TAXES, DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATIONNON-GAAP RECONCILIATION(In thousands)

    Three Months Ended Six Months Ended June 30,   June 30, 2015   2014 2015   2014   Earnings from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes $ 17,243 $ 14,691 $ 31,716 $ 25,022 Interest Income (24 ) (24 ) (46 ) (43 ) Interest Expense 2,839 3,481 5,904 7,304 Depreciation and Amortization 31,400   27,142   60,393   52,121   EBITDA from Continuing Operations $ 51,458 $ 45,290 $ 97,967 $ 84,404 Less net gain on derivative instruments (264 ) (31 ) (251 ) (330 )         Adjusted EBITDA from Continuing Operations $ 51,194   $ 45,259   $ 97,716   $ 84,074    

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA from Continuing Operations are non-GAAP financial measures and should not be considered as alternatives to Earnings from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP.

EBITDA from Continuing Operations is defined as Earnings from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes plus net interest expense, depreciation, and amortization expense. Adjusted EBITDA from Continuing Operations is defined as EBITDA from Continuing Operations less derivative gains.

Management uses EBITDA from Continuing Operations as an indicator of the cash-generating performance of the operations of the Company. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA from Continuing Operations to assess the performance of its operating results among periods. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA from Continuing Operations should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of the Company's results as reported under GAAP, or as an alternative measure of liquidity.

AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIESIN-SERVICE CARGO AIRCRAFT FLEET

  Aircraft Types   December 31,   June 30,   December 31, 2014 2015 2015 Projected     Operating     Operating     Operating Total Owned Lease Total Owned Lease Total Owned Lease B767-200 38 36 2 36 36 — 36 36 — B767-300 10 9 1 10 10 — 12 12 — B757-200 4 4 — 5 4 1 5 4 1 B757 Combi 4 4 — 4 4 — 4 4 — Total Aircraft 56 53 3 55 54 1 57 56 1   Owned Aircraft In Serviceable Condition December 31, June 30, December 31, 2014 2015 2015 Projected   Dry leased without CMI 11 13 15-16 Dry leased with CMI 13 16 17-18 ACMI/Charter 28 23 22-24 Staging/Unassigned 1 2 — 53 54  

Note: Cargo Aircraft Management (CAM) has acquired two Boeing 767-300 aircraft in passenger configuration (one in June, one in July) that will undergo conversion to freighter aircraft this year. Those aircraft are not reflected in the June totals above.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150805006573/en/

ATSG Inc.Quint O. Turner, Chief Financial Officer, 937-382-5591