Willis Lease Finance Reports Third Quarter Pretax Profit Grew 27% to $8.3 Million

NOVATO, Calif., Nov. 07, 2017 -- Willis Lease Finance Corporation (NASDAQ:WLFC) today reported that pretax income grew 27% to $8.3 million in the third quarter of 2017, compared to $6.5 million in the third quarter of 2016, on revenues of $65.9 million. The Company’s third quarter 2017 results were bolstered by continued strength in its core leasing business with $33.5 million of lease rent revenue driven by 91% utilization at quarter end. Net income attributable to common shareholders for the third quarter increased 24% to $4.9 million, or $0.80 per diluted share, from $4.0 million, or $0.62 per diluted share, in the third quarter 2016. Earnings in the third quarter include a $7.0 million non-cash write down of equipment and parts.

“In the third quarter, we completed two major financings: the closing of our WEST III ABS offering and a preferred stock offering. WEST III aligns our long-lived assets with long-term, fixed rate capital and our preferred stock offering equitizes our balance sheet for continued growth,” said Charles F. Willis, Chairman and CEO.

“In addition to closing two milestone financings, we were very active trading equipment in the third quarter as we continue to execute our strategy to grow and improve the efficiency of our leasing portfolio,” said Brian R. Hole, President. “Willis Aeronautical also continues to demonstrate its value to our total platform, not only in support of our effort to monetize residual values but also in support of our effort to deliver value-added programs for our customers.”

Third Quarter 2017 Highlights:

Total revenue grew 28.0% to $65.9 million in the third quarter of 2017, from $51.5 million in the year ago period.
Average utilization in the third quarter of 2017 remained constant at 91% from the year ago period. Utilization was 91% at the end of Q3 2017.
Third quarter lease rent revenue was $33.5 million, up 7.0% year-over-year.
Maintenance reserve revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 increased 40.9% to $64.2 million compared to $45.6 million in the year ago period.
The equipment portfolio grew 5.6% to $1.200 billion, from $1.137 billion from the year ago period, net of asset sales and depreciation expense.
Tangible book value per share increased 9.3% to $33.51 at September 30, 2017, as compared to $30.66 per share at December 31, 2016.
The Company maintained $561 million of undrawn revolver capacity at September 30, 2017.
The book value of owned and managed engines and aircraft, exclusive of assets managed by our WAML subsidiary, was approximately $1.6 billion at the end of the third quarter.
During the quarter, the Company purchased five aircraft and two engines for a total purchase price of $58.2 million.
The Company issued 1,500,000 shares of 6.5% Series A-2 Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share at a gross issue price of $20.00 per share in September 2017.
The Company closed a $336 million asset-backed securitization, Willis Engine Structured Trust III (WEST III) on August 4, 2017. The Notes are secured by a portfolio of 56 engines from the revolving credit facility. We are using these funds, net of transaction expenses, to pay off part of our revolving credit facility.

Balance Sheet

As of September 30, 2017, Willis Lease had 214 commercial aircraft engines, 18 aircraft and 5 aircraft parts packages and other engine-related equipment in its lease portfolio, with a net book value of $1.200 billion, as compared to 208 commercial aircraft engines, 10 aircraft, 5 aircraft parts packages, and other engine-related equipment in its lease portfolio, with a net book value of $1.137 billion a year ago. The Company’s funded debt-to-equity ratio was 4.32 to 1 at quarter end compared to 4.59 to 1 at December 31, 2016, and 4.51 to 1 a year ago.

Willis Lease Finance
Willis Lease Finance Corporation leases large and regional spare commercial aircraft engines, auxiliary power units and aircraft to airlines, aircraft engine manufacturers and maintenance, repair and overhaul providers in 120 countries. These leasing activities are integrated with engine and aircraft trading, engine lease pools and asset management services supported by cutting edge technology through its subsidiary Willis Asset Management, as well as various end-of-life solutions for aircraft, engines and aviation materials provided through its subsidiary, Willis Aeronautical Services, Inc.

Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Do not unduly rely on forward-looking statements, which give only expectations about the future and are not guarantees. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update them. Our actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to: the effects on the airline industry and the global economy of events such as terrorist activity, changes in oil prices and other disruptions to the world markets; trends in the airline industry and our ability to capitalize on those trends, including growth rates of markets and other economic factors; risks associated with owning and leasing jet engines and aircraft; our ability to successfully negotiate equipment purchases, sales and leases, to collect outstanding amounts due and to control costs and expenses; changes in interest rates and availability of capital, both to us and our customers; our ability to continue to meet the changing customer demands; regulatory changes affecting airline operations, aircraft maintenance, accounting standards and taxes; the market value of engines and other assets in our portfolio; and risks detailed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and other continuing reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contact:
Scott B. Flaherty
Chief Financial Officer
(415) 408-4700


Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss)
(In thousands, except per share data, unaudited)	Three Months Ended					Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				%	September 30,				%
		2017		2016	Change		2017		2016	Change
REVENUE
Lease rent revenue	$	33,474	$	31,270	7.0%	$	95,045	$	88,727	7.1%
Maintenance reserve revenue		20,370		14,229	43.2%		64,212		45,562	40.9%
Spare parts and equipment sales		9,294		4,160	123.4%		41,273		10,465	294.4%
Gain on sale of leased equipment		174		180	(3.3)%		4,684		3,430	36.6%
Other revenue		2,549		1,622	57.2%		6,439		3,614	78.2%
Total revenue		65,861		51,461	28.0%		211,653		151,798	39.4%

EXPENSES
Depreciation and amortization expense		16,142		16,628	(2.9)%		48,786		49,235	(0.9)%
Cost of spare parts and equipment sales		6,416		3,066	109.3%		29,546		7,785	279.5%
Write-down of equipment		6,958		1,995	248.8%		22,243		5,924	275.5%
General and administrative		14,308		12,257	16.7%		40,574		34,694	16.9%
Technical expense		2,605		1,414	84.2%		7,345		4,913	49.5%
Net finance costs
Interest expense		14,220		10,230	39.0%		36,398		30,635	18.8%
Loss on extinguishment of debt		-		-	0.0%		-		137	(100.0)%
Total net finance costs		14,220		10,230	39.0%		36,398		30,772	18.3%
Total expenses		60,649		45,590	33.0%		184,892		133,323	38.7%

Earnings from operations		5,212		5,871	(11.2)%		26,761		18,475	44.8%

Earnings from joint ventures		3,040		631	381.8%		6,055		874	592.8%

Income before income taxes		8,252		6,502	26.9%		32,816		19,349	69.6%
Income tax expense		2,960		2,517	17.6%		13,367		7,987	67.4%
Net income	$	5,292	$	3,985	32.8%	$	19,449	$	11,362	71.2%
Preferred stock dividends		344		-	100.0%		988		-	100.0%
Accretion of preferred stock issuance costs		9		-	100.0%		25		-	100.0%
Net income attributable to common shareholders	$	4,939	$	3,985	23.9%	$	18,436	$	11,362	62.3%

Basic earnings per common share	$	0.82	$	0.63		$	3.04	$	1.69

Diluted earnings per common share	$	0.80	$	0.62		$	2.97	$	1.66

Average common shares outstanding		6,055		6,307			6,068		6,711
Diluted average common shares outstanding		6,173		6,448			6,198		6,849


Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except share data, unaudited)
	September 30, 2017			December 31, 2016
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$	7,879		$	10,076
Restricted cash		64,051			22,298
Equipment held for operating lease, less accumulated depreciation		1,199,883			1,136,603
Maintenance rights		16,263			17,670
Equipment held for sale		32,798			30,710
Operating lease related receivable, net of allowances		16,422			16,484
Spare parts inventory		18,422			25,443
Investments		49,262			45,406
Property, equipment & furnishings, less accumulated depreciation		16,187			16,802
Intangibles assets, net		1,878			2,182
Other assets		12,854			14,213
Total assets	$	1,435,899		$	1,337,887

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	$	20,887		$	17,792
Deferred income taxes		116,685			103,705
Notes payable		932,132			900,255
Maintenance reserves		69,600			71,602
Security deposits		24,706			21,417
Unearned lease revenue		6,813			5,823
Total liabilities		1,170,823			1,120,594

Redeemable preferred stock ($0.01 par value)	$	49,485		$	19,760

Shareholders' equity:
Common stock ($0.01 par value)		64			64
Paid-in capital in excess of par		1,624			2,512
Retained earnings		214,438			196,002
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax		(535	)		(1,045	)
Total shareholders' equity		215,591			197,533

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$	1,435,899		$	1,337,887

Willis Lease Finance Reports Third Quarter Pretax Profit Grew 27% to $8.3 Million

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