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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 10-QSB
(Mark One) Quarterly Report
Under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the quarterly period ended
March 31, 2007
Transition Report Under Section
13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the transition period from
____________ to ____________
Commission File Number: 001-13387
AeroCentury Corp. (Exact name of
small business issuer as specified in its charter)
Delaware 94-3263974 (State or
other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) (I.R.S.
Employer Identification No.) 1440 Chapin Avenue, Suite 310
Burlingame, California 94010 (Address of principal executive
offices)
(650) 340-1888 (Issuer’s telephone
number)
None (Former name, former address
and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
Check whether the Issuer: (1)
filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the past 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 No
Indicate by check mark whether the
registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the
Exchange Act). Yes No
State the number of shares
outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common equity, as of
the latest practicable date: As of May 15, 2007 the Issuer had
1,606,557 Shares of Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share,
issued, of which 63,300 are held as Treasury Stock.
Transitional Small Business
Disclosure Format (check one): Yes No
PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Forward-Looking Statements
This Quarterly Report on Form
10-QSB includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
“Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (“the Exchange Act”). All statements in this Report
other than statements of historical fact are "forward looking
statements" for purposes of these provisions, including any
statements of plans and objectives for future operations and any
statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing.
Statements that include the use of terminology such as "may,"
"will," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "estimates," "potential,"
or "continue," or the negative thereof, or other comparable
terminology are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking
statements include: (i) in Item 1 "Financial Statements, Note 1" the
statement regarding the Company's belief that the adoption of the
direct expensing method pursuant to FSP AUG –AIR-1 will result in
uneven effects on the Company’s results of operations.; and that the
adoption of SFAS 157 and SFAS 159 will not have an impact on the
financial condition, results of operations or cash flows of the
Company; (ii) in Item 1 “Financial Statements, Note 6” the statement
that future taxable income will likely be sufficient to realize the
tax benefits of all the deferred tax assets on the balance sheet;
(iii) in Item 2 "Management's Discussion and Analysis or Plan of
Operation -- Liquidity and Capital Resources," statements regarding
the Company's belief that it will continue to be in compliance with
all covenants of its credit facility, and that it will have adequate
cash flow to meet its ongoing operational needs; (iv) in Item 2
"Management's Discussion and Analysis or Plan of Operation --
Outlook," statements regarding the Company's belief that the
proceeds from the increased credit facility and the Subordinated
Note financing will be sufficient to fund the Company’s short- and
medium-term acquisitions; that even if certain aircraft returned to
the Company in March 2007 remain off-lease for an extended period of
time, the Company will still maintain compliance with its debt
covenants; the Company’s belief regarding the renewal of aircraft
with terms ending in 2007 and the re-lease of an aircraft expected
to be returned and not renewed and the effect on compliance with
debt covenants; and the Company’s belief that its reported net
income may be subject to greater fluctuations from
quarter-to-quarter than would have been the case had the Company
continued its use of the previous method of accounting for planned
major maintenance activities; and (v) in Item 2 "Management's
Discussion and Analysis or Plan of Operation -- Factors that May
Affect Future Results,” statements regarding the Company's belief
that it will be successful in timely acquiring appropriate assets
for acquisition to take full financial advantage of the additional
resources provided under the increased credit facility and
Subordinated Note financing; that it will have sufficient cash to
fund any required repayments under its credit facility caused by
borrowing base limitations as a result of assets scheduled to come
off lease in the near term; that JMC’s industry experience and
technical resources will allow it to effectively manage new aircraft
types; that acquisition of new aircraft types may lead to
diversification of the portfolio; that it will have sufficient funds
to pay increased Sarbanes-Oxley compliance costs; and that it will
acquire primarily used aircraft; that overseas markets present
business opportunities; that the Company is competitive because of
JMC's experience and operational efficiency and will benefit because
of JMC's reputation in the marketplace.
These forward-looking statements
involve risks and uncertainties, and it is important to note that
the Company's actual results could differ materially from those
projected or assumed in such forward-looking statements. Among the
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are the
factors detailed under the heading "Management's Discussion and
Analysis or Plan of Operation -- Factors That May Affect Future
Results," including the compliance of the Company's lessees with
obligations under their respective leases; risks related to use of
debt financing for acquisitions; the Company’s success in finding
additional financing and appropriate assets to acquire with such
financing; general economic conditions, particularly those that
affect the air travel industry; unanticipated sharp increases in
interest rates; further disruptions to the air travel industry due
to terrorist attacks; assumptions that major maintenance expenses
will be relatively evenly spaced over the entire portfolio; and
future trends and results which cannot be predicted with certainty.
The cautionary statements made in this Report should be read as
being applicable to all related forward-looking statements wherever
they appear herein. All forward-looking statements and risk factors
included in this document are made as of the date hereof, based on
information available to the Company as of the date hereof, and the
Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking
statement or risk factor. You should consult the risk factors listed
from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
AeroCentury Corp. Condensed
Consolidated Balance Sheet Unaudited
ASSETS
March 31, 2007
Assets: Cash and cash equivalents
$ 3,131,280 Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful
accounts of $15,700 757,550 Aircraft and aircraft engine held for
lease, net of accumulated depreciation of $21,783,450 90,788,330
Prepaid expenses and other 886,490
Total assets $95,563,650
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’
EQUITY
Liabilities: Accounts payable and
accrued expenses $ 451,850 Notes payable and accrued interest
54,552,610 Maintenance reserves and accrued costs 3,836,610 Security
deposits 4,078,880 Prepaid rent 541,940 Deferred taxes 4,585,210
Taxes payable 142,310
Total liabilities 68,189,410
Stockholders’ equity: Preferred
stock, $0.001 par value, 2,000,000 shares authorized, no shares
issued and outstanding - Common stock, $0.001 par value, 3,000,000
shares authorized, 1,606,557 shares issued and outstanding 1,610
Paid in capital 13,821,200 Retained earnings 14,055,500 27,878,310
Treasury stock at cost, 63,300 shares (504,070)
Total stockholders’ equity
27,374,240
$95,563,650
The accompanying notes are an
integral part of these statements.
AeroCentury Corp. Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Operations Unaudited
For the Three Months Ended March
31, 2007 2006 (as restated) Revenues and other income:
Operating lease revenue $4,206,840
$3,701,000 Maintenance reserves income 827,380 791,750 Other income
7,370 (9,130)
5,041,590 4,483,620 Expenses:
Depreciation 1,234,810 1,155,010
Interest 1,221,710 1,164,260 Management fees 683,400 696,350
Maintenance 225,340 1,092,480 Professional fees and general and
administrative 168,520 166,080 Insurance 26,720 78,040 Bad debt
expense 15,690 48,820
3,576,190 4,401,040
Income before taxes 1,465,400
82,580
Tax provision 491,640 31,080
Net income $ 973,760 $ 51,500
Weighted average common shares
outstanding 1,543,257 1,543,257
Basic and diluted earnings per
share $ 0.63 $ 0.03
The accompanying notes are an
integral part of these statements.
AeroCentury Corp. Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Unaudited
For the Three Months Ended March
31, 2007 2006 (as restated)
Net cash provided by operating
activities $3,060,120 $2,317,490
Investing activity - Equipment
additions to aircraft - (432,840) Net cash used by investing
activity - (432,840)
Financing activity - Repayment of
notes payable (3,312,720) (283,640) Net cash used by financing
activity (3,312,720) (283,640)
Net (decrease)/increase in cash
and cash equivalents (252,600) 1,601,010
Cash and cash equivalents,
beginning of period 3,383,880 618,910
Cash and cash equivalents, end of
period $3,131,280 $2,219,920
During the three months ended
March 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company paid interest totaling
$1,211,940 and $976,980, respectively, and income taxes totaling
$400 and $48,000, respectively.
The accompanying notes are an
integral part of these statements.
AeroCentury Corp. Notes to
Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) March 31,
2007
1. Organization and Summary of
Significant Accounting Policies
(a) Basis of Presentation
AeroCentury Corp., a Delaware
corporation, uses leveraged financing to acquire leased aircraft
assets. The Company (as defined below) purchases used regional
aircraft on lease to foreign and domestic regional carriers.
Financial information for AeroCentury Corp. and its wholly-owned
subsidiaries, AeroCentury Investments V LLC (“AeroCentury V LLC”)
and AeroCentury Investments VI LLC (“AeroCentury VI LLC”)
(collectively, the “Company”), is presented on a consolidated basis.
All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in
consolidation. As discussed in Note 1(l), the Company has restated
its results for the three months ended March 31, 2006 in connection
with its adoption of Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”)
Staff Position AUG AIR-1, Accounting for Planned Major Maintenance
Activities (“FSP AUG AIR-1”).
(b) Cash and Cash
Equivalents/Deposits
The Company considers highly
liquid investments readily convertible into known amounts of cash,
with original maturities of 90 days or less from the date of
acquisition, as cash equivalents.
(c) Aircraft and Aircraft Engine
Held For Lease and Held for Sale
The Company’s interests in
aircraft and aircraft engines are recorded at cost, which includes
acquisition costs. The Company purchases only used aircraft. It is
the Company’s policy to hold aircraft for approximately twelve years
unless market conditions necessitate earlier disposition.
Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the
twelve year period to an estimated residual value based on
appraisal. Decreases in the market value of aircraft could not only
affect the current value, but could also affect the assumed residual
value. The Company periodically obtains a residual value appraisal
for its assets and, historically, has not written down any estimated
residuals. The Company’s aircraft which are held for sale are not
subject to depreciation.
(d) Impairment of Long-lived
Assets
The Company periodically reviews
its portfolio of assets for impairment in accordance with Statement
of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 144, “Accounting for
the Impairment or Disposal of Long-lived Assets." Such review
necessitates estimates of current market values, re-lease rents and
residual values. The estimates are based on currently available
market data and are subject to fluctuation from time to time. The
Company initiates its review periodically, whenever events or
changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of a
long-lived asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of an asset
is measured by comparison of its carrying amount to the expected
future undiscounted cash flows (without interest charges) that the
asset is expected to generate. Any impairment to be recognized is
measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset
exceeds its fair market value. Significant management judgment is
required in the forecasting of future operating results which are
used in the preparation of projected undiscounted cash flows and,
should different conditions prevail, material write downs may occur.
(e) Loan Commitment and Related
Fees
To the extent that the Company is
required to pay loan commitment fees and legal fees in order to
secure debt, such fees are amortized over the life of the related
loan.
AeroCentury Corp. Notes to
Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) March 31,
2007
1. Organization and Summary of
Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
(f) Maintenance Reserves and
Accrued Costs
Maintenance costs under the
Company’s triple net leases are generally the responsibility of the
lessees. The accompanying consolidated balance sheet reflects
liabilities for maintenance reserves and accrued costs, which
include refundable maintenance payments received from lessees based
on usage. At March 31, 2007, the Company’s maintenance reserves and
accruals consisted of the following:
Refundable maintenance reserves $
3,310,560 Accrued costs 526,050 $ 3,836,610
Refundable maintenance reserves
received by the Company are accounted for as a liability, which is
reduced when maintenance work is performed during the lease.
Maintenance reserves which are refundable to the lessee are refunded
after all return conditions specified in the lease and, in some
cases, any other payments due under the lease, are satisfied. Any
refundable reserves retained by the Company to satisfy return
conditions or in connection with an early return of an aircraft are
recorded as income.
Maintenance reserves which are
non-refundable to the lessee are recorded as income as accrued and
as expense when maintenance work is performed.
Additions to and deductions from
the Company’s accrued costs during the three months ended March 31,
2007 and 2006 for maintenance work were as follows:
For the Three Months Ended March
31, 2007 2006 (as restated)
Balance, beginning of period $
3,846,690 $ 3,350,430 Adjustment pursuant to FSP AUG AIR-1
(3,499,260) (2,689,630) Balance, beginning of period, adjusted for
adoption of FSP AUG AIR-1 347,430 660,800 Additions: Charged to
expense 191,160 978,150 Charged to other – Other 12,410 191,160
990,560 Deductions: Paid for previously accrued maintenance -
1,206,720 Reversals of over-accrued maintenance 12,540 - 12,540
1,206,720
Net increase/(decrease) in accrued
maintenance costs 166,620 (216,160)
Balance, end of period $ 526,050 $
444,640
AeroCentury Corp. Notes to
Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) March 31,
2007
1. Organization and Summary of
Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
(g) Security deposits
The Company’s leases are typically
structured so that if any event of default occurs under a lease, the
Company may apply all or a portion of the lessee’s security deposit
to cure such default. If such application of the security deposit is
made, the lessee typically is required to replenish and maintain the
full amount of the deposit during the remaining term of the lease.
All of the security deposits received by the Company are refundable
to the lessee at the end of the lease, upon satisfaction of all
lease terms.
(h) Income Taxes
As part of the process of
preparing the Company’s consolidated financial statements,
management is required to estimate income taxes in each of the
jurisdictions in which the Company operates. This process involves
estimating the Company’s current tax exposure under the most recent
tax laws and assessing temporary differences resulting from
differing treatment of items for tax and accounting purposes. These
differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are
included in the consolidated balance sheet. Management must also
assess the likelihood that the Company’s deferred tax assets will be
recovered from future taxable income, and, to the extent management
believes it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the
deferred tax assets will not be realized, the Company must establish
a valuation allowance. To the extent the Company establishes a
valuation allowance or changes the allowance in a period, the
Company reflects the corresponding increase or decrease within the
tax provision in the consolidated statement of operations.
(i) Revenue Recognition and
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
Revenue from leasing of aircraft
assets is recognized as operating lease revenue on a straight-line
basis over the terms of the applicable lease agreements. The Company
estimates and charges to income a provision for bad debts based on
its experience in the business and with each specific customer, the
level of past due accounts, and its analysis of the lessees’ overall
financial condition. If the financial condition of the Company’s
customers deteriorates, it could result in actual losses exceeding
any estimated allowances.
(j) Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial
statements in conformity with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates
and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and
liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at
the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of
revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results
could differ from those estimates. The Company bases its estimates
on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are
believed to be reasonable for making judgments that are not readily
apparent from other sources.
The most significant estimates
with regard to these financial statements are the residual values of
the aircraft, the useful lives of the aircraft, the amount and
timing of cash flow associated with each aircraft that are used to
evaluate impairment, if any, accrued maintenance costs, the amounts
recorded as bad debt allowances and accounting for income taxes.
AeroCentury Corp. Notes to
Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) March 31,
2007
1. Organization and Summary of
Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
(k) Comprehensive Income
The Company does not have any
comprehensive income other than the revenue and expense items
included in the consolidated statements of operations. As a result,
comprehensive income equals net income for the quarters ended March
31, 2007 and 2006.
(l) Recent Accounting
Pronouncements
In December 2004, the FASB issued
SFAS 123(R), Share-based Payment (“SFAS 123(R))”, which requires
compensation cost relating to share-based payment transactions be
recognized in financial statements. SFAS 123(R) is effective for
small business issuers as of the beginning of the first interim or
annual reporting period that began after December 15, 2005,
supercedes APB Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to
Employees, and replaces SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-based
Compensation (“SFAS 123”). The pro-forma disclosure previously
permitted under SFAS No. 123 is no longer an acceptable alternative
to recognition of expenses in the financial statements. The adoption
of SFAS 123(R) had no effect on the Company’s consolidated financial
condition or results of operations.
In July 2006, the FASB issued
Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes -
an Interpretation of FASB Statement 109 (“FIN 48”). FIN 48 is
effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. FIN 48
prescribes a comprehensive model for how a company should recognize,
measure, present, and disclose in its financial statements uncertain
tax positions that a company has taken or expects to take on a tax
return (including a decision whether to file or not to file a return
in a particular jurisdiction). Under FIN 48, the financial
statements reflect expected future tax consequences of such
positions presuming the taxing authorities' full knowledge of the
position and all relevant facts, but without considering time
values. The Company adopted FIN 48 on January 1, 2007. As a result
of the implementation of FIN 48, the Company recognized no
adjustment in the liability for unrecognized income tax benefits
relating to uncertain tax positions.
In September 2006, the SEC staff
issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108 (SAB Topic 1N), Considering
the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying
Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements (“SAB 108”),
which outlines the approach it believes registrants should use to
quantify the misstatement of current year financial statements that
results from misstatements of prior year financial statements. SAB
108 changes practice by requiring registrants to use a combination
of two approaches, the “rollover” approach, which quantifies a
misstatement based on the amount of the error originating in the
current year income statement and the “iron curtain” approach, which
quantifies a misstatement based on the effects of correcting the
misstatement existing in the balance sheet at the end of the current
year. SAB 108 requires registrants to adjust their financial
statements if the new approach results in a conclusion that an error
is material. SAB 108 was effective for fiscal years ending after
November 15, 2006. The Company adopted SAB 108 for the year ended
December 31, 2006. The effects of adjustments made pursuant to SAB
108 on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations
are shown in Note 2.
AeroCentury Corp. Notes to
Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) March 31,
2007
1. Organization and Summary of
Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
(l) Recent Accounting
Pronouncements (continued)
FSP AUG AIR-1 was posted in
September 2006 and prohibits the use of the accrue-in-advance method
of accounting for planned major maintenance activities in annual and
interim financial reporting periods. FSP AUG AIR-1 must be applied
to the first fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2006 and was
adopted by the Company on January 1, 2007. It allows major
maintenance activities to be accounted for in one of three ways: (i)
the built-in overhaul method, (ii) the deferral method or (iii) the
direct expensing method. The Company has evaluated the impact of the
adoption of this new staff position and determined that it will use
the direct expensing method, under which actual costs incurred are
expensed directly. The new mandated accounting method requires the
accrual of non-refundable maintenance reserves from the Company’s
lessees for planned major maintenance to be reflected as income on
the income statements, and performance of maintenance work in
connection with the release of maintenance reserves to be reflected
as an expense when maintenance is actually performed. Because the
net effect of recognizing income when maintenance reserves are
accrued and accruing maintenance expense as incurred within any
given period will vary, it is likely that the new accounting method
will result in uneven effects on the Company’s results of
operations. Comparative financial statements have been adjusted to
apply the new method retrospectively. The effects of adoption of FSP
AUG AIR-1 on the Company’s financial condition and results of
operations are shown in Note 2.
In September 2006, the FASB issued
SFAS 157, Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS 157”) This Statement
defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value
in generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), and expands
disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS 157 applies under
other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value
measurements, the FASB having previously concluded in those
accounting pronouncements that fair value is the relevant
measurement attribute. Accordingly, SFAS 157 does not require any
new fair value measurements. However, for some entities, the
application of SFAS 157 will change current practice. This statement
is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and
interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company believes the
adoption of SFAS 157 will not have an impact on its financial
condition, results of operations or cash flows.
In February 2007, the FASB issued
SFAS 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial
Liabilities (“SFAS 159”). SFAS 159 permits companies to make a
one-time election to carry eligible types of financial assets and
liabilities at fair value, even if fair value measurement is not
required under GAAP. SFAS 159 is effective for fiscal years
beginning after November 15, 2007. Early adoption is permitted if
the decision to adopt the standard is made after the issuance of
SFAS 159 but within 120 days after the first day of the fiscal year
of adoption, provided no financial statements have yet been issued
for any interim period and provided the requirements of SFAS 157 are
adopted concurrently with SFAS 159. The Company believes the
adoption of SFAS 159 will not have an impact on its financial
condition, results of operations or cash flows.
AeroCentury Corp. Notes to
Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) March 31,
2007
2. Adoption of SAB 108 and FSP AUG
AIR-1
As discussed in Note 1, the
Company adopted SAB 108 for the year ended December 31, 2006. In the
course of evaluating balance sheet amounts under the provisions of
SAB 108, the Company identified the following adjustments as of
January 1, 2006: (i) as a result of non-refundable maintenance
reserves received at the time four aircraft were purchased in 1999
which should have been treated as a tax basis reduction rather than
a liability for maintenance reserves, a net decrease to the
Company’s deferred tax liability in the amount of $269,340; (ii) as
a result of funds received from the seller when the Company
purchased an aircraft in 2004, which should have been treated as a
reduction in the purchase price rather than a liability for
maintenance reserves, and the incorrect tax treatment of a portion
of maintenance reserves as non-refundable instead of refundable, a
decrease of $287,650 to both the cost basis of the Company’s
aircraft and maintenance reserves and accrued costs, a decrease of
$33,960 in accumulated depreciation, an increase of $12,180 in
accounts receivable, and an increase of $14,790 in deferred tax
liabilities; (iii) as a result of a reversal of tax liabilities due
to a lower anticipated state tax rate than was provided for at the
time of the Company’s incorporation, a decrease of $136,800 to
deferred tax liabilities and (iv) as a result of the incorrect
treatment of interest related to maintenance reserves for one
aircraft as additional reserves rather than income, a decrease of
$103,080 to refundable maintenance reserves. These amounts were
recorded in immaterial amounts prior to 2006. However, using the
dual evaluation approach prescribed by SAB 108, correction of the
above amounts would have been material to earnings for 2006. In
accordance with SAB 108, these adjustments have been reflected as an
opening adjustment of $540,570 to retained earnings at January 1,
2006. In addition, comparative information for the quarter ended
March 31, 2006 has been adjusted to reflect the adoption of SAB 108,
as summarized below:
Increase/ As adjusted (decrease)
As reported under effect of previously SAB 108 change
Operating lease revenue $3,701,000
$3,701,000 $ - Maintenance reserves income - - - Other income
2,387,380 2,387,380 - 6,088,380 6,088,380 -
Depreciation 1,230,190 1,224,200
(5,990) Interest 1,164,260 1,164,260 - Management fees 698,150
696,350 (1,800) Maintenance 2,553,830 2,553,830 - Professional fees
and other 292,940 292,940 - 5,939,370 5,931,580 (7,790)
Income before taxes 149,010
156,800 7,790 Tax provision 44,020 55,220 11,200 Net income $
104,990 $ 101,580 $(3,410) Earnings per share $ 0.07 $ 0.07 $ -
AeroCentury Corp. Notes to
Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) March 31,
2007
2. Adoption of SAB 108 and FSP AUG
AIR-1 (continued)
As discussed in Note 1, the
Company adopted FSP AUG AIR-1 on January 1, 2007. The effects on the
Company’s statement of operations as a result of the retroactive
restatement of the Company’s results of operations for the three
months ended March 31, 2006 were as follows.
Increase/ As adjusted As reported
(decrease) under under FSP effect of SAB 108 AUG AIR-1 change
Operating lease revenue $3,701,000
$3,701,000 $ - Maintenance reserves income - 791,750 791,750 Other
income 2,387,380 (9,130) (2,396,510) 6,088,380 4,483,620 (1,604,760)
Depreciation 1,224,200 1,155,010
(69,190) Interest 1,164,260 1,164,260 - Management fees 696,350
696,350 - Maintenance 2,553,830 1,092,480 (1,461,350) Professional
fees and other 292,940 292,940 - 5,931,580 4,401,040 (1,530,540)
Income before taxes 156,800 82,580
(74,220) Tax provision 55,220 31,080 (24,140) Net income $ 101,580 $
51,500 $ (50,080) Earnings per share $ 0.07 $ 0.03 $ (0.04)
3. Aircraft and Aircraft Engine
Held for Lease
At March 31, 2007, the Company
owned eight deHavilland DHC-8-300s, three deHavilland DHC-8-100s,
three deHavilland DHC-6s, fourteen Fokker 50s, two Saab 340As, six
Saab 340Bs and one turboprop engine which are held for lease. During
the first quarter, the Company extended the leases for one of its
DHC-6 aircraft and one of its Fokker 50 aircraft.
In March 2007, based on the
lessee’s financial difficulties, the Company agreed to the early
return of two of its aircraft, which had leases expiring in May and
July 2008. At March 31, 2007, the Company recorded $15,700 of bad
debt expense for uncollected reserves. The Company is negotiating a
termination settlement with the lessee and is seeking re-lease or
sale opportunities for these aircraft.
AeroCentury Corp. Notes to
Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) March 31,
2007
4. Notes Payable and Accrued
Interest
(a) Credit facility
In November 2005, the Company’s
$50 million credit facility was renewed through October 31, 2007. In
connection with the renewal, certain financial covenants were
modified, including the applicable margin which is added to the
index rate for each of the Company’s outstanding loans under the
credit facility. The margin, which is determined by certain
financial ratios, was revised from a range of 275 to 375 basis
points to a range of 275 to 325 basis points. In May 2006, a
participant was added to the Company’s credit facility and the
amount of the facility was increased to $55 million. During the
three months ended March 31, 2007, the Company repaid $3,000,000 of
the outstanding principal. As of March 31, 2007, the Company was in
compliance with all covenants under its credit facility agreement,
$47,896,000 was outstanding, and interest of $112,210 was accrued.
As discussed in Note 8, in April 2007, the amount of the Company’s
credit facility was increased and its term was extended.
(b) Special purpose financing
In September 2000, a special
purpose subsidiary acquired a deHavilland DHC-8-100 aircraft using
cash and bank financing separate from its credit facility. The
related note obligation, which was due April 15, 2006, was
refinanced in April 2006, using bank financing from another lender,
and the subsidiary was dissolved. The aircraft was transferred to
AeroCentury VI LLC, a newly formed special purpose limited liability
company, which borrowed $1,650,000, due October 15, 2009. The note
bears interest at an adjustable rate of one-month LIBOR plus 3%. The
note is collateralized by the aircraft and the Company’s interest in
AeroCentury VI LLC and is non-recourse to the Company. Payments due
under the note consist of monthly principal and interest through
April 20, 2009, interest only from April 20, 2009 until the maturity
date, and a balloon principal payment due on the maturity date. If
the aircraft lease agreement is terminated on April 15, 2008
pursuant to a lessee early termination option, the note will be due
October 15, 2008, and the interest only period will be from April
20, 2008 through October 15, 2008. During the three months ended
March 31, 2007, $75,840 of principal was repaid on the note. The
balance of the note payable at Mach 31, 2007 was $1,345,500 and
interest of $3,730 was accrued. As of March 31, 2007, the Company
was in compliance with all covenants of this note obligation.
In November 2005, the Company
refinanced two DHC-8-300 aircraft that had been part of the
collateral base for its credit facility. The financing, by a bank
separate from its credit facility, was provided to a newly formed
special purpose subsidiary, AeroCentury V LLC, to which the aircraft
were transferred. The financing resulted in a note obligation in the
amount of $6,400,000, due November 10, 2008, which bears interest at
the rate 7.87%. The note is collateralized by the aircraft and is
non-recourse to the Company. Payments due under the note consist of
monthly principal and interest through April 22, 2008, interest only
from April 22, 2008 until the maturity date, and a balloon principal
payment due on the maturity date. During the three months ended
March 31, 2007, AeroCentury V LLC repaid $236,880 of principal. The
balance of the note payable at March 31, 2007 was $5,183,830 and
interest of $11,330 was accrued. As of March 31, 2007, the Company
was in compliance with all covenants of this note obligation.
AeroCentury Corp. Notes to
Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) March 31,
2007
5. Stockholder Rights Plan
On April 8, 1998, the Company’s
Board of Directors adopted a stockholder rights plan granting a
dividend of one stock purchase right for each share of the Company’s
common stock outstanding as of April 23, 1998. The rights become
exercisable only upon the occurrence of certain events specified in
the plan, including the acquisition of 15% of the Company’s
outstanding common stock by a person or group. Each right entitles
the holder to purchase one one-hundredth of a share of Series A
Preferred Stock of the Company at an exercise price of $66.00 per
one-one-hundredth of a share. Each right entitles the holder, other
than an “acquiring person,” to acquire shares of the Company’s
common stock at a 50% discount to the then prevailing market price.
The Company’s Board of Directors may redeem outstanding rights at a
price of $0.01 per right.
6. Income Taxes
The items comprising income tax
expense are as follows: For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2007
2006 (as restated) Current tax provision: Federal $ 2,760 $ - State
2,260 1,200 Foreign 39,130 - Current tax provision 44,150 1,200
Deferred tax provision: Federal
455,610 27,670 State (8,120) 2,210 Deferred tax provision 447,490
29,880 Total provision for income taxes $491,640 $31,080
Total income tax expense differs
from the amount that would be provided by applying the statutory
federal income tax rate to pretax earnings as illustrated below:
For the Three Months Ended March
31, 2007 2006 (as restated)
Income tax provision at statutory
federal income tax rate $498,240 $28,080 State tax provision, net of
federal benefit 7,030 900 Tax rate differences (13,630) 2,100 Total
income tax provision $491,640 $31,080
Tax rate differences reflect the
change in effective state tax rates that resulted from changes in
state income tax apportionments related to changed nexus of aircraft
leasing activities among various states.
AeroCentury Corp. Notes to
Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) March 31,
2007
6. Income Taxes (continued)
Temporary differences and
carry-forwards that give rise to a significant portion of deferred
tax assets and liabilities as of March 31, 2007 are as follows:
Deferred tax assets: Prior year
tax losses $1,036,020 Prepaid rent 228,860 Cumulative effects of
prior year adjustments 238,910 Maintenance 122,480 Foreign tax
credit carryover 145,820 Bad debt allowance and other 5,660 Deferred
tax assets 1,777,750 Deferred tax liabilities - Accumulated
depreciation on aircraft and aircraft engines (6,362,960) Net
deferred tax liabilities $(4,585,210)
No valuation allowance is deemed
necessary, as the Company has concluded that, based on an assessment
of all available evidence, it is more likely than not that future
taxable income will be sufficient to realize the tax benefits of all
the deferred tax assets on the consolidated balance sheet. The prior
year tax losses will be available to offset taxable income in each
of the two preceding tax years and in future years through 2026. The
foreign tax credit carryover will be available to offset federal tax
expense in the first preceding tax year and in future years through
2017.
As described in Note 1, the
Company adopted FIN 48 on January 1, 2007, which proscribes
treatment of "unrecognized tax positions," and requires measurement
and disclosure of such amounts. At both January 1, 2007 and March
31, 2007, the Company had no material unrecognized tax benefits.
The Company accounts for interest
related to uncertain tax positions as interest expense, and for
penalties as tax expense.
All of the Company's tax years
remain open to examination other than as barred in the various
jurisdictions by statutes of limitations.
7. Related Party Transactions
The Company has no employees. Its
portfolio of leased aircraft assets is managed and administered
under the terms of a management agreement with JetFleet Management
Corp. (“JMC”), which is an integrated aircraft management, marketing
and financing business and a subsidiary of JetFleet Holding Corp.
("JHC"). Certain officers of the Company are also officers of JHC
and JMC and hold significant ownership positions in both JHC and the
Company. Under the management agreement, JMC receives a monthly
management fee based on the net asset value of the assets under
management. JMC also receives an acquisition fee for locating assets
for the Company, provided that the aggregate purchase price,
including chargeable acquisition costs and any acquisition fee, does
not exceed the fair market value of the asset based on appraisal,
and may receive a remarketing fee in connection with the sale or
re-lease of the Company’s assets. The Company recorded management
fees of $683,400 and $696,350 during the three months ended March
31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Because the Company did not acquire
any aircraft during the first three months of 2007 or 2006, no
acquisition fees were paid to JMC for these periods. No remarketing
fees were paid to JMC during the three months ended March 31, 2007
or 2006.
AeroCentury Corp. Notes to
Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) March 31,
2007
8. Subsequent Events
On April 17, 2007, the Company and
the lenders under its revolving credit facility entered into an
amended and restated credit agreement, which provides for (i) a
three-year term, (ii) a $25 million increase in the current amount
available under the credit facility to $80 million and (iii) the
ability to increase the maximum amount available under the credit
facility to $110 million. Certain financial covenants were also
modified.
On April 17, 2007, the Company
entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement, whereby the Company
may issue 16% senior unsecured subordinated notes ("Subordinated
Notes"), with an aggregate principal amount of up to $28 million.
The Subordinated Notes are due December 30, 2011 and fully amortize.
Under the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Note Purchasers also
were issued Warrants to purchase up to 171,473 shares of the
Company's Common Stock at an exercise price of $8.75, which are
subject to registration rights pursuant to an Investor's
Registration Rights Agreement. At the April 17 closing, $10 million
of the Subordinated Notes were sold at 99% of the face amount less
$500,000. Any notes issued for the remaining $18 million of
Subordinated Debt will be sold at 99% of the face amount, at
subsequent closings expected to occur on or before June 30, 2008.
Item 2. Management’s Discussion
and Analysis or Plan of Operation.
Overview
The Company is a lessor of
regional aircraft and engines which are used by customers pursuant
to triple net operating leases. The acquisition of such equipment is
generally made using debt financing. The Company’s profitability and
cash flow are dependent in large part upon its ability to acquire
equipment, obtain and maintain favorable lease rates on such
equipment, and re-lease or sell owned equipment that comes off
lease. The Company is subject to the credit risk of its lessees,
both as to collection of rent and to performance by lessees of
obligations for maintaining the aircraft. Since lease rates for
assets in the Company’s portfolio generally decline as the assets
age, the Company’s ability to maintain revenue and earnings is
primarily dependent upon the Company’s ability to grow its asset
portfolio.
The Company’s principal
expenditures are for interest costs on its financing, management
fees, and maintenance of its aircraft assets. Maintenance
expenditures are incurred when aircraft are off lease, are being
prepared for re-lease, or require maintenance in excess of lease
return conditions, as well as when maintenance work is performed in
connection with the release of non-refundable maintenance reserves
previously received by the Company from lessees. See “c. Maintenance
Reserves and Accrued Costs,” below, regarding the Company’s
accounting treatment of maintenance expenses.
The most significant non-cash
expenses include aircraft depreciation, which is the result of
significant estimates, and, beginning in the second quarter of 2007,
amortization of costs associated with the Company’s Subordinated
Notes.
Critical Accounting Policies,
Judgments and Estimates
The discussion and analysis of the
Company’s financial condition and results of operations are based
upon the 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 management to make estimates and judgments that
affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenues and
expenses, and the related disclosure of contingent assets and
liabilities at the date of the financial statements. Actual results
may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or
conditions.
The Company’s significant
accounting policies are described in Note 1 to the consolidated
financial statements. The Company believes that the most critical
accounting policies include the following: Impairment of Long-lived
Assets; Depreciation Policy; Maintenance Reserves and Accrued Costs;
Revenue Recognition and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts; and
Accounting for Income Taxes.
a. Impairment of Long-lived Assets
The Company periodically reviews
its portfolio of assets for impairment in accordance with SFAS 144,
“Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-lived Assets."
Such review necessitates estimates of current market values,
re-lease rents, residual values and component values. The estimates
are based on currently available market data and third-party
appraisals and are subject to fluctuation from time to time. The
Company initiates its review periodically, whenever events or
changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of a
long-lived asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of an asset
is measured by comparison of its carrying amount to the expected
future undiscounted cash flows (without interest charges) that the
asset is expected to generate. Any impairment to be recognized is
measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset
exceeds its fair market value. Significant management judgment is
required in the forecasting of future operating results which are
used in the preparation of projected undiscounted cash flows and
should different conditions prevail, material write downs may occur.
b. Depreciation Policy
The Company’s interests in
aircraft and aircraft engines are recorded at cost, which includes
acquisition costs. The Company purchases only used aircraft. It is
the Company’s policy to hold aircraft for approximately twelve years
unless market conditions necessitate earlier disposition.
Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the
twelve year period to an estimated residual value based on
appraisal. Decreases in the market value of aircraft could not only
affect the current value, discussed above, but could also affect the
assumed residual value. The Company periodically obtains a residual
value appraisal for its assets and, historically, has not had to
write down any assets due to revised estimated residuals.
c. Maintenance Reserves and
Accrued Costs
Maintenance costs under the
Company’s triple net leases are generally the responsibility of the
lessees. Maintenance reserves and accrued costs in the accompanying
consolidated balance sheet include refundable maintenance payments
received from lessees, which will be paid out as related maintenance
is performed.
Due to the recent adoption of FSP
AUG AIR-1, as discussed in Note 1 to the Financial Statements, the
Company was required to discontinue the accrue-in-advance method of
accounting for planned major maintenance for financial reporting
periods beginning on January 1, 2007. The Company has evaluated the
impact of the adoption of this new staff position and determined
that it will use the direct expensing method, under which actual
costs incurred are expensed directly. The new mandated accounting
method also requires the accrual of non-refundable maintenance
reserves from the Company’s lessees for planned major maintenance to
be reflected as income, and performance of maintenance work in
connection with the release of maintenance reserves to be reflected
as an expense when maintenance is actually performed. If an invoice
for work performed is not received at the end of a reporting period,
the Company estimates the amount of such expenses, based on the
amount of reserves previously received from the lessee and
information provided by the lessee regarding maintenance status.
Accrued costs also reflect amounts
accrued by the Company for maintenance work performed under certain
circumstances and which is not related to the release of reserves
received from lessees.
Historically, as a result of two
situations, the Company incurred significant maintenance expense
when aircraft were returned early and in a condition worse than
required by the lease and for which the Company was unable to
recover the costs of non-compliance from the lessees.
d. Revenue Recognition and
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
Revenue from leasing of aircraft
assets is recognized as operating lease revenue on a straight-line
basis over the terms of the applicable lease agreements. The Company
estimates and charges to income a provision for bad debts based on
its experience in the business and with each specific customer, the
level of past due accounts, and its analysis of the lessees’ overall
financial condition. If the financial condition of the Company’s
customers deteriorates, it could result in actual losses exceeding
the estimated allowances.
e. Accounting for Income Taxes
As part of the process of
preparing the Company’s consolidated financial statements,
management is required to estimate income taxes in each of the
jurisdictions in which the Company operates. This process involves
estimating the Company’s current tax exposure under the most recent
tax laws and assessing temporary differences resulting from
differing treatment of items for tax and accounting purposes. These
differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are
included in the consolidated balance sheet. Management must also
assess the likelihood that the Company’s deferred tax assets will be
recovered from future taxable income, and, to the extent management
believes it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the
deferred tax assets will not be realized, the Company must establish
a valuation allowance. To the extent the Company establishes a
valuation allowance or changes the allowance in a period, the
Company reflects the corresponding increase or decrease within the
tax provision in the consolidated statements of operations. As
discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, the Company adopted
FIN 48 on January 1, 2007, which proscribes treatment of
“unrecognized tax positions” and requires measurement and disclosure
of such amounts.
Significant management judgment is
required in determining the Company’s future taxable income for
purposes of assessing the Company’s ability to realize any benefit
from its deferred taxes. In the event that actual results differ
from these estimates or the Company adjusts these estimates in
future periods, the Company’s operating results and financial
position could be materially affected.
Results of Operations
a. Revenues
Operating lease revenue was
approximately $506,000 higher in the three months ended March 31,
2007 versus the same period in 2006, primarily because of increased
operating lease revenue from aircraft purchased in the fourth
quarter of 2006 and revenue from several aircraft which had been off
lease for all or part of the first three months of 2006, the effects
of which were partially offset by a decrease in revenue from an
aircraft which was sold in the second quarter of 2006.
Maintenance reserves income was
approximately $36,000 higher in the three months ended March 31,
2007 versus the same period in 2006, as a result of increased
aircraft usage by the Company’s lessees, on which the amount of
reserves income is based.
Other income was approximately
$16,000 higher in the three months ended March 31, 2007 versus the
same period in 2006, primarily as a result of an increase in the
amount of interest income earned on the Company’s cash balances,
which were higher in 2007, net of accrued interest on certain of the
Company’s securities deposits and maintenance reserves payable to
several lessees.
b. Expense items
Depreciation was approximately
$80,000 higher in the three months ended March 31, 2007 versus 2006,
primarily because of purchases of aircraft in the fourth quarter of
2006, the effect of which was partially offset by an aircraft sale
in the second quarter of 2006. Management fees, which are calculated
on the net book value of the aircraft owned by the Company, were
approximately $13,000 lower in the three months ended March 31, 2007
compared to 2006 because of lower net book values as a result of
depreciation and adjustments made in December 2006 and January 2007
as a result of the Company’s adoption of SAB 108 and FSP AUG AIR-1,
respectively. The effects of these changes were partially offset by
the purchase of three aircraft in the fourth quarter of 2006.
Interest expense was approximately
$57,000 higher in the three months ended March 31, 2007 versus 2006,
primarily as a result of increases in the index rates upon which the
Company’s interest rates are based, the effect of which was
partially offset by a lower average principal balance and margin in
2007 compared to 2006.
The Company’s maintenance expense
is dependent on the aggregate maintenance claims submitted by
lessees and expenses incurred in connection with off-lease aircraft.
As a result of lower total lessee claims and fewer off-lease
aircraft in 2007, the Company incurred approximately $867,000 less
in maintenance expense in the three months ended March 31, 2007
versus the same period in 2006. Maintenance expense was
approximately $867,000 lower in the three months ended March 31,
2007 compared to 2006, primarily as a result of lower expense for
maintenance claims submitted by lessees and lower expense to prepare
aircraft for re-lease in 2007 than in 2006.
Total professional fees and
general and administrative expenses were approximately the same in
the three month periods ended March 31, 2007 and 2006. Legal
expense, however, was approximately $45,000 lower in 2007, primarily
because of costs associated with the early return of an aircraft in
2006. Accounting fees were approximately $40,000 higher in 2007 as a
result of additional costs incurred in connection with the audit of
the Company’s 2006 financial statements. Directors fees were also
higher by approximately $5,000 in 2007 as a result of higher fees
authorized by the board of directors, effective January 1, 2007.
The Company's insurance expense
consists primarily of directors and officers insurance, as well as
product liability insurance and insurance for off-lease aircraft and
aircraft engines, which varies depending on the type of assets
insured during each period and the length of time each asset is
insured. As a result of the combination of assets insured during
each period and the length of time each was insured, insurance
expense was approximately $48,000 lower in the first three months of
2007 versus the same period of 2006. Directors and officers
insurance expense was approximately $3,000 less in 2007 as a result
of a lower annual premium.
During the first three months of
2007, the Company recorded bad debt expense of approximately $16,000
for reserves receivable which was written off in connection with a
lessee’s early return of two aircraft. During the first three months
of 2006, the Company recorded bad debt expense of approximately
$49,000 for rent receivable which was written off in connection with
a lessee’s early return of an aircraft.
The Company did not record any
impairment charges in the first three months of 2007 or 2006.
The Company’s effective tax rates
for the period ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 were approximately 34%
and 38%, respectively. The change in rate was primarily a result of
the change in effective state tax rates resulting from the decrease
in the number of aircraft leased to domestic carriers.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company is currently financing
its assets primarily through debt borrowings, special purpose
financing and excess cash flow.
(a) Credit facility
In November 2005, the Company’s
credit facility was renewed through October 31, 2007. In connection
with the renewal, certain financial covenants were modified,
including the applicable margin, which is added to the index rate
for each of the Company’s outstanding loans under the credit
facility. The margin, which is determined by certain financial
ratios, was revised from a range of 275 to 375 basis points to a
range of 275 to 325 basis points. In May 2006, a participant was
added to the Company’s credit facility and the amount of the
facility was increased from $50 million to $55 million.
On April 17, 2007, the Company and
the lenders entered into an amended and restated credit agreement,
which provides for (i) a three-year term, (ii) a $25 million
increase in the current amount available under the credit facility
to $80 million and (iii) the ability to increase the maximum amount
available under the credit facility to $110 million. Certain
financial covenants were also modified.
During the first three months of
2007, the Company repaid $3,000,000 of the outstanding principal
under its credit facility. The balance of the note payable at March
31, 2007 was $47,896,000 and interest of $112,210 was accrued.
On June 30, 2006, the Company was
out of compliance with a financial ratio covenant which is based on
net income. The Company obtained a waiver from its banks regarding
that covenant for the quarter then ended. The Company is currently
in compliance with all covenants and, based on its current
projections, the Company believes it will continue to be in
compliance with all covenants of its credit facility, but there can
be no assurance of such compliance in the future. See "Factors That
May Affect Future Results – 'Risks of Debt Financing’ and 'Credit
Facility Obligations,’” below.
The Company's interest expense in
connection with the credit facility generally moves up and down with
prevailing interest rates, as the Company has not entered into any
interest rate hedge transactions for the credit facility
indebtedness. Because aircraft owners seeking financing generally
can obtain financing through either leasing transactions or
traditional secured debt financings, prevailing interest rates are a
significant factor in determining market lease rates, and market
lease rates generally move up or down with prevailing interest
rates, assuming supply and demand of the desired equipment remain
constant. However, because lease rates for the Company’s assets
typically are fixed under existing leases, the Company normally does
not experience any positive or negative impact in revenue from
changes in market lease rates due to interest rate changes until
existing leases have terminated and new lease rates are set as the
aircraft is re-leased.
(b) Unsecured subordinated debt
On April 17, 2007, the Company
entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement, whereby the Company
may issue 16% senior unsecured subordinated notes ("Subordinated
Notes"), with an aggregate principal amount of up to $28 million.
The Subordinated Notes are due December 30, 2011 and fully amortize.
Under the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Note Purchasers also
were issued Warrants to purchase up to 171,473 shares of the
Company's Common Stock, which are subject to registration rights
pursuant to an Investor's Registration Rights Agreement. At the
April 17 closing, $10 million of the Subordinated Notes were sold at
99% of the face amount less $500,000. Notes issued for the remaining
$18 million of Subordinated Debt will be sold at 99% of the face
amount. The Company intends to use the proceeds of the debt offering
for acquisition of additional aircraft assets.
(c) Special purpose financing
In September 2000, a special
purpose subsidiary acquired a deHavilland DHC-8-100 aircraft using
cash and bank financing separate from its credit facility. The
related note obligation, which was due April 15, 2006, was
refinanced in April 2006, using bank financing from another lender,
and the subsidiary was dissolved. The aircraft was transferred to
AeroCentury VI LLC, a newly formed special purpose limited liability
company, which borrowed $1,650,000, due October 15, 2009. The note
bears interest at an adjustable rate of one-month LIBOR plus 3%. The
note is collateralized by the aircraft and the Company’s interest in
AeroCentury VI LLC and is non-recourse to the Company. Payments due
under the note consist of monthly principal and interest through
April 20, 2009, interest only from April 20, 2009 until the maturity
date, and a balloon principal payment due on the maturity date. If
the aircraft lease agreement is terminated on April 15, 2008
pursuant to a lessee early termination option, the note will be due
October 15, 2008, and the interest only period will be from April
20, 2008 through October 15, 2008. During the three months ended
March 31, 2007, $75,840 of principal was repaid on the note. The
balance of the note payable at Mach 31, 2007 was $1,345,500 and
interest of $3,730 was accrued. As of March 31, 2007, the Company
was in compliance with all covenants of this note obligation and is
currently in compliance.
In November 2005, the Company
refinanced two DHC-8-300 aircraft that had been part of the
collateral base for its credit facility. The financing, by a bank
separate from its credit facility, was provided to a newly formed
special purpose subsidiary, AeroCentury V LLC, to which the aircraft
were transferred. The financing resulted in a note obligation in the
amount of $6,400,000, due November 10, 2008, which bears interest at
the rate 7.87%. The note is collateralized by the aircraft and is
non-recourse to the Company. Payments due under the note consist of
monthly principal and interest through April 22, 2008, interest only
from April 22, 2008 until the maturity date, and a balloon principal
payment due on the maturity date. During the three months ended
March 31, 2007, AeroCentury V LLC repaid $236,880 of principal. The
balance of the note payable at March 31, 2007 was $5,183,830 and
interest of $11,330 was accrued. As of March 31, 2007, the Company
was in compliance with all covenants of this note obligation and is
currently in compliance.
The availability of special
purpose financing in the future will depend on receiving specific
dispensation from the senior lenders and the Subordinated Note
holders.
(d) Cash flow
The Company's primary source of
revenue is lease rentals of its aircraft assets. It is the Company’s
policy to monitor each lessee’s needs in periods before leases are
due to expire. If it appears that a customer will not be renewing
its lease, the Company immediately initiates marketing efforts to
locate a potential new lessee or purchaser for the aircraft. The
goal of this procedure is to reduce the time that an asset will be
off lease. The Company’s aircraft are subject to leases with varying
expiration dates through November 2011.
Management believes that the
Company will have adequate cash flow to meet its ongoing operational
needs, including required repayments under its credit facility,
based upon its estimates of future revenues and expenditures. The
Company’s expectations concerning such cash flows are based on
existing lease terms and rents, as well as numerous estimates,
including (i) rents on assets to be re-leased, (ii) sale proceeds of
certain assets currently under lease, (iii) the cost and anticipated
timing of maintenance to be performed and (iv) acquisition of
additional aircraft and the lease thereof at favorable lease terms.
While the Company believes that the assumptions it has made in
forecasting its cash flow are reasonable in light of experience,
actual results could deviate from such assumptions. Among the more
significant external factors outside the Company’s control that
could have an impact on the accuracy of cash flow assumptions are
(i) an increase in interest rates that negatively affects the
Company’s profitability and causes the Company to violate covenants
of its credit facility and its Subordinated Note agreement, and may
require repayment of some or all of the amounts outstanding under
its credit facility, (ii) lessee non-performance or non-compliance
with lease obligations (which may affect credit facility collateral
limitations and Subordinated Note covenants, as well as revenue and
expenses) and (iii) an unexpected deterioration of demand for
aircraft equipment.
(i) Operating activities
The Company’s cash flow from
operations for the three months ended March 31, 2007 versus 2006
increased by approximately $743,000. The change in cash flow is a
result of changes in several cash flow items during the period,
including principally the following:
Lease rents, maintenance reserves
and security deposits
Payments received from lessees for
rent were approximately $125,000 higher in the first three months of
2007 versus the same period in 2006, due primarily to the effect of
increased payments for aircraft purchased in November 2006 and rent
for several aircraft which had been off lease for all or part of the
first three months of 2006, the effects of which were partially
offset by a decrease in rental payments for an aircraft which was
sold in 2006.. Although increased demand generally in the turboprop
market has caused lease rates to stabilize and, in some cases, rise,
it cannot be predicted that rental rates on aircraft to be re-leased
will not decline, so that, absent additional acquisitions by the
Company, aggregate lease revenues for the current portfolio could
decline over the long term.
Security deposits received
decreased by approximately $654,000 in the first three months of
2007 versus 2006 because the Company did not acquire aircraft or
re-lease any aircraft to new lessees during the 2007 period and,
therefore, received no security deposits.
Expenditures for maintenance
Expenditures for maintenance were
approximately $1,375,000 lower in the three months ended March 31,
2007 versus the same period in 2006 primarily as a result of higher
payments during 2006 for maintenance performed to prepare several of
the Company’s aircraft for remarketing and for maintenance reserves
claims submitted by lessees. The amount of expenditures for
maintenance in future periods will be dependent on the amount and
timing of maintenance paid from lessee maintenance reserves held by
the Company and the off-lease status of the Company’s aircraft.
Expenditures for interest
Expenditures for interest
increased by approximately $236,000 in the first three months of
2007 compared to 2006, primarily as a result of higher average
interest rates, the effect of which was partially offset by a lower
average credit facility principal balance and margin in 2007
compared to 2006. Interest expenditures in future periods will be a
product of prevailing interest rates and the outstanding credit
facility principal balance, which may be influenced by future
acquisitions and/or required repayments resulting from changes in
the collateral base, as well as the outstanding principal of the
Subordinated Notes and principal payments required by the
Subordinated Note covenants. As a result of the Company’s expected
Subordinated Note financings, it is likely that expenditures for
interest will increase significantly.
Expenditures for acquisition fees
Because the Company did not
acquire any aircraft during the first three months of 2007, it paid
no acquisition fees during the period. During the first three months
of 2006, the Company paid $314,000 to JMC for the acquisition fee
accrued in December 2005 upon the purchase of four aircraft and
which was included in the Company’s accounts payable balance at
December 31, 2005.
Expenditures for professional fees
and general and administrative expenses
Expenditures for professional fees
and general and administrative expenses decreased by approximately
$81,000 in the three months ended March 31, 2007 versus the same
period in 2006, primarily as a result of lower legal expenditures.
Expenditures for prepaid expenses
Expenditures for prepaid expenses
were approximately $304,000 higher in the first three months of 2007
versus the same period in 2006, primarily as a result of a deposit
paid to the seller of two aircraft which the Company anticipates
acquiring in the second quarter of 2007.
(ii) Investing activities
During the three months ended
March 31, 2006, the Company used $433,000 for capital equipment
installed on aircraft. The Company made no such investments in the
three months ended March 31, 2007.
(iii) Financing activities
The $3,029,000 increase in cash
flow used by financing activities was a result of the Company’s
repayments of $3,000,000 of principal under its credit facility in
2007.
Outlook
In April 2007, the Company signed
an agreement for a $25 million increase in its revolving credit
facility, with the ability to increase the maximum amount available
under the facility to $110 million. At the same time it entered into
an agreement to issue up to $28 million of Subordinated Notes. At
the same time, the Company issued $10 million of the Subordinated
Notes, and is required to draw the remaining $18 million on or
before June 30, 2008. As the Subordinated Notes bear fixed interest
of 16% per annum immediately upon issuance, as well as an unused
commitment fee on the unissued balance, an important factor in the
Company’s near term results will be the Company’s ability to
expediently locate and acquire assets using the Subordinated Note
proceeds, in order to generate revenue to offset the increased
interest expense. The Company anticipates that the combined credit
facility increase and potential for a further increase in the credit
facility by an additional $30 million, along with the Subordinated
Debt financing, should provide sufficient capital for its projected
short- and medium-term future acquisitions.
In March 2007, the Company and the
lessee of two aircraft, which have leases expiring in May and July
2008, agreed to the early return of the aircraft based on the
lessee’s financial difficulties. The Company is negotiating a
termination settlement with the lessee and is seeking re-lease or
sale opportunities for these aircraft. There is no assurance as to
when the Company will be successful in its efforts to re-lease or
sell the aircraft, but the Company believes that, even if the
aircraft are off lease for an extended period of time, it will be
able to remain in compliance with the terms of its credit facility
and Subordinated Notes.
Several of the Company’s aircraft
leases are scheduled to expire in 2007. The Company expects that all
but one of them will be renewed. The Company believes that it will
be able to re-lease the one aircraft it expects to be returned at
lease end and that, even if the aircraft is off lease for an
extended period of time, it will be able to remain in compliance
with the terms of its credit facility and Subordinated Notes.
The Company continually monitors
the financial condition of its lessees to avoid unanticipated
creditworthiness issues, and where necessary, works with lessees to
ensure continued compliance with both monetary and non-monetary
obligations under their respective leases. Currently, the Company is
closely monitoring the performance of two lessees with a total of
three aircraft under lease. The Company continues to work closely
with these lessees to ensure compliance with their current
obligations. During the first three months of 2007, the Company
incurred $16,000 of bad debt expense related to amounts owed by the
lessee of two of the Company’s aircraft, discussed above. If any of
the Company's current lessees are unable to meet their lease
obligations, the Company's future results could be materially
impacted. Any weakening in the aircraft industry may also affect the
performance of lessees that currently appear to the Company to be
creditworthy. See "Factors that May Affect Future Results – General
Economic Conditions," below.
Due to the recent adoption of FSP
AUG AIR-1, as discussed in Note 1 to the Financial Statements and
under “Critical Accounting Policies, Judgments and Estimates, c.
Maintenance Reserves and Accrued Costs”, above, the treatment of
non-refundable maintenance reserves will impact the Company’s income
and expenses and, as a result, beginning in the first quarter of
2007, the Company believes that its reported net income may be
subject to greater fluctuations from quarter-to-quarter than would
have been the case had the Company continued its use of the previous
method of accounting for planned major maintenance activities.
Factors that May Affect Future
Results
Risks of Debt Financing. The
Company’s use of debt as the primary form of acquisition financing
subjects the Company to increased risks of leveraging. With respect
to the credit facility, the loans are secured by the Company’s
existing assets as well as the specific assets acquired with each
financing. In addition to payment obligations, the credit facility
also requires the Company to comply with certain financial
covenants, including a requirement of positive annual earnings,
interest coverage and net worth ratios. Any default under the credit
facility, if not waived by the lenders, could result in foreclosure
upon not only the asset acquired using such financing, but also the
existing assets of the Company securing the loan.
The addition of the Subordinated
Note debt, while providing additional resources for acquisition by
the Company of revenue generating assets, also has the effect of
increasing the Company’s overall cost of capital, as the
Subordinated Notes bear an effective overall interest rate that is
higher than the rate charged on the credit facility. Since the
Subordinated Notes bear interest immediately upon issuance, the
Company’s success in utilizing the proceeds to purchase income
generating assets will be critical to the financial results of the
Company. The Company has not yet identified specific asset
acquisitions for which the entire Subordinated Note proceeds will be
applied, but believes that it will be successful in timely acquiring
appropriate assets for acquisition to take full financial advantage
of the additional resources provided under the increased credit
facility and Subordinated Note financing.
Interest Rate Risk. The Company’s
current credit facility and the indebtedness of one of its special
purpose subsidiaries carry a floating interest rate based upon
either the lender’s prime rate or a floating LIBOR rate. Lease
rates, generally, but not always, move with interest rates, but
market demand for the asset also affects lease rates. Because lease
rates are fixed at the origination of leases, interest rate
increases during the term of a lease have no effect on existing
lease payments. Therefore, if interest rates rise significantly, and
there is relatively little lease origination by the Company
following such rate increases, the Company could experience lower
net earnings. Further, even if significant lease origination occurs
following such rate increases, if the contemporaneous aircraft
market forces result in lower or flat rental rates, the Company
could experience lower net earnings as well.
Recent actions by the Federal
Reserve Board indicate that its previous moves to increase the
prevailing short term borrowing rates have ceased for the time
being, but there is no assurance that economic circumstances may not
cause the Board to resume moving short term borrowing rates higher.
The Company has not hedged its variable rate debt obligations and
such obligations are based on short-term interest rate indexes.
Consequently, if an interest rate increase were great enough, the
Company might not be able to generate sufficient lease revenue to
meet its interest payment and other obligations and comply with the
net earnings covenant of its credit facility.
Credit Facility Obligations. The
Company is obligated to make repayment of principal under the credit
facility in order to maintain certain debt ratios with respect to
its assets in the borrowing base. Assets that come off lease and
remain off-lease for a period of time are removed from the borrowing
base. The Company believes it will have sufficient cash funds to
make any payment that arises due to borrowing base limitations
caused by assets scheduled to come off lease in the near term. The
Company’s belief is based on certain assumptions regarding renewal
of existing leases, a lack of extraordinary interest rate increases,
continuing profitability, no lessee defaults or bankruptcies, and
certain other matters that the Company deems reasonable in light of
its experience in the industry. There can be no assurance that the
Company’s assumptions will prove to be correct. If the assumptions
are incorrect (for example, if an asset in the collateral base
unexpectedly goes off lease for an extended period of time) and the
Company has not obtained an applicable waiver or amendment of
applicable covenants from its lenders to mitigate the situation, the
Company may have to sell a significant portion of its portfolio in
order to maintain compliance with covenants or face default on its
credit facility.
Warrant Issuance. As part of the
Subordinated Note financing, the Company has issued warrants to
purchase up to 171,473 shares of the Company’s common stock, which
is equal to 10% of the post-exercise fully diluted capitalization of
the Company. The exercise price under the Warrants is $8.75 per
share. If the shares are exercised, this could lead to dilution to
the existing holders of Common Stock. This dilution of the Company’s
common stock could depress its trading price.
Concentration of Lessees and
Aircraft Type. Currently, the Company’s seven largest customers are
located in Belgium, Taiwan, the Caribbean, Norway, the United States
and Sweden, and currently account for approximately 14%, 13%, 12%,
11%, 10%, 10% and 10%, respectively, of the Company’s monthly lease
revenue. A lease default by or collection problems with one of these
customers could have a disproportionate negative impact on the
Company’s financial results, and therefore, the Company’s operating
results are especially sensitive to any negative developments with
respect to these customers in terms of lease compliance or
collection. Such concentration of lessee credit risk will diminish
in the future only if the Company is able to lease additional assets
to new lessees.
The Company owns fourteen Fokker
50, eight DHC-8-300 and six Saab 340B aircraft, making these three
aircraft types the dominant types in the portfolio and representing
36%, 37% and 11%, respectively, based on net book value. As a
result, a change in the desirability and availability of any of
these types of aircraft, which would in turn affect valuations of
such aircraft, would have a disproportionately large impact on the
Company’s portfolio value. Such aircraft type concentration will
diminish if the Company acquires additional assets of other types.
Conversely, acquisition of these types of aircraft will increase the
Company’s risks related to its concentration of those aircraft
types.
Investment in New Aircraft Types.
The Company has traditionally invested in a limited number of types
of turboprop aircraft and engines. While the Company intends to
continue to focus solely on regional aircraft and engines, the
Company may pursue acquisitions of other types of regional aircraft
and engines used in the Company's targeted customer base of regional
air carriers, including other types of turboprop aircraft, as well
as regional jet aircraft and engines. Acquisition of other aircraft
types and engines not previously acquired by the Company entails
greater ownership risk due to the Company's lack of experience with
those types. The Company believes, however, that JMC personnel's
overall industry experience and its technical resources should
permit the Company to effectively manage such new aircraft. Further,
the broadening of the asset types in the aircraft portfolio may have
a countervailing benefit of diversifying the Company's portfolio
(See "Factors That May Affect Future Results – Concentration of
Lessees and Aircraft Type,” above).
Increased Compliance Costs.
Current Sarbanes-Oxley Act requirements applicable to the Company
effective for the year ended December 31, 2007 relating to internal
controls could result in significantly higher fees and expenses in
connection with auditor services beginning in 2007. The increase
will generally arise from increased auditor responsibilities,
including broadening of the scope of the auditor's examination to
include the Company's internal controls. If the regulations remain
unchanged, the Company anticipates that it will have sufficient
funds to pay for the increased compliance costs.
Lessee Credit Risk. If a customer
defaults upon its lease obligations, the Company may be limited in
its ability to enforce remedies. Most of the Company’s lessees are
small regional passenger airlines, which may be even more sensitive
to airline industry market conditions than the major airlines. As a
result, the Company’s inability to collect rent under a lease or to
repossess equipment in the event of a default by a lessee could have
a material adverse effect on the Company’s revenue. If a lessee that
is a certified U.S. airline is in default under the lease and seeks
protection under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code,
Section 1110 of the Bankruptcy Code would automatically prevent the
Company from exercising any remedies for a period of 60 days. After
the 60-day period has passed, the lessee must agree to perform the
obligations and cure any defaults, or the Company will have the
right to repossess the equipment. This procedure under the
Bankruptcy Code has been subject to significant recent litigation,
however, and it is possible that the Company’s enforcement rights
may be further adversely affected by a declaration of bankruptcy by
a defaulting lessee. Most of the Company’s lessees are foreign and
not subject to U.S. bankruptcy laws but there may be similar
applicable foreign bankruptcy debtor protection schemes available to
foreign carriers.
Leasing Risks. The Company’s
successful negotiation of lease extensions, re-leases and sales may
be critical to its ability to achieve its financial objectives, and
involves a number of risks. Demand for lease or purchase of the
assets depends on the economic condition of the airline industry
which is, in turn, sensitive to general economic conditions. The
ability to remarket equipment at acceptable rates may depend on the
demand and market values at the time of remarketing. The Company
anticipates that the bulk of the equipment it acquires will be used
aircraft equipment. The market for used aircraft is cyclical, and
generally reflects economic conditions and the strength of the
travel and transportation industry. The demand for and value of many
types of used aircraft in the recent past has been depressed by such
factors as airline financial difficulties, increased fuel costs, the
number of new aircraft on order and the number of aircraft coming
off-lease. Values may also increase for certain aircraft types that
become desirable based on market conditions and changing airline
capacity. If the Company were to purchase an aircraft during a
period of increasing values, it would need a corresponding higher
lease rate.
The Company’s current
concentration in a limited number of turboprop airframe and aircraft
engine types subjects the Company to economic risks if an airframe
or engine type owned by the Company should significantly decline in
value relative to the assets’ purchase price. If “regional jets”
were to be used on short routes previously served by turboprops,
even though regional jets are more expensive to operate than
turboprops on those routes, the demand for turboprops could lessen.
This could result in lower lease rates and values for the Company’s
existing turboprop aircraft.
Risks Related to Regional Air
Carriers. Because the Company has concentrated its existing leases,
and intends to continue to concentrate future leases, on regional
air carriers, it is subject to additional risks. Some of the lessees
in the regional air carrier market are companies that are start-up,
low capital, low margin operations. Often, the success of such
carriers is dependent upon contractual arrangements with major trunk
carriers or franchises from governmental agencies that provide
subsidies for operating essential air routes, both of which may be
subject to termination or cancellation with short notice periods,.
Because of this exposure, the Company typically is able to obtain
generally higher lease rates from these types of lessees. In the
event of a business failure of the lessee or its bankruptcy, the
Company can generally regain possession of its aircraft, but the
aircraft could be in substantially worse condition than would be the
case if the aircraft were returned in accordance with the provisions
of the lease at lease expiration.
The Company evaluates the credit
risk of each lessee carefully, and attempts to obtain a third party
guaranty, letters of credit or other credit enhancements, if it
deems them necessary. There is no assurance, however, that such
enhancements will be available or that, if obtained, they will fully
protect the Company from losses resulting from a lessee default or
bankruptcy. Also, a significant area of market growth is outside of
the United States, where collection and enforcement are often more
difficult and complicated than in the United States. During 2006 and
2005, the Company incurred bad debt expense related to amounts owed
by three former lessees. This expense materially affected the
Company's financial performance. If any of the Company's current
lessees are unable to meet their lease obligations, the Company's
future results could be materially impacted.
Reliance on JMC. All management of
the Company is performed by JMC under a management agreement which
is in the ninth year of a 20-year term and provides for an
asset-based management fee. JMC is not a fiduciary to the Company or
its stockholders. The Company’s Board of Directors has ultimate
control and supervisory responsibility over all aspects of the
Company and owes fiduciary duties to the Company and its
stockholders. The Board has no control over the internal operations
of JMC, but the Board does have the ability and responsibility to
manage the Company's relationship with JMC and the performance of
JMC's obligations to the Company under the management agreement, as
it would have for any third party service provider to the Company.
While JMC may not owe any fiduciary duties to the Company by virtue
of the management agreement, the officers of JMC are also officers
of the Company, and in that capacity owe fiduciary duties to the
Company and its stockholders. In addition, certain officers of the
Company hold significant ownership positions in the Company and JHC,
the parent company of JMC.
The JMC management agreement may
be terminated if JMC defaults on its obligations to the Company.
However, the agreement provides for liquidated damages in the event
of its wrongful termination by the Company. All of the officers of
JMC are also officers of the Company, and certain directors of the
Company are also directors of JMC. Consequently, the directors and
officers of JMC may have a conflict of interest in the event of a
dispute between the Company and JMC. Although the Company has taken
steps to prevent conflicts of interest arising from such dual roles,
such conflicts may still occur.
JMC has acted as the management
company for two other aircraft portfolio owners, JetFleet III, which
raised approximately $13,000,000 from investors, and AeroCentury IV,
Inc. (“AeroCentury IV”), which raised approximately $5,000,000 from
investors. In the first quarter of 2002, AeroCentury IV defaulted on
certain obligations to noteholders. In June 2002, the indenture
trustee for AeroCentury IV’s noteholders repossessed AeroCentury
IV’s assets and took over management of AeroCentury IV’s remaining
assets. JetFleet III defaulted on its bond obligation of $11,076,350
in May 2004. The indenture trustee for JetFleet III bondholders
repossessed JetFleet III’s unsold assets in late May 2004.
Ownership Risks. The Company’s
portfolio is leased under operating leases, where the terms of the
leases are less than the entire anticipated useful life of an asset.
The Company’s ability to recover its purchase investment in an asset
subject to an operating lease is dependent upon the Company’s
ability to profitably re-lease or sell the asset after the
expiration of the initial lease term. Some of the factors that have
an impact on the Company’s ability to re-lease or sell include
worldwide economic conditions, general aircraft market conditions,
regulatory changes that may make an asset’s use more expensive or
preclude use unless the asset is modified, changes in the supply or
cost of aircraft equipment and technological developments which
cause the asset to become obsolete. In addition, a successful
investment in an asset subject to an operating lease depends in part
upon having the asset returned by the lessee in the condition as
required under the lease. If the Company is unable to remarket its
aircraft equipment on favorable terms when the operating leases for
such equipment expire, the Company’s business, financial condition,
cash flow, ability to service debt and results of operations could
be adversely affected.
Furthermore, an asset impairment
charge against the Company’s earnings may result from the occurrence
of unexpected adverse changes that impact the Company’s estimates of
expected cash flows generated from such asset. The Company
periodically reviews long-term assets for impairments, in
particular, when events or changes in circumstances indicate the
carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. An impairment
loss is recognized when the carrying amount of an asset is not
recoverable and exceeds its fair value. The Company may be required
to recognize asset impairment charges in the future as a result of a
prolonged weak economic environment, challenging market conditions
in the airline industry or events related to particular lessees,
assets or asset types.
International Risks. The Company
has focused on leases in overseas markets, which the Company
believes present opportunities. Leases with foreign lessees,
however, may present somewhat different risks than those with
domestic lessees.
Foreign laws, regulations and
judicial procedures may be more or less protective of lessor rights
than those which apply in the United States. The Company could
experience collection or repossession problems related to the
enforcement of its lease agreements under foreign local laws and the
remedies in foreign jurisdictions. The protections potentially
offered by Section 1110 of the Bankruptcy Code do not apply to
non-U.S. carriers, and applicable local law may not offer similar
protections. Certain countries do not have a central registration or
recording system with which to locally establish the Company’s
interest in equipment and related leases. This could make it more
difficult for the Company to recover an aircraft in the event of a
default by a foreign lessee.
A lease with a foreign lessee is
subject to risks related to the economy of the country or region in
which such lessee is located, which may be weaker than the U.S.
economy. On the other hand, a foreign economy may remain strong even
though the U.S. economy does not. A foreign economic downturn may
impact a foreign lessee’s ability to make lease payments, even
though the U.S. and other economies remain stable. Furthermore,
foreign lessees are subject to risks related to currency conversion
fluctuations. Although the Company’s current leases are all payable
in U.S. dollars, the Company may agree in the future to leases that
permit payment in foreign currency, which would subject such lease
revenue to monetary risk due to currency fluctuations. Even with
U.S. dollar-denominated lease payment provisions, the Company could
still be affected by a devaluation of the lessee’s local currency
that would make it more difficult for a lessee to meet its U.S.
dollar-denominated lease payments, increasing the risk of default of
that lessee, particularly if its revenue is primarily derived in the
local currency.
Government Regulation. There are a
number of areas in which government regulation may result in costs
to the Company. These include aircraft registration, safety
requirements, required equipment modifications, and aircraft noise
requirements. Although it is contemplated that the burden and cost
of complying with such requirements will fall primarily upon lessees
of equipment, there can be no assurance that the cost will not fall
on the Company. Furthermore, future government regulations could
cause the value of any non-complying equipment owned by the Company
to decline substantially.
Competition. The aircraft leasing
industry is highly competitive. The Company competes with aircraft
manufacturers, distributors, airlines and other operators, equipment
managers, leasing companies, equipment leasing programs, financial
institutions and other parties engaged in leasing, managing or
remarketing aircraft, many of which have significantly greater
financial resources. However, the Company believes that it is
competitive because of JMC’s experience and operational efficiency
in identifying and obtaining financing for the transaction types
desired by regional air carriers. This market segment, which is
characterized by transaction sizes of less than $10 million and
lessee credits that may be strong, but are generally unrated, is not
well served by the Company’s larger competitors. JMC has developed a
reputation as a global participant in this segment of the market,
and the Company believes that JMC’s reputation benefits the Company.
There is, however, no assurance that the lack of significant
competition from larger aircraft leasing companies will continue or
that the reputation of JMC will continue to be strong in this market
segment.
Casualties, Insurance Coverage.
The Company, as owner of transportation equipment, may be named in a
suit claiming damages for injuries or damage to property caused by
its assets. As a triple net lessor, the Company is generally
protected against such claims, since the lessee would be responsible
for, insure against and indemnify the Company for such claims.
Further, some protection may be provided by the United States
Aviation Act with respect to the Company’s aircraft assets. It is,
however, not clear to what extent such statutory protection would be
available to the Company, and the United States Aviation Act may not
apply to aircraft operated in foreign countries. Also, although the
Company’s leases generally require a lessee to insure against likely
risks, there may be certain cases where the loss is not entirely
covered by the lessee or its insurance. Though this is a remote
possibility, an uninsured loss with respect to the equipment, or an
insured loss for which insurance proceeds are inadequate, would
result in a possible loss of invested capital in and any profits
anticipated from, such equipment, as well as a potential claim
directly against the Company.
General Economic Conditions. The
Company’s business is dependent upon general economic conditions and
the strength of the travel and transportation industry. The industry
has experienced a severe cyclical downturn which began in 2001.
There are signs that the industry is beginning to recover from the
downturn, but it is unclear whether any recovery will be a sustained
one. Any recovery could be stalled or reversed by any number of
events or circumstances, including the global economy slipping back
into recession, or specific events related to the air travel
industry, such as terrorist attacks, or an increase in operational
or labor costs. Recent spikes in oil prices, if they persist, may
have a negative effect on airline profits and increase the
likelihood of weakening results for airlines that have not hedged
aircraft fuel costs, and in the most extreme cases, may initiate or
accelerate the failure of many already marginally profitable
carriers.
Since regional carriers are
generally not as well-capitalized as major air carriers, any
economic setback in the industry may result in the increased
possibility of an economic failure of one or more of the Company’s
lessees, particularly since many carriers are undertaking expansion
of capacity to accommodate the recovering air passenger traffic. If
lessees experience financial difficulties, this could, in turn,
affect the Company’s financial performance.
During any periods of economic
contraction, carriers generally reduce capacity, in response to
lower passenger loads, and as a result, there is a reduced demand
for aircraft and a corresponding decrease in market lease rental
rates and aircraft values. This reduced market value for aircraft
could affect the Company’s results if the market value of an asset
or assets in the Company’s aircraft portfolio falls below carrying
value, and the Company determines that a write-down of the value on
the Company’s balance sheet is appropriate. Furthermore, as older
leases expire and are replaced by lease renewals or re-leases at
decreasing lease rates, the lease revenue of the Company from its
existing portfolio is likely to decline, with the magnitude of the
decline dependent on the length of the downturn and the depth of the
decline in market rents.
Economic downturns can affect
specific regions of the world exclusively. As the Company’s
portfolio is not entirely globally diversified, a localized downturn
in one of the key regions in which the Company leases aircraft
(e.g., Europe or Asia) could have a significant adverse impact on
the Company.
Possible Volatility of Stock
Price. The market price of the Company’s common stock has been
subject to fluctuations in response to the Company’s operating
results, changes in general conditions in the economy, the financial
markets, the airline industry, changes in accounting principles or
tax laws applicable to the Company or its lessees, or other
developments affecting the Company, its customers or its
competitors, some of which may be unrelated to the Company’s
performance. Also, because the Company has a relatively small
capitalization of approximately 1.5 million shares, there is a
correspondingly limited amount of trading of the Company’s shares.
Consequently, a single or small number of trades could result in a
market fluctuation not related to any business or financial
development concerning the Company.
Item 3. Controls and Procedures.
Quarterly evaluation of the
Company’s Disclosure Controls and Internal Controls. As of the end
of the period covered by this report, the Company evaluated the
effectiveness of the design and operation of its “disclosure
controls and procedures” (“Disclosure Controls”), and its “internal
controls over financial reporting” (“Internal Controls”). This
evaluation (the “Controls Evaluation”) was done under the
supervision and with the participation of management, including the
Company’s Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial
Officer (“CFO”). Rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange
Commission (“SEC”) require that in this section of the Report, the
Company present the conclusions of the CEO and the CFO about the
effectiveness of our Disclosure Controls and Internal Controls based
on and as of the date of the Controls Evaluation.
CEO and CFO Certifications.
Attached as exhibits to this report are two separate forms of
“Certifications” of the CEO and the CFO. The first form of
Certification is required in accordance with Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Section 302 Certification”). This
section of the report is the information concerning the Controls
Evaluation referred to in the Section 302 Certifications and this
information should be read in conjunction with the Section 302
Certifications for a more complete understanding of the topics
presented.
Disclosure Controls and Internal
Controls. Disclosure Controls are procedures that are designed with
the objective of ensuring that information required to be disclosed
in the Company’s reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (the “Exchange Act”), such as this report, is recorded,
processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified
in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure Controls are also designed
with the objective of ensuring that such information is accumulated
and communicated to the Company’s management, including the CEO and
CFO, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required
disclosure. Internal Controls are procedures which are designed with
the objective of providing reasonable assurance that (1) the
Company’s transactions are properly authorized; (2) the Company’s
assets are safeguarded against unauthorized or improper use; and (3)
the Company’s transactions are properly recorded and reported, all
to permit the preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial
statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles.
Limitations on the Effectiveness
of Controls. The Company’s management, including the CEO and CFO,
does not expect that its Disclosure Controls or its Internal
Controls will prevent all errors and all fraud. A control system, no
matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable,
not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system
are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the
fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of
controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the
inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of
controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and
instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected.
These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in
decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because
of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be
circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of
two or more people, or by management override of the control. The
design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain
assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be
no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated
goals under all potential future conditions; over time, control may
become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of
compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Because
of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system,
misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.
Scope of the Controls Evaluation.
The CEO/CFO evaluation of the Company’s Disclosure Controls and the
Company’s Internal Controls included a review of the controls
objectives and design, the controls implementation by the Company
and the effect of the controls on the information generated for use
in this report. In the course of the Controls Evaluation, the CEO
and CFO sought to identify data errors, controls problems or acts of
fraud and to confirm that appropriate corrective action, including
process improvements, were being undertaken. This type of evaluation
is be done on a quarterly basis so that the conclusions concerning
controls effectiveness can be reported in the Company’s quarterly
reports on Form 10-QSB and annual report on Form 10-KSB. The
Company’s Internal Controls are also evaluated on an ongoing basis
by other personnel in the Company’s finance organization and by the
Company’s independent auditors in connection with their audit and
review activities. The overall goals of these various evaluation
activities are to monitor the Company’s Disclosure Controls and the
Company’s Internal Controls and to make modifications as necessary;
the Company’s intent in this regard is that the Disclosure Controls
and the Internal Controls will be maintained as dynamic systems that
change (reflecting improvements and corrections) as conditions
warrant.
Among other matters, the Company
sought in its evaluation to determine whether there were any
“significant deficiencies” or “material weaknesses” in the Company’s
Internal Controls, or whether the Company had identified any acts of
fraud involving personnel who have a significant role in the
Company’s Internal Controls. This information was important both for
the Controls Evaluation generally and because item 5 in the Section
302 Certifications of the CEO and CFO requires that the CEO and CFO
disclose that information to the Audit Committee of the Company’s
Board and to the Company’s independent auditors and report on
related matters in this section of the Report. In the professional
auditing literature, “significant deficiencies” are referred to as
“reportable conditions”; these are control issues that could have a
significant adverse effect on the ability to record, process,
summarize and report financial data in the financial statements. A
“material weakness” is defined in the auditing literature as a
particularly serious reportable condition where the internal control
does not reduce to a relatively low level the risk that
misstatements caused by error or fraud may occur in amounts that
would be material in relation to the financial statements and not be
detected within a timely period by employees in the normal course of
performing their assigned functions. The Company also sought to deal
with other controls matters in the Controls Evaluation, and in each
case if a problem was identified, the Company considered what
revision, improvement and/or correction to make in accordance with
the on-going procedures.
In accordance with SEC
requirements, the CEO and CFO note that there has been no
significant change in Internal Controls that occurred during the
most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected or is
reasonably likely to materially affect the Company’s Internal
Controls.
Conclusions. Based upon the
Controls Evaluation, the Company’s CEO and CFO have concluded that,
(i) the Company’s Disclosure Controls are effective to ensure that
the information required to be disclosed by the Company in the
reports that it files under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed,
summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the
Commission’s rules and forms and then accumulated and communicated
to Company management, including the CEO and CFO, as appropriate to
make timely decisions regarding required disclosures, and (ii) that
the Company’s Internal Controls are effective to provide reasonable
assurance that the Company’s consolidated financial statements are
fairly presented in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles.
PART II OTHER INFORMATION
Items 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 have been
omitted as they are not applicable.
Item 6. Exhibits
Exhibits
Exhibit Number Descrip