10-KPeriod: FY2019

FTAI Aviation Ltd. Annual Report, Year Ended Dec 31, 2019

Filed February 28, 2020For Securities:FTAIFTAIMFTAIN

Summary

FTAI Aviation Ltd.'s 2019 10-K filing reveals a significant year of growth and strategic repositioning. The company reported a substantial increase in total revenues to $578.77 million, up from $342.11 million in 2018, largely driven by strong performance in its Aviation Leasing segment and infrastructure revenues, particularly from crude marketing activities at Jefferson Terminal. Despite this revenue growth, total expenses also increased, primarily due to higher operating expenses, interest expenses, and depreciation and amortization. The company's net income attributable to shareholders saw a significant improvement, reaching $223.27 million compared to $5.88 million in the prior year. This was heavily influenced by a substantial gain on the sale of assets, including a gain on the sale of the railroad business and a partial interest in Long Ridge. FTAI Aviation also successfully navigated its transition from an emerging growth company, ensuring compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 requirements, including an independent auditor's attestation on internal controls. However, investors should be aware of the ongoing risks associated with potential future equity issuances diluting ownership and the company's strategy of using leverage to finance acquisitions, which could impact returns and available distributions.

Financial Statements
Beta
Revenue$578.77M
Operating Expenses$631.49M
Operating Income$150.06M
Interest Expense$95.58M
Net Income$223.27M
Shares Outstanding (Basic)85.99M
Shares Outstanding (Diluted)86.03M

Key Highlights

  • 1Total revenues increased significantly by $236.66 million to $578.77 million in 2019, driven by strong performance in Aviation Leasing and Infrastructure segments.
  • 2Net income attributable to shareholders surged to $223.27 million in 2019, a substantial increase from $5.88 million in 2018, boosted by gains on asset sales.
  • 3The company successfully completed the sale of substantially all of its railroad business, reporting it as discontinued operations.
  • 4Aviation Leasing segment revenues grew by $92.4 million, with lease income and maintenance revenue showing notable increases.
  • 5Jefferson Terminal segment revenues increased by $133.4 million, primarily due to crude marketing activities, though these have since been exited.
  • 6The company continues to comply with Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404, with management and independent auditors attesting to the effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting.
  • 7FTAI Aviation issued preferred shares in 2019, raising approximately $194 million, and also increased its debt levels to finance operations and acquisitions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Revenue growth in 2019 was primarily driven by the Aviation Leasing segment, which saw increased lease income and maintenance revenue, and the Infrastructure segment, specifically the Jefferson Terminal, which benefited from crude marketing activities. The Ports and Terminals segment also contributed with increased terminal services revenue.

The company experienced a significant improvement in profitability in 2019. Net income attributable to shareholders increased substantially to $223.27 million, compared to $5.88 million in 2018. This was largely due to a significant gain on the sale of assets, including the railroad business and a stake in Long Ridge, which boosted overall net income.

The company utilizes leverage to finance many of its asset acquisitions. The filing warns that future issuances of equity or equity-related securities, or the perception of such issuances, could dilute existing shareholders' holdings and may adversely affect the market price of common shares. The company also has an Incentive Plan that allows for the grant of equity awards, which can also lead to dilution.

The company currently intends to pay regular quarterly dividends. However, it explicitly states that it may change its dividend policy at any time, and no assurances can be given about future dividends or their amounts/timing. The long-term goal is a payout ratio between 50-60% of funds available for distribution, with remaining amounts used for acquisitions and opportunities. Notably, net cash provided by operating activities has been less than distributions to shareholders.