8-K

WILLIS LEASE FINANCE CORP (WLFC)

8-K 2021-11-02 For: 2021-11-02
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Added on April 04, 2026

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

______________________________________________________________________

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

______________________________________________________________________

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 2, 2021

Willis Lease Finance Corporation

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Delaware 001-15369 68-0070656
(State or Other Jurisdiction<br>of Incorporation) (Commission File<br>Number) (I.R.S. Employer<br>Identification Number)

4700 Lyons Technology Parkway

Coconut Creek, FL 33073

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (561) 349-9989

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of Each Class Trading Symbol Name of exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share WLFC Nasdaq Global Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o

Item 2.02(a) Results of Operations and Financial Condition

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure

The following information and exhibit are furnished pursuant to Item 2.02(a), “Results of Operations and Financial Condition” and Item 7.01, “Regulation FD Disclosure”. This information shall not be deemed “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

On November 2, 2021, the Company issued a news release setting forth the Company’s results from operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and financial condition as of September 30, 2021. A copy of the news release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements & Exhibits

The Company hereby furnishes the following exhibit pursuant to Item 2.02(a), “Results of Operations and Financial Condition” and Item 7.01, “Regulation FD Disclosure”.

Exhibit No. Description
99.1 News Release issued by Willis Lease Finance Corporation dated November 2, 2021.
104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned duly authorized officer.

Dated: November 2, 2021

WILLIS LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION
By: /s/ Scott B. Flaherty
Scott B. Flaherty
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

3

Document

Exhibit 99.1

wlfclogojpghoriza.jpg

CONTACT: Scott B. Flaherty
NEWS RELEASE Chief Financial Officer
(561) 349-9989

Willis Lease Finance Corporation Reports

Third Quarter Pre-tax Profit of $6.1 million

COCONUT CREEK, FL — November 2, 2021 — Willis Lease Finance Corporation (NASDAQ: WLFC) today reported third quarter total revenues of $70.8 million and pre-tax profit of $6.1 million. For the three months ended September 30, 2021, aggregate lease rent and maintenance reserve revenues were $56.6 million and spare parts and equipment sales were $5.1 million. The Company reported increased total revenues in the third quarter when compared to the prior year period, primarily due to an increase in lease rent revenue and gain on sale of leased equipment partially offset by a reduction in long-term maintenance revenue.

“We are encouraged to see some of the early stages of a recovery reflected in our improved quarterly performance,” said Charles F. Willis, Chairman and CEO. “While we are still a long way from a pre-COVID environment, and many hurdles still exist on that path, we are pleased to see our customers beginning to use the equipment they have more and increasingly requesting additional support. The aviation industry is important to the global recovery, and we are proud to be part of it.”

“The continuing recovery of our airline and MRO customers, and the industry in general, has had a direct impact on our own success,” said Brian R. Hole, President. “And we believe our airline customers will continue to benefit from leveraging our scale and diversity of product and service offerings, whether in the form of capital, lease assets or technical and asset management services, as they focus on the huge task of repaying government loans while working feverishly to return whole fleets from storage.”

Third Quarter 2021 Highlights (at or for the periods ended September 30, 2021, as compared to September 30, 2020, and December 31, 2020):

•Lease rent revenue increased to $32.9 million in the third quarter of 2021, compared to $30.0 million in the third quarter of 2020 primarily reflecting an increase in the number of engines acquired and placed on lease.

•Maintenance reserve revenue was $23.7 million in the third quarter of 2021, a decrease of 26.8% compared to $32.3 million in the same quarter of 2020. The decline in maintenance revenue was primarily influenced by lower long-term maintenance revenue, which is associated with engines returning from long-term lease, and increase in short-term maintenance revenue, which results from usage of the assets we have on short-term lease. Long-term maintenance reserve revenue was $18.6 million in the third quarter of 2021, compared to $30.6 million in the comparable prior period, and short-term maintenance reserve revenue was $5.0 million in the third quarter of 2021, compared to $1.7 million in the prior year period.

•Spare parts and equipment sales increased to $5.1 million in the third quarter of 2021, compared to $2.9 million in the third quarter of 2020. The increase in spare parts sales was driven by improved industry wide demand compared to the prior year period.

•Gain on sale of leased equipment was $2.4 million in the third quarter of 2021 reflecting the sale of six engines, one airframe and other parts and equipment. There was no gain on sale of leased equipment in the third quarter of 2020.

•Other revenue increased by $1.3 million to $6.7 million in the third quarter of 2021, compared to $5.4 million in the third quarter of 2020, primarily reflecting interest income from our notes receivable and other service-related fees.

•Income before income taxes was $6.1 million in the third quarter of 2021, compared to $6.0 million in the third quarter of 2020.

•Our aggregate lease assets, inclusive of our equipment held for operating lease and notes receivable, at September 30, 2021 and 2020 was $2,167.4 million and $1,776.1 million, respectively, a 22.0% year-over-year increase.

•The book value of lease assets we own directly or through our joint ventures, inclusive of our notes receivable, was $2,513.6 million at September 30, 2021. As of September 30, 2021, the Company also managed 488 engines, aircraft and related equipment on behalf of other parties.

•The Company maintained $397 million of undrawn revolver capacity at September 30, 2021.

•Diluted weighted average earnings per common share were $0.32 for the third quarter of 2021, compared to $0.35 in the third quarter of 2020.

•Book value per diluted weighted average common share outstanding increased to $60.45 at September 30, 2021, compared to $59.40 at December 31, 2020.

Balance Sheet

As of September 30, 2021, the Company’s $1.971 billion equipment held for operating lease portfolio and $196.1 million notes receivable represented 313 engines, eight aircraft, one marine vessel and other leased parts and equipment. As of December 31, 2020, the Company’s $1.887 billion equipment held for operating lease portfolio and $158.7 million notes receivable represented 291 engines, eight aircraft, one marine vessel and other leased parts and equipment.

Willis Lease Finance Corporation

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

Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Do not unduly rely on forward-looking statements, which give only expectations about the future and are not guarantees. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update them. Our actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to: the effects on the airline industry and the global economy of events such as terrorist activity and the COVID-19 pandemic; changes in oil prices and other disruptions to the world markets; trends in the airline industry and our ability to capitalize on those trends, including growth rates of markets and other economic factors; risks associated with owning and leasing jet engines and aircraft; our ability to successfully negotiate equipment purchases, sales and leases, to collect outstanding amounts due and to control costs and expenses; changes in interest rates and availability of capital, both to us and our customers; our ability to continue to meet changing customer demands; regulatory changes affecting airline operations, aircraft maintenance, accounting standards and taxes; the market value of engines and other assets in our portfolio; and risks detailed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and other continuing reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Income

(In thousands, except per share data)

Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
2021 2020 % Change 2021 2020 % Change
REVENUE
Lease rent revenue $ 32,908 $ 30,025 9.6 % $ 96,859 $ 114,874 (15.7) %
Maintenance reserve revenue 23,659 32,302 (26.8) % 60,749 82,816 (26.6) %
Spare parts and equipment sales 5,091 2,888 76.3 % 13,226 14,848 (10.9) %
Gain on sale of leased equipment 2,440 100.0 % 2,440 1,367 78.5 %
Asset transition fee % 6,256 100.0 %
Other revenue 6,693 5,398 24.0 % 18,858 13,300 41.8 %
Total revenue 70,791 70,613 0.3 % 198,388 227,205 (12.7) %
EXPENSES
Depreciation and amortization expense 21,274 24,022 (11.4) % 68,755 71,176 (3.4) %
Cost of spare parts and equipment sales 3,921 4,125 (4.9) % 11,008 13,461 (18.2) %
Write-down of equipment 5,245 (100.0) % 4,113 14,371 (71.4) %
General and administrative 18,662 16,461 13.4 % 54,312 51,256 6.0 %
Technical expense 2,524 827 205.2 % 6,130 3,422 79.1 %
Net finance costs:
Interest expense 18,325 15,351 19.4 % 50,331 47,136 6.8 %
Loss on debt extinguishment % 4,688 (100.0) %
Total net finance costs 18,325 15,351 19.4 % 50,331 51,824 (2.9) %
Total expenses 64,706 66,031 (2.0) % 194,649 205,510 (5.3) %
Earnings from operations 6,085 4,582 32.8 % 3,739 21,695 (82.8) %
Earnings (loss) from joint ventures 21 1,457 (98.6) % (1,183) 2,612 (145.3) %
Income before income taxes 6,106 6,039 1.1 % 2,556 24,307 (89.5) %
Income tax expense 3,222 3,055 5.5 % 946 11,665 (91.9) %
Net income 2,884 2,984 (3.4) % 1,610 12,642 (87.3) %
Preferred stock dividends 819 819 % 2,431 2,440 (0.4) %
Accretion of preferred stock issuance costs 21 21 % 63 63 %
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders $ 2,044 $ 2,144 (4.7) % $ (884) $ 10,139 (108.7) %
Basic weighted average earnings (loss) per common share $ 0.33 $ 0.36 $ (0.14) $ 1.70
Diluted weighted average earnings (loss) per common share $ 0.32 $ 0.35 $ (0.14) $ 1.66
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding 6,189 5,985 6,135 5,954
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding 6,363 6,084 6,135 6,104

Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except per share data)

September 30, 2021 December 31, 2020
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents $ 15,092 $ 42,540
Restricted cash 56,477 36,385
Equipment held for operating lease, less accumulated depreciation 1,971,252 1,886,613
Maintenance rights 22,511 20,097
Equipment held for sale 11,057 2,850
Receivables, net of allowances 42,595 28,269
Spare parts inventory 53,556 59,434
Investments 53,153 53,275
Property, equipment & furnishings, less accumulated depreciation 30,800 31,753
Intangible assets, net 1,202 1,246
Notes receivable 196,146 158,708
Other assets 47,047 43,778
Total assets $ 2,500,888 $ 2,364,948
LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE PREFERRED STOCK AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses $ 50,124 $ 26,977
Deferred income taxes 118,941 116,838
Debt obligations 1,814,208 1,693,753
Maintenance reserves 61,482 82,484
Security deposits 22,915 19,522
Unearned revenue 12,590 11,637
Total liabilities 2,080,260 1,951,211
Redeemable preferred stock ($0.01 par value) 49,785 49,722
Shareholders’ equity:
Common stock ($0.01 par value) 66 66
Paid-in capital in excess of par 15,653 13,696
Retained earnings 354,486 355,370
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax 638 (5,117)
Total shareholders’ equity 370,843 364,015
Total liabilities, redeemable preferred stock and shareholders’ equity $ 2,500,888 $ 2,364,948