Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Overview
Air T, Inc. (the “Company,” “Air T,” “we” or “us” or “our”) is a holding company with a portfolio of operating businesses and financial assets. Our goal is to prudently and strategically grow Air T's earnings power, compounding its free-cash-flow per share over time.
We currently operate in four industry segments:
• Overnight air cargo, which operates in the air express delivery services industry;
• Ground equipment sales, which manufactures and provides mobile deicers and other specialized equipment products to passenger and cargo airlines, airports, the military and industrial customers;
• Commercial aircraft, engines and parts, which manages and leases aviation assets; supplies surplus and aftermarket commercial jet engine components; provides commercial aircraft disassembly/part-out services; commercial aircraft parts sales; procurement services and overhaul and repair services to airlines and;
• Corporate and other, which acts as the capital allocator and resource for other consolidated businesses. Further, Corporate and other also comprises insignificant businesses and business interests.
Each business segment has separate management teams and infrastructures that offer different products and services. We evaluate the performance of our business segments based on operating income (loss) and Adjusted EBITDA.
Unconsolidated Investments
The Company has an ownership interest in Contrail Asset Management, LLC (“CAM”). The operations of CAM are not consolidated into the operations of the Company. See Note 22 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included under Part II, Item 8 of this report.
The Company also has ownership interests in Lendway and CCI. The operations of these companies are not consolidated into the operations of the Company. See Note 10 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included under Part II, Item 8 of this report.
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Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements in this Report, including those contained in “Overview,” are “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business. Forward-looking statements include those preceded by, followed by or that include the words “believes”, “pending”, “future”, “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “depends” or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements, because of, among other things, potential risks and uncertainties, such as:
• An inability to finance our operations through bank or other financing or through the sale or issuance of debt or equity securities;
• Economic and industry conditions in the Company’s markets;
• The risk that contracts with FedEx Corporation (“FedEx”) could be terminated or adversely modified;
• The risk that the number of aircraft operated for FedEx will be reduced;
• The risk that GGS customers will defer or reduce significant orders for deicing equipment;
• The impact of any terrorist activities or armed conflict on United States soil or abroad;
• The Company’s ability to manage its cost structure for operating expenses, or unanticipated capital requirements, and match them to shifting customer service requirements and production volume levels;
• The Company's ability to meet debt service covenants and to refinance existing debt obligations;
• The risk of injury or other damage arising from accidents involving the Company’s overnight air cargo operations, equipment or parts sold and/or services provided;
• Market acceptance of the Company’s commercial and military equipment and services;
• Competition from other providers of similar equipment and services;
• Changes in government regulation and technology;
• Changes in the value of marketable securities held as investments;
• Mild winter weather conditions reducing the demand for deicing equipment;
• Market acceptance and operational success of the Company’s relatively new aircraft asset management business and related aircraft capital joint venture; and
• Despite our current indebtedness levels, we and our subsidiaries may still be able to incur substantially more debt, which could further exacerbate the risks associated with our substantial leverage.
A forward-looking statement is neither a prediction nor a guarantee of future events or circumstances, and those future events or circumstances may not occur. We are under no obligation, and we expressly disclaim any obligation, to update or alter any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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Results of Operations
Fiscal 2024 vs. 2023
Consolidated revenue increased by $39.5 million (16%) to $286.8 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024 compared to the prior fiscal year. Following is a table detailing revenue by segment (after elimination of intercompany transactions), in thousands:
Year Ended March 31, Change
2024 2023
Overnight Air Cargo $ 115,546 $ 90,543 $ 25,003 28 %
Ground Equipment Sales 37,168 48,485 (11,317) (23) %
Commercial Jet Engines and Parts 125,535 101,737 23,798 23 %
Corporate and Other 8,585 6,558 2,027 31 %
Total $ 286,834 $ 247,323 $ 39,511 16 %
Revenues from the overnight air cargo segment increased by $25.0 million (28%) compared to the prior fiscal year, principally attributable to higher labor revenues, higher admin fees and higher FedEx pass through revenues due to increased fleet (85 aircraft in the prior year compared to 105 in the current fiscal year), and the WASI acquisition mentioned in Note 2 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of this report, contributed a full year's revenues of $7.5 million in the current fiscal year compared to $0.9 million in the prior fiscal year. Pass-through costs under the dry-lease agreements with FedEx totaled $36.4 million and $29.2 million for the years ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
The ground equipment sales segment contributed approximately $37.2 million and $48.5 million to the Company’s revenues for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, representing a $11.3 million (23%) decrease in the current fiscal year. The decrease was primarily driven by the lower number of deicing trucks sold in the current fiscal year compared to the prior fiscal year. At March 31, 2024, the ground equipment sales segment’s order backlog was $12.6 million compared to $13.6 million at March 31, 2023.
The commercial jet engines and parts segment contributed $125.5 million of revenues in fiscal year ended March 31, 2024 compared to $101.7 million in the prior fiscal year which is an increase of $23.8 million (23%). The increase was primarily driven by Contrail's higher component part sales and higher pass-through revenue at Worthington in transactions that Worthington acted as the principal of the consignment agreements in the current fiscal year compared to the prior fiscal year. In addition, Contrail also sold three engines at zero profit margin in the current year as they had previously written these assets down to the sales price in the prior year.
Revenues from the corporate and other segment increased by $2.0 million (31%) compared to the prior fiscal year, principally
attributed to $1.2 million of increased software subscriptions at Shanwick.
Following is a table detailing operating income (loss) by segment, net of intercompany during Fiscal 2024 and Fiscal 2023 (in thousands):
Year Ended March 31, Change
2024 2023
Overnight Air Cargo $ 6,765 $ 4,047 $ 2,718
Ground Equipment Sales (1,553) 3,141 (4,694)
Commercial Jet Engines and Parts 4,169 (957) 5,126
Corporate and Other (8,117) (10,638) 2,521
Total $ 1,264 $ (4,407) $ 5,671
Consolidated operating income for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024 was $1.3 million compared to consolidated operating
loss of $4.4 million in the prior fiscal year.
Operating income for the overnight air cargo segment increased by $2.7 million in the current fiscal year, due primarily to higher segment revenues as described above.
Operating loss for the ground equipment sales segment was $1.6 million compared to operating income of $3.1 million in the prior fiscal year, a decrease of $4.7 million attributable to lower sales as described above.
Operating income of the commercial jet engines and parts segment was $4.2 million compared to operating loss of $1.0 million in the prior year. The increase was primarily attributable to lower inventory write-down of $1.2 million in the current fiscal year compared to $7.3 million in the prior fiscal year, offset by a lower profit margin on component sales in the current year compared to the prior fiscal year.
Operating loss of the corporate and other segment decreased by $2.5 million in the current fiscal year, primarily driven by higher corporate allocations to other segments related to executive salaries, bonuses and audit fees compared to the prior fiscal year and increased revenue as described above.
The table below provides Adjusted EBITDA by segment for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands):
Twelve Months Ended Change
March 31, 2024 March 31, 2023
Overnight Air Cargo $ 7,142 $ 4,505 $ 2,637
Ground Equipment Sales (1,409) 3,314 (4,723)
Commercial Jet Engines and Parts 6,119 7,105 (986)
Corporate and Other (6,230) (8,895) 2,665
Total $ 5,622 $ 6,029 $ (407)
Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024 was $5.6 million, a decrease of $0.4 million compared to the prior fiscal year.
Adjusted EBITDA for the overnight air cargo segment increased by $2.6 million in the current fiscal year, due primarily to higher segment operating income as described above.
Adjusted EBITDA for the ground equipment sales segment decreased by $4.7 million in the current fiscal year, primarily due to lower sales as described above.
Adjusted EBITDA of the commercial jet engines and parts segment was $6.1 million, a decrease of $1.0 million from the prior fiscal year. The decrease was primarily driven by lower profit margins on sales as described above.
The corporate and other segment Adjusted EBITDA loss decreased by $2.7 million from fiscal 2023 to fiscal 2024. The decrease was primarily driven by $2.4 million higher corporate allocations to other segments related to executive salaries, bonuses and audit fees compared to the prior fiscal year.
Following is a table detailing consolidated non-operating income (expense), net of intercompany during fiscal 2024 and fiscal 2023 (in thousands):
Year Ended March 31, Change
2024 2023
Interest expense, net $ (6,916) $ (7,935) $ 1,019
Income from equity method investments 1,689 1,460 229
Other 8 (471) 479
Total $ (5,219) $ (6,946) $ 1,727
The Company had a net non-operating loss of $5.2 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024 compared to a net non-operating loss of $6.9 million in the prior fiscal year. The decrease in non-operating loss was primarily driven by a $1.0 million decrease in interest expense and a $0.4 million fluctuation in foreign currency exchange rates.
During the year ended March 31, 2024, the Company recorded $0.7 million of income tax expense, which yielded an effective rate of -18.5%. The primary factors contributing to the difference between the federal statutory rate of 21% and the Company’s effective tax rate for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024 were the foreign rate differentials and changes in valuation allowance. The net change in the valuation allowance was $2.0 million for the year ended March 31, 2024. In assessing the need for a valuation allowance, the Company considers all positive and negative evidence, including scheduled reversals of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, tax planning strategies, and past financial performance. The change in the Company’s valuation allowance is primarily due to the realizability of the domestic deferred tax assets, the unrealized losses on investments, the foreign tax credits generated by the operations in the Company’s Puerto Rico branch that is expected to expire before being fully utilized, and the change in full valuation allowances associated with the Delphax entities.
During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023, the Company recorded $0.4 million of income tax expense at an effective tax rate of -3.8%. The primary factors contributing to the difference between the federal statutory rate of 21% and the Company’s effective tax rate for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023 were the estimated benefit for the exclusion of income for the Company’s captive insurance company subsidiary under §831(b), the exclusion of the minority owned portion of pretax income of Contrail, state income tax expense, and changes in the valuation allowance. The net change in the valuation allowance was $3.1 million for the year ended March 31, 2023. In assessing the need for a valuation allowance, the Company considers all positive and negative evidence, including scheduled reversals of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, tax planning strategies, and past financial performance. The change in the Company’s valuation allowance is primarily due to the realizability of the domestic deferred tax assets, the unrealized losses on investments, the foreign tax credits generated by the operations in the Company’s Puerto Rico branch that is expected to expire before being fully utilized, and the change in full valuation allowances associated with the Delphax entities.
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Market Outlook
Future economic developments such as inflation and increased interest rates as well as further business issues such as supply chain issues present uncertainty and risk with respect to our financial condition and results of operations. Although we have largely emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic, our results of operations in fiscal 2024 reflected some of the COVID-19 pandemic's lingering impact. Despite the aforementioned, we experienced improved demand for commercial aircraft, jet engines and parts compared to historical periods. We expect that issues caused by the pandemic and other economic and business issues will continue to some extent. The fluidity of this situation precludes any prediction as to the ultimate adverse impact these issues on economic and market conditions and our businesses in particular, and, as a result, present material uncertainty and risk with respect to us and our results of operations.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of March 31, 2024, the Company held approximately $7.8 million in total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, of which, $0.4 million related to cash reserved for payments of SAIC's insurance claims. The Company also held $1.4 million in restricted investments held as statutory reserve of SAIC.
As of March 31, 2024, the Company’s working capital amounted to $56.0 million, an increase of $3.8 million compared to March 31, 2023.
The Company’s Credit Agreement with Minnesota Bank & Trust, a Minnesota state banking corporation (“MBT”) (the Air T debt in Note 13 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included under Part II, Item 8 of this report) includes several covenants that are measured twice a year at September 30 and March 31, including but not limited to, a negative covenant requiring a debt service coverage ratio of 1.25. On June 24, 2024, we obtained a waiver letter from MBT ("Letter") that waives two outstanding events of default. This Letter provides a one-time waiver for defaults resulting from our inability to meet the debt service coverage ratio as of March 31, 2024 and our failure to submit unaudited financial statements within 45 days following the quarter ending on that date. Based on the Letter, we are no longer in default of the Company's Credit Agreement with MBT.
The AirCo 1 Credit Agreement (the AirCo 1 debt in Note 13 of Notes to Consol idated Financial Statements included under Part II, Item 8 of this report) contains an affirmative covenant relating to collateral valuation.
The Air T Acquisition 22.1's term loans with ING (the Air T Acquisition 22.1 debt in Note 13 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included under Part II, Item 8 of this report) include several covenants that are measured once a year at December 31, including but not limited to, a negative covenant requiring a debt service coverage ratio of 1.10 and a senior net leverage ratio of 2.10 at December 31, 2022 and 1.50 at subsequent years.
The Contrail Credit Agreement (the Contrail debt in Note 13 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included under Part II, Item 8 of this report) contains affirmative and negative covenants, including covenants that restrict the ability of Contrail and its subsidiaries to, among other things, incur or guarantee indebtedness, incur liens, dispose of assets, engage in mergers and consolidations, make acquisitions or other investments, make changes in the nature of its business, and engage in transactions with affiliates. The Contrail Credit Agreement also contains quarterly financial covenants applicable to Contrail and its subsidiaries, including a minimum debt service coverage ratio of 1.25 to 1.0 and a minimum tangible net worth ("TNW") of $15.0 million. As of March 31, 2024, AirCo 1, Air T Acquisition 22.1 and Contrail were all in compliance with their respective covenants.
On March 22, 2023, Contrail entered into the First Amendment to Second Amendment to Master Loan Agreement and Third Amendment to Master Loan Agreement ("the Amendment") with ONB whereby, among other things, in exchange for a $20 million principal prepayment of Term Note G, Contrail obtained a waiver of the debt service coverage ratio covenant. $6.7 million of the $20.0 million prepayment was paid on March 30, 2023 and the remaining $13.3 million payment was paid in September 2023.
As mentioned in Note 13 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included under Part II, Item 8 of this report, on June 23, 2023, the Company and MBT entered into amendments to the Credit Agreement with MBT and related promissory note. The amendments extended the maturity date of the credit facility to August 31, 2024 and included the following changes:
1. A $2.0 million seasonal increase in the maximum amount available under the facility. The maximum amount of the facility will now increase to $19.0 million between May 1 and November 30 of each year and will decrease to $17.0 million between December 1 and April 30 of each year;
2. The reference rate for the interest rate payable on the revolving facility will change from Prime to SOFR, plus a spread. The exact spread over SOFR will change every September 30 and March 31 based on the Company calculated funded debt leverage ratio (defined as total debt divided by EBITDA). Depending on the result of the calculation, the interest rate spread applicable to the facility will range between 2.25% and 3.25%;
3. The unused commitment fee on the revolving credit facility will increase from 0.11% to 0.15%; and,
4. The covenant restricting the Company’s use of funds for “Other Investments” was revised to limit the Company to $5.0 million of “Other Investments” per year.
As mentioned in Note 13 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included under Part II, Item 8 of this report, on September 5, 2023, Contrail entered into the Sixth Amendment to Supplement #2 to Master Loan Agreement and the Fifth Amended and Restated Promissory Note with ONB. The principal purpose of the amended documents was to extend the maturity date of the revolving $25.0 million facility to November 24, 2025 or such earlier date on which the revolving note becomes due and payable pursuant to the supplement or the master loan agreement.
As mentioned in Note 13 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included under Part II, Item 8 of this report, on February 22, 2024 the Company, along with its wholly owned subsidiary AAM 24-1, LLC, a Minnesota limited liability company ("AAM 24-1"), entered into a Note Purchase Agreement with Honeywell Common Investment Fund and Honeywell International Inc. Master Retirement Trust (collectively, "Honeywell") pursuant to which AAM 24-1 agreed to issue and sell 8.5% senior secured notes in the aggregate principal amount of $15.0 million for an aggregate purchase price of $14.9 million. The notes bear an annual interest rate of 8.5% which is computed on the basis of a 30/360-day year and actual days elapsed and is payable semi-annually in arrears. The maturity date of the notes is February 22, 2031. A continuing first priority lien and security interest in and to all of the Company’s right, title and interest in all of the capital stock of AAM 24-1 was created in favor of Honeywell, as collateral for the repayment of the notes. In addition, 160,000 newly-issued shares of TruPs held by AAM 24-1 are also separately pledged to the Honeywell.
As mentioned in Note 13 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included under Part II, Item 8 of this report, on March 28, 2024, Contrail entered into Supplement #10 to the Master Loan Agreement with Old National Bank dated June 24, 2019 and Term Loan I. Term Loan I is a multiple advance term loan in the principal amount of $10.0 million and is secured by a first lien on three engines and other identified collateral recently purchased by Contrail. The loan requires Contrail to disassemble the collateral and place it in Contrail's inventory. The loan bears a monthly variable interest rate at the 30 Day Term SOFR + 3.1148%. The loan requires 18 monthly payments of interest until the loan maturity date of September 20, 2025. Principal reduction payments are due monthly in an amount equal to 100% of the amount of the gross sales proceeds collected that are derived from any of the engines or other specific collateral listed in the security agreement sold during the prior month. In addition to the first lien noted above, the loan is also secured by the current $2.0 million limited guarantees of the Company and Joe Kuhn. The loan may be prepaid without penalty and includes a quarterly rolling cash flow coverage ratio covenant, a tangible net worth covenant and monthly sales reporting. The loan was fully drawn at closing and the funds were used to prepay the principal balance on Contrail’s existing Main Street Loan (Term Loan G) by $10.0 million.
As mentioned in Note 22 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included under Part II, Item 8 of this report, Contrail entered into an Operating Agreement with OCAS, Inc. (the "Seller") providing for the put and call options with regard to the 21% non-controlling interest retained by the Seller. The Seller is the founder of Contrail and its current Chief Executive Officer. The Put/Call Option permits the Seller to require Contrail to purchase all of the Seller’s equity membership interests in Contrail commencing on July 18, 2021 ("Contrail RNCI"). After March 31, 2024 and before the financial statements were issued, Contrail redeemed 16% of the 21% of the Seller's interest for consideration consisting of a promissory note and an earnout. Immediately following the redemption transaction, the Put/Call Option in the Operating Agreement was amended so that the remaining 5% interest in Contrail will be redeemable based on an amount other than fair value. Refer to Note 2 5 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included under Part II, Item 8 of this report for additional details on the transaction..
As mentioned in Note 22 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included under Part II, Item 8 of this report, the Company has ownership interest in Contrail Asset Management, LLC (“CAM”). The operations of CAM are not consolidated into the operations of the Company. For its Investment Function (as defined in Note 22 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included under Part II, Item 8 of this report), CAM’s initial commitment to CJVII was approximately $51.0 million. The Company and Mill Road Capital ("MRC") have commitments to CAM in the respective amounts of $7.0 million and $44.0 million. As of March 31, 2023, the Company fulfilled its capital commitments to CAM.
As mentioned in Note 13 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included under Part II, Item 8 of this report, the Revolver - MBT has no outstanding balance as of March 31, 2024 and matures on August 31, 2024. We are currently seeking to refinance the Revolver - MBT prior to its maturity date; however, there is no assurance that we will be able to execute this refinancing or, if we are able to refinance this obligation, that the terms of such refinancing would be as favorable as the terms of our existing credit facility.
As a result, management believes it is probable that the cash on hand and current financings, net cash provided by operations from its remaining operating segments, together with amounts available under our current revolving lines of credit, as amended, will be sufficient to meet its obligations as they become due in the ordinary course of business for at least 12 months following the date these financial statements are issued.
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Cash Flows
Following is a table of changes in cash flow from continuing operations for the respective years ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands):
Year Ended March 31, Change
2024 2023
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities $ 17,178 $ 16,909 $ 269
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities (2,499) (6,168) 3,669
Net Cash Used in Financing Activities (13,910) (12,380) (1,530)
Effect of foreign currency exchange rates (16) 361 (377)
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash $ 753 $ (1,278) $ 2,031
Cash provided by operating activities in fiscal year 2024 was relatively flat compared to fiscal year 2023.
Cash used in investing activities for fiscal year 2024 was $2.5 million compared to cash used in investing activities for the prior fiscal year of $6.2 million. The current fiscal year's cash usage was primarily driven by investment in unconsolidated entities of $4.6 million offset by distributions from unconsolidated entities of $3.2 million. The prior fiscal year's cash usage was primarily driven by cash used for the acquisition of WASI of $2.5 million and investment in unconsolidated entities of $3.1 million, offset by distributions from unconsolidated entities of $0.7 million.
Cash used in financing activities for fiscal year 2024 was $13.9 million compared to cash used by financing activities for the prior fiscal year of $12.4 million. This was primarily due to decreased net proceeds from lines of credit of $15.0 million and increased payments to lines of credit of $9.0 million, offset by proceeds from term loans of $14.2 million in addition to the issuance of TruPs of $8.8 million in the current fiscal year.
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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
The Company defines an off-balance sheet arrangement as any transaction, agreement or other contractual arrangement involving an unconsolidated entity under which a Company has (1) made guarantees, (2) a retained or a contingent interest in transferred assets, (3) an obligation under derivative instruments classified as equity, or (4) any obligation arising out of a material variable interest in an unconsolidated entity that provides financing, liquidity, market risk or credit risk support to the Company, or that engages in leasing, hedging, or research and development arrangements with the Company. The Company is not currently engaged in the use of any of these arrangements.
Systems and Network Security
Although we have employed significant resources to develop our security measures against breaches, our cybersecurity measures may not detect or prevent all attempts to compromise our systems, including hacking, viruses, malicious software, break-ins, phishing attacks, security breaches or other attacks and similar disruptions that may jeopardize the security of information stored in and transmitted by our systems. Breaches of our cybersecurity measures could result in unauthorized access to our systems, misappropriation of information or data, deletion or modification of client information or other interruption to our business operations. As techniques used to obtain unauthorized access to sabotage systems change frequently and may not be known until launched against us or our third-party service providers, we may be unable to anticipate, or implement adequate measures to protect against these attacks. If we are unable to avert these attacks and security breaches, we could be subject to significant legal and financial liability, our reputation would be harmed and we could sustain substantial revenue loss from lost sales and customer dissatisfaction. We may not have the resources or technical sophistication to anticipate or prevent rapidly evolving types of cyber-attacks. Cyber-attacks may target us or other participants, or the communication infrastructure on which we depend. Actual or anticipated attacks and risks may cause us to incur significantly higher costs, including costs to deploy additional personnel and network protection technologies, train employees, and engage third-party experts and consultants. Cybersecurity breaches would not only harm our reputation and business, but also could materially decrease our revenue and net income.
Supply Chain and Inflation
In fiscal 2024, we continued to experience supply chain disruptions that impacted our ability to procure raw materials and certain commodities, which resulted in delays and increased costs. These disruptions were driven by supply chain market constraints and macroeconomic conditions, including inflation and labor market shortages. High inflation increased material and component prices, labor rates and supplier costs, and put pressure on our margins. Current geopolitical conditions, including conflicts and other causes of strained intercountry relations, as well as sanctions and other trade restrictive activities, are contributing to these supply chain issues. The fluidity of this situation precludes any prediction as to the ultimate adverse impact of these issues on economic and market conditions and our businesses in particular, and, as a result, presents material uncertainty and risk with respect to us and our results of operations.
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Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The Company uses adjusted earnings before taxes, interest, and depreciation and amortization ("Adjusted EBITDA"), a non-GAAP financial measure as defined by the SEC, to evaluate the Company's financial performance. This performance measure is not defined by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and should be considered in addition to, and not in lieu of, GAAP financial measures.
Adjusted EBITDA is defined as earnings before taxes, interest, and depreciation and amortization, adjusted for specified items. The Company calculates Adjusted EBITDA by removing the impact of specific items and adding back the amounts of interest expense and depreciation and amortization to earnings before income taxes. When calculating Adjusted EBITDA, the Company does not add back depreciation expense for aircraft engines that are on lease, as the Company believes this expense matches with the corresponding revenue earned on engine leases. There was no depreciation expense for leased engines in the current fiscal year, whereas there was $1.6 million in the prior fiscal year.
Management believes that Adjusted EBITDA is a useful measure of the Company's performance because it provides investors additional information about the Company's operations allowing better evaluation of underlying business performance and better period-to-period comparability. Adjusted EBITDA is not intended to replace or be an alternative to operating income (loss) from continuing operations, the most directly comparable amounts reported under GAAP.
The table below provides a reconciliation of operating income (loss) from continuing operations to Adjusted EBITDA for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands):
Twelve Months Ended
March 31, 2024 March 31, 2023
Operating income (loss) from continuing operations $ 1,264 $ (4,407)
Depreciation and amortization (excluding leased engines depreciation) 2,798 2,525
Asset impairment, restructuring or impairment charges 1 1,195 7,840
Loss on sale of property and equipment 18 8
TruPs issuance expenses 347 63
Adjusted EBITDA $ 5,622 $ 6,029
The table below provides Adjusted EBITDA by segment for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands):
Twelve Months Ended
March 31, 2024 March 31, 2023
Overnight Air Cargo $ 7,142 $ 4,505
Ground Equipment Sales (1,409) 3,314
Commercial Jet Engines and Parts 6,119 7,105
Corporate and Other (6,230) (8,895)
Adjusted EBITDA $ 5,622 $ 6,029
1 Included in the asset impairment, restructuring or impairment charges for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024 was a write-down of $1.2 million on the commercial jet engines and parts segment's inventory attributable to our evaluation of the carrying value of inventory as of March 31, 2024, where we compared its cost to its net realizable value and considered factors such as physical condition, sales patterns and expected future demand to estimate the amount necessary to write down any slow moving, obsolete or damaged inventory.
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Issuer and guarantor subsidiary summarized information
Air T Funding is a statutory business trust formed under Delaware law in September 2018. Air T Funding exists for the exclusive purposes of (i) issuing and selling its Alpha Income Trust Preferred Securities (also referred to as the 8.0% Cumulative Securities, Capital Securities or “Trust Preferred Securities”), par value $25.00 per share, (ii) using the proceeds from the sale of the Trust Preferred Securities to acquire Junior Subordinated Debentures issued by the Company, and (iii) engaging in only those other activities necessary, advisable or incidental thereto (such as registering the transfer of the Trust Preferred Securities). Accordingly, the Junior Subordinated Debentures are the sole assets of Air T Funding, and payments by the Company under the Junior Subordinated Debentures and a related expense agreement are the sole revenues of Air T Funding. Air T Funding’s business and affairs are conducted by a Property Trustee, a Delaware Trustee and two individual Administrative Trustees who are officers of Air T.
Distributions on the Trust Preferred Securities are payable to record holders at the annual rate of 8% of the stated $25.00 liquidation amount, payable quarterly in arrears on the 15th day of February, May, August, and November in each year. The Trust Preferred Securities issued by the Trust are fully and unconditionally and jointly and severally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by Air T. Air T guarantees the payment of distributions by Air T Funding and payments on liquidation or redemption of the Trust Preferred Securities (subordinate to the right to payment of senior and subordinated debt of Air T, as defined in Note 13 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included under Part I, Item 1 of this report). If Air T Funding has insufficient funds to pay distributions on the Trust Preferred Securities (i.e., if Air T has failed to make required payments under the Junior Subordinated Debentures), a holder of the Trust Preferred Securities would have the right to institute a legal proceeding directly against Air T to enforce payment of such distributions.
All of the Common Securities of Air T Funding are owned by Air T. The Common Securities rank pari passu, and payments will be made thereon pro rata, with the Trust Preferred Securities, except that upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an event of default under the Trust Agreement, as amended resulting from an event of default under the indenture, the rights of the Company as holder of the common securities to payment in respect of distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption or otherwise would be subordinated to the rights of the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities.
The Company has an optional right to repay the Junior Subordinated Debentures (i) to Air T Funding on or after June 7, 2024, in whole at any time or in part from time to time at a redemption price equal to the accrued and unpaid interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures so redeemed to the date fixed for redemption, plus 100% of the principal amount thereof, or (ii) at any time, in whole (but not in part), upon the occurrence of a Tax Event, an Investment Company Event or a Capital Treatment Event (each as defined in the indenture) at a redemption price equal to the accrued and unpaid interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures so redeemed to the date fixed for redemption, plus 100% of the principal amount thereof. In the event a Tax Event, an Investment Company Event or Capital Treatment Event has occurred and is continuing and the Company does not elect to redeem the Junior Subordinated Debentures and thereby cause a mandatory redemption of the Trust Preferred Securities or to liquidate Air T Funding and cause the Junior Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to holders of the Trust securities in liquidation of Air T Funding, such Trust Preferred Securities will remain outstanding and additional sums may be payable on the Junior Subordinated Debentures.
At any time on or after June 7, 2024, the Trust Preferred Securities are subject to mandatory redemption upon the Company's repayment of the Junior Subordinated Debentures at maturity or their earlier redemption in an amount equal to the amount of Junior Subordinated Debentures maturing on or being redeemed at a redemption price equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Trust Preferred Securities plus accumulated and unpaid distributions thereon to the date of redemption. If less than all of the Junior Subordinated Debentures are to be repaid or redeemed on a redemption date, then the proceeds from such repayment or redemption would be allocated to the redemption of the Trust Preferred Securities pro rata.
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So long as no Debenture event of default has occurred and is continuing, at any time on or after June 7, 2024, the Company has the right under the indenture to defer the payment of interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures at any time or from time to time for a period not exceeding 20 consecutive quarters with respect to each such period (each, an “Extension Period”), provided that no Extension Period may extend beyond the stated maturity of the Junior Subordinated Debentures on June 7, 2049. As a consequence of any such election, quarterly distributions on the Trust Preferred Securities will be deferred by Air T Funding during any such Extension Period. Distributions to which holders of Trust Preferred Securities are entitled will accumulate additional amounts thereon at the rate per annum of 8% thereof, compounded quarterly from the relevant Distribution Date, to the extent permitted under applicable law. During any such Extension Period, the Company may not (i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company’s capital stock (which includes common and preferred stock) or (ii) make any payment of principal, interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Company that rank pari passu with or junior in interest to the Junior Subordinated Debentures or make any guarantee payments with respect to any guarantee by the Company of the debt securities of any subsidiary of the Company if such guarantee ranks pari passu with or junior in interest to the Junior Subordinated Debentures (other than (a) dividends or distributions in common stock of the Company, (b) any declaration of a dividend in connection with the implementation of a stockholders’ rights plan, or the issuance of stock under any such plan in the future, or the redemption or repurchase of any such rights pursuant thereto, (c) payments under the guarantee and (d) purchases of common stock for issuance under any of the Company’s benefit plans for its directors, officers or employees). Prior to the termination of any such Extension Period, the Company may further extend such Extension Period, provided that such extension does not cause such Extension Period to exceed 20 consecutive quarters or extend beyond the stated maturity. Upon the termination of any such Extension Period and the payment of all amounts then due, and subject to the foregoing limitations, the Company may elect to begin a new Extension Period. Subject to the foregoing, there is no limitation on the number of times that the Company may elect to begin an Extension Period. The Company has no current intention of exercising its right to defer payments of interest by extending the interest payment period on the Junior Subordinated Debentures.
Air T Funding has a term of 30 years, but may terminate earlier as provided in the Trust Agreement, as amended. The Trust Agreement was most recently amended on March 3, 2021 and on January 28, 2022 and currently allows for the issuance of up to $100.0 million of Trust Preferred Securities. As of March 31, 2024, there are $43.2 million in Trust Preferred Securities outstanding ($9.0 million held by wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company).
The Trust is a “finance subsidiary” of Air T within the meaning of Rule 3‑10 of Regulation S‑X under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and as a result the Air T Funding does not file periodic reports with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Seasonality
The ground equipment sales segment business has historically been seasonal, with the revenues and operating income typically being higher in the second and third fiscal quarters as commercial deicers are typically delivered prior to the winter season. Other segments are typically not susceptible to material seasonal trends.
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Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The Company’s significant accounting policies are described in Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included under Part II, Item 8 of this report. The preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires the use of estimates and assumptions to determine certain assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. Management bases these estimates and assumptions upon the best information available at the time of the estimates or assumptions. The Company’s estimates and assumptions could change materially as conditions within and beyond our control change. Accordingly, actual results could differ materially from estimates. The Company believes that the following are its most critical accounting policies:
Inventories – Inventories are carried at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Within the Company’s commercial jet engines and parts segment, there are various estimates and judgments made in relief of inventory as parts are sold from established groups of parts from one engine or airframe purchase. The estimates and judgments made in relief of inventory are based on assumptions that are consistent with a market participant’s future expectations for the commercial aircraft, jet engines and parts industry and the economy in general and our expected intent for the inventory. These assumptions and estimates are complex and subjective in nature. Changes in economic and operating conditions could impact the assumptions and result in future losses to our inventory.
The Company periodically evaluates the carrying value of inventory. In these evaluations, the Company is required to make estimates regarding the net realizable value, which includes the consideration of sales patterns and expected future demand. Any slow moving, obsolete or damaged inventory and inventory with costs exceeding net realizable value are evaluated for write-downs. These estimates could vary significantly from actual amounts based upon future economic conditions, customer inventory levels, or competitive factors that were not foreseen or did not exist when the estimated write-downs were made.
Accounting for Redeemable Non-Controlling Interest . Policies related to redeemable non-controlling interests involve judgment and complexity, specifically on the classification of the non-controlling interests in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet, and the accounting treatment for changes in the fair value or estimated redemption value for non-controlling interests that are redeemed at other than fair value. Further, there is significant judgment in determining whether an equity instrument is currently redeemable or not currently redeemable but probable that the equity instrument will become redeemable. Additionally, there are also significant estimates made in the valuation of Contrail's RNCI. The fair value of Contrail's non-controlling interest is determined using a combination of the income approach, utilizing a discounted cash flow analysis, and the market approach, utilizing the guideline public company method. Contrail's discounted cash flow analysis requires significant management judgment with respect to forecasts of revenue, operating margins, capital expenditures, and the selection and use of an appropriate discount rate. Contrail’s market approach requires management to make significant assumptions related to market multiples of earnings derived from comparable publicly-traded companies with similar operating characteristics as Contrail.
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