10-Q 1 acy1q2015form10q.htm 10Q FOR 1Q2015 acy1q2015form10q.htm
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549

FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
x  
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2015

o  
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from ____________ to ____________

Commission File Number:  001-13387
acylog
AeroCentury Corp.
(Exact Name of Registrant 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
(Registrant’s Telephone Number Including Area Code)

None
(Former Name, Former Address and Former Fiscal Year, if Changed Since Last Report)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 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 x No  o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required submit and post such files).  
Yes  o No  x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.  (Check one):

Large accelerated filer  o  Accelerated filer  o
Non-accelerated filer  o  Smaller reporting company  x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes  o No  x

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date:  As of May 12, 2015 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.


 
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PART I
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Forward-Looking Statements

This Annual Report on Form 10-Q 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 these statements: (i) in Item 2, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation – Liquidity and Capital Resources: that the Company believes that it will be in compliance with all of its Credit Facility covenants at future calculation dates; that it will have adequate cash flow to meet its ongoing operational needs, including any required repayments under the Credit Facility due to borrowing base limitations; (ii) in Item 2, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation – Outlook: that the Company believes that customers for several of the leases that expire in 2015 and after will choose to return the assets rather than renew the leases; that three of the aircraft will be returned at lease expiration in 2015 after meeting the return conditions of the leases and that the leases for the remaining six aircraft will be extended; that the Company will be in compliance with all of its Credit Facility covenants at future calculation dates; that available borrowings under the Credit Facility will be sufficient to meet its continuing obligations and, if it is expanded from its current amount of $150 million to the maximum of $180 million, to fund anticipated acquisitions; in (iii) in Item 2, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation – Factors that May Affect Future Results: that the Company believes that it will be in compliance with all of its credit facility covenants at future calculation dates; that the Company will have sufficient cash funds to make any required principal repayment that arises due to borrowing base limitations; that most of the Company’s growth will be outside North America; that the overall industry experience of JMC’s personnel and its technical resources should permit the Company to effectively manage new aircraft types; that effective mitigating factors exist against undue compensation-incented risk-taking by JMC; that the burden and cost of complying with regulatory requirements will fall primarily upon lessees of equipment or the Company as owner of the equipment; that the costs of complying with environmental regulations will not have a material adverse effect on the Company; that the Company has sufficient cyber-security measures in place; that its main vulnerability would be interruption to email communication, internally and with third parties, loss of customer and lease archives, and loss of document sharing between the Company’s offices and remote workers; and that sufficient replacement mechanisms exist such that there would not be a material adverse financial impact on the Company’s business.   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 of Financial Condition and Results of Operations –– Factors That May Affect Future Results," including the lack of any unexpected lessee defaults or insolvency; a deterioration of the market values of aircraft types owned by the Company; compliance by the Company's lessees with obligations under their respective leases; no sudden current economic downturn or unanticipated future financial crises; the continued availability of financing for acquisitions under the Credit Facility; the Company’s success in finding appropriate assets to acquire with such financing; deviations from the assumption that future 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.

 
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Item 1.Financial Statements.

AeroCentury Corp.
Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)

ASSETS
 
   
March 31,
   
December 31,
 
   
2015
   
2014
 
Assets:
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 1,880,700     $ 1,840,500  
Accounts receivable, including deferred rent of $264,400 and $111,300 at
     March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively
    2,530,300       2,128,600  
Finance leases receivable
    4,600,000       -  
Aircraft and aircraft engines held for lease, net of accumulated
   depreciation of $39,019,900 and $38,962,800 at  
   March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively
    180,724,000       186,762,600  
Assets held for sale
    5,295,900       6,522,900  
Prepaid expenses and other
    324,400       415,900  
Total assets
  $ 195,355,300     $ 197,670,500  
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
Liabilities:
               
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
  $ 1,295,400     $ 2,818,200  
Notes payable and accrued interest, net of unamortized
     debt issuance costs of $3,371,500 and $4,104,400 at
     March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively
    126,105,400       129,486,200  
Maintenance reserves
    14,407,900       12,927,700  
Accrued maintenance costs
    1,299,100       2,115,700  
Security deposits
    4,253,700       5,218,300  
Unearned revenues
    3,379,500       1,642,200  
Deferred income taxes
    9,020,400       8,621,300  
Income taxes payable
    800       -  
Total liabilities
    159,762,200       162,829,600  
Commitments and contingencies
               
Stockholders’ equity:
               
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 2,000,000 shares
   authorized, no shares issued and outstanding
    -       -  
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 10,000,000 shares
   authorized, 1,606,557 shares issued and outstanding
    1,600       1,600  
Paid-in capital
    14,780,100       14,780,100  
Retained earnings
    21,315,500       20,563,300  
      36,097,200       35,345,000  
Treasury stock at cost, 63,300 shares
    (504,100 )     (504,100 )
Total stockholders’ equity
    35,593,100       34,840,900  
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 195,355,300     $ 197,670,500  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

 
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AeroCentury Corp.
Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)

   
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
   
2015
   
2014
 
Revenues and other income:
           
Operating lease revenue, net
  $ 6,437,800     $ 5,850,800  
Net gain on disposal of assets
    1,861,900       391,900  
Maintenance reserves revenue, net
    327,400       1,675,800  
Other income
    300       84,400  
      8,627,400       8,002,900  
Expenses:
               
Depreciation
    2,327,800       1,865,800  
Interest
    1,878,300       1,307,000  
Management fees
    1,433,300       1,327,300  
Maintenance
    1,382,000       2,344,300  
Professional fees, general and administrative and other
    410,600       304,500  
Other taxes
    57,700       22,600  
Insurance
    (14,500 )     307,200  
      7,475,200       7,478,700  
Income before income tax provision
    1,152,200       524,200  
Income tax provision
    400,000       154,500  
Net income
  $ 752,200     $ 369,700  
Earnings per share:
               
  Basic
  $ 0.49     $ 0.24  
  Diluted
  $ 0.48     $ 0.23  
Weighted average shares used in earnings per share computations:
               
  Basic
    1,543,257       1,543,257  
  Diluted
    1,552,765       1,583,064  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

 
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AeroCentury Corp.
Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
   
For the Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2015
   
2014
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
  $ 2,963,000     $ 4,783,300  
Investing activities:
               
Proceeds from sale of aircraft and aircraft engines held for lease,
   net of re-sale fees
    700,000       2,738,000  
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale, net of re-sale fees
    1,687,000       215,200  
Purchases of aircraft and aircraft engines
    (1,309,800 )     (32,225,000 )
Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities
    1,077,200       (29,271,800 )
Financing activities:
               
Borrowings under Credit Facility
    -       30,600,000  
Repayments of Credit Facility
    (4,000,000 )     (3,200,000 )
Debt issuance costs
    -       (95,000 )
Net cash (used in)/provided by financing activities
    (4,000,000 )     27,305,000  
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
    40,200       2,816,500  
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
    1,840,500       2,112,700  
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
  $ 1,880,700     $ 4,929,200  

During the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company paid interest totaling $1,327,300 and $1,024,800 respectively.  The Company paid no income taxes during the three months ended March 31, 2015 or 2014.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

 
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AeroCentury Corp.
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)
March 31, 2015

1.Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

(a)The Company and Basis of Presentation

AeroCentury Corp., a Delaware corporation incorporated in 1997, acquires used regional aircraft and engines for lease to foreign and domestic regional carriers.

The condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information, the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X.  Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements.  In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included.  Operating results for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2015.

For further information, refer to the financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.

(b)Use of Estimates

The Company’s financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).  The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP 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 and useful lives of the assets, the amount and timing of cash flows associated with each asset that are used to evaluate whether assets are impaired, accrued maintenance costs, accounting for income taxes, and the amounts recorded as allowances for doubtful accounts.

(c)Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs, to the extent possible. The fair value hierarchy under GAAP is based on three levels of inputs.

Level 1 - Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2 - Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.

Level 3 - Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.


 
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Assets and Liabilities Measured and Recorded at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

The carrying amount of the Company's money market funds included in cash and cash equivalents was $1,744,600 and $1,044,300 at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.  The fair value of the Company's money market funds would be categorized as Level 1 under the GAAP fair value hierarchy.

As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, there were no liabilities that were required to be measured and recorded at fair value on a recurring basis.

Assets Measured and Recorded at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis

The Company determines fair value of long-lived assets held and used, such as aircraft and aircraft engines held for lease and held for sale, by reference to independent appraisals, quoted market prices (e.g., offers to purchase) and other factors. An impairment charge is recorded when the Company believes that the carrying value of an asset will not be recovered through future net cash flows and that the carrying value exceeds its fair value.  

During the third quarter of 2014, based on appraised values, the Company recorded impairment charges totaling $3,124,200 for two regional jet aircraft and two turboprop aircraft that are held for lease, resulting in a carrying value of $7,837,300.  The fair value of such assets would be categorized as Level 2 under the GAAP fair value hierarchy.  No impairments were recorded on the Company's aircraft and aircraft engines held for lease in the first quarter of 2015.

During the second, third and fourth quarters of 2014, based on management's estimate of realizable value, the Company recorded impairment charges totaling $15,612,300 for five regional jet aircraft and one turboprop aircraft that are held for sale, resulting in a carrying value of $6,100,000 at December 31, 2014.  During the first quarter of 2015, the Company sold the turboprop aircraft, which had a carrying value of $1,100,000 at December 31, 2014.  The fair value of such assets would be categorized as Level 3 under the GAAP fair value hierarchy.  No impairments were recorded on the Company's aircraft and aircraft engines held for sale in the first quarter of 2015.

           Fair Value of Other Financial Instruments

The Company’s financial instruments, other than cash and cash equivalents, consist principally of finance leases receivable and amounts borrowed under its credit facility (the “Credit Facility").  The fair value of accounts receivable, finance leases receivable, accounts payable and the Company’s maintenance reserves and accrued maintenance costs approximates the carrying value of these financial instruments.

Borrowings under the Company’s Credit Facility bear floating rates of interest that reset periodically to a market benchmark rate plus a credit margin.  The Company believes the effective interest rate of this debt agreement approximates current market rates for such indebtedness at the balance sheet date, and therefore that the carrying amount of its floating rate debt at the balance sheet dates approximates its fair value.  The fair value of the Company’s outstanding balance of its Credit Facility would be categorized as Level 3 under the GAAP fair value hierarchy.

(d)Finance Leases

The Company does not include the value, purchase price or accumulated depreciation of finance lease assets on its balance sheet.  Instead, the discounted present value of (i) future minimum lease payments (including the bargain purchase option) and (ii) any residual value not subject to a bargain purchase option are reported as a finance lease receivable.  Rental revenue and depreciation expense are not recognized on finance leases.  Rather, the Company accrues interest on the balance of the finance lease receivable based on the interest rate inherent in the applicable lease.  


 
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The lease for one of the Company’s aircraft, which commenced in March 2015, contains a lessee purchase option at a price substantially below the asset's estimated residual value at the exercise date for the option.  Consequently, the Company considers the purchase option to be a bargain purchase option and has classified the lease as a sales-type finance lease for financial accounting purposes.  

Two engines that were previously subject to finance leases were returned to the Company during 2014 and the finance lease receivable balances were reclassified to aircraft and aircraft engines held for lease on the Company’s balance sheet.

The Company recognized interest earned on finance leases as “other income” in the amount of $0 and $83,700 in the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

(e)Recent Accounting Pronouncements

On May 28, 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09 that created the new Topic 606 ("Topic 606") in the Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC").  Topic 606 also included numerous conforming additions and amendments to other Topics within the ASC.  Topic 606 establishes new rules that affect the amount and timing of revenue recognition for contracts with customers, but does not affect lease accounting and reporting.  As such, adoption of these provisions will not affect the Company's lease revenues but may affect the reporting of other of the Company's revenues.  The provisions included in Topic 606 are effective for years commencing after December 15, 2016, cannot be adopted early, and may be reflected using either a full retrospective method or a simplified method that does not recast prior periods but does disclose the effect of the adoption on the current period financial statements.  The Company has not determined either the potential impact on its financial statements nor the method it will elect to use in connection with the adoption of the changes included in Topic 606.

On August 27, 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-15, "Presentation of Financial Statements - Going Concern," which added Subtopic 205-40 to the ASC ("Subtopic 205-40").  Subtopic 205-40 requires management to determine whether substantial doubt exists concerning the reporting entity's ability to continue as a going concern, in which case certain disclosures will be required.  Subtopic 205-40 affects financial statement presentation but not methods of accounting, and is effective on a prospective basis for annual periods ending after December 15, 2016 and each reporting period thereafter, although early adoption is permitted.  The Company has not early adopted Subtopic 205-40.

(f)Change in Accounting Principle

The Company historically presented deferred debt issuance costs, or fees related to directly issuing debt, as assets on its balance sheets.  On April 7, 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, "Interest: Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs" ("Subtopic 835-30").  Subtopic 835-30 requires the presentation of unamortized debt issuance costs on the Company's balance sheet as a direct deduction from the debt's value.  Subtopic 835-30 affects financial statement presentation only.  The recognition and measurement guidance for debt issuance costs is not affected.  Therefore, these costs will continue to be amortized as interest expense. Subtopic 835-30 is effective on a prospective basis for reporting periods that start after December 15, 2015, although early adoption is permitted.  The Company has early adopted Subtopic 835-30 effective beginning the first quarter ended March 31, 2015 and applied this guidance retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the Company's financial statements.


 
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The reclassification does not impact net income as previously reported or any prior amounts reported in the statement of cash flows.  The following table presents the effect of the retrospective application of this change in accounting principle on the Company's balance sheet as of December 31, 2014.

   
December 31, 2014
 
   
As reported
previously
   
As adjusted
   
Effect of change
 
Prepaid expenses and other
  $ 4,520,300     $ 415,900     $ (4,104,400 )
Total assets
  $ 201,774,900     $ 197,670,500     $ (4,104,400 )
Notes payable and accrued interest
  $ 133,590,600     $ 129,486,200     $ (4,104,400 )
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 201,774,900     $ 197,670,500     $ (4,104,400 )

2.Aircraft and Aircraft Engines Held for Lease or Sale

(a)Assets Held for Lease

At March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company’s aircraft and aircraft engines, which were on lease or held for lease, consisted of the following:

   
March 31, 2015
   
December 31, 2014
 
Type
 
Number
owned
   
% of net book value
   
Number
owned
   
% of net book value
 
Turboprop aircraft
    25       51 %     25       52 %
Regional jet aircraft
    8       44 %     8       43 %
Engines
    5       5 %     5       5 %

Assets subject to finance leases are not included in the net book value of assets held for lease, but are included in the number of aircraft owned.  Therefore, one of the Company's turboprop aircraft, which the Company re-leased pursuant to a finance lease during the first quarter of 2015, is not included in the net book value calculation as of March 31, 2015.

During the first quarters of 2015 and 2014, the Company used cash of $1,309,800 and $32,225,000, respectively, for the purchase and capital improvement of aircraft.

During the first quarter of 2015, the Company leased a turboprop aircraft pursuant to a finance lease and recorded a gain of $1,401,900.  During the first quarter of 2014, the Company recorded a net gain totaling $391,900 related to the sale of two turboprop aircraft.  

During the first quarter of 2015, the Company extended the leases for three of its assets.

Ten of the Company’s assets that are held for lease were off lease at March 31, 2015, representing 10% of the net book value of the Company’s aircraft and engines held for lease.  Such assets are comprised of five turboprop aircraft and five engines.

No adjustments to the carrying value of the Company’s assets held for lease were recorded during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014.


 
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(b)Assets Held for Sale

Assets held for sale at March 31, 2015 include two turboprop airframes, which are being sold in parts, and five regional jet aircraft.  During the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company received $127,000 and $215,200, respectively, from the sale of parts belonging to the two airframes, which proceeds reduced their carrying values.

During March 2015, the Company sold an older turboprop aircraft, which was held for sale at December 31, 2014, and recorded a gain of $460,000.

No adjustments to the carrying value of the Company’s assets held for sale were recorded during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014.

3.Maintenance Reserves and Accrued Maintenance Costs

Maintenance costs under the Company’s triple net leases are generally the responsibility of the lessees.  Most of the Company’s leases require payment of maintenance reserves, which are based upon lessee-reported usage and billed monthly, and are intended to accumulate and be applied by the Company toward reimbursement of most or all of the cost of the lessees’ performance of certain maintenance obligations under the leases. Such reimbursements reduce the associated maintenance reserve liability.

Maintenance reserves are characterized as either refundable or non-refundable depending on their disposition at lease-end.  The Company retains non-refundable maintenance reserves at lease-end, even if the lessee has met all of its obligations under the lease, including any return conditions applicable to the leased asset, while refundable reserves are returned to the lessee under such circumstances.  Any reserves retained by the Company at lease end are recorded as revenue at that time.

Accrued maintenance costs include (i) maintenance for work performed for off-lease aircraft, which is not related to the release of reserves received from lessees and (ii) lessor maintenance obligations assumed upon acquisition of aircraft subject to a lease with such provisions.  Maintenance costs are expensed as incurred.

4.Notes Payable and Accrued Interest

At March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company’s notes payable and accrued interest consisted of the following:

   
March 31,
2015
   
December 31,
2014
 
Credit Facility principal
  $ 129,400,000     $ 133,400,000  
Unamortized debt issuance costs
    (3,371,500 )     (4,104,400 )
Credit Facility accrued interest
    76,900       190,600  
    $ 126,105,400     $ 129,486,200  

The Company's $150 million Credit Facility is provided by a syndicate of banks and is secured by all of the assets of the Company, including its aircraft and engine portfolio.  The Credit Facility can be expanded to a maximum of $180 million.

The unused amount of the Credit Facility was $20,600,000 and $16,600,000 as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.

The weighted average interest rate on the Credit Facility was 3.80% and 3.58% at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.


 
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5.Computation of Earnings Per Share

Basic and diluted earnings per share are calculated as follows:

   
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
   
2015
   
2014
 
Net income
  $ 752,200     $ 369,700  
Weighted average shares outstanding for the period
    1,543,257       1,543,257  
Dilutive effect of warrants
    9,508       39,807  
Weighted average diluted shares used in calculation
   of diluted earnings per share
    1,552,765       1,583,064  
Basic earnings per share
  $ 0.49     $ 0.24  
Diluted earnings per share
  $ 0.48     $ 0.23  

Basic earnings per common share is computed using net income and the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period.  Diluted earnings per common share are computed using net income and the weighted average number of common shares outstanding, assuming dilution.  Weighted average common shares outstanding, assuming dilution, include potentially dilutive common shares outstanding during the period. Potentially dilutive common shares include the assumed exercise of warrants using the treasury stock method.
 
6.   Related Party Transactions

The Company’s 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.  Acquisition fees are included in the cost basis of the asset purchased.  JMC may receive a remarketing fee in connection with the re-lease or sale of the Company’s assets.  Remarketing fees are amortized over the applicable lease term or included in the gain or loss on sale.  Fees paid by the Company to JMC are used by JMC for office rent, worldwide travel, outside technical experts and other overhead expenses, including employee salaries and benefits, since the Company has no employees.

Fees incurred during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 were as follows:

   
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
   
2015
   
2014
 
Management fees
  $ 1,433,300       1,327,300  
Acquisition fees
    -       980,000  
Remarketing fees
    199,000       64,000  






 
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Item 2.Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 and the unaudited financial statements and related notes that appear elsewhere in this report.

Critical Accounting Policies, Judgments and Estimates

The Company’s discussion and analysis of its financial condition and results of operations are based upon the 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.  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.  For a discussion of Critical Accounting Policies, Judgments and Estimates, refer to Note 1 to the Company’s financial statements in Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

For a discussion of the Company’s accounting policies regarding maintenance reserves, refer to Note 3 to the Company’s financial statements in Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.  

Results of Operations

The Company recorded net income of $0.8 million in the quarter ended March 31, 2015 compared to net income of $0.4 million in the same period of 2014.

Operating lease revenue increased 10% from $5.9 million in the quarter ended March 31, 2014 to $6.4 million in the first quarter of 2015, primarily as a result of revenue from assets purchased during 2014, which was partially offset by the loss of revenue from assets that were on lease in the 2014 period but off lease in the 2015 period and by asset sales during 2014.  

During the first quarter of 2015, the Company recorded $1.9 million of net gains on the sale of an aircraft and a finance lease, as compared to the same period in 2014, when the Company recorded net gains totaling $0.4 million from the sale of two aircraft.

Maintenance reserves retained at lease-end are recognized as maintenance reserves revenue.  Such revenue decreased 80% from $1.7 million in the quarter ended March 31, 2014 to $0.3 million in the quarter ended March 31, 2014.

During the first quarter of 2014, the Company added equipment to its lease portfolio of approximately $31.2 million.  The Company added no equipment to its portfolio during the first quarter of 2015.  The Company sold older equipment with book values of approximately $3.7 million and $2.6 million during the first quarters of 2015 and 2014, respectively.  As a result of the timing of these asset acquisitions and sales, as well as changes in residual value assumptions from year-to-year, depreciation increased by 25% in the 2015 period over the previous year.   Management fees, which are based on the net asset value of the Company's aircraft and engines, increased by 8% in the first quarter of 2015 as compared to the same period in 2014.  

The average net book value of assets held for lease during the first quarters of 2015 and 2014 was approximately $184.0 million and $182.1 million, respectively, representing an increase of 1%.  Average portfolio utilization increased from approximately 81% during the first quarter of 2014 to approximately 90% during the first quarter of 2015. 

The Company’s interest expense increased by 44% from $1.3 million in the first quarter of 2014 to $1.9 million in 2015, primarily as a result of a higher average Credit Facility balance and increased amortization of debt issuance costs.

The Company's maintenance expense decreased by 41% from $2.3 million in the first quarter of 2014 to $1.4 million in the same period of 2015, primarily as a result of a decrease in maintenance performed by the Company on off-lease aircraft to prepare them for re-lease.

The Company recognized a benefit of of $14,500 in the first quarter of 2015 due to a retroactive reduction in insurance premiums charged on its off-lease assets, resulting in a reversal of accrued premiums payable.  Insurance expense in the first quarter of 2014 was $0.3 million.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company is currently financing its assets primarily through debt financing and excess cash flows.  

(a)Credit Facility

The Company has a $150 million Credit Facility, as described in Note 4 to the Company’s financial statements in Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.  The Company was in compliance with all covenants at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.

Based on its current projections, the Company believes that it will be in compliance with all of its Credit Facility covenants at future calculation dates.  Although the Company believes that the assumptions it has made in forecasting its compliance with the Credit Facility covenants are reasonable in light of experience, actual results could deviate from such assumptions and there can be no assurance that the Company's beliefs will prove to be correct.  Among the more significant factors that could have an impact on the accuracy of the Company's covenant compliance forecasts are (i) unanticipated decreases in the market value of the Company’s assets, or in the rental rates deemed achievable for such assets that cause the Company to record an impairment charge against earnings; (ii) lessee non-compliance with lease obligations, (iii) inability to locate new lessees for returned equipment within a reasonable remarketing period, or at a rent level consistent with projected rates, (iv) inability to locate and acquire a sufficient volume of additional assets at prices that will produce acceptable net returns, (v) increases in interest rates, or (vi) inability to timely dispose of off-lease assets at prices commensurate with their market value.

Although the Company believes it will continue to be in compliance with all of the Credit Facility covenants, there can be no assurance of such compliance and, in the event of any non-compliance, the Company would need to seek further waivers or amendment of applicable covenants from its lenders if such compliance failure is not timely cured.  Any default under the Credit Facility, if not cured in the time permitted under the facility or waived by the lenders, could result in foreclosure upon any or all of the assets of the Company.

 (b)Cash flow

The Company’s primary sources of cash are rent payments due under the Company’s operating and finance leases, maintenance reserves, which are billed monthly to lessees based on asset usage, and proceeds from the sale of aircraft and engines.

The Company’s primary uses of cash are for (i) purchase of assets, (ii) maintenance expense and reimbursement to lessees from collected maintenance reserves, (iii) management fees, (iv) professional fees, including legal, accounting and directors fees costs, (v) insurance for off-lease aircraft, and (vi) Credit Facility fees, interest and principal payments.  

The timing and amount of the Company’s payments for maintenance vary, depending on the timing of lessee-performed maintenance that is eligible for reimbursement, the aggregate amount of such claims and the timing and amount of maintenance incurred in connection with preparation of off-lease assets for re-lease to new customers.  The Company’s maintenance payments typically constitute a large portion of its cash needs, and the Company may from time to time borrow additional funds under the Credit Facility to provide funding for such payments.

Management fees paid by the Company are relatively predictable because they are based on the net asset value of the Company's portfolio.  As such, they also place the risk of increased costs for office rent, worldwide travel, outside technical experts and other overhead expenses, including employee salaries and benefits, on JMC.  

The amount of interest paid by the Company depends on the outstanding balance of its Credit Facility, which carries a floating interest rate as well as an interest rate margin, and is therefore also dependent on changes in prevailing interest rates.

Management believes that the Company will have adequate cash flow to meet its ongoing operational needs, including any required repayments under the Credit Facility due to borrowing base limitations, based upon its estimates of future revenues and expenditures, which include assumptions regarding (i) revenues for assets to be re-leased, (ii) cost and anticipated timing of maintenance to be performed, (iii) required debt payments, (iv) timely use of proceeds of unused debt capacity for additional acquisitions of income producing assets and (v) interest rates.  Although 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.  As discussed above, in “Liquidity and Capital Resources – (a) Credit Facility,” there are a number of factors that may cause actual results to deviate from such forecasts.

(i)Operating activities

The Company’s cash flow from operations decreased by $1.8 million in the first quarter of 2015 compared to the same period of 2014.  As discussed below, the change in cash flow was primarily a result of a decrease in payments received for security deposits and increases in payments for interest and aircraft insurance, the effects of which were partially offset by an increase in payments received for operating lease revenue and a decrease in payments for management fees.
 
Payments for operating lease revenue and security deposits

Rent receipts from lessees increased by $0.2 million in the first quarter of 2015 compared to the same period of 2014, primarily due to rent from assets purchased during 2014.  

As of the date of this filing, the Company is receiving no lease revenue for five aircraft and five engines that are off lease, with a total book value of $18.4 million, representing 10% of the Company's total assets held for lease.  One of the off-lease engines is being held as a spare and used in connection with required maintenance on several of the Company’s regional jet aircraft.  In addition, five off-lease regional jet aircraft, with a total book value of $5.0 million, are being held for sale and not lease.

Net cash received for security deposits decreased by $1.6 million in the first quarter of 2015 compared to the first quarter of 2014, primarily because the Company received a $1.5 million deposit in the 2014 period for an aircraft that was sold in the second quarter of 2014.

Payment for management fees

Although management fee expense increased in the first quarter of 2015 compared to the same period in 2014, management fee payments decreased by $0.3 million in the first quarter of 2015 compared to the first quarter of 2014 as a result of a difference in the timing of such payments.

Payment for interest

Payments for interest increased by $0.3 million in the first quarter of 2015 compared to the first quarter of 2014 as a result of a higher Credit Facility balance.



 
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Payment for aircraft insurance

Although aircraft insurance expense was lower in the first quarter of 2015 compared to the same period in 2014, payments for aircraft insurance increased by $0.4 million in the 2015 compared to the 2014 period, primarily as a result of a difference in the timing of premium payments that are made on a semi-annual basis.

(ii)Investing activities

During the first quarters of 2015 and 2014, the Company received cash of $2.4 million and $3.0 million, respectively, from the sale of assets.  During the same time periods, the Company used cash of $1.3 million and $32.2 million, respectively, for aircraft purchases and related acquisition costs, and capital improvement of aircraft.

(iii)Financing activities

The Company borrowed $0 and $30.6 million under the Credit Facility during the first quarters of 2015 and 2014, respectively.  In these same time periods, the Company repaid $4.0 million and $3.2 million, respectively, of its total outstanding debt under the Credit Facility.  Such repayments were funded by excess cash flow and the sale of assets.  

Outlook  

(a)General

While in certain areas of the world the air carrier industry is now beginning to experience growth after a period of contraction following the global downturn of recent years, other areas of the world continue to experience slow recovery and failures of weaker air carrier competitors that were unable to survive the aftermath of the global downturn.  Overall, the Company continues to experience a reduction in the number of aircraft and aircraft engines needed for operation by carriers in nearly all geographic areas, especially in western Europe, as compared to periods before the global downturn.   

The Company has identified three areas that could challenge the Company's growth and operating results by negatively affecting its collateral base and, therefore, its ability to access sources of financing:

 
•  The Company could experience (i) a delay in remarketing its off-lease assets, as well as (ii) lower rental rates for assets that are remarketed.  The Company expects that the customers for several of the leases that expire in 2015 and after will choose to return the assets rather than renew the leases, notwithstanding that any such customer may incur significant expenses to satisfy return conditions.  

 
•  Lessees that are located in low- or no- growth areas of the world carry heightened risk of an unanticipated lessee default.  A lessee’s default and the unscheduled return of an asset to the Company for remarketing could result not only in reduced operating lease revenue but also in unanticipated, unrecoverable expenses arising from the lessee’s default on its maintenance and return condition obligations.  The Company monitors the performance of all of its customers and has noted that several of the Company’s customers continue to experience weakened operating results and have not yet achieved financial stability.

 
•  Competition in the Company's market niche has increased significantly as a result of new entrants to the acquisition and leasing market.  The increased competition has resulted in higher acquisition prices for many of the aircraft types that the Company has targeted to buy and, at the same time, has put downward pressure on lease rates, resulting in lower margins.


 
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(b)Operating Segments

The Company operates in one business segment, the leasing of regional aircraft and engines to foreign and domestic regional airlines, and therefore does not present separate segment information for lines of business.

At April 30, 2015, the Company's aircraft and aircraft engines that were on lease or held for lease consisted of the following:  

Type
 
Number
owned
   
% of net
book value
 
Turboprop aircraft
    25       51 %
Regional jet aircraft
    8       44 %
Engines
    5       5 %

Assets subject to finance leases are not included in the net book value of assets held for lease, but are included in the number of aircraft owned.  Therefore, one of the Company's turboprop aircraft, which is subject to a finance lease, is not included in the net book value calculation above.

For the month ended April 30, 2015, approximately 17%, 17% and 16% of the Company’s operating lease revenue, which does not include interest income from finance leases, was derived from customers in the United States, Mozambique and Slovenia, respectively.  The table below sets forth geographic information about the Company's operating lease revenue for leased aircraft and aircraft equipment, grouped by domicile of the lessee:
Region
 
Number
of lessees
   
% of
operating
lease revenue
 
Europe
    3       27 %
North America
    2       26 %
Africa
    2       20 %
Asia
    3       15 %
Central and South America
    1       7 %
Australia
    1       5 %

(c)Remarketing Efforts

At March 31, 2015, the Company owns five older regional jet aircraft that are classified as held for sale and for which it is seeking sales opportunities.

The Company is seeking remarketing opportunities for five turboprop aircraft and five engines that are held for lease.  The Company is considering selling some or all of these assets.  The Company is analyzing the amount and timing of maintenance required to remarket the assets, the amount of which may differ significantly if the assets are sold rather than re-leased.

The leases for nine of the Company’s aircraft will expire during the remainder of 2015.  The Company believes that three of the aircraft will be returned at lease expiration in 2015 after meeting the return conditions of the leases, and the Company believes that the leases for the remaining six aircraft will be extended.

(d)Credit Facility

The unused amount of the Credit Facility was $20,600,000 as of May 12, 2015.  Based on its current projections, the Company believes that it will be in compliance with all of its Credit Facility covenants at future calculation dates. The Company also believes that available borrowings under the Credit Facility will be sufficient to meet its continuing obligations and, if it is expanded from its current amount of $150 million to the maximum of $180 million, to fund anticipated acquisitions.  However, there can be no assurance the Company's beliefs will prove to be correct.  

 
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Factors that May Affect Future Results

Noncompliance with Credit Facility Financial Covenants.  The Company’s use of debt as the primary form of acquisition financing subjects the Company to increased risks associated with leverage.  In addition to payment obligations, the Credit Facility agreement includes financial covenants, including some requiring the Company to have positive earnings, meet minimum net worth standards and be in compliance with certain other financial ratios.  

The Company was out of compliance with a number of covenants under its Credit Facility at June 30, 2014 and September 30, 2014.   The Credit Facility was amended in August 2014 to cure the June 30, 2014 non-compliance and amended further in November 2014 to cure the September 30, 2014 non-compliance and to revise certain compliance requirements.  Although the Company believes it will continue to be in compliance with all of the covenants under the revised Credit Facility agreement, there can be no assurance of such compliance, and in the event of any non-compliance, the Company would need to seek further waivers or amendment of applicable covenants from its lenders if such compliance failure is not timely cured.  Any default under the Credit Facility, if not cured in the time permitted under the facility or waived by the lenders, could result in foreclosure upon any or all of the assets of the Company. 

Although the Company believes it will continue to be in compliance with all of the Credit Facility covenants, there can be no assurance of such compliance, and in the event of any non-compliance, the Company would need to seek further waivers or amendment of applicable covenants from its lenders if such compliance failure is not timely cured.  Any default under the Credit Facility, if not cured in the time permitted under the facility or waived by the lenders, could result in foreclosure upon any or all of the assets of the Company. 

Ownership Risks.  The Company’s leases typically are for a period shorter than the entire, anticipated, remaining useful life of the leased assets.  The Company’s ability to recover its investment in an asset subject to such a lease is dependent upon the Company’s ability to profitably re-lease or sell the asset after the expiration of the lease term.  This ability is dependent on worldwide economic conditions, general aircraft market conditions, regulatory changes that may make an asset’s use more expensive or preclude use due to the age of the aircraft or unless the asset is modified, changes in the supply or cost of aircraft equipment and technological developments that cause the asset to become obsolete. If the Company is unable to remarket its assets on favorable terms when the leases for such assets expire, the Company’s financial condition, cash flow, ability to service debt and results of operations could be adversely affected.  

The Company typically acquires used aircraft equipment.  The market for used aircraft equipment has been 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, the number of new aircraft on order and the number of aircraft coming off lease, as well as introduction of new aircraft models and types that may be more technologically advanced, more fuel efficient and/or less costly to maintain and operate.  Values may also increase or decrease for certain aircraft types that become more or less desirable based on market conditions and changing airline capacity.

In addition, a successful investment in an asset subject to a lease depends in part upon having the asset returned by the lessee in the condition as required under the lease.  Each lease typically obligates a customer to return an asset to the Company in a specified condition, which generally requires it be returned in equal or better condition than at delivery to the lessee.  If the lessee were to become insolvent during the term of its lease and the Company had to repossess the asset, it is unlikely that the lessee would have the financial ability to meet these return obligations and it is likely that the Company would be required to expend funds in excess of any maintenance reserves collected to return the asset to a remarketable condition.  If the lessee filed for bankruptcy and rejected the aircraft lease, the lessee would be required to return the aircraft but would be relieved from further lease obligations, including return conditions specified in the lease.  In that case, it is also likely that the Company would be required to expend funds in excess of any maintenance reserves collected to return the asset to a remarketable condition.

Several of the Company’s leases do not require payment of monthly maintenance reserves, which serve as the lessee’s advance payment for its future repair and maintenance obligations.  If repossession due to lessee default or bankruptcy occurred under such a lease, the Company would be left with the costs of unperformed repair and maintenance under the applicable lease and the Company would likely incur an unanticipated expense in order to re-lease or sell the asset.

Furthermore, the occurrence of unexpected adverse changes that impact the Company’s estimates of expected cash flows generated from an asset could result in an asset impairment charge against the Company’s earnings. The Company periodically reviews long-term assets for impairment, in particular, when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. An impairment charge is recorded when the carrying amount of an asset is estimated to be not recoverable and exceeds its fair value. The Company recorded impairment charges for some of its aircraft in 2014 and may be required to record asset impairment charges in the future as a result of a prolonged weak economic environment, challenging market conditions in the airline industry, events related to particular lessees, assets or asset types or other factors affecting the value of aircraft or engines.

Lessee Credit Risk. The Company carefully evaluates the credit risk of each customer and attempts to obtain a third party guaranty, letters of credit or other credit enhancements, if it deems them necessary in addition to customary security deposits.  There can be no assurance, however, that such enhancements will be available, or that, if obtained, will fully protect the Company from losses resulting from a lessee default or bankruptcy.

If a lessee that is a certified U.S. airline were in default under a lease and sought 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 against such lessee for a period of 60 days.  After the 60-day period had passed, the lessee would have to agree to perform the lease obligations and cure any defaults, or the Company would have the right to repossess the equipment.  However, this procedure under the Bankruptcy Code has been subject to significant litigation, and it is possible that the Company’s enforcement rights would be further adversely affected by a bankruptcy filing by a defaulting lessee.

Several of the Company’s customers have experienced significant financial difficulties, become insolvent, or have been declared or have filed for bankruptcy.  An insolvency or bankruptcy of a customer usually results in a total loss of the receivables from that customer, as well as the Company incurring additional costs in order to repossess and, in some cases repair, the aircraft leased to the customer.  The Company closely monitors the performance of all of its lessees and its risk exposure to any lessee that may be facing financial difficulties, in order to guide decisions with respect to such lessee that would mitigate losses in the event the lessee is unable to meet or rejects its lease obligations.  There can be no assurance that additional customers will not become insolvent or file for bankruptcy or that the Company will be able to mitigate any of the resultant losses.

Competition.  The aircraft leasing industry is highly competitive.  The Company competes with aircraft manufacturers, distributors, airlines and aircraft 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.   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 in many cases involves customers that are private companies without well-established third party credit ratings, is not well served by large financial institutions.  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.  Competition in the Company's market niche, however, has increased significantly recently as a result of new entrants to the acquisition and leasing market.  As competition increases, it has and will likely continue to create upward pressure on acquisition prices for many of the aircraft types that the Company has targeted to buy and, at the same time, create downward pressure on lease rates, resulting in lower margins for the Company.

Risks Related to Regional Air Carriers.  The Company’s continued focus on its customer base of regional air carriers subjects the Company to additional risks.  Some of the lessees in the regional air carrier market are companies that are start-up, low-capital, and/or low-margin operators.  Often, the success of such carriers depends on 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 on short notice.  Regional carriers, even if financially strong, that are affiliated with an established major carrier can also be swept into bankruptcy if the major carrier files for bankruptcy or becomes insolvent.  Four of the Company's regional air carrier customers filed for bankruptcy in 2012 and 2013, and a Thai regional carrier that leased six aircraft and two engines from the Company ceased operations in May of 2014.

 
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Credit Facility Debt Limitations. The amount available to be borrowed under the Credit Facility is limited by the asset-specific advance rates.  Lessee arrearages or asset off-lease periods may reduce the advance rate for the related assets and, therefore, the permitted borrowing under the facility.  Amounts subject to payment deferral agreements also reduce the amount of permitted borrowing.  The Company believes it will have sufficient cash funds to make any required principal repayment that arises due to any such borrowing limitations.

Availability of Financing. The Company’s continued growth will depend on its ability to continue to obtain capital, either through debt or equity financings. There can be no assurance that the Company will succeed in obtaining capital in the future at terms favorable to the Company.

General Economic Conditions and Lowered Demand for Travel. The Company’s business is dependent upon general economic conditions and the strength of the travel and transportation industry.  The industry is continuing to experience financial difficulty due to the slow recovery in the global economy.  The spread of a disease epidemic, the threat or execution of a terrorist attack against aviation, a worsening financial/bank crisis in Europe, a natural event that interrupts air traffic, military conflict, political crises or other events that cause a prolonged spike in fuel prices, or other like events could exacerbate an already weakened condition and lead to widespread failures in the air carrier industry.  If lessees experience financial difficulties and are unable to meet lease obligations, this will, in turn, negatively affect the Company’s financial performance.  

Airline reductions in capacity in response to lower passenger loads have resulted in reduced demand for aircraft and aircraft engines and a corresponding decrease in market lease rental rates and aircraft values for many aircraft types.  This reduced market value could affect the Company’s results if the market value of an asset or assets in the Company’s portfolio falls below carrying value, and the Company determines that a write-down of the value on its balance sheet is appropriate. Furthermore, if older, expiring leases are replaced with leases at decreased lease rates, the lease revenue from the Company’s 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 certain regions of the world more than others.  As the Company’s portfolio is not entirely globally diversified, a localized downturn in one of the key regions in which the Company leases assets could have a significant adverse impact on the Company.  The Company’s significant sources of operating lease revenue by region are summarized in “Outlook - Operating Segments,” above.

In past years, several of the Company’s customers have experienced financial difficulties arising from a combination of the weakened air carrier market and their own unique financial circumstances and have requested and been granted deferral of certain overdue and/or future rental or maintenance reserve payment obligations.  It is possible that the Company may enter into additional deferral agreements if the current weakened air carrier environment continues. When a customer requests a deferral of lease obligations, the Company evaluates the lessee’s financial plan, the likelihood that the lessee can remain a viable carrier, and whether the deferral will be repaid according to the agreed schedule.  The Company may elect to record the deferred rent and reserve payments from the lessee on a cash basis, which could have a material effect on the Company’s financial results in the applicable periods.  Deferral agreements with lessees also reduce the Company's borrowing capacity under its Credit Facility.

International Risks.  The Company leases assets in overseas markets.  Leases with foreign lessees, however, may present different risks than those with domestic lessees.  Most of the Company’s expected growth is outside of North America.

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.  An economic downturn in a particular country or region may impact a foreign lessee’s ability to make lease payments, even if the U.S. and other foreign economies remain stable.

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.  In addition, if the Company undertakes certain obligations under a lease to contribute to a repair or improvement and if the work is performed in a foreign jurisdiction and paid for in foreign currency, currency fluctuations resulting in a weaker dollar between the time such agreement is made and the time payment for the work is made may result in an unanticipated increase in U.S. dollar-denominated cost for the Company.

Even with U.S. dollar-denominated lease payment provisions, the Company could still be affected by a devaluation of the lessee’s local currency and a stronger U.S. dollar that would make it more difficult for a lessee to meet its U.S. dollar-denominated payments, increasing the risk of default of that lessee, particularly if its revenue is primarily derived in the local currency. 

Foreign lessees that operate internationally may also face restrictions on repatriating foreign revenue to their home country.  This could create a cash flow crisis for an otherwise profitable carrier, affecting its ability to meet its lease obligations.  Foreign lessees may also face restrictions on payment of obligations to foreign vendors, including the Company, which may affect their ability to timely meet lease obligations to the Company.

Foreign lessees are not subject to U.S. bankruptcy laws, although there may be debtor protection similar to U.S. bankruptcy laws available in some jurisdictions.  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.  In any event, collection and enforcement may be more difficult and complicated in foreign countries.

Finally, ownership of a leased asset operating in a foreign country and/or by a foreign carrier may subject the Company to additional tax liabilities that are not present with aircraft operated in the United States.  Depending on the jurisdiction, laws governing such tax liabilities may be complex, not well formed or not uniformly enforced. In such jurisdictions, the Company may decide to take an uncertain tax position based on the best advice of the local tax experts it engages, which position may be challenged by the taxing authority.  If the taxing authority later assesses a liability, the Company may be required to pay penalties and interest on the assessed amount, which penalties and interest would not give rise to a corresponding foreign tax credit on the Company’s U.S. tax return.

Concentration of Lessees and Aircraft Type. For the month ended April 30, 2015, the Company’s three largest customers accounted for a total of approximately 50% of the Company’s monthly lease revenue.  A lease default by or collection problem with one or a combination of any of these significant customers could have a disproportionate negative impact on the Company’s financial results and borrowing base under the Credit Facility, 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.  In addition, if the Company’s revenues become overly concentrated in a small number of lessees, the Company could fail to comply with certain financial covenants in its Credit Facility related to customer concentration.  In the event of any such failure, to be in compliance, the Company would need to seek waivers or amendment of the applicable covenants from its lenders if such compliance failure is not timely cured.  Any default under the Credit Facility, if not cured in the time permitted under the Credit Facility or waived by the lenders, could result in foreclosure upon any or all of the assets of the Company.

The dominant types of aircraft in the Company’s portfolio are summarized in “Outlook - Operating Segments,” above. 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 significant impact on the Company’s portfolio value. Such aircraft type concentration would diminish if the Company acquires 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 intends to continue to focus solely on regional aircraft and engines. Although the Company has traditionally invested in a limited number of types of turboprop aircraft and engines, the Company has also acquired several types of regional jet aircraft, and may continue to seek acquisition opportunities for new types and models of aircraft used in the Company’s targeted customer base of regional air carriers. Acquisition of aircraft types not previously acquired by the Company entails greater ownership risk due to the Company's lack of experience managing those assets. The Company believes, however, that the overall industry experience of JMC’s personnel and its technical resources should permit the Company to effectively manage such new aircraft types.  Further, the broadening of the asset types in the aircraft portfolio may have a benefit of diversifying the Company’s portfolio (see “Factors That May Affect Future Results – Concentration of Lessees and Aircraft Type,” above).

Engine Leasing Risk.  The Company currently has five engines in its portfolio, making up 5% of the Company’s total net book value of aircraft and aircraft engines held for lease. The Company may from time to time lease one or more of these engines under industry standard short-term engine leases, which place the risk of an engine failure not caused by lessee negligence or foreign object damage upon the lessor.  It is not economically practicable for an engine lessor to insure against that risk.  If an engine failure occurs and is not covered by a manufacturer’s warranty or is not otherwise caused by circumstances that the lessee is required to cover, the Company’s investment in the engine could be a significant loss or the Company might incur a significant maintenance expense.

Interest Rate Risk.  The Credit Facility carries a floating interest rate based upon short-term interest rate indices. Lease rates typically, but not always, move over time with interest rates, but market demand and numerous other asset-specific factors also affect lease rates. Because the Company’s typical lease rates are fixed at lease origination, interest rate changes during the lease term have no effect on existing lease rental 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 decreased net income as additional interest expense outpaces revenue growth.  Further, even if significant lease origination occurs following such rate increases, other contemporaneous aircraft market forces may result in lower or flat rental rates, thereby decreasing net income.

 
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Reliance on JMC.  All management of the Company is performed by JMC under the twenty-year Management Agreement between the Company and JMC that expires in April of 2018 and provides for an asset-based management fee.  JMC is not a fiduciary of the Company or its stockholders. The Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) 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, all of 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 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.  Certain directors of the Company are also directors of JMC and, as discussed above, the officers of the Company are also officers of JMC and certain officers hold significant ownership positions in both the Company and JHC, the holding company for 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.

Management Fee Structure. All decisions regarding acquisitions and disposal of aircraft from the Company’s portfolio are made by JMC.  JMC is paid a management fee based on the net asset value of the Company’s portfolio.  It may also receive a one-time asset acquisition fee upon purchase of an asset by the Company, and a one-time remarketing fee in connection with the sale or re-lease of an asset.  Optimization of the results of the Company depends on timing of the acquisition, lease yield on the acquired assets, and re-lease or sale of its portfolio assets.  Under the current management fee structure, a larger volume of acquisitions generates acquisition fees and also increases the periodic management fee by increasing the size of the aircraft portfolio.  Since the Company’s current business strategy involves continued growth of its portfolio and a “buy and hold” strategy, a compensation structure that results in greater compensation with an increased portfolio size is consistent with that strategy.  The compensation structure does, nonetheless, create a situation where a decision by JMC for the Company to forego an asset transaction deemed to be an unacceptable business risk due to the lessee or the aircraft type is in conflict with JMC’s own pecuniary interest.  As a result, the compensation structure could act to incent greater risk-taking by JMC in asset acquisition decision-making.  The Company has established objective target guidelines for yields on acquired assets.  Further, the Company’s Board, including a majority of the outside independent directors, must approve any acquisition that involves a new asset type.  While the Company currently believes the foregoing are effective mitigating factors against undue compensation-incented risk-taking by JMC, there is no assurance that such mechanisms can entirely and effectively eliminate such risk.

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, maximum aircraft age, 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.

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.  A “triple net lease” is a lease under which, in addition to monthly rental payments, the lessee is generally responsible for the taxes, insurance and maintenance and repair of the aircraft arising from the use and operation of the aircraft during the term of the lease.  Although the United States Aviation Act may provide some protection with respect to the Company’s aircraft assets, it is unclear to what extent such statutory protection would be available to the Company with respect to its assets that are operated in foreign countries where such provisions of the United States Aviation Act may not apply.   

The Company’s leases generally require a lessee to insure against likely risks of loss or damage to the leased asset, and liability to passengers and third parties pursuant to industry standard insurance policies and require lessees to provide insurance certificates documenting the policy periods and coverage amounts.  The Company tracks receipt of the certificates and calendars their expiration dates.  Prior to the expiration of an insurance certificate, if a replacement certificate has not been received, the Company reminds the lessee of its obligation to provide current insurance certificates to avoid a default under the lease.

Despite these requirements and procedures, there may be certain cases where the loss is not entirely covered by the lessee or its insurance.  The possibility of such an event is remote, but any such uninsured loss with respect to the equipment or insured loss for which insurance proceeds are inadequate might result in a loss of invested capital in and any profits anticipated from, such equipment, as well as a potential claim directly against the Company.

Compliance with Future Environmental Regulations.  Compliance with future environmental regulations may harm the Company’s business. Many aspects of aircraft operations are subject to increasingly stringent environmental regulations, and growing concerns about climate change may result in the imposition by the U.S and foreign governments of additional regulation of carbon emissions, aimed at either requiring adoption of technology to reduce the amount of carbon emissions or putting in place a fee or tax system on carbon emitters. It is likely that any such regulation will be directed at the Company’s customers, as operators of aircraft, or at the Company, as owners of aircraft.  Under the Company’s triple-net lease arrangements, the Company would likely shift responsibility for compliance to its lessees, but there might be some costs of regulation that the Company could not shift and would itself have to bear. Although it is not expected that the costs of complying with current environmental regulations will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows, no assurance can be given that the costs of complying with environmental regulations adopted in the future will not have such an effect.

Cyber-Security Risks.  The Company believes that it has sufficient cyber-security measures in place commensurate with the risks to the Company of a successful cyber-attack or breach of security.  The Company believes that its main vulnerability to a cyber-attack would be interruption of the Company’s email communications internally and with third parties, loss of customer and lease archives, and loss of document sharing between the Company’s offices and remote workers.  Such an attack could temporarily impede the efficiency of the Company’s operations; however, the Company believes that sufficient replacement mechanisms exist in the event of such an interruption that there would not be a material adverse financial impact on the Company’s business.  

Warrants.  As part of a subordinated debt financing, which was fully repaid in December of 2011, the Company issued warrants to purchase up to 81,224 shares of the Company’s common stock that are currently exercisable (and expire on December 31, 2015) and represent approximately 5% of the post-exercise fully diluted capitalization of the Company.  The exercise price of the warrants is $8.75 per share.  If the warrants to purchase shares are exercised at a time when the exercise price is less than the market price of the Company’s common stock, there will be dilution to the existing holders of common stock.  This dilution of the Company’s common stock could depress its trading price.

Possible Volatility of Stock Price.  The market price of the Company’s common stock may be subject to fluctuations following developments relating 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, or arising from other investor sentiment unknown to the Company.  Because the Company has a relatively small capitalization of approximately 1.5 million shares outstanding, there is a correspondingly limited amount of trading and float of the Company’s shares.  Consequently, the Company’s stock price is more sensitive to a single large trade or a small number of simultaneous trades along the same trend than a company with larger capitalization and higher trading volume and float.

 
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Item 3.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

This report does not include information described under Item 305 of Regulation S-K pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit “smaller reporting companies” to omit such information.

Item 4.Controls and Procedures.

CEO and CFO Certifications. Attached as exhibits to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (the “Report”) are certifications of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (the “CEO”) and the Company’s Chief Financial Officer (the “CFO”), which are required pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Section 302 Certifications”). This section of the Report includes information concerning the evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures referred to in the Section 302 Certifications and this should be read in conjunction with the Section 302 Certifications for a more complete understanding of the topics presented.

Evaluation of the Company’s Disclosure Controls and Procedures. Disclosure controls and procedures (“Disclosure Controls”) are controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company’s reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, such as this Report, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the Securities and Exchange Commission and 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.

The Company’s management, with the participation of the CEO and CFO, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s Disclosure Controls and concluded that the Company’s Disclosure Controls were effective as of March 31, 2015.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.  No change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting occurred during the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2015 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.


 
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PART II
OTHER INFORMATION

Item 6.Exhibits

Exhibit
Number
 
Description
 
31.1
Certification of Neal D. Crispin, Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2
Certification of Toni M. Perazzo, Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1*
Certification of Neal D. Crispin, Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2*
Certification of Toni M. Perazzo, Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101.INS
XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH
XBRL Schema Document
101.CAL
XBRL Calculation Linkbase Document
101.LAB
XBRL Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE
XBRL Presentation Linkbase Document
101.DEF
XBRL Definition Linkbase Document

* These certificates are furnished to, but shall not be deemed to be filed with, the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 
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SIGNATURES

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


 
AEROCENTURY CORP.
Date: May 12, 2015
By:
/s/ Toni M. Perazzo
   
Name: Toni M. Perazzo
   
Title: Senior Vice President-Finance and
   
Chief Financial Officer




 
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