-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, UALaqeSYvNYjBcjDRHhNvA96hkyWvvPWkp8umVDbA8SFGAYXYK7Qivm1/tfSMvG5 BfOyd8JBAX66/0QU+ETctw== 0001193125-08-235609.txt : 20081114 0001193125-08-235609.hdr.sgml : 20081114 20081113215816 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001193125-08-235609 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-Q PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 8 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20080930 FILED AS OF DATE: 20081114 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20081113 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Air Transport Services Group, Inc. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000894081 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: AIR COURIER SERVICES [4513] IRS NUMBER: 261631624 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-Q SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-50368 FILM NUMBER: 081186830 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 145 HUNTER DR CITY: WILMINGTON STATE: OH ZIP: 45177 BUSINESS PHONE: 937-382-5591 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 145 HUNTER DR CITY: WILMINGTON STATE: OH ZIP: 45177 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: ABX Holdings, Inc. DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 20080102 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: ABX AIR INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19950728 10-Q 1 d10q.htm QUARTERLY REPORT Quarterly Report
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For Quarter Ended September 30, 2008

Commission File Number 000-50368

 

 

LOGO

AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES GROUP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   26-1631624

(State of incorporation

or organization)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

145 Hunter Drive

Wilmington, Ohio 45177

(Address of Principal Executive Office)

(937) 382-5591

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

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.  x  Yes    ¨  No

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 definitions of “accelerated filer” and “large accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer   ¨    Accelerated filer   x
Non-accelerated filer   ¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    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    x  No

As of November 13, 2008, Air Transport Services Group, Inc. had outstanding 63,325,780 shares of common stock, par value $0.01.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Form 10-Q

Table of Contents

 

          Page
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.

  

Financial Statements

  
  

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings

   2
  

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

   3
  

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

   4
  

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

   5

Item 2.

  

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

   22

Item 3.

  

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

   35

Item 4.

  

Controls and Procedures

   36
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.

  

Legal Proceedings

   37

Item 1A.

  

Risk Factors

   38

Item 5.

  

Other Information

   41

Item 6.

  

Exhibits

   41

SIGNATURES

   42


Table of Contents

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements contained in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q that are not historical facts are considered forward-looking statements (as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Words such as “projects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “will,” “estimates,” “plans,” “expects,” “intends” and similar words and expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the date of this filing, and involve risks and uncertainties that are inherently difficult to predict. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements for any number of reasons, including those described in this report and in our 2007 Annual Report filed on Form 10-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission

Our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, are available free of charge from our website at www.atsginc.com as soon as reasonably practicable after filing with the SEC.

 

1


Table of Contents

PART 1. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

(In thousands, except share data)

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30
    Nine Months Ended
September 30
 
     2008     2007     2008     2007  

REVENUES

   $ 403,095     $ 285,964     $ 1,180,011     $ 855,323  

OPERATING EXPENSES

        

Salaries, wages and benefits

     154,011       147,791       461,779       456,830  

Fuel

     151,567       66,154       422,739       186,505  

Maintenance, materials and repairs

     24,052       23,731       78,160       69,276  

Depreciation and amortization

     24,495       13,502       68,665       38,282  

Landing and ramp

     7,197       4,380       28,768       18,558  

Rent

     3,188       2,167       10,064       6,880  

Purchased line-haul and yard management

     1,433       1,432       4,240       4,649  

Other operating expenses

     23,066       19,555       67,879       48,787  
                                
     389,009       278,712       1,142,294       829,767  

INTEREST EXPENSE

     (8,609 )     (3,736 )     (27,681 )     (10,302 )

INTEREST INCOME

     511       1,179       2,030       3,628  
                                

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES

     5,988       4,695       12,066       18,882  

INCOME TAXES

     (1,023 )     (2,291 )     (3,840 )     (7,666 )
                                

NET EARNINGS

   $ 4,965     $ 2,404     $ 8,226     $ 11,216  
                                

EARNINGS PER SHARE

        

Basic

   $ 0.08     $ 0.04     $ 0.13     $ 0.19  
                                

Diluted

   $ 0.08     $ 0.04     $ 0.13     $ 0.19  
                                

WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES

        

Basic

     62,508       58,288       62,462       58,284  
                                

Diluted

     62,631       58,750       62,655       58,658  
                                

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

2


Table of Contents

AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share data)

 

     September 30,
2008
    December 31,
2007
 

ASSETS

    

CURRENT ASSETS:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 59,234     $ 59,271  

Marketable securities available-for-sale

     137       49,636  

Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $419 in 2008 and $363 in 2007

     29,333       55,339  

Inventory

     14,039       14,701  

Prepaid supplies and other

     13,931       19,621  

Deferred income taxes

     18,311       19,262  

Aircraft and engines held for sale

     5,765       1,896  
                

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS

     140,750       219,726  

Property and equipment, net

     700,077       690,813  

Other assets

     30,151       26,280  

Deferred income taxes

     10,097       15,794  

Intangibles

     29,723       31,700  

Goodwill

     175,363       178,654  
                

TOTAL ASSETS

   $ 1,086,161     $ 1,162,967  
                

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

    

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 63,438     $ 76,425  

Salaries, wages and benefits

     61,470       64,560  

Accrued expenses

     12,047       11,266  

Current portion of long-term obligations

     40,858       22,815  

Unearned revenue

     21,653       21,046  
                

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES

     199,466       196,112  

Long-term obligations

     477,506       567,987  

Post-retirement liabilities

     185,706       186,338  

Other liabilities

     8,145       12,527  

Commitments and contingencies (Note I)

    

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:

    

Preferred stock, 20,000,000 shares authorized, including 75,000 Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock

     —         —    

Common stock, par value $0.01 per share; 75,000,000 shares authorized; 63,325,780 and 62,650,278 shares issued and outstanding in 2008 and 2007, respectively

     633       626  

Additional paid-in capital

     459,894       458,091  

Accumulated deficit

     (181,318 )     (189,544 )

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (63,871 )     (69,170 )
                

TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

     215,338       200,003  
                

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

   $ 1,086,161     $ 1,162,967  
                

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

3


Table of Contents

AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

 

     Nine Months Ended
September 30
 
     2008     2007  

OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

    

Net earnings

   $ 8,226     $ 11,216  

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     68,665       38,282  

Pension and post-retirement amortization

     5,237       8,561  

Deferred income taxes

     3,492       7,606  

Stock-based compensation

     1,810       2,040  

Impairment

     226       325  

Other

     (789 )     (225 )

Changes in assets and liabilities:

    

Accounts receivable

     26,006       (8,604 )

Inventory and prepaid supplies

     4,687       (636 )

Accounts payable

     (1,125 )     4,611  

Unearned revenue

     (63 )     732  

Accrued expenses, salaries, wages and benefits and other liabilities

     (6,176 )     (9,031 )

Post-retirement liabilities

     (477 )     (2,903 )

Other

     4,584       397  
                

NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES

     114,303       52,371  
                

INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

    

Capital expenditures

     (96,623 )     (118,372 )

Proceeds from redemptions of marketable securities

     49,499       14,262  

Proceeds from the sale of property and equipment

     10,572       971  

Acquisition of CHI

     (3,840 )     —    

Other

     (1,510 )     —    

Purchases of marketable securities

     —         (10,246 )

Restricted deposits of interest-bearing funds

     —         (11,725 )
                

NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES

     (41,902 )     (125,110 )
                

FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

    

Payments on long-term obligations

     (110,938 )     (9,283 )

Proceeds from borrowings on long-term obligations

     38,500       52,500  

Other

     —         (57 )
                

NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES

     (72,438 )     43,160  
                

NET DECREASE IN CASH

     (37 )     (29,579 )

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD

     59,271       63,219  
                

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD

   $ 59,234     $ 33,640  
                

SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:

    

Interest paid, net of amount capitalized

   $ 24,521     $ 8,326  
                

Income taxes paid

   $ —       $ —    
                

SUPPLEMENTAL NON-CASH INFORMATION:

    

Accrued aircraft modification expenditures

   $ 542     $ 15,724  
                

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

4


Table of Contents

AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2008

NOTE A—SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL STATEMENT PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The interim period consolidated financial statements of Air Transport Services Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information, footnotes and disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements and are unaudited. The results of operations and cash flows for any interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results that may be reported for the full year. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. The December 31, 2007 financial amounts are extracted from the annual audited financial statements.

Nature of Operations

Air Transport Services Group, Inc. includes three independently certificated airlines through its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Its airline subsidiaries are ABX Air, Inc. (“ABX”), Capital Cargo International Airlines, Inc. (“CCIA”), and Air Transport International, LLC (“ATI”). The Company acquired CCIA and ATI through its acquisition of Cargo Holdings International, Inc. (“CHI”) on December 31, 2007. The acquisition of CHI also included Cargo Aircraft Management, Inc. (“CAM”), an aircraft leasing company.

Under an aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance agreement (“ACMI agreement”) and a Hub Services agreement, ABX provides airlift, package handling, warehousing, and other cargo-related services to DHL Express (USA), Inc. and DHL Network Operations (USA), Inc. (collectively, “DHL”). DHL, an international, integrated delivery company, is the Company’s largest customer, accounting for 69% of the Company’s revenue in the third quarter of 2008. ABX provides staffing, maintenance and management services for DHL’s main air hub and package sorting center in Wilmington, Ohio and for fifteen DHL regional sort facilities in the U.S. The Company also provides supplemental airlift to DHL under other ACMI arrangements.

Through its airline subsidiaries, the Company provides airlift to other customers besides DHL, typically through ACMI agreements. At September 30, 2008, ABX had 12 Boeing 767-200 freighter aircraft in service that are not under the DHL ACMI agreement, while CCIA and ATI had 15 aircraft and 17 aircraft in revenue service, respectively. CCIA and ATI each have contracts to provide airlift to BAX Global, Inc. (“BAX”) under ACMI agreements. BAX provides freight transportation and supply chain management services, specializing in the heavy freight market for business-to-business shipping. ATI also provides passenger transportation, primarily to the U.S. military, using its DC-8 combi aircraft that are certified to carry passengers as well as cargo on the main deck.

In addition to its ACMI services, the Company sells aircraft parts and provides aircraft maintenance services to other airlines. Through a wholly-owned subsidiary, the Company operates three sorting facilities for the U.S. Postal Service (“USPS”). The Company also provides specialized services for aircraft fuel management and freight logistics.

Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated. The accounts of CHI and its subsidiaries, including CAM, CCIA and ATI, are included in the consolidated financial statements as of the date of acquisition; accordingly, the activities of CHI are not included in the 2007 consolidated statements of earnings and consolidated statements of cash flows.

Acquisition of CHI

On December 31, 2007, the Company acquired all of the outstanding equity securities of CHI. As described above, CHI operations historically consisted primarily of two cargo airlines, CCIA and ATI. BAX was the largest customer of CCIA and ATI during 2007.

 

5


Table of Contents

The following table provides pro forma condensed combined financial information for the Company after giving effect to the acquisition described above and the assumptions and adjustments described in the accompanying notes to the pro forma condensed combined financial statements. This information is based on adjustments to the historical consolidated financial statements of CHI using the purchase method of accounting for business combinations. The pro forma adjustments do not include any of the cost savings and other synergies anticipated to result from the acquisition. These pro forma results are based on assumptions considered appropriate by management and include all material adjustments of a recurring nature as considered necessary. These pro forma results have been prepared for comparative purposes only and do not purport to be indicative of results that would have actually been reported as of the date or for the quarter presented had the acquisition taken place on such date or at the beginning of the quarter indicated, or to project the Company’s financial position or results of operations which may be reported in the future (in thousands, except earnings per share).

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30, 2007
   Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2007

Pro forma revenues

   $ 363,806    $ 1,080,022

Pro forma depreciation and amortization

     25,093      70,049

Pro forma interest expense

     10,320      29,649

Pro forma earnings before income taxes

     6,781      22,261

Pro forma net earnings

     4,366      13,442

Pro forma diluted earnings per share

     0.07      0.21

The pro forma results above exclude non-recurring charges recorded by CHI that were directly related to the acquisition by the Company. Combined results for Air Transport Services Group, Inc. and CHI for the quarter ended September 30, 2007 were adjusted for the following to present the unaudited pro forma results in the table above:

 

   

Adjustment to reflect additional intangible asset amortization expense of $0.7 million and $2.0 million for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2007, respectively, resulting from the fair value adjustments to CHI’s intangible assets.

 

   

Adjustment to reflect additional depreciation expense of $0.8 million and $2.4 million for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2007, respectively, resulting from the fair value adjustments to CHI’s aircraft and aircraft related parts.

 

   

Adjustment to reflect additional interest expense and amortization of debt issuance costs for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2007 related to the $270.0 million unsubordinated term loan using an average prevailing interest rate of 8.35%.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements. Estimates and assumptions are used to record allowances for uncollectible amounts, self-insurance reserves, spare parts inventory reserve, depreciation and impairments of property and equipment, impairments of goodwill and intangibles, labor contract settlements, post-retirement obligations, income taxes, contingencies and litigation. Changes in these estimates and assumptions may have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company classifies short-term, highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less at the time of purchase as cash and cash equivalents. These investments are recorded at cost, which approximates fair value.

 

6


Table of Contents

Inventory

The Company’s inventory is comprised primarily of expendable spare parts and supplies used for internal consumption. These items are generally charged to expense when issued for use. The Company values aircraft spare parts inventory at weighted-average cost and maintains a related obsolescence reserve. The Company records an obsolescence reserve on a base stock of inventory for each fleet type. Inventory amortization for the obsolescence reserve corresponds to the expected life of each fleet type. Additionally, the Company monitors the usage rates of inventory parts and segregates parts that are technologically outdated or no longer used in its fleet types. Slow moving and segregated items are actively marketed and written down to their estimated net realizable values based on market conditions.

Management analyzes the inventory reserve for reasonableness at the end of each calendar quarter. That analysis includes consideration of the expected fleet life, amounts expected to be on hand at the end of a fleet life, and recent events and conditions that may impact the usability or value of inventory. Events or conditions that may impact the expected life, usability or net realizable value of inventory include additional airworthiness directives from the Federal Aviation Administration, changes in Department of Transportation regulations, new environmental laws and technological advances.

Marketable Securities

Marketable securities classified as available-for-sale are recorded at their estimated fair market values, and any unrealized gains and losses are included in accumulated other comprehensive gain or loss within stockholders’ equity, net of tax. Interest on marketable securities is included in interest income. Realized gains and losses of any securities sold are based on the specific identification method.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (“SFAS”) No. 142, “Accounting for Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” the Company will assess on an annual basis whether goodwill acquired in the acquisition of CHI is impaired. Additional impairment assessments may be performed on an interim basis if the Company finds it necessary. Finite-lived intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful economic lives and are periodically reviewed for impairment. Indefinite-lived intangible assets are not amortized but are assessed for impairment annually.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost, net of any impairment recorded, in accordance with SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets.” The cost and accumulated depreciation of disposed property and equipment are removed from the accounts with any related gain or loss reflected in earnings from operations.

Depreciation of property and equipment is provided on a straight-line basis over the lesser of the asset’s useful life or lease term. Depreciable lives are as follows:

 

Aircraft and flight equipment

   5 to 20 years

Package handling and ground support equipment

   5 to 10 years

Vehicles and other equipment

   5 to 8 years

The Company periodically evaluates the useful lives, salvage values and fair values of property and equipment. Acceleration of depreciation expense or the recording of significant impairment losses could result from changes in the estimated useful lives of assets due to a number of reasons, such as an assessment done quarterly to determine if excess capacity exists in the air or ground networks, or changes in regulations governing the use of aircraft.

Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment when circumstances indicate the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. For assets that are to be held and used, impairment is recognized when the estimated undiscounted cash flows associated with the asset or group of assets is less than the carrying value. If impairment exists, an adjustment is made to write the asset down to its fair value, and a loss is recorded as the difference between the carrying value and fair value. Fair values are determined considering quoted market values, discounted cash flows or internal and external appraisals, as applicable. Assets held for sale are carried at the lower of carrying value or fair value less the cost to sell.

 

7


Table of Contents

Aircraft engines for the airlines’ Boeing 767 aircraft are usually maintained under “power by the hour” agreements with engine maintenance providers. Under the power by the hour agreements, the engines are maintained by the service providers for a fixed fee per flight hour; accordingly, the cost of engine maintenance is generally expensed as flight hours occur. Maintenance for aircraft engines on the airlines’ Boeing 757, Boeing 727, DC-9 and DC-8 aircraft is typically contracted to service providers on a time and material basis.

The Company’s accounting policy for major airframe and engine maintenance varies by subsidiary. ATI, CCIA and CAM capitalize the cost of major maintenance and amortize the costs over the useful life of the overhaul. ABX expenses the cost of airframe and engine overhauls as incurred.

Capitalized Interest

Interest costs incurred while aircraft are being modified are capitalized as an additional cost of the aircraft until the date the asset is placed in service. Capitalized interest was $0.7 million and $0.4 million for the quarters ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and $2.6 million and $1.4 million for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Exit Activities

The Company accounts for the costs associated with exit activities in accordance with SFAS No. 146, “Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities.” One-time, involuntary employee termination benefits are generally expensed when the Company communicates the benefit arrangement to the employee, and it requires no significant future services, other than a minimum retention period, from the employee to earn the termination benefits. Liabilities for contract termination costs associated with exit activities are recognized in the period incurred and measured initially at fair value. Pension obligations are accounted for in accordance with SFAS No. 88, “Employers’ Accounting for Settlements and Curtailments of Defined Benefit Pension Plans and for Termination Benefits,” in the event that a significant number of employees are terminated or a pension plan is suspended.

Fair Value

Effective January 1, 2008, the Company adopted SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS 157”). SFAS 157 provides guidance for using fair value to measure assets and liabilities. It also responds to investors’ requests for expanded information about the extent to which companies’ measure assets and liabilities at fair value, the information used to measure fair value, and the effect of fair value measurements on earnings. SFAS 157 applies whenever other standards require (or permit) assets or liabilities to be measured at fair value, and does not expand the use of fair value in any new circumstances. In February 2008, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FASB Staff Position 157-1, “Application of FASB Statement No. 157 to FASB Statement No. 13 and Other Accounting Pronouncements That Address Fair Value Measurements for Purposes of Lease Classification or Measurement under Statement 13” (“FSP 157-1”) and FSP 157-2, “Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157” (“FSP 157-2”). FSP 157-1 amends SFAS 157 to remove certain leasing transactions from its scope. FSP 157-2 delays the effective date of SFAS 157 for all non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities, except for items that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis, for fiscal years beginning on or after November 15, 2008. These non-financial items include assets and liabilities, such as reporting units measured at fair value in a goodwill impairment test, and non-financial assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination.

The amounts included on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet for cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate their fair values because of the short-term maturity of these instruments. The Company’s short-term available-for-sale securities and derivative financial instruments are reported at fair value on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. The fair value of the Company’s short-term available-for-sale securities and derivative financial instruments are based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1). The fair value of the Company’s derivative financial instruments are based on other observable inputs (Level 2). The use of significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) was not necessary in determining the fair value of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities.

For the Company, SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” (“SFAS 159”) became effective January 1, 2008. This new standard allows an entity the irrevocable option to elect fair value for the initial and subsequent measurement for certain financial assets and liabilities under an instrument-by-instrument election. Subsequent measurements for the financial assets and liabilities an entity elects to fair value will be recognized in earnings. SFAS 159 does not affect any existing pronouncements that require assets and liabilities to be carried at fair value, nor does it eliminate disclosure requirements included under existing pronouncements. The Company did not elect to report any additional assets or liabilities at fair value that were not already being reported at fair value.

 

8


Table of Contents

Income Taxes

Income taxes have been computed using the asset and liability method, under which deferred income taxes are provided for the temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of the Company’s assets and liabilities. Deferred taxes are measured using provisions of currently enacted tax laws. A valuation allowance against net deferred tax assets is recorded when it is more likely than not that such assets will not be fully realized. Tax credits are accounted for as a reduction of income taxes in the year in which the credit originates.

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Comprehensive income includes net income and other comprehensive income or loss. Other comprehensive income or loss results from changes in the Company’s pension liability, unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale marketable securities, and gains and losses associated with interest rate hedging instruments.

Revenue Recognition

Revenues from the DHL ACMI agreement and the Hub Services agreement are determined based on expenses incurred during a period and recognized when the related services are performed. Expenses incurred under these agreements are generally subject to a base mark-up of 1.75%, which is recognized in the period the expenses are incurred. Certain costs, the most significant of which include fuel, interest on the promissory note due to DHL, rent and ramp and landing fees incurred under the two commercial agreements are reimbursed and included in revenues without mark-up.

Both agreements also allow ABX to earn incremental mark-up above the base 1.75% mark-up (up to 1.60% under the ACMI agreement, and 2.10% under the Hub Services agreement) as determined from the achievement of certain cost-related and service goals outlined in the two commercial agreements. The agreements stipulate the setting of quarterly and annual cost-related goals and annual service goals expressly specified in each of the two agreements. At the end of each fiscal year, ABX measures the achievement of annual goals and records any incremental revenues earned by achieving the annual goals. In a similar way, ABX measures quarterly goals and records incremental revenues in the quarter in which earned.

In November 2008, ABX and DHL amended the ACMI agreement and the Hub Services agreements to set the base mark-up and incremental mark-up to specific amounts for the fourth quarter of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009.

Other ACMI and charter service revenues are recognized on scheduled and non-scheduled flights when the specific flight has been completed. Aircraft parts and fuel sales are recognized when the parts and fuel are delivered. Revenues earned and expenses incurred in providing aircraft-related maintenance repair services or technical maintenance services are recognized in the period in which the services are completed and delivered to the customer. Revenues derived from transporting freight and sorting parcels are recognized upon delivery of shipments and completion of service.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141(R), “Business Combinations” (“SFAS 141R”). SFAS 141R amends SFAS 141 and provides guidance for recognizing and measuring identifiable assets and goodwill acquired, liabilities assumed, and any non-controlling interest in the acquiree. It also provides disclosure requirements to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination. SFAS 141R will be effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2008 and will be applied prospectively.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, “Non-Controlling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements – an amendment of ARB No. 51” (“SFAS 160”). SFAS 160 requires that ownership interests in subsidiaries held by parties other than the parent, and the amount of consolidated net income, be clearly identified, labeled and presented in the consolidated financial statements. It also requires once a subsidiary is deconsolidated, any retained non-controlling equity investment in the former subsidiary be initially measured at fair value. Sufficient disclosures are required to clearly identify and distinguish between the interests of the parent and the interests of the non-controlling owners. SFAS 160 is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2008 and requires retroactive adoption of the presentation and disclosure requirements for existing minority interests. All other requirements shall be applied prospectively. The Company currently has 100% ownership in all subsidiaries; therefore, management expects this standard to have no impact on its financial statements.

In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities—an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133” (“SFAS 161”). SFAS 161 requires companies to provide enhanced disclosures regarding derivative instruments and hedging activities. It requires companies to better convey the purpose of derivative use in terms of the risks that such company is intending to manage. Disclosures about (a) how and why an entity uses derivative

 

9


Table of Contents

instruments, (b) how derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for under SFAS No. 133 and its related interpretations, and (c) how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect a company’s financial position, financial performance, and cash flows are required. This statement retains the same scope as SFAS No. 133 and is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008. The Company is currently assessing implementation plans and does not expect the adoption of SFAS 161 to have a material impact, if any, on its consolidated financial statements.

In May 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 162, “The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles” (“SFAS 162”). SFAS 162 mandates the GAAP hierarchy resides in the accounting literature as opposed to the audit literature. This has the practical impact of elevating FASB Statements of Financial Accounting Concepts in the GAAP hierarchy. This pronouncement will become effective 60 days following SEC approval. The Company does not believe this pronouncement will impact its financial statements.

In May 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 163, “Accounting for Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts—an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 60” (“SFAS 163”). The scope of SFAS 163 is limited to financial guarantee insurance (and reinsurance) contracts. The pronouncement is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2008. The Company does not believe this pronouncement will impact its financial statements.

NOTE B—SIGNIFICANT CUSTOMERS

DHL

On May 28, 2008, DHL announced a plan to restructure its U.S. business and negotiate an agreement with United Parcel Service Inc. (“UPS”) to provide air uplift and other services for DHL’s U.S. domestic and international shipments within North America. Additionally, under that plan, DHL would take over management of the regional hubs currently managed by ABX throughout the U.S. If DHL and UPS successfully negotiated an agreement, the Company expected that substantially all of the services that ABX provides to DHL would be transitioned to UPS or DHL by the middle of 2009. Approximately 6,000 ABX employees in Wilmington, Ohio would have been affected.

Since May 2008, DHL has experienced a precipitous drop in its domestic freight volumes. On November 10, 2008, DHL announced a revised plan in which DHL will discontinue intra-U.S. domestic pickup and delivery services in January 2009. DHL would instead provide only international services to and from the U.S. Under this plan, the regional hubs will be closed and the sort operations in Wilmington will be downsized to approximately 600 ABX employees to process international shipments. DHL continues to pursue a contract with UPS to provide air and ground transportation for DHL’s international shipments only.

The Company has attempted to present its own revised U.S. network plan to DHL, containing significant cost savings. However, DHL has indicated that it is unable to discuss the plan with ABX while DHL is in negotiations with UPS. ABX cannot reasonably predict how long negotiations between UPS and DHL may last, to what extent they may reach an outsourcing agreement or a transition timetable. ABX has begun to discuss and negotiate termination and wind-down costs with DHL, including employee severance and retention arrangements. In August 2008, ABX and DHL executed a severance and retention agreement. The agreement specifies employee severance and retention benefits that DHL will pay to ABX in conjunction with its U.S. restructuring plan. DHL will reimburse ABX for the cost of non-union employee severance and retention benefits paid in accordance with the agreement. The same agreement includes provisions to pay ABX for crewmember benefits if ABX and the collective bargaining unit for the crewmembers can reach an agreement in regards to the use of those funds for severance, retention or other issues arising from DHL’s U.S. restructuring plan.

ABX management is accelerating and expanding its diversification plans. In the absence of operating such a large aircraft fleet for DHL, management anticipates that it will sell nearly all of the remaining DC-9 aircraft to DHL as they are removed from service under the aircraft put provisions of the ACMI agreement. Additionally, management expects to put to DHL several of the 23 non-standard freighter Boeing 767 aircraft that are currently in service to DHL under the ACMI Agreement. The proceeds from these aircraft would be used to help finance the modification of certain remaining Boeing 767 aircraft from a passenger door loading system to a standard freighter configuration. The Company is in discussions to redeploy a significant number of Boeing 767 aircraft on a more profitable basis, with both new and existing customers under dry lease or ACMI arrangements. Other business development opportunities for ABX include expanded aircraft maintenance and repair operations and additional mail sorting and mail transport contracts with the USPS. If DHL completes its plan with UPS or otherwise substantially reduces its operations in the U.S., ABX will need to significantly restructure, downsize and achieve wage concessions in order to competitively pursue new business development.

 

10


Table of Contents

The Company’s financial condition will be impacted by uncertainties stemming from DHL’s U.S. restructuring plan. These uncertainties include the following:

 

   

The speed at which DHL terminates services under the ACMI and Hub Services agreements including services provided through the regional hubs.

 

   

ATSG’s ability to remain in compliance with its credit agreements and maintain access to liquidity as it attempts to replace cash flows lost by DHL’s transition to UPS or the scaling back of its U.S. operations.

 

   

The speed at which ABX is able to redeploy its aircraft with other customers.

 

   

ABX’s success in implementing cost restructuring initiatives, including the negotiation of a collective bargaining agreement with flight crews that is competitive in the ACMI marketplace.

 

   

The amounts and timing of reimbursement by DHL of termination costs under the ACMI and Hub Services agreements, including aircraft, equipment and property lease termination costs, maintenance agreement termination costs and severance benefits, as well as, DHL’s reimbursement of other costs arising from the wind-down of services under the agreements, including funding of pension plans.

 

   

ATSG’s and ABX’s continued access to the airport, hangar and office facilities in Wilmington, Ohio.

Revenues from services performed for DHL were approximately 69% and 91% for the three month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and 71% and 93% of consolidated revenues for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

The Company’s balance sheets include the following balances related to revenue transactions with DHL (in thousands):

 

     September 30,
2008
    December 31,
2007
 

Assets (Liabilities):

    

Accounts receivable

   $ 7,191     $ 25,268  

Accounts payable

     (19,153 )     (392 )

Unearned revenue

     (15,282 )     (19,712 )
                

Net asset (liability)

   $ (27,244 )   $ 5,164  
                

The ACMI agreement has a term of seven years, expiring in August 2010 and automatically renews for an additional three years unless a one-year notice of non-renewal is given. The Hub Services agreement automatically renewed in August 2008 for a one-year period, with automatic annual renewals, unless a ninety-day notice of non-renewal is given.

Arbitration

In November 2007, ABX and DHL agreed to arbitrate provisions of their ACMI and Hub Services commercial agreements that cover the allocation of ABX’s overhead expenses between DHL and ABX’s non-DHL operations. DHL sought certain declarations, including that (i) ABX may not include fuel costs as revenues under the ACMI agreement for purposes of determining whether it receives more than 10% of its revenues from other customers; (ii) ABX exceeded the 10% threshold in the second quarter of 2007 and therefore must begin absorbing a portion of its overhead for the second quarter of 2007 and each quarter going forward under the Agreements; and (iii) DHL is not obligated to reimburse ABX for the costs incurred in maintaining its status as a public company, including those costs incurred in evaluating a recent unsolicited indication of interest from ASTAR.

ABX pursued its position through arbitration. In February 2008, a three-member arbitration panel was selected and in July the panel issued its decision. The arbitrators ruled that (i) DHL had failed to demonstrate that ABX had incorrectly treated the reimbursement for its fuel expenditures as revenue under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, and therefore ABX’s revenues from sources other than DHL did not exceed 10% of its total revenues during the second quarter of 2007, (ii) the costs incurred by ABX in maintaining its status as a public company are reimbursable under the Agreements, (iii) the 10% threshold had been crossed on January 1, 2008, in conjunction with the acquisition of CHI, and the parties are therefore required to begin negotiating in good faith a reasonable allocation of overhead costs attributable to ABX’s third-party business, (iv) ABX is solely responsible for expenses it incurred to consider and analyze an expression of interest from ASTAR in acquiring ABX, and to prepare and complete the acquisition of CHI at year-end 2007, and (v) DHL’s withholding of $8.8 million in payments to ABX for a 10-day period last November was not a material default under the Agreements.

In accordance with the arbitrators’ decision, the Company recorded a $2.5 million charge to the second quarter 2008 pre-tax earnings associated with the ASTAR indication of interest and issued a corresponding expense credit to DHL. Additionally, to allocate overhead cost, the Company recorded a credit of $1.6 million to expense subject to mark-up, thus reducing revenue from DHL and increasing non-DHL expenses for the first six months of 2008. For the third quarter of 2008, ABX allocated $0.8 million of overhead expenses to non-DHL.

 

11


Table of Contents

ABX and DHL disagreed on the application of certain provisions of the arbitrators’ ruling. In November 2008, ABX and DHL agreed to resolve these interpretation differences regarding the arbitrators’ ruling. DHL agreed to reimburse ABX for $2.2 million of ABX’s legal expenses arising from the arbitration, while ABX agreed to pay any such expenses in excess of that amount. DHL agreed to drop its assertion that it could reexamine and seek an adjustment with respect to ABX’s accounting for costs prior to January 1, 2008. Based on the settlement agreement, ABX will reverse a provision of $2.2 million it established in the second quarter of 2008, reserving DHL’s reimbursement of the legal expenses in the fourth quarter of 2008. Additionally, the settlement agreement sets the overhead allocation charge at $0.8 million per quarter through March 2009.

BAX Global

A substantial portion of the Company’s revenues, cash flows and liquid resources are also dependent on BAX. Revenues from services performed for BAX were approximately 15% of consolidated revenues for each of the three and nine month periods ending September 30, 2008, respectively.

The Company’s balance sheets include the following balances related to revenue transactions with BAX (in thousands):

 

     September 30,
2008
    December 31,
2007

Assets (Liabilities):

    

Accounts receivable

   $ 2,642     $ 3,446

Accounts payable

     (1,038 )     —  

Unearned revenue

     (15 )     —  
              

Net asset

   $ 1,589     $ 3,446
              

In March 2008, ATI and CCIA renewed their ACMI agreement with BAX to set prices through February 28, 2009. Under its agreement with BAX, CHI has the right to be the exclusive provider of main deck freighter lift in the BAX U.S. network through December 31, 2011.

NOTE C—WIND-DOWN COSTS

As a result of DHL’s strategy to transition its U.S express operations to UPS, the Company has incurred costs to reduce the scope of its operations. Under a severance and retention agreement that DHL and ABX entered into in August, the benefits provided to terminating employees are refunded to ABX by DHL. All expenses related to employee severance benefits are included in salaries, wages, and benefits. Other expenses, which include costs to close facilities, are included in other operating expenses. The wind-down costs incurred through September 30, 2008 are summarized below (in thousands):

 

     Severance
Benefits
    Contract
Termination
   Other     Total  

Accrued costs at June 30, 2008

   $ —       $ —      $ —       $ —    

Costs incurred

     6,726       —        103       6,829  

Costs paid

     (315 )     —        (103 )     (418 )
                               

Accrued costs at September 30, 2008

   $ 6,411     $ —      $ —       $ 6,411  
                               

Wind-down expenses are reflected in the DHL segment. Future wind-down costs are expected to include additional severance benefits as more employees are terminated, as well as the cost to terminate aircraft leases and aircraft maintenance contracts. Actual cost will depend on the size and timing of DHL business reductions. On November 10, 2008, DHL announced a revised restructuring plan to discontinue its U.S. domestic pick-up and delivery services in early 2009. As a result of DHL’s restructuring plans for the U.S., the Company estimates it will pay employee severance and retention benefits exceeding approximately $200 million. At this time, it is not reasonably possible to estimate contract termination and other wind-down costs.

NOTE D—MARKETABLE SECURITIES

The marketable securities held by the Company consist of debt securities, which are classified as available-for-sale. As of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, no marketable securities held by the Company have an expected life of over one year. Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because the issuers of certain securities may have the right to prepay the obligations without prepayment penalties. At December 31, 2007, the Company held auction-rate securities that it acquired in the CHI acquisition. These securities were redeemed at par in January 2008.

 

12


Table of Contents

The following is a summary of the Company’s marketable securities (in thousands):

 

     Estimated Fair Market Value
     September 30,
2008
   December 31,
2007

Obligations of U.S. Corporations

   $ 137    $ 7,893

Obligations of U.S. Government Agencies

     —        3,595

Student Loan Auction-Rate Securities

     —        38,148
             

Total marketable securities

   $ 137    $ 49,636
             

NOTE E—INCOME TAXES

The provision for income taxes for interim periods is based on management’s best estimate of the effective income tax rate expected to be applicable for the current year, plus any adjustments arising from changes in the estimated amount of taxable income related to prior periods. Income taxes recorded through September 30, 2008 have been estimated utilizing a 39.5% rate based on year-to-date income and projected results for the full year, excluding discrete items. The final effective tax rate to be applied to 2008 will depend on the actual amount of pre-tax book income generated by the Company for the full year.

The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state and local jurisdictions. The returns may be subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and other jurisdictional authorities for years ended December 31, 2003 through 2007. The IRS has concluded its examinations of ABX’s 2003 through 2006 federal income tax returns. The proposed examination results indicate no significant changes to the taxable income reported on these returns. Federal and state income tax returns of the Company’s former parent, Airborne, Inc., are closed through 2002. As part of the separation agreement between ABX and Airborne, Inc., all tax liabilities resulting from returns prior to the August 15, 2003 separation date are the responsibility of Airborne, Inc. or its successors. Any adjustments to these returns could potentially increase or decrease deferred tax assets and liabilities carried over from the separation. The IRS recently began an examination of CHI. for the tax year ended December 31, 2006.

Under FASB Interpretation No. 48 “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” (“FIN 48”), the Company recognizes the impact of a tax position taken on a tax return, if that position is more likely than not of being sustained on audit, based on the technical merits of the position. An uncertain income tax provision is not recognized if it has a less than a 50% likelihood of being sustained. The Company recognizes interest and penalties accrued related to uncertain tax positions in operating expense. During the second quarter of, 2008, the Company reduced its reserve for FIN 48 items included through the CHI acquisition. These changes resulted in a $2.8 million reduction to goodwill and FIN 48 payable. This adjustment included a decrease in accrued interest and penalties of $1.4 million.

Due to the uncertainly arising from DHL’s U.S. restructuring plan, , in the second quarter of 2008 the Company placed a valuation allowance against state net operating loss deferred tax assets (“NOL”) of $0.6 million. Should DHL move their air transportation to UPS, it is unlikely that ABX would continue to fly to all the states represented by the state NOL deferred tax assets, thus limiting our ability to fully utilize them. As part of this analysis, it was determined that additional state NOLs existed of $0.2 million, which were recorded in the second quarter of 2008. Upon closing of a recent IRS examination, the Company recorded a previously unrecognized tax benefit of $1.3 million in the third quarter of 2008. As a result of these discrete items, the overall effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 was 17% and 32%, respectively.

NOTE F—PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

At September 30, 2008, the Company’s subsidiaries operated 112 aircraft, consisting of 40 Boeing 767, 1 Boeing 757, 14 Boeing 727, 41 McDonnell Douglas DC-9 and 16 McDonnell Douglas DC-8 aircraft.

 

13


Table of Contents

Property and equipment, to be held and used, consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

     September 30,
2008
    December 31,
2007
 

Aircraft and flight equipment

   $ 946,513     $ 926,869  

Support equipment

     50,809       53,450  

Vehicles and other equipment

     1,859       2,668  

Leasehold improvements

     1,270       1,230  
                
     1,000,451       984,217  

Accumulated depreciation

     (300,374 )     (293,404 )
                

Property and equipment, net

   $ 700,077     $ 690,813  
                

Property and equipment included $52.1 million of property held under capitalized leases as of September 30, 2008 and $57.8 million as of December 31, 2007. The accumulated depreciation for property held under capital lease totaled $16.1 million as of September 30, 2008 and $11.4 million as of December 31, 2007. At September 30, 2008, the Company was marketing to part dealers and carriers, aircraft and engines totaling $5.8 million, which have been removed from service.

On June 28, 2008, one of ABX’s Boeing 767s experienced a fire prior to engine start. The incident is subject to a National Transportation Safety Board investigation. The Company is awaiting results of the investigation, which may determine the cause of the fire. The aircraft is fully insured and Company’s insurer rendered the aircraft a complete loss. In the fourth quarter of 2008, the Company received the aircraft’s $30.3 million insured value. The aircraft’s net book value of $24.4 million is reflected in property and equipment on September 30, 2008. In the fourth quarter of 2008, the Company expects to record a gain of approximately $5.9 million from the receipt of the insurance proceeds in excess of the net book value. Aircraft and engines held for sale at September 30, 2008 included 14 DC-9 aircraft that ABX sold to DHL in October 2008 for $3.7 million. Provisions of the Company’s Credit Agreement require that cash proceeds from the sale of equipment and recoveries from insurance proceeds, must be reinvested in like kind assets within 180 days of receipt or remitted as an additional repayment against the term loan. Aggregate proceeds exceeding $75.0 million in a calendar year must be remitted as a repayment against the term loan.

NOTE G—GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the nine month period ended September 30, 2008, by operating segment, are as follows (in thousands):

 

     ACMI     CAM     Total  

Balance as of December 31, 2007

   $ 142,806     $ 35,848     $ 178,654  

Purchase price adjustment

     (452 )     (113 )     (565 )

Deferred tax adjustment

     (1,520 )     (1,373 )     (2,893 )

Professional fees

     134       33       167  
                        

Balance as of September 30, 2008

   $ 140,968     $ 34,395     $ 175,363  
                        

Information regarding our other intangible assets is as follows (in thousands):

 

     As of September 30, 2008    As of December 31, 2007
     Carrying
Amount
   Accumulated
Amortization
   Net Book
Value
   Carrying
Amount
   Accumulated
Amortization
   Net Book
Value

Customer Relationships

   $ 27,700    $ 1,977    $ 25,723    $ 27,700    $ —      $ 27,700

Certificates

     4,000      —        4,000      4,000      —        4,000
                                         

Total

   $ 31,700    $ 1,977    $ 29,723    $ 31,700    $ —      $ 31,700
                                         

Intangible assets consisted of $27.7 million for customer relationships and $4.0 million for airline certificates. The customer relationship intangibles amortize over twenty years using an accelerated method while the airline certificates have indefinite lives and therefore are not amortized. Estimated amortization of the customer relationship intangibles for the next five years (in thousands) is $2,637 for 2008, $2,547 for 2009, $2,457 for 2010, $2,357 for 2011 and $2,100 for 2012.

 

14


Table of Contents

NOTE H—LONG TERM OBLIGATIONS

Long-term obligations consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

     September 30
2008
    December 31
2007
 

Unsubordinated term loan

   $ 222,500     $ 270,000  

Revolving credit facility

     18,500       26,500  

Aircraft loans

     108,644       113,543  

Capital lease obligations-Boeing 767

     55,465       62,967  

Capital lease obligations-Boeing 727

     20,144       24,492  

Promissory note due to DHL

     92,276       92,276  

Other

     835       1,024  
                

Total long-term obligations

     518,364       590,802  

Less: current portion

     (40,858 )     (22,815 )
                

Total long-term obligations, net

   $ 477,506     $ 567,987  
                

Under a Credit Agreement, the Company has a syndicated, unsubordinated term loan and a revolving credit facility that are collateralized by substantially all the aircraft, property and equipment owned by the Company that are not separately collateralized under aircraft loans or capital leases. Under the Credit Agreement, interest rates are adjusted quarterly based on the Company’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and on prevailing LIBOR or prime rates. At September 30, 2008, the unsubordinated term loan bears a variable interest rate of LIBOR (90-day) plus 3.00% (6.77% at September 30, 2008) (see Note L for disclosures of derivative instruments for LIBOR-based interest payments). The agreement provides for the issuance of letters of credit on the Company’s behalf. As of September 30, 2008, the unused revolving credit facility totaled $37.6 million, net of draws of $18.5 million and outstanding letters of credit of $18.9 million. In August 2008, a subsidiary of the Company invested $47.5 million in the Company’s term loan. This intercompany loan is eliminated in consolidation, reflecting the Company’s net term loan position of $222.5 million.

The unsecured promissory note is due in 2028 and bears interest at 5.00% per annum payable semi-annually. Interest on the promissory note is reimbursable under the ACMI agreement without mark-up. The Boeing 767 capital lease obligations are for five Boeing 767 aircraft and consist of two different leases, both expiring in 2011 with options to extend into 2017. The capital lease terms for three of the five aircraft include quarterly principal payments and variable interest of LIBOR (90-day) plus 2.50% (6.55% at September 30, 2008). The capital lease for the other two Boeing 767 aircraft is at an imputed interest rate of 8.55%. Capital lease obligations for seven Boeing 727 aircraft carry a fixed implicit rate of 6.50% and expire between 2010 and 2012. At the termination of the leases, the Company is subject to normal aircraft return provisions for maintenance of the aircraft. As of September 30, 2008, the aircraft loans that are collateralized by seven financed aircraft, have amortizing maturities scheduled through 2018 and bear interest at rates from 6.74% to 7.36% per annum payable monthly.

Under the Credit Agreement, the Company is subject to expenses, covenants and warranties that are usual and customary. The Credit Agreement contains covenants including, among other things, limitations on certain additional indebtedness, guarantees of indebtedness, and the level of annual capital expenditures. The Credit Agreement stipulates events of default that may have material adverse effects on the Company. The conditions of the Credit Agreement and the aircraft loans cross-default. Certain lenders have questioned whether DHL’s decision to restructure and outsource its U.S. express delivery business to UPS constitutes a material adverse event (“MAE”) under provisions of the Credit Agreement and aircraft loans. If a lender within the Credit Agreement declares an MAE, availability under the revolving credit facility will be reduced by the lender’s portion of the facility. Further, the Credit Agreement provides that if lenders having more than half of the outstanding dollar amount of the commitments assert that an MAE exists at the time the borrowers attempt to borrow under the Credit Facility, they can assert that an event of default exists under the Credit Agreement and require the lead bank to exercise its remedies. If an event of default occurs, the Company may be forced to repay, renegotiate or replace the Credit Agreement. Given the current credit crisis and announcement by DHL of its U.S. restructuring plan, the interest rates and other costs of a renegotiated or new facility, assuming the Company could obtain a new facility, would likely be more expensive and may require more rapid amortization of principal than under the terms of the current Credit Agreement.

The $92.3 million unsecured promissory note includes certain events of default that would allow the note to be called by DHL. On January 14, 2008, the Company received from DHL a demand for payment in full of the unsecured promissory note. In its demand, DHL asserted that the acquisition by the Company of CHI and the related financing transaction, which closed on December 31, 2007, constituted a “change of control” under the terms of the unsecured promissory note. The Company’s management and legal advisors do not believe a “change of control” occurred in connection with the CHI acquisition and, accordingly, have disputed DHL’s demand. The Company is prepared to litigate against DHL’s argument for repayment if necessary. In the event that it should become necessary to repay the note before January 2009, the Company established

 

15


Table of Contents

replacement financing of $61.0 million with certain former shareholders of CHI, which replacement financing is currently set to expire in January 2009. The replacement financing agreement would become unavailable if the Company is in default of the Credit Agreement.

NOTE I—COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Leases

The Company leases airport facilities and certain operating equipment under long-term operating lease agreements. ABX leases portions of the DHL Air Park and certain sorting equipment from DHL, and these payments are reimbursed to ABX by DHL without mark-up. The terms of such leases expire at the end of the transition period that would follow termination of the ACMI and Hub Services agreements.

Commitments

The Company has contracted with aircraft maintenance and modification providers to convert aircraft from passenger to freighter configuration. At September 30, 2008, the Company owned two Boeing 767 aircraft and one Boeing 757 aircraft that were in various stages of modification from passenger to standard freighter configuration. The Company anticipates costs of $22.4 million to complete the modification of these aircraft. Additionally, the Company is committed to purchase another Boeing 767 for approximately $23.5 million after the aircraft is completely modified to freighter configuration in 2009. The Company sold certain engines to a vendor for $5.3 million and has committed to lease engines from the vendor for $1.4 million per year for five years.

On September 15, 2008, CAM, entered into an agreement with Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (“IAI”) for the conversion of up to fourteen Boeing 767-200 package freighters to full freighter configuration. The conversion primarily consists of the installation of a standard cargo door and loading system. If CAM were to cancel the conversion program as of September 30, 2008, it would owe IAI, in addition to payments for aircraft currently undergoing modification, approximately $6.0 million for non-recurring engineering and approximately $7.1 million associated with additional conversion part kits which have been ordered.

Guarantees and Indemnifications

Certain operating leases and agreements of the Company contain indemnification obligations to the lessor, service provider or vendor that are considered ordinary and customary (e.g. use, tax, environmental and employee indemnifications), the terms of which range in duration and are often limited. Such indemnification obligations may continue after expiration of the respective lease or agreement.

Legal Proceedings

Arbitration under the ACMI Agreement and the Hub Services Agreement

On November 15, 2007, DHL filed a demand for arbitration with the American Arbitration Association in accordance with the dispute resolution provisions under the ACMI agreement and Hub Services agreement. DHL sought certain declarations, including that (i) ABX may not include fuel costs as revenues under the ACMI agreement for purposes of determining whether it receives more than 10% of its revenues from other customers; (ii) ABX exceeded the 10% threshold in the second quarter of 2007 and therefore must begin absorbing a portion of its overhead for the second quarter of 2007 and each quarter going forward under the Agreements; and (iii) DHL is not obligated to reimburse ABX for the costs incurred in maintaining its status as a public company, including those costs incurred in evaluating a recent unsolicited indication of interest from ASTAR.

On December 5, 2007, ABX filed an answer and counterclaim denying DHL’s claims and requesting certain declarations, including that (i) DHL was in default of the ACMI agreement and Hub Services agreement; (ii) reimbursable costs, including fuel costs, were properly included as revenue under the Agreements for purposes of determining whether ABX had crossed the 10% threshold, and (iii) costs incurred by ABX in maintaining its status as a public company were properly included in the cost recovery amount under the Agreements.

An arbitration hearing was held from May 19-23, 2008 and on June 13, 2008. Thereafter, on July 15, 2008, the arbitration panel issued an award holding that (i) DHL had failed to demonstrate that ABX had incorrectly treated the reimbursement for its fuel expenditures as revenue under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, and therefore ABX’s revenues from sources other than DHL did not exceed 10% of its total revenues during the second quarter of 2007, (ii) the costs incurred by ABX in maintaining its status as a public company are reimbursable under the Agreements, (iii) the 10% threshold had been crossed on January 1, 2008, in conjunction with the acquisition of CHI, and the parties are therefore required to begin negotiating in good

 

16


Table of Contents

faith a reasonable allocation of overhead costs attributable to ABX’s third-party business, (iv) ABX is solely responsible for expenses it incurred to consider and analyze an expression of interest from ASTAR in acquiring ABX, and to prepare and complete the acquisition of CHI at year-end 2007, and (v) DHL’s withholding of $8.8 million in payments to ABX for a 10-day period last November was not a material default under the Agreements.

DHL subsequently wrote to the AAA in mid-August requesting for the panel to clarify the award with respect to whether DHL is required to reimburse ABX for its legal expenses arising from the arbitration and the extent to which DHL has the right to audit and potentially seek an adjustment with respect to ABX’s historical overhead costs attributable to third party services that were charged to DHL. ABX wrote to the AAA in opposition to the request and, in late-September, the AAA determined that it would not hear the matter.

Thereafter, on October 14, 2008, DHL filed a petition with the New York State Supreme Court seeking to confirm its interpretation of the Award, which matter is currently pending. However, on November 10, 2008, the parties settled this matter, pursuant to which: (i) DHL will reimburse ABX for $2.2 million in legal expenses arising from the arbitration and ABX will pay for any such expenses that are in excess of this amount; (ii) DHL will withdraw its assertion that it has the right to audit and seek an adjustment with respect to amounts that it reimbursed to ABX prior to January 1, 2008; (iii) the ACMl agreement will be amended to provide for a fixed markup of $7.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2008 and $3.6 million under the Hub Services Agreement for the first quarter of 2009; (iv) the Hub Services Agreement will be amended to provide for a fixed markup of $4.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2008 and $2.0 million for the first quarter of 2009; and (v) the parties agreed to specify an overhead allocation of $800,000 under the agreements for each quarter during 2008 and the first quarter of 2009. See Note B to the consolidated financial statements of this report for additional information.

Alleged Violations of Immigration Laws

ABX reported in January of 2005 that it was cooperating fully with an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) with respect to Garcia Labor Co., Inc., (“Garcia”) a temporary employment agency based in Morristown, Tennessee, and ABX’s use of contract employees that were being supplied to it by Garcia. The investigation concerns the immigration status of the Garcia employees assigned to ABX.

ABX terminated its contract with Garcia in February of 2005 and replaced the Garcia employees.

In October of 2005, the DOJ notified ABX that ABX and a few Company employees in its human resources department, in addition to Garcia, were targets of a criminal investigation. ABX cooperated fully with the investigation. In June of 2006, a non-senior management employee of the Company entered a plea to a misdemeanor related to this matter. In July of 2006, a federal grand jury indictment was unsealed charging two Garcia companies, the president of Garcia and two of their corporate officers with numerous counts involving the violation of federal immigration laws. The Garcia defendants subsequently entered guilty pleas in U.S. district court and were sentenced in February and March of 2007. No proceedings have been initiated against ABX by the DOJ. While ABX believes it has adequately reserved for potential losses stemming from the investigation, it’s possible that, in the event proceedings were initiated against ABX that resulted in an adverse finding, ABX could be subjected to a financial penalty that is materially greater than the amount it has accrued and restrictions on its ability to engage in business with agencies of the U.S. Government.

On April 13, 2007, a former ABX employee filed a complaint against ABX, a total of three current and former executives and managers of ABX, DHL, Garcia Labor Company of Ohio, and three former executives of the Garcia Labor companies, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. The case was filed as a putative class action against the defendants, and asserts violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Practices Act (RICO). The complaint, which seeks damages in an unspecified amount, alleges that the defendants engaged in a scheme to hire illegal immigrant workers to depress the wages paid to hourly wage employees during the period from December 1999 to January 2005. ABX filed a motion to dismiss on June 11, 2007, which was subsequently granted on March 25, 2008, with respect to DHL and ABX. On March 24, 2008, the total of three current and former executives and managers of ABX filed an answer denying the allegations in the complaint. Thereafter, on October 1, 2008, Plaintiff filed a motion to dismiss the case without prejudice and, on October 21, 2008, the remaining defendants filed a motion for the purpose of clarifying the record. The court issued an order dismissing the matter on November 3, 2008.

Other

In addition to the foregoing matters, the Company is also currently a party to legal proceedings in various federal and state jurisdictions arising out of the operation of their business. The amount of alleged liability, if any, from these proceedings cannot be determined with certainty; however, the Company believes that their ultimate liability, if any, arising from the pending legal proceedings, as well as from asserted legal claims and known potential legal claims which are probable of assertion, taking into account established accruals for estimated liabilities, should not be material to their financial condition or results of operations.

 

17


Table of Contents

NOTE J—COMPONENTS OF NET PERIODIC BENEFIT COST

ABX sponsors a qualified defined benefit pension plan for its flight crewmembers and a qualified defined benefit pension plan for its other employees that meet minimum eligibility requirements. ABX also sponsors non-qualified defined benefit pension plans for certain employees. These non-qualified plans are unfunded. ABX also sponsors a post-retirement healthcare plan, which is unfunded.

The accounting and valuation for these post-retirement obligations are determined by prescribed accounting and actuarial methods that consider a number of assumptions and estimates. The selection of appropriate assumptions and estimates is significant due to the long time period over which benefits will be accrued and paid. The long-term nature of these benefit payouts increases the sensitivity of certain estimates on our post-retirement costs. The Company’s net periodic benefit cost for its qualified defined benefit pensions and post-retirement healthcare plans are as follows (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended September 30    Nine Months Ended September 30
     Pension Plans     Post-retirement
Healthcare Plan
   Pension Plans     Post-retirement
Healthcare Plan
     2008     2007     2008    2007    2008     2007     2008    2007

Service cost

   $ 8,327     $ 8,924     $ 467    $ 546    $ 24,982     $ 26,772     $ 1,401    $ 1,638

Interest cost

     9,631       8,351       466      495      28,892       25,053       1,398      1,485

Expected return on plan assets

     (9,092 )     (7,950 )     —        —        (27,275 )     (23,850 )     —        —  

Amortization of prior service cost

     1,247       1,205       —        —        3,741       3,615       —        —  

Amortization of net loss

     481       1,490       18      158      1,442       4,472       54      474
                                                           

Net periodic benefit cost

   $ 10,594     $ 12,020     $ 951    $ 1,199    $ 31,782     $ 36,062     $ 2,853    $ 3,597
                                                           

During the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2008, the Company paid $18.7 million and $29.7 million of contributions to its defined benefit pension plans, respectively. The Company presently anticipates contributing an additional $10.2 million to fund its pension plans during the remainder of 2008 for a total of $39.9 million.

Turbulence in the financial markets has negatively affected the Company’s funded pension plans. Through September 30, 2008 year-to-date losses of approximately 13% of plan assets decreases the funded status of the plans and increases ABX’s pension liability. Based on existing laws, the increase in the unfunded status could increase the contributions ABX is expected to make into the plans in 2009. Due to recent market volatility and complexity of the calculations, it is difficult to predict the effect on the plans’ unfunded status as it is dependent on several factors, including the discount rate, actual returns on plan assets and other actuarial assumptions. Final determination of the pension liability, contribution requirements and 2009 benefit cost will only be known on the measurement date, which is December 31, 2008.

NOTE K—STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

The Company’s Board of Directors has granted stock incentive awards to certain employees and board members pursuant to a long-term incentive plan which was approved by the Company’s stockholders in May 2005. Employees have been awarded non-vested stock units with performance conditions, non-vested stock units with market conditions and non-vested restricted stock. Board members were granted time-based awards. Restricted stock and time-based awards vest over a specified service period. The non-vested stock units will be converted at the end of a specified service period into a number of shares of Company stock depending on performance and market conditions. The Company expects to settle all of the stock unit awards by issuing new shares of stock. The table below summarizes award activity.

 

18


Table of Contents
     Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2008
   Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2007
     Number of
shares
    Weighted
average
grant date
value
   Number of
shares
    Weighted
average
grant date
value

Outstanding at beginning of period

   748,700     $ 7.64    597,000     $ 7.37

Granted

   1,353,800       2.95    319,100       8.13

Exercised

   (131,950 )     6.21    (22,200 )     7.48

Cancelled

   (62,150 )     9.91    —         —  
                 

Outstanding at end of period

   1,908,400     $ 4.34    893,900     $ 7.64
                 

Vested

   151,400     $ 3.80    101,800     $ 7.56

The grant-date fair value of each performance condition award, non-vested restricted stock award and time-based award granted by the Company in 2008 was $2.94 and $3.00, the value of the Company’s stock on the date of grants. The grant-date fair value of each market condition award granted in 2008 was $2.95 and $3.01. The market condition awards were valued using a Monte Carlo simulation technique, a risk-free interest rate of 1.71%, a term of 36 months, and a volatility of 41.5% based on historical volatility over three years using daily stock prices.

For each of the nine month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, the Company recorded expense of $1.9 million and $2.0 million, respectively, for stock incentive awards. At September 30, 2008, there was $2.9 million of unrecognized expense related to the stock incentive awards that is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.4 years. As of September 30, 2008, awards totaling 2,269,900 had been granted and 1,908,400 awards were outstanding. None of the awards were convertible, and none of the outstanding shares of restricted stock had vested as of September 30, 2008. These awards could result in a maximum number of 2,373,000 additional outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock depending on service, performance and market results through December 31, 2010.

NOTE L—DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

To reduce the effects of fluctuating LIBOR-based interest rates on interest payments that stem from its variable rate outstanding debt, the Company entered into interest rate swaps having combined notional values of $135.0 million in January 2008. The notional values step downward in conjunction with the underlying debt through December 31, 2012. Under the interest rate swap agreements, the Company will pay a fixed rate of 3.105% and receive a floating rate that resets quarterly based on LIBOR. For the outstanding notional value, the Company expects that the amounts received from the floating leg of the interest rate swap will offset fluctuating payments for interest expense because interest rates for its outstanding debt and the interest rate swap are both based on LIBOR and reset quarterly.

The table below provides information about the Company’s interest rate swaps at September 30, 2008 (in thousands):

 

Expiration

Date

   Notional
Amount
   Stated
Interest
Rate
    Market
value
(liability)

12/31/2012

   $ 85,000    3.11 %   $ 2,072

12/31/2012

     50,000    3.11 %     1,217

To reduce its exposure to rising interest rates on anticipated aircraft financing transactions, during the first quarter of 2006, ABX entered into five forward treasury lock agreements (“treasury locks”) with settlement dates near the forecasted execution dates of the anticipated financing transactions. ABX anticipated aircraft financing under fixed interest rate loans based on the interest rates of ten-year U.S. Treasury Notes. The values of the treasury locks were based on the ten-year U. S. Treasury interest rates, effectively offsetting the effect of changing interest rates on the anticipated loan transactions. The final remaining treasury lock was with a major U.S. financial institution and settled in cash in July 2007. In accordance with SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” the Company accounted for the treasury locks as cash flow hedges. The treasury locks were evaluated and deemed to be highly effective as hedges at inception and upon expiration. The Company recorded unrealized gains or losses resulting from the changes in fair value in the consolidated balance sheets under accumulated other comprehensive income in stockholders’ equity. These gains and losses are recognized into earnings over the terms of the loan transactions.

 

19


Table of Contents

NOTE M—COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Comprehensive income includes the following transactions for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30
    Nine Months Ended
September 30
 
     Before
Tax
    Income Tax
(Expense)
Benefit
    Net of Tax     Before
Tax
    Income Tax
(Expense)
Benefit
    Net of Tax  

2008

            

Net income

       $ 4,965         $ 8,226  

Other comprehensive income:

            

Unrealized gain on marketable securities

   $ 14     $ (5 )     9     $ 22     $ (8 )     14  

Unrealized gain (loss) on hedge derivatives

     (1,087 )     394       (693 )     3,288       (1,194 )     2,094  

Reclassifications to net income:

            

Hedging gain realized in net income

     (30 )     12       (18 )     (92 )     34       (58 )

Pension actuarial loss

     481       (198 )     283       1,442       (547 )     895  

Post-retirement actuarial loss

     18       (10 )     8       54       (23 )     31  

Pension prior service cost

     1,247       (513 )     734       3,741       (1,418 )     2,323  
                                                

Total other comprehensive income

   $ 643     $ (320 )     323     $ 8,455     $ (3,156 )     5,299  
                        

Comprehensive income

       $ 5,288         $ 13,525  
                        

2007

            

Net income

       $ 2,447         $ 11,259  

Other comprehensive income:

            

Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities

   $ (18 )   $ 7       (11 )   $ (26 )   $ 10       (16 )

Unrealized gain on hedge derivatives

     —         —         —         329       (125 )     204  

Reclassifications to net income:

            

Hedging gain realized in net income

     (30 )     11       (19 )     (77 )     29       (48 )

Pension actuarial loss

     1,491       (493 )     998       4,472       (1,626 )     2,846  

Post-retirement actuarial loss

     157       (51 )     106       474       (171 )     303  

Pension prior service cost

     1,206       (399 )     807       3,615       (1,314 )     2,301  
                                                

Total other comprehensive income

   $ 2,806     $ (925 )     1,881     $ 8,787     $ (3,197 )     5,590  
                        

Comprehensive income

       $ 4,328         $ 16,849  
                        

NOTE N—EARNINGS PER SHARE

The calculation of basic and diluted earnings per common share follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30
   Nine Months Ended
September 30
     2008    2007    2008    2007

Net income applicable to common stockholders

   $ 4,965    $ 2,447    $ 8,226    $ 11,259
                           

Weighted-average shares outstanding for basic earnings per share

     62,508      58,288      62,462      58,284

Common equivalent shares:

           

Effect of stock-based compensation awards

     123      462      193      374
                           

Weighted-average shares outstanding assuming dilution

     62,631      58,750      62,655      58,658
                           

Basic earnings per share

   $ 0.08    $ 0.04    $ 0.13    $ 0.19
                           

Diluted earnings per share

   $ 0.08    $ 0.04    $ 0.13    $ 0.19
                           

The number of equivalent shares that were not included in weighted average shares outstanding assuming dilution, because their effect would have been anti-dilutive, is approximately 2,573,000 shares.

 

20


Table of Contents

NOTE O—SEGMENT INFORMATION

The Company operates in three reportable segments, as described below. The DHL segment consists of the air cargo transportation, logistics and package handling services provided to DHL under the ACMI and Hub Services agreements. The DHL segment earnings include interest expense that is reimbursed under the DHL agreement. The ACMI services segment consists of the ACMI and charter services that the Company provides outside of the ACMI agreement with DHL. The CAM segment consists of the Company’s aircraft leasing operations, and its segment earnings includes an allocation of interest expense based on aircraft values. The Company’s other activities, which include contracts with the U.S. Postal Service, aircraft parts sales and maintenance services, fuel management and logistics services, do not constitute reportable segments and are combined in “All other” with interest income and unallocated interest expense. Cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities and deferred tax assets are reflected in Assets – All other below (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended September 30    Nine Months Ended September 30
     2008     2007    2008     2007

Total revenues:

         

DHL

   $ 276,781     $ 260,562    $ 837,933     $ 792,395

ACMI services

     116,876       16,704      316,880       37,911

CAM

     11,964       —        33,677       —  

All other

     15,142       8,698      33,095       25,017

Eliminate Inter-segment revenues

     (17,668 )     —        (41,574 )     —  
                             

Total

   $ 403,095     $ 285,964    $ 1,180,011     $ 855,323
                             

Customer revenues

         

DHL

   $ 276,781     $ 260,562    $ 837,933     $ 792,395

ACMI services

     110,570       16,704      308,381       37,911

CAM

     602       —        602       —  

All other

     15,142       8,698      33,095       25,017
                             

Total

   $ 403,095     $ 285,964    $ 1,180,011     $ 855,323
                             

Depreciation and amortization expense:

         

DHL

   $ 10,175     $ 10,484    $ 30,879     $ 31,329

ACMI services

     9,578       2,828      26,183       6,389

CAM

     4,530       —        10,996       —  

All other

     212       190      607       564
                             

Total

   $ 24,495     $ 13,502    $ 68,665     $ 38,282
                             

Pre-tax earnings (loss):

         

DHL

   $ 3,675     $ 3,163    $ 8,721     $ 10,383

ACMI services

     890       191      1,206       3,396

CAM

     4,038       —        13,204       —  

All other

     (2,615 )     1,341      (11,065 )     5,103
                             

Total

   $ 5,988     $ 4,695    $ 12,066     $ 18,882
                             

 

     September 30,
2008
   December 31,
2007

Assets:

     

DHL

   $ 296,197    $ 336,345

ACMI services

     411,786      521,518

CAM

     244,281      135,147

All other

     133,897      169,957
             

Total

   $ 1,086,161    $ 1,162,967
             

Prior to 2008, all ABX overhead expenses were reimbursed by DHL. Beginning in 2008, a portion of overhead expenses are reflected in All other above and not reimbursed by DHL. The provisions of the commercial agreements with DHL did not require an allocation of overhead until such time as ABX derived more than 10% of its total revenue from ABX’s non-DHL business activities. In July 2008, an arbitration panel ruled that the 10% threshold was met on January 1, 2008.

 

21


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

The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis has been prepared with reference to the historical financial condition and results of operations of Air Transport Services Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries. Air Transport Services Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries may hereinafter individually and collectively be referred to as “the Company,” “we,” “our” or “us” from time to time. The following discussion and analysis describes the principal factors affecting the results of operations, financial condition, cash flows, liquidity and capital resources. It should be read in conjunction with the accompanying unaudited financial statements and the related notes contained in this report and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

INTRODUCTION

Air Transport Services Group, Inc. is a holding company whose principal subsidiaries include three independently certificated airlines: ABX Air, Inc. (“ABX”), Capital Cargo International Airlines, Inc. (“CCIA”) and Air Transport International, LLC (“ATI”).

On December 31, 2007, ABX was reorganized such that it became a subsidiary under a holding company structure. The holding company, Air Transport Services Group, Inc., acquired all outstanding ownership of Orlando, Florida based Cargo Holdings International, Inc. (“CHI”) on December 31, 2007. CHI was the parent company of CCIA and ATI. The acquisition of CHI also included Cargo Aircraft Management, Inc. (“CAM”), an aircraft leasing company. The consolidated financial statements of the Company include the results of CHI and its primary subsidiaries, including CAM, CCIA, and ATI, as of the date of acquisition; accordingly, the activities of CHI are not included in the Company’s consolidated statements of earnings or consolidated statements of cash flows for 2007.

The Company has three reportable segments which are described below: DHL, ACMI Services, and CAM.

DHL

DHL Express (USA), Inc. and DHL Network Operations (USA), Inc. (collectively, “DHL”) is the Company’s largest customer, accounting for approximately 69% and 71% of the Company’s revenue in the third quarter and first nine months of 2008. Under an aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance agreement (“ACMI agreement”) and a Hub Services agreement, ABX provides airlift, package handling, warehousing, and other cargo related services to DHL. ABX provides staffing, maintenance and management services for DHL’s main air hub and package sorting center in Wilmington, Ohio and for fifteen DHL regional sort facilities in the U.S. Expenses incurred under these agreements are generally marked-up by 1.75% (the base mark-up) and included in revenues. Both agreements also allow ABX to earn incremental mark-up above the 1.75% base mark-up (up to an additional 1.60% under the ACMI agreement and an additional 2.10% under the Hub Services agreement) from the achievement of certain cost-related and service goals specified in the two agreements. Fuel, rent, interest on the promissory note to DHL, and ramp and landing fees incurred under the ACMI agreement are the most significant cost items reimbursed without mark-up. At September 30, 2008, ABX had 27 Boeing 767 aircraft and 39 DC-9 aircraft in service under the DHL ACMI agreement.

ACMI Services

Through its airline subsidiaries, the Company provides airlift to other airlines, freight forwarders and the U.S. military, typically through ACMI agreements. The airlines serve a variety of customers in the air cargo industry by flying in North America, South America and Asia. At September 30, 2008, ABX operated 12 Boeing 767-200 freighter aircraft that were not under the DHL ACMI agreement, while CCIA and ATI operated 15 aircraft and 17 aircraft, respectively. Customers are usually charged based on the number of block hours flown, and typical agreements specify a minimum number of block hours to be charged monthly. CCIA and ATI each have contracts to provide airlift to BAX Global, Inc. (“BAX”) under ACMI agreements. BAX provides freight transportation and supply chain management services, specializing in the heavy freight market for business-to-business shipping. ATI also provides passenger transportation primarily to the U.S. military using its DC-8 combi aircraft that are certified to carry passengers as well as cargo on the main flight deck. The Company also provides supplemental airlift to DHL under additional ACMI arrangements.

 

22


Table of Contents

CAM

The Company offers aircraft leasing through its CAM subsidiary. CAM had 34 aircraft that were under lease and in service during the third quarter of 2008, 32 of them to ABX, ATI and CCIA. CAM leases two 767 Boeing aircraft, both under seven year terms to an outside airline, beginning in the third quarter of 2008.

Other Activities

In addition to its ACMI services, the Company sells aircraft parts and provides aircraft maintenance services to other airlines. Through a wholly-owned subsidiary, the Company operates three U.S. Postal Services sorting facilities. The Company also provides specialized services for aircraft fuel management and freight logistics. These other business activities do not constitute reportable segments. Other activities include general and administrative expenses not associated with the DHL commercial agreements, including an allocation of ABX’s overhead expenses, starting January 1, 2008.

OUTLOOK

DHL U.S. Network

On May 28, 2008, DHL announced a plan to restructure its U.S. business and negotiate an agreement with United Parcel Service Inc. (“UPS”) to provide air uplift and other services for DHL’s U.S. domestic and international shipments within North America. Additionally, under that plan, DHL would take over management of the regional hubs currently managed by ABX throughout the U.S. If DHL and UPS successfully negotiated an agreement, the Company expected that substantially all of the services that ABX provides to DHL would be transitioned to UPS or DHL by the middle of 2009. Approximately 6,000 ABX employees in Wilmington, Ohio would have been affected.

Since May 2008, DHL has experienced a precipitous drop in its domestic freight volumes. On November 10, 2008, DHL announced a revised plan in which DHL will discontinue intra-U.S. domestic pickup and delivery services in January 2009. DHL would instead provide only international services to and from the U.S. Under this plan, the regional hubs will be closed and the sort operations in Wilmington will be downsized to approximately 600 ABX employees to process international shipments. DHL continues to pursue a contract with UPS to provide air and ground transportation for DHL’s international shipments only.

The Company has attempted to present its own revised U.S. network plan to DHL, containing significant cost savings. However, DHL has indicated that it is unable to discuss the plan with ABX while DHL is in negotiations with UPS. ABX cannot reasonably predict how long negotiations between UPS and DHL may last, to what extent they may reach an outsourcing agreement or a transition timetable. ABX has begun to discuss and negotiate termination and wind-down costs with DHL, including employee severance and retention arrangements. In August 2008, ABX and DHL executed a severance and retention agreement. The agreement specifies employee severance and retention benefits that DHL will pay to ABX in conjunction with its U.S. restructuring plan. DHL will reimburse ABX for the cost of non-union employee severance and retention benefits paid in accordance with the agreement. The same agreement includes provisions to pay ABX for crewmember benefits if ABX and the collective bargaining unit for the crewmembers can reach an agreement in regards to the use of those funds for severance, retention or other issues arising from DHL’s U.S. restructuring plan.

ABX management is accelerating and expanding its diversification plans. In the absence of operating such a large aircraft fleet for DHL, management anticipates that it will sell nearly all of the remaining DC-9 aircraft to DHL as they are removed from service under the aircraft put provisions of the ACMI agreement. Additionally, management expects to put to DHL several of the 23 non-standard freighter Boeing 767 aircraft that are currently in service to DHL under the ACMI Agreement. The proceeds from these aircraft would be used to help finance the modification of certain remaining Boeing 767 aircraft from a passenger door loading system to a standard freighter configuration. The Company is in discussions to redeploy a significant number of Boeing 767 aircraft on a more profitable basis, with both new and existing customers under dry lease or ACMI arrangements. Other business development opportunities for ABX include expanded aircraft maintenance and repair operations and additional mail sorting and mail transport contracts with the USPS. If DHL completes its plan with UPS or otherwise substantially reduces its operations in the U.S., ABX will need to significantly restructure, downsize and achieve wage concessions in order to competitively pursue new business development.

 

23


Table of Contents

The Company’s financial condition will be impacted by uncertainties stemming from DHL’s U.S. restructuring plan. These uncertainties include the following:

 

   

The speed at which DHL terminates services under the ACMI and Hub Services agreements including services provided through the regional hubs.

 

   

ATSG’s ability to remain in compliance with its credit agreements and maintain access to liquidity as it attempts to replace cash flows lost by DHL’s transition to UPS or the scaling back of its U.S. operations.

 

   

The speed at which ABX is able to redeploy its aircraft with other customers.

 

   

ABX’s success in implementing cost restructuring initiatives, including the negotiation of a collective bargaining agreement with flight crews that is competitive in the ACMI marketplace.

 

   

The amounts and timing of reimbursement by DHL of termination costs under the ACMI and Hub Services agreements, including aircraft, equipment and property lease termination costs, maintenance agreement termination costs and severance benefits, as well as, DHL’s reimbursement of other costs arising from the wind-down of services under the agreements, including funding of pension plans.

 

   

ATSG’s and ABX’s continued access to the airport, hangar and office facilities in Wilmington, Ohio.

Overhead allocation

In November 2007, ABX and DHL agreed to arbitrate provisions of their ACMI and Hub Services agreements that cover the allocation of ABX’s overhead expenses between DHL and ABX’s non-DHL operations. DHL sought certain declarations, including that (i) ABX may not include fuel costs as revenues under the ACMI agreement for purposes of determining whether it receives more than 10% of its revenues from other customers; (ii) ABX exceeded the 10% threshold in the second quarter of 2007 and therefore must begin absorbing a portion of its overhead for the second quarter of 2007 and each quarter going forward under the Agreements; and (iii) DHL is not obligated to reimburse ABX for the costs incurred in maintaining its status as a public company, including those costs incurred in evaluating a recent unsolicited indication of interest from ASTAR.

ABX pursued its position through arbitration. In February 2008, a three-member arbitration panel was selected, and in July, the panel issued its award. The arbitrators ruled that that (i) DHL had failed to demonstrate that ABX had incorrectly treated the reimbursement for its fuel expenditures as revenue under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, and therefore ABX’s revenues from sources other than DHL did not exceed 10% of its total revenues during the second quarter of 2007, (ii) the costs incurred by ABX in maintaining its status as a public company are reimbursable under the Agreements, (iii) the 10% threshold had been crossed on January 1, 2008, in conjunction with the acquisition of CHI, and the parties are therefore required to begin negotiating in good faith a reasonable allocation of overhead costs attributable to ABX’s third-party business, (iv) ABX is solely responsible for expenses it incurred to consider and analyze an expression of interest from ASTAR in acquiring ABX, and to prepare and complete the acquisition of CHI at year-end 2007, and (v) DHL’s withholding of $8.8 million in payments to ABX for a 10-day period last November was not a material default under the Agreements.

In accordance with the arbitrators’ ruling, the Company recorded a $2.5 million non-reimbursable expense in the second quarter of 2008 associated with the ASTAR indication of interest and issued a corresponding expense credit to DHL. Additionally, to allocate overhead cost, the Company posted a credit of $1.6 million to expense subject to mark-up, thus reducing revenue from DHL and increasing non-DHL expenses for the first six months of 2008. For the third quarter of 2008, ABX allocated $0.8 million of overhead expenses to non-DHL. These pre-tax charges are recorded in “Other operating” expenses and reflected in “Other activities.” ABX and DHL have agreed to a fixed overhead allocation of $0.8 million per quarter through the first quarter of 2009.

ABX and DHL disagreed on the application of certain provisions of the arbitrators’ ruling. In November 2008, ABX and DHL agreed to resolve these interpretation differences regarding the arbitrators’ ruling. DHL agreed to reimburse ABX for $2.2 million of ABX’s legal expenses arising from the arbitration, while ABX agreed to pay any such expenses in excess of that amount. DHL agreed to drop its assertion that it could reexamine and seek an adjustment with respect to ABX’s accounting for costs prior to January 1, 2008. Based on the settlement agreement, ABX will reverse a provision of $2.2 million it established in the second quarter of 2008 reserving DHL’s reimbursement of the legal expenses in the fourth quarter of 2008. Additionally, the settlement agreement sets the overhead allocation charge at $0.8 million per quarter through March 2009.

DHL Mark-ups

DHL and ABX have negotiated specific base and incremental mark-up amounts for the fourth quarter of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009 for the ACMI and Hub Services contracts. The amount of base and incremental mark-up is patterned from the actual mark-ups that ABX earned in 2007.

 

24


Table of Contents

For the fourth quarter of 2008 DHL will pay ABX $7.0 million in mark-ups under the modified ACMI agreement, and $4.5 million in mark-ups under the modified Hub Services agreement. Total mark-up payments to ABX will be $11.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2008, or six percent more than the $10.8 million in mark-ups that ABX earned in the fourth quarter of 2007. For the first quarter of 2009, DHL will pay ABX $5.6 million or $3.6 million in mark-ups under the modified ACMI agreement, and $2.0 million in mark-ups under the modified Hub Services agreement. First-quarter 2009 markup will include amounts for service and cost incentives that in prior years were recorded in the fourth quarter.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Summary

Consolidated revenues increased 41% and 38% in the third quarter and the first nine months of 2008 compared to 2007, primarily due to the acquisition of CHI on December 31, 2007. Revenues from CHI comprised approximately $100.4 million of the $117.1 million increase in consolidated revenues over the third quarter of 2007 and $264.8 million of the $324.7 million increase over the first nine months of 2007. Revenues from the DHL agreements increased approximately $16.2 million and $45.5 million for the third quarter and first nine months of 2008, as higher aircraft fuel prices drove reimbursable revenues up approximately 50% and 48%, respectively, and outpaced declines in ABX’s revenues from costs subject to mark-up.

For the third quarter of 2008, the Company recorded net earnings of $5.0 million, compared to $2.4 million in the third quarter of 2007. Improved earnings for the third quarter of 2008 were driven by the acquisition of CHI and lower deferred income tax expense. Results for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 included two non-recurring charges 1) Expenses of $2.5 million, associated with the ASTAR indication of interest as stipulated by the arbitration ruling and 2) a deferral of $2.2 million of revenue stemming from a disagreement with DHL over the cost of the arbitration. We expect to recognize the $2.2 million of revenue once a formal settlement with DHL is finalized in the fourth quarter of 2008.

The CHI operations, including CAM, ATI and CCIA, contributed approximately $2.9 million and $6.2 million to net earnings for the three and nine month periods ending September 30, 2008, respectively, after deducting interest expenses associated with the acquisition financing.

DHL Segment

Our pre-tax earnings from the DHL segment increased $0.5 million in the third quarter of 2008 and decreased $1.7 million for the first nine months of 2008 compared to the corresponding periods of 2007. The third quarter increase was due primarily to recording revenue for Hub Services incremental mark-up. The decrease for the first nine months of 2008 was due primarily to a revenue reduction of $2.2 million for disputed arbitration expenses partially offset by increases in incremental mark-up.

Our costs subject to mark-up during the three and nine month periods ended of 2008 declined approximately 13% and 11%, respectively compared to the corresponding 2007 periods. Costs subject to mark-up have declined compared to 2007 due to the transfer of the Riverside, California and South Bend, Indiana hubs to DHL management during 2007, the removal of DC-9 aircraft from the ACMI agreement and the transfer of the Ohio logistics services operations in 2008. Our earnings are affected by declines in DHL’s business volume, which have been negatively impacted by deteriorating economic conditions in the U.S. and the erosion of DHL’s customer base since June 2008. Flight hours flown and parcels processed for DHL have declined in the third quarter of 2008 compared to previous periods. Parcels processed for DHL declined 23% and 14% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, respectively compared to the corresponding periods of the previous year. Aircraft block hours flown for DHL under the ACMI agreement decreased 10% and 3% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods in 2007.

Under the two agreements with DHL, we have the potential to earn additional revenues from an incremental mark-up each quarter based on achieving certain cost-related goals. We earned $0.6 million and $2.0 million of incremental mark-up under the ACMI agreement during the third quarter and first nine months of 2008 compared to $0.6 million and $1.7 million for the corresponding periods in 2007. We recorded $0.3 million of incremental mark-up under the Hub Services agreement during the third quarter of 2008 and no mark-up in 2007. For the first nine months of 2008, we earned $0.4 million of incremental mark-up under the Hub Services agreement, while no mark-up was earned in 2007. Because DHL’s transition has a significant impact on operations and ABX’s cost-related goals, DHL agreed during the third quarter of 2008 to pay ABX a quarterly mark-up of $0.3 million, which ABX recorded in September 2008.

 

25


Table of Contents

No incremental mark-up contribution from the annual cost and service goals specified in the two agreements was included in our revenue for the third quarter or first nine months of 2008 and 2007. Revenue earned through the achievement of annual goals is recorded in the fourth quarter.

ACMI Services

ACMI Services revenues, excluding reimbursed expenses, were $79.4 million and $210.7 million for the third quarter and first nine months of 2008 increasing $62.7 million and $172.8 million compared to the corresponding periods in 2007. Approximately $1.5 million and $17.0 million of this growth for the third quarter and first nine months was organic to ABX, while the remaining increase resulted from the acquisition of CHI. ABX’s organic growth reflects the deployment of seven additional Boeing 767 aircraft into service since March 31, 2007.

The ACMI Services segment had pre-tax earnings of $0.9 million and a $1.2 million for the third quarter and first nine months of 2008. The ACMI Services segment had pre-tax earnings of $0.2 million and $3.4 million for the third quarter and first nine months of 2007. Segment results for ACMI Services were positively impacted when CCIA and ATI successfully added the Boeing 757 and the Boeing 767 to their respective FAA operating certificates during the third quarter of 2008. Segment results for the first nine months of 2008 declined compared to the corresponding 2007 period due to several factors. ABX incurred significant maintenance expenses compared to the corresponding 2007 periods due to planned C-checks, which are expensed as incurred for Boeing 767-200 aircraft. Flight crew wages were negatively impacted during 2008, when ABX flight crews decided not to voluntarily bid for extra flying, as is customary. As a result, ABX assigned the trips at an additional cost. Expenses during 2008 included additional expenses associated with ABX’s Asian operations while it finished the set-up of a domicile of flight crews and maintenance employees in Japan. During the first nine months of 2008, ATI and CCIA incurred approximately $1.1 million of expenses (excluding intercompany lease charges of $1.9 million from CAM) while completing the FAA certification process to add aircraft types to their respective operating certificates. ATI added the Boeing 767 to its operating certificate while CCIA added the Boeing 757.

ACMI Services results include revenues of $2.2 million and $5.3 million during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2008, respectively, from two Boeing 767 freighter aircraft that ABX supplies under a supplemental agreement for DHL. The supplemental agreement expires December 31, 2008 unless extended. Additionally, ABX charges a carrying cost to DHL for ad hoc usage of ABX Boeing 767 aircraft that are not under the ACMI agreement. Such costs are based on block hours flown and a pre-established rate. The costs are included in ACMI expenses subject to mark-up and accordingly reflected in the DHL segment revenues with a corresponding expense reduction to ACMI Services. ACMI Services expenses were credited $1.2 million and $4.1 million for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2008.

CAM

At September 30, 2008, CAM had 34 aircraft that were under lease; 32 of these aircraft were leased to subsidiaries of the Company. During the third quarter of 2008, CAM began leasing two Boeing 767 aircraft to an outside customer under a long-term lease. Segment earnings for CAM were $4.0 million and $13.2 million for the third quarter and first nine months and reflect an allocation of interest expense based on prevailing interest rates and the carrying value of its operating assets. CAM has two Boeing 767 aircraft and one Boeing 757 aircraft that are undergoing freighter modification and are expected to become ready for service during 2009.

Other activities and overhead expenses

Other Activities revenue increased to $15.1 million and $33.1 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2008 compared to $8.7 million and $25.0 million in the corresponding periods of 2008. Increased revenues were primarily a result of an increase in aircraft parts sales and maintenance services when compared to 2007. Much of the increase is due to internal aircraft maintenance services and parts sales. Internal sales and earnings are eliminated from the consolidated results.

The operating results of these business activities, combined with non-reimbursed administrative expenses resulted in a pre-tax loss of $0.2 million and $2.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, respectively, compared to $1.1 million and $3.4 million pre-tax earnings for the corresponding periods in 2007. The decline in 2008 compared to 2007 includes a charge of $2.5 million in the second quarter of 2008 for fees to evaluate an offer from ASTAR to acquire ABX in 2007. The decline also includes a $2.4 million charge for the allocation of ABX overhead to non-DHL, unreimbursed expenses. Additionally, expenses increased as a result of increased corporate and administrative expense related to CHI , as well as other expenses to support new business development. These expenses were partially offset by improved pre-tax earnings from our U.S. Postal Service operations.

 

26


Table of Contents

A summary of our revenues and segment earnings is shown below (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended September 30    Nine Months Ended September 30
     2008     2007    2008     2007

Revenues:

         

DHL

         

ACMI

         

Base mark-up

   $ 101,358     $ 108,873    $ 313,032     $ 334,760

Incremental mark-up

     590       587      1,967       1,724
                             

Total ACMI

     101,948       109,460      314,999       336,484

Hub Services

         

Base mark-up

     59,618       73,837      195,262       232,531

Incremental mark-up

     275       —        425       —  
                             

Total Hub Services

     59,893       73,837      195,687       232,531

Other Reimbursable

     115,711       77,265      330,223       223,380

Reimbursement reserve

     (771 )     —        (2,976 )     —  
                             

Total DHL

     276,781       260,562      837,933       792,395

ACMI Services

         

Charter and ACMI

     79,434       16,704      210,691       37,911

Other Reimbursable

     37,442       —        106,189       —  
                             

Total ACMI Services

     116,876       16,704      316,880       37,911

CAM

     11,964       —        33,677       —  

Other Activities

     15,142       8,698      33,095       25,017
                             

Total Revenues

     420,763       285,964      1,221,585       855,323

Eliminate internal revenue

     (17,668 )     —        (41,574 )     —  
                             

Customer Revenues

   $ 403,095     $ 285,964    $ 1,180,011     $ 855,323
                             

Pre-tax Earnings (Loss):

         

DHL

         

ACMI

   $ 2,326     $ 1,932    $ 5,721     $ 6,524

Hub Services

     1,349       1,231      3,000       3,859

Other Reimbursable

     —         —        —         —  
                             

Total DHL

     3,675       3,163      8,721       10,383

ACMI Services

     890       191      1,206       3,396

CAM, inclusive of interest expense

     4,038       —        13,204       —  

Other Activities and non-reimbursed overhead

     (231 )     1,136      (2,253 )     3,360

Net non-remibursed interest income (expense)

     (2,384 )     205      (8,812 )     1,743
                             

Total Pre-tax Earnings (Loss)

   $ 5,988     $ 4,695    $ 12,066     $ 18,882
                             

Note: Prior to 2008, all ABX overhead expenses were reimbursed by DHL. Beginning in 2008, a portion of overhead expenses are reflected in Other Activities above and not reimbursed by DHL. The provisions of the commercial agreements with DHL did not require an allocation of overhead until such time as ABX derived more than 10% of its total revenue from ABX’s non-DHL business activities. In July 2008, an arbitration panel ruled that the 10% threshold was met on January 1, 2008.

 

27


Table of Contents

LINE ITEM RESULTS

Our expenses for 2008 and comparisons to 2007 are significantly impacted by the acquisition of CHI on December 31, 2007. Our future expense levels will be impacted by the wind-down of DHL operations and the number of aircraft ABX operates for DHL. Additionally, the volatility of aviation fuel prices may have a significant impact on our expense and revenue levels.

Salaries, wages and benefits expense increased 4% and 1% during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2008, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods of 2007. This expense includes $12.1 million and $35.4 million for CHI salaries, wages and benefits during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2008, respectively. As a result of the acquisition, headcount increased by approximately 600. Our total expense reflects the transfer of the Riverside, California and South Bend, Indiana hubs to DHL in 2007, the transfer of all Ohio logistics services operations to DHL in 2008, and increased expenses for employee severance benefits. Future salaries, wages and benefit expense will be impacted by severance and retention benefits (see Note C).

Fuel expense increased $85.4 million and $236.2 million during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2008, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods of 2007. CHI accounted for $53.4 million and $136.8 million of fuel expense during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2008, respectively. In addition to fuel for the CHI operations, the average price of aviation fuel increased significantly compared to the third quarter of 2007. The average price of a gallon of aviation fuel increased 61% in the first nine months of 2008 compared to the first nine months of 2007.

Maintenance, materials and repairs increased $0.3 million and $8.9 million during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2008, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods of 2007. The acquisition of CHI accounted for $4.1 million and $10.1 million of the increase during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2008, respectively. ABX’s maintenance expenses declined due to reductions in its aircraft fleet.

Depreciation and amortization expense increased $11.0 million and $30.4 million during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2008, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods of 2007. The acquisition of CHI accounted for $10.7 million and $27.1 million of depreciation and amortization expense during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2008, respectively. The increase reflects the addition of two Boeing 767-200 aircraft that ABX placed in service since September 2007.

Landing and ramp expense, which includes the cost of deicing chemicals, increased $2.8 million and $10.2 million during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2008, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods of 2007. The acquisition of CHI accounted for $2.5 million and $8.1 million of the increase during the three and nine month periods ending September 30, 2008, respectively, while increased deicing expenses accounted for most of the remaining increase in expense.

Other operating expenses include pilot travel, professional fees, insurance, utilities, costs of parts sold to non-DHL customers and packaging supplies. Other operating expenses increased by $3.5 million and $19.1 million in the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2008, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods of 2007. The CHI operations accounted for $7.0 million and $19.5 million of the increase during the three and nine month periods ending September 30, 2008, respectively. ABX’s travel expenses declined in the third quarter of 2008 compared to the third quarter of 2007 when ABX was rotating crews to Japan. In 2008, ABX established a domicile in Japan, reducing crew travel. Additionally, during the third quarter of 2007, ABX incurred significant professional fees associated with an evaluation of an indication of interest to acquire the Company.

Interest expense increased $4.9 million and $17.4 million during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2008, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods of 2007. Interest expense increased primarily due to acquisition financing in conjunction with the Company’s purchase of CHI. The unsubordinated term loan of $270 million bore interest at 6.77% during the third quarter of 2008. Additionally, the Company has at times drawn from the revolving credit facility during 2008. Also, since September of 2007, the Company has borrowed through two additional aircraft term loans. Higher interest rates driven by tight lending markets will increase the Company’s interest expense during the fourth quarter of 2008.

Interest income decreased by $0.7 million and $1.6 million during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2008, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods of 2007 due to lower invested balances and short-term interest rates on our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities.

The provision for income taxes for interim periods is based on management’s best estimate of the effective income tax rate expected to be applicable for the current year, plus any adjustments arising from changes in the estimated amount of taxable income related to prior periods. Income taxes recorded through September 30, 2008 have been estimated utilizing a 39.5% rate based on year-to-date income and projected results for the full year. The final effective tax rate to be applied to 2008 will depend on the actual amount of pre-tax book income generated by the Company for the full year, excluding discrete items.

 

28


Table of Contents

The effective tax rate for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2008 was 17% and 32%, respectively, compared to 49% and 41% for the corresponding 2007 periods. Certain discrete items reduced the overall effective tax rate in 2008 compared to 2007. Due to the completion of the IRS examination, the Company recorded a $1.3 million reduction to its FIN 48 contingencies during the third quarter of 2008. This decrease in the contingency is reflected on the financial statements as an increase to the net operating loss deferred tax assets (“NOL”) asset, and a benefit to deferred tax expense. During the second quarter of 2008, the Company placed a valuation allowance against state NOLs of $0.6 million due to uncertainties in the contract between ABX and DHL. Should DHL move their air transportation to UPS, it is unlikely that ABX would continue to fly to all the states represented by the state NOL deferred tax assets, thus limiting our ability to fully utilize them. As part of this analysis, it was determined that additional state NOLs existed of $0.2 million, which was also recorded in the second quarter of 2008.

Pro Forma Results

The following table provides pro forma condensed combined financial information (in thousands) for the Company after giving effect to the CHI acquisition. This information is based on adjustments to the historical consolidated financial statements of CHI using the purchase method of accounting for business combinations. The pro forma adjustments do not include any of the cost savings and other synergies anticipated to result from the acquisition. These pro forma results have been prepared for comparative purposes only and do not purport to be indicative of results that would have actually been reported as of the date or for the quarter presented had the acquisition taken place on such date or at the beginning of the quarter indicated, or to project the Company’s financial position or results of operations which may be reported in the future.

The pro forma results exclude non-recurring charges recorded by CHI that were directly related to the acquisition by the Company. Combined results for Air Transport Services Group, Inc. and CHI for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 were adjusted for the following in order to create the unaudited pro forma results in the table:

a) Represents the Company’s historical consolidated statements of earnings for the three and nine months periods ended September 30, 2007.

b) Represents Cargo Holdings International, Inc. historical consolidated statements of earnings for the three and nine months periods ended September 30, 2007.

c) Adjustment to reflect additional intangible asset amortization expense of $0.7 million and $2.0 million for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2007, respectively, resulting from the fair value adjustments to CHI’s intangible assets.

d) Adjustment to reflect additional depreciation expense of $0.8 million and $2.4 million for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2007, respectively, resulting from the fair value adjustments to CHI’s aircraft and aircraft related parts.

e) Adjustment to reflect additional interest expense and amortization of debt issuance costs for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2007 related to the $270.0 million unsubordinated term loan, using average prevailing rates of 8.35%.

 

29


Table of Contents
     Three Months Ended September 30, 2007     Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007  
     Actual
ABX Air

a
    Actual
CHI

b
    Pro
Forma
Adj.
    Pro Forma
results
    Actual
ABX Air

a
    Actual
CHI

b
    Pro
Forma
Adj.
    Pro Forma
results
 

REVENUES

   $ 285,964     $ 77,842     $ —       $ 363,806       855,323       224,699     $ —       $ 1,080,022  

OPERATING EXPENSES

                

Salaries, wages and benefits

     147,791       12,223       —         160,014       456,830       38,822       —         495,652  

Fuel

     66,154       34,332       —         100,486       186,505       96,404       —         282,909  

Maintenance, materials and repairs

     23,731       4,467       —         28,198       69,276       12,385       —         81,661  

Depreciation and amortization

     13,502       10,126       1,465  c,d     25,093       38,282       27,374       4,393  c,d     70,049  

Landing and ramp

     4,380       2,889       —         7,269       18,558       9,291       —         27,849  

Rent

     2,167       968       —         3,135       6,880       3,054       —         9,934  

Purchased line-haul and yard management

     1,432       —         —         1,432       4,649       —         —         4,649  

Other

     19,555       3,471       —         23,026       48,787       11,809       —         60,596  
                                                                
     278,712       68,476       1,465       348,653       829,767       199,139       4,393       1,033,299  

EARNINGS FROM OPERATIONS

     7,252       9,366       (1,465 )     15,153       25,556       25,560       (4,393 )     46,723  

OTHER INCOME

       456         456       —         456         456  

INTEREST EXPENSE

     (3,736 )     (2,343 )     (4,241 ) e     (10,320 )     (10,302 )     (4,182 )     (15,165 ) e     (29,649 )

INTEREST INCOME

     1,179       313       —         1,492       3,628       1,103       —         4,731  
                                                                

EARNINGS BEFORE INCOME TAXES

   $ 4,695     $ 7,792     $ (5,706 )   $ 6,781     $ 18,882     $ 22,937     $ (19,558 )   $ 22,261  
                                                                

FINANCIAL CONDITION, LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Cash flows

Net cash generated from operating activities was $114.3 million for the first nine months of 2008 compared to $52.4 million in the first nine months of 2007. Increased cash flows were driven by expanded business operations due to the acquisition of CHI, the collection of customer receivables and lower pension payments compared to the first nine months of 2007.

Capital spending levels are primarily a result of aircraft acquisitions and related freighter modification costs. Cash payments for capital expenditures were approximately $96.6 million in the first nine months of 2008 compared to $118.4 million in the first nine months of 2007. Capital expenditures in the first nine months of 2008 included Boeing 767 aircraft and cargo modification costs for nine aircraft. Capital expenditures in the first nine months of 2007 included the acquisitions of four Boeing 767 aircraft and cargo modification costs for eleven aircraft. Payments for aircraft modifications vary among periods, and depending on the amount of work completed, number of aircraft undergoing modification and the payment schedules with the vendor. We estimate the total level of capital spending for all of 2008 will be approximately $129.8 million compared to $160.2 million in 2007.

During the first quarter of 2008, the Company made payments of approximately $3.8 million for professional fees associated with our December 31, 2007 acquisition of CHI.

Cash used for financing activities was primarily related to the revolving credit facility and term loan. In August 2008, a subsidiary of the Company paid the lead banks of the Credit Agreement $47.5 million to invest in the Company’s term loan. This intercompany loan is eliminated in consolidation, reflecting the Company’s net term loan position of $222.5 million.

 

30


Table of Contents

Commitments

We have contracted with aircraft maintenance and modification providers to convert aircraft from passenger to standard freighter configuration. As of September 30, 2008, the Company had two Boeing 767 aircraft and one Boeing 757 aircraft in various stages of modification from passenger to freighter configuration. Based on the most current projections, we expect to place one of the Boeing 767 aircraft into service during 2008 as modifications are completed. The estimated costs of the remaining anticipated modification for these three aircraft approximate $22.4 million, including $11.6 million expected to be paid in 2008. Additionally, the Company is committed to purchase another Boeing 767 for approximately $23.5 million after the aircraft is completely modified to freighter configuration in 2009. We plan to finance the cost of modifying the aircraft with existing cash and cash generated from operations during the modification period.

On September 15, 2008, CAM entered into an agreement with Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (“IAI”) for the conversion of up to fourteen Boeing 767-200 package freighters to full freighter configuration. The conversion primarily consists of the installation of a standard cargo door and loading system. If CAM were to cancel the conversion program as of September 30, 2008, it would owe IAI, in addition to payments for aircraft currently undergoing modification, approximately $6.0 million for non-recurring engineering and approximately $7.1 million associated with additional conversion part kits which have been ordered.

We estimate that contributions to our defined benefit pension plans for the remainder of 2008 will be $10.2 million and will total $39.9 million for the year. We estimate our total pension expense, which is primarily reimbursable under the two DHL agreements, will be $10.6 million for the remainder of 2008 for all pension plans, totaling $42.4 million for the year.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of September 30, 2008, we had approximately $59.2 million of cash and cash equivalents and $0.1 million of marketable securities. The Company had $37.6 million of unused credit facility, net of outstanding letters of credit of $18.9 million, through a syndicated Credit Agreement that expires in December 2012.

Through its Credit Agreement, the Company has a syndicated, unsubordinated term loan and a revolving credit facility that are collateralized by substantially all the aircraft, property and equipment owned by the Company that are not separately collateralized under aircraft loans or capital leases. The lenders currently consist of 16 U.S. based banks. Under the Credit Agreement, the Company is subject to expenses, covenants and warranties that are usual and customary. The Credit Agreement contains covenants including, among other things, limitations on certain additional indebtedness, guarantees of indebtedness, and the level of annual capital expenditures. The Credit Agreement stipulates events of default including unspecified events that may have material adverse effects on the Company. The conditions of the Credit Agreement and the aircraft loans cross-default.

DHL’s U.S. restructuring announcement, turmoil in the global financial markets and the crisis in the U.S. credit market could effect the Company’s access to liquidity. Certain lenders have questioned whether DHL’s decision to outsource its U.S. express delivery business to UPS constitutes a material adverse event (“MAE”) under provisions of the Credit Agreement and aircraft loans. If a lender within the Credit Agreement declares an MAE, availability under the revolving credit facility will be reduced by the lender’s portion of the facility. Further, the Credit Agreement provides that if lenders having more than half of the outstanding dollar amount of the commitments assert that an MAE exists at the time the borrowers attempt to borrow under the Credit Facility, they can assert that an event of default exists under the Credit Agreement and require the lead bank to exercise its remedies. If an event of default occurs, the Company may be forced to repay, renegotiate or replace the Credit Agreement. Given the current credit crisis and announcement by DHL of its U.S. restructuring plan, the interest rates and other costs of a renegotiated or new facility, assuming the Company could obtain a new facility, would likely be more expensive and may require more rapid amortization of principal than under the terms of the current Credit Agreement.

The ACMI agreement allows ABX to put aircraft under contract to DHL, requiring DHL to buy such aircraft from ABX at the lesser of book value or fair market value. If ABX’s stockholders’ equity is greater than $100 million, as it is at this time, any amount by which fair market value is less than net book value would be recorded as an operating charge. If ABX’s stockholders’ equity is less than or equal to $100 million at the time of sale, any amount by which the appraised fair market value is less than net book value would be applied to a promissory note ABX owes to DHL. For purposes of applying the $100 million stockholders’ equity threshold, ABX’s stockholders’ equity will be calculated after including the effect of any charges caused by the removal of aircraft. Provisions of the Company’s Credit Agreement requires that cash proceeds from the sale of equipment and recoveries from insurance proceeds, must be reinvested in like kind assets within 180 days of receipt or remitted as a repayment against the term loan. Aggregate proceeds exceeding $75.0 million in a calendar year must be remitted as a repayment against the term loan.

 

31


Table of Contents

The $92.3 million unsecured promissory note includes certain events of default that would allow the note to be called by DHL. On January 14, 2008, the Company received from DHL a demand for payment in full of the unsecured promissory note. In its demand, DHL asserts that the acquisition by the Company of CHI and the related financing transaction, which closed on December 31, 2007, constituted a “change of control” under the terms of the unsecured promissory note. The Company’s management and legal advisors do not believe a “change of control” occurred in connection with the CHI acquisition and, accordingly, have disputed DHL’s demand. If DHL persists in its demand, the Company is prepared to defend its position in the applicable court of law. In the event that it should become necessary to repay the note before January 2009, the Company established replacement financing of $61.0 million with certain former shareholders of CHI. The replacement financing agreement expires in January 2009 and would become unavailable if the Company is in default of the Credit Agreement. In the absence of the replacement financing, the Company would utilize its cash balances, and if necessary, reduce its capital spending for aircraft modifications and seek additional funding sources to repay the note.

The turbulence in the financial markets has negatively affected the Company’s funded pension plans. Through September 30, 2008, year-to-date losses of approximately 13% of plan assets decreases the funded status of the plans and increases ABX’s pension liability. Based on existing laws, the increase in the unfunded status could increase the contributions which ABX is expected to make into the plans in 2009 or become subject to penalty. Due to recent market volatility and complexity of the calculations, it is difficult to predict with specificity the effect on the plans’ unfunded status as it is dependent on several factors including the discount rate, actual returns on plan assets and other actuarial assumptions. Final determination of the pension contribution requirements will only be known on the measurement date, which is December 31, 2008. Additionally, since DHL’s strategic announcement in May 2008, the Pension Benefits Guaranty Corporation (“PBGC”), a governmental company that insures pension plan benefits in the U.S., has made several inquiries of management regarding the plans’ status, and as to DHL’s intentions with respect to providing additional plan funding. The Company has approached DHL to request that DHL make additional contributions to strengthen the funded status of the plans. Discussions with DHL are ongoing and the outcome uncertain. The PBGC has broad authority over pension funding and could compel ABX to terminate and settle the plans. Other options may include freezing plan benefits or strengthening the funded status of the plans through additional contribution.

The Company’s financial condition will depend in part on ABX’s contractual termination rights and management’s ability to negotiate contract termination payments with DHL. Based on its operating and cash projections, including the recovery of contract termination funding from DHL, management believes that the Company can remain in compliance with its financial covenants, maintain scheduled debt amortization under existing debt agreements and meet its existing aircraft commitments for the foreseeable future. The projections assumed the following for the foreseeable future:

 

   

The demand for the Boeing 767 airlift will remain strong, and the Company could competitively redeploy aircraft at current market rates.

 

   

If DHL outsources its air network to UPS or otherwise reduces the scope of its operations, ABX will recover sufficient termination and wind-down funds from DHL, including pension funding, lease termination costs and contract termination costs for aircraft maintenance.

 

   

The $92.3 million note with DHL remains in place.

 

   

Liquidity through the Company’s Credit Agreement remains fully available.

If these sources of liquidity are not available or the Company is not able to generate excess cash flows from operations, the Company may seek to sell assets to raise liquidity, or ABX may seek relief of obligations.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” as well as certain disclosures included elsewhere in this report, are based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to select appropriate accounting policies and make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingencies. In certain cases, there are alternative policies or estimation techniques which could be selected. On an on-going basis, we evaluate our selection of policies and the estimation techniques we use, including those related to revenue recognition, post-retirement liabilities, bad debts, self-insurance reserves, accruals for labor contract settlements, valuation of spare parts inventory, useful lives, salvage values and impairment of property and equipment, income taxes, contingencies and litigation. We base our estimates on historical experience, current conditions and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources, as well as for identifying and assessing our accounting treatment with respect to commitments and contingencies. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. We believe the following significant and critical accounting policies involve the more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements.

 

32


Table of Contents

Revenue Recognition

Revenues from DHL are recognized when the related services are performed. Expenses incurred under the commercial agreements with DHL are generally subject to a base mark-up of 1.75%, which is recognized in the period during which the expenses are incurred. Certain costs, the most significant of which include fuel costs, interest on the promissory note to DHL, airport rent, ramp and landing fees incurred for performance under the ACMI agreement, are reimbursed and included in revenues without mark-up.

In addition to a base mark-up of 1.75%, both the ACMI and Hub Services agreements provide for an incremental mark-up potential above the base 1.75%, based on our achievement of specified cost and service goals. The ACMI agreement provides for a maximum potential incremental mark-up of 1.60%, with 1.35% based on cost performance and 0.25% based on service performance. The Hub Services agreement provides for a maximum potential incremental mark-up of 2.10%, with 1.35% based on cost performance and 0.75% on service performance. Both contracts call for 40% of any incremental mark-up earned from cost performance to be recognized based on quarterly results, with 60% measured against annual results. Accordingly, a maximum mark-up of approximately 0.54% may be achieved based on quarterly results and recognized in our quarterly revenues. Up to a maximum mark-up of approximately 0.81% based on annual cost performance could be recognized during the fourth quarter, when full-year results are known. Incremental mark-up potential associated with the service goals (0.25% in the ACMI agreement and 0.75% in the Hub Services agreement) is measured annually and any revenues earned from their attainment would be recognized during the fourth quarter, when full year results are known. Management cannot predict to what degree the Company will be successful in achieving incremental mark-up.

In November 2008, ABX and DHL amended the ACMI agreement and the Hub Services agreements to set the base mark-up and incremental mark-up to specific amounts for the fourth quarter of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009.

The Company derives a portion of its revenues from customers other than DHL. Non-DHL ACMI/charter service revenues are recognized on scheduled and non-scheduled flights when the specific flight has been completed. Aircraft parts and fuel sales are recognized when the parts and fuel are delivered. Revenues earned and expenses incurred in providing aircraft-related maintenance repair services or technical maintenance services are recognized in the period in which the services are completed and delivered to the customer. Revenues derived from transporting freight and sorting parcels are recognized upon delivery of shipments and completion of service.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (“SFAS”) No. 142, “Accounting for Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” the Company will assess on an annual basis whether goodwill acquired in the acquisition of CHI is impaired. Additional impairment assessments may be performed on an interim basis if the Company finds it necessary. Finite-lived intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful economic lives and are periodically reviewed for impairment. Indefinite-lived intangible assets are not amortized but are assessed for impairment annually.

Depreciation

Depreciation of property and equipment is provided on a straight-line basis over the lesser of the asset’s useful life or lease term. We periodically evaluate the estimated service lives and residual values used to depreciate our property and equipment. The acceleration of depreciation expense or the recording of significant impairment losses could result from changes in the estimated useful lives of our assets. We may change the estimated useful lives due to a number of reasons, such as the existence of excess capacity in our air system or ground networks or changes in regulations grounding or limiting the use of aircraft.

Self-Insurance

We self-insure certain claims relating to workers compensation, aircraft, automobile, general liability and employee healthcare. We record a liability for reported claims and an estimate for incurred claims that have not yet been reported. Accruals for these claims are estimated utilizing historical paid claims data, recent claims trends and, in the case of employee healthcare and workers compensation, an independent actuarial report. Changes in claim severity and frequency could result in actual claims being materially different than the amounts provided for in our results of operations.

Legal Contingencies

We are involved in legal matters that have a degree of uncertainty associated with them. We continually assess the likely outcomes of these matters and the adequacy of amounts, if any, provided for these matters. There can be no assurance that the ultimate outcome of these matters will not differ materially from our assessment of them. There also can be no assurance that we know all matters that may be brought against us at any point in time.

 

33


Table of Contents

Income Taxes

We account for income taxes under the provisions of SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes.” The objectives of accounting for income taxes are to recognize the amount of taxes payable or refundable for the current year and deferred tax liabilities and assets for the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the Company’s financial statements or tax returns. Judgment is required in assessing the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in ABX’s financial statements or tax returns. Fluctuations in the actual outcome of these future tax consequences could materially impact the Company’s financial position or its results of operations. We recognize the impact of a tax position, if that position is more likely than not of being sustained on audit, based on the technical merits of the position.

Post-retirement Obligations

ABX sponsors qualified defined benefit plans for its pilots and other eligible employees. ABX also sponsors unfunded post-retirement healthcare plans for its flight crewmembers and non-flight crewmember employees. ABX also sponsors unfunded excess plans for certain employees in a non-qualified plan which includes its executive management that provide benefits in addition to amounts permitted to be paid under provisions of the tax law to participants in its qualified plans.

The accounting and valuation for these post-retirement obligations are determined by prescribed accounting and actuarial methods that consider a number of assumptions and estimates. The selection of appropriate assumptions and estimates is significant due to the long time period over which benefits will be accrued and paid. The long-term nature of these benefit payouts increases the sensitivity of certain estimates on our post-retirement costs. In actuarially valuing our pension obligations and determining related expense amounts, assumptions we consider most sensitive are discount rates, expected long-term investment returns on plan assets and future salary increases. Additionally, other assumptions concerning retirement ages, mortality and employee turnover also affect the valuations. For our post-retirement healthcare plans, consideration of future medical cost trend rates is a critical assumption in valuing these obligations. Actual results and future changes in these assumptions could result in future costs significantly higher than those recorded in our results of operations.

Exit Activities

We account for the costs associated with exit activities in accordance with SFAS No. 146, “Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities.” One-time, involuntary employee termination benefits are generally expensed when the Company communicates the benefit arrangement to the employee and it requires no significant future services, other than a minimum retention period, from the employee to earn the termination benefits. Liabilities for contract termination costs associated with exit activities are recognized in the period incurred and measured initially at fair value. Pension obligations are accounted for in accordance with SFAS No. 88, “Employers’ Accounting for Settlements and Curtailments of Defined Benefit Pension Plans and for Termination Benefits” in the event that a significant number of employees are terminated or a pension plan is suspended.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141(R), “Business Combinations” (“SFAS 141R”). SFAS 141R amends SFAS 141 and provides guidance for recognizing and measuring identifiable assets and goodwill acquired, liabilities assumed, and any non-controlling interest in the acquiree. It also provides disclosure requirements to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination. SFAS 141R will be effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2008 and will be applied prospectively.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, “Non-Controlling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements – an amendment of ARB No. 51” (“SFAS 160”). SFAS 160 requires that ownership interests in subsidiaries held by parties other than the parent, and the amount of consolidated net income, be clearly identified, labeled and presented in the consolidated financial statements. It also requires once a subsidiary is deconsolidated, any retained non-controlling equity investment in the former subsidiary be initially measured at fair value. Sufficient disclosures are required to clearly identify and distinguish between the interests of the parent and the interests of the non-controlling owners. SFAS 160 is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2008 and requires retroactive adoption of the presentation and disclosure requirements for existing minority interests. All other requirements shall be applied prospectively. The Company currently has controlling interests in all subsidiaries; therefore, management expects this standard to have no impact on its financial statements.

 

34


Table of Contents

In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities—an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133” (“SFAS 161”). SFAS 161 requires companies to provide enhanced disclosures regarding derivative instruments and hedging activities. It requires companies to better convey the purpose of derivative use in terms of the risks that such company is intending to manage. Disclosures about (a) how and why an entity uses derivative instruments, (b) how derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for under SFAS No. 133 and its related interpretations, and (c) how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect a company’s financial position, financial performance, and cash flows are required. This statement retains the same scope as SFAS No. 133 and is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008. The Company is currently assessing implementation plans and does not expect the adoption of SFAS 161 to have a material impact, if any, on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

In May 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 162, “The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles” (“SFAS 162”). SFAS 162 mandates the GAAP hierarchy resides in the accounting literature as opposed to the audit literature. This has the practical impact of elevating FASB Statements of Financial Accounting Concepts in the GAAP hierarchy. This pronouncement will become effective 60 days following SEC approval. The Company does not believe this pronouncement will impact its financial statements.

In May 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 163, “Accounting for Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts - an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 60” (“SFAS 163”). The scope of SFAS 163 is limited to financial guarantee insurance (and reinsurance) contracts. The pronouncement is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2008. The Company does not believe this pronouncement will impact its financial statements.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

We face financial exposure to changes in interest rates. Variable interest rate debt exposes us to differences in future cash flows resulting from changes in market interest rates. This risk was partially mitigated since a portion of our interest expense for the debt with variable rate risk was marked up and charged to DHL under our ACMI agreement. At September 30, 2008, $270.0 million of variable rate debt outstanding had interest that was not marked up and charged to DHL under this agreement. The debt issued at fixed interest rates is exposed to fluctuations in fair value resulting from changes in market interest rates. ABX has a portfolio of marketable securities consisting of U.S. corporation obligations. These securities are classified as available-for-sale and are consequently recorded at fair market value with unrealized gains or losses reported as a separate component of stockholders’ equity. These financial instruments are denominated in U.S. dollars and are not held for the purpose of trading. Our market risk related to debt and marketable securities did not materially change since December 31, 2007.

To reduce the effects of fluctuating LIBOR-based interest rates on interest payments that stem from its variable rate outstanding debt, the Company entered into interest rate swaps in January 2008. Under the interest rate swap agreements, the Company will pay a fixed rate of 3.105% and receive a floating rate that resets quarterly based on LIBOR. For the outstanding notional value, the Company expects that the amounts received from the floating leg of the interest rate swap will offset fluctuating payments for interest expense because interest rates for its outstanding debt and the interest rate swap are both based on LIBOR and reset quarterly.

To reduce ABX’s exposure to rising interest rates on anticipated aircraft financing transactions, we entered into five forward treasury lock agreements (“treasury locks”) with a major U.S. financial institution during the first quarter of 2006. The value of the treasury locks were also based on the ten-year U.S. Treasury rates, effectively countering the effect of changing interest rates on the anticipated financing transactions. The last outstanding treasury lock was settled in cash in July 2007, near the forecasted execution date of the anticipated financing transaction. See Note L for discussion of our accounting treatment for these hedging transactions.

 

35


Table of Contents
Item 4. Controls and Procedures

(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As of September 30, 2008, the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)). Based upon the evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that their disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports filed or submitted by it under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms.

The management of the Company excluded from its assessment the internal control over financial reporting at Cargo Holdings International, Inc. and subsidiaries, which was acquired on December 31, 2007 and whose financial statements constitute 123% and 24% of net and total assets, respectively, of the consolidated financial statement amounts as of September 30, 2008. Accordingly, the officers’ certifications provided in conjunction with this Form 10-Q, the forms of which are contained in Exhibits 31.1 and 31.2 hereof, exclude an assessment of the internal control over financial reporting at Cargo Holdings International, Inc., and subsidiaries.

(b) Changes in Internal Controls

During the quarter ended September 30, 2008, ABX implemented a new accounting system that included a new general ledger system and other financial information systems. Except for the described systems implementation at ABX, there have not been any changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended September 30, 2008 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, its internal control over financial reporting.

 

36


Table of Contents

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

Arbitration under the ACMI Agreement and the Hub Services Agreement

On November 15, 2007, DHL filed a demand for arbitration with the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) in accordance with the dispute resolution provisions under the ACMI agreement and Hub Services agreement. DHL sought certain declarations, including that (i) ABX may not include fuel costs as revenues under the ACMI agreement for purposes of determining whether it receives more than 10% of its revenues from other customers; (ii) ABX exceeded the 10% threshold in the second quarter of 2007 and therefore must begin absorbing a portion of its overhead for the second quarter of 2007 and each quarter going forward under the Agreements; and (iii) DHL is not obligated to reimburse ABX for the costs incurred in maintaining its status as a public company, including those costs incurred in evaluating a recent unsolicited indication of interest from ASTAR.

On December 5, 2007, ABX filed an answer and counterclaim denying DHL’s claims and requesting certain declarations, including that (i) DHL was in default of the ACMI agreement and Hub Services agreement; (ii) reimbursable costs, including fuel costs, were properly included as revenue under the Agreements for purposes of determining whether ABX had crossed the 10% threshold, and (iii) costs incurred by ABX in maintaining its status as a public company were properly included in the cost recovery amount under the Agreements.

An arbitration hearing was held from May 19-23, 2008 and on June 13, 2008. Thereafter, on July 15, 2008, the arbitration panel issued an award holding that (i) DHL had failed to demonstrate that ABX had incorrectly treated the reimbursement for its fuel expenditures as revenue under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, and therefore ABX’s revenues from sources other than DHL did not exceed 10% of its total revenues during the second quarter of 2007, (ii) the costs incurred by ABX in maintaining its status as a public company are reimbursable under the Agreements, (iii) the 10% threshold had been crossed on January 1, 2008, in conjunction with the acquisition of CHI, and the parties are therefore required to begin negotiating in good faith a reasonable allocation of overhead costs attributable to ABX’s third-party business, (iv) ABX is solely responsible for expenses it incurred to consider and analyze an expression of interest from ASTAR in acquiring ABX, and to prepare and complete the acquisition of CHI at year-end 2007, and (v) DHL’s withholding of $8.8 million in payments to ABX for a 10-day period last November was not a material default under the Agreements. See Note B to the consolidated financial statements of this report for additional information.

DHL subsequently wrote to the AAA in mid-August requesting for the panel to clarify the award with respect to whether DHL is required to reimburse ABX for its legal expenses arising from the arbitration and the extent to which DHL has the right to audit and potentially seek an adjustment with respect to ABX’s historical overhead costs attributable to third party services that were charged to DHL. ABX Air wrote to the AAA in opposition to the request and, in late-September, the AAA determined that it would not hear the matter.

Thereafter, on October 14, 2008, DHL filed a petition with the New York State Supreme Court seeking to confirm its interpretation of the Award, which matter is currently pending. However, on November 10, 2008, the parties settled this matter, pursuant to which: (i) DHL will reimburse ABX for $2.2 million in legal expenses arising from the arbitration and ABX will pay for any such expenses that are in excess of this amount; (ii) DHL will withdraw its assertion that it has the right to audit and seek an adjustment with respect to amounts that it reimbursed to ABX prior to January 1, 2008; (iii) the ACMI agreement will be amended to provide for a fixed markup of $7.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2008 and $3.6 million under the Hub Services Agreement for the first quarter of 2009; (iv) the Hub Services Agreement will be amended to provide for a fixed markup of $4.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2008 and $2.0 million for the first quarter of 2009; and (v) the parties agreed to specify an overhead allocation of $800,000 under the agreements for each quarter during 2008 and the first quarter of 2009.

Alleged Violations of Immigration Laws

ABX reported in January of 2005 that it was cooperating fully with an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) with respect to Garcia Labor Co., Inc., (“Garcia”) a temporary employment agency based in Morristown, Tennessee, and ABX’s use of contract employees that were being supplied to it by Garcia. The investigation concerns the immigration status of the Garcia employees assigned to ABX.

ABX terminated its contract with Garcia in February of 2005 and replaced the Garcia employees.

In October of 2005, the DOJ notified ABX that ABX and a few Company employees in its human resources department, in addition to Garcia, were targets of a criminal investigation. ABX cooperated fully with the investigation. In June of 2006, a non-senior management employee of the Company entered a plea to a misdemeanor related to this matter. In July of 2006, a federal grand jury indictment was unsealed charging two Garcia companies, the president of Garcia and two of their corporate officers with numerous counts involving the violation of federal immigration laws. The Garcia defendants subsequently entered guilty pleas in U.S. district court and were sentenced in February and March of 2007. No proceedings have been initiated against ABX by the DOJ. See Note H to the consolidated financial statements of this report for additional information.

 

37


Table of Contents

On April 13, 2007, a former ABX employee filed a complaint against ABX, a total of three current and former executives and managers of ABX, DHL, Garcia Labor Company, Garcia Labor Company of Ohio, and three former executives of the Garcia Labor companies, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. The case was filed as a putative class action against the defendants, and asserts violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Practices Act (RICO). The complaint, which seeks damages in an unspecified amount, alleges that the defendants engaged in a scheme to hire illegal immigrant workers to depress the wages paid to hourly wage employees during the period from December 1999 to January 2005. ABX filed a motion to dismiss on June 11, 2007, which was subsequently granted on March 25, 2008, with respect to DHL and ABX. On March 24, 2008, the three current and former executives and managers of ABX filed an answer denying the allegations in the complaint. Thereafter, on October 1, 2008, Plaintiff filed a motion to dismiss the case without prejudice and, on October 21, 2008, the remaining defendants filed a motion for the purpose of clarifying the record. The court issued an order dismissing the matter on November 3, 2008.

Other

In addition to the foregoing matters, we are also currently a party to legal proceedings in various federal and state jurisdictions arising out of the operation of our business. The amount of alleged liability, if any, from these proceedings cannot be determined with certainty; however, we believe that our ultimate liability, if any, arising from the pending legal proceedings, as well as from asserted legal claims and known potential legal claims which are probable of assertion, taking into account established accruals for estimated liabilities, should not be material to our financial condition or results of operations.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

The Company faces risk factors that could adversely affect our financial condition or results of operations. Many of these risks are disclosed in item 1A of the Company’s 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 17, 2008. Additional significant risks have been identified below. There are additional risks that are currently unknown to us or that we currently consider immaterial or unlikely, which could also adversely affect the Company.

The Company’s financial condition may be adversely impacted by DHL’s U.S. network plans.

DHL’s U.S. restructuring plan presents additional risk and uncertainties to the Company’s future financial condition and operating results. If DHL is successful at outsourcing its air network to UPS or, alternatively, significantly scales back its U.S. operations, and thereby the services that ABX is performing on behalf of DHL, due to declining freight volumes, ABX will incur significant termination and restructuring costs. Such costs will include aircraft, equipment and property lease termination costs, maintenance agreement termination costs, severance benefits, pension and retiree medical funding, deferred tax reserves and asset impairments. The Company’s liquidity and financial condition will depend on ABX’s contractual termination rights and management’s ability to negotiate cash funding from DHL to cover the cash needed to terminate and wind-down the air network and Wilmington, Ohio based operations. The Company will need significant liquidity to pay potential termination related obligations such as employee severance, aircraft leases and pension funding. Failure to reach an agreement regarding contractual termination rights and the settlement of the $92 million note (see Note H) could result in arbitration or legal proceedings.

If DHL outsources its air network to UPS or, alternatively, significantly reduces the services that ABX is performing on behalf of DHL, and ABX is not successful at recovering sufficient termination funds from DHL or DHL prevails in calling the $92 million note, the Company may need additional sources of liquidity. In the absence of such sources, the Company may seek to sell assets to raise liquidity or ABX may seek relief of obligations.

The Company’s Credit Agreement and aircraft loans contain covenants including, among other things, limitations on certain additional indebtedness, guarantees of indebtedness, and the level of annual capital expenditures. The agreement and loans stipulate events of default including unspecified events that may have material adverse effects on the Company. DHL’s restructuring, the outsourcing of DHL’s air network to UPS, or ABX’s payment of the $92 million note in the absence of replacement financing, may trigger an event of default. Such a default could increase the Company’s cost of borrowings and limit the Company’s ability to modify and redeploy Boeing 767 aircraft.

The Company’s financial condition will depend on its ability to diversify its customer base and restructure ABX’s costs.

The Company is accelerating and expanding its efforts to diversify its revenues streams and develop new business opportunities in the wake of DHL’s announcement to restructure its U.S. operations. Those opportunities may require additional investments to complete standard freighter modification for a number of its Boeing 767 aircraft, and will include expanded aircraft maintenance and repair operations, aircraft dry leasing, ACMI contracts outside of the domestic U.S. market and additional mail sorting and mail transport contracts with the USPS. New business opportunities each involve separate risk, management expertise and cash requirements. The number of new opportunities may be limited.

 

38


Table of Contents

Additionally, management anticipates that significant restructuring, downsizing and wage concessions will be required to position ABX to competitively pursue new business development. These reductions include the cost of flight crews and aircraft maintenance. If ABX is unable to achieve sufficient cost reductions, new business development and revenue diversity will be limited. The timing of cost reductions must coincide with new business opportunities or ABX may not be able to make competitive bids on new business.

ABX’s cost structure may be effected by its lease with DHL at the Wilmington, Ohio, airpark. In conjunction with DHL’s plan to terminate its U.S. air network, ABX may lose its lease at the airpark. Other facilities, if suitable for ABX’s operations, may be more expensive and less convenient to customers and workers.

The Company will need sufficient liquidity as it attempts to quickly transition its resources to other customers and services. This includes capital to modify some of its Boeing 767 aircraft with passenger door loading systems to standard freight configuration and redeploy them for other potential customers.

DHL’s U.S. restructuring announcement and economic conditions in the U.S. could impact the Company’s operating results, financial condition and access to liquidity.

DHL has experienced a precipitous drop in its domestic freight volumes since it announced its U.S. restructuring plan in May, which may be attributable in part to the recent global financial crisis. This decline in freight volumes may result in DHL significantly reducing its U.S. operations, and thereby the services that ABX is performing on behalf of DHL, even in the absence of entering into an agreement with UPS. Further, the rising price of aviation fuel may have a negative impact on the demand for cargo airlift worldwide. If customer volumes decline significantly or if valuations of transportation companies decline, the Company’s recorded goodwill could become impaired.

DHL’s U.S. restructuring announcement, the turmoil in the global financial markets and the crisis in the U.S. credit market could effect the Company’s access to liquidity. Certain lenders have questioned whether DHL’s decision to restructure and outsource its U.S. express delivery business to UPS constitutes a material adverse event (“MAE”) under provisions of the Credit Agreement and aircraft loans. If a lender within the Credit Agreement declares an MAE, availability under the revolving credit facility will be reduced by the lender’s portion of the facility. Further, the Credit Facility provides that if lenders having more than half of the outstanding dollar amount of the commitments assert that an MAE exists at the time the borrowers attempt to borrow under the Credit Facility, they can assert an event of default exists under the Credit Facility and require the agent to exercise its remedies. If an event of default occurs, the Company may be forced to repay, renegotiate or replace the Credit Facility. Given the current credit crisis and announcement by DHL of its U.S. restructuring plan, the interest rates and other costs of a renegotiated or new facility, if one can be obtained, would likely be more expensive and may require more rapid amortization of principal than under the terms of the current Credit Facility.

The turbulence in the financial markets has negatively affected the Company’s funded pension plans. As of September 30, 2008, year to date losses of approximately 13% of plan assets increases the unfunded status of the plans and increases ABX’s pension liability. Based on existing laws, the increase in the unfunded status could increase the contributions which ABX is expected to make into the plans in 2009 or become subject to penalty. Additionally, since DHL’s restructuring announcement in May, 2008, the Pension Benefits Guaranty Corporation (“PBGC”), a governmental agency that insures pension plan benefits in the U.S., has made several inquiries of management regarding the plans’ status, and as to DHL’s intentions with respect to providing additional plan funding. The Company has approached DHL to request that DHL make additional contributions to strengthen the funded status of the plans and those discussions are ongoing and the outcome uncertain. The PBGC has broad authority over pension funding and could compel ABX to terminate and settle the plans.

The Company’s aircraft may experience service interruptions.

In June 2008, one of ABX’s Boeing 767 aircraft experienced a fire prior to engine start. The incident is currently under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board, which has jurisdiction over such matters. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time. The Company’s insurers have determined that the aircraft is a constructive total loss and the Company received $30 million in insurance proceeds in November. The resulting investigation could reveal an issue with the aircraft that may be applicable to all other Boeing 767s that the Company has in its fleets. This could require significant repairs or alterations on the remaining aircraft in the fleet and could temporarily delay the flights the Company could perform, adversely affecting the revenue streams.

 

39


Table of Contents

The costs of complying with government regulations could negatively affect our results of operations.

All aircraft in Company’s airline subsidiaries’ in-service fleet were manufactured prior to 1990. The average ages of our Boeing 767, Boeing 727, DC-9 and DC-8 aircraft are approximately 24, 28 and 36 and 40 years, respectively. Manufacturer Service Bulletins and the FAA Airworthiness Directives issued under its “Aging Aircraft” program cause aircraft operators of such aged aircraft to be subject to extensive aircraft examinations and require such aircraft to undergo structural inspections and modifications to address problems of corrosion and structural fatigue at specified times. Airworthiness Directives have been issued that require inspections and both major and minor modifications to such aircraft. The FAA is currently considering the issuance of an airworthiness directive that would require the replacement of the Aft Pressure Bulkhead on Boeing 767-200 aircraft based on a certain number of landing cycles. If such an Airworthiness Directive is issued, all of the Boeing 767’s within the Company will be affected over approximately a four year period. The cost of compliance is estimated to be $1.0 million per aircraft.

Reporting of financial results could be delayed.

Disagreements with DHL over the costs reimbursement provisions of the commercial agreements or arbitration rulings could delay future financial filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Company’s lenders. The Company’s failure to file financial reports timely could adversely impact compliance with the Company’s credit facility.

ATSG common stock may be delisted from NASDAQ.

The Company’s stock has been trading near or below $1.00 since DHL announced its plans on May 28, 2008. The Company received notice from NASDAQ indicating that the minimum bid price of the stock has been below $1.00 for 30 consecutive trading days. The stock must trade above $1.00 for at least 10 consecutive business days before June 19, 2009 or the stock will be delisted from NASDAQ. Alternatively, NASDAQ may permit the Company to transfer its common stock from the NASDAQ Global Market to the NASDAQ Capital Market if it satisfies the requirements for initial inclusion other than the minimum bid price requirement. If its application for transfer is approved, the Company would have an additional 180 calendar days to comply with the minimum bid price requirement in order to remain on the NASDAQ Capital Market. Delisting of ATSG stock may reduce the market for the stock and further adversely affect its stock price.

 

40


Table of Contents
Item 5. Other Information

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has approved the services rendered by our independent registered public accounting firm during the period covered by this Form 10-Q filing.

 

Item 6. Exhibits

The following exhibits are filed as part of, or are incorporated in, the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q:

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description of Exhibit

10.1   First Amendment to Credit Agreement, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 8-K filed January 25, 2008.
10.2   First Amendment to Escrow Agreement, among ABX Holdings, Inc. and the Significant Shareholders, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 8-K filed March 21, 2008.
10.3   Assignment Agreement with SunTrust Bank and ABX Material Services, Inc., incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 8-K filed August 13, 2008.
10.4   Assignment Agreement with Regions Bank and ABX Material Services, Inc., incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 8-K filed August 13, 2008.
10.5   Severance and Retention Agreement dated August 15, 2008, between DPWN Holdings (USA), Inc. and ABX Air, Inc., filed herewith. Portions of this document have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment.
10.6   Agreement dated September 9, 2008, between Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd and Cargo Aircraft Management, Inc. for airline conversion, filed herewith. Portions of this document have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment.
31.1   Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, filed herewith.
31.2   Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, filed herewith.
32.1   Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, filed herewith.
32.2   Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, filed herewith.

 

41


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized:

 

AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES GROUP, INC.,

 

a Delaware Corporation

Registrant

/s/ JOSEPH C. HETE

Joseph C. Hete
Chief Executive Officer

Date: November 13, 2008

 

/s/ QUINT O. TURNER

Quint O. Turner
Chief Financial Officer

Date: November 13, 2008

 

42

EX-10.5 2 dex105.htm SEVERANCE AND RETENTION AGREEMENT Severance and Retention Agreement

Exhibit 10.5

SEVERANCE AND RETENTION AGREEMENT

THIS SEVERANCE AND RETENTION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made effective as of August 15, 2008, by and between DPWN Holdings (USA), Inc., an Ohio corporation (“DPWN Holdings”), and ABX Air, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ABX Air”).

RECITALS

A. DHL Network Operations (USA), Inc., an Ohio corporation and the successor to Airborne, Inc. (“Network Operations”), and ABX Air are parties to that certain ACMI Service Agreement, dated as of August 15, 2003, as amended and supplemented (the “ACMI Agreement”), pursuant to which ABX Air provides certain air transportation services to Network Operations on an “ACMI” basis (i.e., by providing aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance) to support Network Operation’s operations in the U.S. and between the U.S. and elsewhere in North America or internationally.

B. DHL Express (USA), Inc., an Ohio corporation and the successor to Airborne, Inc. (“DHL Express”), and ABX Air are parties to that certain Hub and Line-Haul Services Agreement, dated as of August 15, 2003, as amended and supplemented (the “HLA Agreement”), pursuant to which ABX Air provides DHL Express with certain hub, line-haul and maintenance services at its sorting facilities to support DHL Express’s operations in the U.S.

C. DPWN Holdings is the parent of Network Operations and DHL Express, which entities shall hereinafter be collectively referred to as “DHL” from time to time.

D. On May 28, 2008, Deutsche Post World Net announced a plan to restructure its DHL U.S. business by greatly reducing costs. Among other measures, it is pursuing a definitive agreement with United Parcel Service Inc. (“UPS”) pursuant to which UPS will provide air uplift and other services for DHL’s U.S. domestic and international shipments within North America that is currently provided by ABX Air, among other providers (such definitive agreement, the “UPS Contract”).

E. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the HLA Agreement and/or the ACMI Agreement, respectively, each of which remains in full force and effect, the parties agree to the following terms and conditions in order to (i) provide for ABX Air’s employees in the event their employment is terminated in connection with; and (ii) encourage ABX Air’s employees to remain in the employ of, and maintain their current level of performance for, ABX Air as it endeavors to maintain service to DHL arising from; DHL’s implementation of its US restructuring plan and/or the UPS Contract.

F. The Parties signed a Term Sheet on Friday, August 1, 2008, subject to final confirmation and documentation, the substantive terms of which are intended to be covered by this document as it relates to all employees of ABX Air under the ACMI Agreement and HLA Agreement, respectively.

 

1


NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises, mutual covenants, agreements, terms, conditions, and consideration herein set forth, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

1. DHL hereby agrees to reimburse or pay to ABX Air the costs associated with the following severance, retention and productivity bonus arrangements for ABX Air’s employees performing services under the ACMI Agreement and HLA Agreement:

(i) DHL hereby agrees to reimburse the costs incurred by ABX Air for a severance plan effective as of July 1, 2008, covering its employees (other than pilots, ABX Air’s senior executive management at the Vice President level or above, casuals, third party mechanics, temporary or contract workers, employees at regional hub facilities, and day time sort employees) that provide services under either the HLA Agreement or the ACMI Agreement (such employees, the “Covered Employees”). The severance plan shall provide for prompt payment following the termination without cause (except as provided for in section 1(vii)(D) below) of any Covered Employee’s employment by ABX Air for the reasons specified in clauses (A) through (C) below of a severance amount calculated based on the following: (A) for Covered Employees terminated as a result of DHL’s restructuring of its U.S. business, 2 weeks’ base salary for such Covered Employees for the first full year worked by each such employee, and 1 week’s base salary for each full year worked thereafter, in each case from his or her date of hire, to be paid every two weeks until exhausted (the number of weeks of base salary that a Covered Employee is eligible for is hereinafter referred to as the “Severance Period”); (B) for Covered Employees, contingent upon the consummation of the UPS Contract, a retention bonus (the “Retention Bonus”) of 2 weeks’ base salary for such Covered Employee for every full calendar month worked after July 1, 2008 and prior to the earlier of (1) the effective date of any termination of a Covered Employee arising as a result of the implementation of the UPS Contract, and (2) the effective date of termination of the HLA Agreement or the ACMI Agreement, as applicable, with a maximum payment to each Covered Employee pursuant to this clause (B) equal to 26 weeks’ base salary to be paid as a lump sum; and (C) for Covered Employees terminated as a result of DHL’s restructuring of its U.S. business or the consummation of the UPS Contract, any and all accrued but unused vacation time to be paid as a lump sum; provided, however, that any carryover of vacation not to commence until the date on which the UPS Contract is consummated (such severance and retention plan, the “Non-Pilot Employees Severance and Retention Plan”). For purposes of calculating average hours worked by a Covered Employee to determine their weekly pay for severance purposes, an average of the hours per week worked during the period of July 1, 2007 through July 1, 2008 is to be used. ABX Air will provide 60-days advance notice to its employees stationed in Wilmington, Ohio (ILN) prior to the effective date of severance and no less than a two-week notice period or pay in lieu thereof for those employees stationed at other locations.

(ii) DHL hereby agrees to the adoption of a productivity bonus plan for Covered Employees (including, for purposes of this Section 1(ii), day time sort employees) that provides, beginning with the first full calendar month after July 1, 2008, for a monthly payment, promptly following the end of each calendar month, of $150 (less any applicable withholding taxes) for each

 

2


Covered Employee that has a perfect work attendance record (excluding any approved vacation time) during the applicable calendar month (such productivity bonus plan, the “Non-Pilot Employees Productivity Bonus Plan” and, together with the Non-Pilot Employees Severance and Retention Plan, the “Non-Pilot Plans”). If DHL does not enter into the UPS Contract, the Non-Pilot Employees Productivity Bonus Plan may be cancelled at the conclusion of the month that DHL formally notifies ABX Air that the discussions with UPS have been terminated without the execution of a contract.

(iii) DHL hereby agrees to reimburse ABX Air for the same portion of any health insurance COBRA premiums (the “HIP Reimbursement Obligation”) that ABX Air pays for employed Covered Employees for each Covered Employee whose employment is terminated as a result of DHL’s restructuring of its U.S. business or consummation of the UPS Contract, up to a maximum number of weeks equal to the length of the applicable Covered Employee’s Severance Period calculated pursuant to Section (1)(i)(A) above; provided that ABX Air will not increase, from its practice as of the date hereof, the portion of any health insurance COBRA premiums, other than normal annual rate increases, that ABX Air pays for employed Covered Employees without the prior written agreement of DHL (such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

(iv) The Parties hereby agree that any increase in compensation costs directly attributable to the adoption of the Non-Pilot Plans, the Pilots Plan (as defined in Section 2 below) or the HIP Reimbursement Obligation shall not be subject to mark-up nor included in calculating labor cost increase limitations under the ACMI Agreement or HLA Agreement. (v) DHL shall reimburse ABX Air, promptly upon receipt of a separate invoice with respect thereto, for the costs incurred by ABX Air under the Non-Pilot Plans or in connection with the HIP Reimbursement Obligation; provided, however, except as may be otherwise provided herein, DHL’s obligation to reimburse ABX Air for costs associated with the Retention Bonus are contingent upon DHL entering into a contract with UPS.

(vi) For certain employees, identified in Exhibit 1 of this Agreement, the parties agree to pay the Retention Bonus on a monthly basis rather than the lump sum set forth in paragraph 1(i)(B) above. DHL shall reimburse ABX Air, promptly upon receipt of a separate invoice for those costs. These payments are being made in lieu of the lump sum Retention Bonus and are not contingent upon the consummation of the UPS Contract. At the conclusion of the month that DHL formally notifies ABX in writing that discussions with UPS have been terminated without the execution of a contract, these payments shall stop.

(vii) For the avoidance of doubt: (A) the term “Covered Employees” does not include: any employee of ABX Air who is terminated for reasons other than those arising from DHL’s restructuring of its U.S. business and consummation of the UPS Contract, members of ABX Air’s senior executive management at the Vice President level or above, pilots, third-party maintenance mechanics, any casual or volunteer employees, any temporary or contract worker employees, employees at a regional hub facility, and, other than for purposes of Section 1(ii), day time sort employees; (B) for purposes of calculating the

 

3


severance obligations owed to a Covered Employee or Covered Pilot (as defined below), such employee’s most recent hire date will be used in those cases where the employee has previously received a severance benefit from ABX Air; (C) Covered Employees or Covered Pilots who may have dual employment either within ABX Air and its affiliates or at ABX Air and DHL will not be allowed to pyramid severance benefits, but will be allowed credit for the hours worked in both positions; and (D) Covered Employees do not need to be terminated from employment to receive the retention benefit described in section 1(i)(B) if all other conditions (DHL’s consummation of the UPS Contract and satisfactory performance by the Covered Employee up through and including a predetermined end date for their employment) are met. Provided further, at the conclusion of the month that DHL formally notifies ABX Air in writing that discussions with UPS have been terminated without execution of a contract, the accumulation of retention benefits shall stop.

(viii) Attached hereto as Exhibit 2 is a sample of a list (by job title or description, together with the number of employees covered by such title or description) of the Covered Employees that ABX Air will provide to DHL on a monthly basis, within 10 business days after the end of each month, reflecting the position, pay rate and hire date.

2. Establishment of a Pilot Plan DHL hereby agrees to provide to ABX Air an aggregate amount of up to $75 million in order for ABX Air to establish a plan for the Covered Pilots (the “Pilots Plan”), the terms of which will be determined by ABX Air and the Covered Pilots, to address any employee severance, retention and/or other issues arising from DHL’s restructuring of its U.S. business, including (i) DHL’s termination of all or substantially all of ABX Air’s DC-9 aircraft under the ACMI Agreement, (ii) the elimination of out-based stations/locations, and (iii) and the implementation of the UPS Contract. “Covered Pilots” shall mean any flight crewmember on the seniority list under the collective bargaining agreement between ABX Air and the labor union for its flight crewmembers. ABX Air is not limited in any way in negotiating or fashioning an agreement with the labor union other than as limited by the $75 million aggregate amount. Once finalized, DHL shall, promptly following receipt of a copy of the Pilots Plan/agreement, pay to ABX Air the amount required under the Pilots Plan, up to $75 million, for distribution in accordance therewith.***

3. Obligation with Respect to Day Time Sort Employees. Except as set forth in Section 1(ii), the parties understand and agree that day time sort employees are not Covered Employees hereunder and are not entitled to the Retention Bonus provided for in Section 1(i)(B) above, and that the terms of the HLA Agreement, as in effect on the date hereof, will continue to govern DHL’s obligations with respect to severance or similar amounts for such employees, provided, however, that any such employee will be entitled to the severance set forth in 1(i)(A) above if such employee is terminated as a result of DHL’s implementation of the UPS Contract. In the event that, as a result of the implementation of the UPS Contract, DHL eliminates, in-sources (without hiring the employees of ABX Air that provide the day time sort services) or terminates, or permits the expiration of, the HLA Agreement and out-sources (to a party other than ABX Air, without causing the employees of ABX Air that provide the day time sort services to be hired by the new service provider) the day time sort operations, ABX Air will be entitled to adopt, effective as of the date on which

 

***

This portion of the agreement has been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment and has been filed separately with the SEC.

 

4


DHL provides ABX Air with written notice of its intention to either eliminate, in-source or move such work, and DHL will reimburse ABX Air for the costs associated therewith, a severance and retention program that is comparable in the aggregate to the benefits provided by the Non-Pilot Plans and the HIP Reimbursement Obligation, which program will provide for an accrual of such benefits to commence on the date of DHL’s written notice.

4. Transition Services. DHL and ABX Air agree to share equally the costs of providing transition services to employees affected by DHL’s restructuring of its U.S. business prior to the consummation of the UPS Contract. Should DHL enter into the UPS Contract, DHL will be responsible for all of the costs of the transition services. ABX Air shall consult with DHL in devising its plan and the parties shall engage in good faith discussions to fashion the services in a cost efficient manner that is acceptable to DHL and also meets the needs of ABX Air and its employees due to all of the circumstances. Thereafter, an estimate of those costs shall be provided to DHL on a monthly basis for its review and approval. Such approval shall not be unreasonably withheld and will be provided promptly and in a manner that ensures that the transition services are not disrupted. Any disputes shall be resolved by the heads of each respective company’s Human Resources departments. The parties further agree to the extent practicable and reasonable under all of the circumstances to work with one another and the various agencies to make efficient use of the services and resources that may be offered and provided by the federal, state and local governmental authorities for those employees that are adversely affected by DHL’s implementation of the UPS Contract.

5. Conflict. In the event of any ambiguity or conflict between this Agreement and either the ACMI Agreement or the HLA Agreement relating solely to DHL’s obligations to reimburse or otherwise fund any severance or retention incurred by ABX, the terms of this Agreement shall control.

6. Time is of the essence. Time is of the essence to this Agreement

7. Binding Effect; Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns. No party to this Agreement may assign its rights or delegate its obligations under this Agreement to any other person, without the express prior written consent of the other party hereto (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld); provided that DPWN Holdings, Network Operations and DHL Express may assign this Agreement to any affiliate of DPWN Holdings as long as at least 30 days written notice is provided to ABX Air, the obligations of such assignee are guaranteed by DPWN Holdings, and ABX grants its consent to such assignment (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld). Any such assignment or transfer made without the prior written consent of the other party hereto shall be null and void.

8. Execution in Counterparts. To facilitate execution, this Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts (including by facsimile transmission), each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one binding agreement on the parties, notwithstanding that not all parties are signatories to the same counterpart.

 

5


9. Headings; Certain Construction Rules. The section headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and do not form a part of this Agreement and do not in any way modify, interpret or construe the intentions of the parties. The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import referring to this Agreement refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.” Unless otherwise specifically provided for herein, the term “or” shall not be deemed to be exclusive.

10. Notices. All notices, demands, consents, approvals or other communications required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given to a party if delivered in person or sent by overnight delivery (providing proof of delivery) to the party at the addresses set forth below on the date of delivery, or if by facsimile or electronic mail, upon confirmation of receipt.

If to Network Operations or DHL Express:

c/o DPWN Holdings (USA), Inc.

1200 South Pine Island Road

Plantation, Florida 33324

Attention: Ken Allen - CEO

Facsimile: (954) 888 7310

Email:                     

with a copy to:

Jon E. Olin,

Executive Vice President and General Counsel

DPWN Holdings (USA), Inc.

1200 South Pine Island Road

Plantation, Florida 33324

Facsimile: (954) 888-7159

Email: Jon.Olin@dhl.com

If to ABX Air:

ABX Air, Inc.

145 Hunter Drive

Wilmington, Ohio 45177

Attention: Joseph C. Hete, Chief Executive Officer

Facsimile: (937) 382-2452

Email: Joe.Hete@atsginc.com

with a copy to:

John Starkovich, VP, Human Resources

ABX Air, Inc.

145 Hunter Drive

Wilmington, Ohio 45177

Facsimile: (937) 382-2452

Email: John.Starkovich@abxair.com

 

6


11. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes any and all prior and contemporaneous agreements, memoranda, arrangements and understandings, both written and oral, between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. No representation, warranty, promise inducement or statement of intention has been made by either party which is not contained in this Agreement and no party shall be bound by, or be liable for, any alleged representation, promise, inducement or statement of intention not contained herein or therein.

12. Amendments; Waivers. Subject to applicable law, this Agreement may only be amended pursuant to a written agreement executed by all parties, and no waiver of compliance with any provision or condition of this Agreement and no consent provided for in this Agreement shall be effective unless evidenced by a written instrument executed by the party against whom such waiver or consent is to be effective. No waiver of any term or provision of this Agreement shall be construed as a further or continuing waiver of such term or provision or any other term or provision.

13. Further Assurances. Each party hereto shall, at its own expense (except as otherwise provided herein), take such other actions and execute and deliver such documents as may be reasonably necessary to effectuate the purpose of this Agreement.

14. Severability. If any provision or any part of any provision of this Agreement is void or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever, then such provision shall be stricken and of no force and effect. However, unless such stricken provision goes to the essence of the consideration bargained for by a party, the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect and, to the extent required, shall be modified to preserve their validity. Upon such determination that any term or other provision or any part of any provision is void or unenforceable, the parties shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner to the end that the transactions contemplated hereby are fulfilled to the fullest extent possible.

15. No Third-Party Rights. Nothing in this Agreement, whether express or implied, is intended to or shall confer any rights, benefits or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement on any persons other than the parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns, nor is anything in this Agreement intended to relieve or discharge the obligation or liability of any third persons to any party, nor shall any provisions give any third persons any right or subrogation over or action against any party.

16. Specific Performance. The parties agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with the terms hereof and that the parties are entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof in addition to any other remedies at law or in equity.

 

7


17. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to New York’s conflicts of laws principles.

18. Confidentiality. Except as otherwise provided in this provision, DPWN Holdings &/or DHL Express USA, Inc. and ABX Air each covenant and agree that except as required by the provisions of any legal requirement for which it is obligated regarding its ordinary business operations, it shall use commercially reasonable efforts not to disclose to any person or entity, with the exception of affiliates and outside legal and financial advisors, the terms of this Agreement. The parties acknowledge that ABX Air’s parent corporation may need to file and disclose the existence and terms of this Agreement with the Securities and Exchange Commission and will cooperate in seeking confidential treatment of such portions hereof as may be agreed to by the parties. Additionally, DPWN &/or DHL Express USA, Inc. and ABX Air may make oral and written statements for public relations and employee relations purposes disclosing that this agreement has been reached and generally describing its terms provided that such written statements shall be subject to prior written approval of the other party and all oral statements shall be limited in scope to the information contained in the written document that was approved by the other party. The parties have discussed and recognize certain limitations that may arise in their effort to fully comply with this provision but shall exert their best efforts to meet its spirit and intent.

[Signatures on the following page.]

 

8


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized representatives as of the day and year first above written.

 

DPWN HOLDINGS (USA), INC.
By:  

/s/ Tom Snowberger

Name:   Tom Snowberger
Title:   Sr VP HR
ABX AIR, INC.
By:  

/s/ John Graber

Name:   John Graber
Title:   President

 

9

EX-10.6 3 dex106.htm AGREEMENT DATED SEPTEMBER 9, 2008 Agreement dated September 9, 2008

Exhibit 10.6

ISRAEL AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES LTD.

Ben Gurion International Airport

70100 Israel

September 9, 2008

Cargo Aircraft Management, Inc.

7100 T.P.C. Drive

Suite 100

Orlando Florida 32822, USA

 

Attention: Mr. Bill Tarpley
Chief Operating Officer

Re:        Interim Agreement

Gentlemen:

This letter, when countersigned by Cargo Aircraft Management, Inc. (“CAM”), a duly organized and validly existing Florida corporation (“CAM”), will constitute a binding agreement (this “Interim Agreement”) between Israel Aerospace Industries, Ltd. (“IAI”) and CAM, as follows:

 

1. Introduction

 

  (a) IAI and CAM signed a Letter of Intent on July 31, 2008 (the “LOI”), pursuant to which, generally, CAM agreed to deliver fourteen (14) B767-200 Package Carrier (“PC”) aircraft owned in whole or in part by CAM, its parent, subsidiaries or affiliates (“PC Aircraft”) to IAI for modification from PC configuration to special freighter configuration (“SF”), in accordance with the Aircraft Induction Schedule attached hereto as Exhibit A and IAI agreed to perform such modifications in accordance with the requirements of the paragraph below titled “Performance of Services”. CAM also agreed to fund IAI’s non-recurring expenses (“NRE”), in the amount of $7.5 million to be allocated over the first seven (7) conversions of CAM aircraft.

 

 

(b)

The first CAM aircraft is due for induction at IAI on or about September 1st, 2008.

 

  (c) The parties had intended to negotiate and sign a conversion modification agreement with a full set of terms and conditions prior to August 15, 2008.

 

  (d) The parties now realize that they will not be able to accomplish that task in time for the induction of the first CAM aircraft to occur on schedule.

 

1


  (e) Accordingly, IAI and CAM are entering into this Interim Agreement, with Air Transport Services Group, Inc. acting solely as guarantor of CAM’s financial obligations hereunder.

 

2. General Terms

 

Monetary Amounts:    All monetary amounts described in this Interim Agreement are expressed in US 2008 Dollars and subject to escalation per the 767 Agreement (as that term is defined below).
Guarantor:    Air Transport Services Group, Inc. will act as guarantor solely for CAM’s financial obligations under the Definitive Agreement.
14 Aircraft Order:    CAM will induct the first fourteen (14) PC Aircraft for modification to SF configuration by IAI. Additional PC Aircraft may be added to the Agreement at CAM’s discretion. Pricing will be adjusted -/+ in accordance with Exhibit B for the total number of PC Aircraft inducted by CAM during the program.
Performance of Services:   

 

The Basic Modification and all services performed by IAI and/or its subcontractors or agents under this Interim Agreement or the Definitive Agreement, whichever is in effect, will be performed in accordance with all of the following that are applicable and in the following order of priority:

  

•     FAA standards, directives and regulations that would permit certification of the PC Aircraft under FAR Part 121 or the equivalent;

  

•     Manufacturer’s modification, repair and overhaul standards, recommendations, instructions and license requirements in effect during the performance of the Basic Modification and any other IAI services;

  

•     Technical Specification No. P2S-00-00-98368 Rev. A, dated July 20, 2008 (the “Specification”);

  

•     IAI shop practices and procedures in accordance with IAI’s FAR Part 145 certifications or any other FAA approved procedures for transport aircraft, as applicable, to the extent not inconsistent with the requirements above; and

  

•     CAM general maintenance manual, policies and procedures.

Basic Modification

Price:

  

 

CAM will pay IAI $*** for each of the fourteen (14) PC Aircraft modified to SF configuration, which such amount includes a $*** per PC Aircraft reduction for each of the fourteen (14) PC Aircraft inducted for SF modification. The

*** This portion of the agreement has been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment and has been filed separately with the SEC.

 

2


   Basic Modification Price includes timely Redelivery of the Aircraft converted to SF configuration, a customized SF structural kit properly installed, installation, labor, and attainment of a valid FAA Supplemental Type Certificate (“STC”) for such PC to SF configuration, engine loading and perishable capability. The Basic Modification Price does not include the NRE and the options listed in Exhibit C. The Parties agree that the Basic Modification Price assumes that CAM will induct fourteen (14) PC Aircraft for modification to SF configuration.
Non-Recurring   
Engineering:    In addition to the Basic Modification Price, CAM will pay IAI a total of $*** for all NRE related to the PC to SF program except for the flush lavatory. The Parties acknowledge that ABX Air, Inc. (“ABX”) has previously paid $*** to IAI of the total NRE, leaving a balance of $***. The $*** NRE balance will be paid by CAM in seven installments, as provided in Table 1 below, as part of the Purchase Price for the first seven (7) PC Aircraft inducted. As consideration for paying the outstanding NRE in installments over the first seven (7) PC Aircraft inducted, CAM will receive a $*** credit for cost of money against each NRE payment for each of the first seven (7) PC Aircraft it inducts as shown by Table 1 below.
   Table 1

 

     NRE    W/credit

Aircraft 1

   $ ***    $ ***

Aircraft 2

   $ ***    $ ***

Aircraft 3

   $ ***    $ ***

Aircraft 4

   $ ***    $ ***

Aircraft 5

   $ ***    $ ***

Aircraft 6

   $ ***    $ ***

Aircraft 7

   $ ***    $ ***

 

   If CAM cancels the program for convenience prior to the seventh (7th) PC Aircraft induction, CAM will pay IAI the difference between $*** and the NRE amounts paid by CAM to the date of the cancellation within thirty (30) days.
Additional NRE:    There will be an additional NRE charge of $*** for the flush lavatory design.
CDR Payment:    As part of the NRE and not in addition to it, if CAM cancels the PC to SF program prior to the induction of the Prototype or, if CAM fails to induct the Prototype on or before September 30, 2008 through no act, omission or delay by IAI and there is no

*** This portion of the agreement has been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment and has been filed separately with the SEC.

 

3


   Permitted Delay, ABX shall pay to IAI the sum of $***, as per the CDR Letter (as that term is defined below).
Weight Upgrades:    In addition to the Basic Modification Price, CAM may choose to purchase weight upgrades for the PC Aircraft at $*** per pound as described in Exhibit C.
Mechanic’s Lien:    CAM grants IAI the right to place a mechanic’s lien on each of CAM’s PC Aircraft between induction and Redelivery of such PC Aircraft (which may be more than one at a time). Lien removal must occur no later than the time of Redelivery. Failure to remove a lien timely will void IAI’s right to place a lien against any future PC Aircraft. The value of the lien will be equal to or less than the value of the Basic Modification Price for such PC Aircraft plus the outstanding and unpaid NRE owed by CAM at the time the lien is placed. Provided CAM is not prevented from doing so through any act or omission of IAI, its approved subcontractors or any governmental or agency authority, CAM agrees that it will have at least one Aircraft inducted for SF modification at IAI’s Tel Aviv facility or a facility of a mutually approved subcontractor of IAI, if any, at all times while this Interim Agreement or the Definitive Agreement, whichever is in force, is in effect.
Total Purchase   
Price:    The Total Purchase Price for each Aircraft, which such amount includes the Basic Modification Price as reduced and the outstanding NRE for each of the seven (7) PC Aircraft properly modified to SF configuration, is as follows:
   Table 2

 

Aircraft No.

   Total Purchase Price
without NRE Credit
   Total Purchase Price
with NRE Credit

A/C 1

   $ ***    $ ***

A/C 2

   $ ***    $ ***

A/C 3

   $ ***    $ ***

A/C 4

   $ ***    $ ***

A/C 5

   $ ***    $ ***

A/C 6

   $ ***    $ ***

A/C 7

   $ ***    $ ***

A/C 8

   $ ***    $ ***

A/C 9

   $ ***    $ ***

A/C 10

   $ ***    $ ***

A/C 11

   $ ***    $ ***

A/C 12

   $ ***    $ ***

A/C 13

   $ ***    $ ***

A/C 14

   $ ***    $ ***

*** This portion of the agreement has been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment and has been filed separately with the SEC.

 

4


   The Total Purchase Price will be paid in accordance with the Milestone Payment Schedule below.
Milestone   
Payments:    CAM will pay IAI ***% of the Total Purchase Price and for maintenance and any options as shown in Exhibit C for the SF modification of a PC Aircraft at the time such PC Aircraft is inducted for modification. The remaining ***% of the Total Purchase Price, maintenance, and any options as shown in Exhibit C will be due to IAI immediately prior to Redelivery of such SF modified PC Aircraft.
Turn-time (“TAT”):    The SF modification of the PC Aircraft will be properly completed and Redelivered to CAM in accordance with the TAT schedule in Exhibit A.
IAI Damages:    For any PC Aircraft that is not Redelivered on the date shown on the PC2SF Induction Schedule attached hereto as Exhibit A or any induction schedule that has been modified pursuant to this paragraph (each, the “Induction Schedule”), (a “Late PC Aircraft”), IAI will pay CAM $*** per day, not subject to escalation or cap, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty or forfeiture (it being agreed by the parties that CAM will suffer actual damages in such event but that such damages are impossible to calculate with any acceptable reliability), for each day that such Late PC Aircraft is late and not Redelivered to CAM. Without limiting CAM’s right to the liquidated damages as described above, upon any such late Redelivery, the Induction Schedule of the remaining unmodified PC Aircraft shall be modified in a signed writing between the Parties so that the induction and Redelivery days of the TAT of the next unmodified PC Aircraft on the Induction Schedule, and the TATs for all succeeding unmodified PC Aircraft, shall be moved forward the same number of days that the Late PC Aircraft was late (the “Day-for-Day Formula”); provided, however, that, (1) the TAT of any PC Aircraft that shall have been inducted for conversion at the time such schedule modification is to take place, shall not be so adjusted; (2) the parties shall agree on the induction dates for the first PC Aircraft and the second PC Aircraft to undergo conversion pursuant to this Interim Agreement; (3) the number of days allotted for TAT, as shown in Exhibit A is not extended as a result of the application of the Day-for-Day Formula; and (4) generally, the parties shall agree to each such re-scheduling but, if they fail to so agree, the Day-for-Day Formula shall be applied. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it shall be an IAI Permitted Delay (and the liquidated damage charge per day shall be tolled for the period of such Permitted Delay), if the FAA or CAAI rejects any of the ABX PC STC reports and data that will serve

*** This portion of the agreement has been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment and has been filed separately with the SEC.

 

5


   as a basis for the STC to be obtained by IAI, and such rejection by the FAA or the CAAI is the only cause of the delay.

Prototype Grace

Period:

  

 

The Prototype will be given a 90-day grace period beyond the 272 day TAT (not including IAI observed holidays, IAI Permitted Delays, Work-scope Change Orders, and painting), without damages only if the delay of Redelivery of the Prototype is due solely to the FAA or CAAI and not due to any act or omission of IAI, its subcontractor or any other Person. IAI will prepare a detailed mutually agreed on schedule for submission of all documents and data for the CAAI and FAA to obtain approval for the PC to SF STC and such schedule will be adhered to by IAI and will become a part of the Definitive Agreement. Except for the Prototype, there will be no grace period for the above TAT. After the 90-day grace period for the Prototype, IAI will pay CAM $*** per day that such PC Aircraft is late and not Redelivered to CAM regardless of the reason for late Redelivery, except (1) any applicable extensions of TAT and/or IAI Permitted Delays, as defined in the 767 Agreement, and (2) if the delay is solely attributable to CAM.

CAM Damages:    If CAM cancels the PC to SF program for convenience prior to completion of all 14 PC Aircraft, and such cancellation is not due to any act or omission of IAI in breach of this Interim Agreement or the Definitive Agreement, whichever shall be in effect, or any failure to timely obtain the FAA STC approval for the SF modification of the PC Aircraft, CAM will be subject to the following damages, which such damages will be paid to IAI 30 days after invoicing from IAI. The damages listed below are not subject to any escalation and are capped as provided below.
  

•     CAM will pay IAI $*** for the SF cargo modification kit associated with each PC Aircraft cancelled for modification if such PC Aircraft is cancelled within 12 months of the scheduled date of induction for SF modification, as amended from time to time between the Parties, provided that CAM is not obligated to purchase more than two (2) SF cargo modification kits in total. Further, CAM will not owe IAI for SF cargo modification kits for PC Aircraft cancelled more than 12 months from such PC Aircraft’s scheduled induction date, as amended from time to time between the Parties. IAI agrees to re-purchase for $*** all such kits purchased by CAM under this provision: (1) for any new agreement entered into by IAI or any joint venture or affiliate of IAI, for the SF modification of B767-200 or B767-300 aircraft; and (2) for any current B767-200 or B767-300

*** This portion of the agreement has been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment and has been filed separately with the SEC.

 

6


  

•     aircraft SF modification customer with an induction scheduled more than 12 months from the date CAM purchases such SF cargo modification kit(s) from IAI. All SF cargo modification kits purchased by CAM under this provision will be stored and maintained by IAI and risk of loss of the kit(s) will remain with IAI. Title to and all ownership rights in CAM-purchased SF cargo modification kit(s) purchased under this provision will remain with CAM until repurchased by IAI in accordance with the requirements hereunder. Payment for cargo modification kits purchased or re-purchased under this provision will be made within thirty (30) days of purchase by CAM or IAI, as applicable.

  

•     In addition, CAM will pay IAI the price of the cargo loading system in accordance with Exhibit C for all PC Aircraft CAM cancels that are within six months of such PC Aircraft’s scheduled induction date, as amended from time to time by the Parties, provided CAM approved IAI’s ordering the cargo loading system before it was ordered and IAI actually ordered such cargo loading system. IAI agrees to repurchase from CAM for an amount equal to the price paid by CAM all such cargo loading systems purchased by CAM under this provision for the next B767-200 aircraft inducted for SF configuration, provided that the CLS purchased by CAM is (a) required as SFE by the customer of the next B767-200 conversion and (b) in the configuration as required by the new customer, until all the cargo loading systems purchased by CAM under this provision have been repurchased from CAM. All cargo loading systems purchased by CAM under this provision will be stored and maintained by IAI and risk of loss of the kits will remain with IAI. Title to and all ownership rights in CAM-purchased cargo loading systems purchased under this provision will remain with CAM until repurchased by IAI in accordance with the requirements hereunder. CAM will not owe IAI for any costs for cargo loading system for PC Aircraft cancelled more than six (6) months from such PC Aircraft’s scheduled induction date, as amended from time to time between the Parties, or for any cargo loading systems purchased without CAM’s prior

 

7


  

approval. CAM reserves the right to purchase the CLS directly and supply to IAI. In such case, IAl will have no obligation to purchase the CAM-furnished CLS if the program is cancelled.

  

•     In addition, to off-set damages to IAI for SF cargo modification kit customization costs, CAM will pay IAI for each applicable PC Aircraft as follows:

  

•     If CAM cancels the induction of a PC Aircraft within five months of its scheduled induction date, as amended from time to time between the Parties, CAM will pay IAI $*** for such PC Aircraft.

  

•     If CAM cancels the induction of a PC Aircraft within four months of its scheduled induction date, as amended from time to time, CAM will pay IAI $*** for such PC Aircraft.

  

•     If CAM cancels the induction of a PC Aircraft within three months of its scheduled induction date, as amended from time to time, CAM will pay IAI $*** for such PC Aircraft.

  

•     If CAM cancels the induction of a PC Aircraft within two months of its scheduled induction date, as amended from time to time, CAM will pay IAI $*** for such PC Aircraft.

  

•     CAM will not owe IAI for SF cargo kit customization costs for PC Aircraft cancelled more than five months from the date of such PC Aircraft’s scheduled induction date, as amended from time to time between the Parties.

STC Approval:    Without waiving any right CAM may have in equity, contract or law, IAI must have a valid and approved STC for the conversion of the PC Aircraft to SF configuration within 15 months of the actual induction date of the Prototype, or CAM, at its sole discretion, may cancel this Interim Agreement or the Definitive Agreement, which shall then be in effect, without any further obligation to IAI, including without limitation of any obligations to pay for the Basic Modification Price or any damages or

*** This portion of the agreement has been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment and has been filed separately with the SEC.

 

8


   outstanding NRE for any PC Aircraft. If, however, CAM cancels this Interim Agreement or the Definitive Agreement, whichever shall be in effect, for convenience only and not due to any act or omission of IAI or any failure to obtain the STC in 15 months from the date of induction of the Prototype and less than fourteen (14) PC Aircraft have been inducted for PC to SF modification prior to such cancellation, the Basic Modification Price for each PC Aircraft will be adjusted upwards in accordance with the pricing chart in Exhibit B. Also, if CAM cancels this Interim Agreement or the Definitive Agreement, whichever shall be in effect, early, any mechanic’s lien still in place under the terms of this Interim Agreement or the Definitive Agreement, whichever shall be in force, will be removed immediately when all outstanding Total Purchase Prices for the modifications properly performed under this Interim Agreement or the Definitive Agreement, whichever shall be in force, prior to the date of cancellation, and the outstanding amount of the NRE, are paid in accordance with the terms of this Interim Agreement or the Definitive Agreement, whichever shall be in force, unless such cancellation is due to failure to obtain the PC to SF STC within 15 months from the scheduled date of the induction of the Prototype or a breach by IAI or its subcontractors of this Interim Agreement or Definitive Agreement, whichever shall be in force, in which such case all liens must be immediately removed without delay and without any payment by CAM. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it shall be an IAI Permitted Delay up to 15 months from induction of the Prototype Aircraft, if the FAA or CAAI does not accept any of the ABX PC STC reports and data, which will serve as a basis for the STC to be obtained by IAI and rejection by the FAA or the CAAI is the sole cause of the delay in which case CAM shall not have the right to cancel this Interim Agreement or the Definitive Agreement, whichever shall be in effect. The Permitted Delay will be calculated as only those days of delay due that are due solely to the FAA or CAAI rejection of ABX PC STC reports and data provided by ABX that serve as the basis for the STC and not for any delay due to any other reason(s). Nothing in this provision will relieve IAI from its obligation to pay damages for late Redelivery in accordance with this Interim Agreement or the Definitive Agreement, whichever is then in effect.
Right of First Offer:    In the event IAI ceases contracting with third parties for the modification of Boeing 767-200 series aircraft, it will give CAM the right, which such right CAM may assign it to its parent, affiliate or subsidiaries at CAM’s discretion, to make an offer, and thereafter the right to match any bona fide offer made by another Person, to purchase the intellectual property rights to the Cargo STCs and the PC to SF STC, including all supporting documentation, pertaining to such series of aircraft, and all modification-related tooling pertaining to such series of aircraft

 

9


   that is incapable of being used on other aircraft, provided, that CAM shall have given to IAI, or included as part of the Definitive Agreement, a list identifying all such parent, affiliate and subsidiaries as of the date of the Definitive Agreement, and such identified parent, affiliate and subsidiaries shall be the only permitted assignees of such intellectual rights from CAM; and (2) simultaneously with the signing of the Definitive Agreement, CAM shall deliver to IAI a fully signed Novation Agreement from ABX to CAM, pursuant to which ABX shall have transferred all of its rights (whether by way of first offer, right to match other offers or otherwise) to any of such intellectual property rights. For purposes of this paragraph, a “Right-of-First-Refusal” means that, upon notice from IAI, CAM shall have not more than five (5) CAM Working Days to match any bona-fide offer made by a third party dealing at arm’s length, for the purchase of all or any portion of such intellectual property or tooling. IAI shall furnish CAM with reasonable documentation in order to facilitate CAM’s evaluation of such offers.
Assignment Rights:    CAM at its discretion may assign this Agreement in whole or in part, including without limitation the right to the modification slot and the Basic Modification Price, to any entity (ies), party (ies) or person(s) that buy, lease, or has partial or full ownership interest in any PC Aircraft.

STC NRE Refund

and Royalty:

   ***
Confidentiality:    The terms and conditions of this Interim Agreement will be held in the strictest of confidence and will not be divulged to any party outside of CAM or IAI and their respective legal counsel, shareholders, funding sources unless such disclosure is required by applicable law, court order or similar instrument by which the Parties are legally obligated to comply.
Counterparts:    This Interim Agreement may be executed in counterparts by exchange of faxed or original signature pages. Each counterpart constitutes an original, but all such counterparts constitute one instrument.
Law:    This Interim Agreement shall be governed by the laws of Ohio, without reference to Ohio’s conflicts of laws principles. The UN Convention on the International Sales of Goods (CISG) shall not apply to this transaction. All disputes arising out of this Interim Agreement shall be litigated in federal court located in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the Parties hereby consent to the personal jurisdiction of such court and waive any defense based on inconvenient forum to such venue. The Parties also hereby waive their rights to a jury trial in any such litigation.

*** This portion of the agreement has been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment and has been filed separately with the SEC.

 

10


Legal Fees:    Each party shall be responsible for all of its legal fees and its out-of-pocket costs related to this transaction. Counsel for CAM will draft the Agreement for approval by the Parties.

 

3. Indemnification; Insurance and Limitation of Liability

During the term of this Interim Agreement:

*** This portion of the agreement has been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment and has been filed separately with the SEC.

 

11


  (a) Except as provided in Section 3(c), CAM shall indemnify, hold harmless and defend IAI (and its officers, directors and subcontractors) from and against any and all claims (including negligence) for or in respect of any loss, expense, liability, property damage and bodily injury (including death) of whatever kind which CAM (or any officers or director of CAM; and CAM’s subcontractors) may suffer in connection with or arising out of the Services provided under this Interim Agreement, unless the damage results from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of IAI;

 

  (b) CAM shall include IAI (and any officer or director of IAI; and IAI’s subcontractors) as additional insureds and/or loss payees under its all risk hull insurance policies and its liability insurance policies. Without limiting IAI’s indemnity, hold harmless and defense obligations, loss payee status will not apply where IAI is performing any test flight on the PC Aircraft;

 

  (c) IAI shall indemnify, hold harmless and defend CAM (and its officers, directors and subcontractors) from and against any and all claims for or in respect of any loss, expense, liability, property damage and bodily injury (including death) of whatever kind which IAI (or any officers or director of IAI; and IAI’s subcontractors) may suffer in connection with or arising out of the Services provided under this Interim Agreement when such claim or loss: (i) results from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of IAI, its directors, officers, servants, agents or employees; or (ii) in the case of any damage to, loss or destruction of Delivered Aircraft or other CAM Equipment, while in the possession of IAI and until Re-Delivery, if such damage, loss or destruction is the result of the negligence, gross negligence or willful misconduct of IAI, its directors, officers, servants, agents or employees.

To meet its indemnity obligation, IAI will maintain aviation premises insurance, aviation products liability, including grounding, and completed operations insurance, bodily injury, property damage and hanger-keepers’ legal liability insurance in a minimum amount of $100,000,000 per occurrence and aggregate, where applicable. The agreed on value of each Delivered Aircraft is $33,000,000 and IAI will declare the same to its insurers and such amount shall be the maximum amount that may be claimed in the event of a total loss of a Delivered Aircraft.

 

  (d) Except for the liquidated damage payments that may be due under the paragraph entitled “IAI Damages”, IAI shall not, and except for the damages that may be due under the paragraph entitled “CAM Damages”, CAM shall not, be liable for indirect, incidental or consequential damages, loss of profit or loss of use arising out of, or resulting from, the services provided by IAI under this Interim Agreement.

 

4. Definitive Agreement

Promptly after the signing of this Interim Agreement by both Parties, CAM shall prepare, and IAI and CAM shall, in good faith using their best efforts, negotiate and, within sixty (60) days from the date of this Interim Agreement, sign the Definitive Agreement. The Definitive Agreement shall (i) have a term of five (5) years, less the

 

12


term of this Interim Agreement, (ii) contain the terms and conditions contained in this Interim Agreement and such other terms and conditions not inconsistent therewith that are normal and customary in maintenance transactions of this type and (iii) shall be based generally on the December 17, 2001 Boeing 767 Special Freighter Agreement (the “767 Agreement”).

The Parties agree that, if during the term of this Interim Agreement there is a need for operations provisions not provided herein, the Parties will refer to such operations provisions as they appear in the 767 Agreement.

The Parties further agree that the date to enter into the Definitive Agreement under the May 14, 2008 Letter Agreement for the PC to SF Conversion Critical Design Review (the “CD Letter”) between IAI and ABX as amended by the LOI, is hereby changed from July 31, 2008 to September 30, 2008, and that, for such purpose, this Interim Agreement shall satisfy the obligation to enter into the Definitive Agreement by such date.

 

5. Miscellaneous

The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Interim Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Interim Agreement. In the event of a conflict between the provisions of this Interim Agreement and the provision of the Letter of Intent, the provisions of this Interim Agreement shall control. To the extent there is no such conflict, the terms and provisions of both the Interim Agreement and the Letter of Intent will apply. This Interim Agreement may not be assigned or transferred by either Party without the express prior written consent of the other Party and any such attempted assignment or transfer without such prior written consent shall be null and void. This Interim Agreement shall be binding upon the Parties hereto and their permitted successors or permitted assignees, as the case may be.

All notices sent pursuant to this Interim Agreement shall be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, in which event such notices shall be deemed to have been given seven (7) days after deposit with the governmental mailing authority, or by international courier, in which case such notices shall be deemed to have been given three (3) days after delivery to the courier, or by fax, in which case such notice shall be deemed to have been given twenty-four (24) hours after a confirmation is received by the sender, to the addresses listed above and on this letterhead.

[Balance of this page intentionally left blank.]

*** This portion of the agreement has been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment and has been filed separately with the SEC.

 

13


Please countersign this letter where indicated below whereupon it will become a binding agreement between us.

 

Very truly yours,

ISRAEL AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES, LTD.
By:  

/s/ Dany Kleiman

Print Name:   Dany Kleiman
Title:   Corporate Vice President
Fax No.:  

 

By:  

/s/ Jacob Vistanezky

Print Name:   Jacob Vistanezky
Title:   General Manager Finance
Fax No.:  

 

 

ACCEPTED AND AGREED TO:

CARGO

AIRCRAFT MANAGEMENT, INC.

By:  

/s/ George Golder

Print Name:   George Golder
Title:   Secretary
Fax No.:  

 

AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES GROUP, INC. (GUARANTOR)
By:  

/s/ W. Joseph Payne

Print Name:   W. Joseph Payne
Title:   Sr. VP, Corporate General Counsel & Secretary
Fax No.:  

 

*** This portion of the agreement has been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment and has been filed separately with the SEC.

 

14


EXHIBIT A

PC2SF Aircraft Induction Schedule

 

Aircraft

   induction    TAT    Holidays    Redelivery

1

   9/1/2008    272    13    6/13/2009

2

   4/5/2009    120    6    8/9/2009

3

   5/3/2009    115    2    8/28/2009

4

   8/9/2009    115    7    12/9/2009

5

   8/27/2009    115    7    12/27/2009

6

   12/8/2009    110    0    3/28/2010

7

   12/27/2009    110    4    4/20/2010

8

   3/28/2010    110    6    7/22/2010

9

   4/19/2010    110    3    8/10/2010

10

   7/21/2010    110    7    11/15/2010

11

   8/9/2010    110    7    12/4/2010

12

   11/14/2010    110    0    3/4/2011

13

   12/5/2010    110    0    3/25/2011

14

   3/3/2011    110    6    6/27/2011

Not including Workscope Change Orders & Painting

*** This portion of the agreement has been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment and has been filed separately with the SEC.

 

15


EXHIBIT B

Basic Conversion Prices for various quantities of conversions performed

 

     24 A/C    19 AC    14 A/C    12 A/C    10 A/C    6 A/C
Basic Conversion Price    $***    $***    $***    $***    $***    $***

*** This portion of the agreement has been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment and has been filed separately with the SEC.

 

16


EXHIBIT C

BOEING 767 PC TO SF MODIFICATIONS

(Schedule of Prices)

1. Fixed Priced Portion of the Workscope. The following Services constitute the Fixed Price Portion of the Workscope and CAM shall select one or more of such Services to be performed on each Delivered Aircraft as part of a PC Cargo Modification and Weight Upgrade.

 

  (1) Standard Configuration

 

Basic Cargo Modification per Specification    $ * **
Structural upgrade for Pre-line No. 86 (not including Landing Gears, Leading Edge slats and slat tracks)    $ * **
Maindeck Cargo Handling System, Configuration A, C, D & E    $ * **
Maindeck Cargo Handling System, Configuration B    $ * **

 

  (2) Weight Upgrades

 

From 310,000 to 315,000 lbs. MTOW    $ * **
From 315,000 to 320,000 lbs. MTOW    $ * **
From 320,000 to 335,000 lbs. MTOW    $ * **
From 335,000 to 345,000 lbs. MTOW    $ * **
From 345,000 to 351,000 lbs. MTOW    $ * **
From 270,000 to 272,000 lbs. MLW    $ * **
From 272,000 to 278,000 lbs. MLW    $ * **
From 278,000 to 283,000 lbs. MLW    $ * **
From 248,000 to 250,000 lbs. MZFW    $ * **
From 250,000 to 253,000 lbs. MZFW    $ * **
From 253,000 to 258,000 lbs. MZFW    $ * **
From 258,000 to 261,000 lbs. MZFW    $ * **
From 261,000 to 266,000 lbs. MZFW    $ * **

 

  (3) Additional Services

 

Engine Loading Capabilities    $ * **
Perishables Capability    $ * **
Flush Lavatory    $ * **
Flush Lavatory NRE    $ * **
Weight & Balance Calculator    $ * **

*** This portion of the agreement has been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment and has been filed separately with the SEC.

 

17

EX-31.1 4 dex311.htm SECTION 302 CEO CERTIFICATION Section 302 CEO Certification

Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Joseph C. Hete, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q of Air Transport Services Group, Inc.;

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4. The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

  a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

  b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

  c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

  d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

  a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

  b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: November 13, 2008

 

/s/ JOSEPH C. HETE

Joseph C. Hete
Chief Executive Officer

 

43

EX-31.2 5 dex312.htm SECTION 302 CFO CERTIFICATION Section 302 CFO Certification

Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Quint O. Turner, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q of Air Transport Services Group, Inc.;

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4. The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

  a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

  b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

  c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

  d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

  a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

  b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: November 13, 2008

 

/s/ QUINT O. TURNER

Quint O. Turner
Chief Financial Officer

 

44

EX-32.1 6 dex321.htm SECTION 906 CEO CERTIFICATION Section 906 CEO Certification

Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Air Transport Services Group, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ending September 30, 2008 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Joseph C. Hete, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as enacted by § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

 

  (1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 

  (2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to Air Transport Services Group, Inc. and will be retained by Air Transport Services Group, Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

 

/s/ JOSEPH C. HETE

Joseph C. Hete

Chief Executive Officer

Date: November 13, 2008

 

45

EX-32.2 7 dex322.htm SECTION 906 CFO CERTIFICATION Section 906 CFO Certification

Exhibit 32.2

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Air Transport Services Group, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ending September 30, 2008 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Quint O. Turner, Chief Financial Officer, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as enacted by § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

 

  (1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 

  (2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to Air Transport Services Group, Inc. and will be retained by Air Transport Services Group, Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

 

/s/ QUINT O. TURNER

Quint O. Turner
Chief Financial Officer

Date: November 13, 2008

 

46

GRAPHIC 8 g85177tx_pg1.jpg GRAPHIC begin 644 g85177tx_pg1.jpg M_]C_X``02D9)1@`!`@``9`!D``#_[``11'5C:WD``0`$````9```_^X`#D%D M;V)E`&3``````?_;`(0``0$!`0$!`0$!`0$!`0$!`0$!`0$!`0$!`0$!`0$! M`0$!`0$!`0$!`0$!`0("`@("`@("`@("`P,#`P,#`P,#`P$!`0$!`0$"`0$" M`@(!`@(#`P,#`P,#`P,#`P,#`P,#`P,#`P,#`P,#`P,#`P,#`P,#`P,#`P,# M`P,#`P,#`P,#_\``$0@`-@#!`P$1``(1`0,1`?_$`-$```$%``(#`0`````` M``````D`!P@*"P0&`0(#!0$!``$$`P$!``````````````$"!P@)`P8*!000 M```&`@$"!`,""0@$#P````(#!`4&!P$("0`1$A,4"B$Q%1<805$BU1:7UU@: M@:'1,B,DF%EAD256<5)BDJ-4U*4VEM8GQSA($0`!`@0#`P4)"P41```````! M``(1`P0%(08',1((05$B$PEA<9/3%)0551:1H<$RTB/41956&-%"N18Q\_ MZ<_C^7SZ@N`^-@$Y8Y+9:XX'W#@:)/E`#MG.%)F?R>K&YRUURUE^>:&T2_+[@UV MZXM7/DF;7SB<0\T^\SJ M)9&/SKA,Y#+;@Y0/_B=;2Q\,:D0#MCX8_P#=>1_^C.ND?B2>,'6AN\-L)V'Z MBRP'8>VZ`CJ!/C_QK3[_`)2(]]+'N=;3_='K_P"'X/M7DGS_`!?^#/CU/XDG M0<3:6C=YY_\`05#>Q"M3@"W4"?B!]6-Y>?\`Q*._QI[BW3O-3CK>-C4O':I-)/S\`@#D5]=/.B&-, M@S/7=EBBHP5[[QT^4:F[(WK)M1X5&[4J.?4+#*TJ9/<[RM066EMDZP#I4\K7 MXZ`I5S,7!6B`C-\)*-4$\U82`8BL"QG)%%G^.&M__+QKC_$-)OV5=$2_CAK? M_P`O&N/\0TF_95T1+^.&M_\`R\:X_P`0TF_95T1+^.&M_P#R\:X_Q#2;]E71 M$OXX>WL?/CRKC_$-):$/R!EQ38%GYBQT16T>.[E2TUY/ZZ1OJA+0N@CT_1LDX8$KY;EVHHJ\KD^!B\L\V,1"" M2U$VF&![=R\.JGP_\;/RZ(G%UR][/2$ID36R;1Z:SZI61QH_: ME4SI");'Y;'%`C$XQDCR2N:W-&>`AQ9'YI58R2L0+"2%:0X.0&EA%CMT1/CT M1+HB71$NB)=$7S$9X7G+DY@$C)6U>#84SXZKS@C\HQ9636CH2Y<-XGFBX@#';S+N.0LL6K.>9*:QWV\V[+UJF.C M,KJSK'2I+`>ENLE,>^8_F:!B=I"J2[O1KG/WC5KF69:V6%7]0&*/,04U`Y## MD$:,)!G.2!2]RS,BW.<.!>,_$2S(4@1_E%)BNL7,[2=;,Z%U,;?.IK(3A)8Y MC=X&F3)O$G-E%?=26-Z=TK*6H>]C^7R229)E4 MS,,"`Z9M)?C`#8QQ"\E`@_\`U*G^,8[![9>(%C..W?X8QF7_`"QU:_\`\?U& MA!MJ>.[O,C^LL[F=I/P5,,6YVHQ@/]/5$]W$R8P7MCB`Y*<_+4J?_'Y=WJ`8 MQ_KS,,8ZH_\`']1XP]&3?Y[/E+G/:6\%@Q]M*7S>J\2G-IOA5WYG%J0&)6+0 MTKK&`/TH:T$UG[LZPM4CB<7$>$Q\=O3-LF7KE"L#<`8$Q990\C4#!C/8/BSC M[=CT2SI676G%XI#)MSW_`#CB]O0:-I(!)V\[9GN&<\T5#ZG,ETJIE14S7$DS)LUY> MXX[`TDM:-@8``,(++(U2TDOSDE1[\[,.CV_N"'6RB+=VLN2R7)$:Z*9I8XR7 M*2L\.&M%@)>9%.G(IR<#Q=\Y*0MZD>`XSY>,_I7PE.3VRNM.INX?(HYZZ;@T MXPW/!)I0=A/D08GY]EC$6V3^&.47?4[FD-B+_'UBD_,4+=2\@,-&#`!9%X>^ M.^"+00_AN^$W]PJ`?K!NW]IG1%G^>YLUYTTU&Y!6'6C3&DHU2T7KJC86[6.B MCS]+7\;W8<[<7R2%FN!\ND,B5)A-T*-:L%EE&%`['Y%D.'N/N1`O]Q=KKK_J7RB6CKSK+3++1]35S7U1%M4:8U\G="7ISE,)0 M3-ZE"MPEKV_N9ZE8ND&4H<`/P0$E&#&`X%@>7W@YN".IT M0&^XR9;*H/%V"=5[-E":+*X$\I12=4YK#GMYO:79F<`1)"Y#9=].[S(UK MTXE$A"M4H(6W.+9!8VA.4>(12<*@OJG6`Z9KJ?K@R1R&(7)%&87J)(QLL)6*WI6RSM$TY-5MN6CRP+1I\I1 MIC!G%FE$4-O:41[DGU;V2G]+V[JQLY!]/[ZA;Q)5DELBJ9S#H1!+CAZ,M?'I M.F62EI;4[<.9QXI2SJL%8QE8HP@\??R`YP1:#7F`_P"5_P`\?1%R.B)=$7H( M>`Y[9QG.>V<_#&A^5#T6EYV)H+JOZG]=H,X6/=<_C==0MN M`+!KS(EX4WJE.<=RFYI0%A.<7IV4Y^!21(4I<`R13RW/('*^:^&Y)8/SG MS2U@ABY5+]\?<)V!8GU>O-*VEQJN(F>H0*KFDR4@5D/:?N,`CX>QBRJ;8.E4 M`SW+4J?4N7;MD(4H_AC%O/.OU34M?;31L(@6BLGM,:ET8[TN5N2A"!?-:XPKJK[0 MLMU7K71SL2=N+FXJCEK@X+YA(5:U:L4F".4JE2H]Q,//4*#AY$,8A9%D6>^< M]8]3+[=ITTSIU54NF.)+B9DR+B<8[5N7MFE6FUHH95MH+#9Y=#(EM9+EMH:< M-8QH@UK?FR0&C`8Q7$^T&>_[[S#^64OF<_R_W_KC],7$XNJ*@G^\F?*7U!D/ M(X$/0]L\TD>*2^T&>_[[R_\`\T/G_;^GI>X?MY_A)ORE/L'D?U-;/-)'BDOM M!GOX9Q+^W;OG'Z2O><=NW?\`Z]GOCJLW&YM`+Y\T`[(S9N/OK@.2,AA^Z;+: MHQA_DJ?'".'S43W2KP?!5IQ):1UV'?UK+)`KM385$V/#T]!39$RI,F4_6TTF3*-77&`JIKGR MV-+I:]PA%4?_<<R+BJ*P\;$2](04/$UMFTH$LCS^$E5X?-4QZ*I%13.U8%GMZ-&$W(<& M'&9R19KW`59B_7CFATB7NBK+3E5>"REY$`9F2RL_:>R2.J3DAPL^''EEN\A) MSG&?F(&/AT1;)HLX"'(A9P$(<=Q"SGM@(UY)M MT+\)5F+&:97O-T,2.&=YX106$KOT%@WDBQG(<%"BD:1B#C'PQXN_X^B+5*]O MSK<+5SB*TO@JQO$W2*95GB[9<6:#(%`WVZW)78Q`50WI5\I#A'=F-;I=%X'ME"(EB&.[%,L'H(-=D,:C5KA'6MS?T M1*P^+3>.*5QY*%P,(/2*DIX4ZGR0$E'ED6?#/J)Y2.'6Y")+)8MLAIK8Z%5E M&T61%ESVR164DDG&8PE:;$BBM9`IXSJ,@SD:3"M62+&>QI7?N'HBL#Z(^\EV MXJ0YFB6\U61G:.$$83I%-BP8IKJZZD:8HH)>5RM&D(!6TR4!"#Q>3E&RFG"[ MY&KQG/?HB?[W0/+50V]O'5I$7J/8RB2UC=UTS^86,R*TV&6719\I6+,:)!`K M%C@SU"ED>$;E9^%N"O&:E4A((4ICCR<@,R12U]DWK@PLFN&VFV*QN(,EUA6X MS452*R6F;)7EXF[B]I6J/)43=$(Z-*H"BCRM2,T1IF,!!@/@QXL9Z(C[=L M?BQ_JQT1>!"P'Y_Z?YNF.WD4'`1/Q0N&K<$B!,2/54 M&,8H7EO3RA\<6]%(U>#,"P8)NPH3%9#VR=D7<.+/9@UOR9E^X>1-=- MK)K00XT[6O8TQV;[G-B?T8CNK8_HGV6?$QK/EH9HJI5NRS:I[09#;L^?)J)\ MMP)ZQM/)D39DMFR!G"6YT06M+<4"'8'?#C(VGFZBP+XI??6P'T0U&&Q,ZWO% MRV&,I#S/-RV12/)'!.T1UN!GMCRTI0/,[>(S(Q?E=6>S'G[2S-%6*J]TU\J( M"`:9H#&[=C>L@(1VK9MHWP>\=.@V7AEW2B^:46FF+839K+=4NJ9YPZ4^H=2. MFS28#!SMWF:$Q.;5X4\__D_=+'^C[;(M\/\`O#/76W730YQQMEX\(WX9BO2S M3[M2I;`QF>--`T"``H:L>\*0!>/M4X4_W4-T_P!=D6_.'4>D]#?5EX\(WQBK M]@>U,^_.FOF59]$2^U3A3_=0W3_79%OSAT])Z&^K+QX1OC$]@>U,^_.FOF59 M]$2^U3A3_=0W3_79%OSAT])Z&^K+QX1OC$]@>U,^_.FOF59]$4[>/C7#BSWC MNL40K#5/:EJ0U^WIYW+)/8%NL3G!&XE"XD98F&0H6TQ0M&C(#)^HV=LCSIM]?,HI$BW44YMQ<'L/63Y#IDN6);)8,.M+L'EHA$A3Q] MRER=I>.C0ARK>K)`0P[*;1H':IZC2M9Q"=TA$&+0DI++LM$G)$$;:"-QY:!M M:S08#DMU<4XR\9].9@.5,``&,`:QH@`-@A^1>?QSGS)AG3G.?/<8NYGQG&?M"Y3OAGO\`&MKJ MSCX?'XXS",XSCHB#_#IA8]#;5P:R;$:I5%[4JR\X=9E[=+(W-VR M9.`G]F]F-G:`H% MG(4+GF[;FKJM@X+$88?VFDM:V9P6F#QG)GA2HUIIYHN_<(`"S^#HBUX.9/>& MSN)GCP#L+KE4\&L057R^IZT,BLZS(2XM'*^>,'Q-(ZCQ%G!JI_*^.,8Z(@1\+ON@;WY#-](MJUM#`=;*;A%AP29B@#I"BYJTOCU:S*%M M=(]%/JTSG;ZUFX?6,ASP4G"G`>H5E$EE"R(6`"(KHTOA4.L*..4/GT3C4WB3 MTF&C>8O+V)KDL==DA@G&'/;(#2A!SC\'1%FF^[(XZ-`-)IK MKM.M3V*,4U:ESJYN*S-?8:X`Q&"HPRIVHUELYGAOG'Y@)2QX5'M^2D^$[:N$ M'Q)R`#3J!"(JD;?`I\ZUS)+(;XZ_+:TADKC$6DLG((/,CC#+ITW2%;%VQ$3J=$GR'!RX%%9$802O(,SCP9%D)%:5W8XQ])>1 M,VO3=Q*8)N'%5`D8(&0KF4^BZ9AS++\?1%;WZ(HK[4;/(M9X1^D1=5 M7#=4I7@4`C=>4S`)'-'QX5DA#G/U)Q:V]0S19K`,0<&*EIP?AG^S+-%CP]?$ MS!>Q8:,5C:>IJIY)#)4EF\Y[@-AY&CNGWS@KJ:/Z4UFK6:9=@]-6'+U`(.GU MUVK)-)3299,"X=:]KIS]N[+E`F,-XM:8BGWO-L+RY[NJ7&..VLVQU64L:P<"$69@ENP/X@2ASC&>L3\[YCU:SBYU( M+=74=IB?F6,F`N')ON@">]LQ*]!W"QHWV>'#C+DYAG9WREF/4IH&]P64\?]TH_AGKS]QW=+]TK8[]34^_,?4^P><_ M5E7X-RG\6?"_]^\I_:E%XY+[CNZ7[I6QWZFI]^8^GL'G/U95^#4_M2B\!SD0Q>$(4).4,HRJ28S=N$T"9.+@-_><`0UT(_$'1`[B\JO&WQ,5?$WKK<@+J*TRR2&MI9;W;T_=B8/J7#K"=NZ6,QW`L[CEKK3E=Y;N0V8V^FT0W&: M:]<9`VT]KDPRBA[28V.&U0WO9S=%ESZN=8VF:HZ=)7!P.?'I4<(!28Y:9@8_ M*(#G%PMJQ%[VQ:2_&/HK`^-_2NF-485E(M5PEB"YV+*R"<$CGMKR3!;E/I@> M(7]J,M>]#$G1!,[C(;4J8COG!6.B*?0OEGY_+/RQG.?Y,8^.>B++%]QKQC;D M2KEVV=LB@]3MB;9Y@1#[B#CQ8[D1Z>91RW*N?V[^A]%UYK)L7+KPNV/:WL%YU_%JFG[S-80 MU4S7Q;M*2YY&VUB/>8\)RL*-M7@"M+)\[.1=L9QW[$01O;3\5.V35RO4[;6R M&J]^4]7-!Q&P[5(D=L5--H''G&;%,0X?#&=$YRAE;4:QX+=I=]1*)+$(WP-X MQ]L8!WZ(M)C937BK=LJ%M+6^ZV$4DJZXH@YPN7-99N4JT*%Q+P),YM2W`3,M MKZQ.))*Y`IQC.4ZQ.49C&X, M\M,/NM@3$JQGMQ5;XWA`#LJCZQP"<,/FA*3YS@K!%&EL;_=#5XW` MK=H2\P#(U)08;R61#C9!8E3)P8\`$Z5Q+]8$I.'&.P<%GX!C'RSVZ(NV4'[< MKFKWVM$N77O7H5F'D5#S;+VT_+SHQ;)\FUZK^9[#Q M"/.ZAPKB\=7WA0FGZ-,#/]P6.,';'5'9%.K MDB-=#PY%D7U=[;18%GOG`OEDBT>=#M.:]T"U*I?4:KG1YD$0IR.*VA-)9$4@ M(?I,ZO+XZ2>12%V);"$Z$E4[OSTI.P66'(22Q!+\0O!XLD4N^B(5?+EO4CT@ MUI0AB]A5W7VPNQ\V:-?=<)!:<@88[`HA/YH+"9SMZ?.DB5)6=OKZDXP-3(70 MY3XB##$R9'D(C%A0!S&/>_?'\"I#!N[CL6]V!^!"AUIY9)H_ZA<;BZVKVF<[ MMB06EO(\;!6]4X*B1Q>S:KXZFZV939+Q,BG.)N[:EK:QHRWQW)*B,A;'`PY< ME$4L++,,"8C[BJ`:!"`1PM$MJ+8W:U[9K[E^MDHU4B]GQ**RVGDLNG\3GD\S<&!A;24D22$J%I66Y,O,,6+DV0J#DZ7`\$](E(#F"KY,>V>V>M M,\!:IW74BD#'22!>B`P6 M)::!,A"TG(5`R40PG&"$+.<0JBZ/($0.[^<%QURLRKZFM_4Y*QSZ6S*GX;8- M?1[:&JIW:5L=,EY'F8 ME4P',%VV.N-5I0I#"PX+RI'D99:)2`Y@F@A7N"X9):HW'N5_P!:7:%1 M[46LI'/GR`O5TP])L`!];Y\GKJ)UK:U#/D%[5)'O4^/4G0,>MNOIR;<;YN*;,$ ME:,SE/T*-KC58/,<40!X-D1:\M44@1(\J$YJP(@XZIATM['W3#W(J`T`Q@-L M=@V^Y%<%%S>RI[M"-:NQC1JF*GAMON,_\` MMI6,R2..M:KX]8326>K&@1.#>>8<4)&:H`40?4'$&*AS8F(P=AB.8MU,JH]+V:4+%$[K&/(3KK+>G%,WI5TA M/5/E1HR2L(0IO5$JCS(52%=--TMQZ^WQ?5EW[=3S7BJY%M,X@U4` MII:MK;XW=F=-X>S&/>,>Y0J%_K:W;;/UKFB>%177-VV1J43/9,:E+[8;(ELJ(5DP5Q8K8SL`DE'V MY-'*>M2YK9SU;YA0@/,SYV#R1D]$4M;6YA?NN#A?WT-7Y9K@*P]>=@+]B#2. MRXI9$FKLF>PLT=JNHRO=+7:SZ89*IKRSHA0)6R>R+K30,I_8S*N MBL_8&>2G+A/1![V80D:T8,8..&1=SV!Y^F/7F0-M?2_42PD%PQ.E8C>&Q5/2 M&UJ[:)K5+3,I"O8V:!UR!@*F;9L#:#DVLRM\2-K6>W)CF7R3!JB5)OI0$4A( M5R\M\^Y!%VB;10#BP+&]_+9BY39=J1BKK&E+`;7R6>AMJM*-FK*U+K1J'PJO M1"6L3\M>@&EFFC:@D%B,Z(OR>0;8R_7W;2D]$:"MZ0ZX-3IKC=.Y^R][P&OV M:R[E04C4;PQP]FKJA8A(H[,6=98,XF+R/U)V6AR5IT2;`4A(SS0@&10DU&Y< M[89@PS7V&KK#Y1;+M[839:`4D^2F$`TSM^O8!KY`Z_E M13DIK7/3.S$!&686'*0U>#THR*5U5WA6&OVR;E M9L,>%$UE5!QN=2.6O;O3Z1"EE44K-[+K)\+:'LY6>:;A*4:K1HRU!>>B+\93 MSR5^UTQ3]QO^NLV9$EF\>E^\CC[&U4XCXW2O:@JAU9F"N&5T/"T8(=7V]WZ1 M(4C6,K!12(P_/CP?X!=$4LM.>126;'W]+=:[>U@DFM%HLVMU0[6QYJ=7F.H"9"KBC>V%PJ=L,D8CTRII-]6$96/.*4"Q@0<$3;VMDT1?/ M'%4E8V";`4EL7G:MK[`+$K:QN1SAJAJG1LOMRY64\3X@<`,R-]/"U)LK",$* M@C%@!9P,BSGHBB$R^X@9VR/0N2VWI';M;HKDU.A.T>OT?:;)@M@SJT"[2N>) M494M?N,:;4;01`W.TYE-49K*M7+32QMX%!R@E.(G)>2(T^L%RWE;C+-OO`:O MOFKLSALL!'R&-59\(N"*31H5,S:\(I1"IS#`-PE:,D:\:%`X9%)_P`8?Q_S9_HZ(AG7ZDXXL;T5"NV?=(D+:(>O-BIJ/9KN+DWV4EU6 M&71PRT7"#&S)N#0V;',=,M9;F$M4*5_2L%9R5A#W%T1"]=6/V]!ANP(RIBYD M-BNO>2T%C%0U+M+F%MD"52*O!\AAM49BL5.BQB5M6E,P#L1`2@8FTP[Z.$U) MA2()%8UJ8,"#5E:AJH:0RL`P"&XK@Q!A3A".!XCC;B'C186A`LPD%'L)LE^; MC!O@[>+&!=^B(,R9JX<`5(O+,DCN;69?,$6XRH]V(V%P!1E/Y(LD3TN=P-2@RF/, M";<45!AW41L#(;K*9+SHA%E6M'VK.D0$@*!]379P%O"'*C!/]H/)%V&!-?"2 MGBNGV8[(UJZ+(;)Y%ONX!?R-C`8>+95M-CYWI_2OZVPHW,J<-;)F1X2?I%E* ML$5@SZ#YV?*ST1"_V:K'A4D-%V`UQ_9.W*[;"V_2^7[+R;;>`;_S.SEG',P[ M#L3C$:DJQNN*#-]D-E-SNR2FYN*=VG&][9L8JCIYNI!=?D2N()]N!N#="\JBX/^C[:H;1- M>%GD9-!ZL?1$_P#H2U<+Z+8FHQ2:Q6E8UZ^ZQ&-#+K,1 MN296DBUP-EIP=4R-HC:*C[G#R(@GEH5(F?-A*T*C/=1ZL0D_G8P1=OIQEX?$ M^^%>O,5EMV+MBUUQ[%$Z[Q.VD^YH=?6>]BVYU^\#D_9^-%[LK7-%MS*;PB&R?TRPCM>7;49/MJIV?S!BT M[5]J"5N+TTCRN5N87.$[D_9BR6*GW"!K9'HB!')0[K_`',3;)C3=1AR MDYN^JBD'V=K%Z["7U/I?"1YF.B*#MNUCP?2C56VHUKYLG9U6M^=7=1%UWV-? MT!WWG$CQQ@LFS,`?8TPUU'K4@J5^!76H/`%(`1^2*= MU20?BF<9%'"];KKV.C4P9-J].Y? MIF2M1SV5B%ML[Q?-9LCDS9E2.*A2!/"C&*5Y;A"]"2,KS,X(HH7RT\%!K1+@ MV_)ER
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----