FTAI Reports First Quarter 2021 Results, Dividend of $0.33 per Common Share

Rhea-AI Summary

Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors (FTAI) reported its Q1 2021 financial results, showing a net cash used in operating activities of $(48,932) thousand and a net loss attributable to shareholders of $(34,540) thousand, equating to a basic and diluted loss per share of $(0.40). However, the company declared a cash dividend of $0.33 per common share for the quarter, payable on May 25, 2021. Funds Available for Distribution (FAD) reached $14,407 thousand, driven primarily by $60.6 million from the aviation leasing portfolio.

Positive

• Declared a dividend of $0.33 per common share, showing commitment to returning value to shareholders.
• Funds Available for Distribution (FAD) of $14.4 million indicates potential for future growth.

Negative

• Net loss attributable to shareholders of $(34,540) thousand raises concerns about profitability.
• Significant cash used in operating activities of $(48,932) thousand could impact cash reserves.

NEW YORK, April 29, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors LLC (NYSE:FTAI) (the “Company” or “FTAI”) today reported financial results for the first quarter 2021. The Company’s consolidated comparative financial statements and key performance measures are attached as an exhibit to this press release.

Financial Overview

(in thousands, except per share data)
Selected Financial Results	Q1’21
Net Cash Used in Operating Activities	$	(48,932	)
Net Loss Attributable to Shareholders	$	(34,540	)
Basic and Diluted Loss per Common Share	$	(0.40	)
Funds Available for Distribution (“FAD”) (1)	$	14,407
Adjusted EBITDA(1)	$	47,154

_______________________________

(1)	For definitions and reconciliations of non-GAAP measures, please refer to the exhibit to this press release.

For the first quarter of 2021, total FAD was $14.4 million. This amount includes $60.6 million from our aviation leasing portfolio, offset by $(3.8) million from our infrastructure business and $(42.4) million from corporate and other.

First Quarter 2021 Dividends

On April 29, 2021, the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) declared a cash dividend on its common shares of $0.33 per share for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, payable on May 25, 2021 to the holders of record on May 14, 2021.

Additionally, on April 29, 2021, the Board declared cash dividends on its Fixed-to-Floating Rate Series A Cumulative Perpetual Redeemable Preferred Shares (“Series A Preferred Shares”), Fixed-to-Floating Rate Series B Cumulative Perpetual Redeemable Preferred Shares (“Series B Preferred Shares”) and Fixed Rate Reset Series C Cumulative Perpetual Redeemable Preferred Shares (“Series C Preferred Shares”) of $0.51563, $0.50000 and $0.45833 per share, respectively, for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, payable on June 15, 2021 to the holders of record on June 1, 2021.

Additional Information

For additional information that management believes to be useful for investors, please refer to the presentation posted on the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website, www.ftandi.com, and the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-K, when available on the Company’s website. Nothing on the Company’s website is included or incorporated by reference herein.

Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call on Friday, April 30, 2021 at 8:00 A.M. Eastern Time. The conference call may be accessed by dialing (877) 447-5636 (from within the U.S.) or (615) 247-0080 (from outside of the U.S.) ten minutes prior to the scheduled start of the call; please reference "FTAI First Quarter 2021 Earnings Call." A simultaneous webcast of the conference call will be available to the public on a listen-only basis at www.ftandi.com.

Following the call, a replay of the conference call will be available after 12:00 P.M. on Friday, April 30, 2021 through 11:30 A.M. Friday, May 7, 2021 at (855) 859-2056 (from within the U.S.) or (404) 537-3406 (from outside of the U.S.), Passcode: 8347267.

About Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors LLC

Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors LLC owns and acquires high quality infrastructure and equipment that is essential for the transportation of goods and people globally. FTAI targets assets that, on a combined basis, generate strong and stable cash flows with the potential for earnings growth and asset appreciation. FTAI is externally managed by an affiliate of Fortress Investment Group LLC, a leading, diversified global investment firm.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, many of which are beyond the Company’s control. The Company can give no assurance that its expectations will be attained and such differences may be material. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements contained in this press release. For a discussion of some of the risks and important factors that could affect such forward-looking statements, see the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which are available on the Company’s website (www.ftandi.com). In addition, new risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict or assess the impact of every factor that may cause its actual results to differ from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with regard thereto or change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based. This release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities.

For further information, please contact:

Alan Andreini
Investor Relations
Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors LLC
(212) 798-6128
aandreini@fortress.com

Withholding Information for Withholding Agents

This announcement is intended to be a qualified notice as provided in the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) and the Regulations thereunder. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the common dividend and the Series A Preferred, Series B Preferred and Series C Preferred dividends declared in April 2021 will be treated as a partnership distribution and guaranteed payments, respectively. For U.S. tax withholding purposes, the per share distribution components are as follows:

Common Distribution Components
Non-U.S. Long Term Capital Gain	$	—
U.S. Portfolio Interest Income(1)	$	0.03036
U.S. Dividend Income(2)	$	—
Income Not from U.S. Sources(3)	$	0.29964
U.S. Long Term Capital Gain (4)	$	—
Distribution Per Share	$	0.33000

Series A Preferred Distribution Components
Guaranteed Payments(5)	$	0.51563
Distribution Per Share	$	0.51563

Series B Preferred Distribution Components
Guaranteed Payments(5)	$	0.50000
Distribution Per Share	$	0.50000

Series C Preferred Distribution Components
Guaranteed Payments(5)	$	0.45833
Distribution Per Share	$	0.45833

(1)	Eligible for the U.S. portfolio interest exemption for any holder not considered a 10-percent shareholder under §871(h)(3)(B) of the Code.
(2)	This income is subject to withholding under §1441 or §1442 of the Code.
(3)	This income is not subject to withholding under §1441, §1442 or §1446 of the Code.
(4)	U.S. Long Term Capital Gain attributable to the sale of a U.S. Real Property Holding Corporation. As a result, the gain will be treated as income that is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business and be subject to withholding.
(5)	Brokers and nominees should treat this income as subject to withholding under §1441 or §1442 of the Code.

For U.S. shareholders: In computing your U.S. federal taxable income, you should not rely on this qualified notice, but should generally take into account your allocable share of the Company’s taxable income as reported to you on your Schedule K-1.

Exhibit - Financial Statements

FORTRESS TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTORS LLC
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2021					2020
Revenues
Equipment leasing revenues		$	56,607				$	86,449
Infrastructure revenues		20,542					26,391
Total revenues		77,149					112,840
Expenses
Operating expenses		24,997					33,444
General and administrative		4,252					4,663
Acquisition and transaction expenses		1,643					3,194
Management fees and incentive allocation to affiliate		3,990					4,766
Depreciation and amortization		44,535					42,197
Asset impairment		2,100					—
Interest expense		32,990					22,861
Total expenses		114,507					111,125
Other income (expense)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities		1,374					265
Gain (loss) on sale of assets, net		811					(1,819		)
Loss on extinguishment of debt		—					(4,724		)
Interest income		285					41
Other income		181					33
Total other income (expense)		2,651					(6,204		)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes		(34,707		)			(4,489		)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes		169					(98		)
Net loss from continuing operations		(34,876		)			(4,391		)
Net income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes		—					1,331
Net loss		(34,876		)			(3,060		)
Less: Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries		(4,961		)			(4,736		)
Less: Dividends on preferred shares		4,625					4,539
Net loss attributable to shareholders		$	(34,540	)			$	(2,863	)
(Loss) earnings per share:
Basic
Continuing operations		$	(0.40	)			$	(0.05	)
Discontinued operations		$	—				$	0.02
Diluted
Continuing operations		$	(0.40	)			$	(0.05	)
Discontinued operations		$	—				$	0.02
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic		86,027,944					86,008,099
Diluted		86,027,944					86,008,099

FORTRESS TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTORS LLC
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

		(Unaudited)
		March 31, 2021					December 31, 2020
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$	160,252				$	121,703
Restricted cash		33,224					39,715
Accounts receivable, net		111,898					91,691
Leasing equipment, net		1,684,816					1,635,259
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net		64,801					62,355
Finance leases, net		13,966					6,927
Property, plant, and equipment, net		1,000,988					964,363
Investments		161,767					146,515
Intangible assets, net		16,809					18,786
Goodwill		122,735					122,735
Other assets		220,791					177,928
Total assets		$	3,592,047				$	3,387,977
Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		$	101,155				$	113,185
Debt, net		2,077,402					1,904,762
Maintenance deposits		140,487					148,293
Security deposits		35,117					37,064
Operating lease liabilities		64,231					62,001
Other liabilities		30,003					23,351
Total liabilities		$	2,448,395				$	2,288,656
Commitments and contingencies
Equity
Common shares ($0.01 par value per share; 2,000,000,000 shares authorized; 85,630,753 and 85,617,146 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)		$	856				$	856
Preferred shares ($0.01 par value per share; 200,000,000 shares authorized; 13,320,000 and 9,120,000 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)		133					91
Additional paid in capital		1,198,386					1,130,106
Accumulated deficit		(58,073		)			(28,158		)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(16,283		)			(26,237		)
Shareholders' equity		1,125,019					1,076,658
Non-controlling interest in equity of consolidated subsidiaries		18,633					22,663
Total equity		1,143,652					1,099,321
Total liabilities and equity		$	3,592,047				$	3,387,977

FORTRESS TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTORS LLC
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2021					2020
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss	$	(34,876	)			$	(3,060	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	(1,374		)			(265		)
Gain on sale of subsidiaries	—					(1,331		)
(Gain) loss on sale of assets, net	(811		)			1,819
Security deposits and maintenance claims included in earnings	(2,836		)			8,844
Loss on extinguishment of debt	—					4,724
Equity-based compensation	1,114					291
Depreciation and amortization	44,535					42,197
Asset impairment	2,100					—
Change in deferred income taxes	—					3,822
Change in fair value of non-hedge derivative	(7,964		)			181
Amortization of lease intangibles and incentives	8,108					6,867
Amortization of deferred financing costs	2,268					2,065
Bad debt expense	(547		)			632
Other	(279		)			363
Change in:
Accounts receivable	(19,786		)			(10,780		)
Other assets	(17,953		)			7,063
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(19,707		)			(46,316		)
Management fees payable to affiliate	(602		)			(20,865		)
Other liabilities	(322		)			(8,057		)
Net cash used in operating activities	(48,932		)			(11,806		)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Investment in unconsolidated entities	(1,278		)			(2,452		)
Principal collections on finance leases	395					320
Acquisition of leasing equipment	(114,781		)			(57,570		)
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment	(39,302		)			(60,402		)
Acquisition of lease intangibles	(386		)			1,161
Purchase deposits for acquisitions	(9,250		)			(3,100		)
Proceeds from sale of leasing equipment	4,574					28,568
Return of purchase deposit for aircraft and aircraft engines	4,600					—
Return of deposit on sale of engine	1,010					2,350
Net cash used in investing activities	$	(154,418	)			$	(91,125	)

FORTRESS TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTORS LLC
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
(Dollar amounts in thousands, unless otherwise noted)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2021					2020
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from debt	$	171,600				$	303,980
Repayment of debt	—					(275,991		)
Payment of deferred financing costs	(563		)			(11,767		)
Receipt of security deposits	70					130
Return of security deposits	(975		)			(3,815		)
Receipt of maintenance deposits	8,770					13,626
Release of maintenance deposits	(11,483		)			(9,185		)
Proceeds from issuance of preferred shares, net of underwriter's discount and issuance costs	101,180					(246		)
Settlement of equity-based compensation	(183		)			—
Cash dividends - common shares	(28,383		)			(28,391		)
Cash dividends - preferred shares	(4,625		)			(4,539		)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	$	235,408				$	(16,198	)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash	32,058					(119,129		)
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period	161,418					242,517
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	$	193,476				$	123,388

Key Performance Measures

The Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) utilizes Adjusted EBITDA as our key performance measure.

Adjusted EBITDA provides the CODM with the information necessary to assess operational performance, as well as make resource and allocation decisions. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income (losses) attributable to shareholders from continuing operations, adjusted (a) to exclude the impact of provision for income taxes, equity-based compensation expense, acquisition and transaction expenses, losses on the modification or extinguishment of debt and capital lease obligations, changes in fair value of non-hedge derivative instruments, asset impairment charges, incentive allocations, depreciation and amortization expense, and interest expense, (b) to include the impact of our pro-rata share of Adjusted EBITDA from unconsolidated entities, and (c) to exclude the impact of equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated entities and the non-controlling share of Adjusted EBITDA.

The following table sets forth a reconciliation of net loss attributable to shareholders from continuing operations to Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands)	2021					2020
Net loss attributable to shareholders from continuing operations	$	(34,540	)			$	(4,194	)
Add: Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	169					(98		)
Add: Equity-based compensation expense	1,114					291
Add: Acquisition and transaction expenses	1,643					3,194
Add: Losses on the modification or extinguishment of debt and capital lease obligations	—					4,724
Add: Changes in fair value of non-hedge derivative instruments	(7,964		)			181
Add: Asset impairment charges	2,100					—
Add: Incentive allocations	—					—
Add: Depreciation and amortization expense (1)	52,643					49,064
Add: Interest expense	32,990					22,861
Add: Pro-rata share of Adjusted EBITDA from unconsolidated entities (2)	2,402					(413		)
Less: Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	(1,374		)			(265		)
Less: Non-controlling share of Adjusted EBITDA (3)	(2,029		)			(3,350		)
Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP)	$	47,154				$	71,995

________________________________________________________

(1)	Includes the following items for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020: (i) depreciation and amortization expense of $44,535 and $42,197, (ii) lease intangible amortization of $752 and $1,132 and (iii) amortization for lease incentives of $7,356 and $5,735, respectively.
(2)	Includes the following items for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020: (i) net income of $1,180 and $223, (ii) interest expense of $187 and $35, (iii) depreciation and amortization expense of $1,912 and $962, (iv) acquisition and transaction expenses of $0 and $81 and (v) changes in fair value of non-hedge derivatives of $(877) and $(1,714), respectively.
(3)	Includes the following items for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020: (i) equity-based compensation of $198 and $47, (ii) provision for income taxes of $13 and $28, (iii) interest expense of $281 and $720, (iv) depreciation and amortization expense of $1,811 and $1,524, (v) changes in fair value of non-hedge derivative instruments of $(274) and $38 and (vi) loss on extinguishment of debt of $0 and $993 respectively.

The Company uses Funds Available for Distribution (“FAD”) in evaluating its ability to meet its stated dividend policy. FAD is not a financial measure in accordance with GAAP. The GAAP measure most directly comparable to FAD is net cash provided by operating activities. The Company believes FAD is a useful metric for investors and analysts for similar purposes.

The Company defines FAD as: Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities plus principal collections on finance leases, proceeds from sale of assets, and return of capital distributions from unconsolidated entities, less required payments on debt obligations and capital distributions to non-controlling interest, and excluding changes in working capital.

The following table sets forth a reconciliation of Net Cash Used in Operating Activities to FAD for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands)	2021					2020
Net Cash Used in Operating Activities	$	(48,932	)			$	(11,806	)
Add: Principal Collections on Finance Leases	395					320
Add: Proceeds from Sale of Assets	4,574					28,568
Add: Return of Capital Distributions from Unconsolidated Entities	—					—
Less: Required Payments on Debt Obligations (1)	—					—
Less: Capital Distributions to Non-Controlling Interest	—					—
Exclude: Changes in Working Capital	58,370					78,955
Funds Available for Distribution (FAD)	$	14,407				$	96,037

________________________________________________________

(1)	Required payments on debt obligations for the three months ended March 31, 2020 exclude repayments of $144,200 for the Series 2016 Bonds, $50,262 for the Jefferson Revolver, $45,520 for the Series 2012 Bonds and $36,009 for the FTAI Pride Credit Agreement.

The following tables set forth a reconciliation of Net Cash Used in Operating Activities to FAD for the three months ended March 31, 2021:

	Three Months Ended March 31, 2021
(in thousands)	Equipment Leasing				Infrastructure					Corporate and Other				Total
Funds Available for Distribution (FAD)	$	60,653			$	(3,841	)			$	(42,405	)		$	14,407
Less: Principal Collections on Finance Leases														(395		)
Less: Proceeds from Sale of Assets														(4,574		)
Less: Return of Capital Distributions from Unconsolidated Entities														—
Add: Required Payments on Debt Obligations														—
Add: Capital Distributions to Non-Controlling Interest														—
Include: Changes in Working Capital														(58,370		)
Net Cash Used in Operating Activities														$	(48,932	)

FAD is subject to a number of limitations and assumptions and there can be no assurance that the Company will generate FAD sufficient to meet its intended dividends. FAD has material limitations as a liquidity measure of the Company because such measure excludes items that are required elements of the Company’s net cash provided by operating activities as described below. FAD should not be considered in isolation nor as a substitute for analysis of the Company’s results of operations under GAAP, and it is not the only metric that should be considered in evaluating the Company’s ability to meet its stated dividend policy. Specifically:

• FAD does not include equity capital called from the Company’s existing limited partners, proceeds from any debt issuance or future equity offering, historical cash and cash equivalents and expected investments in the Company’s operations.
• FAD does not give pro forma effect to prior acquisitions, certain of which cannot be quantified.
• While FAD reflects the cash inflows from sale of certain assets, FAD does not reflect the cash outflows to acquire assets as the Company relies on alternative sources of liquidity to fund such purchases.
• FAD does not reflect expenditures related to capital expenditures, acquisitions and other investments as the Company has multiple sources of liquidity and intends to fund these expenditures with future incurrences of indebtedness, additional capital contributions and/or future issuances of equity.
• FAD does not reflect any maintenance capital expenditures necessary to maintain the same level of cash generation from our capital investments.
• FAD does not reflect changes in working capital balances as management believes that changes in working capital are primarily driven by short term timing differences, which are not meaningful to the Company’s distribution decisions.
• Management has significant discretion to make distributions, and the Company is not bound by any contractual provision that requires it to use cash for distributions.
  

If such factors were included in FAD, there can be no assurance that the results would be consistent with the Company’s presentation of FAD.

FAQ

What are the key financial results for FTAI in Q1 2021?

FTAI reported a net loss of $(34,540) thousand and cash used in operating activities of $(48,932) thousand.

What was the declared dividend for FTAI in Q1 2021?

FTAI declared a cash dividend of $0.33 per common share, payable on May 25, 2021.

What is the Funds Available for Distribution (FAD) for FTAI?

For Q1 2021, FTAI's FAD was $14,407 thousand, mainly from its aviation leasing portfolio.

When will FTAI's dividends be paid?

The dividends for common shares will be paid on May 25, 2021, to holders of record on May 14, 2021.