Bristow Group Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Results
- Total revenues of $337.9 million in Q4 2023 compared to $338.1 million in Q3 2023.
- Net loss of $7.9 million in Q4 2023 compared to net income of $4.3 million in Q3 2023.
- Adjusted EBITDA of $46.0 million in Q4 2023 compared to $56.6 million in Q3 2023.
- Full year 2023 adjusted EBITDA of $170.5 million exceeded the upwardly revised outlook of $170.0 million.
- CEO expressed condolences for a tragic accident and highlighted strategic growth in government and offshore energy services.
- Revenues in 2023 were 8% higher than in 2022, with a 24% increase in adjusted EBITDA excluding asset dispositions and foreign exchange gains.
- 2024 outlook projects a 9% revenue growth and over 20% increase in adjusted EBITDA.
- None.
Insights
The recent financial results reported by Bristow Group Inc. reflect a mixed picture, with the company achieving a slight increase in revenues year-over-year but experiencing a net loss in the most recent quarter. The reported net loss of $7.9 million for Q4 2023 contrasts with a net income of $4.3 million in Q3 2023, indicating a downturn in profitability despite relatively stable revenues. This raises concerns about the company's cost control and margin management.
Adjusted EBITDA, a key metric for evaluating a company's operating performance, decreased from $56.6 million in Q3 to $46.0 million in Q4. This decline suggests that Bristow may be facing operational challenges or increased costs that are not offset by revenue growth. Investors should be aware of these factors when assessing the company's financial health and future prospects. The company's outlook for 2024, which forecasts continued revenue growth and a substantial increase in Adjusted EBITDA, will require close monitoring to ensure these targets are met amidst the challenges observed in the latest quarter.
Bristow Group's performance in the offshore energy services market is noteworthy, as the company anticipates benefiting from a multi-year growth cycle in this sector. With the largest global fleet of offshore helicopters, Bristow is well-positioned to capitalize on increased demand. However, the sector is cyclical and sensitive to changes in oil prices and energy market dynamics. The company's diversification into government services, such as the recent award of the €670 million Irish Coast Guard contract, may provide a more stable revenue stream and mitigate the risks associated with the volatility of the offshore energy market.
It's also important to consider the impact of foreign exchange rates on Bristow's international operations, as evidenced by the reported foreign exchange gains and losses. The weakening of the GBP relative to the USD has affected revenues, highlighting the importance of currency risk management for global companies like Bristow.
The mention of a tragic SAR training accident offshore Norway and Bristow's cooperation with authorities investigating the incident is a reminder of the operational risks inherent in the aviation industry. While this event does not have a direct financial impact, it could have implications for the company's reputation and operational safety record, which in turn could affect client relationships and future contracts. It is crucial for Bristow to maintain rigorous safety standards and transparent communication with stakeholders to manage these non-financial risks effectively.
Achieves 2023 Increased Outlook and Affirms 2024 Outlook
- Total revenues of
$337.9 million $338.1 million - Net loss of
$7.9 million $0.28 $4.3 million $0.15 - EBITDA adjusted to exclude special items, asset dispositions and foreign exchange gains (losses) was
$46.0 million $56.6 million - Full year 2023 EBITDA adjusted to exclude special items, asset dispositions and foreign exchange gains (losses) was
$170.5 million $170.0 million
Bristow Group Inc. (NYSE: VTOL) today reported net loss attributable to the Company of
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") was
Three Months Ended | |||
December 31, | September 30, | ||
Net income (loss) | $ (8,103) | $ 4,345 | |
Depreciation and amortization expense | 17,007 | 17,862 | |
Interest expense, net | 11,274 | 10,008 | |
Income tax expense | 21,598 | 22,637 | |
EBITDA(1) | $ 41,776 | $ 54,852 | |
Special items: | |||
PBH amortization | 3,729 | 3,751 | |
Merger and integration costs | 347 | 738 | |
Reorganization items, net | — | 3 | |
Other special items(2) | 1,873 | 2,966 | |
$ 5,949 | $ 7,458 | ||
Adjusted EBITDA(1) | $ 47,725 | $ 62,310 | |
(Gains) losses on disposal of assets | 159 | (1,179) | |
Foreign exchange gains | (1,882) | (4,541) | |
Adjusted EBITDA excluding asset dispositions and foreign exchange | $ 46,002 | $ 56,590 | |
(1) | EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures. See definitions of these measures and the reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures in the Non-GAAP Financial Reconciliation tables. | ||||||||
(2) | Other special items include professional services fees that are not related to continuing business operations and other nonrecurring costs. | ||||||||
"On behalf of all Bristow team members around the world, I extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of our dear colleague whose life was lost in the tragic SAR training accident offshore
"Looking back on 2023, I want to thank and commend the Bristow team for delivering many successful outcomes last year," said Bradshaw. "We continued to progress our strategic goal to grow and diversify our leading government services business with the successful award of the
Sequential Quarter Results
Operating revenues in the Current Quarter were
Operating expenses were
General and administrative expenses were
During the Current Quarter, the Company sold or otherwise disposed of certain assets, resulting in net losses of
During the Current Quarter, the Company recognized earnings of
Other income, net of
Income tax expense was
Full Year Results
On August 3, 2022, Bristow's Board of Directors approved a change in the fiscal year end of the Company from March 31st to December 31st, on a prospective basis, aligning its fiscal year to the calendar year. As such, references below to the "Current Year" refer to the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, and references to the "Prior Year" refer to the twelve months ended December 31, 2022.
Bristow reported net loss attributable to the Company of
Operating revenues in the Current Year were
Operating expenses were
General and administrative expenses were
During the Prior Year, restructuring costs were
During the Prior Year, the Company recognized a loss on impairment of
During the Current Year, the Company sold or otherwise disposed of eight helicopters and other assets, resulting in net gains of
During the Current Year, the Company recognized earnings of
Interest income was
Other expense, net of
Income tax expense was
2023 and 2024 Outlook
Please refer to the paragraph entitled "Forward Looking Statements Disclosure" below for further discussion regarding the risks and uncertainties as well as other important information regarding Bristow's guidance. The following guidance also contains the non-GAAP financial measure of Adjusted EBITDA. Please read the paragraph entitled "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" for further information.
After stronger than expected Q3 results, Bristow raised its 2023 Adjusted EBITDA guidance range from
Select financial results for 2023 and targets for 2023 and 2024 are as follows (in USD, millions):
2023E(1) | 2023A | 2024E | |||
Operating revenues: | |||||
Offshore energy services | |||||
Government services | |||||
Fixed wing services | |||||
Other services | |||||
Total operating revenues | |||||
Adjusted EBITDA, excluding asset dispositions and FX | |||||
Cash interest | |||||
Cash taxes | |||||
Maintenance capital expenditures |
(1) | Reflects the mid-point of the previously issued 2023 financial outlook ranges. | ||||||
There are two main ways in which foreign currency fluctuations impact Bristow's reported financials. The first is primarily non-cash foreign exchange gains (losses) that are reported in the Other Income line on the Income Statement. These are related to the revaluation of balance sheet items, typically do not impact cash flows, and thus are excluded in the Adjusted EBITDA presentation. The second is through impacts to certain revenue and expense items, which impact the Company's cash flows. The primary exposure is the GBP/USD exchange rate.
2023A | 2024E | ||
(in millions, except for exchange rates) | |||
Adjusted EBITDA, excluding asset dispositions and foreign exchange (gains) losses | |||
Average GBP/USD exchange rate | 1.24 | 1.27 |
Each
Outlook by Line of Service
Offshore Energy Services:
The increasing activity in offshore energy has driven a constructive supply and demand balance for offshore helicopters. Given our sector's late cycle exposure and the lag effect involving new projects, we only recently have begun to see the impacts of a multi-year growth cycle, with the second half of 2023 marking the positive inflection point for Bristow's financial results. A tighter equipment market, constrained global labor force and inflationary cost pressures should further drive meaningful rate increases, which we expect to capture during contract renewal and new project tenders. Headwinds from continued supply chain shortages, particularly those related to the S92 heavy helicopters, are expected to continue through 2024.
The full year impact of the newly commenced offshore energy SAR contract in
The full year impact of expanded operations in
Increased market activity has driven better results in
Government Services:
With operations in the
Fixed wing and other services:
Activity has increased with demand for fixed wing services and charters. Pilot shortages continue to remain a challenge through this upturn. We anticipate the financial performance of this business will remain consistent with 2023.
Liquidity and Capital Allocation
As of December 31, 2023, the Company had
In the Current Quarter, purchases of property and equipment were
In January 2024, Bristow entered into a new twelve-year secured equipment financing for an aggregate principal amount of up to
Recent Events
On February 28, 2024, one of Bristow's SAR helicopters, registration LN-OIJ with six crew members onboard, was involved in an accident during a training exercise approximately 15 nautical miles west of
On February 27, 2024, Bristow announced an agreement with Leonardo for 10 AW189 super medium helicopters plus options to purchase an additional 10 AW189 helicopters. The new AW189 helicopters will support offshore transport as well as search and rescue (SAR) missions. Bristow currently operates 21 AW189 helicopters globally, with an additional five already scheduled for delivery beginning this year. In addition to its Offshore Energy Services business, Bristow also operates SAR-equipped AW189 helicopters in its Government Services business. The new aircraft will offer added flexibility as well as superior operational and environmental performance, including lower CO2 emissions than comparable aircraft types. The aircraft deliveries will occur over a three-year period from 2025-2028.
On February 28, 2024, Bristow announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with The Helicopter and Jet Company (THC),
Conference Call
Management will conduct a conference call starting at 9:00 a.m. ET (8:00 a.m. CT) on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, to review the results for the quarter and full year ended December 31, 2023. The conference call can be accessed using the following link:
Link to Access Earnings Call: https://www.veracast.com/webcasts/bristow/webcasts/VTOL4Q23.cfm
Replay
A replay will be available through March 27, 2024 by using the link above. A replay will also be available on the Company's website at www.bristowgroup.com shortly after the call and will be accessible through March 27, 2024. The accompanying investor presentation will be available on March 6, 2024, on Bristow's website at www.bristowgroup.com.
For additional information concerning Bristow, contact Jennifer Whalen at InvestorRelations@bristowgroup.com, (713) 369-4636 or visit Bristow Group's website at https://ir.bristowgroup.com/.
About Bristow Group
Bristow Group Inc. is the leading global provider of innovative and sustainable vertical flight solutions. Bristow primarily provides aviation services to a broad base of offshore energy companies and government entities. The Company's aviation services include personnel transportation, search and rescue ("SAR"), medevac, fixed wing transportation, unmanned systems, and ad-hoc helicopter services.
Bristow currently has customers in
Forward-Looking Statements Disclosure
This press release contains "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements represent Bristow Group Inc.'s (the "Company") current expectations or forecasts of future events. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "project," or "continue," or other similar words and, for the avoidance of doubt, include all statements herein regarding the Company's financial targets for the periods mentioned and operational outlook. These statements are made under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, reflect management's current views with respect to future events and therefore are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown. The Company's actual results may vary materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements. The Company cautions investors not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements (including the Company's financial targets for the periods mentioned and operational outlook) speak only as of the date of the document in which they are made. The Company disclaims any obligation or undertaking to provide any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in the Company's expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which the forward-looking statement is based that occur after the date hereof, except as may be required by applicable law.
Risks that may affect forward-looking statements include, but are not necessarily limited to, those relating to: public health crises, such as pandemics (including COVID-19) and epidemics, and any related government policies and actions; any failure to effectively manage, and receive anticipated returns from, acquisitions, divestitures, investments, joint ventures and other portfolio actions; our inability to execute our business strategy for diversification efforts related to government services and advanced air mobility; our reliance on a limited number of customers and the reduction of our customer base as a result of consolidation and/or the energy transition; the potential for cyberattacks or security breaches that could disrupt operations, compromise confidential or sensitive information, damage reputation, expose to legal liability, or cause financial losses; the possibility that we may be unable to maintain compliance with covenants in our financing agreements; global and regional changes in the demand, supply, prices or other market conditions affecting oil and gas, including changes resulting from a public health crisis or from the imposition or lifting of crude oil production quotas or other actions that might be imposed by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other producing countries; fluctuations in the demand for our services; the possibility that we may impair our long-lived assets and other assets, including inventory, property and equipment and investments in unconsolidated affiliates; the possibility of significant changes in foreign exchange rates and controls; potential effects of increased competition and the introduction of alternative modes of transportation and solutions; the possibility that we may be unable to re-deploy our aircraft to regions with greater demand; the possibility of changes in tax and other laws and regulations and policies, including, without limitation, actions of the governments that impact oil and gas operations or favor renewable energy projects; the possibility that we may be unable to dispose of older aircraft through sales into the aftermarket; general economic conditions, including the capital and credit markets; the possibility that portions of our fleet may be grounded for extended periods of time or indefinitely (including due to severe weather events); the existence of operating risks inherent in our business, including the possibility of declining safety performance; the possibility of political instability, war or acts of terrorism in any of the countries where we operate; the possibility that reductions in spending on aviation services by governmental agencies where we are seeking contracts could adversely affect or lead to modifications of the procurement process or that such reductions in spending could adversely affect search and rescue ("SAR") contract terms or otherwise delay service or the receipt of payments under such contracts; the effectiveness of our environmental, social and governance initiatives; the impact of supply chain disruptions and inflation and our ability to recoup rising costs in the rates we charge to our customers; our reliance on a limited number of helicopter manufacturers and suppliers and the impact of a shortfall in availability of aircraft components and parts required for maintenance and repairs of our helicopters, including significant delays in the delivery of parts for our S92 fleet.
If one or more of the foregoing risks materialize, or if underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those expected. You should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements because the matters they describe are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other unpredictable factors, many of which are beyond our control. Our forward-looking statements are based on the information currently available to us and speak only as of the date hereof. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and it is impossible for us to predict these matters or how they may affect us. We have included important factors in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 which we believe over time, could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ from the anticipated results, performance or achievements that are expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. You should consider all risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Annual Report and in our filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), all of which are accessible on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.
BRISTOW GROUP INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (unaudited, in thousands, except per share amounts) | |||||
Three Months Ended | Favorable/ | ||||
December 31, | September 30, | ||||
Revenues: | |||||
Operating revenues | $ 329,593 | $ 330,252 | $ (659) | ||
Reimbursable revenues | 8,341 | 7,838 | 503 | ||
Total revenues | 337,934 | 338,090 | (156) | ||
Costs and expenses: | |||||
Operating expenses | 249,528 | 240,682 | (8,846) | ||
Reimbursable expenses | 8,303 | 7,836 | (467) | ||
General and administrative expenses | 44,143 | 46,256 | 2,113 | ||
Merger and integration costs | 347 | 738 | 391 | ||
Depreciation and amortization expense | 17,007 | 17,862 | 855 | ||
Total costs and expenses | 319,328 | 313,374 | (5,954) | ||
Gains (losses) on disposal of assets | (159) | 1,179 | (1,338) | ||
Earnings from unconsolidated affiliates | 1,127 | 3,722 | (2,595) | ||
Operating income | 19,574 | 29,617 | (10,043) | ||
Interest income | 3,458 | 2,532 | 926 | ||
Interest expense, net | (11,274) | (10,008) | (1,266) | ||
Reorganization items, net | — | (3) | 3 | ||
Other, net | 1,737 | 4,844 | (3,107) | ||
Total other income (expense), net | (6,079) | (2,635) | (3,444) | ||
Income before income taxes | 13,495 | 26,982 | (13,487) | ||
Income tax expense | (21,598) | (22,637) | 1,039 | ||
Net income (loss) | (8,103) | 4,345 | (12,448) | ||
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests | 165 | (28) | 193 | ||
Net income (loss) attributable to Bristow Group Inc. | $ (7,938) | $ 4,317 | $ (12,255) | ||
Basic earnings (losses) per common share | $ (0.28) | $ 0.15 | |||
Diluted earnings (losses) per common share | $ (0.28) | $ 0.15 | |||
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic | 28,289 | 28,217 | |||
Weighted average common shares outstanding, diluted | 28,289 | 28,959 | |||
EBITDA | $ 41,776 | $ 54,852 | $ (13,076) | ||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ 47,725 | $ 62,310 | $ (14,585) | ||
Adjusted EBITDA excluding asset dispositions and foreign exchange | $ 46,002 | $ 56,590 | $ (10,588) | ||
BRISTOW GROUP INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (unaudited, in thousands, except per share amounts) | |||||
Year Ended December 31, | Favorable (Unfavorable) | ||||
2023 | 2022 | ||||
Revenues: | |||||
Operating revenues | $ 1,264,298 | $ 1,173,462 | $ 90,836 | ||
Reimbursable revenues | 33,131 | 36,506 | (3,375) | ||
Total revenues | 1,297,429 | 1,209,968 | 87,461 | ||
Costs and expenses: | |||||
Operating expenses | 957,593 | 908,402 | (49,191) | ||
Reimbursable expenses | 32,810 | 35,873 | 3,063 | ||
General and administrative expenses | 181,745 | 164,685 | (17,060) | ||
Merger and integration costs | 2,201 | 1,818 | (383) | ||
Restructuring costs | — | 2,113 | 2,113 | ||
Depreciation and amortization expense | 70,606 | 66,506 | (4,100) | ||
Total costs and expenses | 1,244,955 | 1,179,397 | (65,558) | ||
Loss on impairment | — | (5,187) | 5,187 | ||
Gains (losses) on disposal of assets | 1,112 | (521) | 1,633 | ||
Earnings from unconsolidated affiliates | 7,165 | 1,136 | 6,029 | ||
Operating income | 60,751 | 25,999 | 34,752 | ||
Interest income | 8,646 | 1,668 | 6,978 | ||
Interest expense, net | (41,417) | (40,948) | (469) | ||
Reorganization items, net | (86) | (142) | 56 | ||
Other, net | (9,882) | 33,386 | (43,268) | ||
Total other income (expense), net | (42,739) | (6,036) | (36,703) | ||
Income before income taxes | 18,012 | 19,963 | (1,951) | ||
Income tax expense | (24,932) | (10,754) | (14,178) | ||
Net income (loss) | (6,920) | 9,209 | (16,129) | ||
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests | 140 | 6 | 134 | ||
Net income (loss) attributable to Bristow Group Inc. | $ (6,780) | $ 9,215 | $ (15,995) | ||
Basic earnings (losses) per common share | $ (0.24) | $ 0.33 | |||
Diluted earnings (losses) per common share | $ (0.24) | $ 0.32 | |||
Weighted average common stock outstanding, basic | 28,139 | 28,104 | |||
Weighted average common stock outstanding, diluted | 28,139 | 28,406 | |||
EBITDA | $ 130,035 | $ 127,417 | $ 2,618 | ||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ 160,915 | $ 157,721 | $ 3,194 | ||
Adjusted EBITDA excluding asset dispositions and foreign exchange | $ 170,504 | $ 137,352 | $ 33,152 | ||
BRISTOW GROUP INC. REVENUES BY LINE OF SERVICE (unaudited, in thousands) | |||||||||||
Three Months Ended | Year Ended | ||||||||||
December 31, | September 30, | June 30, | March 31, | December 31, | December 31, | ||||||
Offshore energy services: | |||||||||||
$ 99,066 | $ 94,346 | $ 87,331 | $ 85,291 | $ 366,034 | $ 354,475 | ||||||
89,200 | 91,099 | 80,884 | 70,982 | 332,165 | 346,093 | ||||||
31,695 | 27,545 | 26,979 | 25,356 | 111,575 | 79,513 | ||||||
Total offshore energy services | $ 219,961 | $ 212,990 | $ 195,194 | $ 181,629 | $ 809,774 | $ 780,081 | |||||
Government services | 81,714 | 85,549 | 87,320 | 82,334 | 336,917 | 283,267 | |||||
Fixed wing services | 25,697 | 29,168 | 26,448 | 25,919 | 107,232 | 96,758 | |||||
Other | 2,221 | 2,545 | 2,560 | 3,049 | 10,375 | 13,356 | |||||
$ 329,593 | $ 330,252 | $ 311,522 | $ 292,931 | $ 1,264,298 | $ 1,173,462 | ||||||
FLIGHT HOURS BY LINE OF SERVICE (unaudited) | |||||||||||
Three Months Ended | Year Ended | ||||||||||
December 31, | September 30, | June 30, | March 31, | December 31, | December 31, | ||||||
Offshore energy services: | |||||||||||
10,412 | 10,783 | 10,532 | 10,298 | 42,025 | 42,559 | ||||||
10,105 | 9,767 | 8,676 | 8,129 | 36,677 | 40,115 | ||||||
3,938 | 3,572 | 3,241 | 2,905 | 13,656 | 10,663 | ||||||
Total offshore energy services | 24,455 | 24,122 | 22,449 | 21,332 | 92,358 | 93,337 | |||||
Government services | 4,477 | 5,232 | 5,008 | 3,944 | 18,661 | 17,194 | |||||
Fixed wing services | 2,889 | 2,956 | 2,691 | 2,533 | 11,069 | 12,172 | |||||
31,821 | 32,310 | 30,148 | 27,809 | 122,088 | 122,703 | ||||||
BRISTOW GROUP INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited, in thousands) | |||
December 31, | December 31, | ||
ASSETS | |||
Current assets: | |||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ 183,662 | $ 163,683 | |
Accounts receivable, net | 234,620 | 215,131 | |
Inventories | 99,863 | 81,886 | |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 45,438 | 32,425 | |
Total current assets | 563,583 | 493,125 | |
Property and equipment, net | 927,766 | 915,251 | |
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates | 19,890 | 17,000 | |
Right-of-use assets | 287,939 | 240,977 | |
Other assets | 138,100 | 145,648 | |
Total assets | $ 1,937,278 | $ 1,812,001 | |
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY | |||
Current liabilities: | |||
Accounts payable | $ 87,885 | $ 89,610 | |
Accrued liabilities | 208,657 | 184,324 | |
Short-term borrowings and current maturities of long-term debt | 13,247 | 11,656 | |
Total current liabilities | 309,789 | 285,590 | |
Long-term debt, less current maturities | 534,823 | 499,765 | |
Deferred taxes | 42,710 | 48,633 | |
Long-term operating lease liabilities | 214,957 | 165,955 | |
Deferred credits and other liabilities | 11,820 | 25,119 | |
Total liabilities | 1,114,099 | 1,025,062 | |
Stockholders' equity: | |||
Common stock | 311 | 306 | |
Additional paid-in capital | 725,773 | 709,319 | |
Retained earnings | 217,968 | 224,748 | |
Treasury stock, at cost | (65,722) | (63,009) | |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (54,643) | (84,057) | |
Total Bristow Group Inc. stockholders' equity | 823,687 | 787,307 | |
Noncontrolling interests | (508) | (368) | |
Total stockholders' equity | 823,179 | 786,939 | |
Total liabilities stockholders' equity | $ 1,937,278 | $ 1,812,001 | |
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The Company's management uses EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to assess the performance and operating results of its business. Each of these measures, as well as Free Cash Flow and Adjusted Free Cash Flow, each as detailed below, have limitations, and are provided in addition to, and not as an alternative for, and should be read in conjunction with, the information contained in the Company's financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the
The Company is unable to provide a reconciliation of forecasted Adjusted EBITDA for 2023 and 2024 included in this release to projected net income (GAAP) for the same periods because components of the calculation are inherently unpredictable. The inability to forecast certain components of the calculation would significantly affect the accuracy of the reconciliation. Additionally, the Company does not provide guidance on the items used to reconcile projected Adjusted EBITDA due to the uncertainty regarding timing and estimates of such items. Therefore, the Company does not present a reconciliation of forecasted Adjusted EBITDA to net income (GAAP) for 2023 or 2024.
The following tables provide a reconciliation of net income (loss), the most directly comparable GAAP measure, to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA (in thousands, unaudited).
Three Months Ended | Year Ended | ||||||||||
December 31, | September 30, | June 30, 2023 | March 31, 2023 | December 31, | December 31, | ||||||
Net income (loss) | $ (8,103) | $ 4,345 | $ (1,637) | $ (1,525) | $ (6,920) | $ 9,209 | |||||
Depreciation and amortization expense | 17,007 | 17,862 | 18,292 | 17,445 | 70,606 | 66,506 | |||||
Interest expense, net | 11,274 | 10,008 | 9,871 | 10,264 | 41,417 | 40,948 | |||||
Income tax expense (benefit) | 21,598 | 22,637 | (14,209) | (5,094) | 24,932 | 10,754 | |||||
EBITDA | $ 41,776 | $ 54,852 | $ 12,317 | $ 21,090 | $ 130,035 | $ 127,417 | |||||
Special items (1) | 5,949 | 7,458 | 10,487 | 6,986 | 30,880 | 30,304 | |||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ 47,725 | $ 62,310 | $ 22,804 | $ 28,076 | $ 160,915 | $ 157,721 | |||||
(Gains) losses on disposal of assets | 159 | (1,179) | 3,164 | (3,256) | (1,112) | 521 | |||||
Foreign exchange (gains) losses | (1,882) | (4,541) | 13,021 | 4,103 | 10,701 | (20,890) | |||||
Adjusted EBITDA excluding asset dispositions and foreign exchange | $ 46,002 | $ 56,590 | $ 38,989 | $ 28,923 | $ 170,504 | $ 137,352 | |||||
(1) Special items include the following: | |||||||||||
Three Months Ended | Year Ended | ||||||||||
December 31, | September 30, | June 30, 2023 | March 31, 2023 | December 31, | December 31, | ||||||
PBH amortization | $ 3,729 | $ 3,751 | $ 3,697 | $ 3,803 | $ 14,980 | $ 13,291 | |||||
Merger and integration costs | 347 | 738 | 677 | 439 | 2,201 | 1,818 | |||||
Reorganization items, net | — | 3 | 39 | 44 | 86 | 142 | |||||
Restructuring costs | — | — | — | — | — | 2,113 | |||||
Loss on impairment | — | — | — | — | — | 5,187 | |||||
Non-cash insurance adjustment | — | — | 3,977 | — | 3,977 | — | |||||
Other special items(2) | 1,873 | 2,966 | 2,097 | 2,700 | 9,636 | 7,753 | |||||
$ 5,949 | $ 7,458 | $ 10,487 | $ 6,986 | $ 30,880 | $ 30,304 | ||||||
(2) | Other special items include professional services fees that are not related to continuing business operations and other nonrecurring costs. | ||||||||
Reconciliation of Free Cash Flow and Adjusted Free Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow represents the Company's net cash provided by operating activities less maintenance capital expenditures. In prior periods, the Company's Free Cash Flow was calculated as net cash provided by (used in) operating activities plus proceeds from disposition of property and equipment less purchases of property and equipment. Management believes that the change in the Company's free cash flow calculation, as presented herein, better represents the Company's cash flow available for discretionary purposes, including growth capital expenditures. Adjusted Free Cash Flow is Free Cash Flow adjusted to exclude costs paid in relation to a PBH maintenance agreement buy-in, reorganization items, costs associated with recent mergers, acquisitions and ongoing integration efforts, as well as other special items which include nonrecurring professional services fees and other nonrecurring costs or costs that are not related to continuing business operations. Management believes that Free Cash Flow and Adjusted Free Cash Flow are meaningful to investors because they provide information with respect to the Company's ability to generate cash from the business. The GAAP measure most directly comparable to Free Cash Flow and Adjusted Free Cash Flow is net cash provided by operating activities. Since neither Free Cash Flow nor Adjusted Free Cash Flow is a recognized term under GAAP, they should not be used as an indicator of, or an alternative to, net cash provided by operating activities. Investors should note numerous methods may exist for calculating a company's free cash flow. As a result, the method used by management to calculate Free Cash Flow and Adjusted Free Cash Flow may differ from the methods used by other companies to calculate their free cash flow. As such, they may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures used by other companies.
The following table provides a reconciliation of net cash provided by operating activities, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, to Free Cash Flow and Adjusted Free Cash Flow (in thousands, unaudited).
Three Months Ended | |||||||||
December 31, 2023 | September 30, | June 30, | March 31, 2023 | LTM | |||||
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | $ (9,499) | $ 16,711 | $ 18,210 | $ 6,615 | $ 32,037 | ||||
Less: Maintenance capital expenditures | (4,277) | (4,656) | (2,533) | (2,952) | (14,418) | ||||
Free Cash Flow | $ (13,776) | $ 12,055 | $ 15,677 | $ 3,663 | $ 17,619 | ||||
Plus: Merger and integration costs | 347 | 712 | 488 | 571 | 2,118 | ||||
Plus: Reorganization items, net | — | 25 | 58 | 20 | 103 | ||||
Plus: Other special items(1) | 3,195 | 1,580 | 1,650 | 1,509 | 7,934 | ||||
Adjusted Free Cash Flow | $ (10,234) | $ 14,372 | $ 17,873 | $ 5,763 | $ 27,774 | ||||
(1) | Other special items include professional services fees that are not related to continuing business operations and other nonrecurring costs | ||||||
BRISTOW GROUP INC. FLEET COUNT (unaudited) | ||||||||||
Number of Aircraft | ||||||||||
Type | Owned Aircraft | Leased Aircraft | Total Aircraft | Max Pass Capacity | Average | |||||
Heavy Helicopters: | ||||||||||
S92 | 38 | 30 | 68 | 19 | 14 | |||||
AW189 | 17 | 4 | 21 | 16 | 8 | |||||
S61 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 19 | 52 | |||||
57 | 35 | 92 | ||||||||
Medium Helicopters: | ||||||||||
AW139 | 49 | 4 | 53 | 12 | 13 | |||||
S76 D/C++ | 15 | — | 15 | 12 | 12 | |||||
AS365 | 1 | — | 1 | 12 | 34 | |||||
65 | 4 | 69 | ||||||||
Light—Twin Engine Helicopters: | ||||||||||
AW109 | 4 | — | 4 | 7 | 17 | |||||
EC135 | 9 | 1 | 10 | 6 | 14 | |||||
13 | 1 | 14 | ||||||||
Light—Single Engine Helicopters: | ||||||||||
AS350 | 15 | — | 15 | 4 | 25 | |||||
AW119 | 13 | — | 13 | 7 | 17 | |||||
28 | — | 28 | ||||||||
Total Helicopters | 163 | 40 | 203 | 15 | ||||||
Fixed Wing | 8 | 5 | 13 | |||||||
Unmanned Aerial Systems ("UAS") | 4 | — | 4 | |||||||
Total Fleet | 175 | 45 | 220 | |||||||
(1) | Reflects the average age of helicopters that are owned by the Company. | ||||||
The chart below presents the number of aircraft in our fleet and their distribution among the regions in which we operate as of December 31, 2023 and the percentage of operating revenue that each of our regions provided during the Current Year (unaudited).
Percentage of Operating Revenues | ||||||||||||||||
Helicopters | Fixed Wing | UAS | ||||||||||||||
Heavy | Medium | Light | Light | Total | ||||||||||||
55 % | 64 | 7 | — | 3 | — | 4 | 78 | |||||||||
29 % | 24 | 50 | 11 | 25 | — | — | 110 | |||||||||
10 % | 4 | 10 | 3 | — | 2 | — | 19 | |||||||||
6 % | — | 2 | — | — | 11 | — | 13 | |||||||||
Total | 100 % | 92 | 69 | 14 | 28 | 13 | 4 | 220 | ||||||||
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bristow-group-reports-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-2023-results-302080613.html
SOURCE Bristow Group
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