Republic Airways Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ/NM:RJET) today reported diluted earnings per share from continuing operations for the third quarter of 2013 of $0.09 as compared to$0.13 for the same period in the prior year. During the third quarter of 2013, the company recorded a non-cash impairment charge of $21.2 million, $13.0 million after-tax or $0.25 per diluted share, to reduce the carrying value of seven owned E190 aircraft and write-off the maintenance deposits on three leased E190 aircraft. Income from continuing operations was $4.3 million compared to $6.3 million for the same period last year. Excluding the E190 impairment charge, pre-tax income from continuing operations was $26.6 million, resulting in an adjusted pre-tax margin from continuing operations of 7.9%. Operating revenues totaled $338.6 million, an increase of 0.4%, compared to $337.4 million for the third quarter of 2012.
The company classified its Frontier business as discontinued operations due to the expected sale during the fourth quarter of 2013. Unless otherwise specified, all financial information disclosed in this release is from continuing operations.
On October 1, 2013, the company reported that it had agreed to sell its Frontier business to an affiliate of Indigo Partners LLC (Indigo). Indigo will acquire all the outstanding shares of Frontier Airlines Holdings, Inc. As part of the transaction, under a separate agreement, Republic will assign to Frontier all of Republic’s rights under agreements relating to the Republic’s Airbus A320neo order. The transaction is subject to receipt of certain third-party consents and releases and other customary closing conditions.
On November 6, 2013, Indigo informed the company that it had satisfied or waived certain key conditions to close under the transaction. The company expects the transaction to close later this month.
For additional information on the divestiture of Frontier, please see the company’s separate news release dated October 1, 2013 and a separate filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K filed on October 7, 2013.
„The sale of Frontier will allow our management team to re-focus on our core business,” said Republic Airways Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Bryan Bedford. „We continue to be excited about the growth opportunities for our fixed-fee business and are focused on providing safe, reliable and low-cost solutions to each of our airline partner brands, including American Eagle, Delta Connection, United Express and US Airways Express,” said Bedford.
„I’d like to personally thank each and every one of my Republic and Frontier co-workers for their outstanding service and dedication to customer service for our passengers and our partners. To all of you at Frontier, I wish you the very best.” Bedford concluded.
Full report: Republic Airways
Source / Author: Republic Airways