2012 Q3 10Q

 
 
 
 
 
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 the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012
Commission file number 000-50368
________________________________________________________________
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
________________________________________________________________
Delaware
 
26-1631624
(State of Incorporation)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
145 Hunter Drive, Wilmington, OH 45177
(Address of principal executive offices)
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. YES x NO o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulations S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). YES x NO o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer o
  
Accelerated filer x
Non-accelerated filer o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
  
Smaller reporting company o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). YES o NO  x
As of November 8, 2012, Air Transport Services Group, Inc. had outstanding 64,174,283 shares of common stock, par value $0.01.

 
 
 
 
 




AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
FORM 10-Q
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
Page
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
 
 
 
Item 1.
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
Item 2.
 
 
 
 
 
Item 3.
 
 
 
 
 
Item 4.
 
 
 
 
 
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
 
 
 
 
Item 1.
  
 
 
 
 
Item 1A.
  
 
 
 
 
Item 6.
  
 
 
 
 




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 2011 Annual Report filed on Form 10-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission
The Securities and Exchange Commission maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding Air Transport Services Group, Inc. at www.sec.gov. Additionally, our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to these reports, are available free of charge from our website at www.atsginc.com as soon as reasonably practicable after filing with the SEC.


Table of Contents

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(In thousands, except per share data)
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2012
 
2011
 
2012
 
2011
REVENUES
$
153,826

 
$
195,480

 
$
452,886

 
$
563,668

OPERATING EXPENSES
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Salaries, wages and benefits
44,153

 
48,872

 
135,827

 
140,546

Fuel
12,038

 
41,829

 
39,962

 
130,145

Maintenance, materials and repairs
26,751

 
23,740

 
75,135

 
67,426

Depreciation and amortization
21,057

 
22,616

 
62,871

 
68,865

Travel
5,618

 
7,575

 
17,162

 
20,803

Rent
6,745

 
5,872

 
18,719

 
16,946

Landing and ramp
3,877

 
5,691

 
11,823

 
18,128

Insurance
1,944

 
2,720

 
5,780

 
7,464

Impairment of goodwill
—

 
2,797

 
—

 
2,797

Impairment of acquired intangibles
—

 
2,282

 
—

 
2,282

Impairment of aircraft
—

 
22,065

 
—

 
22,065

Other operating expenses
9,348

 
10,931

 
27,908

 
29,481

 
131,531

 
196,990

 
395,187

 
526,948

OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)
22,295

 
(1,510
)
 
57,699

 
36,720

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest income
38

 
29

 
104

 
128

Interest expense
(3,668
)
 
(3,304
)
 
(10,886
)
 
(10,944
)
Net gain (loss) on derivative instruments
294

 
(1,881
)
 
956

 
(5,437
)
Write-off of unamortized debt issuance costs
—

 
—

 
—

 
(2,886
)
 
(3,336
)
 
(5,156
)
 
(9,826
)
 
(19,139
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EARNINGS (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES
18,959

 
(6,666
)
 
47,873

 
17,581

INCOME TAX (EXPENSE) BENEFIT
(7,403
)
 
1,840

 
(18,436
)
 
(7,246
)
EARNINGS (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
11,556

 
(4,826
)
 
29,437

 
10,335

EARNINGS (LOSS) FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET OF TAXES
(186
)
 
24

 
(576
)
 
(74
)
NET EARNINGS (LOSS)
$
11,370

 
$
(4,802
)
 
$
28,861

 
$
10,261

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
BASIC EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Continuing operations
$
0.18

 
$
(0.08
)
 
$
0.46

 
$
0.16

Discontinued operations
—

 
—

 
(0.01
)
 
—

TOTAL BASIC EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE
$
0.18

 
$
(0.08
)
 
$
0.45

 
$
0.16

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DILUTED EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Continuing operations
$
0.18

 
$
(0.08
)
 
$
0.46

 
$
0.16

Discontinued operations
—

 
—

 
(0.01
)
 
—

TOTAL DILUTED EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE
$
0.18

 
$
(0.08
)
 
$
0.45

 
$
0.16

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
63,456

 
63,334

 
63,439

 
63,267

Diluted
64,667

 
63,334

 
64,478

 
64,078


See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

1
Table of Contents


AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(In thousands)
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2012
 
2011
 
2012
 
2011
NET INCOME (LOSS)
$
11,370

 
$
(4,802
)
 
$
28,861

 
$
10,261

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized gain on derivative instruments, net of tax of $229 for the nine month period in 2011
—

 
—

 
—

 
402

Reclassifications to net income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Hedging gain realized, net of tax of $5 and $16 for the three and nine month periods in 2012 and $6 and $76 for the three and nine month periods in 2011.
(9
)
 
(10
)
 
(27
)
 
(133
)
Pension actuarial loss, net of tax of $988 and $2,964 for the three and nine month periods in 2012 and $246 and $738 for the three and nine month periods in 2011.
1,682

 
429

 
5,047

 
1,287

Post-retirement actuarial loss, net of tax of $40 and $120 for the three and nine month periods in 2012 and $40 and $136 for the three and nine month periods in 2011.
68

 
70

 
204

 
238

Post-retirement negative prior service cost, net of tax of $514 and $1,541 for the three and nine month periods in 2012 and $506 and $1,518 for the three and nine month periods in 2011.
(874
)
 
(882
)
 
(2,623
)
 
(2,646
)
Unrealized loss on derivative instruments, net of tax of $1,427 for the nine month period in 2011
—

 
—

 
—

 
2,505

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
TOTAL OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
867

 
(393
)
 
2,601

 
1,653

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
$
12,237

 
$
(5,195
)
 
$
31,462

 
$
11,914


See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.


2
Table of Contents

AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share data)
 
September 30,
 
December 31,
 
2012
 
2011
ASSETS
 
 
 
CURRENT ASSETS:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
28,213

 
$
30,503

Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $677 in 2012 and $434 in 2011
41,043

 
42,278

Inventory
9,440

 
8,906

Prepaid supplies and other
9,716

 
9,785

Deferred income taxes
17,418

 
31,548

Aircraft and engines held for sale
4,400

 
9,831

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS
110,230

 
132,851

Property and equipment, net
802,291

 
748,913

Other assets
20,351

 
18,579

Intangibles
5,653

 
6,396

Goodwill
86,980

 
86,980

TOTAL ASSETS
$
1,025,505

 
$
993,719

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
 
 
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
 
 
 
Accounts payable
$
48,018

 
$
48,360

Accrued salaries, wages and benefits
23,673

 
23,226

Accrued expenses
9,026

 
10,291

Current portion of debt obligations
19,251

 
13,223

Unearned revenue
10,636

 
12,487

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES
110,604

 
107,587

Long term debt obligations
338,604

 
333,681

Post-retirement liabilities
160,873

 
185,562

Other liabilities
63,781

 
54,212

Deferred income taxes
47,610

 
42,530

TOTAL LIABILITIES
721,472

 
723,572

Commitments and contingencies (Note G)

 

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; 64,174,283 and 64,015,789 shares issued and outstanding in 2012 and 2011, respectively
642

 
640

Additional paid-in capital
523,035

 
520,613

Accumulated deficit
(119,198
)
 
(148,059
)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(100,446
)
 
(103,047
)
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
304,033

 
270,147

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
$
1,025,505

 
$
993,719

 
 
 
 
See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

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Table of Contents

AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
2012
 
2011
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
Net earnings from continuing operations
$
29,437

 
$
10,335

Net loss from discontinued operations
(576
)
 
(74
)
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
Impairment of aircraft
—

 
22,065

Impairment of goodwill and acquired intangibles
—

 
5,079

Depreciation and amortization
62,871

 
68,865

Pension and post-retirement
4,172

 
(2,688
)
Deferred income taxes
17,682

 
6,794

Amortization of stock-based compensation
2,668

 
2,165

Amortization of DHL promissory note
(4,650
)
 
(4,650
)
Net (gain) loss on derivative instruments
(956
)
 
5,437

Write-off of unamortized debt issuance costs
—

 
2,886

Changes in assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts receivable
2,618

 
(841
)
Inventory and prepaid supplies
(2,509
)
 
(1,387
)
Accounts payable
(4,811
)
 
(864
)
Unearned revenue
4,002

 
7,629

Accrued expenses, salaries, wages, benefits and other liabilities
3,811

 
(1,192
)
Pension and post-retirement liabilities
(24,689
)
 
(13,828
)
Other
(2,106
)
 
1,145

NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES
86,964

 
106,876

INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
Capital expenditures
(108,339
)
 
(162,557
)
Proceeds from property and equipment
3,484

 
441

Proceeds from the redemption of interest-bearing investments
—

 
1,750

NET CASH (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES
(104,855
)
 
(160,366
)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
Principal payments on long term obligations
(9,399
)
 
(201,738
)
Proceeds from borrowings
25,000

 
240,000

Financing fees
—

 
(2,536
)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES
15,601

 
35,726

 
 
 
 
NET (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
(2,290
)
 
(17,764
)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR
30,503

 
46,543

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD
$
28,213

 
$
28,779

 
 
 
 
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
 
 
 
Interest paid, net of amount capitalized
$
9,240

 
$
9,470

Federal alternative minimum and state income taxes paid
$
272

 
$
2,348

SUPPLEMENTAL NON-CASH INFORMATION:
 
 
 
Debt extinguished
$
4,650

 
$
4,650

Accrued capital expenditures
$
15,390

 
$
12,408

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

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Table of Contents

AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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

Nature of Operations
Air Transport Services Group, Inc. is a holding company whose principal subsidiaries include an aircraft leasing company and three independently certificated airlines. Air Transport Services Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries, (the "Company") provides airline operations, aircraft leases, aircraft maintenance and other support services primarily to the cargo transportation and package delivery industries. The Company offers a range of complementary services to delivery companies, freight forwarders, airlines and government customers.
The three airlines, ABX Air, Inc. (“ABX”), Capital Cargo International Airlines, Inc. (“CCIA”) and Air Transport International, Inc. (“ATI”), each have the authority, through their separate U.S. Department of Transportation ("DOT") and Federal Aviation Administration ("FAA") certificates, to transport cargo worldwide. Management is in the process of merging the airline operations of ATI and CCIA into a single airline. The Company's leasing subsidiary, Cargo Aircraft Management, Inc. (“CAM”), leases aircraft to each of the Company's airlines as well as to non-affiliated airlines and other lessees.
The Company provides aircraft and airline operations to its customers, typically under contracts providing for a combination of aircraft, crews, maintenance and insurance ("ACMI") services. DHL Network Operations (USA), Inc. and its affiliates, “DHL,” is the Company's largest customer. The Company's airlines serve a base of concentrated customers who have a diverse line of international cargo traffic. Additionally, ATI provides passenger transportation, primarily to the U.S. Military, using its McDonnell Douglas DC-8 "combi" aircraft, which are certified to carry passengers as well as cargo on the main deck.
In addition to its airline operations and aircraft leasing services, the Company sells aircraft parts, provides aircraft and equipment maintenance services, and operates mail sorting facilities for the U.S. Postal Service (“USPS”).
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements include the accounts of Air Transport Services Group, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated. The financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") for interim financial information. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission for Form 10-Q. Accordingly, the accompanying financial statements do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements of the Company and notes thereto included in the annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the year ended December 31, 2011.
In the opinion of management, the accompanying financial statements contain all adjustments, including normal recurring adjustments, necessary for the fair presentation of the Company’s results of operations and financial position for the periods presented.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP 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, depreciation and impairments of property, equipment, goodwill and intangibles, post-retirement obligations, income taxes, contingencies and litigation. Changes in estimates and assumptions may have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.


5
Table of Contents

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, consisting of money market funds, are recorded at cost, which approximates fair value. Substantially all deposits of the Company’s cash are held in accounts that exceed federally insured limits. The Company deposits cash in common financial institutions which management believes are financially sound.
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts
The Company's accounts receivable is primarily due from its significant customers (see Note B), other airlines, the USPS and freight forwarders. The Company performs a quarterly evaluation of the accounts receivable and the allowance for uncollectible accounts by reviewing specific customers' recent payment history, growth prospects, financial condition and other factors that may impact a customer's ability to pay. The Company establishes an allowance for uncollectible accounts for probable losses due to a customer's potential inability or unwillingness to make contractual payments. Account balances are written off against the allowance when the Company ceases collection efforts.
Inventory
The Company’s inventory is comprised primarily of expendable aircraft parts and supplies used for aircraft maintenance. Inventory is generally charged to expense when issued for use on a Company aircraft. The Company values aircraft parts and supply 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. The amortization of base stock 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 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 aircraft maintenance directives from the FAA, changes in DOT regulations, new environmental laws and technological advances.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
The Company assesses, during the fourth quarter of each year, the carrying value of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets. Impairment assessments may be performed on an interim basis whenever events or changes in circumstance indicate an impairment may have occurred. Finite-lived intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful economic lives and are periodically reviewed for impairment.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment held for use is stated at cost, net of any impairment recorded. 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 summarized as follows:
 
Boeing 727 and DC-8 aircraft and flight equipment
1 year
Boeing 767 and 757 aircraft and flight equipment
10 to 20 years
Support equipment
5 to 10 years
Vehicles and other equipment
3 to 8 years


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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 excess aircraft capacity or changes in regulations governing the use of aircraft.
Aircraft and other long-lived assets are tested for impairment when circumstances indicate the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. To conduct impairment testing, the Company groups assets and liabilities at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of cash flows of other assets and liabilities. For assets that are to be held and used, impairment is recognized when the estimated undiscounted cash flows associated with the asset group is less than the carrying value. If impairment exists, an adjustment is made to write the assets down to 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. For assets held for sale, impairment is recognized when the fair value less the cost to sell the asset is less than the carrying value.
The Company’s accounting policy for major airframe and engine maintenance varies by subsidiary and aircraft type. The costs for ABX's Boeing 767-200 airframe maintenance, which is the majority of the Company's aircraft fleet, are expensed as they are incurred. The costs of major airframe maintenance for the Company's other aircraft are capitalized and amortized over the useful life of the overhaul. The Company's General Electric CF6 engines that power the Boeing 767-200 aircraft are maintained under “power by the hour” agreements with an engine maintenance provider. Under the power by the hour agreements, the engines are maintained by the service provider for a fixed fee per flight hour; accordingly, the cost of engine maintenance is generally expensed as flight hours occur. Maintenance for the airlines’ other aircraft engines, including those on the Boeing 767-300 aircraft, are typically contracted to service providers on a time and material basis and the costs of those engine overhauls are capitalized and amortized over the useful life of the overhaul.
Under certain leases, the Company is required to make periodic payments to the lessor for future maintenance events such as engine overhauls and major airframe maintenance. These payments are recorded as deposits until drawn for qualifying maintenance costs. The maintenance costs are expensed or capitalized in accordance with the accounting policy for major airframe and engine maintenance. The Company evaluates at the balance sheet date, whether it is probable that an amount on deposit will be returned by the lessor to reimburse the costs of the maintenance activities. When an amount on deposit is less than probable of being returned, it is recognized as additional maintenance expense. 
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 $0.6 million for the quarters ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and $2.0 million and $1.5 million for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Discontinued Operations
A business component whose operations are discontinued is reported as discontinued operations if the cash flows of the component have been eliminated from the ongoing operations of the Company, and the Company will no longer have any significant continuing involvement in the business component. The results of discontinued operations are aggregated and presented separately in the consolidated statements of operations. The Company reclassifies amounts presented in prior years that relate to discontinued business components to reflect the activities as discontinued operations.
The Company's results of discontinued operations consist primarily of pension expenses and other benefits for former employees previously associated with ABX's former freight sorting and aircraft fueling services provided to DHL. ABX is self insured for medical coverage and workers’ compensation, and may incur expenses and cash outlays in the future related to pension obligations, reserves for medical expenses and wage loss for former employees.

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Exit Activities
The Company accounts for the costs associated with exit activities in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 420-10 Exit or Disposal Cost Obligations. One-time, involuntary employee termination benefits are generally expensed when the Company communicates the benefit arrangement to the employee that it will no longer require the services of the employee beyond a minimum retention period. Liabilities for contract termination costs associated with exit activities are recognized in the period incurred and measured initially at fair value.
Self-Insurance
The Company is self-insured for certain workers’ compensation, employee healthcare, automobile, aircraft, and general liability claims. The Company maintains excess claim coverage with common insurance carriers to mitigate its exposure to large claim losses. The Company records 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 and recent claims trends. Other liabilities included $31.3 million and $31.2 million at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, for self-insured reserves. Changes in claim severity and frequency could result in actual claims being materially different than the costs accrued.
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.
The Company recognizes the benefit 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 benefit 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.
Comprehensive Income
Comprehensive income includes net earnings and other comprehensive income or loss. Other comprehensive income or loss results from certain changes in the Company’s liabilities for pension and other post retirement benefits and gains and losses associated with interest rate hedging instruments.
Fair Value Information
Assets or liabilities that are required to be measured at fair value are reported using the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. FASB ASC Topic 820-10 Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures establishes three levels of input that may be used to measure fair value:
 
•
Level 1: Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities. 
•
Level 2: Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. 
•
Level 3: Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. Level 3 assets and liabilities include items where the determination of fair value requires significant management judgment or estimation.

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Revenue Recognition
Revenues generated from airline service agreements are typically recognized based on hours flown or the amount of aircraft and crew resources provided during a reporting period. Certain agreements include provisions for incentive payments based upon on-time reliability. These incentives are typically measured on a monthly basis and recorded to revenue in the corresponding month earned. Revenues for operating expenses that are reimbursed through customer agreements, including consumption of aircraft fuel, are generally recognized as the costs are incurred. Revenues from charter service agreements are recognized on scheduled and non-scheduled flights when the specific flight has been completed. Aircraft lease revenues are recognized as operating lease revenues on a straight-line basis over the term of the applicable lease agreements. Revenues from the sale of aircraft parts are recognized when the parts are delivered. Revenues earned and expenses incurred in providing aircraft-related maintenance, repair or technical services are recognized in the period in which the services are completed and delivered to the customer. Revenues derived from sorting parcels are recognized upon completion of services.

NOTE B—SIGNIFICANT CUSTOMERS
DHL
Commencing March 31, 2010, the Company and DHL executed commercial agreements under which DHL leases 13 Boeing 767 freighter aircraft from CAM and contracts with ABX to operate those aircraft under a separate crew, maintenance and insurance (“CMI”) agreement. The CMI agreement pricing is based on pre-defined fees, scaled for the number of aircraft operated and the number of flight crews provided to DHL for its U.S. network. The initial term of the CMI agreement is five years and the terms of the aircraft leases are seven years, with early termination provisions. In addition to the 13 CAM-owned Boeing 767 aircraft, ABX also operates four DHL-owned Boeing 767 aircraft under the CMI agreement. Under the CMI agreement, ABX contracted with Airborne Maintenance and Engineering Services, Inc. (“AMES”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, to provide scheduled maintenance for the 13 Boeing 767 aircraft for at least the first three years of the CMI agreement. Under the terms of the lease agreements for the 13 CAM-owned Boeing 767 aircraft, DHL is responsible to reimburse ABX for its costs of scheduled airframe maintenance. AMES also provides scheduled maintenance for the four DHL-owned aircraft operated by ABX under the CMI agreement. Additionally, the Company's airlines are providing eight other Boeing 767 aircraft, four Boeing 727 aircraft and one Boeing 757 aircraft to DHL under other contracts having durations of one year or less and two Boeing 757 aircraft under multi-year contracts.
Continuing revenues from leases and contracted services for DHL were approximately 55% and 53% of the Company's consolidated revenues from continuing operations for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2012, respectively, compared to 35% and 35% for the corresponding periods of 2011. The Company’s balance sheets include accounts receivable with DHL of $17.5 million and $9.8 million as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.
BAX/Schenker
A significant portion of the Company’s revenues, and cash flows have historically been derived from providing airlift to BAX Global, Inc.'s network in North America ("BAX/Schenker"). CCIA and ATI each had contracts to provide airlift to BAX/Schenker. BAX/Schenker provided freight transportation and supply chain management services, specializing in the heavy freight market for business-to-business shipping.
On July 22, 2011, BAX/Schenker announced its plan to adopt a new operating model that phased-out the dedicated air cargo network in North America supported by the Company. To execute that plan, on September 2, 2011, BAX/Schenker ceased air cargo operations at its air hub in Toledo, Ohio and began to conduct air operations from the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky airport, utilizing DHL's U.S. air hub. The Company provided limited airlift directly to BAX/Schenker through the peak delivery season, until late December 2011. Beginning in January 2012, DHL contracted with the Company's airlines to supplement DHL's U.S. air network to service BAX/Schenker freight volumes on its expanded air network without the use of ATI's DC-8 aircraft and with only limited use of CCIA's Boeing 727 aircraft.
No services were performed for Bax/Schenker during 2012. Revenues from the services performed for BAX/Schenker were approximately 27% and 30% of the Company’s total revenues from continuing operations for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2011, respectively. The Company’s balance sheets had no accounts

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receivable with BAX/Schenker as of September 30, 2012, and included accounts receivable with BAX/Schenker of $5.5 million as of December 31, 2011.
U.S. Military
A substantial portion of the Company's revenues are also derived from the U.S. Military. The U.S. Military awards flights to U.S. certificated airlines through annual contracts and through temporary "expansion" routes. Revenues from services performed for the U.S. Military were approximately 15% and 16% of the Company's total revenues from continuing operations for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2012, respectively, compared to 12% and 12% for the corresponding periods of 2011. The Company's balance sheets included accounts receivable with the U.S. Military of $4.7 million and $5.2 million as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.

NOTE C—GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLES

The Company has two reporting units, ATI (a component of the ACMI Services segment) and CAM, that have goodwill. The carrying amounts of goodwill by reportable segment, are as follows (in thousands):
 
ACMI Services
 
CAM
 
Total
Carrying value as of December 31, 2011
$
52,585

 
$
34,395

 
$
86,980

Carrying value as of September 30, 2012
$
52,585

 
$
34,395

 
$
86,980


In conjunction with the phase-out of BAX/Schenker's dedicated airlift in North America, which relied on operations provided by the Company, the Company tested the carrying values of goodwill and related intangible assets as of July 31, 2011. The Company recognized an impairment charge to reduce the value of the recorded goodwill and customer relationship intangible associated with ATI to $52.6 million and $2.5 million, respectively, during 2011. The Company determined the fair values of ATI and CAM separately using industry market multiples and discounted cash flows utilizing a market-derived rate of return (level 3 fair value inputs). BAX/Schenker's decision to discontinue a dedicated U.S. air network using ATI's DC-8 aircraft was precipitated by prolonged recessionary conditions and trends toward higher fuel prices. ATI's remaining balances of goodwill and intangibles were not impaired further because of expected future net cash flows from its growing fleet of Boeing 767 aircraft and combi aircraft services which it provides to the U.S. Military.
The Company's intangible assets relate to the ACMI Services segment and are as follows (in thousands):
 
 
Customer
 
Airline
 
 
 
 
Relationships
 
Certificates
 
Total
Carrying value as of December 31, 2011
 
$
2,396

 
$
4,000

 
$
6,396

Amortization
 
(188
)
 
(555
)
 
(743
)
Carrying value as of September 30, 2012
 
$
2,208

 
$
3,445

 
$
5,653

The customer relationship intangible amortizes over nine more years. The Company recorded amortization expense for the customer relationships intangible asset of $0.5 million for the nine month period ending September 30, 2011 The airline certificate related to CCIA' s Boeing 727 aircraft operations has a carrying value of $0.4 million at September 30, 2012 and amortizes through December 31, 2012, the expected remaining life of those operations. The remaining airline certificates have an indefinite life and therefore are not amortized.

NOTE D—FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
The Company’s money market funds and interest rate swaps are reported on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet at fair values based on market values from identical or comparable transactions. The fair value of the Company’s money market funds are based on quoted prices (Level 1) and observable inputs (Level 2) from comparable market transactions.The fair value of the Company's interest rate swaps are based on observable inputs (Level 2) from

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comparable market transactions. The following table reflects the Company's financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis (in thousands):
 
As of September 30, 2012
Fair Value Measurement Using
 
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash equivalents—money market
$
5,017

 
$
18,827

 
$
—

 
$
23,844

Total Assets
$
5,017

 
$
18,827

 
$
—

 
$
23,844

Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swap
$
—

 
$
(4,068
)
 
$
—

 
$
(4,068
)
Total Liabilities
$
—

 
$
(4,068
)
 
$
—

 
$
(4,068
)
As of December 31, 2011
Fair Value Measurement Using
 
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash equivalents—money market
$
10,002

 
$
11,541

 
$
—

 
$
21,543

Total Assets
$
10,002

 
$
11,541

 
$
—

 
$
21,543

Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swap
$
—

 
$
(5,024
)
 
$
—

 
$
(5,024
)
Total Liabilities
$
—

 
$
(5,024
)
 
$
—

 
$
(5,024
)
The fair value of the Company’s debt obligations, based on observable inputs (Level 2), was approximately $3.0 million more than the carrying value, which was $357.9 million at September 30, 2012. The fair value of the Company's debt obligations was determined by calculating the net present value of scheduled debt payments using market interest rates. As a result of lower market interest rates compared to the stated interest rates of the Company’s fixed and variable rate debt obligations, the fair value of the Company's debt obligation was larger than the carrying value of the debt.
The carrying amounts of accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate their fair value due to their short-term nature.

NOTE E—PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
The Company's property and equipment consists primarily of cargo aircraft, aircraft engines and flight equipment. Property and equipment, to be held and used, is summarized as follows (in thousands):
 
 
September 30,
2012
 
December 31,
2011
Aircraft and flight equipment
$
1,114,812

 
$
1,012,000

Support equipment
51,843

 
51,297

Vehicles and other equipment
1,532

 
1,589

Leasehold improvements
754

 
714

 
1,168,941

 
1,065,600

Accumulated depreciation
(366,650
)
 
(316,687
)
Property and equipment, net
$
802,291

 
$
748,913

CAM owned aircraft with a carrying value of $296.2 million and $316.4 million that were under leases to external customers as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.

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The carrying value of Boeing 727 and DC-8 freighter aircraft and engines available for sale totaled $4.4 million as of September 30, 2012. Cash flows generated from sales of aircraft and engines totaled $3.5 million for the nine month period ended September 30, 2012.

NOTE F—DEBT OBLIGATIONS
Long term obligations consisted of the following (in thousands):
 
 
September 30,
 
December 31,
 
2012
 
2011
Unsubordinated term loan
$
146,250

 
$
150,000

Revolving credit facility
131,000

 
106,000

Aircraft loans
65,105

 
70,754

Promissory note due to DHL, unsecured
15,500

 
20,150

Total long term obligations
357,855

 
346,904

Less: current portion
(19,251
)
 
(13,223
)
Total long term obligations, net
$
338,604

 
$
333,681

The Company executed a syndicated credit agreement ("Senior Credit Agreement") in May 2011 which includes a term loan of $150 million and a $175 million revolving credit loan, of which the Company has drawn $131.0 million, net of repayments as of September 30, 2012. On July 20, 2012, the Company executed the first amendment to the Senior Credit Agreement (“Credit Amendment”). The Credit Amendment increased the amount available under the revolving credit loan by $50 million to $225.0 million, extended the maturity of the term loan and revolving credit loan to July 20, 2017, and provided for an accordion feature whereby the Company may draw up to an additional $50.0 million, subject to the lenders' consent.
Under the terms of the Senior Credit Agreement, interest rates are adjusted quarterly based on the Company's earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization expenses ("EBITDA"), its outstanding debt level and prevailing LIBOR or prime rates. At the Company's current debt-to-EBITDA ratio, the LIBOR based financing for the unsubordinated term loan and revolving credit facility bear a variable interest rate of 2.62% and 2.47%, respectively. The Credit Amendment did not affect the EBITDA based pricing or covenants of the Senior Credit Agreement . The Senior Credit Agreement provides for the issuance of letters of credit on the Company's behalf. During the next twelve months, the Company expects to make further draws on the revolving credit loan to fund its fleet expansion plans. As of September 30, 2012, the unused revolving credit facility totaled $83.5 million, net of draws of $131.0 million and outstanding letters of credit of $10.5 million.
The aircraft loans are collateralized by six aircraft, and amortize monthly with a balloon payment of approximately 20% with maturities between 2016 and early 2018. Interest rates range from 6.74% to 7.36% per annum payable monthly.
The promissory note payable to DHL becomes due in August 2028 as a balloon payment, unless it is extinguished sooner under the terms of the CMI agreement. Beginning April 1, 2010 and extending through the term of the CMI agreement, the balance of the note is amortized ratably without cash payment in exchange for services provided, and thus is expected to be completely amortized by April 2015. The promissory note bears interest at a rate of 5% per annum, and DHL reimburses ABX the interest expense from the note through the term of the CMI agreement.
The Senior Credit Agreement is collateralized by certain of the Company's Boeing 767 and 757 aircraft that are not collateralized under aircraft loans. Under the terms of the Senior Credit Agreement, the Company is required to maintain collateral coverage equal to 150% of the outstanding balance of the term loan and total revolving credit facility. The Senior Credit Agreement contains covenants including, among other things, limitations on certain additional indebtedness, guarantees of indebtedness, as well as a total debt to EBITDA ratio and a fixed charge coverage ratio. The Senior Credit Agreement stipulates events of default, including unspecified events that may have material adverse effects on the Company. If an event of default occurs, the Company may be forced to repay, renegotiate or replace the Senior Credit Agreement. The Company is currently in compliance with the financial covenants specified in the Senior

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Credit Agreement . The Senior Credit Agreement limits the amount of dividends the Company can pay and the amount of common stock it can repurchase to $50.0 million during any calendar year provided that after giving effect to such expenditure, its total debt to EBITDA ratio is less than two to one. Under the provisions of its promissory note due to DHL, the Company is required to prepay the DHL note in the amount of $0.20 for each dollar of dividend distributed to its stockholders. The same prepayment stipulation applies to stock repurchases.
In conjunction with the execution of the Senior Credit Agreement in 2011, the Company terminated its previous credit agreement, which resulted in the write-off of unamortized debt issuance costs associated with that credit agreement and losses for certain interest rate swaps which had previously been designated as cash flow hedges of interest payments required by the former debt. These charges, which totaled $6.8 million before income taxes, were recorded in March 2011.

NOTE G—COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Leases
The Company leases airport facilities and certain operating equipment under operating lease agreements. ABX leases portions of the air park in Wilmington, Ohio under a lease agreement with a regional port authority, the term of which expires in May of 2019.
Commitments
In August 2010, the Company entered into an agreement with M&B Conversions Limited and Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. ("IAI"), for the conversion by IAI of up to ten Boeing 767-300 series passenger aircraft to a standard freighter configuration during the 10-year term of the agreement. As of September 30, 2012, four such aircraft have completed the modification process, two Boeing 767-300 aircraft were undergoing modification to a standard freighter configuration and one Boeing 767-300 aircraft was awaiting modification. If the Company were to cancel the conversion program as of September 30, 2012, it would owe IAI approximately $12.5 million associated with non-recurring engineering efforts, conversion part kits which have been ordered and to complete the modifications.
In October 2010, the Company entered into an agreement with Precision Conversions, LLC (“Precision”) for the design, engineering and certification of a Boeing 757 "combi" aircraft variant. The Company has agreements with Precision to convert Boeing 757 passenger aircraft to the combi variant and to standard freighter configuration. The Boeing 757 combi variant will incorporate 10 full cargo pallet positions along with seating for up to 52 passengers. As of September 30, 2012, one Boeing 757 had completed the modification process for standard freighter configuration while one Boeing 757 aircraft was in the freighter conversion process and another one was in the combi conversion process. If the Company were to cancel the conversion programs as of September 30, 2012, it would owe Precision approximately $10.3 million associated with engineering efforts, conversion part kits which have been ordered and to complete the modifications.
Guarantees and Indemnifications
Certain operating leases and agreements of the Company contain indemnification obligations to the lessor, or one or more other parties that are considered reasonable and customary (e.g. use, tax and environmental 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.
Civil Action Alleging Violations of Immigration Laws
On December 31, 2008, a former ABX employee filed a complaint against ABX, a total of four current and former executives and managers of ABX, 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 was later amended to include a second former employee plaintiff, seeks damages in an unspecified amount and 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.
On December 2, 2011, the parties agreed to settle this matter at a conference presided over by the Court. The settlement calls for ABX to pay to the plaintiffs a monetary amount, which management believes to be less than it

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would have cost for ABX to defend the case at trial. Once the plaintiffs have provided notice to the putative class members of the settlement, the Court will hold a hearing to consider any objections and seek final confirmation of the settlement.
Brussels Noise Ordinance
The Brussels Instituut voor Milieubeheer ("BIM"), a governmental authority in the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium that oversees the enforcement of environmental matters, imposed four separate administrative penalties on ABX in the approximate aggregate amount of €0.4 million ($0.5 million) for numerous alleged violations of an ordinance limiting the noise caused by aircraft overflying the Brussels-Capital Region (which is located near the Brussels Airport) during the period from May 2009 through December 2010. ABX is appealing each of administrative penalties, which appeals are currently pending.
The ordinance in question is controversial for the reason that it was adopted by the Brussels-Capital Region and is more restrictive than the noise limitations in effect in the Flemish Region, which is where the Brussels Airport is located. The ordinance is the subject of several court cases currently pending in the Belgian courts and numerous airlines have been levied fines thereunder.
Other
In addition to the foregoing matters, we are also currently a party to legal proceedings, including FAA enforcement actions, 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.
Employees Under Collective Bargaining Agreements
As of September 30, 2012, the flight crewmember employees of ABX, ATI and CCIA were represented by the labor unions listed below:
Airline
Labor Agreement Unit
Percentage of
the Company’s
Employees
ABX
International Brotherhood of Teamsters
14.6%
ATI
Airline Pilots Association
8.4%
CCIA
Airline Pilots Association
4.1%

NOTE H—PENSION AND OTHER POST-RETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS
Defined Benefit and Post-retirement Healthcare Plans
ABX sponsors a qualified defined benefit pension plan for ABX crewmembers and a qualified defined benefit pension plan for a major portion of its other ABX employees that meet minimum eligibility requirements. ABX also sponsors non-qualified defined benefit pension plans for certain employees. These non-qualified plans are unfunded. Employees are no longer accruing benefits under any of the defined benefit pension plans. ABX also sponsors a post-retirement healthcare plan for its ABX employees, 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 of our post-retirement costs. The assumptions considered most sensitive in actuarially valuing ABX’s pension obligations and determining related expense amounts are discount rates and expected long term investment returns on plan assets. Additionally, other assumptions concerning retirement ages, mortality and employee turnover also affect the valuations. Actual results and future changes in these assumptions could result in future costs significantly higher than those recorded in our results of operations. The

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Company's net periodic benefit costs for its qualified defined benefit pension and post-retirement healthcare plans for both continuing and discontinued operations 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
 
2012
 
2011
 
2012
 
2011
 
2012
 
2011
 
2012
 
2011
Service cost
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
67

 
$
62

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
201

 
$
186

Interest cost
9,272

 
9,290

 
95

 
97

 
27,816

 
27,871

 
285

 
291

Expected return on plan assets
(9,970
)
 
(9,757
)
 
—

 
—

 
(29,910
)
 
(29,271
)
 
—

 
—

Amortization of prior service cost
—

 
—

 
(1,388
)
 
(1,388
)
 
—

 
—

 
(4,164
)
 
(4,164
)
Amortization of net loss
2,670

 
675

 
108

 
132

 
8,010

 
2,025

 
324

 
396

Net periodic benefit cost
$
1,972

 
$
208

 
$
(1,118
)
 
$
(1,097
)
 
$
5,916

 
$
625

 
$
(3,354
)
 
$
(3,291
)
During the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2012, the Company contributed $18.5 million and $22.2 million to the pension plans. The Company plans to contribute an additional $2.5 million in 2012.

NOTE I—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, 2012 have been estimated utilizing a 38.2% rate based on year-to-date income and projected results for the full year. The final effective tax rate to be applied to 2012 will depend on the actual amount of pre-tax book income generated by the Company for the full year.
The Company has operating loss carryforwards for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Management expects to utilize the loss carryforwards to offset federal income tax liabilities in the future. During 2012, management revised the projection of qualified tax deductions for 2012. As a result of anticipated additional tax deductions, management does not expect to utilize the existing loss carryforward assets to offset the federal income tax liability during the next 12 months. Accordingly, as of September 30, 2012, the Company's balance sheet reflects the reclassification of approximately $14 million of deferred tax assets to offset deferred tax liabilities. Due to the Company's deferred tax assets, including its loss carryforwards, management does not expect to pay federal income taxes through 2014 or later. The Company may, however, be required to pay alternative minimum taxes and certain state and local income taxes before then.

NOTE J—DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
In conjunction with the unsubordinated term loan under the former credit agreement, the Company entered into interest rate swaps in January 2008 to reduce the effects of fluctuating LIBOR-based interest rates on forecasted interest payments stemming from the scheduled repayment of the debt. Under the interest rate swap agreements, the Company pays a fixed rate of 3.105% and receives a floating rate that resets quarterly based on LIBOR. The notional value of the interest rate swaps step downward through December 31, 2012. In accordance with FASB ASC Topic 815-30 Derivatives and Hedging, the Company accounted for the interest rate swaps as hedges of the forecasted cash flows. Accordingly, losses caused by lower floating interest rates had been recorded to accumulated other comprehensive income for the effective portion. Effective March 31, 2011, in conjunction with its decision to refinance the unsubordinated term loan, the Company ceased hedge accounting after determining that the forecasted interest payments will not occur near the time originally expected. As a result, the Company recorded a pre-tax charge of $3.9 million in the first quarter of 2011 based on the fair market value of the derivatives on March 31, 2011, to recognize the losses previously recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income.
In addition to the interest rate swaps noted above, the Company's Senior Credit Agreement requires the Company to maintain derivative instruments for protection from fluctuating interest rates, for at least fifty percent of the outstanding balance of the term loan. As a result, the Company entered into an interest rate swap in July of 2011 having an initial

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notional value of $75.0 million and a forward start date of December 31, 2011. Under this swap, the Company pays a fixed rate of 2.02% and receives a floating rate that resets quarterly based on LIBOR. The Company did not designate the recent interest rate swap as a hedge for accounting purposes. The effects of future fluctuations in LIBOR interest rates on derivatives held by the Company will result in the recording of unrealized gains and losses into the statement of operations.
The liability for outstanding derivatives is recorded in other liabilities and in accrued expenses. The table below provides information about the Company’s interest rate swaps (in thousands):
 
 
 
September 30, 2012
 
December 31, 2011
Expiration Date
Stated
Interest
Rate
 
Notional
Amount
 
Market
Value
(Liability)
 
Notional
Amount
 
Market
Value
(Liability)
December 31, 2012
3.105
%
 
$
53,125

 
$
(380
)
 
$
59,500

 
$
(1,394
)
December 31, 2012
3.105
%
 
31,250

 
(224
)
 
35,000

 
(820
)
May 9, 2016
2.020
%
 
73,125

 
(3,464
)
 
75,000

 
(2,810
)

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. The restrictions on the non-vested restricted stock awards lapse at the end of a specified service period, which is typically approximately three years from the date of grant. Restrictions could lapse sooner upon a business combination, death, disability or after an employee qualifies for retirement. The non-vested stock units will be converted into a number of shares of Company stock depending on performance and market conditions at the end of a specified service period, lasting approximately three years. The performance condition awards will be converted into a number of shares of Company stock based on the Company's average return on invested capital, depending on the form of award, during the service period. Similarly, the market condition awards will be converted into a number of shares depending on the appreciation of the Company's stock compared to the NASDAQ Transportation Index. Board members were granted time-based awards with approximately a six-month vesting period, which will settle when the board member ceases to be a director of the Company. The Company expects to settle all of the stock unit awards by issuing new shares of stock. The table below summarizes award activity.
 
Nine Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30, 2012
 
September 30, 2011
 
Number of
Awards
 
Weighted
average
grant-date
fair value
 
Number of
Awards
 
Weighted
average
grant-date
fair value
Outstanding at beginning of period
1,458,037

 
$
5.77

 
1,514,300

 
$
3.55

Granted
601,647

 
5.93

 
555,237

 
8.72

Converted
(142,200
)
 
8.11

 
(293,300
)
 
3.14

Expired
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Forfeited
(88,800
)
 
5.93

 
(168,200
)
 
4.22

Outstanding at end of period
1,828,684

 
$
5.63

 
1,608,037

 
$
5.32

Vested
483,284

 
$
4.68

 
390,037

 
$
4.45

The average grant-date fair value of each performance condition award, non-vested restricted stock award and time-based award granted by the Company in 2012 was $5.63, the fair value of the Company’s stock on the date of grant. The average grant-date fair value of each market condition award granted in 2012 was $7.05. The market condition awards were valued using a Monte Carlo simulation technique, a risk-free interest rate of 0.44%, a term of 36 months, and a volatility of 90.1% based on historical volatility over three years using daily stock prices.

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For the nine month periods ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, the Company recorded expense of $2.7 million and $2.2 million, respectively, for stock incentive awards. At September 30, 2012, there was $3.4 million of unrecognized expense related to the stock incentive awards that is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.3 years. As of September 30, 2012, none of the awards were convertible, 483,284 units of the Board members time-based awards had vested and none of the outstanding shares of the restricted stock had vested. These awards could result in a maximum number of 2,175,234 additional outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock depending on service, performance and market results through December 31, 2014.

NOTE L—EARNINGS PER SHARE
The calculation of basic and diluted earnings per common share follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):
 
Three Months Ending
 
Nine Months Ending
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2012
 
2011
 
2012
 
2011
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations
$
11,556

 
$
(4,826
)
 
$
29,437

 
$
10,335

Weighted-average shares outstanding for basic earnings per share
63,456

 
63,334

 
63,439

 
63,267

Common equivalent shares:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Effect of stock-based compensation awards
1,211

 
—

 
1,039

 
811

Weighted-average shares outstanding assuming dilution
64,667

 
63,334

 
64,478

 
64,078

Basic earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations
$
0.18

 
$
(0.08
)
 
$
0.46

 
$
0.16

Diluted earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations
$
0.18

 
$
(0.08
)
 
$
0.46

 
$
0.16

The number of equivalent shares that were not included in weighted average shares outstanding assuming dilution, because their effect would have been anti-dilutive, was 77,000 and 214,000 at September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.



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NOTE M—SEGMENT INFORMATION
The Company operates in two reportable segments, as described below. The CAM segment consists of the Company's aircraft leasing operations and its segment earnings includes an allocation of interest expense. The ACMI Services segment consists of the Company's airline operations including the CMI agreement with DHL, as well as ACMI and charter service agreements that the Company provides to other customers. Due to the similarities among
the Company's airline operations, the airline operations are aggregated into a single reportable segment, ACMI Services. The Company's other activities, which include contracts with the USPS, the sale of aircraft parts and maintenance services, management services for workers' compensation and logistics services, do not constitute reportable segments and are combined in “All other” with inter-segment profit eliminations. Inter-segment revenues are valued at arms-length, market rates. Cash, cash equivalents and deferred tax assets are reflected in Assets - All other below. The Company's segment information from continuing operations is presented below (in thousands):
 
Three Months Ending
 
Nine Months Ending
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2012
 
2011
 
2012
 
2011
Total revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CAM
$
39,155

 
$
37,045

 
$
115,073

 
$
101,935

ACMI Services
123,317

 
163,036

 
358,142

 
474,450

All other
26,773

 
26,335

 
81,876

 
77,242

Eliminate inter-segment revenues
(35,419
)
 
(30,936
)
 
(102,205
)
 
(89,959
)
Total
$
153,826

 
$
195,480

 
$
452,886

 
$
563,668

Customer revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CAM
$
18,638

 
$
17,815

 
$
56,663

 
$
47,710

ACMI Services
122,526

 
162,921

 
357,110

 
473,952

All other
12,662

 
14,744

 
39,113

 
42,006

Total
$
153,826

 
$
195,480

 
$
452,886

 
$
563,668

Depreciation and amortization expense:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CAM
$
15,187

 
$
14,320

 
$
44,288

 
$
40,246

ACMI Services
5,685

 
8,259

 
18,244

 
28,660

All other
185

 
37

 
339

 
(41
)
Total
$
21,057

 
$
22,616

 
$
62,871

 
$
68,865

Impairment Charges
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CAM - aircraft impairment
$
—

 
$
6,761

 
$
—

 
$
6,761

ACMI Services - aircraft impairment
—

 
15,304

 
—

 
15,304

ACMI Services - customer relationship impairment
—

 
2,282

 
—

 
2,282

ACMI Services - goodwill impairment
—

 
2,797

 
—

 
2,797

Total
$
—

 
$
27,144

 
$
—

 
$
27,144

Segment earnings (loss):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CAM
$
17,334

 
$
9,395

 
$
50,819

 
$
36,495

ACMI Services
(1,746
)
 
(17,625
)
 
(11,543
)
 
(15,575
)
     All other
3,373

 
3,672

 
8,602

 
7,001

Net unallocated interest expense
(296
)
 
(227
)
 
(961
)
 
(2,017
)
Net gain (loss) on derivative instruments
294

 
(1,881
)
 
956

 
(5,437
)
Write-off of unamortized debt issuance costs
—

 
—

 
—

 
(2,886
)
Pre-tax earnings (loss) from continuing operations
$
18,959

 
$
(6,666
)
 
$
47,873

 
$
17,581


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The Company's assets are presented below by segment (in thousands):
 
September 30,
 
December 31,
 
2012
 
2011
Assets:
 
 
 
CAM
$
798,035

 
$
760,588

ACMI Services
157,010

 
137,640

All other
70,460

 
95,491

Total
$
1,025,505

 
$
993,719

Interest expense of $0.2 million and $0.7 million for the three and nine month periods ending September 30, 2012, respectively, compared to $0.3 million and $0.9 million for the corresponding periods in 2011, respectively, was included in the ACMI Services segment earnings above. Interest expense allocated to CAM was $3.1 million and $9.1 million for the three and nine month periods ending September 30, 2012, respectively, compared to $2.8 million and $7.9 million for the corresponding periods of 2011.


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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 condensed consolidated financial statements and the related notes prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") contained in this report and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

BACKGROUND
The Company provides airline operations, aircraft leases, aircraft maintenance and other support services primarily to the cargo transportation and package delivery industries. Through the Company's subsidiaries, it offers a range of complementary services to delivery companies, freight forwarders, airlines and government customers. The Company's principal subsidiaries include three independently certificated airlines, ABX Air, Inc. (“ABX”), Capital Cargo International Airlines, Inc. (“CCIA”) and Air Transport International, Inc. (“ATI”), and an aircraft leasing company, Cargo Aircraft Management, Inc. (“CAM”).
At September 30, 2012, the Company’s subsidiaries owned 53 aircraft in serviceable condition consisting of 21 Boeing 767-200 standard freighter aircraft leased to external customers and 32 freighter aircraft operated by the Company's airlines. The 32 freighter aircraft operated by the Company's airlines consisted of 15 Boeing 767-200, four Boeing 767-300, three Boeing 757, four Boeing 727, two McDonnell Douglas DC-8 freighter aircraft and four McDonnell Douglas DC-8 "combi" aircraft. The combi aircraft are capable of simultaneously carrying passengers and cargo containers on the main flight deck. The Company's subsidiaries also leased four Boeing 767-200 freighter aircraft and two Boeing 767-300 freighter aircraft as of September 30, 2012. Additionally, as of September 30, 2012, the Company had three Boeing 767-300 aircraft undergoing freighter modification, one Boeing 757 aircraft undergoing freighter modification and one Boeing 757 aircraft undergoing combi modification.
The Company has two reportable segments: ACMI Services, which primarily includes the cargo transportation operations of its three airlines and the CAM segment, which includes the Company's aircraft leasing business. The Company's other business operations, which primarily provide support services to the transportation industry, include aircraft maintenance, aircraft parts sales, ground equipment leasing and mail handling services. These operations do not constitute reportable segments due to their size.
The Company's largest customer is DHL Network Operations (USA), Inc. and its affiliates ("DHL"), which accounted for 53% and 35% of the Company's consolidated revenues for the nine month periods ending September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The Company has had long term contracts with DHL since August of 2003. Commencing March 31, 2010, the Company and DHL executed commercial agreements under which DHL leases 13 Boeing 767 freighter aircraft from CAM and contracted with ABX to operate those aircraft under a separate crew, maintenance and insurance (“CMI”) agreement. The CMI agreement pricing is based on pre-defined fees, scaled for the number of aircraft operated and the number of flight crews provided to DHL for its U.S. network. The initial term of the CMI agreement is five years and the terms of the aircraft leases are seven years, with early termination provisions. In addition to the 13 CAM-owned Boeing 767 aircraft, ABX also operates four DHL-owned Boeing 767 aircraft under the CMI agreement. Additionally, the Company's airlines are providing eight other Boeing 767 aircraft, four Boeing 727 aircraft and one Boeing 757 aircraft to DHL under other contracts having durations of one year or less, and two Boeing 757 aircraft under multi-year contracts.
The U.S. Military comprised 16% and 12% of the Company's consolidated revenues for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The Company's airlines contract their services to the Air Mobility Command ("AMC"), which is organized under the U.S. Military. ATI contracts its unique fleet of McDonnell Douglas DC-8 combi aircraft to the AMC.
A substantial portion of the Company’s revenues and cash flows have historically been derived from providing airlift in North America to BAX Global, Inc., an affiliate of DB Schenker ("BAX/Schenker"). BAX/Schenker is a specialized heavy weight, business to business shipper. In July 2011, BAX/Schenker announced its plans to adopt a

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new operating model that phased out the dedicated air cargo network in North America supported by the Company. In September 2011, BAX/Schenker ceased air cargo operations at its air hub in Toledo, Ohio and began to conduct air operations from the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky airport, utilizing DHL's U.S. air hub. Instead of dedicated aircraft, BAX/Schenker now utilizes DHL and other delivery services for its air transportation delivery requirements.
The Company provided limited airlift directly to BAX/Schenker through the peak delivery season, until late December 2011. Beginning in January 2012, DHL contracted with the Company's airlines to supplement DHL's U.S. air network to service BAX/Schenker freight volumes on its expanded air network without use of the Company's DC-8 aircraft and with only limited use of Boeing 727 aircraft.
The Company ceased providing services to BAX/Schenker as of the end of 2011. The Company's revenues from the services performed for BAX/Schenker, derived primarily by providing Boeing 727 and DC-8 airlift, were $52.4 million and $168.7 million for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2011, respectively. The Company's revenues from BAX/Schenker comprised approximately 27% and 30% of the Company's total revenues during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2011, respectively, (16% and 17% of total revenues excluding directly reimbursable revenues).
 
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Summary
The consolidated net earnings from continuing operations were $11.6 million and $29.4 million for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2012, respectively, compared to a $4.8 million loss and earnings of $10.3 million for the corresponding periods of 2011. Pre-tax earnings from continuing operations were $19.0 million and $47.9 million for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2012, respectively, compared to a $6.7 million loss and earnings of $17.6 million for the corresponding periods of 2011.
Earnings during the first nine months of 2011 were impacted by pre-tax charges of $27.1 million for asset impairments and $6.8 million stemming from the refinancing of the Company's former credit agreement. The impairment charges of $27.1 million related to the discontinuation of the BAX/Schenker North American network in 2011. After removing the impairment charges, the charges related to debt refinancing and the effects of interest rate derivatives, adjusted pre-tax earnings from continuing operations, a non-GAAP measure, were $18.7 million and $46.9 million for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2012, respectively, compared to $22.4 million and $53.0 million for the corresponding periods of 2011. (A definition and reconciliation of adjusted pre-tax earnings is shown below.) Adjusted pre-tax earnings from continuing operations during the three and nine month periods ending September 30, 2012 compared to the corresponding periods of 2011, while bolstered by additional external aircraft leases and increased operations for the Company's Boeing 767 and Boeing 757 aircraft, were negatively impacted by the discontinuation of the BAX/Schenker North American air network in the fourth quarter of 2011.
Total customer revenues from continuing operations decreased by $41.7 million to $153.8 million during the third quarter of 2012 and by $110.8 million to $452.9 million for the first nine months of 2012 compared to the corresponding periods of 2011. The declines reflect $52.4 million and $168.7 million of revenues during the three and nine month periods ending September 30, 2011, respectively, from services for the BAX/Schenker air network which was discontinued. Revenues from reimbursed fuel and other reimbursed operating expenses declined $23.6 million and $80.3 million during the three and nine month periods ending September 30, 2012, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods of 2011. These declines were also primarily due to the discontinuation of the BAX/Schenker air network. Excluding directly reimbursed revenues, customer revenues decreased by $18.0 million and $30.4 million during the three and nine month periods ending September 30, 2012, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods of 2011. Revenue growth during 2012, driven by additional external aircraft leases by CAM and additional Boeing 767 and Boeing 757 aircraft operations by ACMI Services, was offset by the revenue decline from the discontinuation of the BAX/Schenker air network.
During 2011, the Company executed a new credit facility ("Senior Credit Agreement") with a consortium of banks to expand and extend its borrowing capacity to support growth of the Boeing 767 and 757 aircraft fleet. The Senior Credit Agreement refinanced the Company's previous term and revolving credit loan. In conjunction with the execution of the Senior Credit Agreement, the Company terminated its previous credit agreement, which resulted in the write-off of $2.9 million of unamortized debt issuance costs associated with that credit agreement and the recognition of $3.9

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million of losses for certain interest rate swaps previously designated as cash flow hedges of interest payments stemming from the former term loan during the first quarter of 2011.
A summary of our revenues and pre-tax earnings from continuing operations is shown below (in thousands):
 
Three Months Ending
 
Nine Months Ending
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2012
 
2011
 
2012
 
2011
Revenues from Continuing Operations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CAM
$
39,155

 
$
37,045

 
$
115,073

 
$
101,935

ACMI Services
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Airline services
102,863

 
118,936

 
300,466

 
336,436

Reimbursable
20,454

 
44,100

 
57,676

 
138,014

Total ACMI Services
123,317

 
163,036

 
358,142

 
474,450

Other Activities
26,773

 
26,335

 
81,876

 
77,242

Total Revenues
189,245

 
226,416

 
555,091

 
653,627

Eliminate internal revenues
(35,419
)
 
(30,936
)
 
(102,205
)
 
(89,959
)
Customer Revenues
$
153,826

 
$
195,480

 
$
452,886

 
$
563,668

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pre-Tax Earnings (Loss) from Continuing Operations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CAM, inclusive of interest expense and impairment charges
$
17,334

 
$
9,395

 
$
50,819

 
$
36,495

ACMI Services
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Airline services
(1,746
)
 
2,758

 
(11,543
)
 
4,808

Asset impairment charges
—

 
(20,383
)
 
—

 
(20,383
)
Total ACMI Services
(1,746
)
 
(17,625
)
 
(11,543
)
 
(15,575
)
Other Activities
3,373

 
3,672

 
8,602

 
7,001

Net unallocated interest expense
(296
)
 
(227
)
 
(961
)
 
(2,017
)
Net gain (loss) on derivative instruments
294

 
(1,881
)
 
956

 
(5,437
)
Write-off of unamortized debt issuance costs
—

 
—

 
—

 
(2,886
)
Pre-Tax Earnings (Loss) from Continuing Operations
18,959

 
(6,666
)
 
47,873

 
17,581

Less Net (gain) loss on derivative instruments
(294
)
 
1,881

 
(956
)
 
5,437

Add Write-off of unamortized debt issuance costs
—

 
—

 
—

 
2,886

Add asset impairment charges
—

 
27,144

 
—

 
27,144

Adjusted Pre-Tax Earnings
$
18,665

 
$
22,359

 
$
46,917

 
$
53,048

Reimbursable revenues include certain operating costs that are reimbursed to the airlines by their customers. Such costs include fuel used, landing fees and certain aircraft maintenance expenses. The types of costs that are reimbursed varies by customer operating agreement.
Adjusted pre-tax earnings, a non-GAAP measure, is pre-tax earnings excluding asset impairment charges, interest rate derivative gains and losses and the write-off of debt issuance costs. Management uses adjusted pre-tax earnings to compare the performance of core operating results between periods. Adjusted pre-tax earnings should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of the Company's results as reported under GAAP.
CAM
Through the CAM subsidiary, the Company offers aircraft leasing to external customers and leases aircraft internally to the Company's airlines. Aircraft leases normally cover a term of five to seven years. In a typical leasing agreement, customers pay rent and maintenance deposits on a monthly basis.
As of September 30, 2012, CAM had 53 aircraft in service condition, 32 of them leased internally to the Company's airlines. CAM's revenues grew $2.1 million and $13.1 million for the three and nine months periods ended September 30, 2012, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods of 2011, as a result of additional aircraft leases. Since September 30, 2011, CAM has completed the modification from passenger to freighter of two Boeing 767-200 aircraft, two Boeing 767-300 aircraft and one Boeing 757 aircraft, and placed those aircraft under leases with internal customers.

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Revenues from external customers accounted for $0.8 million and $9.0 million of the increased revenue for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2012, respectively, driven by five additional aircraft leases placed with external customers since the beginning of 2011. CAM's revenues from internal leases of Boeing 727 and DC-8 freighter aircraft for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2012 declined $3.8 million and $13.9 million, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods of 2011 due to the retirement of Boeing 727 and DC-8 aircraft previously operated for BAX/Schenker, but the decline was more than offset by additional Boeing 767 and 757 aircraft leases.
CAM's pre-tax earnings, inclusive of an interest expense allocation, increased $7.9 million and $14.3 million for the three and nine month periods ending September 30, 2012, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods of 2011. During the third quarter of 2011, the Company recorded aircraft impairment charges of $6.8 million related to the BAX/Schenker operations. Excluding the $6.8 million impairment in 2011, improved earnings reflected five additional Boeing 767 and 757 aircraft under lease since September 30, 2011. CAM's pre-tax earnings for 2012 does not reflect $1.0 million of unpaid rents related to a Boeing 767 aircraft under lease with a regional airline. Management expects the regional airline to return the two Boeing 767 aircraft which it leases, during the fourth quarter of 2012.
During 2012, CAM completed the modification from passenger to freighter configuration of one Boeing 767-200 and two Boeing 767-300 aircraft and leased those aircraft internally to a Company airline. CAM has five other passenger Boeing 767-300 and 757-200 aircraft, as discussed further below, that are being modified for future deployment.
ACMI Services Segment
The ACMI Services segment provides airline operations to its customers, typically under contracts providing for a combination of aircraft, crews, maintenance and insurance ("ACMI"). Our customers are usually responsible for supplying the necessary aviation fuel and cargo handling services and reimbursing our airline for other operating expenses, such as landing fees, ramp expenses and certain aircraft maintenance expenses. Aircraft charter agreements, including those for the U.S. Military, usually require the airline to provide full service, including fuel and other operating expenses for a fixed, all-inclusive price. As of September 30, 2012, ACMI Services included 51 in-service aircraft, including 32 leased internally from CAM, six leased from external providers and 13 CAM-owned freighter aircraft which are under lease to DHL and operated by ABX under the CMI agreement.
Revenues from ACMI Services decreased 24% and 25% during the three and nine months periods ended September 30, 2012, respectively, compared to corresponding periods of 2011 as a result of the discontinuation of services for BAX/Schenker's North American air network. Since June 30, 2011, ACMI Services has retired seven Boeing 727 and eight DC-8 freighter aircraft in response to the discontinuation of BAX/Schenker's North American air network in 2011. During the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2011, ACMI Services revenues included $28.1 million and $94.6 million, respectively, for the reimbursement of fuel and other operating expenses for the BAX/Schenker air network. Airline services revenues, which do not include revenues for the reimbursement of fuel and certain operating expenses, declined 14% and 11%, due to the loss of BAX/Schenker revenues of $24.2 million and $73.8 million during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2011, respectively.
Revenue declines from BAX/Schenker were offset by revenues from additional Boeing 767 and Boeing 757 aircraft added to the ACMI Services fleet since September 2011. Since September 30, 2011, ACMI Services has added two Boeing 767-200, two Boeing 767-300 and one Boeing 757 aircraft into the operating fleet. Airline services revenues, excluding those from BAX/Schenker, increased $8.1 million and $37.8 million during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2012, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods of 2011, driven by these additional Boeing 767 and 757 aircraft. Aircraft block hours flown for customers other than BAX/Schenker increased 6% and 12% during the three and nine month periods ending September 30, 2012, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods of 2011.
ACMI Services incurred pre-tax losses of $1.7 million and $11.5 million for airline services during the three and nine month periods ending September 30, 2012, respectively, compared to pre-tax earnings of $2.8 million and $4.8 million for the corresponding periods of 2011. Operating results during 2012 were negatively impacted by delays in placing aircraft into revenue service, the discontinuation of BAX/Schenker's North American air network, the cost of training flight crew members for the Boeing 767 aircraft, increased pension expenses and higher engine maintenance expenses. During 2012, ABX added three Boeing 767-300 aircraft into its in-service fleet. Delays in placing two of the recently deployed Boeing 767-300 aircraft into incremental revenue service adversely impacted operating results

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during 2012. While ATI and CCIA have reduced the number of crewmembers and other employees in the ACMI Services segment due to the termination of the BAX/Schenker network, salaries and benefits expenses during 2012, have included the cost of training senior, former DC-8 crewmembers for the Boeing 767 aircraft and paying crews in advance of revenue service.
To further streamline the operations impacted by the loss of the BAX/Schenker business, we are in the process of merging the airline operations of ATI and CCIA and expect to complete the merger near the beginning of 2013. In September 2012, ATI and CCIA flight crewmembers, as represented by the Air Line Pilots Association International ("ALPA") ratified a collective bargaining agreement which allows for an integrated seniority list. The airlines and ALPA intend to complete the integration of the seniority lists by the end of 2012.
Revenues for ACMI Services depends on a number of key factors including regulatory approvals, the cost competitiveness of the airlines, aircraft reliability, market preferences for the type of aircraft that we operate and general economic conditions. Weak economic conditions may continue to slow the pace by which we deploy aircraft into incremental revenue operations and could reduce the services we currently provide to customers. If necessary, we may further reduce staff levels to match with customer demand and aircraft utilization levels, however the degree and timeliness of such cost reductions may not coincide with the revenue reductions. Additionally, new agreements typically involve start-up expenses, including those for crewmember training, proving flights, route authorities, overfly rights, travel and other activities, however, revenue-generating services usually begin sometime later.
ATI currently operates four DC-8 combi aircraft for the U.S. Military. In July 2012, the AMC notified ATI that it was awarded a two-year agreement to continue the combi aircraft flights through September of 2014. ATI intends to service the award with its DC-8 combi aircraft and phase-in more modern Boeing 757 combi aircraft starting near the end of 2012, replacing the DC-8 combi aircraft in conjunction with the U.S. Military's preference.
Other Activities
The Company sells aircraft parts and provides aircraft maintenance and modification services to other airlines. The Company also operates five U.S. Postal Service (“USPS”) sorting facilities and provides ground equipment leasing and facility maintenance services, including fuel services. Other activities also include the management of workers' compensation claims under an agreement with DHL and gains from the reduction in employee post-retirement obligations.
External customer revenues from all other activities were $12.7 million and $39.1 million for the three and nine month periods ending September 30, 2012, respectively, compared to $14.7 million and $42.0 million for the three and nine month periods ending September 30, 2011.
The pre-tax earnings from other activities were $3.4 million and $8.6 million for the three and nine month periods ending September 30, 2012, respectively. Pre-tax earnings from other activities decreased $0.3 million and increased$1.6 million for the three and nine month periods ending September 30, 2012, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods of 2011. Lower pre-tax results for the three months ended September 30, 2012 reflect the timing of completion for maintenance projects. Improved results for the first nine months of 2012 primarily reflect process streamlining initiatives at the sorting facilities and higher aircraft maintenance revenues. The Company's contracts with the USPS generated $15.6 million of revenue during the first nine months of 2012. The contracts for three of the USPS facilities were recently renewed with similar economic terms through September of 2014.
Discontinued Operations
Pre-tax losses related to the former hub services operations were $0.9 million for the first nine months of 2012 compared to $0.1 million during the first nine months of 2011. The results of discontinued operations primarily contain pension expense for former employees that supported sorting operations under a hub services agreement with DHL, and expenses for certain legal matters associated with those former sorting operations.

24
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Fleet Summary 2012
The Company’s aircraft fleet is summarized below as of September 30, 2012 ($'s in thousands):
 
ACMI
Services
 
CAM
 
Total
In-service aircraft
 
 
 
 
 
Aircraft owned
 
 
 
 
 
Boeing 767-200
15

 
21

 
36

Boeing 767-300
4

 
—

 
4

Boeing 757
3

 
—

 
3

Boeing 727
4

 
—

 
4

DC-8
6

 
—

 
6

Total
32

 
21

 
53

Carrying value
 
 
 
 
$
637,826

Operating lease
 
 
 
 
 
Boeing 767-200
4

 
—

 
4

Boeing 767-300
2

 
—

 
2

Total
6

 
—

 
6

Carrying value
 
 
 
 
$
887

Aircraft for freighter and combi modification
 
 
 
 
 
Boeing 767-300
—

 
3

 
3

Boeing 757
—

 
2

 
2

Total
—

 
5

 
5

Carrying value
 
 
 
 
$
102,512

As of September 30, 2012, ACMI Services leased 32 of its in-service aircraft internally from CAM. As of September 30, 2012, 13 of CAM's 21 Boeing 767-200 aircraft shown above were leased to DHL and operated by ABX, while CAM leased eight other Boeing 767-200 aircraft to external airlines.
Aircraft fleet activity during the first nine months of 2012 is summarized below:
- CAM completed the freighter modification of one Boeing 767-200 aircraft and leased the aircraft internally to an airline affiliate.
- We removed one DC-8 aircraft from the in-service fleet as a result of BAX/Schenker's discontinuation of its North American air network and diminished demand for these aircraft types.
- CAM's Boeing 767-200 passenger aircraft was placed in temporary storage when its airframe maintenance cycle expired. The aircraft will remain in storage until it enters the freighter modification process or is prepped for service.
- ABX began to lease a Boeing 767-300 aircraft from an external lessor.
- CAM completed the freighter modification of two Boeing 767-300 aircraft and leased the aircraft internally to an airline affiliate.
- CAM purchased two Boeing 767-300 passenger aircraft for modification into standard freighter aircraft.
We expect to complete the modification of one Boeing 767-300 aircraft from passenger to freighter configuration in the fourth quarter of 2012 and the modification of two Boeing 767-300 aircraft from passenger to freighter configuration in 2013. We expect to complete the modification of one Boeing 757 passenger aircraft into a standard freighter configuration during the fourth quarter of 2012 and one Boeing 757 passenger aircraft into a combi configuration near the beginning of 2013.

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As of September 30, 2012, ACMI Services included four Boeing 727 aircraft having a carrying value of $0.3 million which were in DHL's U.S. network. These aircraft will be removed from service through March of 2013 as their current airframe maintenance time expires.
As of September 30, 2012, the Company had Boeing 727 and DC-8 airframes and engines with a carrying value of $4.4 million available for sale. This carrying value is based on fair market values less the estimated costs to sell the airframes, engines and parts.
Expenses from Continuing Operations
Salaries, wages and benefits expense decreased by $4.7 million during both the three and nine month periods ending September 30, 2012 when compared to the corresponding periods of 2011. Reductions in the number of Boeing 727 and DC-8 crew members since September 30, 2011 were partially offset by costs of additional crewmembers for the expanded number of Boeing 767 aircraft operated by the Company and by increased pension expense compared to 2011. Pension expense for continuing operations increased $1.4 million and $4.3 million during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2012, respectively, when compared to the corresponding periods of 2011 due to the affects of lower discount rates used to actuarially calculate the Company's annual pension expense.
Fuel expense decreased by $29.8 million and $90.2 million during the three and nine month periods ending September 30, 2012, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods of 2011. The decrease occurred in conjunction with BAX/Schenker's discontinuation of its North American air network in the fourth quarter of 2011. During 2011, while under contract with BAX/Schenker, ATI provided aviation fuel for the BAX/Schenker air network and was reimbursed by BAX/Schenker for the costs of fuel. The Company is no longer incurring aviation fuel expenses or recording a related reimbursable revenue for the BAX/Schenker network. Fuel expense during 2012 primarily reflects the costs of fuel to operate U.S. Military charters, position aircraft for service and for maintenance purposes.
Maintenance, materials and repairs expense increased by $3.0 million and $7.7 million during the three and nine month periods ending September 30, 2012, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods of 2011. During the first nine months of 2012, maintenance expense reductions stemming from the discontinuation of Boeing 727 aircraft and DC-8 freighter aircraft since the fourth quarter of 2011 were offset by higher maintenance expenses to support the larger fleet of Boeing 767 and 757 aircraft.
Depreciation and amortization expense decreased by $1.6 million and $6.0 million during the three and nine month periods ending September 30, 2012, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods of 2011. The decline in depreciation expense reflects the removal of three Boeing 727 aircraft and seven DC-8 freighter aircraft from service which was offset by incremental depreciation expense for four Boeing 767 aircraft and one Boeing 757 aircraft added to the fleet since September 2011. The Boeing 727 aircraft and DC-8 freighter aircraft were removed from service in conjunction with BAX/Schenker's discontinuation of its North American air network in the fourth quarter of 2011.
Travel expense decreased by $2.0 million and $3.6 million during the three and nine month periods ending September 30, 2012, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods of 2011. The decrease is a result of the discontinuation of the BAX/Schenker North American air network in the fourth quarter of 2011.
Rent expense increased by $0.9 million and $1.8 million during the three and nine month periods ending September 30, 2012, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods of 2011. Rent expense increased primarily due to the lease of an additional Boeing 767-300 aircraft beginning in May of 2012. Rent expense was not significantly affected by the discontinuation of the BAX/Schenker North American air network because the Company did not lease the aircraft used in that network.
Landing and ramp expense, which includes the cost of deicing chemicals, decreased by $1.8 million and $6.3 million during the three and nine month periods ending September 30, 2012, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods of 2011. The decrease during 2012 reflects the discontinuation of the BAX/Schenker North American air network in the fourth quarter of 2011.
Insurance expense decreased by $0.8 million and $1.7 million during the three and nine month periods ending September 30, 2012, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods of 2011, primarily due to the reduction in Boeing 727 and DC-8 aircraft during the fourth quarter of 2011 and the first quarter of 2012.

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Other operating expenses include professional fees, navigational services, employee training, utilities, and the cost of parts sold to customers. Other operating expenses decreased by $1.6 million and $1.6 million during the three and nine month periods ending September 30, 2012, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods of 2011. During 2012, increased expenses for international aircraft operations were offset by lower costs stemming from the discontinuation of the BAX/Schenker North American air network.
Interest expense increased by $0.4 million and decreased by $0.1 million during the three and nine month periods ending September 30, 2012, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods of 2011. Interest expense was higher for the three months ending September 30, 2012 compared to the corresponding 2011 period primarily due to an increase in the amount of borrowings under the revolving credit loan and an increase in the interest rates. The decline in interest expense for the first nine months of 2012 compared to 2011 reflects the payoff of an aircraft loan in 2011 and an increase in capitalized interest for the aircraft undergoing freighter modification. Interest rates on the Company’s variable interest, unsubordinated term loan increased to 2.62% at September 30, 2012 from 2.34% at September 30, 2011. We expect interest expense to increase during the remainder of 2012 due to a higher level of debt which is being used to expand the Company's aircraft fleet.
During the three and nine month periods ending September 30, 2012, the Company recorded pre-tax net gains on derivatives of $0.3 million and $1.0 million, respectively, reflecting the impact of higher market interest rates since December 31, 2011 on the interest rate swaps held by the Company at September 30, 2012.
In 2011, the Company executed a new credit facility replacing its previous credit agreement. During the first nine months of 2011, the Company wrote off $2.9 million of unamortized debt issuance costs associated with the former credit agreement. During the first nine months of 2011, in conjunction with the termination of the former credit agreement, the Company terminated its hedge accounting of interest rate swaps related to the former term loan, which resulted in the recognition of $3.9 million of pre-tax losses which had previously been reflected in other comprehensive income.
Income tax expenses recorded through September 30, 2012, have been estimated based on year-to-date income and projected results for the full year, excluding discrete items. The effective tax rate for the full year 2012 is projected to be approximately 38.2%. The effective tax rate from continuing operations for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2012 was 39.0% and 38.5%, respectively, compared to 27.6% and 41.2% for the corresponding periods in 2011. The effective tax rate for continuing operations in 2011 was affected by impairment charges that are not deductible for federal income tax purposes. The Company's effective tax rate for continuing operations was approximately 37% for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2011 after adjusting for $2.8 million of non-deductible impairment charges. The effective income tax rate increased for 2012 due to having more earnings in certain taxing districts with higher tax rates when compared to 2011.

FINANCIAL CONDITION, LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Cash Flows
Net cash generated from operating activities totaled $87.0 million for the first nine months of 2012 compared to $106.9 million for the first nine months of 2011. Cash flows generated from operating activities decreased $19.9 million for the first nine months of 2012 compared to 2011 due to $9.2 million of additional pension contributions in 2012 and payments to vendors associated with the wind-down of the BAX/Schenker operations, partially offset by customer collections.
Capital spending levels were primarily the result of aircraft modification costs and the acquisition of aircraft for freighter modification. Cash payments for capital expenditures were $108.3 million in the first nine months of 2012 compared to $162.6 million in the first nine months of 2011. Capital expenditures in 2012 included $93.9 million for the acquisition of two Boeing 767-300 aircraft, aircraft engines and the modification of aircraft, $8.1 million for required heavy maintenance and $6.3 million for other equipment costs. Capital expenditures for the first nine months of 2011 included $138.9 million for the acquisition and modification of aircraft, $20.8 million for required heavy maintenance and $2.9 million for other equipment costs. Capital expenditures for required heavy maintenance declined during 2012 compared to 2011 due to the retirement of Boeing 727 and DC-8 aircraft.
Proceeds of $3.5 million were received during the first nine months of 2012 for the sale of aircraft engines and parts.

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Net cash provided by financing activities was $15.6 million in the first nine months of 2012 compared to $35.7 million used in the corresponding period in 2011. During the first nine months of 2012, we drew $25.0 million from the revolver under the Senior Credit Agreement to fund capital spending and we made debt principal payments of $9.4 million. Additionally, $4.7 million of the principal balance of the DHL promissory note was extinguished during the first nine months of 2012, pursuant to the CMI agreement with DHL.
Commitments
In August 2010, the Company entered into an agreement with M&B Conversions Limited and Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. ("IAI"), for the conversion by IAI of up to ten Boeing 767-300 series passenger aircraft to a standard freighter configuration during the 10-year term of the agreement. As of September 30, 2012, four such aircraft have completed the modification process, two Boeing 767-300 aircraft were undergoing modification to a standard freighter configuration and one Boeing 767-300 aircraft was awaiting modification. If the Company were to cancel the conversion program as of September 30, 2012, it would owe IAI approximately $12.5 million associated with non-recurring engineering efforts, conversion part kits which have been ordered and to complete the modifications.
In October 2010, the Company entered into an agreement with Precision Conversions, LLC (“Precision”) for the design, engineering and certification of a Boeing 757 "combi" aircraft variant. The Company has agreements with Precision to convert Boeing 757 passenger aircraft to the combi variant and to standard freighter configuration. The Boeing 757 combi variant will incorporate 10 full cargo pallet positions along with seating for up to 52 passengers. As of September 30, 2012, one Boeing 757 had completed the modification process for standard freighter configuration while one Boeing 757 aircraft was in the freighter conversion process and another was in the combi conversion process. If the Company were to cancel the conversion programs as of September 30, 2012, it would owe Precision approximately $10.3 million associated with engineering efforts, conversion part kits which have been ordered and to complete the modifications.
We estimate that total capital expenditures for 2012 will total approximately $145 million primarily for aircraft acquisitions and related modification costs involving Boeing 767-300 and Boeing 757 aircraft. Actual capital spending for any future period will be impacted by the progress in the aircraft modification process. We expect to finance the aircraft purchases and modifications from current cash balances, future operating cash flow and the Senior Credit Agreement.
Liquidity
The Company's Senior Credit Agreement with a consortium of banks includes a fully drawn term loan of $150 million and a revolving credit facility, of which the Company has drawn $131 million, net of repayments as of September 30, 2012. The Company intends to make further draws on the revolving loan to fund its fleet expansion plans. On July 20, 2012, the Company executed the first amendment to the Senior Credit Amendment ("Credit Amendment"). The Credit Amendment increased the amount available under the revolving credit loan by $50 million to $225 million, extended the maturity of the term loan and revolving credit loan to July 20, 2017, and provided for an accordion feature whereby the Company may draw up to an additional $50 million, subject to the lenders' consent. If the Company exercises the accordion feature, the same terms and conditions of the Senior Credit Agreement would apply to the accordion feature and additional collateral would need to be posted to maintain the 150% collateral coverage requirement. The additional debt may result in higher interest rates. Under the Senior Credit Agreement, interest rates are adjusted quarterly based on the prevailing LIBOR or prime rates and a ratio of the Company's outstanding debt level to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization expenses ("EBITDA"). At the Company's current debt-to-EBITDA ratio, the unsubordinated term loan and revolving loan bear a variable interest rate of 2.62% and 2.47%, respectively. The Credit Amendment did not effect the EBITDA based pricing or covenants of the Senior Credit Agreement.
The Senior Credit Agreement is collateralized by certain of the Company's Boeing 767 and 757 aircraft that are not collateralized under aircraft loans. Under the terms of the Senior Credit Agreement, the Company is required to maintain collateral coverage equal to 150% of the outstanding balance of the term loan and the total revolving credit facility. Under the Senior Credit Agreement, the Company is subject to covenants and warranties that are usual and customary, including among other things, limitations on certain additional indebtedness, guarantees of indebtedness, as well as a total debt to EBITDA ratio and a fixed charge coverage ratio. The Senior Credit Agreement stipulates events of default including unspecified events that may have a material adverse effect on the Company. If an event of default occurs, the Company may be forced to repay, renegotiate or replace the Senior Credit Agreement.

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At September 30, 2012, the Company had approximately $28.2 million of cash balances. The Company had $83.5 million available under the revolving credit facility, net of outstanding letters of credit, which totaled $10.5 million. The Company also expects to have available the $50 million accordion feature noted above. As specified under the terms of ABX's CMI agreement with DHL, the $15.5 million balance at September 30, 2012 of the unsecured note payable to DHL will be extinguished ratably without payment through March 31, 2015. We believe that the Company's current cash balances and forecasted cash flows provided from its operating agreements, combined with its Senior Credit Agreement, will be sufficient to fund operations, scheduled debt payments, required pension funding and planned capital expenditures for at least the next 12 months.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
As part of our ongoing business, we do not participate in transactions that generate relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities (“SPEs”), which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes. As of September 30, 2012 and 2011, we were not involved in any material unconsolidated SPE transactions.
Certain of our operating leases and agreements contain indemnification obligations to the lessor or one or more other parties that are considered usual and customary (e.g. use, tax and environmental indemnifications), the terms of which range in duration and are often limited. Such indemnification obligations may continue after the expiration of the respective lease or agreement. No amounts have been recognized in our financial statements for the underlying fair value of guarantees and indemnifications.

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 disclosures of contingencies. In certain cases, there are alternative policies or estimation techniques which could be selected. On an ongoing 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, 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 preparing the consolidated financial statements.
Revenue Recognition
Revenues generated from airline service agreements are typically recognized based on hours flown or the amount of aircraft and crew resources provided during a reporting period. Certain agreements include provisions for incentive payments based upon on-time reliability. These incentives are typically measured on a monthly basis and recorded to revenue in the corresponding month earned. Revenues for operating expenses that are reimbursed through customer agreements, including consumption of aircraft fuel, are generally recognized as the costs are incurred. Revenues from charter service agreements are recognized on scheduled and non-scheduled flights when the specific flight has been completed. Revenues from the sale of aircraft parts are recognized when the parts are delivered. Revenues earned and expenses incurred in providing aircraft-related maintenance, repair or technical 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 services. Aircraft lease revenues are recognized as operating lease revenue on a straight-line basis over the term of the applicable lease agreements.

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Goodwill and Intangible Assets
In accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification (“FASB ASC”) Topic 350-20 Intangibles—Goodwill and Other, we assess in the fourth quarter of each year whether the Company’s goodwill acquired in acquisitions is impaired. Additional assessments may be performed on an interim basis whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate an impairment may have occurred. Indefinite-lived intangible assets are not amortized but are assessed for impairment annually, or more frequently if impairment indicators occur. Finite-lived intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful economic lives and are periodically reviewed for impairment.
Long-lived assets
Aircraft and other long-lived assets are tested for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. Factors which may cause an impairment include termination of aircraft from a customer's network, extended operating cash flow losses from the assets and management's decisions regarding the future use of assets. To conduct impairment testing, the Company groups assets and liabilities at the lowest level for which identifiable cash are largely independent of cash flows of other assets and liabilities. For assets that are to be held and used, impairment is recognized when the estimated undiscounted cash flows associated with an asset group is less than the carrying value. If impairment exists, an adjustment is made to write the assets down to 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.
Depreciation
Depreciation of property and equipment is provided on a straight-line basis over the lesser of an 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 networks, or changes in regulations grounding or limiting the use of aircraft.
Self-Insurance
We self-insure certain claims related 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 and recent claims trends. Changes in claim severity and frequency could result in actual claims being materially different than the costs provided for in our results of operations. We maintain excess claim coverage with common insurance carriers to mitigate our exposure to large claim losses.
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.
Income Taxes
We account for income taxes under the provisions of FASB ASC Topic 740-10 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 the Company’s financial statements or tax returns. Fluctuations in the actual outcome of expected future tax consequences could materially impact the Company’s financial position or its results of operations.
The Company has significant deferred tax assets including net operating loss carryforwards (“NOL CFs”) for federal income tax purposes which begin to expire in 2024. Based upon projections of taxable income, we determined that it was more likely than not that the NOL CF’s will be realized prior to their expiration. Accordingly, we do not have an allowance against these deferred tax assets at this time.

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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
The Company sponsors qualified defined benefit pension plans for ABX’s flight crewmembers and other eligible employees. The Company also sponsors non-qualified, unfunded excess plans that provide benefits to executive management and crewmembers that are in addition to amounts permitted to be paid through our qualified plans under provisions of the tax laws. Employees are no longer accruing benefits under any of the defined benefit pension plans. The Company also sponsors unfunded post-retirement healthcare plans for ABX’s flight crewmembers and non-flight crewmember employees.
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 and expected long term investment returns on plan assets. Other assumptions concerning retirement ages and mortality also affect the valuations. Actual results and future changes in these assumptions could result in future costs that are materially different than those recorded in our annual results of operations.
Discontinued Operations
In accordance with the guidance of FASB ASC Topic 205-20 Presentation of Financial Statements, a business component whose operations are discontinued is reported as discontinued operations if the cash flows of the component have been eliminated from the ongoing operations of the Company and the Company will no longer have any significant continuing involvement in the business component. The results of discontinued operations are aggregated and presented separately in the consolidated statement of operations. FASB ASC Topic 205-20 requires the reclassification of amounts presented for prior years to reflect their classification as discontinued operations.
Exit Activities
We account for the costs associated with exit activities in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 420-10 Exit or Disposal Cost Obligations. One-time, involuntary employee termination benefits are generally expensed when the Company communicates the benefit arrangement to the employee that it will no longer require the services of the employee beyond a minimum retention period. Liabilities for contract termination costs associated with exit activities are recognized in the period incurred and measured initially at fair value.
New Accounting Pronouncements
In December 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-11, “Balance Sheet (Topic 210): Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities,” (“ASU 2011-11”). ASU 2011-11 enhances disclosures regarding financial instruments and derivative instruments. Entities are required to provide both net information and gross information for these assets and liabilities. This new guidance is to be applied retrospectively beginning in 2013. The Company anticipates that the adoption of this standard will expand its consolidated financial statement footnote disclosures.
In July 2012, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2012-02, "Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment," ("ASU 2012-02"). ASU 2012-02 is a revised standard which provides entities with the option to first use an assessment of qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads to a determination that it is more likely than not that the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset is less than its carrying amount. If a conclusion is reached that the indefinite-lived intangible asset fair value is not more likely than not below carrying value, no further impairment testing is necessary. This revised guidance applies to fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012, and the related interim and annual goodwill impairment tests. The Company does not believe this standard will have a material impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements.


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ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The Company is exposed to market risk for changes in interest rates and changes in the price of jet fuel. The risk associated with jet fuel, however, is largely mitigated by reimbursement through the agreements with our customers. The Company is exposed to concentration of credit risk primarily through cash deposits, cash equivalents, marketable securities and derivatives.
No significant changes have occurred to the market risks the Company faces since information about those risks were disclosed in item 7A of the Company's 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 5, 2012.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
As of September 30, 2012, 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 the Company's 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 and is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
(b) Changes in Internal Controls
There were no changes in internal control over financial reporting during the most recently completed fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.


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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Civil Action Alleging Violations of Immigration Laws
On December 31, 2008, a former ABX employee filed a complaint against ABX, a total of four current and former executives and managers of ABX, 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 was later amended to include a second former employee plaintiff, seeks damages in an unspecified amount and 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.
On December 2, 2011, the parties agreed to settle this matter at a conference presided over by the Court. The settlement calls for ABX to pay to the plaintiffs a monetary amount, which management believes to be less than it would have cost for ABX to defend the case at trial. Once the plaintiffs have provided notice to the putative class members of the settlement, the Court will hold a hearing to consider any objections and seek final confirmation of the settlement.
Brussels Noise Ordinance
The Brussels Instituut voor Milieubeheer ("BIM"), a governmental authority in the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium that oversees the enforcement of environmental matters, imposed four separate administrative penalties on ABX in the approximate aggregate amount of €0.4 million ($0.5 million) for numerous alleged violations of an ordinance limiting the noise caused by aircraft overflying the Brussels-Capital Region (which is located near the Brussels Airport) during the period from May 2009 through December 2010. ABX is appealing each of administrative penalties, which appeals are currently pending.
The ordinance in question is controversial for the reason that it was adopted by the Brussels-Capital Region and is more restrictive than the noise limitations in effect in the Flemish Region, which is where the Brussels Airport is located. The ordinance is the subject of several court cases currently pending in the Belgian courts and numerous airlines have been levied fines thereunder.
Other
In addition to the foregoing matters, we are also currently a party to legal proceedings, including FAA enforcement actions, 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 risks that could adversely affect its financial condition or results of operations. Many of these risks are disclosed in Item 1A of the Company's 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 5, 2012. Other risks that are currently unknown to management or are currently considered immaterial or unlikely, could also adversely affect the Company.
The Company intends to complete the merger of the airline operations of ATI and CCIA near the beginning of 2013 with the approval of the DOT and FAA. The merger of ATI and CCIA's operations could result in restructuring costs, contract termination costs and asset impairment charges in future periods. The execution of the merger plan could be delayed due to regulatory requirements or business reasons, which could increase expected costs and have an adverse effect on future operating results.



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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
The following exhibits are filed as part of, or are incorporated in, the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q:
4
Second Amendment to Preferred Stock Rights Agreement, dated as of June 11, 2012. (1)
 
 
10.1
Amendment to Confidentiality and Standstill Agreement, dated as of June 11, 2012, between Air Transport Services Group, Inc. and Red Mountain Capital Partners LLC. (1)

 
 
10.2
Form of amended and restated change-in-control agreement adopted and authorized by the Board of Directors of Air Transport Services Group, Inc., to be offered to the Company's executive officers, including the named executive officers, that are currently a party to a change-in-control agreement (2).
 
 
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.
101.INS
XBRL Instance Document
 
 
101.SCH
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
 
 
101.CAL
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
 
 
101.DEF
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
 
 
101.LAB
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase Document
 
 
101.PRE
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

(1)
Incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 18, 2012.
(2)
Incorporated by reference to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 2, 2012.

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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 (Principal Executive Officer)
Date:
November 8, 2012
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/S/  QUINT O. TURNER
 
 
 
 
Quint O. Turner
 
 
 
 
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer
Date:
November 8, 2012
 
 
and Principal Accounting Officer)



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