SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 6-K

 

 

Report of Foreign Issuer

 

Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Report on Form 6-K dated For the month of August, 2014

 

 

Copa Holdings, S.A.

(Translation of Registrant's Name Into English)

 

 

Boulevard Costa del Este, Avenida Principal y Avenida de la Rotonda

Urbanización Costa del Este

Complejo Business Park, Torre Norte

ParqueLefevre

Panama City, Panama

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

 

(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.)

 

Form 20-F    X        Form 40-F             

 

(Indicate by check whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.)

 

Yes                  No     X    

 

(If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b);82-             )

 

 

 
 

 

Enclosure: 2Q14 Earnings Release

 

Copa Holdings Reports Net Income of US$118.2 Million and EPS of US$2.66 for the Second Quarter of 2014

Excluding special items, adjusted net income came in at $115.9 million, or EPS of $2.61 per share

 

Panama City, Panama --- August 6, 2014. Copa Holdings, S.A. (NYSE: CPA), today announced financial results for the second quarter of 2014 (2Q14). The terms “Copa Holdings" or "the Company" refer to the consolidated entity. The following financial information, unless otherwise indicated, is presented in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). See the accompanying reconciliation of non-IFRS financial information to IFRS financial information included in financial tables section of this earnings release. Unless otherwise stated, all comparisons with prior periods refer to the second quarter of 2013 (2Q13).

 

OPERATING AND FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

§Copa Holdings reported net income of US$118.2 million for 2Q14, or diluted earnings per share (EPS) of US$2.66. Excluding special items, Copa Holdings would have reported an adjusted net income of $115.9 million, or $2.61 per share, a 36.4% increase over adjusted net income of US$85.0 million and US$1.92 per share for 2Q13.

 

§Operating income for 2Q14 came in at US$131.2 million, a 34.3% increase over operating income of US$97.7 million in 2Q13. Operating margin for the period came in at 19.5%, compared to 16.5% in 2Q13, as a result of higher unit revenues.

 

§Total revenues increased 13.8% to US$673.6 million. Yield per passenger mile increased 1.6% to 16.6 cents and operating revenue per available seat mile (RASM) increased 3.7% to 13.3 cents. However, adjusting for a 10.9% increase in length of haul, yields increased 6.9% and RASM increased 9.2%.

 

§For 2Q14, passenger traffic (RPMs) grew 12.7% on a 9.7% capacity expansion. As a result, consolidated load factor came in at 77.3%, or 2.0 percentage points above 2Q13.

 

§Operating cost per available seat mile (CASM) remained unchanged at 10.7 cents from 2Q13. However, CASM, excluding fuel costs, decreased 0.9% to 6.6 cents.

 

§Cash, short term and long term investments ended 2Q14 at US$1.15 billion, representing 42% of the last twelve months’ revenues. Of this amount, 46% is in Venezuela pending repatriation due to government currency controls.

 

§During the month of June, Copa Airlines received payment of US$43.3 million from CENCOEX (“Centro Nacional de Comercio Exterior”) in Venezuela. The funds corresponded to repatriation requests from January and February 2013 and were honored at an exchange rate of 6.30 bolivars per dollar.

 

§During the second quarter, Copa Airlines took delivery of two Boeing 737-800 aircraft. As a result, Copa Holdings ended the quarter with a consolidated fleet of 93 aircraft.

 

§For 2Q14, Copa Holdings reported consolidated on-time performance of 89.5% and a flight-completion factor of 99.8%, maintaining its position among the best in the industry.

  

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

§During July 2014, Copa Airlines signed a letter of intent agreeing to lease three new Boeing 737-800 aircraft and take delivery of these aircraft in August, October, and November of 2015.

 

§Copa Holdings will pay its third quarter dividend of US$0.96 per share on September 15, 2014, on all outstanding Class A and Class B shares, to stockholders of record as of August 29, 2014.

 

 
 

 

Consolidated Financial & Operating Highlights 2Q14 2Q13 % Change 1Q14 % Change
Revenue Passengers Carried ('000) 1,890 1,861 1.6% 2,032 -6.9%
RPMs (mm) 3,916 3,475 12.7% 3,917 0.0%
ASMs (mm) 5,067 4,618 9.7% 5,015 1.0%
Load Factor 77.3% 75.3% 2.0 p.p. 78.1% -0.8 p.p.
Yield 16.6 16.4 1.6% 17.7 -5.9%
PRASM (US$ Cents) 12.8 12.3 4.3% 13.8 -6.9%
RASM (US$ Cents) 13.3 12.8 3.7% 14.2 -6.6%
CASM (US$ Cents) 10.7 10.7 0.0% 10.7 0.0%
CASM Excl. Fuel (US$ Cents) 6.6 6.7 -0.9% 6.6 1.3%
Breakeven Load Factor (1) 60.8% 61.6% -0.8 p.p. 57.6% 3.2 p.p.
Fuel Gallons Consumed (Millions) 65.9 60.0 9.8% 65.3 0.9%
Avg. Price Per Fuel Gallon (US$ Dollars) 3.13 3.08 1.5% 3.19 -1.9%
Average Length of Haul (Miles) 2,072 1,868 10.9% 1,928 7.5%
Average Stage Length (Miles) 1,210 1,126 7.5% 1,173 3.1%
Departures 29,726 29,357 1.3% 30,546 -2.7%
Block Hours 92,115 84,985 8.4% 91,569 0.6%
Average Aircraft Utilization (Hours) 11.0 10.9 0.7% 11.3 -3.0%
Operating Revenues (US$ mm)          673.6 592.0 13.8%          713.6 -5.6%
Operating Income (US$ mm) 131.2 97.7 34.3% 177.0 -25.9%
Operating Margin 19.5% 16.5% 3.0 p.p. 24.8% -5.3 p.p.
Net Income (US$ mm) 118.2 74.4 58.7% 151.4 -21.9%
Adjusted Net Income (US$ mm) (1) 115.9 85.0 36.4% 153.6 -24.5%
EPS - Basic and Diluted (US$) 2.66 1.68 58.7% 3.41 -21.9%
Adjusted EPS - Basic and Diluted (US$) (1) 2.61 1.92 36.3% 3.46 -24.5%
# of Shares - Basic and Diluted ('000) 44,409 44,387 0.0% 44,403 0.0%

 

(1)Breakeven Load Factor, Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS for 2Q14, 2Q13, and 1Q14 exclude non-cash charges/gains associated with the mark-to-market of fuel hedges. Additionally, 2Q14 and 1Q14 exclude charges/gains related to the Venezuelan currency.

 

Note: Attached to this press release is a reconciliation of non-IFRS financial measures to the comparable IFRS measures.

 

MANAGEMENT’S COMMENTS ON 2Q14 RESULTS

 

Copa Holdings’ second quarter results continued to benefit from strong demand. For 2Q14, the Company reported operating income of US$131.2 million, a 34.3% increase over 2Q13. As a result, the operating margin for the quarter stood at 19.5%, an increase of 3.0 percentage points over 2Q13.

 

Consolidated operating revenues increased 13.8% on a 9.7% capacity expansion during the period. Load factor came in at 77.3%, or 2.0 percentage points above 2Q13, while yields

 

 
 

 

 

increased 1.6% to 16.6 cents. As a result, passenger revenues per ASM (PRASM) increased 4.3%, from 12.3 cents in 2Q13 to 12.8 cents in 2Q14. However, adjusting for a 10.9% increase in length of haul, PRASM increased 9.8% over 2Q13.

 

Consolidated operating expenses for 2Q14 increased 9.7% to US$542.4 million, while consolidated operating expenses per ASM (CASM) remained flat at 10.7 cents. Excluding fuel costs, unit costs decreased 0.9% to 6.6 cents, mainly as a result of the dilution of fixed costs associated with increased capacity and an increase in average stage length.

 

Aircraft fuel expense increased 11.5% or US$21.2 million compared to 2Q13, mainly as a result of increased capacity. The Company’s effective jet fuel price, which includes realized hedge gains of US$3.8 million and US$1.5 million for 2Q14 and 2Q13, respectively, increased from an average of US$3.08 in 2Q13 to US$3.13 in 2Q14. 

 

For 2Q14, the Company had fuel hedges in place representing 29% of its consolidated volume. Continuing with the execution of its fuel hedge policy, the Company has hedged approximately 26% for 3Q14, and 20% for 4Q14. For 2015, the Company has hedged approximately 15% of its forecasted fuel consumption.

 

The Company recorded a net non-operating income of US$0.8 million for 2Q14 compared to a net non-operating expense of US$15.3 million for 2Q13. Non-operating income (expense) included a fuel hedge mark-to-market gain of US$4.1 million, compared to a fuel hedge mark-to-market loss of US$10.6 million for 2Q13.

 

Copa Holdings closed the quarter with US$1.15 billion in cash, short term and long term investments, representing 42% of last twelve months’ revenues. This amount includes US$528.1 million that are subject to exchange controls in Venezuela and are pending repatriation, of which US$445.6 million are registered at 6.30 bolivars per dollar, and US$82.5 million at the respective SICAD 1 rate. Cash, short term and long term investments excluding the funds pending repatriation from Venezuela represent approximately 23% of last twelve months’ revenues. Discussions with the Venezuelan Government are ongoing, and we continue to request for the Company’s pending repatriations to be expedited and honored at the exchange rate at which tickets were sold. Nonetheless, there is still no certainty regarding timing of approvals or the exchange rate at which the Company’s pending bolivar repatriation requests will be converted to US dollars.  

 

At the end of 2Q14, total debt amounted to US$1.0 billion, all of which is related to aircraft financing.

 

Copa Holdings’ strong second quarter results are the product of a solid and well executed business model which leverages the Company’s unique competitive advantages, such as geographic position and infrastructure, among others, to operate the best and most convenient network for intra-Latin America travel from its Hub of the Americas in Panama. Going forward, the Company will continue to strengthen its long-term competitive position by taking advantage of new growth opportunities and implementing initiatives to further strengthen its network and product.

 

 
 

 

 

OUTLOOK FOR 2014

 

Despite a strong first half of the year, we are seeing yield softness for the second half of 2014 mainly due to capacity reductions in Venezuela, as well as a transition to more non-bolivar sales, which will reduce our currency exposure going forward. As a result, the Company is revising its 2014 guidance as follows:

 

The Company expects to maintain its consolidated capacity growth at +/-10%. Load factor is still expected to come in at +/- 77%. However, the Company expects unit revenue to decline to +/-13.4 cents. Additionally, the Company is maintaining its CASM ex-fuel guidance to +/-6.8 cents.

 

Factored into the current guidance is an estimated effective price per gallon of jet fuel, including the effect of current hedge contracts and into-plane costs, of US$3.15 per gallon. As a result, the Company is lowering its full year operating margin guidance to a range of 18% to 20%.  

 

Financial Outlook  

2014 - Full Year

Revised

2014 - Full Year

Prior

2013

Reported

Capacity - ASM Growth +/-10% +/-10% 14.4%
Average Load Factor +/-77% +/-77% 76.7%
RASM (cents) +/-13.4 +/-13.7 13.8
CASM Ex-fuel (cents) +/-6.8 +/-6.8 6.9
Operating Margin 18-20% 19-21% 19.8%

 

CONSOLIDATED SECOND QUARTER RESULTS

 

Operating revenue

 

Copa Holdings’ operating revenue for 2Q14 totaled US$673.6 million, a 13.8% increase over operating revenue of US$592.0 million in 2Q13. This increase was due to a 14.4% or US$82.1 million increase in passenger revenue.

 

Passenger revenue. For 2Q14 passenger revenue totaled US$651.1 million, a 14.4% increase over passenger revenue of US$569.0 million in 2Q13. Passenger yield increased 1.6% to 16.6, while load factor increased 2.0%, which resulted in a 4.3% increase in passenger revenue per ASM (PRASM).

 

Cargo, mail and other. Cargo, mail and other revenue totaled US$22.5 million in 2Q14, a 2.4% decrease from cargo, mail and other of US$23.0 million in 2Q13.

 

 
 

 

 

Operating expenses

 

For 2Q14, consolidated operating expenses increased 9.7% to US$542.4 million, representing operating cost per available seat mile (CASM) of 10.7 cents. CASM, excluding fuel costs, decreased 0.9% to 6.6 cents. An overview of the major variances on a consolidated basis follows:

 

Aircraft fuel. For 2Q14, aircraft fuel totaled US$205.9 million, an US$21.2 million or 11.5% increase over aircraft fuel of US$184.8 million in 2Q13. This increase was primarily a result of a 9.8% increase in gallons consumed, and a 1.5% increase in the average price per gallon of jet fuel (all-in), which averaged US$3.13 in 2Q14 as compared to US$3.08 in 2Q13. The all-in average price per gallon of jet fuel for 2Q14 includes a $3.8 million fuel hedge gain, compared to a US$1.5 million gain in 2Q13. Excluding the effect of fuel hedge gains for both periods, fuel prices increased 2.5%, from US$3.11 per gallon in 2Q13 to US$3.18 in 2Q14.

 

Salaries and benefits. For 2Q14, salaries and benefits totaled US$69.6 million, a 5.3% increase over salaries and benefits of US$66.1 million in 2Q13. The main driver was an increase in operational headcount to support additional capacity.

 

Passenger servicing. For 2Q14, passenger servicing totaled US$65.5 million, an 8.5% increase over passenger servicing of US$60.4 million in 2Q13. This increase resulted from the growth in operations, and higher effective rates related to on-board and airport services.

 

Commissions. For 2Q14, commissions totaled US$24.5 million, a 0.8% increase over commissions of US$24.3 million in 2Q13. This increase was primarily a result a higher revenue base, largely offset by a lower average commission rate.

 

Reservations and sales. Reservations and sales totaled US$24.0 million, a 3.2% decrease from reservation and sales of US$24.8 million in 2Q13. This decrease was primarily a result of fewer commercial initiatives executed year-over-year.

 

Maintenance, material and repairs. For 2Q14, maintenance, material and repairs totaled US$29.3 million, a 28.5% increase over maintenance, material and repairs of US$22.8 million in 2Q13. This increase was mainly a result of more repairs and materials consumed due to more flight hours, as well as the full year effect of return condition provisions for new leased aircraft.

 

Depreciation. Depreciation totaled US$27.7 million in 2Q14, a 3.3% increase over depreciation of US$26.9 million in 2Q13. This increase was primarily driven by additional spare parts and aircraft components.

 

Flight operations, aircraft rentals, landing fees and other rentals. Combined, flight operations, aircraft rentals, landing fees and other rentals increased 14.5% from US$65.0 million in 2Q13 to US$74.3 million in 2Q14, primarily as a result of an increase in departures and additional aircraft rentals.

 

Other. Other expenses totaled US$21.5 million, an increase of US$2.1 million over 2Q13. This was primarily a result of an increase in other general administrative expenses.

 

 
 

 

 

Non-operating income (expense)

 

Consolidated non-operating income (expense) totaled a net income of US$0.8 million in 2Q14, compared to a net expense of US$15.3 million in 2Q13.

 

Interest expense. Interest expense totaled US$6.9 million in 2Q14, an 9.1% decline from interest expense of US$7.6 million in 2Q13, as a result of lower outstanding debt balance and lower interest rates on the Company’s variable debt.

 

Interest income. Interest income totaled US$3.6 million, a 26.2% increase over interest income of US$2.8 million in 2Q13, mainly as a result of a higher average cash and investments balance.

 

Other, net. Other, net totaled a net gain of US$4.1 million in 2Q14, compared to a net loss of US$10.6 million in 2Q13. Other, net for 2Q14, includes a fuel hedge mark-to-market gain of US$4.1 million, compared to a fuel hedge mark-to-market loss of US$10.6 million for 2Q13.

 

About Copa Holdings:

Copa Holdings is a leading Latin American provider of passenger and cargo services.  The Company, through its operating subsidiaries, provides service to 67 destinations in 30 countries in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean with one of the youngest and most modern fleets in the industry, consisting of 95 aircraft: 69 Boeing 737NG aircraft and 26 EMBRAER-190s. For more information visit: www.copaair.com.

  

CONTACT: Copa Holdings S.A.

 

Investor Relations:

Ph: (507) 304-2431

www.copaair.com (IR section)

 

 

This release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are based on current plans, estimates and expectations, and are not guarantees of future performance. They are based on management’s expectations that involve a number of business risks and uncertainties, any of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement. The risks and uncertainties relating to the forward-looking statements in this release are among those disclosed in Copa Holdings’ filed disclosure documents and are, therefore, subject to change without prior notice.

 

 
 

 

 

Copa Holdings, S.A.
Income Statement - IFRS
(US$ Thousands)

 

  Unaudited   Unaudited   %   Unaudited   %
  2Q14   2Q13   Change   1Q14   Change
Operating Revenues                  
Passenger Revenue 651,081   568,960   14.4%   691,977   -5.9%
Cargo, mail and other 22,480   23,038   -2.4%   21,629   3.9%
Total Operating Revenue 673,560   591,998   13.8%   713,605   -5.6%
                   
Operating Expenses                  
Aircraft fuel 205,942        184,767   11.5%   208,014   -1.0%
Salaries and benefits 69,584   66,105   5.3%   73,976   -5.9%
Passenger servicing 65,533   60,389   8.5%   64,118   2.2%
Commissions 24,467   24,279   0.8%   26,132   -6.4%
Reservations and sales 23,978   24,763   -3.2%   23,853   0.5%
Maintenance, material and repairs 29,301   22,807   28.5%   24,746   18.4%
Depreciation 27,744   26,866   3.3%   27,821   -0.3%
Flight operations 32,547   30,028   8.4%   31,134   4.5%
Aircraft rentals 28,534   22,124   29.0%   25,315   12.7%
Landing fees and other rentals 13,250   12,789   3.6%   13,253   0.0%
Other 21,490   19,393   10.8%   18,246   17.8%
Total Operating Expense 542,369   494,309   9.7%   536,607   1.1%
                   
Operating Income 131,192   97,689   34.3%   176,999   -25.9%
                   
Non-operating Income (Expense):                  
Interest expense (6,876)   (7,560)   -9.1%   (7,094)   -3.1%
Interest income 3,586   2,841   26.2%   3,736   -4.0%
Other, net 4,107   (10,616)   n/a   67   n/a
Total Non-Operating Income/(Expense) 817   (15,336)   n/a   (3,291)   n/a
                   
Income before Income Taxes 132,008   82,354   60.3%   173,707   -24.0%
                   
Provision for Income Taxes 13,836   7,912   74.9%   22,350   -38.1%
                   
Net Income 118,172   74,441   58.7%   151,357   -21.9%

 

EPS - Basic and Diluted            2.66                1.68   58.7%              3.41   -21.9%
Shares - Basic and Diluted 44,408,515   44,387,279   0.0%   44,402,832   0.0%

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

Copa Holdings, S.A.        
Balance Sheet - IFRS        
(US$ Thousands)  June 30,   December 31, 
   2014   2013 
   (Unaudited)   (Audited) 
ASSETS          
Current Assets:          
Cash and cash equivalents  $172,103   $139,108 
Short-term investments   723,808    992,579 
Total cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments   895,911    1,131,687 
           
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts   119,197    132,867 
Accounts receivable from related parties   2,195    2,189 
Expendable parts and supplies, net of allowance for obsolescence   63,806    56,814 
Prepaid expenses   59,682    59,175 
Other current assets   23,685    22,783 
Total Current Assets   1,164,476    1,405,515 
           
Long-term investments   253,876    37,590 
           
Property and Equipment:          
Owned property and equipment:          
Flight equipment   2,554,756    2,477,830 
Other equipment   84,529    73,487 
    2,639,285    2,551,317 
Less: Accumulated depreciation   (583,042)   (530,347)
    2,056,243    2,020,970 
Purchase deposits for flight equipment   370,200    327,544 
Total Property and Equipment   2,426,443    2,348,514 
           
Other Assets:          
Net pension asset   11,936    11,114 
Goodwill   25,919    25,305 
Intangible asset   30,968    28,214 
Other assets   98,193    96,509 
Total Other Assets   167,016    161,143 
Total Assets  $4,011,811   $3,952,762 
           
           
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY          
Current Liabilities:          
Current maturities of long-term debt  $147,649   $156,329 
Accounts payable   113,697    95,046 
Accounts payable to related parties   16,235    14,483 
Air traffic liability   463,283    578,439 
Taxes and interest payable   96,211    113,541 
Accrued expenses payable   72,930    75,975 
Other current liabilities   8,484    8,133 
Total Current Liabilities   918,489    1,041,946 
           
Non-Current Liabilities:          
Long-term debt   895,396    913,507 
Post employment benefits liability   6,176    6,223 
Other long-term liabilities   65,837    51,223 
Deferred tax liabilities   35,858    37,959 
Total Non-Current Liabilities   1,003,267    1,008,912 
           
Total Liabilities   1,921,756    2,050,858 
           
Shareholders' Equity:          
Class A - 33,433,789 shares issued and outstanding   22,676    22,626 
Class B - 10,938,125 shares issued and outstanding   7,466    7,466 
Additional paid in capital   49,671    47,031 
Retained earnings   2,004,859    1,820,580 
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)   5,383    4,200 
Total Shareholders' Equity   2,090,054    1,901,903 
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity  $4,011,811   $3,952,762 

 

 
 

 

 

 

NON-IFRS FINANCIAL MEASURE RECONCILIATION

 

This press release includes the following non IFRS financial measures: CASM Excluding Fuel, Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS. This supplemental information is presented because we believe it is a useful indicator of our operating performance and is useful in comparing our performance with other companies in the airline industry. These measures should not be considered in isolation, and should be considered together with comparable IFRS measures, in particular operating income and net income. The following is a reconciliation of these non-IFRS financial measures to the comparable IFRS measures:

 

 

Reconciliation of Net Income            
Excluding Special Items   2Q14   2Q13   1Q13
                
Net income as Reported  $118,172   $74,441   $151,357 
                
Special Items (adjustments):               
     Unrealized (gain) loss on fuel hedging instruments   (4,105)   10,582    3,373 
     Loss due to devaluation of Venezuelan Bolivar   1,874    0    (1,178)
Adjusted Net Income  $115,941   $85,023   $153,553 
                
Shares used for Computation (in thousands)               
     Basic and Diluted   44,409    44,387    44,403 
                
Adjusted earnings per share - Basic and Diluted   2.61    1.92    3.46 
                
Reconciliation Operating Costs per ASM               
Excluding Fuel and Special Items   2Q14   2Q13   1Q14
                
Operating Costs per ASM as Reported   10.7    10.7    10.7 
Aircraft fuel per ASM   (4.1)   (4.0)   (4.1)
Operating Costs per ASM excluding fuel   6.6    6.7    6.6 

 

 

 
 

 

SIGNATURES

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

  

 

  Copa Holdings, S.A.
(Registrant)
 Date: 8/6/2014  
  By:  /s/ José Montero
   

Name: José Montero

Title: CFO