AAR Reports Fiscal Third Quarter Results

• Fiscal year 2010 third quarter sales of $309.6 million
• $0.26 diluted earnings per share which includes a $0.10 per share unfavorable impact from customer bankruptcy
• Third quarter cash flow from operations of $36.5 million

WOOD DALE, Ill., /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- AAR (NYSE: AIR) today reported sales of $309.6 million and net income attributable to AAR of $9.9 million or $0.26 per diluted share for the fiscal year 2010 third quarter ending February 28, 2010. These results were unfavorably impacted by $0.10 per diluted share as a result of a customer bankruptcy. For the third quarter of last fiscal year, the Company reported sales of $338.8 million and net income attributable to AAR of $17.2 million or $0.43 per diluted share. Sales to defense and government customers were down 1% year-over-year, and represented 48% of total sales while sales to commercial customers declined 15%.

"During the third quarter the Company generated strong cash flow, continued to win new business and executed well on recently awarded contracts, all against the backdrop of a difficult operating environment. The uptick in sales to commercial customers has been slow to materialize although we began to see a gradual increase in demand from these customers in late February that has continued," said David P. Storch, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AAR CORP. "As the commercial markets recover, we will benefit from our industry leading supply chain and MRO positions. Additionally, our strong financial position will enable us to pursue opportunities across our markets."

Following are the highlights for each segment:

Aviation Supply Chain - Sales declined 14% to $122.6 million for the third quarter and gross profit was $23.9 million, resulting in a gross profit margin of 19.5% compared to 25.4% in last year's third quarter. Sales and margins were lower as demand for parts support remained below year ago levels.

In February 2010, the Company started fulfilling the supply chain services and logistics support contract for the USAF's KC-10 fleet. This business win was announced during the second quarter and is the largest contract award in the Company's history, valued at approximately $600 million over nine years. This program will become fully operational during the Company's fiscal fourth quarter.

Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul - Sales declined 9% to $70.1 million for the third quarter and gross profit was $8.6 million, resulting in a gross profit margin of 12.3% compared to 14.1% last year. During the third quarter, the Company began heavy maintenance work on new and expanded awards for Hawaiian Airlines, Allegiant Air, and Alaska Airlines and landing gear overhaul for an unannounced major U.S. carrier. The impact of capturing this new business was reduced by lower sales to existing customers due to reduced maintenance requirements across the industry caused by fleet reductions and lower discretionary maintenance spending. The Company also began work on an engineering services contract for a different unannounced major U.S. carrier which is expected to be fully operational in the first half of fiscal year 2011.

Structures and Systems - Sales declined 3% to $116.9 million for the third quarter and gross profit was $26.4 million. Gross profit margin improved to 22.6% compared to 14.8% last year driven by favorable product mix and cost reduction and process improvement initiatives. Sales were favorably impacted by increased demand for the Company's specialized mobility products but were offset by lower sales of cargo systems and composite structure products.

During the third quarter, the Company signed an agreement with Bombardier to design and manufacture composite flap track fairings for the newly launched C-Series family of commercial aircraft. The work will be performed by AAR Composites in the Sacramento facility. The contract could be worth more than $90 million over the life of the program.

During the third quarter, the Company generated $36.5 million of cash flow from operations and ended the period with $117.5 million of cash and cash equivalents on hand. For the nine-month period ended February 28, 2010, the Company generated $94.6 million of cash flow from operations. During the third quarter, the Company paid off the $20 million remaining balance on its revolving credit agreement and at February 28, 2010, cash on hand and borrowing capacity under the Company's credit agreements totaled $355 million. Since May 31, 2009, the Company has reduced its outstanding debt obligations by $75 million, bringing the Company's net debt to total capitalization ratio to 22.2%.

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $36.0 million, 2% lower than the prior year, and included $1.5 million of costs associated with AAR Global Solutions, which was launched in June 2009. Net interest expense decreased $0.9 million year-over-year primarily as a result of the decline in debt outstanding.

The $0.10 diluted earnings per share unfavorable impact as a result of Mesa Air Group, Inc.'s (Mesa) Chapter 11 filing principally reflects the Company's loss on pre-petition trade accounts receivables and the reduction in the carrying value of other contract related assets. For the third quarter, total sales to Mesa declined $6.1 million, with a $3.4 million decline in the Aviation Supply Chain segment and a $2.7 million decline in the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul segment when compared to the prior year.

AAR is a leading provider of products and value-added services to the worldwide aerospace and defense industry. With facilities and sales locations around the world, AAR uses its close-to-the-customer business model to serve aviation and defense customers through its operating segments: Aviation Supply Chain; Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul; and Structures and Systems. More information can be found at www.aarcorp.com.

AAR will hold its quarterly conference call at 7:30 a.m. CDT on March 17, 2010. The conference call can be accessed by calling 866-219-5269 from inside the U.S. or 703-639-1121 from outside the U.S. A replay of the call will be available by calling 888-266-2081 from inside the U.S. or 703-925-2533 from outside the U.S. (access code 1439224) from 10:30 a.m. CDT on March 17, 2010 until 11:59 p.m. CDT on March 24, 2010.

This press release contains certain statements relating to future results, which are forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on beliefs of Company management, as well as assumptions and estimates based on information currently available to the Company, and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated, including those factors discussed under Item 1A, entitled "Risk Factors", included in the Company's May 31, 2009 Form 10-K. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize adversely, or should underlying assumptions or estimates prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described. These events and uncertainties are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many are beyond the Company's control. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events. For additional information, see the comments included in AAR's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    AAR CORP. and Subsidiaries

    Consolidated Statements of
     Operations
    --------------------------  Three Months Ended  Nine Months Ended
    (In thousands except per       February 28,       February 28,
     share data -unaudited)        ------------       ------------
                                  2010      2009    2010       2009
                                  ----      ----    ----       ----


    Sales                       $309,607 $338,792 $979,814 $1,052,268
    Cost and expenses:
         Cost of sales           250,682  274,167  803,006    850,663
         Cost of sales -
          impairment charges         ---      ---      ---     21,033
         Selling, general and
          administrative          35,972   36,579  110,455    111,582

    Earnings from aircraft
     joint ventures                   56    1,401      150      7,213
                                     ---    -----      ---      -----

    Operating income              23,009   29,447   66,503     76,203

    Gain on extinguishment
     of debt                         ---      889      913     11,392

    Interest expense               6,524    7,543   19,544     24,110
    Interest income                  146      308      752      1,170
    Loss on investment             1,876      ---    1,876        ---
                                   -----      ---    -----        ---

    Income from continuing
     operations before
     income taxes                 14,755   23,101   46,748     64,655

    Income tax expense             4,970    5,887   14,612     20,110
                                   -----    -----   ------     ------

    Income from continuing
     operations                    9,785   17,214   32,136     44,545

    Discontinued
     operations, net of
     tax                             ---      ---      ---     (1,949)
                                     ---      ---      ---     ------
    Net income
     attributable to AAR
     and noncontrolling
     interest                      9,785   17,214   32,136     42,596

    Loss attributable to
     noncontrolling
     interest                        127      ---    1,292        ---
                                     ---      ---    -----        ---

    Net income
     attributable to AAR          $9,912  $17,214  $33,428    $42,596
                                  ======  =======  =======    =======

    Share Data:

    Earnings per share -
     Basic:
         Earnings from
          continuing operations    $0.26    $0.45    $0.88      $1.17
         Loss from discontinued
          operations                 ---      ---      ---      (0.05)
                                     ---      ---      ---      -----
         Earnings per share -
          Basic                    $0.26    $0.45    $0.88      $1.12
                                   =====    =====    =====      =====

    Earnings per share -
     Diluted:
         Earnings from
          continuing operations    $0.26    $0.43    $0.87      $1.14
         Loss from discontinued
          operations                 ---      ---      ---      (0.05)
                                     ---      ---      ---      -----
         Earnings per share -
          Diluted                  $0.26    $0.43    $0.87      $1.09
                                   =====    =====    =====      =====

    Share Data:

    Average shares
     outstanding - Basic          38,217   38,043   38,154     38,067
    Average shares
     outstanding - Diluted        43,108   42,570   42,921     42,830





    Consolidated Balance Sheet
     Highlights
    --------------------------           February 28,        May 31,
    (In thousands except per share       ------------        -------
     data)                                   2010             2009
                                             ----             ----
                                          (Unaudited)
    Cash and cash equivalents              $117,526         $112,505
    Current assets                          802,915          851,312
    Current liabilities (excluding
     debt accounts)                         173,155          190,818
    Net property, plant and equipment       129,560          125,048
    Total assets                          1,324,752        1,375,905
    Total recourse debt                     301,762          353,028
    Total non-recourse obligations           26,316           38,781
    Stockholders' equity                    737,575          696,734
    Book value per share                     $18.87           $17.92
    Shares outstanding                       39,025           38,884






    Sales By Business
     Segment                    Three Months Ended          Nine Months Ended
    -----------------              February 28,               February 28,
    (In thousands - unaudited)     ------------               ------------
                                 2010        2009         2010         2009
                                 ----        ----         ----         ----

    Aviation Supply Chain      $122,579    $141,808     $398,135     $450,056
    Maintenance, Repair &
     Overhaul                    70,085      76,951      220,202      250,698
    Structures and Systems      116,943     120,033      361,477      351,514
                                -------     -------      -------      -------
                               $309,607    $338,792     $979,814   $1,052,268
                               ========    ========     ========   ==========






    Gross Profit By
     Business Segment          Three Months Ended          Nine Months Ended
    -----------------             February 28,               February 28,
    (In thousands - unaudited)    ------------               ------------
                                 2010        2009         2010         2009
                                 ----        ----         ----         ----

    Aviation Supply Chain      $23,947     $36,021      $75,834      $89,402
    Maintenance, Repair &
     Overhaul                    8,589      10,856       27,943       37,112
    Structures and Systems      26,389      17,748       73,031       54,058
                                ------      ------       ------       ------
                               $58,925     $64,625     $176,808     $180,572
                               =======     =======     ========     ========





    Diluted Earnings Per Share
     Calculation
    --------------------------
    (In thousands except per    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
     share data -unaudited)        February 28,        February 28,
                                ------------------   -----------------
                                 2010      2009       2010       2009
                                 ----      ----       ----       ----

    Net income attributable to
     AAR                        $9,912    $17,214    $33,428   $42,596
    Add: After-tax interest on
     convertible debt            1,328      1,301      3,924     4,107
                                 -----      -----      -----     -----
    Net income for diluted EPS
     calculation               $11,240    $18,515    $37,352   $46,703
                               =======    =======    =======   =======

    Diluted shares outstanding  43,108     42,570     42,921    42,830

    Diluted earnings per share   $0.26      $0.43      $0.87     $1.09
                                 =====      =====      =====     =====

Adoption of New Accounting Standards:

Effective June 1, 2009, we adopted a new accounting standard that requires companies that have issued convertible debt that may be settled wholly or partly in cash when converted, to account for the debt and equity components separately. The value assigned to the bond liability is the estimated value of a similar bond without the conversion feature as of the issuance date. The difference between the proceeds received for the convertible debt and the amount reflected as a bond liability is recorded as Capital Surplus, net of tax. The bifurcation of the debt and equity components results in a discounted carrying value of the debt component compared to the principal amount. The discount is accreted to the carrying value of the debt component through interest expense over the expected life of the debt using the effective interest method. The standard requires retrospective application and impacts the accounting for our 1.625% and 2.25% convertible notes issued in February 2008 and our 1.75% convertible notes issued in February 2006.

The following table sets forth the impact of retrospective application of the new standard on certain previously reported items for the three-month period ended February 28, 2009.

                                Previously FSP APB 14-1
                                 Reported    Impact      As Adjusted
                                ----------   -------     -----------
    Gain on extinguishment
     of debt                        $2,109   ($1,220)       $889
    Interest expense                 4,439     3,104       7,543
    Income tax expense               7,401    (1,514)      5,887
    Income from continuing
     operations                     20,024    (2,810)     17,214
    Net income attributable
     to AAR                         20,024    (2,810)     17,214

    Earnings per share -
     basic
       Continuing operations         $0.53    ($0.08)      $0.45
       Discontinued operations         ---       ---         ---
                                       ---       ---         ---
                                     $0.53    ($0.08)      $0.45
    Earnings per share -
     diluted
       Continuing operations         $0.48    ($0.05)      $0.43
       Discontinued operations         ---       ---         ---
                                       ---       ---         ---
                                     $0.48    ($0.05)      $0.43