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Bristow Group Inc.

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FY2019 Annual Report · Bristow Group Inc.
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United States
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549 
FORM 10-K

ANNUAL REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

(Mark one)

ý

¨

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019
OR

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from              to             
Commission file number 001-35701

Era Group Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)

945 Bunker Hill Rd., Suite 650
Houston, Texas
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

72-1455213
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

77024
(Zip Code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of Each Class
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

Trading Symbol(s)
ERA

Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
New York Stock Exchange

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (713) 369-4700

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. ¨ Yes     ý No

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. ¨ Yes     ý No

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 Regulation
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). ý Yes     ¨ No

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 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. ý Yes ¨ No

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information
statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ¨

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 definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and
“smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer ¨

Accelerated filer ý

Non-accelerated filer ¨

Smaller reporting company  ¨

Emerging growth company
¨

(Do not check if a smaller
reporting company)

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to
Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨ 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). ¨ Yes     ý No

The aggregate market value of the voting stock of the registrant held by non-affiliates as of June 30, 2019 was $165,841,095. The total number of shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, outstanding as of
March 2, 2020 was 21,310,613. The Registrant has no other class of common stock outstanding.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
 
	
 
ERA GROUP INC.
FORM 10-K

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I

Item 1.

Business

General

Equipment and Services

Markets

Seasonality

Customers and Contractual Arrangements

Competitive Conditions

Government Regulation

Safety, Industry Hazards and Insurance

Employees

Where You Can Find More Information

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

Item 1B.

Unresolved Staff Comments

Item 2.

Properties

Item 3.

Legal Proceedings

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures

Item 5.

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

PART II

Holders of Record

Company Purchases of Equity Securities

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Performance Graph

Item 6.

Selected Financial Data

Item 7.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Overview

Lines of Service

Market Outlook

Fleet Developments and Capital Commitments

Components of Revenue and Expenses

Results of Operations

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Effects of Inflation

Contingencies

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Item 7A.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Item 8.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Item 9.

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

Item 9A.

Controls and Procedures

Item 9B.

Other Information

Item 10.

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

Item 11.

Executive Compensation

PART III

Item 12.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

Item 13.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

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Item 14.

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

PART IV

Item 15.

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

Item 16.

Form 10-K Summary

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Annual Report on Form 10-K includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section
21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking statements concerning management’s expectations, strategic objectives, business prospects,
anticipated performance and financial condition and other similar matters involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause the
actual results, performance or achievements of results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements discussed or implied by such forward-looking
statements. Such risks, uncertainties and other important factors include, among others:

•

risks related to the Company’s recently announced combination (“the Merger”) with Bristow Group Inc. (“Bristow”), including:

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the ability of Bristow and the Company to obtain necessary shareholder approvals,
the ability to satisfy all necessary conditions on the anticipated closing timeline or at all,
the outcome of any legal proceedings, regulatory proceedings or enforcement matters that may be     instituted relating to the Merger,
conditions imposed in order to obtain required regulatory approvals for the Merger,
the costs incurred to consummate the Merger,
the possibility that the expected synergies from the Merger will not be realized,
difficulties related to the integration of the two companies,
disruption from the anticipated Merger making it more difficult to maintain relationships with customers, employees, regulators or suppliers, and
the diversion of management time and attention to the anticipated combination;

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the Company’s dependence on, and the cyclical and volatile nature of, offshore oil and gas exploration, development and production activity, and the impact of
general economic conditions and fluctuations in worldwide prices of and demand for oil and natural gas on such activity levels;
the Company’s reliance on a limited number of customers and the reduction of its customer base as a result of bankruptcies or consolidation;
risks that the Company’s customers reduce or cancel contracted services or tender processes or obtain comparable services through other forms of
transportation;
the Company’s dependence on United States (“U.S.”) government agency contracts that are subject to budget appropriations;
cost savings initiatives implemented by the Company’s customers;
risks inherent in operating helicopters;
the Company’s ability to maintain an acceptable safety record and level of reliability;
the impact of increased U.S. and foreign government regulation and legislation, including potential government implemented moratoriums on drilling activities;
the impact of a grounding of all or a portion of the Company’s fleet for extended periods of time or indefinitely on the Company’s business, including its
operations and ability to service customers, results of operations or financial condition and/or the market value of the affected helicopters;
the Company’s ability to successfully expand into other geographic and aviation service markets;
risks associated with political instability, governmental action, war, acts of terrorism and changes in the economic condition in any foreign country where the
Company does business, which may result in expropriation, nationalization, confiscation or deprivation of the Company’s assets or result in claims of a force
majeure situation;
the impact of declines in the global economy and financial markets;
the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates on the Company’s asset values and cost to purchase helicopters, spare parts and related services;
risks related to investing in new lines of aviation service without realizing the expected benefits;
risks of engaging in competitive processes or expending significant resources for strategic opportunities, with no guaranty of recoupment;
the Company’s reliance on a limited number of helicopter manufacturers and suppliers;
the Company’s ongoing need to replace aging helicopters;
the Company’s reliance on the secondary helicopter market to dispose of used helicopters and parts;
information technology related risks;
the impact of allocation of risk between the Company and its customers;
the liability, legal fees and costs in connection with providing emergency response services;
adverse weather conditions and seasonality;
risks associated with the Company’s debt structure;

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the Company’s counterparty credit risk exposure;
the impact of operational and financial difficulties of the Company’s joint ventures and partners and the risks associated with identifying and securing joint
venture partners when needed;
conflict with the other owners of the Company’s non-wholly owned subsidiaries and other equity investees;
adverse results of legal proceedings;
risks associated with significant increases in fuel costs;
the Company’s ability to obtain insurance coverage and the adequacy and availability of such coverage;
the possibility of labor problems;
the attraction and retention of qualified personnel;
restrictions on the amount of foreign ownership of the Company’s common stock; and
various other matters and factors, many of which are beyond the Company’s control.

It  is  not  possible  to  predict  or  identify  all  such  factors.  Consequently,  the  foregoing  should  not  be  considered  a  complete  discussion  of  all  potential  risks  or
uncertainties.  The  words  “estimate,”  “project,”  “intend,”  “believe,”  “plan”  and  similar  expressions  are  intended  to  identify  forward-looking  statements.  Forward-looking
statements speak only as of the date of the document in which they are made. The Company disclaims any obligation or undertaking to provide any updates or revisions to any
forward-looking statement to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which the forward-looking statement is
based. The forward-looking statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect the Company’s businesses,
particularly  those  discussed  in  greater  detail  in  Part  I,  Item  1A,  “Risk  Factors”  and  Part  II,  Item  7,  “Management’s  Discussion  and  Analysis  of  Financial  Condition  and
Results of Operations” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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PART I

ITEM 1.

BUSINESS

Unless the context indicates otherwise, the terms “we,” “our,” “ours,” “us” and the “Company” refer to Era Group Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries. “Era Group”
refers to Era Group Inc., incorporated in 1999 in Delaware. “Common Stock” refers to the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Era Group. The Company’s fiscal year
ended on December 31, 2019. Era Group’s principal executive office is located at 945 Bunker Hill Rd., Suite 650, Houston, Texas 77024, and its telephone number is (713)
369-4700. Era Group’s website address is www.erahelicopters.com. The reference to Era Group’s website is not intended to incorporate the information on the website into this
Annual Report on Form 10-K.

General    

We are one of the largest helicopter operators in the world and the longest serving helicopter transport operator in the United States (“U.S.”), which is our primary area
of operations. Our helicopters are primarily used to transport personnel to, from and between offshore oil and gas production platforms, drilling rigs and other installations. In
the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, approximately 66%, 71% and 66%,  respectively,  of  our  total  operating  revenues  were  earned  in  the  U.S.    In  the  same
periods, approximately 34%, 29% and 34%, respectively, of total operating revenues were earned in international locations. In addition to the U.S., we currently have customers
in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, India, Mexico, Spain and Suriname.

The primary users of our helicopter services are international, independent and major integrated oil and gas exploration, development and production companies. Our
customers include Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (“Anadarko”), Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. (“Petrobras”) and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (“BSEE”),
a U.S. government agency. In the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, approximately 91%, 95% and 91%, respectively, of our operating revenues were derived
from helicopter services, including emergency response services, provided to customers primarily engaged in offshore oil and gas exploration, development and production
activities  and  U.S.  government  agencies  that  oversee  these  activities.  Accordingly,  our  results  of  operations  are,  to  a  large  extent,  tied  to  the  level  of  offshore  exploration,
development and production activity by oil and gas companies in the Americas, including the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and Brazil. In addition to serving the oil and gas industry,
among other activities, we provide utility services to support pipeline survey activities.

We also lease helicopters to third parties and foreign affiliates and, for some lessees, provide services such as logistical and maintenance support, training and flight
and maintenance crews in addition to the helicopters. These third parties and affiliates in turn provide helicopter services to customers in their local markets, many of which
include  oil  and  gas  exploration,  development  and  production  companies.  Under  these  leasing  arrangements,  operational  responsibility  is  typically  assumed  by  the  lessee,
eliminating, in large part, the need for us to incur the investment costs for infrastructure in the location the helicopters are utilized.

In  certain  countries  where  we  believe  it  is  beneficial  to  access  the  local  market  for  offshore  helicopter  support,  we  conduct  our  operations  through  subsidiaries,
strategic alliances with foreign partners or through joint ventures with local shareholders. In Brazil, we own Aeróleo Taxi Aéreo S/A (“Aeróleo”), a helicopter transport service
provider to the offshore oil and gas industry headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In Colombia, we own a 75% interest in Sicher Helicopters SAS (“Sicher”), a leading
helicopter operator based in Bogota, Colombia with a strong presence in the existing onshore oil and gas market. Both Aeróleo and Sicher are consolidated in our financial
statements.

Combination with Bristow Group Inc.

On January 23, 2020, we entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with Bristow Group Inc. (“Bristow”) and Ruby Redux Merger Sub,
Inc.,  a  direct  wholly-owned  subsidiary  of  ours  (“Merger  Sub”),  pursuant  to  which  Merger  Sub  will  merge  with  and  into  Bristow,  with  Bristow  continuing  as  the  surviving
corporation and direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Era Group (the “Merger”). Following the Merger, we intend to change our name to Bristow Group Inc. (the “Combined
Company”), and our common stock will remain listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Christopher Bradshaw, our President and Chief Executive Officer, will serve as the
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Combined Company.

The Merger is expected to close in the second half of 2020, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions. Upon completion of the Merger, former Bristow

stockholders are expected to own approximately 77% of the Combined Company, and Era stockholders are expected to own 23% of the Combined Company.

The strategic rationale for the combination, includes:

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A strong cultural alignment with uncompromising commitment to safety;
Global leadership in offshore helicopter operations with significant presence in key regions, supplemented by stable government services revenue;

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Increased fleet size and diversity with a complementary fleet mix that allows the Combined Company to optimally service customers;
Enhanced customer and end-market diversification;
Significant, sustainable cost savings, including highly achievable synergies that have already been identified;
The creation of a financially stronger company; and
An  organization  led  by  industry  veterans  with  proven  track  record  of  capital  discipline,  protecting  stakeholder  value  and  generating  free  cash  flow  through
industry cycles.

In connection with the Merger, we announced that our Board of Directors has authorized a special stock repurchase program that would allow for the purchase of up to

$10 million of our common stock from time to time prior to the mailing of the joint proxy statement/prospectus for the Merger, subject to market conditions.

Equipment and Services

We own and operate three classes of helicopters:

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Heavy  helicopters,  which  have  twin  engines  and  a  typical  passenger  capacity  of  16  to  19,  are  primarily  used  in  support  of  the  deepwater  offshore  oil  and  gas
industry, frequently in harsh environments or in areas with long distances from shore, such as those in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, Brazil, Australia and the North
Sea. Heavy helicopters are also used to support emergency response search and rescue (“SAR”) operations.

• Medium  helicopters,  which  have  twin  engines  and  a  typical  passenger  capacity  of  11  to  12,  are  primarily  used  to  support  the  offshore  oil  and  gas  industry,

emergency response services, utility services and corporate uses.

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Light helicopters, which may have single or twin engines and a typical passenger capacity of four to nine, are used to support a wide range of activities, including
the shallow water oil and gas industry, utility services and corporate uses.

As of December 31, 2019, we owned a total of 103 helicopters, consisting of nine heavy helicopters, 44 medium helicopters, 20 light twin engine helicopters and 30
light  single  engine  helicopters.  We  had  commitments  to  purchase  eight  new  helicopters  consisting  of  three  AW189  helicopters  and  five  AW169  helicopters.  The  AW189
helicopters are scheduled to be delivered in 2020 and 2021. Delivery dates for the AW169 helicopters have not been determined. In addition, we have outstanding options to
purchase up to an additional ten AW189 helicopters. If these options were exercised, the helicopters would be delivered in 2021 and 2022.

As of December 31, 2019, 75 of our helicopters were located in the U.S. and 28 were located in foreign jurisdictions. We own and control all 103 of our helicopters.

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The following table identifies the types of helicopters that comprise our fleet and the number of those helicopters in our fleet as of December 31, 2019.

Helicopters

Max.
Pass.(1)

Cruise
Speed

(mph)

Approx.
Range

(miles)

Average
Age

(years)

Heavy:

S92

H225

AW189

Medium:

AW139

S76 C+/C++

B212

Light—twin engine:

A109

EC135

BO105

Light—single engine:

A119

AS350

Total Fleet

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4 
1 
4 
9 

36 
5 
3 
44 

7 
10 
3 
20 

13 
17 
30 
103 

19 
19 
16 

12 
12 
11 

7 
7 
4 

7 
5 

175 
162 
173 

173 
161 
115 

161 
138 
138 

161 
138 

620 
582 
490 

426 
348 
299 

405 
288 
276 

270 
361 

4

12

3

10

13

38

14

10

30

13

22

14

(1)

In typical configuration for our operations.

The management of our fleet involves a careful evaluation of the expected demand for helicopter services across global markets and the types of helicopters needed to
meet  this  demand.  As  offshore  oil  and  gas  exploration,  development  and  production  moves  to  deeper  water,  more  heavy  and  medium  helicopters  and  newer  technology
helicopters may be required. Our orders and options to purchase helicopters are primarily for heavy helicopters. These capital commitments reflect our effort to meet customer
demand for helicopters suitable for the deepwater market.

Heavy and medium helicopters fly longer distances at higher speeds and can carry heavier payloads than light helicopters and are usually equipped with sophisticated
avionics permitting them to operate in more demanding weather conditions and difficult climates. Heavy and medium helicopters are most commonly used for crew changes on
large offshore production facilities and drilling rigs servicing the oil and gas industry.

Aviation Operating Certificates

In the U.S., and some foreign jurisdictions, we provide and operate helicopters under contracts using a Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) issued Part 135 Air
Operator’s  Certificate  (“AOC”)  for  a  variety  of  activities,  primarily  offshore  oil  and  gas  exploration,  development  and  production,  emergency  response  services  and  utility
services. For operating contracts, we are required to provide a complete support package including flight crews, helicopter maintenance and management of flight operations.

In international markets, local regulatory requirements may require us to partner with another operator, through an alliance or joint venture, who maintains an AOC
complaint  with  the  local  regulatory  requirements.  When  we  lease  helicopters  to  customers  that  operate  them  on  their  own  AOC,  our  customers  generally  handle  all  the
operational support except where our contracts require us to provide limited operational support, which may consist of helicopter technical support, personnel and/or training.

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Markets

The current principal markets for our transportation and emergency response services to the offshore oil and gas exploration, development and production industry are

in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, Brazil, Colombia and Suriname. In addition, we currently have customers in Chile, India, Mexico and Spain.

Demand for helicopters in support of offshore oil and gas exploration, development and production, both in the U.S. and internationally, is affected by the level of
offshore exploration and drilling activities. Activity levels in the offshore oil and gas industry, in turn, are affected by prevailing oil and gas prices, expectations about future
prices, price volatility, long-term trends in oil and gas prices and capital spending decisions by oil and gas companies. Historically, the prices for oil and gas and, consequently,
the level of activity in the offshore oil and gas industry, have been volatile and subject to wide fluctuations in response to changes in the supply of and demand for oil and gas,
market uncertainty and a variety of additional factors beyond our control, including but not limited to:

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customer assessments of offshore drilling prospects compared with land-based opportunities, including oil sands and shale formations;
customer assessments of cost, geological opportunity and political stability in host countries;
worldwide supply of and demand for oil and natural gas;
the price and availability of alternative fuels;
the ability of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (“OPEC”) to set and maintain production levels and pricing;
the level of production of non-OPEC countries;
the relative exchange rates for the U.S. dollar; and
various U.S. and international government policies regarding exploration and development of oil and gas reserves.

For the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, our revenues from U.S. markets represented 66%, 71% and 66% of our revenues, respectively, and revenues

from our international markets represented 34%, 29% and 34% of our revenues, respectively.

U.S. Markets. We are one of the largest suppliers of helicopter services in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, which is a major offshore oil and gas exploration, development and
production region and one of the largest oil and gas aviation markets in the world. We operate from 11 bases in this region. Our client base in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico consists
primarily of international, independent and major integrated oil and gas companies and the U.S. government. In addition to the quality and location of our operating bases, our
strengths in this region include our personnel, advanced proprietary flight-following and operational systems and our maintenance operations.

International Markets. We actively market our services globally and currently have customers in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, India, Mexico, Spain and Suriname.

Brazil. Brazil has one of the largest deepwater offshore exploration, development and production areas in the world. In 2011, we acquired a 50% economic interest and
20% voting interest in Aeróleo. In the fourth quarter of 2019, we purchased the remaining economic and voting interests from our partner in Aeróleo, making it a wholly-owned
subsidiary. Aeróleo currently operates from a network of three operating bases located strategically in Brazil.

Colombia. In  2015,  we  acquired  a  75%  interest  in  Sicher.  Sicher  provides  helicopter  services  to  Colombia’s  existing  onshore  and  expanding  offshore  oil  and  gas

market.

Latin America. In addition to our operations in Brazil and Colombia, we operate helicopters in Suriname, and we lease helicopters and provide technical support to an

operator in Mexico.

India. In India, we lease helicopters and provide technical support to an operator serving the offshore oil and gas industry.

Chile and Spain. We lease helicopters to an operator in Chile and Spain.

Seasonality

A significant portion of our operating revenues and profits related to oil and gas exploration, development and production activity is dependent on actual flight hours.
The  fall  and  winter  months  have  fewer  hours  of  daylight,  and  flight  hours  are  generally  lower  at  these  times.  Prolonged  periods  of  adverse  weather  in  the  fall  and  winter
months, coupled with the effect of fewer hours of daylight, can adversely impact operating results. In general, the months of December through February in the U.S. Gulf of
Mexico have more days of adverse weather conditions than the other months of the year. In the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, June through November is tropical storm season. During a
tropical storm, we are unable to operate in the area of the storm. However, flight activity may increase immediately before and after a storm due to the evacuation and return of
offshore workers. There is less seasonality in our dry-leasing and emergency response services.

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Customers and Contractual Arrangements

Our principal customers in the markets in which we operate are international, independent and major integrated oil and gas exploration, development and production
companies. In the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, we also provide helicopter transportation services to BSEE. Our leasing customers are typically other helicopter operators that operate
our leased helicopters under their AOCs and retain the operating risk. These companies in turn provide helicopter transportation services primarily to oil and gas companies. As
of December 31, 2019, approximately 12% of our helicopters were utilized in support of these leasing activities.

During the year ended December 31, 2019, our top ten customers accounted for approximately 92% of total revenues. During each of the years ended December 31,

2019, 2018 and 2017, each of Anadarko, Petrobras and BSEE accounted for 10% or more of our total revenues.

We  charter  the  majority  of  our  helicopters  primarily  through  master  service  agreements,  subscription  agreements,  day-to-day  charter  arrangements,  fixed-term
noncancelable contracts and dry-leases. Master service agreements and subscription agreements typically require a fixed monthly fee plus incremental payments based on flight
hours flown. These agreements have fixed terms ranging from one month to five years and generally may be canceled without penalty upon 30-120 days’ notice. Customarily,
these contracts do not commit our customers to acquire specific amounts of services or minimum flight hours and permit our customers to decrease the number of helicopters
under contract with a corresponding decrease in the fixed monthly payments without penalty. Day-to-day charter arrangements require either a rate for each hour flown with a
minimum  number  of  hours  to  be  charged  or  a  daily  fixed  fee  plus  an  hourly  rate  based  on  hours  flown.  The  rate  structure,  as  it  applies  to  our  contracts  with  oil  and  gas
customers, typically contains terms that limit our exposure to changes in fuel costs. Leases generally run from one to five years and may contain early cancellation provisions.
Under these leases, we may provide only the equipment or provide additional services such as logistical and maintenance support, training services and flight and maintenance
crews.

Competitive Conditions

The  helicopter  industry  is  highly  competitive.  Customers  tend  to  rely  heavily  on  existing  relationships  and  seek  operators  with  established  safety  records  and
knowledge of the operating environment. In most instances, an operator must have an acceptable safety record, demonstrated reliability and suitable equipment to bid for work.
Upon bidders meeting these criteria, customers typically make their final choice based on helicopter preference, aircraft availability, the quality and location of operating bases,
customer service and price. Customers may also fulfill their needs by establishing their own flight departments or by facilitating the entry of a new operator in the regions
where we operate.

In  the  U.S.  Gulf  of  Mexico,  we  have  many  competitors,  including,  among  others,  PHI,  Inc.  (“PHI”),  Bristow,  Rotorcraft  Leasing  Company  LLC  and  Westwind
Helicopters. Some oil and gas customers in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico operate their own helicopter fleets, in addition to smaller companies that offer services similar to ours. In
international  regions,  we  have  several  major  competitors  depending  on  the  region.  Our  primary  competitors  in  Brazil,  among  others,  include,  Lider  Aviação  Holding  S.A.,
OMNI Táxi Aéreo Ltda., and CHC Brazil.

Our  leasing  business  competes  against  financial  leasing  companies  such  as  Lease  Corporation  International  (Aviation)  Limited  (“LCI”),  Lobo  Leasing  Limited
(“Lobo”), Macquarie Rotocraft Leasing Limited (“Macquarie”) and Milestone Aviation Group Limited (“Milestone”) a subsidiary of GE Capital Aviation Services (“GECAS”).
We also offer emergency response and utility services in various regions, as do other operators. The Coast Guard is another alternative for a customer in need of emergency
response services in the U.S.

Government Regulation

Regulatory Matters. Our operations are subject to significant federal, state and local regulations in the U.S., as well as international treaties and conventions and the
laws of foreign jurisdictions where we operate our equipment or where the equipment is registered or operated. Our results of operations are dependent upon our ability to
maintain compliance with all applicable laws in the jurisdictions in which we operate.

In the U.S., we hold the status of an air carrier under the relevant provisions of Title 49 of the United States Transportation Code (“Transportation Code”) and engage
in the operating and leasing of helicopters in the U.S. and, as such, we are subject to various statutes and regulations. We are governed principally by the regulations of the
United States Department of Transportation (“DOT”), including Part 298 registration as an On-Demand Air Taxi Operator, and the regulations of the FAA applicable to an FAA
Part 135 Air Taxi certificate holder. Among other things, the DOT regulates our status as an air carrier, including our U.S. citizenship. The FAA regulates our flight operations
and,  in  this  respect,  has  jurisdiction  over  our  personnel,  helicopters,  ground  facilities  and  certain  technical  aspects  of  our  operations.  In  addition  to  the  FAA,  the  National
Transportation  Safety  Board  is  authorized  to  investigate  our  helicopter  accidents  (if  any)  and  to  recommend  improved  safety  standards.  We  are  also  subject  to  the
Communications Act of 1934, as amended, because of the use of radio facilities in our operations.

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Helicopters operating in the U.S. are subject to registration, and their owners are subject to citizenship requirements under the Federal Aviation Act. This Act generally
requires  that  before  a  helicopter  may  be  legally  operated  for  profit  in  the  U.S.,  it  must  be  owned  by  citizens  of  the  U.S.,  which,  in  the  case  of  a  corporation,  means  a
corporation: (i) organized under the laws of the U.S. or of a state, territory or possession thereof, (ii) of which at least 75% of its voting interests are owned or controlled by
persons who are “U.S. citizens” (as defined in the Federal Aviation Act and regulations promulgated thereunder), and (iii) of which the president and at least two-thirds of the
board of directors and managing officers are U.S. citizens. We have adopted provisions in our amended and restated Certificate of Incorporation to ensure compliance with the
regulations of the FAA.

In Brazil, an operator must be licensed by the National Agency for Civil Aviation.  Following recent changes in Brazilian law that eliminated the requirement that an
operator  be  “controlled”  by  nationals  of  Brazil,  the  Company  acquired  the  interests  of  its  former  partner  in  Aeróleo  and  now  owns  100%  of  Aeróleo.    Any  change  in  the
licensing requirements could affect the licenses of Aeróleo. Our ability to conduct our helicopter operating business in Brazil is dependent on our ability to maintain Aeróleo’s
licenses and AOC.

In Colombia, the Civil Aviation Authority, Aeronautical Civil (“Aerocivil”), is the governmental entity which regulates the air transportation in the country. Operators
must  be  approved  by  this  entity  and  regulated  under  the  Colombian  Aviation  Regulations.  Operators  must  have  an  AOC  issued  by  the  Aerocivil  complying  with  all  the
regulatory matters and subject to frequent revisions and monitoring. Sicher operates under its AOC, issued in August 2008.

We are subject to state and local laws and regulations including, but not limited to, significant state regulations for our emergency response services. In addition, our
international operations, primarily helicopter leasing and our joint ventures, are required to comply with the laws and regulations in the jurisdictions in which they conduct
business.

Environmental Compliance. Our business is subject to international and U.S. federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to environmental protection and
occupational  safety  and  health,  including  laws  and  regulations  that  govern  the  discharge  of  oil  and  pollutants  into  navigable  waters.  If  we  fail  to  comply  with  these
environmental laws and regulations, administrative, civil and criminal penalties may be imposed, and we may become subject to regulatory enforcement actions in the form of
injunctions and cease and desist orders. We may also be subject to civil claims arising out of a pollution event. These laws and regulations may expose us to strict, joint and
several liability for the conduct of or conditions caused by others or for our own acts even though these actions were in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations at
the time they were performed. To date, such laws and regulations have not had a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

These  laws  include  the  federal  Water  Pollution  Control  Act,  also  known  as  the  Clean  Water  Act,  which  imposes  restrictions  on  the  discharge  of  pollutants  to  the
navigable  waters  of  the  U.S.  In  addition,  because  our  operations  generate  and,  in  some  cases,  involve  the  transportation  of  hazardous  wastes,  we  are  subject  to  the  federal
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, which regulates the use, generation, transportation, treatment, storage and disposal of certain hazardous and non-hazardous wastes.
Under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, referred to as CERCLA or the Superfund law, and certain comparable state laws, strict,
joint and several liability can be imposed without regard to fault or the legality of the original conduct on certain classes of persons that contributed to the release of a hazardous
substance  into  the  environment.  These  persons  include  the  owner  and  operator  of  a  contaminated  site  where  a  hazardous  substance  release  occurred  and  any  company  that
transported, disposed of or arranged for the transport or disposal of hazardous substances, even from inactive operations or closed facilities that have been released into the
environment. In addition, neighboring landowners or other third parties may file claims for personal injury, property damage and recovery of response cost. We own, lease, or
operate properties and facilities that, in some cases, have been used for industrial activities for many years. Hazardous substances, wastes, or hydrocarbons may have been
released  on  or  under  the  properties  owned  or  leased  by  us,  or  on  or  under  other  locations  where  such  substances  have  been  taken  for  disposal.  In  addition,  some  of  these
properties have been operated by third parties or by previous owners whose treatment, storage and disposal or release of such substances was not under our control. These
properties and the substances disposed or released on them may be subject to CERCLA and analogous state laws. Under such laws, we could be required to remove previously
disposed substances and wastes, remediate contaminated property, or perform remedial activities to prevent future contamination.

In addition, our customers in the oil and gas exploration, development and production industry are affected by environmental laws and regulations that may restrict

their activities and may result in reduced demand for our services.

We believe that our operations are currently in material compliance with all environmental laws and regulations. We do not expect that we will be required to make
capital expenditures in the near future that are material to our financial position or operations to comply with environmental laws and regulations; however, because such laws
and regulations are frequently changing and may impose stricter requirements, we cannot predict the ultimate cost of complying with these laws and regulations.

We  manage  exposure  to  losses  from  the  above-described  laws  and  regulations  through  our  efforts  to  use  only  well-maintained,  well-managed  and  well-equipped
facilities and equipment and our development of safety and environmental programs, including our insurance program. We believe these efforts will be able to accommodate all
reasonably  foreseeable  environmental  regulatory  changes.  There  can  be  no  assurance,  however,  that  any  future  laws,  regulations  or  requirements,  or  that  any  discharge  or
emission of pollutants by us will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position or our results of operations.

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Safety, Industry Hazards and Insurance

The safety of our passengers and the maintenance of a safe working environment for our employees is our number one core value and highest operational priority. We
have a strong safety culture throughout our organization that is sponsored by our President and Chief Executive Officer, who is responsible for setting the tone at the top. We
strive to exceed the stringent safety and performance audit standards set by aviation regulatory bodies and our customers, and we are a founding member of HeliOffshore, a
collective group of industry participants who seek to promote safer operations.

Our  safety,  legal  and  compliance  departments  oversee  our  compliance  with  government  regulations,  customer  safety  requirements  and  safety  standards  within  our
organization, the standardization of our base operating procedures and the proper training of our employees. A key to maintaining our strong safety record is having highly
qualified, experienced and well-trained employees. We conduct extensive training and develop, implement, monitor and continuously improve our safety programs to promote a
safe working environment and minimize hazards.

We  target  zero  accidents  and  injuries  in  the  workplace.  Helicopter  operations  are  potentially  hazardous  and  may  result  in  incidents  or  accidents.  Hazards  such  as
adverse  weather  conditions,  collisions,  fires  and  mechanical  failures  may  result  in  death  or  injury  to  personnel,  damage  to  equipment  and  other  environmental  or  property
damage.

We have implemented a safety program that includes, among many other features, (i) transition and recurrent training using full-motion flight simulators and other
flight training devices, (ii) a FAA approved flight data monitoring program (“FDM”) and (iii) health and usage monitoring systems (“HUMS”), which automatically monitor
and report on vibrations and other anomalies on key components of certain helicopters in our fleet.

Segments

We have determined that our operations comprise a single segment. Helicopters are highly mobile and may be utilized in any of our service lines as business needs

dictate.

Employees

As of December 31, 2019, we employed 707 individuals, including 205 pilots and 219 mechanics. We consider our relations with our employees to be good. Certain of
our employees in Brazil (approximately 26% of our total workforce) are covered by union or other collective bargaining agreements. If we are involved in any disputes over the
terms of these collective bargaining agreements and are unable to negotiate acceptable contract terms with the unions that represent our employees, it could result in strikes,
work stoppages or other slowdowns, higher labor costs or other conditions that could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Where You Can Find More Information

We are required to file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
Unless otherwise stated herein, these filings are not deemed to be incorporated by reference in this report. All of our filings with the SEC will be available once filed, free of
charge, on our website, including our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, Proxy Statements on Form DEF-14A and
any amendments to those reports. These reports and amendments will be available on our website as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file the reports or
amendments with the SEC. The reference to our website is not intended to incorporate the information on the website into this Annual Report on Form 10-K. These reports and
filings  are  also  available  on  the  SEC's  website  at  www.sec.gov.  In  addition,  our  Corporate  Governance  Guidelines  and  other  policies,  and  the  Board  of  Directors’  Audit
Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee charters are available, free of charge, on our website or in print for stockholders.

ITEM 1A.

RISK FACTORS

Our  business,  results  of  operations,  financial  condition,  liquidity,  cash  flow  and  prospects  may  be  materially  and  adversely  affected  by  numerous  risks  and
uncertainties. Although it is not possible to predict or identify all such risks and uncertainties, they may include, but are not limited to, the risks and uncertainties described
below. These risks and uncertainties represent some of the more critical risk factors that affect us, in addition to the other information that has been provided in this Annual
Report on Form 10-K. Our business operations or actual results could also be similarly impacted by additional risks and uncertainties that are not currently known to us or that
we currently deem immaterial to our operations.

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Risk Factors Related to Our Customers and Contracts

Demand for many of our services is impacted by the level of activity in the offshore oil and gas exploration, development and production industry.

In  the  years  ended  December  31,  2019, 2018  and  2017,  approximately  91%, 95%  and  91%,  respectively,  of  our  operating  revenues  were  generated  by  providing
services  to  companies  primarily  engaged  in  offshore  oil  and  gas  exploration,  development  and  production  activities.  Additionally,  our  leasing  customers  typically  provide
services to oil and gas companies in their respective local markets. As a result, demand for our services and utilization of our fleet, and thereby our revenue, profitability and
results  of  operations,  are  significantly  impacted  by  levels  of  activity  in  the  offshore  oil  and  gas  industry.  These  levels  of  activity  have  historically  been  volatile,  and  the
volatility is likely to continue in future periods. Activity levels in the offshore oil and gas industry are significantly affected by prevailing oil and gas prices, expectations about
future prices, price volatility and long-term trends in oil and gas prices. Historically, the prices for oil and gas, and consequently, the levels of activity in the offshore oil and gas
exploration, development and production sectors, have been subject to wide fluctuations in response to changes in the supply of and demand for oil and gas, market uncertainty
and a variety of additional factors beyond our control, such as:

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general economic conditions;
actions of the OPEC and other oil producing countries to control prices or change production levels;
the price and availability of alternative fuels;
assessments  of  offshore  drilling  prospects  compared  with  land-based  opportunities  that  do  not  generally  require  our  services,  including  new  or  non-traditional
sources such as oil sands and shale;
the costs of exploration, development and production and delivery of oil and natural gas offshore;
expectations about future supply and demand for oil and gas;
advances in exploration, development and production technology;
availability and rates of discovery of new oil and natural gas reserves in offshore areas, as well as on land;
federal,  state,  local  and  international  political  conditions,  and  policies  including  those  with  respect  to  local  content  requirements  and  the  exploration  and
development of oil and gas reserves;
uncertainty or instability resulting from an escalation or additional outbreak of armed hostilities or other crises in the Middle East or other geographic areas, or
acts of terrorism in the U.S. or elsewhere;
technological advancements affecting exploration, development and production of oil and gas and energy consumption;
weather conditions, natural disasters, pandemics and other similar phenomena;
government regulation, including environmental regulation and drilling regulation, permitting and concessions;
regulation of drilling activities and the availability of drilling permits and concessions and environmental regulation; and
the ability of oil and natural gas companies to generate funds or otherwise obtain capital required for offshore oil and gas exploration, development and production
and their capital expenditures budgets.

Oil and natural gas prices decreased significantly since the market downturn began in 2014.  While oil prices have rebounded from the low of $26 a barrel, prices
remain  well  below  levels  realized  prior  to  the  downturn.  During  this  period,  when  oil  prices  for  much  of  the  time  were  below  $60  a  barrel,  demand  for  our  services  and
utilization of our fleet was significantly reduced, which has adversely affected our business, financial condition and results of operations. We cannot predict future oil and gas
price  movements.  Any  continuation  of  the  lower  oil  and  gas  price  environment  or  exacerbation  thereof  could  further  depress  the  level  of  helicopter  activity  in  support  of
exploration and, to a lesser extent, production activity, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. No assurance
can be given that lower oil and gas prices will not continue to adversely affect offshore exploration or production operations, or that our operations will not continue to be
adversely affected.

Unconventional crude oil and natural gas sources and improved economics of producing natural gas and oil from such sources has and could continue to exert downward
pricing pressures.

The level of activity in offshore oil and gas exploration, development and production is affected by the relative economics of and resultant level of activity in land-
based oil and gas exploration, development and production.  In recent years, there has been a significant focus on and increase in production from land-based North American
shale reservoirs, which has been facilitated by hydraulic fracturing and other technologies.  The availability of more economical oil and gas reserves, including, if applicable,
land-based North American shale reservoirs, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The offshore helicopter services industry is cyclical.

The offshore helicopter services industry has historically been cyclical and is affected by the volatility of oil and gas price levels, fluctuations in government programs,
regulatory initiatives and spending and general economic conditions. There have been, and in the future may continue to be, periods of high demand followed by periods of low
demand for our services. Changes in commodity prices can have a significant effect on demand for our services, and periods of low activity intensify price competition

10

 
 
 
in the industry and could result in our helicopters being idle, or operating at reduced margins, for long periods of time. A further downturn in oil and natural gas prices, or
increased regulation containing onerous compliance requirements is likely to cause a substantial decline in expenditures for exploration, development and production activity,
which could result in a decline in demand and lower rates for our services. Similarly, the government agencies with which we do business could face budget cuts, funding
deficits or limits on spending, which would also result in a decline in demand and lower rates for our services. These changes could materially adversely affect our business,
financial condition and results of operations.

We rely on a limited number of customers for a significant share of our revenues, the loss of any of which could materially adversely affect our business, financial
condition and results of operations.

We derive a significant portion of our revenues from a limited number of oil and gas exploration, development and production companies and government agencies.
Specifically, services provided to Anadarko, Petrobras and U.S. government agencies accounted for approximately 28%, 21% and 14% of our revenues, respectively, for the
year ended December 31, 2019. The portion of our revenues attributable to any single customer may change over time, depending on the level of activity by any such customer,
our ability to meet the customer’s needs and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. The loss or reduction of business from any of our significant customers, if not
offset by sales to new or existing customers, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Further, to the extent any of our customers or the customers of companies to whom we lease helicopters experience an extended period of operational or financial
difficulty,  we  could  face  significant  counterparty  credit  risk  or  such  customers  could  terminate  our  services  generally  with  the  requirement  to  pay  little  or  no  liquidating
damages. The occurrence of either of these events could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The implementation by our customers of cost-saving measures could reduce the demand for our services.

Companies in the oil and gas exploration and production industry are continually seeking to implement measures aimed at cost savings, especially during times of
depressed oil and gas pricing. In addition to curtailing exploration and development activities, measures taken by our customers to improve efficiencies and reduce costs may
include reducing headcount, finding less expensive means for moving personnel offshore, changing rotations for personnel working offshore, pooling helicopter services among
operators and requesting rate reductions or pricing concessions. Such measures are some, but not all, of the possible cost-saving initiatives that could result in reduced demand
for, or pricing of, our helicopter transport services. In addition, customers may choose to establish their own helicopter operations or utilize other transportation alternatives,
such  as  marine  transport.  The  continued  implementation  of  these  kinds  of  cost-saving  measures  could  reduce  the  demand  or  prevailing  prices  for  our  services  and  have  a
material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Consolidation of and asset sales by, our customer base could materially adversely affect demand for our services and reduce our revenues.

Many  of  our  customers  are  international,  independent  and  major  integrated  oil  and  gas  exploration,  development  and  production  companies.  In recent years, these
companies have undergone substantial consolidation and engaged in sales of specific assets, and additional consolidation and asset sales are possible. In addition, since 2014
there have been a significant number of bankruptcy filings, consolidations and asset sales in the oil and gas exploration, development and production industry. Consolidation
results in fewer companies to charter or contract for our services. In the event one of our customers combines with, or sells assets to, a company that is using the services of one
of our competitors, the combined or successor company could decide to use the services of that competitor or another provider. Further, merger activity among both major and
independent oil and natural gas companies affects exploration, development and production activity as the consolidated companies often put projects on hold while integrating
operations. Consolidation  may  also  result  in  an  exploration  and  development  budget  for  a  combined  company  that  is  lower  than  the  total  budget  of  both  companies  before
consolidation and increased bargaining leverage as the number of available customers decreases and the sizes of combined companies increase. Reductions in the budgets of oil
and gas companies could adversely affect demand for our services that could result in a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

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Our customers include U.S. government agencies that are dependent on budget appropriations, which may fluctuate and, as a result, limit their ability to use our services.

U.S.  government  agencies,  consisting  primarily  of  BSEE,  are  among  our  key  customers  and  accounted  for  approximately  14%  of  our  revenues  for  the  year  ended
December 31, 2019. Government agencies receive funding through budget appropriations, which are determined through the political process, and as a result, funding for the
agencies with which we do business may fluctuate. In recent years, there has been increased Congressional scrutiny of discretionary program spending by the U.S. government
in light of concerns over the size of the national debt and lawmakers have discussed the need to cut or impose caps on discretionary spending, which could result in budget cuts
to federal agencies to which we provide services. If any of these agencies, and in particular BSEE, experience reductions in its budgets or if it change its spending priorities, its
ability or willingness to spend on helicopter services may decline, and it may substantially reduce or cease using our services, which could have a material adverse effect on our
business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, a prolonged shutdown of the federal government would, in turn, cause a shutdown of these agencies which
could have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

Our industry is subject to intense competition.

The helicopter industry is highly competitive. Contracting for helicopter services is often done through a competitive bidding process among those operators having an
acceptable safety record, demonstrated reliability, requisite equipment for the job and sufficient resources to provide coverage when primary equipment comes out of service for
maintenance. Customers typically make their final choice based on helicopter preference, quality and location of facilities, customer service, safety record and price. If we are
unable to satisfy the criteria to participate in bids or are otherwise unable to compete effectively, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially
and adversely affected.

In  certain  of  our  international  markets  where  foreign  regulations  may  require  that  contracts  be  awarded  to  local  companies  owned  or  controlled  by  nationals,  we
participate  as  a  non-controlling  equity  owner  in  the  entity  responding  to  the  bid.  These  third  party  local  bidding  companies  may  not  be  able  to  win  these  bids  for  reasons
unrelated to us, our safety record, reliability, or equipment. Accordingly, we may lose potential business, which may be significant, for reasons beyond our control.

We  compete  against  a  number  of  helicopter  operators,  including  other  major  global  helicopter  operators  such  as  PHI,  Bristow  and  CHC  Group  Ltd.  Other  global
operators who compete against us include Babcock, Weststar, Omni and NHV. In the U.S., we face competition for business in the oil and gas industry from various operators,
including:  PHI,  Bristow,  Rotorcraft  Leasing  Company,  LLC  and  Westwind  Helicopters,  among  others.  In  our  international  markets,  we  also  face  competition  from  local
operators in countries where foreign regulations may require that contracts be awarded to local companies owned or controlled by nationals or from operators that are more
recognized in some of those markets. There can be no assurance that our competitors will not be successful in capturing a share of our present or potential customer base. We
also face potential competition from customers that establish their own flight departments, smaller operators with access to capital that can expand their fleets and operate more
sophisticated and costly equipment and global operators that might further expand their operations in areas where we are currently operating. In addition, helicopter leasing
companies, such as LCI, Lobo, Macquarie and Milestone (a division of GECAS), as well as other financial institutions that participate in the aircraft leasing space, provide
offerings that compete with, and could capture a share of, our leasing opportunities to third parties. Our competitors with lower capital costs, including those that may enter
bankruptcy and emerge with a more efficient capital structure and lower operating costs, may benefit from a competitive advantage permitting them to offer lease rates for
helicopters and/or services that are more attractive than those we can offer. We also offer emergency response and utility services in various regions, as do other operators. The
Coast Guard is another alternative for a customer in need of emergency response services.

Certain customer contracts are awarded through competitive processes that may require us to expend significant resources with no guaranty of recoupment.

Certain  customers  award  contracts  helicopter  services  through  an  aggressive  competitive  bidding  process  and  intense  negotiations.  Customers typically make their
final choice based on the best price for the required helicopter model that is available within the time frame mandated by their needs. In order to successfully compete in such
processes and facilitate timely commencement of operations in compliance with customer requirements, we may invest substantial time, money, and effort, including proposal
development and marketing activities, required to prepare bids and proposals for contracts that may not be awarded to us or for processes that may be canceled prior to the
execution of contracts.

Due  to  the  intense  competition  in  our  markets  and  increasing  customer  demand  for  shorter  delivery  periods,  even  in  cases  where  customers  are  not  utilizing  a
competitive bidding process, we might be required to begin implementation of a project before the corresponding contract has been finalized. If we do not succeed in winning a
bid or securing an opportunity for any reason, we may obtain little or no benefit from the expenditures associated with pursuing such opportunity and may be unable to recoup
expended resources on future projects.

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We have limited flexibility to negotiate terms in certain operating contracts

Many of our operating contracts and charter arrangements contain provisions permitting early termination by the customer for any reason, generally without penalty,
and with limited notice requirements. In addition, many of our contracts do not commit our customers to acquire specific amounts of services and permit them to decrease the
number of helicopters under contract with a corresponding decrease in the fixed monthly payments without penalty. These contract provisions may facilitate customer requests
for rate reductions, pricing concessions and other favorable revisions to negotiated terms that may be available from our competitors, especially during a market downturn such
as  the  one  we  are  currently  experiencing.  As  a  result,  you  should  not  place  undue  reliance  on  the  strength  of  our  customer  contracts  or  the  terms  of  those  contracts.  The
termination or modification of contracts by our significant customers or the decrease in such customers’ usage of our helicopter services could have a material adverse effect on
our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our operating agreements contain indemnity provisions relating to liabilities caused or assumed by us in connection with our operations. Our  customers’  changing
views on risk allocation may cause us to accept greater risk to win new business or may result in our losing business if we are not prepared to assume such risks. To the extent
that we accept such additional risk, and seek to insure against it, if possible, our insurance premiums could rise. If we cannot insure against such additional risks or otherwise
choose not to do so, we could be exposed to catastrophic losses, which could have a materially adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our  fixed  operating  expenses  and  long-term  customer  contracts  could  adversely  affect  our  business,  financial  condition  and  results  of  operations  under  certain
circumstances.

Our profitability is directly related to demand for our services. A significant portion of our operating expenses that are related to crew wages and benefits, insurance
and maintenance programs are fixed and must be paid even when our helicopters are not actively servicing customers and generating income. A decrease in our revenues could
therefore result in a disproportionate decrease in our earnings, as a substantial portion of our operating expenses would remain unchanged. Similarly, the discontinuation of any
rebates,  discounts  or  preferential  financing  terms  offered  to  us  by  manufacturers  or  suppliers  would  have  the  effect  of  increasing  our  fixed  expenses,  and  without  a
corresponding increase in our revenues, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Increases  in  supplier,  fuel,  labor,  insurance,  and  other  costs  are  typically  passed  through  to  our  customers  through  rate  increases  where  possible,  including  as  a
component of contract escalation charges. However, certain of our contracts are long-term in nature and may not have escalation provisions or escalation may be tied to an
index, which may not be commensurate with the associated increase in costs. These escalations may not be sufficient or we may not be able to realize the full benefit therefrom
during a market downturn to enable us to recoup increased costs in full thereby resulting in lower margins. There can be no assurance that we will be able to estimate costs
accurately or recover increased costs by passing such costs on to our customers. Further, we may not be successful in identifying or securing cost escalations for other costs that
may escalate during the applicable customer contract term. During a prolonged market downturn such as the one we are currently experiencing, we may not be able to realize
the benefit of any such escalations as a result of customer pricing sensitivities, which could adversely affect the profitability of such contracts. In the event that we are unable to
fully recover material costs that escalate during the terms of our customer contracts, the profitability of our customer contracts and our business, financial condition and results
of operations could be materially adversely affected.

Risk Factors Related to the Pending Merger with Bristow

The completion of the Merger is subject to several conditions. There can be no assurances when or if the Merger will be completed.

While we expect to complete the Merger in the second half of 2020, there can be no assurances as to the exact timing of completion of the Merger, or that the Merger
will be completed at all. The completion of the Merger is subject to numerous conditions, including, among others, (i) receipt of requisite approvals of our stockholders and
Bristow’s stockholders, (ii) the expiration of any applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “HSR Act”) or
any other antitrust laws, and there not being in effect any voluntary agreement with any antitrust authority under which we and Bristow have agreed not to consummate the
Merger, (iii) the absence of any governmental order or law prohibiting the consummation of the Merger, (iv) the effectiveness of the registration statement for our common
stock to be issued as consideration in the Merger and the authorization for listing of those shares on the NYSE and (v) other customary closing conditions.

The  Merger  will  not  be  consummated  unless  these  conditions  are  satisfied  or,  if  possible,  waived.  These  conditions  may  jeopardize  or  delay  consummation  of  the
Merger or may reduce the anticipated benefits of the Merger. Further, no assurance can be given that the required approvals will be obtained or that the conditions to closing
will be satisfied. Even if all necessary approvals are obtained, no assurance can be given as to the terms, conditions and timing of such approvals or that they will satisfy the
terms of the Merger Agreement. If the Merger is not consummated by October 23, 2020 (as may be extended to a date no later than January 23, 2021 upon satisfaction of
certain conditions to extension set forth in the Merger Agreement), either we or Bristow may terminate the Merger Agreement.

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Antitrust approvals that are required to consummate the Merger may not be received, may take longer than expected or may impose conditions, including the requirement
to divest assets, that could have an adverse effect on the Combined Company following the Merger.

The Merger may not be consummated until notifications under the HSR Act are submitted to the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (the “DOJ”) and the
Federal Trade Commission (the “FTC”) and the required waiting period has expired or been terminated.  We and Bristow submitted our respective Notification and Report
forms under the HSR Act on February 6, 2020.  If the DOJ issues a request for additional information and documentary material (a “Second Request”) prior to the expiration of
the initial waiting period, the parties would be required to observe a second 30-day waiting period after they have substantially complied with the Second Request, unless the
DOJ or the FTC terminates the waiting period or the parties otherwise agree with the DOJ or FTC to extend the waiting period.

In addition, private parties who may be adversely affected by the Merger and individual states may bring legal action under the antitrust laws in certain circumstances.
 Although Bristow and Era believe the consummation of the Merger will not likely be prohibited under the antitrust laws, there can be no assurance that a challenge to the
Merger  on  antitrust  grounds  will  not  be  made  and,  if  a  challenge  is  made,  what  the  result  will  be.    Under  the  Merger  Agreement,  we  and  Bristow  have  agreed  to  use  our
reasonable best efforts to avoid or eliminate each and every impediment to consummation of the transaction under any applicable law that may be asserted by any governmental
entity and to obtain all regulatory clearances or observe all regulatory review periods necessary to consummate the Merger and the transactions contemplated by the Merger
Agreement as soon as commercially practicable so as to enable the Closing (as such term is defined in the Merger Agreement) to occur as soon as reasonably possible, and in
any event, not later than the End Date (as such term is defined in the Merger Agreement).

In  addition,  in  order  to  consummate  the  Merger  under  the  Merger  Agreement,  we  and  Bristow  may  be  required  to  comply  with  conditions,  terms,  obligations  or
restrictions  imposed  by  governmental  entities  under  any  antitrust  law,  including  divestitures,  and  such  conditions,  terms,  obligations  or  restrictions  may  have  the  effect  of
delaying  consummation  of  the  Merger,  imposing  additional  material  costs  on  or  materially  limiting  the  revenue  of  the  Combined  Company  after  the  consummation  of  the
Merger, or otherwise reducing the anticipated benefits to the Combined Company of the Merger. Such conditions, terms, obligations or restrictions may result in the delay or
abandonment  of  the  Merger.  We  and  Bristow  will  not  be  obligated  to  negotiate,  commit  to  or  effect  any  action  that  would  result  in  the  sale,  divestiture,  disposal,  holding
separate, or other disposition of assets, contracts, our businesses or product lines and Bristow’s businesses or product lines, or the respective subsidiaries generating, in the
aggregate, Revenues in an aggregate amount in excess of $10.0 million. “Revenues” as used in the immediately preceding sentence means, with respect to any asset, contract,
business or product line, gross revenues associated therewith for the twelve months ended December 31, 2019.

The Merger Agreement contains provisions that limit our ability to pursue alternatives to the Merger, could discourage a potential competing acquiror of ours from making
a favorable alternative transaction proposal and, in specified circumstances, could require us to pay Bristow a termination fee.

The  Merger  Agreement  contains  certain  provisions  that  restrict  our  ability  to  solicit,  initiate,  facilitate  or  encourage  any  inquiries  regarding,  or  the  making  of  any
proposal or offer that constitutes, or would reasonably be expected to lead to, a competing proposal, engage, continue or otherwise participate in any substantive discussions or
negotiations regarding, or furnish any non-public information to any person in connection with or for the purpose of encouraging or facilitating, a competing proposal, subject
to customary exceptions and limitations. In addition, Bristow generally has an opportunity to offer to modify the terms of the Merger Agreement in response to any third-party
alternative transaction proposal before our board of directors may change, qualify, withhold, withdraw or modify its recommendation that our stockholders approve the Merger.
Upon termination of the Merger Agreement in certain circumstances relating to changes in the recommendation of our board of directors in favor of the Merger, our entry into
an  alternative  transaction  or  following  the  failure  of  our  stockholders  to  approve  the  Merger,  we  will  be  required  to  pay  a  termination  fee  of  $9.0  million.  However,  if  a
termination fee is not payable to Bristow pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement and the Merger Agreement is terminated following the failure of our stockholders to
approve the Merger, we must reimburse Bristow’s reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses in an amount not to exceed $4.0 million.

These  provisions  could  discourage  a  potential  third-party  acquiror  or  merger  partner  that  might  have  an  interest  in  acquiring  all  or  a  significant  portion  of  us  or
pursuing an alternative transaction with us from considering or proposing such a transaction or might result in a potential third-party acquiror or merger partner proposing to
pay a lower price to our stockholders than it might otherwise have proposed to pay because of the added expense of the termination fee and expense reimbursement that may
become payable in certain circumstances.

If the Merger is not completed, the resulting failure of the merger could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition, stock price, results of operations,

assets or business. In addition, if the Merger is not completed, we will have incurred substantial expenses for which no ultimate benefit will have been received.

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The Merger Agreement subjects us to restrictions on its business activities during the pendency of the Merger.

The Merger Agreement subjects us to restrictions on its business activities and obligates us to generally operate our businesses in the ordinary course in all material
respects  during  the  pendency  of  the  Merger  absent  Bristow’s  prior  written  consent.  These  restrictions  could  prevent  us  from  pursuing  attractive  business  opportunities  or
responding effectively to competitive pressures and industry developments that arise prior to the consummation of the Merger or termination of the Merger Agreement and are
outside the ordinary course of business. In particular, the Merger Agreement restricts us from making certain acquisitions and dispositions without the prior written consent of
Bristow. If we are unable to take actions we believe are beneficial, such restrictions could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We may fail to realize the anticipated strategic and financial benefits expected from the Merger.

We may fail to realize all of the anticipated benefits of the Merger or fail to realize such benefits in the anticipated time frame after the completion of the Merger. Our
ability to realize the anticipated strategic and financial benefits of the Merger will depend on, among other things, our ability to combine our business with Bristow’s business in
a  manner  that  facilitates  growth,  realizes  anticipated  cost  savings  and  retains  Bristow’s  and  our  customers,  suppliers  and  employees.  We  must  successfully  combine  our
business with the business of Bristow in a manner that enables these anticipated benefits to be realized, and we must achieve the anticipated cost savings without adversely
affecting the combined company's revenue base. Failure to achieve all of the anticipated strategic and financial benefits in a timely manner may have a material adverse effect
on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We also expect to incur material one-time costs to achieve synergies and may fail to realize such estimated synergies. While we believe these synergies are achievable,
our ability to achieve the estimated synergies in the amounts and time frame expected is subject to various assumptions by our management based on expectations that are
subject to a number of risks, which may or may not be realized, the incurrence of other costs in our operations that may offset all or a portion of such synergies and other factors
outside our control. As a consequence, we may not be able to realize all of these synergies within the time frame expected or at all. We may incur additional and/or unexpected
costs to realize these synergies. In addition, if we fail to achieve the anticipated cost benefits in a timely manner, we may be unable to realize all the anticipated synergies.
Failure to achieve the expected synergies could significantly reduce the expected benefits associated with the Merger and adversely affect our business, financial condition and
results of operations.

Uncertainties associated with the Merger may cause us to lose key customers and make it more difficult to retain and hire key personnel, and the Merger may disrupt our
current plans and operations or divert management’s attention from our ongoing business.

As a result of the uncertainty surrounding the conduct of our business while the Merger is pending, our relationships with customers, suppliers and other parties may
be adversely affected. Due to uncertainty about our future while the Merger is pending, we may lose customers or suppliers, or customers, suppliers and other parties may alter
their business relationships with us.

In addition, our employees, including key personnel, may be uncertain about their future roles and relationships with us following the completion of the Merger, which
may adversely affect our ability to retain them or to hire new employees. While the Merger is pending, the potential disruption of plans or diversion of management’s attention
from our ongoing business operations could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The integration of Bristow with us following the Merger may present significant challenges. We cannot be sure that we will be able to realize the anticipated benefits of the
Merger in the anticipated time frame or at all.

Our ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the Merger will depend, to a large extent, on our ability to integrate Bristow’s businesses into Era in the anticipated
time  frame  or  at  all.  We  may  face  significant  challenges  in  combining  Bristow’s  operations  into  our  operations  in  a  timely  and  efficient  manner.  The  combination  of  two
independent  businesses  is  a  complex,  costly  and  time-consuming  process.  As  a  result,  we  will  be  required  to  devote  significant  management  attention  and  resources  to
integrating the business practices and operations of Bristow into ours. The integration process may disrupt the businesses and, if implemented ineffectively or inefficiently,
would preclude realization of the full benefits expected by us and Bristow. The failure to successfully integrate Bristow with us and to manage the challenges presented by the
integration  process  successfully  may  result  in  an  interruption  of,  or  loss  of  momentum  in,  our  business,  which  may  have  the  effect  of  depressing  the  market  price  of  our
common stock following the Merger.

15

 
 
 
 
Bristow may have liabilities that are not known, probable or estimable at this time.

As a result of the Merger, Bristow will become a subsidiary of Era Group Inc. while remaining subject to all of its current liabilities. Even though Bristow recently
emerged from Chapter 11 proceedings and discharged certain liabilities, there could be unasserted claims or assessments that we failed or were unable to discover or identify in
the  course  of  performing  due  diligence  investigations  of  Bristow.  In  addition,  there  may  be  liabilities  that  are  neither  probable  nor  estimable  at  this  time  that  may  become
probable or estimable in the future. Any such liabilities, individually or in the aggregate, could have a material adverse effect on our financial results.

Additionally, Bristow is subject to various rules, regulations, laws, and other legal requirements, enforced by governments or other public authorities. Misconduct,
fraud, non-compliance with applicable laws and regulations, or other improper activities by any of Bristow’s directors, officers, employees or agents could have a significant
impact  on  Bristow’s  business  and  reputation  and  could  subject  Bristow  to  fines  and  penalties  and  criminal,  civil  and  administrative  legal  sanctions,  resulting  in  reduced
revenues and profits.

Risk Factors Related to Our Operations

Our operations involve a degree of inherent risk that may not be adequately covered by our insurance and may increase our costs and limit our ability to obtain insurance
on commercially reasonable terms or at all.

The operation of helicopters is subject to various risks, including catastrophic disasters, crashes, collisions, adverse weather conditions, mechanical failures or damage
to our facilities, which may result in loss of life, personal injury to employees and third parties, damage to property or equipment owned by us or others, loss of revenues,
termination of customer contracts, fines, penalties, suspension of operations, restrictions on conducting business, increased insurance costs, and damage to our reputation and
customer relationships. Our helicopters have been involved in accidents in the past, some of which included loss of life, personal injury and property damage. We, or third
parties operating our helicopters, such as lessees may experience accidents or damage to our assets in the future. These risks could endanger the safety of both our and our
customers’ personnel, equipment, cargo and other property, as well as the environment. If any of these events were to occur with equipment that we operate or lease to third
parties, we could experience loss of revenue, termination of charter contracts, higher insurance rates and damage to our reputation and customer relationships. In addition, to the
extent  an  accident  occurs  with  a  helicopter  we  operate  or  by  assets  supporting  our  operations,  we  could  be  held  liable  for  resulting  damages.  The  occurrence  of  any  such
incident could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

In addition, other operators may experience accidents or safety issues with a particular model of helicopter that we operate or lease. Where such an accident or safety
issue with a particular model occurs, our customers, their employees or the unions to which our customer’s employees belong may refuse to use such model, a regulatory body
may ground that particular model of helicopter or we may be forced to take such model out of service until the cause of the accident or concern is adequately addressed, any of
which may result in a reduction of revenues and a loss of customers. Further the market value of a helicopter model may be permanently reduced if such model were to be
considered less desirable for future service, in which case the book value of inventory for such aircraft may be impaired.

We carry insurance, including hull and liability, liability and war risk, general liability, workers’ compensation and other insurance customary in the industry in which
we operate. Our insurance coverage is subject to deductibles and maximum coverage amounts, the aggregate impact of which could be material. Our insurance policies are also
subject to compliance with certain conditions, the failure of which could lead to a denial of coverage as to a particular claim or the voiding of a particular insurance policy. We
cannot ensure that our existing coverage will be sufficient to protect against all potential liabilities or the total amount of insured claims and liabilities, that we will be able to
maintain  our  existing  coverage  in  the  future,  or  that  our  existing  coverage  can  be  renewed  at  commercially  reasonable  rates  without  a  substantial  increase  in  premium.  In
addition, future terrorist activity, risk of war, accidents or other events could increase our insurance premiums. Even in cases where insurance covers the costs of repair due to
damage to a helicopter, there may be a diminution in the value of the helicopter as result of it being less desirable for future service, which would likely not be covered by
insurance. Furthermore, we are not generally insured for loss of profit, loss of use of helicopters, business interruption or loss of flight hours. The loss, or limited availability, of
our  liability  insurance  coverage,  inadequate  coverage  from  our  liability  insurance  or  substantial  increases  in  future  premiums  could  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  our
business, financial condition, and results of operations. Any material liability not covered by insurance or for which third-party indemnification is not available, would have a
material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Failure to maintain an acceptable safety record and level of reliability may have an adverse impact on our ability to attract and retain customers.

Our  customers  consider  safety  and  reliability  as  two  of  the  primary  attributes  in  selecting  a  helicopter  service  provider.  We  must  maintain  a  record  of  safety  and
reliability that is acceptable to, and in certain instances is contractually required by, our customers. In an effort to maintain an appropriate standard, we incur considerable costs
to maintain the quality of our safety and

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training  programs  and  our  fleet  of  helicopters.  For  example,  we  have  implemented  a  safety  program  that  includes,  among  many  other  features,  (i)  transition  and  recurrent
training using full-motion flight simulators and other flight training devices, (ii) an FAA approved flight data monitoring program and (iii)  HUMS, an automated program that
monitors and reports on vibrations and other anomalies on key components of certain helicopters in our fleet. In addition, many of our customers regularly conduct audits of our
operations  and  safety  programs.  We  cannot  be  assured  that  our  safety  program  or  our  other  efforts  will  provide  an  adequate  level  of  safety,  an  acceptable  safety  record  or
satisfactory customer audit results. If  we  fail  to  maintain  a  record  of  safety  and  reliability  that  are  satisfactory  to  our  customers,  our  ability  to  retain  current  customers  and
attract new customers may be adversely affected.

We may not be able to obtain work on acceptable terms covering some of our new helicopters, and some of our new helicopters may replace existing helicopters already
under contract, which could adversely affect the utilization of our existing fleet.

As of December 31, 2019, we had placed orders for eight new helicopters and have options to purchase an additional ten helicopters. Many of our new helicopters may
not be covered by customer contracts when they are placed into service, and we cannot assure you as to when we will be able to utilize these new helicopters or on what terms.
The ability to place new helicopters into service is highly dependent on the level of activity in the offshore oil and gas market, which in turn is affected by oil and gas prices. To
the extent our helicopters are covered by a customer contract, the typical duration of such contracts is generally too short to recover our full cost of purchasing the helicopter,
requiring us to seek frequent renewals and subjecting us to the risk that we will be unable to recoup our investment in the helicopter. Once a new helicopter is delivered to us,
we generally spend between one and three months installing equipment and configuring the helicopter to our specifications before we place it into service. As a result, there can
be a significant delay between the delivery date for a new helicopter and the time at which it begins to generate revenues for us. We also expect that some of our customers may
request new helicopters in lieu of our existing helicopters, which could adversely affect the utilization of our existing fleet. Our inability to profitably deploy our aircraft could
have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operation.

Our  fleet’s  excess  helicopters  include  those  that  are  not  otherwise  under  customer  contracts,  undergoing  maintenance,  dedicated  for  charter  activity  or  subject  to
operational suspension or other restrictions.  Although we take actions to minimize excess capacity, we expect a certain level of excess capacity at any given time as a result of
the evolving nature of customers’ needs.  In general, there may be some lag time before helicopters that are not under customer contracts are placed with other customers.  If we
are not successful in securing sufficient new contracts, we could experience a decline in the near-term utilization of our helicopters that could have a material adverse effect on
our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our dependence on a small number of helicopter manufacturers poses a significant risk to our business and prospects.

Although  our  fleet  includes  equipment  from  all  four  of  the  major  helicopter  manufacturers,  our  current  fleet  expansion  and  replacement  needs  rely  on  three
manufacturers. If any of the manufacturers with whom we contract face production delays due to, for example, natural disasters, labor strikes or unavailability of skilled labor,
we  may  experience  a  significant  delay  in  the  delivery  of  previously  ordered  helicopters.  During  these  periods,  we  may  not  be  able  to  obtain  additional  helicopters  with
acceptable pricing, delivery dates or other terms. Delivery delays or our inability to obtain acceptable helicopters or parts and components could adversely affect our business,
financial  condition  and  results  of  operations  and  jeopardize  our  ability  to  meet  the  demands  of  our  customers  and  execute  our  business  strategy.  Furthermore,  we  may  be
required by regulatory authorities or voluntarily decide to temporarily or permanently remove certain helicopter models from service following certain incidents or accidents,
thereby increasing our reliance on other models. The lack of availability of new helicopters resulting from a backlog in orders or unavailability of certain helicopter models for
service could result in an increase in prices for certain types of used helicopters.

A shortfall in availability of aircraft components, parts and subsystems required for maintenance and repairs of our helicopters could adversely affect us.

In connection with required repairs and maintenance that we perform or are performed by others on our helicopters, we rely on six key vendors (Leonardo SpA, Safran
Helicopter  Engines,  Sikorsky  Aircraft  Corporation,  GE  Aviation,  Pratt  &  Whitney  Co.  and  Airbus  Helicopters  Inc.)  for  the  supply  and  overhaul  of  components  on  our
helicopters.  Consolidations  involving  suppliers  could  further  reduce  the  number  of  alternative  suppliers  for  us  and  increase  the  cost  of  components.  These  vendors  have
historically been the manufacturers of helicopter components and parts, and their factories tend to work at or near full capacity supporting the helicopter production lines for
new equipment. This leaves little capacity for the production of parts requirements for maintenance of our helicopters. The tight production schedules, as well as new regulatory
requirements,  the  availability  of  raw  materials  or  commodities,  or  the  need  to  upgrade  parts  or  product  recalls,  can  add  to  backlogs,  resulting  in  key  parts  being  in  limited
supply or available on an allocation basis. To the extent that these suppliers also supply parts for helicopters used by the U.S. military, parts delivery for our helicopters may be
delayed  during  periods  in  which  there  are  high  levels  of  military  operations.  Our  inability  to  perform  timely  repair  and  maintenance  could  result  in  our  helicopters  being
underutilized  and  cause  us  to  lose  opportunities  with  existing  or  potential  customers,  each  of  which  could  have  an  adverse  impact  on  our  business,  financial  condition  and
results  of  operations.  Furthermore,  our  operations  in  remote  or  foreign  locations,  where  delivery  of  these  components  and  parts  could  result  in  additional  costs  or  take  a
significant period of time, may also impact our ability to repair and maintain our helicopters. Although

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every effort is made to mitigate such impact by attempting to maintain a sufficient amount of key, integral parts in inventory, a delay in delivery may pose a risk to our results of
operations. In addition, supplier cost increases for critical helicopter components and parts may also adversely impact our results of operations. In addition, as many of our
helicopters are manufactured by two European-based companies, the cost of spare parts could be impacted by changes in currency exchange rates.

The operation of our fleet requires us to carry spare parts and other inventory to perform scheduled and unscheduled maintenance activity.  Changes in the aircraft
model types or the timing of exit from model types of our fleet may result in spare parts and inventory levels in excess of those required to support our fleet over its remaining
life.  Additionally, certain spare parts or inventory may become obsolete or dormant as a result of changes in the use of such parts on aircraft and maintenance needs.  These
fleet changes or other external factors can result in impairment of spare part or inventory balances where we expect that excess, dormant or obsolete spare parts or inventory
will not recover its carrying value through sales to third parties or disposal.

Our operations depend on facilities we use throughout the world that are subject to physical and other risks that could disrupt operations.

Our facilities could be damaged or our operations could be disrupted by a natural disaster, labor strike, war, political unrest, terrorist activity or a pandemic disease. We
operate numerous bases in and along the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and we are particularly exposed to risk of loss or damage from hurricanes in that region. Although we have
obtained  property  damage  insurance,  a  major  catastrophe  such  as  a  hurricane,  earthquake  or  other  natural  disaster  at  any  of  our  sites,  or  significant  labor  strikes,  work
stoppages, political unrest, war or terrorist activities in any of the areas where we conduct operations, could result in a prolonged interruption or stoppage of our business or
material sub-parts of it. Any disruption resulting from these events could result in a loss of sales and customers. Our insurance may not adequately compensate us for any of
these events, and, if not so covered, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We rely on the secondary helicopter market to dispose of our used aircraft and parts as an element of our on-going fleet management efforts.

We manage our fleet by evaluating expected demand for helicopter services across global markets and the type of helicopters needed to meet this demand. As offshore
oil and gas drilling and production globally moves to deeper water, more heavy and medium aircraft and newer technology aircraft may be required. As helicopters come off of
current contracts or are replaced by newer models, our management evaluates our future needs for such helicopters against our ability to recover our remaining investments in
these aircraft through secondary market sales. We are dependent upon the secondary helicopter and parts market to dispose of our helicopters as our fleet continues to evolve to
address changes in demand driven by customer needs. The number of helicopter sales and the amount of gains and losses recorded on these sales is unpredictable. The loss of
our ability to dispose of helicopters and related equipment in the secondary market could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of
operations.

The book value of our owned helicopters as reflected on our balance sheet is based on our practice of depreciating our helicopters over their expected useful life to the
expected salvage value to be received for such helicopter at the end of that life.  From time to time, we disclose our net asset value, which is based, in large part, on the fair
market  value  of  our  helicopters  derived  from  a  combination  of  available  market  data,  estimates,  application  of  significant  judgment  and  assistance  of  valuation  specialists,
including values obtained from third party analysts. There is no assurance that either the book value or net asset value of any helicopter represents the amount that we could
obtain from an unaffiliated third party in an arm’s length sale of the aircraft, and market factors will impact the need for any write-downs of the book value, any recorded gains
or losses on helicopter sales and our ability to realize the estimated fair market value of our fleet. 

Any changes in the supply of, or demand for, helicopters could impact the secondary market. There may be limited or no demand for certain types of used helicopters,
especially older medium or heavy helicopters. Industry conditions, including the global oil and gas market downturn we are currently experiencing, could result in a decline in
demand for helicopters in that end market and a corresponding increase in idle helicopters. A number of our competitors have filed for bankruptcy protection subsequently and
returned a significant number of helicopters to lessors as part of their restructurings, resulting in an increased supply of helicopters available for sale and/or lease. This change
in  supply  has  and  may  continue  to  adversely  impact  helicopter  rates  and  pricing  of  our  helicopters  and  could  undermine  our  ability  to  dispose  of  our  helicopters  in  the
secondary market.

The market value of our helicopter fleet is dependent on a number of external factors.

The fair market value of each of our helicopters is dependent upon a variety of factors, including:

•

•
•
•
•

general economic and market conditions affecting the oil and gas industry, including the price of oil and gas and the level of oil and gas exploration, development
and production;
the number of comparable helicopters servicing the market;
the types and sizes of comparable helicopters available for sale or lease;
historical issues with helicopters of the same model;
the specific age and attributes of the helicopter;

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•
•

demand for the helicopter in different industries; and
changes in regulation or competition from other air transport companies and other modes of transportation.

Due to the market downturn that the oil and gas industry experienced in recent years, the fair market value of our helicopters has declined in recent periods and may
decline further in the future.  A decline in helicopter values could result in asset impairment charges, breaches of loan covenants or lower proceeds upon helicopter sales, any of
which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The  concentration  of  certain  helicopter  models  in  our  fleet  could  materially  adversely  affect  our  business,  financial  condition  and  results  of  operations  should  any
problems specific to these particular models occur.

As of December 31, 2019, the AW139 medium helicopter model comprised approximately 50% of the net book value of our helicopter fleet.   If the market demand
for this model declines, if this model experiences technical difficulties or if this model is involved in an operational incident, it could cause a diminution in value of the affected
model.  In addition, the bankruptcy or shutdown of a helicopter operator or lessor with a large fleet of such helicopter models may result in an oversupply of such model being
made available to the market, which could reduce the rates earned by, and/or the value of, such helicopter model.  Due to the high concentration of this model in our fleet, a
significant decline in value of this model that is other than temporary could result in an impairment to the carrying value of our helicopter fleet. The occurrence of any of these
events could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

We derive revenue from non-wholly owned entities. If we are unable to maintain good relations with the other owners of such non-wholly owned entities, our business,
financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

Local  regulatory  requirements  may  require  us  to  conduct  our  international  operations  using  another  operator’s  AOC  through  non-wholly  owned  entities  with  local
shareholders or through strategic alliances with foreign partners for regulatory reasons or other reasons such as their familiarity with the market. We have in the past, and may
in the future continue to, derive significant amounts of revenue from these entities. We depend to some extent upon good relations with our local partners that are shareholders
in these entities to ensure profitable operations of our non-wholly owned entities. These shareholders may have interests that are not always aligned with ours and may not be
required  to  provide  any  funding  that  these  entities  may  require  or  may  disagree  with  us  as  to  the  proper  timing  of  cash  distributions  to  us  and  our  shareholder  partners.
Furthermore, certain shareholders’ agreements with local shareholders contain call arrangements that allow the local shareholder to elect to purchase our shares and/or require
us to bear all of the losses of such entities. The calls are exercisable in certain circumstances, including liquidation and events of default. In the event shareholder disputes arise
or we lose our interest in our non-wholly owned entities and/or find other local partners, it could negatively impact our revenues and profit sharing from such entities, and have
a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We are highly dependent upon the level of activity in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, which is a mature exploration, development and production region.

For  the  years  ended  December  31,  2019,  2018  and  2017,  our  operating  revenues  derived  from  services  provided  to  customers  primarily  engaged  in  oil  and  gas
activities in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico represented approximately 63%, 69% and 62%,  respectively,  of  our  total  revenues.  The  U.S.  Gulf  of  Mexico  is  a  mature  exploration,
development and production region that has undergone substantial seismic survey and exploration activity for many years. We cannot predict the levels of activity in this area.
A  large  number  of  oil  and  gas  properties  in  the  region  have  already  been  drilled,  and  additional  prospects  of  sufficient  size  and  quality  could  be  more  difficult  to  identify.
Generally, the production from these mature oil and gas properties is declining and future production may decline to the point that such properties are no longer economically
viable to operate, in which case our services with respect to such properties may no longer be needed. Oil and gas companies may not identify sufficient additional drilling sites
to replace those that become depleted. If activity in oil and gas exploration, development and production in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico materially declines, our business, financial
condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

Any significant development impacting deepwater drilling in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico could materially adversely affect us.

We are highly dependent on offshore oil and gas activities in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. As a result of the well-publicized sinking of the Deepwater Horizon, a semi-
submersible deepwater drilling rig operating in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico after an apparent blowout and fire resulting in a significant flow of hydrocarbons from the BP Plc.
Macondo  well,  the  U.S.  Department  of  Interior  temporarily  imposed  a  moratorium  on  offshore  drilling  operations  and  issued  new  rules  designed  to  improve  drilling  and
workplace safety in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. While the moratorium was quickly lifted, BSEE, the Office of National Resources Revenue and other regulatory agencies may
issue new safety and environmental guidelines and regulations for drilling in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and other geographic regions, the result of which may increase the costs
and  regulatory  burden  of  exploration,  development  and  production,  reduce  the  area  of  operations  for  offshore  oil  and  gas  activities  and  result  in  permitting  delays.  If new
regulations or guidelines are implemented, it is difficult to predict the ultimate impact of any new guidelines, regulations or legislation. A prolonged suspension of drilling
activity or permitting delays in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and other geographic locations in which we operate, new regulations and/or increased liability for companies operating
in the offshore oil and gas sector, whether or not caused by a

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new  incident  in  any  region,  could  result  in  reduced  demand  for  our  services  and  could  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  our  business,  financial  condition  and  results  of
operations.

We are subject to political, economic and regulatory risks associated with our international operations and the expansion thereof.

We  operate  and  lease  helicopters  in  international  markets.  During  the  years  ended  December  31,  2019,  2018  and  2017,  approximately  34%,  29%  and  34%,
respectively,  of  our  operating  revenues  were  derived  from  our  international  operations.  Our  strategy  contemplates  growth  in  our  international  operations  in  the  future.  Our
international operations are subject to a number of risks, including:

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political conditions and events, including embargoes;
uncertainties concerning import and export restrictions, including the risk of fines or penalties assessed for violating export restrictions by the Office of Foreign
Assets Controls of the U.S. Department of Treasury;
restrictive actions by U.S. and foreign governments, including those in Brazil, Colombia, and Suriname which could limit our ability to provide services in those
countries;
the imposition of withholding or other taxes on foreign income, tariffs or restrictions on foreign trade and investment;
adverse tax consequences;
limitations on repatriation of earnings or currency exchange controls and import/export quotas;
nationalization, expropriation, asset seizure, blockades and blacklisting;
limitations in the availability, amount or terms of insurance coverage;
loss of contract rights and inability to adequately enforce contracts;
the lack of well-developed legal systems in some countries that could make it difficult for us to enforce contractual rights;
political, social and economic instability, war and civil disturbances, outbreak of pandemic viruses or other risks that may limit or disrupt markets, such as terrorist
attacks, piracy and kidnapping;
fluctuations in currency exchange rates, hard currency shortages and controls on currency exchange that affect demand for our services and our profitability;
potential noncompliance with a wide variety of laws and regulations, such as the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (the “FCPA”), and similar non-U.S.
laws and regulations, including the U.K. Bribery Act 2010 (the “UKBA”) and Brazil’s Clean Companies Act (the “BCCA”);
labor strikes;
changes in general economic conditions;
adverse changes in foreign laws or regulatory requirements, including those with respect to flight operations and environmental protections; and
challenges in staffing and managing widespread operations, including logistical and communication challenges.

If we are unable to adequately address these risks, it may impact our ability to operate in certain international markets and our business, financial condition and results

of operations could be materially adversely affected.

Our results could be impacted by U.S. and foreign social, political, regulatory and economic conditions as well as by changes in tariffs, trade agreements or other trade
restrictions imposed by the U.S. government.

Changes in U.S. political, regulatory and economic conditions or in laws and policies governing foreign trade (including the U.S. trade agreements and U.S. tariff
policies), travel to and from the United States, immigration, manufacturing, development and investment in the territories and countries in which we operate, and any negative
sentiments or retaliatory actions towards the United States as a result of such changes, could adversely affect the industry, which could adversely affect our business, financial
position,  results  of  operations,  cash  flows  and  growth  prospects.  The  current  administration,  along  with  Congress,  has  created  significant  uncertainty  about  the  future
relationship between the United States and other countries with respect to the trade policies, treaties, taxes, government regulations and tariffs that would be applicable. It is
unclear what changes might be considered or implemented and what response to any such changes may be by the governments of other countries. These changes have created
significant  uncertainty  about  the  future  relationship  between  the  United  States  and  China,  as  well  as  other  countries,  including  with  respect  to  the  trade  policies,  treaties,
government regulations and tariffs that could apply to trade between the United States and other nations. Changes in these policies may have a material adverse effect on our
business, financial position, results of operations, cash flows and growth prospects.

On June 23, 2016, the citizens of the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union and on January 31, 2020, the United Kingdom left the European Union. The
uncertainty surrounding the consequences of the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union may cause disruptions to and create uncertainty surrounding our business,
including affecting economy and oil and gas prices as well as our relationships with our existing and future customers, suppliers and employees.

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Our diversification efforts into other aviation services may prove unsuccessful.

Our business has traditionally been significantly dependent upon the level of offshore oil and gas exploration, development and production activity. The prolonged
market downturn in the oil and gas industry that we are currently experiencing has adversely affected, our financial condition and results of operations and could continue to
negatively impact our financial results in future periods. We consistently look for opportunities to diversify our operations. While diversification into other aviation services is
intended to grow the business and offset the cyclical nature of oil and gas activities, we may incur material costs in our efforts to diversify and we cannot be certain that the
associated diversification benefits related to other services that we may offer in the future will be realized.

In order to support or grow our business, we may require additional capital in the future that may not be available to us.

Our business is capital intensive, and to the extent we do not generate sufficient cash from operations, we will need to raise additional funds through bank financing
and other public or private debt or equity financing to execute our strategy and make the capital expenditures required to operate our business. Adequate sources of capital
funding may not be available when needed, or may not be available on favorable terms. The availability of financing may also be affected by oil and gas prices and exploration,
development  and  production  activity  levels.  If  we  raise  additional  funds  by  issuing  equity  or  certain  types  of  convertible  debt  securities,  the  holdings  of  our  existing
stockholders may be diluted. Further, if we raise additional debt financing, we will incur additional interest expense, the terms of such debt may be less favorable than our
existing debt and we may be required to pledge our assets as security or be subjected to financial and/or operating covenants that affect our ability to conduct our business. Our
ability to engage in any capital raising activities are subject to the restrictions in our existing debt instruments. If our levels of funding are insufficient at any time in the future,
or we are unable to conduct capital raising activities for any reason, we may be unable to acquire additional helicopters, take advantage of business opportunities or respond to
competitive pressures, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

There are risks associated with our debt structure.

As of December 31, 2019, our indebtedness consisted of $144.1 million  aggregate  principal  amount  of  our  7.750%  senior  unsecured  notes  due  2022  (the  “7.750%
Senior Notes”) and $18.3 million of aggregate indebtedness outstanding under two promissory notes. In addition, we had the ability to borrow up to $124.3 million under our
Revolving Credit Facility, after taking into account the financial ratios we are required to maintain under the facility as discussed in more detail below.

The agreements governing our Revolving Credit Facility contain various covenants that limit our ability to, among other things:

incur or guarantee additional indebtedness;
incur liens or pledge the assets of certain of our subsidiaries;
pay dividends or make investments;
keep excess cash amounts;

• make investments;
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• maintain a maximum senior secured leverage ratio;
• maintain a minimum interest coverage ratio;
• maintain a minimum ratio of the sum of their fair market value of mortgaged helicopters, accounts receivable and inventory to total funded and committed debt;
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enter into transactions with affiliates; and
enter into certain sales of all or substantially all of our assets, mergers and consolidations.

Failure to comply with these covenants is an event of default under the Revolving Credit Facility, and therefore, our ability to borrow under our Revolving Credit
Facility is dependent on and limited by our ability to comply with such covenants. In addition, the indenture governing our 7.750% Senior Notes contains similar incurrence
based negative covenants.

If we experience reduced operating revenues, our ability to utilize our Revolving Credit Facility may be limited or we may require additional investments in our capital
stock to maintain our financial ratio within applicable limits. Any inability to borrow under our Revolving Credit Facility could have a material adverse effect on our ability to
make capital expenditures and our business, financial condition and results of operations. Further, failure to maintain the financial ratios or other covenants required under our
Revolving  Credit  Facility  would  constitute  an  event  of  default,  allowing  the  lenders  under  our  Revolving  Credit  Facility  to  declare  the  entire  balance  of  any  and  all  sums
payable under the facility immediately due and payable, which in turn would permit the holders of our 7.750% Senior Notes to accelerate maturity of the 7.750% Senior Notes.

Our ability to meet our debt service obligations and refinance our indebtedness, including any future debt that we may incur, will depend upon our ability to generate
cash in the future from operations, financings or asset sales, which are subject to general economic conditions, industry cycles, seasonality and other factors, some of which
may  be  beyond  our  control.  If  we  cannot  repay  or  refinance  our  debt  as  it  becomes  due,  we  may  be  forced  to  sell  assets  or  take  other  disadvantageous  actions,  including
reducing financing in the future for working capital, capital expenditures and general corporate purposes or dedicating an

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unsustainable level of our cash flow from operations to the payment of principal and interest on our indebtedness. Any failure to repay or refinance may also permit the lenders
who  hold  such  debt  to  accelerate  amounts  due,  which  would  potentially  trigger  default  or  acceleration  of  our  other  debt.  In  addition,  our  ability  to  withstand  competitive
pressures and to react to changes in our industry could be impaired.

Our  future  debt  levels  and  the  terms  of  any  future  indebtedness  we  may  incur  may  contain  restrictive  covenants  and  limit  our  liquidity  and  our  ability  to  obtain
additional financing and pursue acquisitions and joint ventures or purchase new helicopters. Tight credit conditions could limit our ability to secure additional financing, if
required, due to difficulties accessing the credit and capital markets.

Any downgrade in the credit ratings for our public debt securities could limit our ability to obtain future financing, increase our borrowing costs and adversely affect the
market price of our outstanding debt securities, or otherwise impair our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Credit rating agencies continually review our corporate ratings and ratings for our public debt securities. Credit rating agencies also evaluate the industries in which we
and  our  affiliates  operate  as  a  whole  and  may  change  their  credit  rating  for  us  based  on  their  overall  view  of  such  industries.  In  March  2016,  Moody’s  Investor  Services
(“Moody’s”) conducted a review of oilfield services companies in the United States and downgraded our corporate family rating to B3 from B1, with a negative outlook which
is where it remains today. While we believe that the ratings agencies will upgrade our ratings upon consummation of the Merger, no assurance can be given that they will do so
or that events occurring between now and the closing of the Merger will not require them to reconsider the upgrade or even downgrade our credit rating upon consummation of
the Merger. There can be no assurance that any rating assigned to our currently outstanding public debt securities will remain in effect for any given period of time or that any
such ratings will not be lowered, suspended or withdrawn entirely by a rating agency if, in that rating agency’s judgment, circumstances so warrant.

A further downgrade of our credit ratings could, among other things:

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limit our access to the capital markets or otherwise adversely affect the availability of other new financing on favorable terms, if at all;
result in more restrictive covenants in agreements governing the terms of any future indebtedness that we may incur;
increase our cost of borrowing;
adversely affect the market price of our 7.750% Senior Notes; and
impair our business, financial condition and results of operations.

On January 24, 2020, Moody’s placed our ratings under review for upgrade, including our B3 Corporate Family Rating (CFR), B3-PD Probability of Default Rating
and  Caa1  senior  unsecured  notes  rating.  These  actions  follow  the  announcement  that  we  have  entered  into  a  definitive  agreement  to  merge  with  Bristow  in  an  all-stock
transaction.

On January 28, 2020, S&P Global affirmed its B- issue-level rating on our company and revised its outlook from negative to stable; with the likelihood of revising the

recovery rating from a 3 to a 2 on our 7.75% senior unsecured notes due 2022 upon the closing of the merger with Bristow.

Changes in the method of determining the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), or the replacement of LIBOR with an alternative reference rate, may adversely affect
interest rates.

It  is  expected  that  a  number  of  private-sector  banks  currently  reporting  information  used  to  set  LIBOR  will  stop  doing  so  after  2021  when  their  current  reporting
commitment ends, which could either cause LIBOR to stop publication immediately or cause LIBOR’s regulator to determine that its quality has degraded to the degree that it
is no longer representative of its underlying market. It is unclear whether new methods of calculating LIBOR will be established such that it continues to exist after 2021, or
whether different benchmark rates used to price indebtedness will develop. Borrowings under our current and future indebtedness may bear interest at rates tied to LIBOR. In
the  future,  we  may  need  to  renegotiate  our  existing  indebtedness  or  incur  other  indebtedness,  and  the  phase-out  of  LIBOR  may  negatively  impact  the  terms  of  such
indebtedness. In addition, the overall financial market may be disrupted as a result of the phase-out or replacement of LIBOR. Disruption in the financial market could have a
material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and liquidity.

Upon a change of control, holders of our 7.750% Senior Notes will have the right to require us to purchase their notes, which could have certain adverse ramifications.

Upon a “Change of Control Trigger Event” (as defined in the indenture governing our 7.750% Senior Notes), each holder of our 7.750% Senior Notes will have the
right to require us to purchase any or all of that holder’s notes at a price of 101% of the principal amount of their notes plus accrued and unpaid interest. While the Merger will
not  trigger  these  change  of  control  provisions,  if  a  change  of  control  were  to  occur  and,  due  to  lack  of  cash,  legal  or  contractual  impediments,  we  fail  to  discharge  these
obligations, these failure could constitute an event of default under such notes, which could in turn constitute a default under our other outstanding

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debt agreements, including our Revolving Credit Facility. Moreover, the existence of these purchase obligations may, in certain circumstances, discourage a sale or takeover of
us or the removal of our incumbent directors.

We are exposed to credit risks.

We are exposed to credit risk on trade receivables and the unexpected loss of cash and earnings when a customer cannot meet its obligation to us or when the value of
security provided declines. Customer credit risk is exacerbated during times of depressed oil prices, like that we are currently experiencing. In addition to collection risk, we are
exposed to the risk of potential contractual termination in the event that a customer voluntarily or involuntarily seeks relief from creditors upon becoming insolvent or unable to
repay its debts as they become due and the risk of customers seeking to renegotiate contracts on terms more beneficial to the customer. To mitigate trade credit risk, we have
developed  credit  policies  and  procedures  that  are  designed  to  monitor  and  limit  exposure  to  credit  risk  on  our  receivables.  Such  policies  include  the  review,  approval  and
monitoring of new customers, annual credit evaluations and credit limits. However, there can be no assurance that such procedures will effectively limit our credit risk and
avoid losses, and, if not effective, such credit risks could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

In  addition,  we  are  exposed  to  credit  risk  on  our  financial  investments  and  instruments  that  are  dependent  upon  the  ability  of  our  counterparties  to  fulfill  their
obligations  to  us.  We  manage  credit  risk  by  entering  into  arrangements  with  established  counterparties  that  possess  investment  grade  credit  ratings  and  by  monitoring  our
concentration risk with counterparties on an ongoing basis and through the establishment of credit policies and limits, which are applied in the selection of counterparties.

Our global operations are subject to foreign currency, interest rate, fixed-income, equity and commodity price risks.

We  are  exposed  to  currency  fluctuations  and  exchange  rate  risks.  A  significant  portion  of  our  unfunded  capital  purchase  obligations  are  denominated  in  foreign
currencies and, although some of these risks may be hedged, fluctuations could significantly impact our cost of purchase and, as a result, our business, financial condition and
results  of  operation.  We  purchase  some  of  our  helicopters  and  helicopter  parts  from  foreign  manufacturers  and  maintain  operations  in  foreign  countries,  which  results  in
portions of our revenues and expenses being denominated in foreign currencies. We attempt to minimize our exposure to currency exchange risk by contracting the majority of
our services in U.S. dollars. As a result, a strong U.S. dollar may increase the local cost of our services that are provided under the U.S. dollar denominated contracts, which
may reduce demand for our services in foreign countries. Generally, we do not enter into hedging transactions to protect against exchange risks related to our gross revenue or
operating expenses.

In  addition,  currency  fluctuations  could  result  in  particular  helicopter  models  becoming  less  expensive  for  our  competitors,  which  could  lead  to  excess  helicopter
capacity and increased competition, in turn jeopardizing both pricing and utilization of our equipment. Such currency fluctuations could also impact residual values for certain
helicopters priced in foreign currencies.

Because  we  maintain  our  financial  statements  in  U.S.  dollars,  our  financial  results  are  vulnerable  to  fluctuations  in  the  exchange  rate  between  the  U.S.  dollar  and
foreign  currencies,  primarily  the  euro  and  the  Brazilian  real.  Changes  in  exchange  rates  could  materially  adversely  affect  our  business,  financial  condition  or  results  of
operations.

We operate in countries with foreign exchange controls, including Brazil. These controls may limit our ability to repatriate funds from our international operations or

otherwise convert local currencies into U.S. dollars. These limitations could adversely affect our ability to access cash from these operations and our liquidity.

Difficult economic and financial conditions could have a material adverse effect on us.

The financial results of our business are both directly and indirectly dependent upon economic conditions throughout the world, which in turn can be impacted by
conditions  in  the  global  financial  markets.  These  factors  are  outside  our  control  and  changes  in  circumstances  are  difficult  to  predict.  Uncertainty  about  global  economic
conditions  may  lead  businesses  to  postpone  spending  in  response  to  tighter  credit  and  reductions  in  income  or  asset  values,  which  may  lead  many  lenders  and  institutional
investors to reduce, and in some cases, cease to provide, funding to borrowers. Weak economic activity may lead government customers to cut back on services. Factors such as
interest rates, availability of credit, inflation rates, economic uncertainty, regulatory and tax changes, trade barriers, commodity prices, currency exchange rates and controls,
national and international political circumstances (including wars, terrorist acts or security operations), health crisis and the failure of lenders participating in our Revolving
Credit  Facility  to  fulfill  their  commitments  and  obligations  under  such  facility  could  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  our  business,  financial  condition  and  results  of
operations.

A slowdown in economic activity can reduce worldwide demand for energy and result in an extended period of lower oil and natural gas prices. A prolonged reduction
in oil and natural gas prices may depress the activity levels of oil and gas companies, which could adversely impact the financial position of our customers and the customers of
those operators to whom we lease helicopters. As a result, there could be a corresponding decline in demand for our services, an increase in the volatility of our stock price and
an inability of our customers to pay amounts owed to us in a timely manner or at all. Perceptions of a long-term depression of oil and natural gas prices may also further reduce
or defer major expenditures by oil and gas companies given the long-term

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nature of many large-scale development projects. These conditions could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

In  December  2019,  a  novel  strain  of  coronavirus  surfaced  in  Wuhan,  China.  In  late  January  2020,  in  response  to  intensifying  efforts  to  contain  the  spread  of  this
coronavirus, several countries imposed travel restrictions to and from affected areas and a number of airlines ceased flying to various cities in China. While, as of the date
hereof, the majority of reported cases have been concentrated in China, reported cases in other countries have been increasing. The World Health Organization declared a global
emergency on January 30, 2020 with respect to the outbreak and several countries, including the United States, Japan and Australia have initiated travel restrictions to and from
China. Prolonged quarantines, travel bans and similar restrictions could have significant effects on the Chinese economy specifically and the global economy more generally,
which in turn could lead potential decreases in oil and natural gas prices and therefore demand for our services.

Weather and seasonality can impact our results of operations.

A significant portion of our revenues is dependent on actual flight hours, which may be impacted by prolonged periods of adverse weather conditions, including those
resulting  from  climate  change.  During  the  fall  and  winter  months,  weather  conditions  are  generally  more  extreme,  with  periods  of  poor  visibility,  high  winds  and  heavy
precipitation in some areas. As a result, oil and gas exploration, development and production activity decreases in winter months. In addition, although some of our helicopters
are  equipped  to  fly  at  night,  operations  servicing  offshore  oil  and  gas  transport  of  passengers  and  other  non-emergency  operations  are  generally  conducted  during  daylight
hours. During winter months, there are fewer daylight hours. As a result of adverse weather conditions and lack of daylight, our flight hours, and therefore revenues, tend to
decline in the winter months.

Our operations in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico may also be adversely affected by weather. Tropical storm season runs from June through November. Tropical storms and
hurricanes  limit  our  ability  to  operate  our  helicopters  in  the  proximity  of  a  storm,  reduce  oil  and  gas  exploration,  development  and  production  activity,  could  result  in  the
incurrence of additional expenses to secure equipment and facilities and may require us to evacuate our aircraft, personnel and equipment out of the path of a storm. In addition,
a significant portion of our facilities are located along the coast of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and extreme weather may cause substantial damage to such properties. Despite our
efforts to prepare for storms and secure our equipment, we may suffer damage to our helicopters or our facilities, which may impact our ability to provide our services. Any
negative impact as a result of adverse weather conditions or the seasonality of our operations may materially affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We may undertake one or more significant corporate transactions that may not achieve their intended results, may result in unforeseeable risks to our business and may
materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

In  addition  to  the  Merger,  we  continuously  evaluate  the  acquisition  of  operating  businesses  and  assets  and  may  in  the  future  undertake  one  or  more  significant
transactions. Any such transaction could be material to our business and could take any number of forms, including mergers, joint ventures and the purchase of equity interests.
The consideration for such transactions may include, among other things, cash, common stock or equity interests in us or our subsidiaries, or a contribution of equipment to
obtain  equity  interests.  Further,  if  we  were  to  complete  such  an  acquisition,  disposition,  investment  or  other  strategic  transaction,  we  may  require  additional  debt  or  equity
financing, which could result in a significant increase in our amount of debt and our debt service obligations or the number of outstanding shares of our Common Stock, thereby
diluting holders of our Common Stock outstanding prior to such acquisition. We also routinely evaluate the benefits of disposing of certain of our assets. Such dispositions
could take the form of asset sales, mergers or sales of equity interests.

These  strategic  transactions  may  not  achieve  their  intended  results  and  may  present  significant  risks,  such  as  insufficient  revenues  to  offset  liabilities  assumed,
including the combination with Bristow, potential loss of significant revenues and income streams, increased or unexpected expenses, inadequate return of capital, regulatory or
compliance issues, impairment of intangible assets such as goodwill that may be acquired, the triggering of certain covenants in our debt instruments (including accelerated
repayment) and unidentified issues not discovered in due diligence. In addition, such transactions could distract management from current operations. As a result of the risks
inherent in such transactions, we cannot guarantee that any such transaction will ultimately result in the realization of its anticipated benefits or that it will not have a material
adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our failure to attract and retain qualified personnel could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Loss of the services of key management personnel at our corporate and regional headquarters without being able to attract personnel of equal ability could have a
material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Further, Title 49 of the Transportation Code and other statutes require that our President
and two-thirds of our board of directors and other managing officers be U.S. citizens, which limits the potential pool of new candidates. The skills, experience and industry
contacts  of  our  senior  management  significantly  benefit  our  operations  and  administration.  The  failure  to  attract,  retain  and  properly  motivate  the  members  of  our  senior
management team and other key employees, or to find suitable replacements for them in the event of

24

 
 
 
death, ill health or their desire to pursue other professional opportunities, could have a material adverse effect on business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our ability to attract and retain qualified pilots, mechanics and other highly trained personnel is likewise an important factor in determining our future success. For
example, many of our customers require pilots with very high levels of flight experience. In addition, the maintenance of our helicopters requires mechanics that are trained and
experienced in servicing particular makes and models of helicopters. The market for these highly trained personnel is competitive and we cannot be certain that we will be
successful in attracting and retaining qualified personnel in the future. Some of our pilots, mechanics and other highly trained personnel, as well as those of our competitors, are
members of the U.S. military reserves who have been, or could be, called to active duty. If significant numbers of such personnel are called to active duty, it would reduce the
supply of such workers and likely increase our labor costs. In addition, the certification of our pilots is within the purview of the U.S. federal government, and a prolonged
shutdown of the federal government could adversely affect our ability to add qualified pilots to our workforce in a timely fashion.

Labor problems could adversely affect us.

All of our employees in Brazil (representing approximately 26% of our employees) are represented under collective bargaining or union agreements. Any disputes
over the terms of these agreements or our potential inability to negotiate acceptable contracts with the unions that represent our employees under these agreements could result
in strikes, work stoppages or other slowdowns by the affected workers. Our U.S. employees are not currently represented by a collective bargaining agreement. However, we
cannot assure you that our employees will not unionize in the future. Periodically, certain groups of our employees may consider entering into such an agreement.

If our unionized workers engage in a strike, work stoppage or other slowdown, other employees elect to become unionized, existing labor agreements are renegotiated,
or future labor agreements contain terms that are unfavorable to us, we could experience a disruption of our operations or higher ongoing labor costs, which could materially
adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Adverse results of legal proceedings could have a material adverse effect on us.

We are subject to, and may in the future be subject to a variety of legal proceedings and claims that arise out of the ordinary conduct of our business. Results of legal
proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty. Irrespective of their merits, legal proceedings may be both lengthy and disruptive to our operations and may cause significant
expenditure and diversion of management attention. We may face significant monetary damages or injunctive relief that could have a material adverse effect on our business,
financial condition and results of operations should we not prevail in certain matters.

Negative publicity may materially adversely affect us.

Media coverage and public statements that insinuate improper actions by us or relate to accidents or other issues involving the safety of our helicopters or operations,
or the helicopters of other operators, regardless of their factual accuracy or truthfulness, may result in negative publicity, litigation or governmental investigations by regulators.
Specifically, accidents involving any aircraft operated by us or another operator could cause material adverse publicity affecting us or our industry generally and could lead to
the perception that our aircraft are not safe or reliable.

Addressing negative publicity and any resulting litigation or investigations may distract management, increase costs and divert resources. Further, negative publicity
may have an adverse impact on our reputation, our customer relationships and the morale of our employees, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial
condition and results of operations.

Failure to develop or implement new technologies could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Many  of  the  helicopters  that  we  operate,  and  the  demand  for  such  helicopters,  are  subject  to  changing  technology,  introductions  and  enhancements  of  models  of
helicopters and services and shifting customer demands, including technology preferences. Our future growth and financial performance will depend in part upon our ability to
develop,  market  and  integrate  new  services  and  to  accommodate  the  latest  technological  advances  and  client  preferences.  In  addition,  the  introduction  of  new  services  or
technologies, such as unmanned aerial vehicles and new vertical take-off and landing aircraft, that compete with our services could result in our revenues decreasing over time.
If we are unable to upgrade our operations or fleet with the latest technological advances in a timely manner, or at all, our business, financial condition and results of operations
could suffer. Furthermore, any disruption to computers, communication systems or other technical equipment used by us and our fleet could significantly impair our ability to
operate our business efficiently and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

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We rely on information technology, and if we are unable to protect against service interruptions, system failures, data corruption, cyber-based attacks or network security
breaches, our operations could be disrupted, our reputation could be harmed and our business could be materially adversely affected.

We rely on information technology networks and systems to process, transmit and store electronic and financial information; to capture knowledge of our business; to
coordinate our business across our operation bases and to communicate with our employees and externally with customers, suppliers, partners and other third parties. These
information technology systems, some of which are managed by third parties, may be susceptible to damage, disruptions or shutdowns, hardware or software failures, power
outages, computer viruses, cyber attacks, telecommunication failures, user errors, lack of support or catastrophic events and we may experience such damages, interruptions,
malfunctions or security breaches in the future. Our systems may also be older generations of software which are unable to perform as effectively as, and fail to communicate
well with, newer systems.

Cybersecurity incidents could materially affect our business

Our  information  technology  systems  are  becoming  increasingly  integrated.  If  our  information  technology  systems  were  to  suffer  severe  damage,  disruption  or
shutdown and our business continuity plans do not effectively resolve the issues in a timely manner, we could experience business disruptions, which would have a material
adverse  effect  on  our  business,  financial  condition  and  results  of  operations  and  on  the  ability  of  management  to  align  and  optimize  technology  to  implement  business
strategies. In addition, cyber-attacks, including successful breaches, employee malfeasance, or human or technological error could result in, for example, unauthorized access
to, disclosure, modification, misuse, loss, or destruction of company, customer, or other third party data or systems; theft of sensitive, regulated, or confidential data including
personal  information  and  intellectual  property;  the  loss  of  access  to  critical  data  or  systems  through  ransomware,  destructive  attacks  or  other  means;  and  business  delays,
service or system disruptions or denials of service. There is no assurance that we will not experience these service interruptions or cyber attacks in the future. Further, as the
frequency, scope and sophistication of cyber attacks continue to evolve, we may be required to expend additional resources to continue to modify or enhance our protective
measures or to investigate and remediate any vulnerabilities to cyber attacks. A security breach may also lead to potential claims from third parties or employees. Any such
incident can also cause significant reputational harm to our business and our partners.

Risk Factors Relating to Regulations

If we do not restrict the amount of foreign ownership of our Common Stock, we may fail to remain a U.S. citizen, lose our status as a U.S. air carrier and be prohibited
from operating helicopters in the U.S., which would adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Since we hold the status of a U.S. air carrier under the regulations of both the U.S. DOT and the FAA and we engage in the operating and leasing of helicopters in the
U.S., we are subject to regulations pursuant to the Transportation Code and other statutes (collectively, “Aviation Acts”). The Transportation Code requires that certificates to
engage in air transportation be held only by citizens of the U.S. as that term is defined in the relevant section of the Transportation Code. That section requires: (i) that our
president and two-thirds of our board of directors and other managing officers be U.S. citizens; (ii) that at least 75% of our outstanding voting stock be owned by U.S. citizens;
and (iii) that we must be under the actual control of U.S. citizens. Further, our helicopters operating in the U.S. must generally be registered in the U.S. In order to register such
helicopters under the Aviation Acts, we must be owned or controlled by U.S. citizens. Although our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated
bylaws contain provisions intended to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Aviation Acts, failure to maintain compliance would result in the loss of our air carrier
status  prohibiting  us  from  operating  helicopters  in  the  U.S.  during  any  period  in  which  we  did  not  comply  with  these  regulations,  and  would  thereby  adversely  affect  our
business, financial condition and results of operations.

We are subject to non-U.S. governmental regulation that limits foreign ownership of helicopter companies.

We are subject to governmental regulation outside of the U.S. that limits foreign ownership of helicopter companies in favor of domestic ownership. Failure to comply
with regulations and requirements for local ownership in the various markets in which we operate, and may operate in the future, may subject our helicopters to deregistration
or  impoundment.  If  required  levels  of  local  ownership  are  not  met  or  maintained,  joint  ventures  in  which  we  have  significant  investments  could  also  be  prohibited  from
operating within these countries. Deregistration of our helicopters or helicopters operated by our joint venture partners for any reason, including foreign ownership in excess of
permitted levels, would have a material adverse effect on our ability to conduct operations within these markets. We cannot assure you that there will be no changes in aviation
laws, regulations, required levels of local ownership, or administrative requirements or the interpretations thereof, that could restrict or prohibit our ability to operate in certain
regions. Any such restriction or prohibition on our ability to operate may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

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The  Outer  Continental  Shelf  Lands  Act,  as  amended,  provides  the  federal  government  with  broad  discretion  in  regulating  the  leasing  of  offshore  resources  for  the
production of oil and gas.

We  currently  derive  a  significant  portion  of  our  revenues  from  services  we  provide  in  the  U.S.  Gulf  of  Mexico  in  support  of  offshore  oil  and  gas  exploration,
development and production activity. As such, we are subject to the U.S. government’s exercise of authority under the provisions of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. The
Outer  Continental  Shelf  Lands  Act  restricts  the  availability  of  offshore  oil  and  gas  leases  by  requiring  certain  lease  conditions,  such  as  the  implementation  of  safety  and
environmental protections, the preparation of spill contingency plans and air quality standards for certain pollutants, the violation of any of which could result in a potential
fines, penalties, court injunction curtailing operations and lease cancellations. The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act also requires that all pipelines operating on or across the
outer continental shelf provide open and nondiscriminatory access to shippers. These provisions could adversely impact exploration and production activity in the U.S. Gulf of
Mexico. If activity in oil and gas exploration, development and production in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico declines, our business, financial condition and results of operations could
be materially adversely affected.

We are subject to tax and other legal compliance risks, including anti-corruption statutes, the violation of which may materially adversely affect our business, financial
condition and results of operations.

As  a  global  business,  we  are  subject  to  complex  laws  and  regulations  in  the  U.S.  and  other  countries  in  which  we  operate.  These  laws  and  regulations  relate  to  a
number  of  aspects  of  our  business,  including  import  and  export  controls,  the  payment  of  taxes,  employment  and  labor  relations,  fair  competition,  data  privacy  protections,
securities regulation, anti-money laundering, anti-corruption, economic sanctions and other regulatory requirements affecting trade and investment. The application of these
laws and regulations to our business is often unclear and may sometimes conflict. Compliance with these laws and regulations may involve significant costs or require changes
in our business practices that result in reduced revenue and profitability. A failure to comply could also result in significant fines, damages and other criminal sanctions against
us, our officers, employees, joint venture partners or strategic partners, prohibitions or additional requirements on the conduct of our business and damage to our reputation.
Further, we could be charged with wrongdoing for any violation of such laws and regulations by our agents, local partners or joint ventures, even though such parties may not
be subject to the applicable statutes or may not operate under our control. Failure by us or one of our agents, joint ventures or strategic partners to comply with applicable
export  and  trade  practice  laws  could  result  in  civil  or  criminal  penalties  and  suspension  or  termination  of  export  privileges.  Certain  violations  of  law  could  also  result  in
suspension or debarment from government contracts. We incur additional legal compliance costs associated with our global regulations and the changes in laws or regulations
and  related  interpretations  and  other  guidance  could  result  in  higher  expenses  and  payments.  Uncertainty  relating  to  such  laws  or  regulations,  including  how  they  affect  a
business or how we are required to comply with the laws, may also affect how we conduct our operations and structure our investments and could limit our ability to enforce
our rights.

In many foreign countries, particularly those with developing economies, it may be customary for others to engage in business practices that are prohibited by laws
such as the FCPA, the U.K. Bribery Act and the BCCA in Brazil, an anti-bribery law that is similar to the FCPA and U.K. Bribery Act. Although we have implemented policies
and procedures designed to ensure compliance with these laws, there can be no assurance that all of our employees, contractors, agents and business partners will not take
action in violation of our internal policies and applicable law and any such violation could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of
operations.

Environmental regulation and liabilities, including new or developing laws and regulations, may increase our costs of operations and materially adversely affect us.

Our  operations  are  subject  to  international  and  U.S.  federal,  state  and  local  environmental  laws  and  regulations,  including  those  that  impose  limitations  on  the
discharge of pollutants into the environment and establish standards for the treatment, storage, recycling and disposal of toxic and hazardous materials, substances and wastes.
The  nature  of  our  business  requires  that  we  use,  store  and  dispose  of  materials  that  are  subject  to  environmental  regulation.  Environmental  laws  and  regulations  change
frequently,  which  makes  it  difficult  for  us  to  predict  their  cost  or  impact  on  our  future  operations.  Liabilities  associated  with  environmental  matters  could  have  a  material
adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Further, we could be exposed to strict, joint and several liability for cleanup costs, natural resource
damages and other damages as a result of our conduct that was lawful at the time it occurred or the conduct of, or conditions caused by, prior operators or other third parties.
Any failure by us to comply with applicable environmental laws and regulations may result in governmental authorities taking action against us that could adversely impact our
operations and financial condition. Such actions may include the:

•
•
•
•

issuance of administrative, civil and criminal penalties;
denial or revocation of permits or other authorizations;
imposition of limitations on our operations; and
performance of site investigatory, remedial or other corrective actions.

In addition, our customers in the oil and gas exploration, development and production industry are affected by environmental laws and regulations that may restrict

their activities (and continue to become stricter as a result of the Deepwater Horizon incident) and may result in reduced demand for our services.

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Environmental  laws  and  regulations  change  frequently,  requiring  us  to  devote  a  substantial  amount  of  capital  and  other  resources  for  compliance.  In  recent  years,
governments have increasingly focused on climate change, carbon emissions and energy use. Laws and regulations that curb the use of conventional energy, or require the use
of renewable fuels or renewable sources of energy-such as wind or solar power, could result in a reduction in demand for hydrocarbon-based fuels such as oil and natural gas.
In addition, governments could pass laws, regulations or taxes that increase the cost of such fuels, thereby decreasing demand for our services and also increasing the costs of
our operations. More stringent environmental laws, regulations or enforcement policies could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of
operations.

Actions  taken  by  government  agencies,  such  as  the  Department  of  Commerce,  the  Department  of  Transportation  and  the  FAA,  and  similar  agencies  in  the  other
jurisdictions in which we operate, could increase our costs and prohibit or reduce our ability to operate successfully.

Our industry is regulated by various laws and regulations in the jurisdictions in which we operate. The scope of such regulation includes infrastructure and operational
issues relating to helicopters, maintenance, spare parts and route flying rights as well as safety and security requirements. We cannot fully anticipate all changes that might be
made to the laws and regulations to which we are subject or the possible impact of such changes. These changes could subject us to additional costs and restrictions.

U.S.  Our  operations  are  highly  regulated  by  several  U.S.  government  regulatory  agencies.    For  example,  as  a  certified  air  carrier,  we  are  subject  to  regulations
promulgated by the DOT and the FAA. The FAA regulates our flight operations and imposes requirements with respect to personnel, aircraft, ground facilities and other aspects
of our operations, including:

certification and reporting requirements;
inspections;

•
•
• maintenance standards;
•
• maintenance of personnel and aircraft records.  

personnel training standards; and

The Department of Transportation can review our economic fitness to continue our operations, both presently and if a substantial change occurs to our management,
ownership or capital structure, among other things. The Department of Commerce, through its International Traffic in Arms Regulations, regulates our imports and exports of
aircraft (through leases and sales) as well as parts sales to international customers and the use of certain regulated technology in domestic and international airspace. If we fail
to  comply  with  these  laws  and  regulations,  or  if  these  agencies  develop  concerns  over  our  operations,  we  could  face  administrative,  civil  and/or  criminal  penalties.      In
addition,  we  may  become  subject  to  regulatory  actions  that  could  suspend,  curtail  or  significantly  modify  our  operations.    A  suspension  or  substantial  curtailment  of  our
operations or any substantial modification of our current operations may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Other  Countries  and  Regulations.  Our  operations  in  other  jurisdictions  are  regulated  to  various  degrees  by  the  governments  of  such  jurisdictions  and  must  be
conducted in compliance with those regulations and, where applicable, in accordance with our air service licenses and AOC. Such regulations may require us to obtain a license
to  operate  in  that  country,  favor  local  companies  or  require  operating  permits  that  can  only  be  obtained  by  locally  registered  companies  and  may  impose  other  nationality
requirements. In such cases, we partner with local persons, but there is no assurance regarding which foreign governmental regulations may be applicable in the future to our
helicopter operations and whether we would be able to comply with them.

The revocation of any of the licenses discussed above or the termination of any of our relationships with local parties could have a material adverse effect on our

business, financial condition and results of operations.

Changes in effective tax rates, taxation of our foreign subsidiaries or adverse outcomes resulting from examination of our tax returns could adversely affect our business,
financial condition and results of operations.

Our future effective tax rates could be adversely affected by changes in tax laws, both domestically and internationally, or the interpretation or application thereof. 
From time to time, the U.S. Congress and foreign, state and local governments consider legislation that could increase our effective tax rate or the effective tax rates of our
consolidated  affiliates.  We  cannot  determine  whether,  or  in  what  form,  legislation  will  ultimately  be  enacted  or  what  the  impact  of  any  such  legislation  would  have  on  our
profitability. If these or other changes to tax laws are enacted that increase our effective tax rate, such changes could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial
condition and results of operation.

Our future effective tax rates could also be materially adversely affected by changes in the valuation of our deferred tax assets and liabilities, changes in the mix of
earnings  in  countries  with  differing  statutory  tax  rates,  the  ultimate  repatriation  of  earnings  from  foreign  subsidiaries  to  the  U.S.,  or  by  changes  in  tax  treaties,  regulations,
accounting principles or interpretations thereof in one or more countries in which we operate. In addition, we are subject to the potential examination of our income tax returns
by the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) and other tax authorities where we file tax returns. We regularly assess the likelihood of adverse outcomes resulting from these
examinations to determine the adequacy of our provision for income taxes. There can be no assurance that such examinations will not have a material adverse effect on our
business, financial condition and results of operations.

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We are subject to many different forms of taxation in various jurisdictions throughout the world, which could lead to disagreements with tax authorities regarding the
application of tax laws.

We are subject to many different forms of taxation in the jurisdictions throughout the world in which we operate including, but not limited to, income tax, withholding
tax and payroll-related taxes. Tax law and administration are extremely complex and often require us, together with our advisors, to make subjective determinations. The tax
authorities in the various jurisdictions where we conduct business might not agree with the determinations that we make with our advisors with respect to the application of tax
law.  Such  disagreements  could  result  in  lengthy  legal  disputes  and,  ultimately,  in  the  payment  of  substantial  funds  to  the  government  authorities  of  foreign  and  local
jurisdictions where we carry on business or provide goods or services, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our estimate of tax related assets, liabilities, recoveries and expenses incorporates significant assumptions. These assumptions include, but are not limited to, the tax
laws in various jurisdictions, the effect of tax treaties between jurisdictions, taxable income projections, and the benefits of various restructuring plans. To the extent that such
assumptions differ from actual results, we may have to record additional income tax expenses and liabilities.

Our business is subject to complex and evolving U.S. and foreign laws and regulations regarding privacy and data protection.

The  regulatory  environment  surrounding  data  privacy  and  protection  is  constantly  evolving  and  can  be  subject  to  significant  change.  New  laws  and  regulations
governing data privacy and the unauthorized disclosure of confidential information, pose increasingly complex compliance challenges and potentially elevate our costs. Any
failure, or perceived failure, by us to comply with applicable data protection laws could result in proceedings or actions against us by governmental entities or others, subject us
to significant fines, penalties, judgments and negative publicity, require us to change our business practices, increase the costs and complexity of compliance, and adversely
affect our business. As noted above, we are also subject to the possibility of cyber incidents or attacks, which themselves may result in a violation of these laws.

Risk Factors Relating to Our Common Stock

Our stock price may fluctuate significantly.

The trading price of our Common Stock may be volatile and subject to wide price fluctuations in response to various factors, including:

commodity prices, including oil and gas prices and the perceived level of off-shore oil and gas activities;
actual or anticipated fluctuations in our and our competitors’ quarterly financial condition and results of operations;
introduction of new equipment or services by us or our competitors;
grounding of all or a portion of our fleet;
issuance of new or changed securities analysts’ reports or recommendations;
sales, or anticipated sales, of large blocks of our stock;
business or asset acquisitions or dispositions;
additions or departures of key personnel;
regulatory or political developments including those related to budget appropriations;

• market conditions in the broader stock market;
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
• market perception of the Merger;
•
•

litigation and governmental investigations; and
changing economic conditions.

The market for our Common Stock has historically experienced and may continue to experience significant price and volume fluctuations similar to those experienced
by the broader stock market in recent years. Generally, the fluctuations experienced by the broader stock market have affected the market prices of securities issued by many
companies for reasons unrelated to their operating performance and may adversely affect the price of our Common Stock. In addition, our announcements of our quarterly
operating results, changes in general conditions in the economy or the financial markets and other developments affecting us, our affiliates or our competitors could cause the
market price of our Common Stock to fluctuate substantially.

If securities analysts or industry analysts downgrade our Common Stock, publish negative research or reports or fail to publish reports about our business, the price and
trading volume of our Common Stock could decline.

The trading market for our Common Stock will be influenced by the research and reports that industry or securities analysts publish about us, our business and our
market. If one or more analysts adversely change their recommendation regarding our Common Stock or our competitors’ stock, our share price would likely decline. If one or
more analysts cease coverage of us or fail to publish reports on us regularly, we could lose visibility in the financial markets which in turn could cause our share price or trading
volume to decline.

29

 
 
 
We limit foreign ownership of our company, which could reduce the price of our Common Stock and cause owners of our Common Stock who are not U.S. persons to lose
their voting rights.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that persons or entities that are not “citizens of the U.S.” (as defined in the Federal Aviation Act of
1958) shall not collectively own or control more than 24.9% of the voting power of our outstanding capital stock (the “Permitted Foreign Ownership Percentage”) and that, if at
any  time  persons  that  are  not  citizens  of  the  U.S.  nevertheless  collectively  own  or  control  more  than  the  Permitted  Foreign  Ownership  Percentage,  the  voting  rights  of  our
outstanding  voting  capital  stock  in  excess  of  the  Permitted  Foreign  Ownership  Percentage  owned  by  stockholders  who  are  not  citizens  of  the  U.S.  shall  automatically  be
reduced. These voting rights will be reduced pro rata among the holders of voting shares who are not citizens of the U.S. to equal the Permitted Foreign Ownership Percentage
based on the number of votes to which the underlying voting securities are entitled. Shares held by persons who are not citizens of the U.S. may lose their associated voting
rights  and  be  redeemed  as  a  result  of  these  provisions.  These  restrictions  may  also  have  a  material  adverse  impact  on  the  liquidity  or  market  value  of  our  Common  Stock
because stockholders may be unable to transfer our Common Stock to persons who are not citizens of the U.S.

We have not paid dividends on our Common Stock historically and may not pay any cash dividends on our Common Stock for the foreseeable future.

We have not paid cash dividends historically, nor do we expect to pay cash dividends on our Common Stock in the foreseeable future.

Risk Factors Relating to Our Operation as a Public Company

The  cost  of  compliance  or  failure  to  comply  with  the  Exchange  Act,  the  Sarbanes-Oxley  Act  of  2002  and  the  NYSE  requirements  may  materially  adversely  affect  our
business, financial condition and results of operations.

We are subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and certain provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act as well as the reporting and corporate governance requirements of the NYSE. Public company reporting requirements impose significant compliance obligations upon us
and may place a strain on our systems and resources. The Exchange Act requires that we file annual and current reports with respect to our business and financial condition.
The  Sarbanes-Oxley  Act  requires  that  we  maintain  effective  disclosure  controls  and  procedures  and  internal  controls  over  financial  reporting.  The  failure  to  comply  with
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may result in investors losing confidence in the reliability of our financial statements (which may result in a decrease in the trading price
of  our  Common  Stock),  prevent  us  from  providing  the  required  financial  information  in  a  timely  manner  (which  could  materially  adversely  affect  our  business,  financial
condition, results of operations, the trading price of our Common Stock and our ability to access capital markets, if necessary), prevent us from otherwise complying with the
standards applicable to us as an independent, publicly-traded company and subject us to adverse regulatory consequences.

Provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, amended and restated bylaws and Delaware law may discourage, delay or prevent a change of control
of our Company or changes in our management.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws include certain provisions that could have the effect of discouraging, delaying

or preventing a change of control of our Company or changes in our management. Such provisions include, among other things:

•
•
•

•
•

restrictions on the ability of our stockholders to fill a vacancy on the board of directors;
restrictions related to the ability of non-U.S. citizens owning our Common Stock;
our ability to issue preferred stock with terms that the board of directors may determine, without stockholder approval, which could be used to significantly dilute
the ownership of a hostile acquirer;
the absence of cumulative voting in the election of directors which may limit the ability of minority stockholders to elect directors; and
advance  notice  requirements  for  stockholder  proposals  and  nominations,  which  may  discourage  or  deter  a  potential  acquirer  from  soliciting  proxies  to  elect  a
particular slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us.

These provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws may discourage, delay or prevent a transaction involving a change in control of
our Company that is in the best interest of our stockholders. Even in the absence of a takeover attempt, the existence of these provisions may materially adversely affect the
prevailing market price of our Common Stock if they are viewed as discouraging future takeover attempts.

An investor’s percentage of ownership in us may be diluted in the future

As with any publicly traded company, an investor’s percentage ownership in us may be diluted in the future because of equity issuances for acquisitions, capital market
transactions or otherwise, including equity awards that we have and will continue to grant to directors, officers and employees. Under the Era Group Inc. 2012 Share Incentive
Plan, we are permitted to issue awards

30

 
 
 
of up to 4,000,000 shares of our Common Stock, of which 2,160,165 shares have already been issued as of December 31, 2019. Any substantial issuance of our Common Stock
could significantly affect the trading price of our Common Stock.

Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation includes a forum selection clause, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum
for disputes with us.

Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation requires that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of
the State of Delaware will be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of
breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation's stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a
claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine.

This exclusive forum provision will not apply to claims under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, but will apply to other state and federal law claims including
actions arising under the Securities Act of 1933 (although our stockholders will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and
regulations thereunder). Section 22 of the Securities Act of 1933, however, creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all suits brought to enforce any duty
or liability created by the Securities Act of 1933 or the rules and regulations thereunder. Accordingly, there is uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce such a forum
selection provision as written in connection with claims arising under the Securities Act of 1933. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares
of  our  capital  stock  is  deemed  to  have  notice  of  and  consented  to  the  foregoing  provisions.  This  forum  selection  provision  in  our  Amended  and  Restated  Certificate  of
Incorporation may limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us. It is also possible that, notwithstanding the forum selection clause
included in our bylaws, a court could rule that such a provision is inapplicable or unenforceable.

ITEM 1B.

UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

ITEM 2.

PROPERTIES

Our executive offices are located in Houston, Texas, and we maintain our U.S. Gulf of Mexico regional headquarters in Lake Charles, Louisiana, where we coordinate
operations for the entire U.S. Gulf of Mexico, manage the support of our worldwide operations, and house our primary maintenance facility and training center. We maintain
additional bases in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico near key offshore development sites as well. Additionally,  we  maintain  a  regional  headquarters  in  Rio  de  Janeiro  and  multiple
operating bases in Brazil and a regional headquarters in Bogotá and multiple operating bases in Colombia. The majority of the bases from which we operate are leased, with
remaining terms of between one and fifty nine years.

Our principal physical properties are helicopters, which are more fully described in Item 1, - “Business - Equipment and Services” above.

ITEM 3.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

In  the  normal  course  of  our  business,  we  become  involved  in  various  litigation  matters  including,  among  other  things,  claims  by  third  parties  for  alleged  property
damages and personal injuries. Management has used estimates in determining our potential exposure to these matters and has recorded reserves in our financial statements
related thereto as appropriate. It is possible that a change in our estimates related to these exposures could occur, but we do not expect any such changes in estimated costs
would have a material effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations. See Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations - Contingencies for a discussion of certain legal proceedings that we are party to and Note 8 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8
of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

ITEM 4.

MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

31

 
 
 
PART II

ITEM 5.

MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY
SECURITIES

Market Information for Common Stock

Our Common Stock is listed on the NYSE under the trading symbol “ERA.” On March 2, 2020, the closing price per share of our Common Stock as reported on the NYSE was
$10.13.

Holders of Record

As of March 2, 2020, there were 160 holders of record of our Common Stock.

Dividend Policy

We have not declared or paid any cash dividend on our Common Stock since our spin-off from SEACOR Holdings Inc. We do not expect to pay any cash dividends in

the foreseeable future.

Company Purchases of Equity Securities

The following table presents information regarding our repurchases of shares of our Common Stock on a monthly basis during the fourth quarter of 2019:

October 1, 2019 - October 31, 2019

November 1, 2019 - November 30, 2019
December 1, 2019 - December 31, 2019 (2)
_______________

Total Number of
Shares Repurchased  

Average Price Paid
Per 
Share

Total Number of Shares
Purchased as Part of
Publicly Announced Plans
or Programs

Maximum Value of Shares
that May Yet be Purchased
Under the Plans or
Programs(1)

— 
— 
3,006 

  $

  $

  $

— 
— 
10.57 

— 
— 
— 

  $

  $

  $

15,298,578 
15,298,578 
15,298,578 

(1) On August 14, 2014, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $25.0 million in value of our Common Stock from time to time at the discretion of a committee of our Board of Directors. As of
December 31, 2019, $15.3 million  of  authority  remained  unutilized  and  available  for  purchases  of  our  Common  Stock  at  the  discretion  of  a  committee  of  our  Board  of  Directors  comprised  of  the  Non-
Executive Chairman, the Audit Committee Chairman and our President and Chief Executive Officer. This repurchase program was suspended upon the announcement of the Merger.

(2) Shares purchased in connection with the surrender of shares by employees to satisfy certain tax withholding obligations. These repurchases are not a part of our publicly announced plan and do not affect our

Board-approved share repurchase program.

In connection with the announcement of the Merger, The Board has authorized a special stock repurchase program that allows for the purchase of up to $10.0 million
of our common stock from time to time and subject to market conditions on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. The special repurchase program will end
upon the mailing of the joint proxy statement/prospectus for the merger.

32

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Performance Graph

The following graph shows a comparison from December 31, 2014 through December 31, 2019 of the cumulative total return for our Common Stock, the Standard &
Poor’s  500  Stock  Index  (“S&P  500  Index”),  the  Standard  &  Poor’s  Oil  &  Gas  Equipment  Select  Industry  Index  and  our  peer  group(1).  The  graph  assumes  that  $100  was
invested at the market close on December 31, 2014.

_______________

(1) During the year ended December 31, 2019, we changed our peer group to include Air Transport Services Group, Inc., Allegiant Travel Company, Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc., Basic Energy Services,
Inc., CARBO Ceramics Inc., Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc., Key Energy Services, Inc., Newpark Resources, Inc., SEACOR Marine Holdings Inc. and Tidewater Inc. based on their industry and similar
market capitalization. The decision to change our peer group was primarily due to the delisting of the companies that made up our former peer group as a result of Chapter 11 proceedings.

This performance graph shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or otherwise subject to liabilities under that Section, and shall not
be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing of Era Group under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set
forth by specific reference in such filing.

33

 
 
 
ITEM 6.

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, our selected historical consolidated financial data (in thousands, except per share data). Such financial data
should be read in conjunction with “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Item 8. Financial Statements and
Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Statements of Operations Data:

Revenues

Operating income (loss)

Net income (loss) attributable to Era Group Inc.

Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share:

Basic

Diluted

Statement of Cash Flows Data – provided by (used in):

Operating activities

Investing activities

Financing activities

Effects of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and
restricted cash

Capital expenditures

Balance Sheet Data (at period end):

Cash and cash equivalents

Total assets

Long-term debt, less current portion

Total equity

  $

  $

  $

  $

  $

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

Years Ended December 31,

  $

226,059 
(3,278)

(3,593)

(0.17)

(0.17)

  $

  $

  $

27,551 
48,617 
(9,425)

(130)

(6,558)

117,366 
764,515 
141,832 
456,742 

  $

34

  $

221,676 
28,070 
13,922 

0.64 
0.64 

  $

  $

  $

54,354 
22,826 
(43,509)  

249 
(9,216)  

  $

50,753 
764,863 
160,217 
463,436 

  $

231,321 
(136,464)  

(28,161)  

(1.36)   $

(1.36)   $

  $

20,096 
(6,574)  

(27,497)  

81 
(16,770)  

  $

13,583 
792,097 
202,174 
445,681 

247,228 

  $

(3,369)  

(7,978)  

(0.39)   $

(0.39)   $

  $

58,504 
(9,116)  

(32,986)  

(236)  

(39,200)  

  $

26,950 
955,173 
230,139 
468,417 

281,837 
24,294 
8,705 

0.42 
0.42 

44,456 
(22,616)

(46,026)

(2,120)

(60,050)

14,370 
1,004,351 
264,479 
471,303 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ITEM 7.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following is a discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017.  You
should read this discussion and analysis together with our Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes and the other financial information included elsewhere in this
Annual Report. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve significant risks and uncertainties. As a result of many factors, such as those set forth under
“Item 1.A. Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Annual Report, our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements.

Overview

We are one of the largest helicopter operators in the world and the longest serving helicopter transport operator in the U.S., which is our primary area of operations.
Our helicopters are primarily used to transport personnel to, from and between offshore oil and gas production platforms, drilling rigs and other installations. In the years ended
December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, approximately 66%, 71% and 66%, respectively, of our total operating revenues were earned in the U.S.  In the years ended December 31,
2019, 2018 and 2017, approximately 34%, 29% and 34%, respectively, of total operating revenues were earned in international locations. In addition to the U.S., we currently
have customers in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, India, Mexico, Spain and Suriname.

The  primary  users  of  our  helicopter  services  are  international,  independent  and  major  integrated  oil  and  gas  exploration,  development  and  production  companies,
national oil companies and BSEE. In the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, approximately 91%, 95% and 91%,  respectively,  of  our  operating  revenues  were
derived  from  helicopter  services,  including  emergency  response  services,  provided  to  customers  primarily  engaged  in  offshore  oil  and  gas  exploration,  development  and
production  activities  or  regulatory  agencies  that  monitor  such  activities.  Additionally,  our  leasing  customers  typically  provide  services  to  oil  and  gas  companies  in  their
respective local markets. As such, our results are tied to the level of activity in the offshore oil and gas industry. In addition to serving the oil and gas industry, we provide
emergency response services and utility services, among other activities.

As of December 31, 2019, we owned a total of 103 helicopters, consisting of nine heavy helicopters, 44 medium helicopters, 20 light twin engine helicopters and 30
light single engine helicopters. As of December 31, 2019, we had commitments to purchase an additional eight new helicopters consisting of three heavy helicopters and five
light twin helicopters. The heavy helicopters are scheduled to be delivered in 2020 and 2021, and the delivery dates for the light twin helicopters have not been determined. In
addition, we had outstanding options to purchase up to an additional ten heavy helicopters. If these options were exercised, the helicopters would be scheduled for delivery in
2021 and 2022.

Recent Developments

On January 23, 2020, we entered into a definitive agreement with Bristow to combine the two companies in an all-stock transaction, structured as a reverse triangular
merger,  whereby  Era  will  issue  shares  to  Bristow  stockholders,  while  the  Combined  Company  continues  to  trade  on  the  New  York  Stock  Exchange  (“NYSE”).  Following
completion of the transaction, the Combined Company will be headquartered in Houston, Texas. Chris Bradshaw, President and CEO of Era, will become President and CEO of
the  Combined  Company.  Upon  completion  of  the  Merger,  former  Bristow  stockholders  are  expected  to  own  approximately  77%  of  the  Combined  Company,  and  Era
stockholders are expected to own 23% of the Combined Company.

The Combined Company will offer a broader range of world-class, efficient aviation solutions through enhanced fleet size and diversity, providing better solutions for

new and existing oil and gas customers and governmental agencies. The Merger will create a financially stronger company with enhanced size and diversification.

The  transaction  is  expected  to  close  in  the  second  half  of  2020,  following  receipt  of  required  regulatory  approvals  and  satisfaction  of  other  customary  closing

conditions, including approval by Bristow’s and Era’s stockholders and relevant anti-trust approvals.

Lines of Service

Offshore Oil and Gas. The offshore oil and gas market is highly cyclical with demand highly correlated to the price of oil and gas, which tends to fluctuate depending
on many factors, including global economic activity, levels of inventory and overall demand. In addition to the price of oil and gas, the availability of acreage and local tax
incentives or disincentives and requirements for maintaining interests in leases affect activity levels in the oil and gas industry. Price levels for oil and gas by themselves can
cause additional fluctuations by inducing changes in consumer behavior.

35

 
 
 
For the last 13 years, we have provided transportation services to U.S. government inspectors of offshore platform, drilling rigs and other installations. This contract

was renewed in October 2016 for a term of one year with four one-year options to extend, and is expected to run through September 2021.

Brazil  is  among  the  most  important  markets  for  offshore  oil  and  gas  exploration,  development  and  production  activity  world-wide.  We  participate  in  this  market

through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Aeróleo.

Dry-Leasing. We  enter  into  lease  arrangements  for  our  helicopters  with  operators  primarily  located  in  international  markets  such  as  Mexico,  India  and  Spain.  The
helicopters  are  contracted  to  local  helicopter  operators,  which  often  prefer  to  lease  helicopters  rather  than  purchase  them.  Leasing  affords  us  the  opportunity  to  access  new
markets without significant initial infrastructure investment and generally without ongoing operating risk.

Other  Activities  and  Services. In  order  to  diversify  sources  of  our  earnings  and  cash  flow,  we  deploy  a  number  of  helicopters  in  support  of  other  industries  and
activities, such as emergency response services. In the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, 6%, 4% and 7% of our operating revenues, respectively, were generated
by these other activities and services.

Market Outlook

The  offshore  oil  and  gas  market  is  highly  cyclical  with  demand  linked  to  the  price  of  oil  and  gas.  The  prices  of  oil  and  gas  are  critical  factors  in  our  customers’
investment and spending decisions. The price of crude oil has been depressed for a number of years, which negatively impacted the cash flow of our customers and has led
them  to  reduce  capital  and  operational  expenditures  from  prior  levels,  including  reductions  related  to  offshore  exploration,  development  and  production  activities.  We
experienced customer contract cancellations and decreased fleet utilization as some of our customers decreased the number of helicopters on contract or canceled their contract
upon limited notice. While the price of crude oil has now recovered to more favorable levels, our customers’ spending on offshore exploration, development and production
activities remains depressed.

We  generate  a  vast  majority  of  our  operating  revenue  from  contracts  supporting  our  oil  and  gas  customers’  offshore  production  operations,  which  have  long-term
transportation requirements. Production activities are typically less cyclical than the exploration and development activities because production platforms remain in place over
the  long-term  and  are  relatively  unaffected  by  economic  cycles,  as  the  marginal  cost  of  lifting  a  barrel  of  oil  once  a  platform  is  in  operation  is  low.  If there are additional
declines in the price of oil and gas, there could be a delay or cancellation of planned offshore projects impacting our operations in future periods.

The  remainder  of  our  oil  and  gas  revenues  primarily  comes  from  transporting  personnel  to  and  from  offshore  drilling  rigs.  Deepwater  activity  continues  to  be  a
significant  segment  of  the  global  offshore  oil  and  gas  markets  and  typically  involves  significant  capital  investment  and  multi-year  development  plans.  Such  projects  are
generally underwritten by the oil and gas companies using relatively conservative assumptions relating to oil and gas prices. Although these projects are considered to be less
susceptible to short-term fluctuations in the price of oil and gas compared to shorter cycle projects, persistently low crude oil prices over the last several years caused these
companies to reevaluate their future capital expenditures with respect to deepwater projects and resulted in the rescaling, delay or cancellation of planned offshore projects,
which could continue to impact our operations in future periods.

We are exposed to foreign currency exchange risk primarily through our euro-denominated capital commitments and our Brazilian operations, where we receive a
portion of our revenues and incur expenses in the Brazilian real. Two of the large helicopter OEMs are headquartered in Europe and price many of their helicopters in euros.
Fluctuations in the value of the U.S. dollar against the euro affects the amount of our unfunded commitments in U.S. dollar terms. Although the strength of the U.S. dollar has
made the acquisition of euro-denominated helicopter models less expensive for us in recent years, the weakness of the euro also makes such acquisitions less expensive for our
competitors and potential competitors, which could lead to excess helicopter capacity and increased competition and jeopardize both pricing and utilization of our equipment.
Fluctuations in the value of the euro could also destabilize residual values for certain euro-denominated helicopters.

We believe that we are well positioned to address near-term market and industry challenges. Our liquidity levels provide a stable foundation in the current market

environment, which together with operational efficiency improvements will permit us to maintain and improve our customer relationships and competitive position.

Fleet Developments and Capital Commitments

We  focus  on  the  modernization  of  our  fleet  and  the  standardization  of  equipment.  Oil  and  gas  companies  typically  require  modern  helicopters  that  offer  enhanced
safety features and greater performance. In response to this demand, we have transformed our fleet significantly. Since the beginning of 2005, we have added 141 helicopters to
our fleet, disposed of 154 helicopters  and  reduced  the  average  age  of  our  owned  fleet  from  17  years  to  14 years. We  spent  $6.6 million, $9.2 million  and  $16.8  million  to
acquire helicopters and other equipment in the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively, primarily for heavy and medium helicopters, spare helicopter parts
and facility improvements.

36

 
 
 
As of December 31, 2019, we had unfunded commitments of $80.5 million, primarily stemming from agreements to purchase eight helicopters, consisting of three
AW189 heavy helicopters and five AW169 light twin helicopters. We also had $1.3 million of deposits paid on options that have not yet been exercised. The AW189 helicopters
are scheduled to be delivered in 2020 and 2021. Delivery dates for the AW169 helicopters have not been determined. In addition, we had outstanding options to purchase up to
an additional ten AW189 helicopters. If these options were exercised, the helicopters would be delivered in 2021 and 2022. Approximately $81.8 million of these commitments
(inclusive of deposits paid on options not yet exercised) may be terminated without further liability other than aggregate liquidated damages of $2.1 million.

Components of Revenues and Expenses

We derive our revenues primarily from operating and leasing our equipment, and our profits depend on our cost of capital, the acquisition costs of assets, our operating

costs and our reputation.

Operating revenues recorded under U.S. Gulf of Mexico and International oil and gas are primarily generated from offshore oil and gas exploration, development and
production  activities.  These  revenues  are  typically  earned  through  a  combination  of  fixed  monthly  fees  plus  an  incremental  charge  based  on  flight  hours  flown.  Charter
revenues are typically earned through either a combination of a daily fixed fee plus a charge based on hours flown or an hourly rate with a minimum number of hours to be
charged daily.

Operating revenues recorded under dry-leasing are generated from leases to third-party operators where we are not responsible for the operation of the helicopters. For
certain of these leases, we also provide crew training, management expertise, and technical support. Leases typically call for a fixed monthly fee only, but may also include an
additional charge based on flight hours flown and/or the level of personnel support. The majority of our dry-leasing revenues have been generated by helicopters deployed
internationally.

Operating revenues for emergency response services are earned through a fixed monthly fee plus an incremental charge for flight hours flown, and charter revenues are

typically earned through an hourly rate with a minimum number of hours to be charged daily.

The  aggregate  cost  of  our  operations  depends  primarily  on  the  size  and  asset  mix  of  the  fleet.  Our  operating  costs  and  expenses  are  grouped  into  the  following

categories:

•

•

•

•

•

•

personnel (includes wages, benefits, payroll taxes, savings plans, subsistence and travel);

repairs  and  maintenance  (primarily  routine  activities  and  hourly  charges  for  power-by-the-hour  (“PBH”)  maintenance  contracts  that  cover  helicopter
refurbishments and engine and major component overhauls that are performed in accordance with planned maintenance programs);

insurance (including the cost of hull and liability insurance premiums and loss deductibles);

fuel;

leased-in equipment (includes the cost of leasing helicopters and equipment); and

other (primarily base expenses, property, sales and use taxes, communication costs, freight expenses, and other).

We  engage  a  number  of  third-party  vendors  to  maintain  the  engines  and  certain  components  on  some  of  our  helicopter  models  under  PBH  maintenance  contracts.
These programs require us to pay for the maintenance service ratably over the contract period, typically based on actual flight hours. PBH providers generally bill monthly
based on hours flown in the prior month, with the costs being expensed as incurred. In the event we place a helicopter in a program after a maintenance period has begun, it
may be necessary to pay an initial buy-in charge based on hours flown since the previous maintenance event. This buy-in charge is normally recorded as a prepaid expense and
amortized as an operating expense over the remaining PBH contract period. If a helicopter is sold or otherwise removed from a program before the scheduled maintenance
work is carried out, we may be able to recover part of our payments to the PBH provider, in which case we record a reduction to operating expense. We also incur repairs and
maintenance expense through vendor arrangements on direct purchase usage for expendables and obtain repair quotes and authorize service on repairable components.

Our  policy  of  expensing  all  repair  costs  as  incurred  may  result  in  operating  expenses  varying  substantially  when  compared  with  a  prior  year  or  prior  quarter  if  a
disproportionate  number  of  repairs,  refurbishments  or  overhauls  are  undertaken.  This  variation  can  be  exacerbated  by  the  timing  of  entering  or  exiting  third-party  PBH
programs and the timing of vendor credits.

For helicopters that we lease to third parties under arrangements whereby the customer assumes operational responsibility, we often provide technical parts support,
but  generally  we  incur  no  other  material  operating  costs.  In  most  instances,  our  leases  require  clients  to  procure  adequate  insurance,  but  we  purchase  contingent  hull  and
liability coverage to mitigate the risk of a client’s coverage failing to respond. In some instances, we provide training and other services to support our lease customers.

37

 
 
 
Results of Operations

The following table provides our results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017.

2019

2018

2017

(in thousands)

%

(in thousands)

%

(in thousands)

%

Revenues:

United States

Foreign

Total revenues

Costs and expenses:

Operating:

Personnel

Repairs and maintenance

Insurance and loss reserves

Fuel

Leased-in equipment

Other

Total operating expenses

Administrative and general

Depreciation and amortization

Total costs and expenses

Gains on asset dispositions

Litigation settlement proceeds

Loss on impairment

Operating income (loss)

Other income (expense):

Interest income

Interest expense

Loss on sale investments

Foreign currency losses, net

Gains (losses) on debt extinguishment

Other, net

Total other income (expense)

Income (loss) before income tax expense and equity earnings

Income tax expense (benefit), net

Income (loss) before equity earnings

Equity earnings, net of tax

Net income (loss)

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiary

Net income (loss) attributable to Era Group Inc.

  $

  $

149,514 
76,545 
226,059 

  $

66 
34 
100 

25 
22 
2 
7 
— 
12 
68 
17 
17 
102 
2 
— 
(1)  

(1)  

2 
(7)  

— 
— 
— 
— 
(5)  

(6)  
— 
(6)  
4 
(2)  
— 
(2)   $

57,051 
50,756 
4,702 
14,591 
211 
27,235 
154,546 
38,278 
37,619 
230,443 
3,657 
— 
(2,551)  

(3,278)  

3,487 
(13,874)  

(569)  

(472)  

(13)  

(28)  

(11,469)  

(14,747)  

(731)  

(14,016)  
9,935 
(4,081)  
488 
(3,593)  

38

157,267 
64,409 
221,676 

55,304 
48,604 
5,018 
14,720 
627 
27,250 
151,523 
45,126 
39,541 
236,190 
1,575 
42,000 

(991)  

28,070 

2,042 
(15,131)  

— 
(1,018)  
175 
54 

(13,878)  

14,192 
2,940 
11,252 
2,206 
13,458 
464 
13,922 

  $

71 
29 
100 

25 
22 
2 
7 
— 
12 
68 
21 
18 
107 
1 
19 
— 
13 

1 
(7)  

— 
(1)  
— 
— 
(7)  

6 
1 
5 
1 
6 
— 
6 

  $

152,187 
79,134 
231,321 

62,380 
54,325 
4,594 
12,386 
1,107 
32,654 
167,446 
42,092 
45,736 
255,274 
4,507 
— 

(117,018)  

(136,464)  

760 
(16,763)  

— 
(226)  
— 
(12)  

(16,241)  

(152,705)  

(122,665)  

(30,040)  
1,425 
(28,615)  
454 
(28,161)  

66 
34 
100 

27 
23 
2 
5 
1 
14 
72 
18 
20 
110 
2 
— 
(51)

(59)

— 
(7)

— 
— 
— 
— 
(7)

(66)

(53)

(13)
1 
(12)
— 
(12)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating Revenues by Service Line. The following table sets forth our operating revenues by service line for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017.

Revenues

Oil and gas:(1)

U.S.

International

Total oil and gas

Dry-leasing(2)
Emergency response(3)
Flightseeing

Total revenues

_______________

2019

2018

2017

(in thousands)

%

(in thousands)

%

(in thousands)

%

  $

  $

139,312 
56,510 
195,822 
16,024 
14,213 
— 
226,059 

62   $

25  

87  

7  

6  

—  

100   $

143,654 
56,800 
200,454 
11,482 
9,740 
— 
221,676 

65   $

25  

90  

6  

4  

—  

100   $

134,010 
64,344 
198,354 
16,394 
11,502 
5,071 
231,321 

58

28

86

7

5

2

100

(1) Primarily oil and gas activities, but also includes revenues from utility services.
(2)
(3)

Includes property rental income for the year ended December 31, 2017 of approximately $0.3 million that was previously included in emergency response services and oil and gas service lines.
Includes SAR and air medical services.

Year Ended December 31, 2019 compared with Year Ended December 31, 2018

Operating Revenues. Operating  revenues  were  $4.4 million higher  in  the  twelve  months  ended  December  31,  2019  (the  “Current  Year”)  compared  to  the  twelve

months ended December 31, 2018 (the “Prior Year”).

Operating revenues from oil and gas operations in the U.S. were $4.3 million lower in the Current Year. Operating revenues from medium, single engine and light twin
helicopters were $3.9 million, $2.1 million, and $0.2 million lower, respectively, primarily due to lower utilization. These decreases were partially offset by increased revenues
of $1.6 million from heavy helicopters primarily due to higher utilization. Other operating revenues were $0.4 million higher.

Operating revenues from international oil and gas operations were $0.3 million lower in the Current Year. Operating revenues in Colombia were $0.8 million lower

primarily due to decreased utilization. Operating revenues in Suriname were $0.4 million higher due primarily due to higher utilization.

Revenues from dry-leasing activities were $4.5 million higher in the Current Year primarily due to the commencement of new contracts subsequent to the Prior Year.

Operating revenues from emergency response services were $4.5 million higher primarily due to the commencement of new contracts subsequent to the Prior Year.

Operating Expenses. Operating expenses were $3.0 million higher in the Current Year. Repairs and maintenance expenses were $2.2 million higher primarily due to a
$3.3 million increase in PBH expense, a $0.5 million increase related to the timing of repairs in the Current Year and the recognition of a lease return credit of $0.4 million in
the Prior Year, partially offset by a $2.1 million net increase in vendor credits. Personnel costs were $1.7 million higher primarily due to an increase in headcount. Leased-in
equipment expenses were $0.4 million lower due to the end of helicopter leases in the Prior Year. Insurance expense was $0.3 million lower  primarily  due  to  reductions  in
operating fleet during and subsequent to the Prior Year.

Administrative  and  General.  Administrative  and  general  expenses  were  $6.8  million  lower  in  the  Current  Year  primarily  due  to  a  decrease  of  $9.9  million  in
professional  services  fees  primarily  related  to  litigation  that  has  now  been  settled.  These  decreases  were  partially  offset  by  an  increase  of  $2.9  million  in  personnel  costs
primarily due to an increase in headcount.

Depreciation  and  Amortization. Depreciation  and  amortization  expense  was  $1.9 million lower  in  the  Current  Year  primarily  due  to  the  disposition  of  assets  and

certain assets becoming fully depreciated subsequent to the Prior Year.

Gains on Asset Dispositions, Net.  In the Current Year, we sold three light twin helicopters, two hangar facilities, and two medium helicopters, resulting in net gains of
$3.7 million. In the Prior Year, we sold or otherwise disposed of our flightseeing assets in Alaska (which consisted of eight single engine helicopters, two operating facilities,
and related property and equipment), 13 other helicopters (including six on sales-type leases), and other equipment for net gains of $1.6 million.

Litigation Settlement Proceeds. We received litigation settlement proceeds of $42.0 million in the Prior Year.

39

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loss  on  Impairment.  We  recorded  a  non-cash  impairment  charge  of  $2.6  million  in  the  Current  Year  of  which  $1.6  million  related  to  our  last  remaining  H225
helicopter and $1.0 million was due to the impairment of an intangible asset related to our subsidiary in Colombia. We recorded a non-cash impairment charge of $1.0 million
in the Prior Year related to our last remaining H225 helicopter.

Operating Income (Loss). Operating loss as a percentage of revenues was 1% in the Current Year compared to operating income as a percentage of revenues of 13%

in the Prior Year. The decrease in operating income as a percentage of revenues was primarily due to litigation settlement proceeds received in the Prior Year.

Interest Income. Interest income was $1.4 million higher in the Current Year primarily due to interest earned on our higher cash balances and sales-type leases.

Interest Expense. Interest expense was $1.3 million lower in the Current Year primarily due to lower debt balances and the write-off of deferred debt issuance costs

related to the amendment of our Amended and Restated Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility in the Prior Year.

Loss on Sale of Investment. During the Current Year, we disposed of corporate securities resulting in a loss of $0.6 million.

Foreign Currency Gains (Losses), net. Foreign currency losses were $0.5 million in the Current Year compared to $1.0 million in the Prior Year primarily due to the

strengthening of the U.S. dollar relative to the Brazilian real.

Income Tax Benefit (Expense). Income tax benefit was $0.7 million in the Current Year primarily due to pre-tax losses. Income tax expense was $2.9 million in the

Prior Year primarily due to the recognition of litigation settlement proceeds.

Equity Earnings. Equity earnings, net of tax, were $7.7 million higher due to the recognition of gains on the sale of the Dart Holding Company Ltd. (“Dart”) joint

venture in the Current Year.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our  ongoing  liquidity  requirements  arise  primarily  from  working  capital  needs,  meeting  our  capital  commitments  (including  the  purchase  of  helicopters  and  other
equipment) and the repayment of debt obligations. In addition, we may use our liquidity to fund acquisitions or to make other investments. Our primary sources of liquidity are
cash balances, cash flows from operations and borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility, and, from time to time, we may secure additional liquidity through the issuance
of equity or debt, as well as the sale of assets.

Summary of Cash Flows 

Cash provided by (used in):

Operating activities

Investing activities

Financing activities

Effect of exchange rates on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

2019

2018

2017

(in thousands)

  $

  $

  $

27,551 
48,617 
(9,425)  

(130)  

66,613 

  $

40

  $

54,354 
22,826 
(43,509)  
249 
33,920 

  $

20,096 
(6,574)

(27,497)
81 
(13,894)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating Activities

The components of cash flows provided by operating activities during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 were as follows:

Operating income before depreciation, gains on asset dispositions and impairments, net

Changes in operating assets and liabilities before interest and income taxes

Interest paid, excluding capitalized interest of $0, $97 and $497 in 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively

Interest received

Income taxes paid

Other

Total cash flows provided by operating activities

2019

2018

2017

(in thousands)

  $

33,235 
1,185 
(12,693)  

3,374 
(1,255)  
3,705 
27,551 

  $

  $

67,027 
(3,630)  

(13,581)  

1,099 
(283)  
3,722 
54,354 

  $

21,493 
8,795 
(15,315)

760 
(426)
4,789 
20,096 

  $

  $

Operating income before depreciation and gains on asset dispositions and impairments, net was $33.8 million lower for the year ended December 31, 2019 compared
to  the  year  ended  December  31,  2018,  primarily  due  to  the  recognition  of  $42.0  million  of  litigation  settlement  proceeds  in  the  Prior  Year  and  a  $3.0 million  increase  in
operating expenses related to higher repairs and maintenance expenses and personnel costs in the Current Year, partially offset by a $6.8 million decrease in administrative and
general expenses and a $4.4 million increase in revenues in the Current Year.

Operating income before depreciation and gains on asset dispositions and impairments, net was $45.5 million higher for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared
to the year ended December 31, 2017, primarily due to the recognition of $42.0 million of litigation settlement proceeds in 2018 and a $15.9 million decrease in operating
expenses  related  to  personnel  reductions,  decreased  repairs  and  maintenance  expenses  and  the  absence  of  certain  other  operating  expenses  incurred  in  2017.  The  litigation
settlement proceeds and the decrease in operating expenses were partially offset by a $9.6 million decrease in revenues and a $3.0 million increase in administrative and general
expenses in 2018.

Changes in operating assets and liabilities before interest and income taxes resulted in cash inflows of $1.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to

outflows of $3.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, primarily due to an increase in accrued expenses.

Changes in operating assets and liabilities before interest and income taxes resulted in cash outflows of $3.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared

to inflows of $8.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, primarily due to a decrease in payables.

Interest paid, excluding capitalized interest, was $0.9 million lower for the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to the year ended December 31, 2018, primarily

due to lower debt balances in the Current Year.

Interest paid, excluding capitalized interest, was $1.7 million lower for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to the year ended December 31, 2017, primarily

due to lower debt balances for the year ended December 31, 2018.

Interest received was $2.3 million higher for the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to the year ended December 31, 2018, primarily due to higher cash balances

and interest earned on our sales-type leases.

Interest received was $0.3 million higher for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to the year ended December 31, 2017, primarily due to interest earned on

higher cash balances.

Income taxes paid were $1.0 million higher for the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to the year ended December 31, 2018, due to higher pre-tax income.

Income taxes paid were consistent for the year ended December 31, 2018 and the year ended December 31, 2017.

Investing Activities

During the year ended December 31, 2019, net cash provided by investing activities was $48.6 million primarily consisting of:

•

•

•

Net proceeds from the sale of equity investees were $34.7 million.

Proceeds from the disposition of property and equipment were $13.3 million.

Net principal payments on notes due from third-parties and equity investees were $7.8 million.

41

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
•

•

Capital expenditures were $6.6 million, which consisted primarily of spare helicopter parts and leasehold improvements.

Net cash used on purchase and sale of investment was $0.6 million.

During the year ended December 31, 2018, net cash provided by investing activities was $22.8 million primarily consisting of:

•

•

•

•

Proceeds from the disposition of property and equipment were $29.6 million.

Net principal payments on notes due from third-parties and equity investees were $1.5 million.

Dividends received from equity investees were $1.0 million.

Capital expenditures were $9.2 million, which consisted primarily of helicopter acquisitions, spare helicopter parts, and leasehold improvements.

During the year ended December 31, 2017, net cash used in investing activities was $6.6 million primarily consisting of:

•

•

•

•

Capital expenditures were $16.8 million, which consisted primarily of helicopter acquisitions and deposits on future helicopter deliveries.

Proceeds from the disposition of property and equipment were $9.4 million.

Net principal payments on notes due from third-parties and equity investees were $0.9 million.

Investments in and advances to equity investees were $0.1 million.

Financing Activities

During the year ended December 31, 2019, net cash used in financing activities was $9.4 million primarily consisting of:

•

•

•

•

Purchases of treasury shares for $7.7 million.

Principal payments on long-term debt were $2.1 million.

Extinguishment of long-term debt was $0.7 million.

Proceeds from share-based award plans were $1.1 million.

During the year ended December 31, 2018, net cash used in financing activities was $43.5 million primarily consisting of:

•

•

•

•

Principal payments on long-term debt, including our Revolving Credit Facility were $41.9 million.

Issuance costs related to the amendment to our Revolving Credit Facility were $1.3 million.

Extinguishment of long-term debt was $1.2 million.

Proceeds from share-based award plans were $0.9 million.

During the year ended December 31, 2017, net cash used in financing activities was $27.5 million primarily consisting of:

•

•

•

Net principal payments on short and long-term debt were $45.3 million.

Borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility were $17.0 million.

Proceeds from share-based award plans were $0.8 million.

Future Cash Requirements

Debt Obligations

Total debt (excluding unamortized discounts and debt issuance costs) as of December 31, 2019 was $162.4 million, of which $18.3 million was classified as current.

The following table summarizes the maturity dates for our significant debt as of December 31, 2019:

7.750% Senior Notes (excluding unamortized discount)

Senior secured revolving credit facility

Promissory notes

  December 2022

  March 2021

  December 2020

Debt

Maturity Date

42

 
 
 
 
In 2010, we entered into two promissory notes for $27.0 million and $11.7 million to purchase a heavy and medium helicopter, respectively. In December 2015, upon
maturity of the notes, we refinanced the then outstanding balances of $19.0 million and $5.9 million. The notes require monthly principal payments of $0.1 million and less
than $0.1 million with final payments of $12.8 million and $4.0 million, respectively. Both promissory notes are due in December 2020.

For further discussion of outstanding debt as of December 31, 2019, including a discussion of the market terms or our debt obligations, and our debt issuance costs and

other details see Note 7 in the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” included in this Annual Report.

Unfunded Capital Commitments

As of December 31, 2019, we had unfunded capital commitments of $80.5 million, primarily pursuant to agreements to purchase eight  helicopters.  Approximately
$69.5 million is payable in 2020, with the remaining commitments payable through 2021. We also had $1.3 million of deposits paid on options not yet exercised. We may
terminate $81.8 million of these commitments (inclusive of deposits paid on options not yet exercised) without further liability to us other than aggregate liquidated damages of
$2.1 million. In addition, we had outstanding options to purchase up to an additional ten AW189 helicopters. If these options were exercised, the helicopters would be delivered
in 2021 and 2022. We expect to finance the remaining acquisition costs through a combination of cash on hand and cash provided by operating activities.

Short and Long-Term Liquidity Requirements

We anticipate that we will generate positive cash flows from operations and that these cash flows will be adequate to meet our working capital requirements. During
the year ended December 31, 2019, our cash provided by operations was $27.6 million. To support our capital expenditure program and/or other liquidity requirements, we may
use any combination of operating cash flow, cash balances or proceeds from sales of assets, issue debt or equity, or borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility. As of
December 31, 2019, we had the ability to borrow an additional $124.3 million under the Revolving Credit Facility, subject to our compliance with the financial ratios discussed
above.

Our availability of long-term liquidity is dependent upon our ability to generate operating profits sufficient to meet our requirements for working capital, debt service,

capital expenditures and a reasonable return on investment. Management will continue to closely monitor our liquidity and the credit markets.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

As of December 31, 2019, we had standby letters of credit totaling $0.7 million.

Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments

The following table summarizes our contractual obligations and other commercial commitments and their aggregate maturities as of December 31, 2019 (in

thousands):

Contractual obligations:
Long-term debt(1)
Capital purchase obligations(2)
Operating leases(3)
Purchase obligations(4)

_______________

Total

  Less Than 1 Year  

1-3 Years

3-5 Years

More Than 5
Years

Payments Due By Period

  $

  $

196,981 
80,468 
16,138 
7,040 
300,627 

  $

  $

30,719 
69,530 
2,273 
7,040 
109,562 

  $

  $

166,262 
10,938 
3,168 
— 
180,368 

  $

  $

— 
— 
2,327 
— 
2,327 

  $

  $

— 
— 
8,370 
— 
8,370 

(1) Maturities of our borrowings, interest payments pursuant to such borrowings and a capital commitment fee on our Revolving Credit Facility are based on contractual terms. Interest amounts represent the

expected cash payments for interest on our long-term debt based on the interest rates in place and amounts outstanding as of December 31, 2019. We assume no borrowings under the revolver.

(2) Capital purchase obligations as of December 31, 2019 represent commitments for the purchase of eight new helicopters, consisting of five AW169 light twin helicopters and three AW189 heavy helicopters. Of
the total unfunded capital commitments, all may be terminated without further liability other than liquidated damages of $2.1 million in the aggregate. These commitments are not recorded as liabilities on our
consolidated balance sheet as we had not yet received the goods or taken title to the property.

(3) Operating leases primarily include leases of facilities that have a remaining term in excess of one year. Included in the $16.1 million is $5.3 million related to leases that are reasonably expected to extend.

(4) Purchase  obligations  primarily  include  purchase  orders  for  helicopter  inventory  and  maintenance.  These  commitments  are  for  goods  and  services  to  be  acquired  in  the  ordinary  course  of  business  and  are

fulfilled by our vendors within a short period of time.

43

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Effects of Inflation

Our operations expose us to the effects of inflation. In the event that inflation becomes a significant factor in the world economy, inflationary pressures could result in

increased operating and financing costs.

Contingencies

Brazilian Tax Disputes

In connection with our ownership of Aeróleo and its operations in Brazil, we have several ongoing legal disputes related to the local, municipal and federal taxation
requirements  in  Brazil,  including  assessments  associated  with  the  import  and  re-export  of  our  helicopters  in  Brazil.  The  legal  disputes  are  related  to:  (i)  municipal  tax
assessments  arising  under  the  authorities  in  Rio  de  Janeiro  (for  the  period  between  2000  and  2005)  and  Macaé  (for  the  period  between  2001  to  2006)  (collectively,  the
“Municipal  Tax  Disputes”);  (ii)  social  security  contributions  that  one  of  our  customers  was  required  to  remit  from  1995  to  1998;  (iii)  penalties  assessed  due  to  our  alleged
failure to comply with certain deadlines related to the helicopters we import and export in and out of Brazil; and (iv) fines sought by taxing authorities in Brazil related to our
use of certain tax credits used to offset certain social tax liabilities (collectively, the “Tax Disputes”).

The aggregate amount at issue for the Tax Disputes is $13.8 million. The Municipal Tax Disputes represent the largest claims with a total amount being sought from

Aeróleo, with approximately $10.3 million at issue.

In  addition  to  the  Tax  Disputes  (and  unrelated  thereto),  Aeróleo  is  engaged  in  two  additional  civil  litigation  matters  relating  to:  (i)  a  dispute  with  its  former  tax
consultant who has alleged that $0.5 million is due and payable as a contingency fee related to execution of certain tax strategies; and (ii) a fatal accident that occurred in 1983
and was previously settled with the plaintiffs’ in the U.S. (the “Civil Disputes”). With respect to the fatal accident, the plaintiffs are seeking to collect additional amounts in
Brazil despite the previous settlement agreed upon by the parties in the U.S.

We continue to evaluate and assess various legal strategies for each of the Tax Disputes and the Civil Disputes. As is customary for certain legal matters in Brazil,
Aeróleo  has  already  deposited  amounts  as  security  into  an  escrow  account  to  pursue  further  legal  appeals  in  several  of  the  Tax  Disputes  and  the  Civil  Disputes.  As  of
December 31, 2019, we have deposited $5.0 million into escrow accounts controlled by the court with respect to the Tax Disputes and the Civil Disputes, and we have fully
reserved  such  amounts  subject  to  final  determination  and  the  judicial  release  of  such  escrow  deposits.  These  estimates  are  based  on  our  assessment  of  the  nature  of  these
matters, their progress toward resolution, the advice of legal counsel and outside experts as well as management’s intentions and experience. Aeróleo plans to defend the cases
vigorously. As of December 31, 2019, it is not possible to determine the outcome of the Tax Disputes or the Civil Disputes, but we do not expect that an outcome would have a
material adverse effect on our business, financial position or results of operations.

General Litigation and Disputes

In  the  normal  course  of  our  business,  we  become  involved  in  various  litigation  matters  including,  among  other  things,  claims  by  third  parties  for  alleged  property
damages and personal injuries. In addition, from time to time, we are involved in tax and other disputes with various government agencies. Management has used estimates in
determining  our  potential  exposure  to  these  matters  and  has  recorded  reserves  in  our  financial  statements  related  thereto  as  appropriate.  It  is  possible  that  a  change  in  our
estimates related to these exposures could occur, but we do not expect such changes in estimated costs would have a material effect on our business, consolidated financial
position or results of operations.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of our financial statements is in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). In many cases, the accounting treatment of
a particular transaction is specifically dictated by GAAP, whereas, in other circumstances, GAAP requires us to make estimates, judgments and assumptions that we believe are
reasonable based upon information available. We base our estimates and judgments on historical experience, professional advice and various other sources that we believe to be
reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions and conditions. We believe that of our significant accounting
policies, as discussed in Note 1 to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the following involve a higher degree of
judgment and complexity.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts. We establish allowances for doubtful accounts on a case-by-case basis when we believe the payment of amounts owed to us is
unlikely to occur. In establishing these allowances, we consider a number of factors, including our historical experience and changes in our client’s financial position. Such
estimates involve significant judgment by management.

44

 
 
 
 
We derive a significant portion of our revenue from services to international, independent and major integrated oil and gas companies and government agencies. Our

receivables are concentrated primarily in the Gulf of Mexico. We generally do not require collateral or other security to support client receivables.

Inventory Reserve. We maintain inventory that primarily consists of spare parts to service our helicopters. We establish an allowance to distribute the cost of spare
parts expected to be on hand at the end of a fleet’s life over the service lives of the related equipment, taking into account the estimated salvage value of the parts. Also, we
periodically review the condition and continuing usefulness of the parts to determine whether the realizable value of our inventory is lower than its book value. Parts related to
helicopter  types  that  our  management  has  determined  will  no  longer  be  included  in  our  fleet  or  will  be  substantially  reduced  in  our  fleet  in  future  periods  are  specifically
reviewed. If our valuation of these parts is significantly lower than the book value of the parts, an additional provision may be required.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets. We review our property and equipment for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of
such assets may not be recoverable. Our long-lived assets are grouped at the lowest level for which there are identifiable cash flows that are largely independent of the cash
flows of other groups of assets, which, for us, is generally at the fleet group level. If an impairment is indicated for an asset group classified as held and used, an impairment
evaluation will be performed. Asset impairment evaluations are based on estimated undiscounted cash flows over the remaining useful life for the assets being evaluated. If the
sum of the expected future cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the asset group, we would be required to recognize an impairment loss. When determining fair value,
we utilize various assumptions, including projections of future cash flows. A change in these underlying assumptions could cause a change in the results of the tests and, as
such, could cause fair value to be less than the carrying amounts. In such event, we would then be required to record a corresponding charge, which would reduce our earnings.
We  continue  to  evaluate  our  estimates  and  assumptions  and  believe  that  our  assumptions,  which  include  an  estimate  of  future  cash  flows  based  upon  the  anticipated
performance of the underlying assets, are appropriate.

Supply and demand are the key drivers of helicopter idle time and our ability to contract our helicopters at economical rates. During periods of oversupply, it is not
uncommon for us to have helicopters idled for extended periods of time, which could be an indication that an asset group may be impaired. In most instances, and over their
useful lives, our helicopters could be used interchangeably. Due to the mobility of helicopters, we may move them from a weak geographic market to a stronger geographic
market if an adequate opportunity arises to do so.

Leases. We maintain operating leases for a number of fixed assets and determine if an arrangement is considered a lease at inception or during modification or renewal
of  an  existing  lease.  The  right-of-use  (“ROU”)  assets  associated  with  these  leases  are  reflected  under  long-term  assets,  and  the  payables  on  lease  agreements  recorded  as
liabilities, with amounts due within one year recorded in other current liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets. The majority of our operating leases do not provide an
implicit rate, so the incremental borrowing rate is based on the information available at commencement date to determine the present value of future payments.

Intangible Assets. We  record  purchased  intangible  assets  at  their  respective  fair  values  on  the  date  acquired.  Intangible  assets  with  finite  lives  are  amortized  on  a
straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. Intangible assets with indefinite lives are tested for impairment on an annual basis, or more frequently when indicators of
impairment are present between annual impairment tests. The impairment analysis uses a discounted future cash flow approach to determine fair value and incorporates, among
other  things,  projected  utilization  of  our  fleet,  future  oil  prices  and  contract  rates.  These  estimates  are  reviewed  each  time  we  test  indefinite  lived  intangible  assets  for
impairment  and  are  typically  developed  as  part  of  our  routine  business  planning  and  forecasting  process.  While  we  believe  our  estimates  and  assumptions  are  reasonable,
variations from those estimates could produce materially different results.

Contingent  Liabilities.  We  establish  reserves  for  estimated  loss  contingencies  when  we  believe  a  loss  is  probable  and  the  amount  of  the  loss  can  be  reasonably
estimated.  Our  contingent  liability  reserves  relate  primarily  to  potential  tax  assessments  for  Aeróleo  contingencies,  litigation  and  personal  injury  claims.  Income  for  each
reporting period includes revisions to contingent liability reserves resulting from different facts or information which becomes known or circumstances which change and affect
our previous assumptions with respect to the likelihood or amount of loss. Such revisions are based on information which becomes known or circumstances that change after
the reporting date for the previous period through the reporting date of the current period. Reserves for contingent liabilities are based upon our assumptions and estimates
regarding the probable outcome of the matter. Should the outcome differ from our assumptions and estimates or other events result in a material adjustment to the accrued
estimated reserves, revisions to the estimated reserves for contingent liabilities would be recognized.

Sales-type Leases. We engage in various lease transactions that qualify for treatment as sales-type leases. The initial profit or loss on such a transaction is determined
as the fair value of the underlying assets (or the sum of the present value of the lease receivable and any prepaid lease payments by lessee, if lower) less any deferred initial
direct costs incurred by us. Sales-type leases are subsequently analyzed for impairment purposes. If any of the lessees involved in these transactions encounter credit difficulties
we will evaluate for impairment. The lessee’s credit risk relating to its ability to pay cash flows, pay lessee-provided

45

 
 
 
residual  value  guarantees,  or  exercise  reasonably  certain  purchase  options  is  considered  along  with  the  mitigating  impact  of  cash  flows  associated  with  guaranteed  and
unguaranteed residual values of the leased asset.

Taxes. Our  annual  tax  provision  is  based  on  expected  taxable  income,  statutory  rates  and  tax  planning  opportunities  available  in  various  jurisdictions  in  which  we
operate. The determination and evaluation of the annual tax provision and tax positions involves the interpretation of tax laws and requires significant judgment and the use of
estimates and assumptions regarding significant future events such as the amount, timing and character of income, deductions and tax credits. Changes in tax laws, regulations,
agreements, treaties, foreign currency exchange restrictions or our level of operations or profitability in each area impacts the tax liability. A number of years may elapse before
the ultimate tax liabilities in the various jurisdictions are determined.

We recognize foreign tax credits available to us to offset the U.S. income taxes due on income earned from foreign sources. These credits are limited by the total
income tax on our U.S. income tax return as well as by the ratio of foreign source income in each statutory category to total income. In estimating the amount of foreign tax
credits that are realizable, we estimate future taxable income in each statutory category. These estimates are subject to change based on changes in the market conditions in each
statutory category and the timing of certain deductions available to us in each statutory category. We periodically reassess these estimates and record changes to the amount of
realizable foreign tax credits based on these revised estimates.

We  maintain  reserves  for  estimated  tax  exposures.  Tax  exposure  items  include  potential  challenges  to  intercompany  pricing,  disposition  transactions  and  the
applicability or rates of various withholding taxes. Exposures are resolved primarily through the settlement of audits or by judicial means, but can also be affected by changes in
applicable tax law, statute of limitation expirations, etc., which may result in a revision of past estimates. We review these liabilities quarterly for determination of whether
further liability shall be accrued or whether existing liabilities shall be reversed due to expiration of related statutes of limitation, settlement of the respective items with the tax
authorities, or the issuance of rules, regulations, legislation or court rulings that resolve the uncertainty.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

For a description of recent accounting pronouncements that will, or could possibly, have an effect on our financial condition and results of operations, see Note 1 to

our Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Item 7A.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

As of December 31, 2019, we had non-U.S. dollar denominated capital purchase commitments of €71.7 million ($80.5 million). An  adverse  change  of  10%  in  the

underlying foreign currency exchange rate would increase the U.S. dollar equivalent of the non-hedged purchase commitment by $8.0 million.

As of December 31, 2019, we had $18.3 million of variable rate debt outstanding. These instruments bear a variable interest rate that resets monthly and are computed
as the one-month LIBOR rate at the date of each reset plus 181 basis points. As of December 31, 2019, the weighted average interest rate on these borrowings was 3.50%. A
10% increase in the underlying LIBOR would raise the rate to 3.67%, resulting in additional annual interest expense of less than $0.1 million, net of tax.

As of December 31, 2019, we maintained a non-U.S. dollar denominated working capital balance of R$30.1 million ($7.5 million). An adverse change of 10% in the
underlying foreign currency exchange rate would reduce our working capital balance by $0.7 million. As of December 31, 2019, we maintained a non-U.S. dollar denominated
working capital balance of COP$818 million ($0.2 million). An adverse change of 10% in the underlying foreign currency exchange rate would reduce our working capital
balance by less than $0.1 million.

ITEM 8.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

The consolidated financial statements and related notes required by this item are included in Part IV, Item 15 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and are presented

beginning on page 87 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

ITEM 9.

CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

None.

46

 
 
 
ITEM 9A.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

With the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, management evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures
(as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of December 31, 2019. Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information
required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified under
Securities Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules and forms, including ensuring that such material information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including
our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Management recognizes that any controls and
procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives.

Based on the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and

procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level as of December 31, 2019.

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange

Act).

Management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019 based on the updated framework in
Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. This evaluation included a review of the
documentation  surrounding  our  financial  controls,  an  evaluation  of  the  design  effectiveness  of  these  controls,  testing  of  the  operating  effectiveness  of  these  controls  and  a
conclusion  on  this  evaluation.  There  are  inherent  limitations  in  the  effectiveness  of  any  system  of  internal  control  over  financial  reporting,  including  the  possibility  of  the
circumvention or overriding of controls.

Based on management’s evaluation, management concluded that we did maintain effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019.

Grant Thornton LLP has issued an attestation report on our internal control over financial reporting. This report is presented beginning on page 84 of this Annual

Report on Form 10-K.

Remediation of Previously Reported Material Weakness

None.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

During the year ended December 31, 2019, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting.

ITEM 9B.

OTHER INFORMATION

None.

47

 
 
 
PART III

ITEM 10.

DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Directors

Set forth below is certain biographical information with respect to members of our board of directors (the “Board”):

Name

Charles Fabrikant

Christopher Bradshaw

Ann Fairbanks

Christopher Papouras

Yueping Sun

Steven Webster

Age

  Position

75

43

78

52

63

68

  Chairman of the Board of Directors

  Director

  Director

  Director

  Director

  Director

Charles Fabrikant is the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board.  Mr. Fabrikant served as the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer from October 2011 to
April  2012  and  has  served  as  Chairman  of  the  Board  since  July  2011.    Mr.  Fabrikant  co-founded  SEACOR  Holdings  Inc.  (“SEACOR”)  and  has  served  as  a  director  of
SEACOR and several of its subsidiaries since its inception in 1989.  Mr. Fabrikant currently serves as Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of SEACOR and as the
Non-Executive  Chairman  of  SEACOR’s  former  marine  services  division,  SEACOR  Marine  Holdings  Inc.    Additionally,  Mr.  Fabrikant  has  served  as  director  of  Diamond
Offshore Drilling, Inc., a contract oil and gas driller, from January 2004 through May 2019. He also serves as President of Fabrikant International Corporation, a privately
owned corporation engaged in marine investments.  Mr. Fabrikant is a graduate of Columbia University School of Law and Harvard University.

With over 30 years of experience in the maritime, transportation, investment and environmental industries, and his position as the co-founder of SEACOR and the
Company’s former President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Fabrikant’s broad experience and deep understanding of the Company make him uniquely qualified to serve as
Non-Executive Chairman of the Board.

Christopher Bradshaw has served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since November 2014 and Chief Financial Officer from October
2012 to September 2015. Mr. Bradshaw was appointed a director of the Company in February 2015. He served as the Company’s Acting Chief Executive Officer from August
2014 to November 2014. Additionally, Mr. Bradshaw is an officer and director of certain joint ventures and subsidiaries of the Company. From 2009 until 2012, Mr. Bradshaw
served as Managing Partner and Chief Financial Officer of U.S. Capital Advisors LLC, an independent financial advisory firm that he co-founded. Prior to co-founding U.S.
Capital Advisors LLC, Mr. Bradshaw was an energy investment banker at UBS Securities LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co., and PaineWebber Incorporated.

As  Chief  Executive  Officer,  Mr.  Bradshaw  provides  valuable  insight  to  the  Board  on  the  Company's  day-to-day  operations.  Mr.  Bradshaw  also  adds  a  valuable

perspective to the Board given his strong background in corporate finance and investment banking within the energy sector.

Ann Fairbanks has been a member of the Board since March 2013. Mrs. Fairbanks is the founder and Chairman of the Fairbanks Investment Fund, a U.S. private
equity fund. She is currently Chairman of the board of ProteoNic B.V., a director on the boards of Invectys S.A. and Routin S.A., and Chairman of Layalina Productions, a non-
profit  organization.  Mrs.  Fairbanks  served  in  a  number  of  U.S.  government  positions,  including  as  Executive  Director  of  the  Federal  Home  Loan  Bank  Board  from  1983
to 1987, as Deputy Assistant Director for Economic Policy on the White House Domestic Policy Staff of President Ronald Reagan from 1981 to 1983, and as Presidential
Appointee on the founding board of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation until 1994. Mrs. Fairbanks formerly served as Lead Director of ING Direct until its sale to
Capital One Bank in 2010. Mrs. Fairbanks serves on the board of directors and Executive Committee of the French-American Foundation in New York since 2002, and has
served as a member of each of the National Committee of the Aspen Music Festival since 2001 and the International Women’s Forum in Washington, D.C., since 1996. Mrs.
Fairbanks formerly served as a member of the board of directors of the French-American Foundation, in France, from 2006 to 2010.

Mrs. Fairbanks’ extensive experience with investment activities and board positions provides additional depth to the Board’s analysis and evaluation of investment and

acquisition opportunities and other corporate opportunities. Mrs. Fairbanks’ broad experience enhances the Board’s leadership, corporate governance and diversity.

Christopher Papouras has been a member of the Board since March 2013. Mr. Papouras was President of Nabors Drilling Solutions, a provider of oil and gas drilling

services, from 2015 until June 2018, and Chairman of Canrig Drilling Technology,

48

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ltd. (“Canrig”), a leading supplier of drilling equipment for the oil and gas drilling industry, from February 2016 until June 2018. Prior to that, Mr. Papouras was President of
Canrig from 1998 to February 2016, President of Epoch Well Services, Inc., a provider of information technology services to the oil and gas industry, Assistant to the Chairman
of Nabors Industries, Inc., a land drilling contractor and subsidiary of Nabors Industries Ltd., and a member of the board of directors of Accend, Inc., a private company that
offers software solutions for the oil and gas industry. Mr. Papouras formerly served on the board of directors of Quantico Energy Solutions LLC, a data analytics company with
a focus on the oil and gas industry, and Reelwell AS, an oilfield service company. Mr. Papouras became a member of the board of directors of SEACOR in March 2018 and
Freight  Farms,  a  manufacturer  of  containerized  farming  units,  in  February  of  2020.  Mr.  Papouras  is  active  in  the  Young  Presidents’  Organization,  serves  on  the  board  of
directors of Knowledge is Power Program, Houston Public Schools and on the board of directors of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Houston.

Mr. Papouras’s strong background in technology and the oil and gas industry, as well as his experience serving as a director on various company boards adds extensive

value to the Company’s Board. This experience also provides significant value to the Audit Committee and Compensation Committee.

Yueping  Sun  has  been  a  member  of  the  Board  since  March  2013.  Ms.  Sun  has  been  Of  Counsel  for  the  law  firm  of  Yetter  Coleman  LLP  since  2005,  where  her
principal areas of practice include corporate and securities law. She also has served as Rice University Representative since 2004. Previously, Ms. Sun practiced law in New
York City with White & Case LLP and Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP. Ms. Sun is a board member of the Asia Society Texas Center, Teach for America and the United
Way of Greater Houston, a trustee of Texas Children’s Hospital and honorary co-chair of Rice’s Baker Institute Roundtable. Ms. Sun also serves as a member of the advisory
board of Rice’s Shepherd School of Music, the Kinder Institute for Urban Research, Asian Chamber of Commerce, Chinese Community Center, and the Mayor’s International
Trade  and  Development  Council  for  Asia/Australia.  Ms.  Sun  has  been  recognized  by  several  organizations  for  her  contributions  to  the  community,  including  the  2010
International Executive of the Year, Texas China Distinguished Leader in Education Award, the 2011 Asian American Leadership Award, Woman on the Move, one of the 50
Most Influential Women of 2010 and the 2012 ABC Channel 13 Woman of Distinction.

Ms.  Sun’s  experience  as  a  corporate  and  securities  lawyer  concentrating  on  cross-border  and  other  corporate  transactions  adds  value  to  the  Board  with  respect  to

transactional matters and corporate governance, and her broad experience provides for enhanced Board diversity.

Steven Webster has been a member of the Board since January 2013. Mr. Webster served on SEACOR’s board of directors from September 2005 to January 2013.
Mr. Webster is currently Managing Partner of AEC Partners LP, a private equity investment business formed in 2018 to invest in the energy sector. Mr. Webster remains a Co-
Managing Partner of Avista Capital Partners LP, a private equity investment business that he co-founded in 2005 that focuses on the energy, healthcare and other industries.
From  2000  through  June  2005,  Mr.  Webster  was  Chairman  of  Global  Energy  Partners,  an  affiliate  of  Credit  Suisse  First  Boston’s  Alternative  Capital  Division.  From  1988
through 1997, Mr. Webster was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Falcon Drilling Company, Inc. (“Falcon Drilling”), an offshore drilling company he founded, and
through 1999, served as President and Chief Executive Officer of R&B Falcon Corporation (“R&B Falcon”), the successor to Falcon Drilling formed through its merger with
Reading & Bates Corporation. Mr. Webster served as a Vice Chairman of R&B Falcon until 2001 when it merged with Transocean, Inc. Mr. Webster formerly served on the
board of directors of various public companies both in the energy and other industries. Mr. Webster currently serves as a Trust Manager of Camden Property Trust, a public real
estate investment trust specializing in multi-family housing, and director of Callon Production, an oil and gas development and production company, Oceaneering International
Inc., a Houston based public subsea engineering and applied technology company, and various private companies. Mr. Webster holds an MBA from Harvard Business School
where he was a Baker Scholar. He also holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Management and an Honorary Doctorate in Management from Purdue University.

Mr. Webster’s extensive experience with private equity and equity-related investments provides additional depth to the Board’s analysis of investment and acquisition
opportunities. His board positions and his experience as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of a public company provide additional experience to the Board in evaluating
corporate opportunities.

49

 
 
 
Executive Officers

Officers of Era Group serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. The name, age and offices held by each of the executive officers of Era Group as of March 2,

2020 were as follows:

Name

  Age

  Position

Christopher Bradshaw

43

Crystal Gordon

41

President and Chief Executive Officer since November 2014 and Chief Financial Officer from October 2012 to September 2015.
Mr. Bradshaw was appointed a director of the Company in February 2015. He served as the Company’s Acting Chief Executive
Officer  from  August  2014  to  November  2014.  From  2009  until  2012,  Mr.  Bradshaw  served  as  Managing  Partner  and  Chief
Financial  Officer  of  U.S.  Capital  Advisors  LLC,  an  independent  financial  advisory  firm.  Prior  to  co-founding  U.S.  Capital
Advisors, he was an energy investment banker at UBS Securities LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co., and PaineWebber Incorporated.
Additionally, Mr. Bradshaw is an officer and director of certain Era Group joint ventures and subsidiaries.

Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Chief Administrative Officer since joining the Company in January 2019. From 2011
through  2018,  Ms.  Gordon  served  as  the  Executive  Vice  President,  General  Counsel  and  Corporate  Secretary  of  Air  Methods
Corporation, an emergency air medical company operating over 400 aircraft throughout the U.S.  At Air Methods Corporation,
she  oversaw  the  company’s  legal,  compliance,  government  affairs,  risk  management  and  real  estate  departments.    During  her
tenure,  she  led  the  company  through  various  strategic  initiatives,  advising  senior  management  and  the  board  of  directors  on
numerous  mergers  and  acquisitions  and  joint  ventures.    Prior  to  her  appointment  at  Air  Methods  Corporation,  Ms.  Gordon
worked in private practice as a corporate and securities lawyer with Davis, Graham and Stubbs LLP, in Denver, Colorado.  Her
practice  involved  representing  public  and  private  companies  on  a  variety  of  corporate  transactions,  including  mergers,
acquisitions  and  dispositions,  public  offerings  and  private  placements  of  debt  and  equity  securities.      Ms.  Gordon  served  in
several compliance roles in the financial services industry prior to attending law school.

Jennifer Whalen

Stuart Stavley

Paul White

Grant Newman

46

47

44

42

Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer since February 2018. From June 2017 to February 2018, Ms. Whalen served as the
Company’s Vice President, Acting Chief Financial Officer, from August 2013 to June 2017, served as Vice President and Chief
Accounting  Officer,  and  from  April  2012  to  August  2013,  served  as  the  Company’s  Controller.  From  August  2007  to  March
2012, Ms. Whalen served in several capacities at nLIGHT Photonics Corporation, including as Director of Accounting. Prior to
these  roles,  Ms.  Whalen  served  as  the  Manager  of  Accounting  at  InFocus  Corporation  for  just  over  two  years.  Ms.  Whalen
started her career in the assurance practice with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

Senior Vice President, Operations and Fleet Management since October 2014. From October 2012 to October 2014, Mr. Stavley
served as the Company’s Senior Vice President - Fleet Management, and from October 2010 to October 2012, he served as Vice
President - Fleet Management. From September 2008 through October 2010, he served as the Company’s Director of Technical
Services  and  from  September  2005  through  September  2008  as  the  Company’s  Director  of  Maintenance.  He  began  with  the
Company in 1993 and prior to September 2005 also served as Chief Inspector and Field AMT.

Senior  Vice  President,  Commercial  since  October  2014.  From  October  2012  to  October  2014,  Mr.  White  served  as  the
Company’s  Senior  Vice  President  -  Domestic,  and  from  August  2010  to  October  2012,  he  served  as  Vice  President,  General
Manager Gulf of Mexico. Mr. White served as the Company’s General Manager of Era Training Center LLC from September
2008 to August 2010 and the Company’s Director of Training from 2007 to 2010. Previously Mr. White served in various roles
for the Company including Pilot, Check Airman, Senior Check Airman and Assistant Chief Pilot CFR Part 135.

Senior Vice President, Strategy & Corporate Development since September 2018. From 2008 until 2018, Mr. Newman was an
investment  banker  in  the  Industrials  group  at  Deutsche  Bank  Securities  Inc.,  where  he  most  recently  served  as  a  Director
covering aviation and commercial aerospace. Mr. Newman began his professional career at General Electric, in the GE Plastics
division where he held several corporate finance positions from 2001 to 2006 including roles in FP&A, manufacturing, sourcing
and  commercial  finance  as  well  as  project  leadership.  During  his  tenure,  he  completed  GE’s  rigorous  Financial  Management
Program and was certified as a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt.

50

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Code of Ethics and Corporate Governance Guidelines

The Board has adopted a set of Corporate Governance Guidelines, a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and a Supplemental Code of Ethics. A copy of each of these
documents, along with the charters of each of the committees described below, is available on the Company’s website at ir.erahelicopters.com, by clicking “Governance” then
“Governance Documents” and is also available to stockholders in print without charge upon written request to the Company’s Corporate Secretary, 945 Bunker Hill, Suite 650,
Houston, Texas 77024. The website and information contained therein or connected thereto shall not be deemed to be incorporated into this Annual Report on Form 10-K

The  Corporate  Governance  Guidelines  address  areas  such  as  director  responsibilities  and  qualifications,  director  compensation,  management  succession,  board
committees and annual self-evaluation. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is applicable to the Company’s directors, officers and employees, and the Supplemental Code
of  Ethics  is  applicable  to  the  Company’s  Chief  Executive  Officer  and  senior  financial  officers.  The  Company  will  disclose  future  amendments  to,  or  waivers  from,  certain
provisions of the Supplemental Code of Ethics on its website within two business days following the date of such amendment or waiver.

Committees of the Board

The  Board  has  established  the  following  committees,  each  of  which  operates  under  a  written  charter  that  has  been  posted  on  the  Company’s  website  at
www.erahelicopters.com. The website and the information contained therein or connected thereto shall not be deemed to be incorporated into this Annual Report on Form 10-
K.

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee met five times during 2019 and is currently comprised of Ann Fairbanks, Christopher Papouras and Steven Webster. Mr. Papouras is the Audit
Committee  Chairman.  The  Board  has  determined  that  Mr.  Papouras  is  an  “audit  committee  financial  expert”  for  purposes  of  the  rules  of  the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission  (“SEC”).  The  Board  also  determined  that  each  other  member  of  the  committee  is  financially  literate  as  required  under  the  NYSE  standards.  In  reaching  this
determination, the Board considered, among other things, the experience of Mr. Papouras as the prior Chairman of Canrig Drilling Technology, Ltd. and the prior President of
Nabors Drilling Solutions, in addition to other experience that is described above. In addition, the Board determined that each member of the Audit Committee is independent,
as defined by the rules of the NYSE Section 10A(m)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and in accordance with the Era Categorical Standards.
The Audit Committee is expected to meet at least quarterly.

Committee Function. The Audit Committee assists the Board in fulfilling its responsibility to oversee, among other things:

•

•

•

•

•

•
•
•
•

the conduct and integrity of management’s execution of the Company’s financial reporting process, including the reporting of any material events, transactions,
changes in accounting estimates or changes in important accounting principles and any significant issues as to adequacy of internal controls;
the  selection,  performance,  qualifications  and  compensation  of  the  Company’s  independent  registered  public  accounting  firm  (including  its  independence),  its
conduct of the annual audit and its engagement for any other services;
the review of the financial reports and other financial information provided by the Company to any governmental or regulatory body, the public or other users
thereof;
the Company’s systems of internal accounting and financial and disclosure controls, the annual independent audit of the Company’s financial statements and the
integrated audit of internal controls over financial reporting;
risk management and controls, which includes assisting management with identifying and monitoring risks such as financial accounting and reporting, internal
audit,  information  technology,  cybersecurity  and  compliance,  developing  effective  strategies  to  mitigate  risk,  and  incorporating  procedures  into  its  strategic
decision-making (and reporting developments related thereto to the Board);
the processes for handling complaints relating to accounting, internal accounting controls and auditing matters;
the Company’s legal and regulatory compliance;
the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics as established by management and the Board; and
the preparation of the audit committee report required by SEC rules to be included in the Company’s annual proxy statement.

The Audit Committee’s role is one of oversight. Management is responsible for preparing the Company’s financial statements, and the independent registered public
accounting firm is responsible for auditing those financial statements. Management, including the outside provider of internal audit services, and the independent registered
public accounting firm have more time, knowledge and detailed information about the Company than do Audit Committee members. Consequently, in carrying out its oversight
responsibilities,  the  Audit  Committee  will  not  provide  any  expert  or  special  assurance  as  to  the  Company’s  financial  statements  or  any  professional  certification  as  to  the
independent registered public accounting firm’s work.

51

 
 
 
 
Compensation Committee

The  Compensation  Committee  is  currently  comprised  of  Christopher  Papouras,  Yueping  Sun  and  Steven  Webster.  Mr.  Webster  is  the  Compensation  Committee
Chairman. The Compensation Committee met seven times during 2019 and, in addition, the Chairman of the Compensation Committee maintained frequent communication
with  the  other  Committee  members  as  well  as  the  Company’s  Non-Executive  Chairman  and  Chief  Executive  Officer  regarding  compensation  matters.  The  Board  has
determined that each member of the Compensation Committee is independent, as defined by the rules of the NYSE and in accordance with the Era Categorical Standards. In
addition, the members of the Compensation Committee qualify as “non-employee directors” for purposes of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act.

Committee Function. The Compensation Committee, among other things:

•
•

•
•
•
•

•
•
•

reviews the Company’s compensation practices, including corporate goals and annual performance objectives relevant to executive compensation;
establishes and approves compensation for the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, other executive officers, and officers or managers who receive
an annual base salary of more than $200,000;
evaluates officer and director compensation plans, policies and programs;
reviews and approves benefit plans;
approves all grants of equity awards and administers the Company’s incentive plans;
previews and discusses with management the Company’s Compensation Discussion and Analysis and produces a report on executive compensation to be included
in the Company’s proxy statements and other SEC filings;
determines stock ownership guidelines for the Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers and monitors compliance with such guidelines;
annually evaluates the independence of any advisors retained by the Compensation Committee; and
reviews and recommends to the Board for approval the frequency with which the Company will conduct an advisory stockholder vote on executive compensation
required by Section 14A of the Exchange Act (“Say on Pay Vote”), considering the results of the most recent Say on Pay Vote.

The  Chairman  of  the  Compensation  Committee  sets  the  agenda  for  meetings  of  the  Compensation  Committee.  The  meetings  are  attended  by  the  Chief  Executive
Officer  and  the  General  Counsel,  if  requested.  The  Compensation  Committee  meets  at  least  annually  with  the  Chief  Executive  Officer  and  any  other  corporate  officers  the
Board  and  Compensation  Committee  deem  appropriate  to  discuss  and  review  the  performance  criteria  and  compensation  levels  of  key  executives.  At  each  meeting,  the
Compensation  Committee  has  the  opportunity  to  meet  in  executive  session.  The  Chairman  of  the  Compensation  Committee  reports  the  Compensation  Committee’s  actions
regarding  compensation  of  executive  officers  to  the  full  Board.  The  Compensation  Committee  has  the  sole  authority  to  retain,  obtain  the  advice  of  and  terminate  any
compensation consultants, independent legal counsel or other advisors to assist the Compensation Committee in its discharge of its duties and responsibilities, including the
evaluation of director or executive officer compensation.

Interlocks and Insider Participation. During 2019, no member of the Compensation Committee was, and no member of the Compensation Committee currently is, an
officer or employee of the Company. During 2019, none of the Company’s executive officers served as a director or member of the compensation committee of any other entity
whose  executive  officers  serve  on  the  Board  or  the  Compensation  Committee.  During  2019,  no  member  of  the  Compensation  Committee  had  a  relationship  that  must  be
described under the SEC rules relating to disclosure of related person transactions.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

The  Nominating  and  Governance  Committee  met  once  during  2019.  The  Nominating  and  Governance  Committee  is  currently  comprised  of  Ann  Fairbanks  and
Yueping  Sun.  Mrs.  Fairbanks  is  the  Nominating  and  Corporate  Governance  Committee  Chairwoman.  The  Board  has  determined  that  each  member  of  the  Nominating  and
Corporate Governance Committee is independent, as defined by the rules of the NYSE and in accordance with the Era Categorical Standards.

Committee Function. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee assists the Board with, among other things:

•

•

•

•
•

identifying, screening and reviewing individuals qualified to serve as directors and recommending to the Board candidates for election at the Company’s annual
meeting of stockholders and to fill vacancies on the Board;
developing,  recommending  to  the  Board,  and  overseeing  implementation  of  modifications,  as  appropriate,  to  the  Company’s  policies  and  procedures  for
identifying  and  reviewing  candidates  for  the  Board,  including  policies  and  procedures  relating  to  candidates  for  the  Board  submitted  for  consideration  by
stockholders;
reviewing  the  composition  of  the  Board  as  a  whole,  including  whether  the  Board  reflects  the  appropriate  balance  of  independence,  sound  judgment,  business
specialization, technical skills, diversity and other desired qualities;
reviewing periodically the size of the Board and recommending any appropriate changes;
overseeing the evaluation of the Board and management; and

52

 
 
 
•

reviewing on a regular basis, the overall corporate governance of the Company and recommending to the Board improvements when necessary.

Selection  of  Nominees  for  the  Board  of  Directors.  To  fulfill  its  responsibility  to  recruit  and  recommend  to  the  full  Board  nominees  for  election  as  directors,  the
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee reviews the composition of the full Board to determine the qualifications and areas of expertise needed to further enhance
the composition of the Board and works with management in attracting candidates with those qualifications.

In identifying new director candidates, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee seeks advice and names of candidates from Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee members, other members of the Board, members of management and other public and private sources. The Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee, in formulating its recommendation of candidates to the Board, considers each candidate’s personal qualifications and how such personal qualifications effectively
address the perceived then current needs of the Board. Appropriate personal qualifications and criteria for membership on the Board include the following:

•

•
•
•
•

experience investing in and/or guiding complex businesses as an executive leader or as an investment professional within an industry or area of importance to the
Company;
proven judgment and competence, substantial accomplishments, and prior or current association with institutions noted for their excellence;
complementary professional skills and experience addressing the complex issues facing a multifaceted international organization;
an understanding of the Company’s businesses and the environment in which it operates; and
diversity as to business experiences, educational and professional backgrounds and gender, race and ethnicity.

After the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee completes its evaluation, it presents its recommendations to the Board for consideration and approval.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has the power to retain outside counsel, director search and recruitment consultants or other experts and will receive
appropriate funding from the Company to engage such advisors.

Stockholder Recommendations. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider director candidates suggested by the Company’s stockholders
provided that the recommendations are made in accordance with the procedures required under the Company’s amended and restated Bylaws for nomination of directors by
stockholders. Stockholder nominations that comply with these procedures and that meet the criteria outlined therein will receive the same consideration that the Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee’s nominees receive. The Company will report any material change to this procedure in an appropriate filing with the SEC and will make any
such changes available promptly on the SEC Filings section of the Company’s website at www.erahelicopters.com. There have been no material changes to these procedures
since the Company last provided this disclosure.

Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires that each director and executive officer of the Company and each person owning more than 10% of the Common Stock
report his or her initial ownership of Common Stock and any subsequent changes in that ownership to the SEC. The Company is required to disclose any failure to file or late
filings of such reports with respect to the most recent fiscal year.

Based solely upon a review of copies of forms furnished to the Company, the Company believes that all required Section 16(a) reports were timely filed during that

fiscal year 2019, except that one Form 4 reporting one transaction for Mr. Newman was reported late.

ITEM 11.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Compensation of Directors

Pursuant to the Company’s director compensation package for members of the Board who are not employees of the Company, the Company’s non-employee directors
are entitled to an annual cash retainer of $60,000 and are also entitled to additional cash compensation of $2,000 for each meeting of the Board or its committees attended in
person or by video conference and $1,000 for each such meeting attended telephonically. In addition, the Company’s non-executive Chairman is entitled to an additional annual
cash  retainer  of  $160,000,  and  the  chairpersons  of  each  of  the  Audit  Committee,  Compensation  Committee  and  Nominating  and  Governance  Committee  are  entitled  to
additional annual cash retainers of $20,000, $15,000 and $10,000, respectively. The Company has not increased the level of director compensation since 2013.

Directors are also eligible to receive equity awards under the Company’s 2012 Share Incentive Plan. Historically, annual equity awards to non-employee directors have

been in the form of restricted stock awards that vest on the first anniversary

53

 
 
 
 
of the grant date. The annual grants are generally expected to have a grant date fair value of $60,000 (5,748 shares of restricted stock for the grant made in March 2019).

In addition, upon election to the Board, non-employee directors will generally receive an initial award of 4,000 shares of restricted stock that will also vest in equal
installments over four years. If a non-employee director’s service as a director of the Company terminates upon death, disability or upon a change in control of the Company,
any unvested restricted stock awards will become fully vested. If a non-employee director’s service as a director of the Company terminates for any other reason, the unvested
restricted stock awards will be forfeited.

The following table shows the compensation of the Company’s non-employee directors for the year ended December 31, 2019.

NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR COMPENSATION TABLE

Name

Charles Fabrikant
Ann Fairbanks(2)(3)
Blaine Fogg(5)
Christopher Papouras(3)(4)
Yueping Sun(2)(4)
Steven Webster(3)(4)
______________________

Fees Earned or Paid in
Cash

Stock Awards(1)

Total

  $

  $

230,000 
85,000 
26,044 
105,000 
75,000 
96,000 

  $

60,000 
60,000 
60,000 
60,000 
60,000 
60,000 

290,000 
145,000 
86,044 
165,000 
135,000 
156,000 

(1) Represents the aggregate grant date fair value of stock awards granted in 2019 as computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. A discussion of the policies and assumptions used in the calculation of grant

date value are set forth in Note 12 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8.

(2) Member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.
(3) Member of the Audit Committee.
(4) Member of the Compensation Committee.
(5) Mr. Fogg served on the Board until June 2019.

The following table shows the outstanding shares of unvested restricted stock held by each non-employee director as of December 31, 2019.

Non-employee Director

Charles Fabrikant

Ann Fairbanks

Christopher Papouras

Yueping Sun

Steven Webster

Outstanding Shares of Restricted Stock

5,748 
5,748 
5,748 
5,748 
5,748 

Based  on  the  closing  price  of  a  share  of  the  Company’s  Common  Stock  of  $10.17  on  December  31,  2019,  the  fair  market  value  of  each  non-employee  director’s

outstanding shares of restricted stock as of the last day of the fiscal year was $58,457.

This discussion sets forth the compensation of the following Named Executive Officers (“NEOs”) of the Company:

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

•
•
•
•
•
•

Christopher Bradshaw, President and Chief Executive Officer
Crystal Gordon, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer
Jennifer Whalen, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Stuart Stavley, Senior Vice President, Operations and Fleet Management
Paul White, Senior Vice President, Commercial
Grant Newman, Senior Vice President, Strategy and Corporate Development

Business Highlights

Despite the challenging environment for the offshore oil and gas industry generally in 2019, the Company had a successful year, achieving its safety and operational

goals. Highlights during 2019 include:

54

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
•

•

•

The  Company  achieved  its  dual  goals  of  zero  air  accidents  and  zero  recordable  workplace  incedents,  extending  the  number  of  consecutive  days  without  a
recordable workplace incident to 892 as of March 2, 2020;
As of December 31, 2019, the Company strengthened its balance sheet with approximately $241.7 million of total available liquidity, including $117.4 million of
cash balances. With a strong balance sheet and limited debt maturities prior to 2022, manageable fixed charge obligations and a flexible order book, the Company
possesses industry leading financial flexibility; and
On January 24, 2020, the Company announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement with Bristow Group Inc. to combine the two companies in an all-
stock transaction, which is expected to create a financially stronger company with enhanced size and diversification.

For further information about our 2019 achievements, see Section titled “Annual Cash Bonus Plan”.

Compensation Highlights

The Compensation Committee took several actions with respect to the Company’s 2019 compensation programs, including the following:

•
•
•
•

Hired an independent compensation consultant to review and modify, as necessary, the Company’s peer group, see Section titled “Role of Peer Companies”;
Completed a comprehensive pay-for-performance analysis with the assistance of an independent third party executive compensation consultant;
Approved the 2019 annual cash bonus plan with challenging financial, safety and individual performance metrics; and
Continued to maintain the same level of director compensation since 2013.

Compensation Philosophy and Design

Our compensation philosophy is guided by the following principles:

•

•
•

Attract  and  Retain: Attract  and  retain  talented,  high-performing  executives  to  achieve  the  Company’s  mission  and  strategic  goals  in  consideration  of  competitive
market practices.
Reward for Performance: Reward NEOs for achieving both short-term and long-term objectives, including strategic and operational goals.
Align  Management  with  Stockholders:  Incentivize  NEOs  to  create  long-term  value  by  aligning  management’s  and  stockholders’  interests  through  equity
compensation awards.

The Compensation Committee does not set targets for the mix of compensation among the various elements of pay when determining compensation. The mix of value
attributable to each of the elements of compensation is generally driven by the Company’s desire to emphasize variable and at-risk compensation, such as cash bonus and long-
term incentives, over fixed compensation. The Compensation Committee believes this approach to compensation pay mix supports its culture and aligns NEOs’ interest with
the interest of stockholders.

Individual performance has a significant impact on determining compensation opportunities, other than for certain benefits that are provided to all of our employees.
Each NEO’s annual performance is evaluated based on a review of his or her individual contributions to the business results both for the year and the long-term impact of the
individual’s behavior and decisions.

We believe that our balanced mix of compensation is the best design to promote the Company’s compensation philosophy. Each compensation element is intended to
support one or more of our compensation philosophy principles. Below is a summary of the core elements of our NEOs’ compensation for the 2019 fiscal year, each of which is
reviewed annually:

55

 
 
 
Element

Objectives and Principles

Relation to Performance

2019 Actions/Results

ŸProvide a baseline level of cash
compensation for services provided
during year.
ŸReflect job responsibilities, individual
contributions, experience and peer
company data.

ŸMotivate and reward executive
officers’ contributions to achieve short-
term performance goals.
ŸPayment is not guaranteed, and levels
vary according to individual and
Company performance.

ŸAligns executives’ interests with those
of the Company’s stockholders and
drives long-term value creation.
ŸReward for increase in stock-price
performance since the value realized by
the NEO upon vesting of restricted stock
is directly tied to stock price.
ŸAttract, retain and motivate.

Encourage employee savings, stock
ownership and align interests with
stockholders.

Executive salaries determined annually
by Compensation Committee in
consideration of retention efforts,
individual experience and performance,
financial position of the Company, the
Company’s performance relative to its
peers and general market conditions.

Mr. Bradshaw’s base salary was increased by 11%.

Ms. Whalen’s salary was increased by 18%.
Messrs. Newman, Stavley and White salaries were
increased by 5%.

Annual bonuses reflect individual
performance and the Company’s
financial and safety performance.

The Company achieved its stretch safety performance of
zero air accidents and zero workplace incidents. The
Company exceeded its target financial metric, but did not
reach its stretch financial metric, as further outlined below.

The Compensation Committee
considers several factors, including the
individual’s role and responsibilities
when determining grant date fair value
of equity awards.

The Compensation Committee approved an annual equity
award for each executive employed at the beginning of
2019. Upon joining the Company on January 3, 2019, Ms.
Gordon received a one-time new hire grant. Each grant
vests over a three-year period, subject to continued
employment.

Not directly related to performance.
Reflects competitive pay practice.

No significant actions in 2019.

Provide health and welfare benefits to
executives.

Not directly related to performance.
Reflects competitive pay practice.

Health and welfare benefits including medical, dental,
vision and disability coverage provided to all employees.
No significant actions in 2019.

Base Salary: Fixed annual
cash; paid on a semi-
monthly basis

Annual Cash Bonus:
 Cash-based bonus based
on achievement of short-
term performance goals

Long-term Incentive
Equity: Value-based
award of restricted stock
with a three-year vesting
period

Employee Stock
Purchase Plan (ESPP):
Eligibility to participate in
ESPP.

Health and Welfare
Benefits: Eligibility to
participate in health and
welfare

Role of Peer Companies

Generally, the Compensation Committee does not think it is appropriate to establish compensation based solely on benchmarking compared to the peer companies
(“Peer Companies”) due to differences in corporate strategies and responsibilities of executive officers and key managers, reporting and accounting practices, levels of balance
sheet  leverage,  and  quality  of  asset  base.  However,  the  Compensation  Committee  believes that  reviewing  peer  information  is  useful  for  two  reasons.  First,  the  Company’s
compensation  practices  must  be  competitive  in  order  to  attract  and  retain  executives  with  the  ability  and  experience  necessary  to  provide  leadership  and  to  deliver  strong
performance to the Company’s stockholders. Second, peer review allows the Compensation Committee to assess the reasonableness of the Company’s compensation practices.
This  process  allows  the  Company  to  achieve  one  of  its  primary  objectives  of  maintaining  competitive  compensation  opportunities  to  ensure  retention  when  justified  and
rewarding the achievement of Company objectives so as to align with stockholder interest.

56

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Company’s Peer Companies, which were reviewed and modified during 2019, generally consisted of public rotorcraft transport companies and oilfield services
companies, all of whom we compete with for executive talent. Prior to the modifications to the Peer Companies outlined below, the Peer Companies reviewed in connection
with 2019 executive compensation decisions included:

Air Methods Corporation

Basic Energy Services, Inc.

Bristow Group Inc.(1)

CHC Group, Ltd.(1)

C&J Energy Services, Ltd.

Basic Energy Services, Inc.(1)

GulfMark Offshore, Inc.

Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc.(1)

Key Energy Services Inc.(1)

PHI Inc.(2)

Newpark Resources, Inc.

SEACOR Holdings Inc.

Because public compensation data for a number of peers previously included as Peer Companies was no longer available due to such companies being privately held
and/or de-listed in connection with Chapter 11 proceedings, the Compensation Committee reviewed, and modified, the Peer Companies in July 2019 with the assistance of the
Company’s independent compensation advisor, Longnecker and Associates (“Longnecker”), an executive compensation consulting firm based in Houston, Texas. Given  the
limited number of public company peers in the rotorcraft industry, the Company sought to broaden the peer group to aviation companies generally and oilfield services. Each of
the  potential  peers  identified  in  these  industries  were  then  benchmarked  against  the  Company  by  utilizing  the  following  metrics:  market  capitalization,  asset  size,  revenue,
enterprise value and geography. As a result of this assessment performed by Longnecker, the Compensation Committee modified the Peer Companies in July 2019 as follows:

Air Transport Services Group, Inc.

Allegiant Travel Company

Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc.

Basic Energy Services, Inc.(1)

Bristow Group, Inc.(2)

CARBO Ceramics Inc.

Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc.(1)

Key Energy Services Inc.(1)

PHI Inc.(2)

SEACOR Holdings Inc.

Tidewater Inc.

Newpark Resources, Inc.

___________________________

(1) Based on last available public information. De-listed in 2019.
(2) Based on last available public information. Became privately held in 2019.

Use of Compensation Consultants

The  Compensation  Committee  decided  not  to  employ  a  compensation  consultant  in  determining  or  recommending  the  amount  or  form  of  officer  or  director
compensation for 2019. Data used by the Compensation Committee was collected by the Company’s legal and finance departments and outside data services, such as Equilar,
and reviewed and discussed from time to time at Compensation Committee meetings.

However, Longnecker was retained to assist the Compensation Committee with a review of the Peer Companies and perform a pay-for-performance analysis, which
informed 2020 compensation decisions. Longnecker commenced its engagement during Q2 2019. The engagement included, among other things, a peer group analysis, a pay-
for-performance analysis for the NEOs and a compensation analysis for the independent directors of the Board. Prior to retaining Longnecker, the Compensation Committee
evaluated Longnecker’s independence from management, taking into consideration all relevant factors, including the six independence factors specified in the NYSE listing
rules and applicable SEC requirements. The Compensation Committee concluded that Longnecker is independent and that its work for the Compensation Committee will not
raise any conflicts of interest.

57

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Executive Compensation “Best Practices”

For 2019, the Company employed the following executive compensation best practices:

What We Do:

•

•

•

•

•

•

Annual Review of Base Salaries in Effect for 2019. The Company reviewed Peer data from outside data services, such as Equilar and determined that base salaries
were generally aligned with the Company’s Peer Companies.
Annual Cash Bonus Plan. The Company adopted an incentive annual cash bonus plan providing for payment of annual cash bonuses subject to, and based on, the
attainment of certain pre-established safety, financial and individual performance goals.
Three-Year  Vesting  of  Restricted  Stock.  Historically,  each  NEO’s  long-term  incentive  grant  is  delivered  as  restricted  stock,  with  a  three-year  ratable  vesting
period.
Clawback  Policy.  The  Company  has  a  clawback  policy  applicable  to  the  NEOs’  executive  compensation  in  the  event  the  Company  is  required  to  publish  a
restatement to any of its previously published financial statements as a result of material noncompliance with financial reporting requirements or certain improper
acts by a NEO.
Stock Ownership Guidelines. The Company has adopted Stock Ownership Guidelines that apply to the NEOs to ensure that minimum levels of stock ownership
are attained and maintained.
Independent  Oversight.  The  Compensation  Committee  is  comprised  of  independent  directors  and  has  the  ability  to  engage  the  services  of  an  independent
compensation consultant and outside legal counsel.

What We Don’t Do:

•
•

•
•
•

•
•

No Employment Contracts with NEOs.   The Company does not maintain any employment contracts with the NEOs.
No  Guaranteed  Bonuses.  The  Company  believes  that  bonuses  should  reflect  actual  Company  and  individual  performance;  therefore,  the  Company  does  not
guarantee bonus payments to the NEOs (i.e., annual bonuses are considered “at risk” pay).
No Excessive Severance Payments. The Company does not maintain a formal severance program outside of a change in control context.
No Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“SERP”). The Company does not provide a SERP to any NEO.
No Tax Gross-ups. The Company has never provided any tax gross-up payments to the NEOs and has no contract or agreement with any NEO that provides for a
tax  gross-up  payment,  including  those  related  to  change-of-control  payments  subject  to  Sections  280G  and  4999  of  the  Internal  Revenue  Code  of  1986,  as
amended (the “Code”).
No Repricing or Replacing Outstanding Stock Options. The Company has never repriced or replaced any of its outstanding stock options.
Policies Restricting Hedging and Pledging By NEOs. The Company has adopted policies restricting hedging and pledging of the Company’s securities. Hedging is
prohibited unless the Company’s General Counsel clears such transactions in advance; pledging transactions are subject to the restrictions and limitations set forth
in the Company’s Insider Trading Policy.

Key Elements of Compensation

Consistent with our compensation philosophy, we believe a balanced mix of the following three primary compensation elements provides for the optimal design for

our executive compensation program: (i) annual base salary, (ii) annual cash bonus and (iii) long-term incentive equity awards.

Annual Base Salary

The  base  salary  levels  for  the  NEOs  are  determined  based  on  the  experience  and  skill  required  for  executing  the  Company’s  business  strategy  and  overseeing
operations and are adjusted as appropriate at levels designed to be consistent with professional and market standards. The Compensation Committee considers the following
factors when determining base salaries: (i) compensation data of the Company’s Peer Companies, (ii) the individual’s experience and skillset, (iii) a performance assessment by
the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (and in the case of the Chief Executive Officer, an assessment by the Compensation Committee), and (iv) general market conditions.

58

 
 
 
In December 2018, after reviewing executive compensation practices of the Company’s new Peer Companies, the Compensation Committee increased the 2019 annual
base  salaries  for  Mr.  Bradshaw  by  11%,  for  Ms.  Whalen  by  18%  and  for  Messrs.  Newman,  Stavley  and  White  by  5%.  In  December  2019,  after  reviewing  executive
compensation practices of the Company’s Peer Companies, the Compensation Committee did not increase the 2020 annual base salaries of any of the NEOs. The 2020 annual
base salaries for executives are generally below the median and average base salaries of executives with similar roles.

Annual Cash Bonus Plan

In January 2019, the Compensation Committee approved and adopted an annual cash bonus plan for the fiscal year 2019 (the “2019 Plan”), in which each of the NEOs
participated. The 2019 Plan provided for payment of cash bonuses following the completion of the 2019 fiscal year subject to the attainment of certain performance measures
established  by  the  Compensation  Committee.  Performance  measures  consisted  of  safety  metrics,  achievement  of  a  pre-established  Adjusted  EBITDA  target  and  individual
performance objectives. Each NEO is eligible to earn the applicable “stretch” award under the 2019 Plan, subject to reduction at the discretion of the Compensation Committee,
based on the level of achievement of the applicable performance measures.   In order to participate in the 2019 Plan, participants must certify compliance the Company’s Code
of Business Conduct and Ethics and undertake to place safety first in the conduct of business.

The 2019 Plan provided for payment of cash bonuses following the completion of the 2019 fiscal year subject to the attainment of certain performance goals achieved
during the 2019 fiscal year. The 2019 Plan consists of three performance metrics: (i) safety performance, (ii) financial performance (i.e., Adjusted EBITDA) and (iii) individual
performance objectives.

•

•

Financial Performance (Adjusted EBITDA) (40%): Financial  performance  for  2019  was  measured  by  Adjusted  EBITDA.  “Adjusted  EBITDA”  is  a  non-GAAP
financial  metric  defined  in  the  2019  Plan  as  earnings  before  interest,  taxes,  depreciation  and  amortization,  adjusted  to  exclude  special  items.  See Appendix  A  for
reconciliation of non-GAAP financial metrics.
Safety Performance (25%): Safety is the Company’s #1 Core Value and its highest operational priority. Safety  performance  for  2019  included  the  Company’s  (i)
Total Recordable Incident Rate (“TRIR”) and (ii) Air Accident Rate (“AAR”). The TRIR and AAR account for 8% and 17%, respectively, of the 2019 Plan.

• TRIR  is  determined  by  aggregating  the  total  number  of  illnesses  and  injuries  as  defined  by  Occupational  Safety  and  Health  Administration  (“OSHA”)  of

employees of Era Helicopters, LLC multiplied by 200,000, divided by the total number of hours worked by such employees.

• AAR  is  determined  by  aggregating  the  total  number  of  accidents  involving  helicopters  operated  by  the  Company  and  its  consolidated  subsidiaries  in
accordance  with  the  industry  standard  defined  by  the  Federal  Aviation  Administration,  divided  by  the  aggregated  flight  hours  of  the  Company  and  its
consolidated subsidiaries, multiplied by 100,000.

59

 
 
 
 
•

Individual  Objectives  (35%): During  2019,  the  NEOs  were  assigned  key  objectives  in  furtherance  of  certain  strategic  goals  of  the  Company  including,  but  not
limited to, (i) enhancement of customer and market diversification, (ii) maximization of efficiencies and promote cost-saving initiatives, (iii) further integration of the
Company’s international operations, and (iv) evaluation of strategic opportunities to create additional value for stockholders.

The table below sets forth the 2019 Plan metrics and “threshold”, “target” and “stretch” levels, as well as the Company’s actual safety and Adjusted EBITDA for 2019:

Financial Performance (40%)

    Adjusted EBITDA (millions)

Safety Performance (25%)

    AAR (17%)

    TRIR (8%)

Threshold

Target

Stretch

$25.0

2.50

0.74

$32.0

2.00

0.37

$42.0

0.00

0.00

Actual

155%

$37.0

200%

0.00

0.00

If the threshold level of performance with respect to any metric is not achieved, the portion of the 2019 Plan bonus attributable to such metric will be zero. Payouts for
achievement  between  “threshold”  and  “target”  levels  are  pro-rated  between  0%  to  100%  and  payouts  for  achievement  between  “target”  and  “stretch”  levels  are  pro-rated
between 100% and 200%. The Compensation Committee reviews and approves the achievement of each NEO’s individual objectives between 0% and 100%.

Each NEO was eligible to earn the applicable stretch award for safety under the 2019 Plan subject to reduction at the discretion of the Compensation Committee. The

table below illustrates the executive officer bonus opportunities at the “target” and “stretch” levels.

Named Executive Officer

  2019 Base Salary   Target Bonus (%)

  Target Bonus ($)

Stretch Bonus

Christopher Bradshaw
President, Chief Executive Officer

Crystal Gordon 
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer

Jennifer Whalen
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

Stuart Stavley
Senior Vice President, Operations and Fleet Management

Paul White
Senior Vice President, Commercial

Grant Newman
Senior Vice President, Strategy & Corporate Development

  $

695,000 

150%   $

1,042,500 

  $

2,085,000 

375,000 

310,000 

275,000 

275,000 

275,000 

100%  

75%  

75%  

75%  

75%  

375,000 

232,500 

206,250 

206,250 

206,250 

750,000 

465,000 

412,500 

412,500 

412,500 

In February 2020, the Compensation Committee certified the Company’s performance with respect to the Adjusted EBITDA and safety elements of the 2019 Plan and
each  NEO’s  achievement  of  individual  objectives.  Below  is  a  summary  of  the  individual  achievements  applicable  to  each  of  our  NEOs  that  the  Compensation  Committee
considered when making its determinations with respect to each individual’s performance of his or her objectives pursuant to the 2019 Plan.

Christopher Bradshaw

Directed and oversaw the effort to enable the Company to expand its operations in Suriname;
Led, evaluated and pursued various strategic opportunities to create additional value for shareholders, including the recent Merger; and
Improved customer diversification and developed market analysis and business cases for potential new markets and lines of service.

Crystal Gordon

Developed and executed a plan to enhance the integration of certain administrative functions across all of the Company’s operations;
Enhanced the Company’s external communications, brand awareness and presence in certain state and federal government affairs; and

•
•
•

•
•

60

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
•

•
•

•

•
•
•

•
•
•

•
•
•

Enhanced the Company’s efforts to identify and develop top talent.

Jennifer Whalen

Enhanced the performance of certain accounting functions;
In concert with various internal stakeholders, conducted a thorough review of the Company’s domestic and international operations to identify and achieve
efficiencies; and
Supported the evaluation, pursuit and execution of the strategic transaction with Bristow as directed by the CEO and Board.

Stuart Stavley

Led operational efforts to support the Company’s expansion in certain addressable markets;
Improved the Company’s logistics performance and cost and expanded the maintenance program and capabilities of the Company’s international operations; and
Enhanced the quality and timing of repairs and maintenance (R&M) expense reporting, including benchmarking data against the budget.

Paul White

Improved customer diversification and developed initiatives to increase aircraft utilization in the Gulf of Mexico;
Advanced the Company’s position in new and emerging markets and developed a business plan for the AW609 tiltrotor aircraft; and
Led the review of key cost drivers utilized in pricing modules for new bid proposals, in coordination with other internal stakeholders.

Grant Newman

Established reporting processes for key business information;
Established evaluation processes for certain key strategic opportunities; and
Supported market research regarding next generation VTOL, including supporting potential business plans.

Equity Compensation

The  Company  has  adopted  the  2012  Share  Incentive  Plan.  The  Compensation  Committee,  with  input  from  management,  determines  the  amount  and  allocation  of
equity awards on a case-by-case basis for each individual. The Company currently employs two types of equity-based awards: (1) annual restricted stock grants; and (2) one-
time  restricted  stock  grants  in  respect  of  promotions  or  new  hire  appointments.  For  fiscal  year  2019,  the  Compensation  Committee  considered,  among  other  things,  the
following factors when granting equity awards to the NEOs: (i) the executive’s roles and responsibilities; (ii) retentive value with respect to existing executive officers; and (iii)
an estimate of the value of such awards. There were no stock option awards approved by the Compensation Committee during fiscal year 2019.

61

 
 
 
In March 2019, the Compensation Committee awarded annual restricted stock grants to each of the 2019 NEOs and one-time restricted stock grants as set forth in the

table below.

Named Executive Officers

Christopher Bradshaw
President, Chief Executive Officer

Crystal Gordon 
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Chief
Administrative Officer

Jennifer Whalen
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

Stuart Stavley
Senior Vice President, Operations and Fleet Management

Paul White
Senior Vice President, Commercial

Grant Newman
Senior Vice President, Strategy & Corporate Development
_________________________________

Annual Restricted Stock Grant

  2019 Salary  

Value as
Percentage of
Salary

Grant Date Fair
Value

Shares
Granted(1)

   One-Time Shares Granted

  $

695,000 

175%   $

1,216,250 

116,500 

— 

375,000 

310,000 

275,000 

275,000 

275,000 

125%  

105%  

105%  

105%  

105%  

468,750 

325,500 

288,750 

288,750 

288,750 

44,900 

31,179 

27,659 

27,659 

27,659 

25,000(2) 

— 

— 

— 

— 

Shares granted calculated dividing the executive’s respective total target grant date value by the closing price of the Company’s common stock on March 11, 2019.

(1)
(2) Ms.Gordon joined the Company on January 3, 2019 and received a one-time, new-hire equity award.

Employment and Other Contracts and Potential Payments Upon Death, Disability, Qualified Retirement, Termination Without Cause or a Change of Control

2012 Share Incentive Plan

Pursuant to the terms of the applicable award agreements, stock options and restricted stock awards granted under the 2012 Share Incentive Plan vest upon the death,
qualified retirement, termination without “cause” of the employee, or upon the occurrence of a “change in control.” However, unvested awards are generally forfeited if the
employee is terminated with “cause” or resigns without “good reason.”

Era Group Inc. Senior Executive Severance Plan

The Compensation Committee believes that it is important to provide the NEOs with certain severance payment(s) in connection with a change in control in order to
establish a sense of stability in the event of transactions that may create uncertainty regarding our NEOs’ future employment. Such payments maximize stockholder value by
encouraging the NEOs to objectively review any proposed transaction to determine whether such proposal is in the best interest of our stockholders, irrespective of whether or
not the NEO will continue to be employed post-transaction. Executive officers at other companies in our industry and the general market commonly have severance plans or
equity compensation plans that provide for severance benefits or accelerated vesting for equity upon a change in control event, and the Company believes its adoption of the
Severance Plan (as described below) is aligned with competitive market practices.

The Company provides the NEOs with certain severance payment(s) upon a qualifying termination of employment in connection with a change in control pursuant to
the Era Group Inc. Senior Executive Severance Plan (“Severance Plan”) and, as described above, provides for accelerated vesting of equity-based compensation awards upon
certain  termination  events  and  upon  a  change  in  control.  The  Severance  Plan  provides  severance  benefits  to  eligible  employees,  including  the  NEOs,  designated  by  the
Compensation Committee, whose employment is terminated by the Company without “cause” or by the participant for “good reason” in connection with a “change in control”
(as such terms are defined in the Severance Plan) (in either case, a “Qualifying Termination”).

Upon a Qualifying Termination, a NEO will be eligible to receive the following benefits: (a) a lump sum cash payment equal to one to two times the sum of annual
base salary and target annual bonus (three times for the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer); (b) pro-rata target bonus for the year of termination; (c) a lump sum
cash payment equal to COBRA premiums for 18 months; and (d) outplacement services not to exceed $25,000. In order to receive severance payments, the NEO

62

 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
must  execute  a  general  release  of  claims  in  favor  of  the  Company.  As  a  condition  to  participation  in  the  Severance  Plan,  all  participants  are  subject  to  confidentiality
obligations, as well as non-solicitation and noncompetition restrictions during their employment with the Company and for 18 months thereafter (two years for the Company’s
President and Chief Executive Officer).

In the event that any payment or benefit due to a NEO would be subject to the excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code, based on such payments being classified as
“excess parachute payments” under Section 280G of the Code, then the amounts payable to such NEO will be reduced to the maximum amount that does not trigger the excise
tax, unless the applicable employee would be better off (on an after-tax basis) receiving all such payments and benefits and paying all applicable income and excise tax thereon.

The  Board  or  the  Compensation  Committee  may  amend  or  terminate  the  Severance  Plan  at  any  time,  but  no  such  action  may  be  adverse  to  the  interests  of  any
participant (without the consent of the participant) during the two year period following a change in control or during the pendency of a “potential change in control” (as such
term is defined in the Severance Plan).

Other Compensation Plans and Arrangements

Savings Plan

The Company provides a defined contribution plan (the “Savings Plan”) for its eligible U.S.-based employees. The Savings Plan provides for qualified, non-elective
Company contributions in an amount equal to 3% of each employee’s eligible pay plus an amount equal to 100% of an employee’s first 3% of wages invested in the Savings
Plan  (with  Company  contributions  limited  by  maximum  eligible  compensation  thresholds  as  per  IRS  regulations)  and  immediate  and  full  vesting  in  the  Company’s
contributions.

Compensation Governance

Oversight of Compensation Programs

The  Compensation  Committee  is  responsible  for  overseeing  our  senior  executive  compensation  programs  and  has  the  ability  to  reduce  incentive  payouts  based  on
factors it deems appropriate. See page 52 of this Form 10-K for more information on the role and responsibilities of the Compensation Committee in its review of executive
compensation and related corporate governance.

Role of Executive Officers in Compensation Decisions

In  evaluating  executive  compensation,  the  Compensation  Committee  and  the  Chief  Executive  Officer  focused  on  senior  employees  and  their  progress  in  meeting
individual goals set by the Compensation Committee in relation to how well their peers, their respective departments and the entire Company have performed. In a series of
Compensation Committee meetings typically held in the latter part of each year through February of the following year, the Compensation Committee and the Chief Executive
Officer meet to review the following factors in setting executive compensation for senior executives (except only the Compensation Committee evaluates the Chief Executive
Officer’s performance):

•
•
•
•

the Company’s corporate transactions, financial results and projections;
the individual performance of the Company’s executive officers;
the Chief Executive Officer’s recommendations; and
prevailing conditions in the job market.

Role of the Compensation Committee

In making compensation decisions each year, the Compensation Committee considers the following factors:

•
•
•
•
•

•

market compensation for cash and equity compensation;
the potential for future roles within the Company;
the risk in not retaining an individual;
total compensation levels before and after the recommended compensation amounts;
compensation  summaries  for  each  senior  executive  that  total  the  dollar  value  of  all  compensation-related  programs,  including  salary,  annual  incentive
compensation, long-term compensation, deferred compensation and other benefits; and
the fact that the Company has not entered into employment contracts and does not provide supplemental retirement benefits.

63

 
 
 
Consideration of Risk from Compensation Programs

The  Compensation  Committee  carefully  considers  the  impact  the  compensation  program  has  on  the  Company’s  risk  management  efforts.  One  way  that  the
Compensation  Committee  discourages  the  Company’s  NEOs  and  other  employees  from  excessive  risk  taking  to  achieve  financial  goals  is  by  requiring  that  all  employees
uphold and certify their compliance with the Company’s legal and ethical standards as set forth in our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics on an annual basis. Any violations
of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics may result in the Compensation Committee clawing back prior awards made to applicable plan members, including the NEOs. The
Compensation  Committee  believes  that  the  Company’s  compensation  program  is  structured  to  provide  proper  incentives  for  executives  that  balance  risk  and  reward
appropriately  and  in  accordance  with  the  Company’s  risk  management  philosophy,  particularly  by  having  a  significant  portion  of  the  executives’  compensation  vest  over  a
three-year period. Compensation distributed over a period of years serves to reinforce the benefit of long-term decision-making and the Compensation Committee’s ability to
reward decisions that serve the Company’s (and our stockholders’) best interests in the long-term. The Company believes that its current compensation policies and practices
are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company and do not encourage excessive risk-taking behavior.

Stock Ownership

The  Company’s  Compensation  Committee  has  adopted  Stock  Ownership  Guidelines  for  non-management  directors  and  executive  officers  pursuant  to  which  such
individuals are expected to attain minimum levels of stock ownership, including unvested restricted shares and stock underlying “in the money” vested options with a phase-in
available for newly appointed individuals. All non-management directors and executive officers are in compliance with the Stock Ownership Guidelines as of December 31,
2019, except for Grant Newman, who joined the Company as Senior Vice President, Strategy & Corporate Development in September 2018 and Crystal Gordon, who joined
the Company as Senior Vice President and General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer in January, 2019. Both of these executives are currently on track for compliance.
Non-management  directors  and  executive  officers  must  attain  compliance  within  three  years  from  the  date  of  his  or  her  appointment.  The  minimum  ownership  level  of
Company stock is expressed as a multiple of compensation in accordance with the following table:

Directors and Officers

Non-management director

CEO

Senior Vice Presidents

Other Executive Officers

Ownership Threshold

3x Annual Cash Retainer

4x Base Salary

2x Base Salary

1x Base Salary

Until the ownership threshold is achieved, non-management directors and executive officers may only sell up to 50% of the shares of vested stock received after any
selling or withholding of stock to pay taxes associated with vesting. In general, once a covered person achieves initial compliance with his or her ownership threshold guideline,
such covered person must at all times retain ownership of at least the minimum amount of shares that such person was required to hold to be in compliance with the ownership
guidelines  on  the  first  test  date  on  which  such  person  attained  compliance.  The  Compensation  Committee  is  responsible  for  the  administration  of  the  Stock  Ownership
Guidelines, including granting any exception waivers, and addressing any executive officer noncompliance during annual performance reviews.

The  Company  does  not  have  a  specific  equity  or  other  security  ownership  requirements  or  guidelines  for  employees  other  than  its  executive  officers.  However,
management  level  employees  are  encouraged  to  take  an  ownership  stake  in  the  Company  and  are  specifically  compensated  with  equity  compensation.  The  Compensation
Committee annually reviews grant history and subsequent dispositions of restricted stock to determine if the awards serve the purpose of building ownership.

Policy Restricting Pledging and Hedging Company Securities

The  Company  has  adopted  policies  restricting  hedging  and  pledging  of  Company  securities  by  our  directors,  senior  officers  and  certain  employees  (“Insiders”).
Specifically,  hedging  transactions  by  Insiders  are  prohibited  unless  such  transactions  are  cleared  in  advance  by  the  Company’s  General  Counsel.  Pledging  transactions  are
subject to the restrictions and limitations set forth in the Company’s Insider Trading Policy. Insiders are not permitted to hold the Company’s securities in margin accounts.

Clawback Policy

The Company has adopted a clawback policy pursuant to which it will seek to recoup compensation paid to NEOs in the event the Company is required to publish a
restatement  to  any  of  its  previously  published  financial  statements  as  a  result  of:  1)  the  material  noncompliance  of  the  Company  with  any  applicable  financial  reporting
requirement under the U.S. federal securities laws or 2) the fraud, theft, misappropriation, embezzlement or intentional misconduct by an executive.

64

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accounting and Tax Issues

Section  162(m)  generally  disallows  a  tax  deduction  to  public  companies  for  compensation  paid  in  excess  of  $1  million  to  “covered  employees”  as  defined  under
Section 162(m). Prior to its amendment by the Tax Act, which was enacted December 22, 2017, there was an exception to this $1 million limitation for “performance-based
compensation”  if  certain  requirements  set  forth  in  Section  162(m)  and  the  applicable  regulations  were  met.    Historically,  the  Compensation  Committee  designed  its
compensation programs based on its belief that a portion of the compensation payable to its NEOs should be based on the achievement of performance-based targets and, when
appropriate, be designed with the intent that such compensation qualify as deductible performance-based compensation under Section 162(m). Accordingly, bonus payments
previously  made  to  “covered  employees”  under  our  Management  Incentive  Plan  were  intended  to  satisfy  the  requirements  of  performance-based  compensation  under
Section 162(m).

The Tax Act generally amended Section 162(m) to eliminate the exception for performance-based compensation, effective for taxable years following December 31,
2017. The $1 million deduction limit was also expanded to apply to a company’s chief financial officer and certain individuals who were covered employees in years other than
the then-current taxable year. As a result, for taxable years beginning January 1, 2018, “covered employees” includes (i) a company’s chief executive officer and chief financial
officer,  (ii)  its  three  next  highest  paid  officers  for  the  taxable  year,  and  (iii)  any  individuals  who  were  “covered  employees”  during  any  taxable  year  beginning  on  or  after
January 1, 2017.  Certain transition relief may apply with respect to compensation paid pursuant to certain contracts in effect as of November 2, 2017. As in prior years, the
Compensation Committee will continue to take into account the tax and accounting implications of its pay elements, but reserves its right to make compensation decisions
based on other factors as well if the Compensation Committee determines it is in its best interests to do so.

Pay Ratio Disclosure

Pursuant to Section 953(b) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K, we are providing the following

estimate of the ratio of the annual total compensation of our Chief Executive Officer to the median of the annual total compensation of all other employees.

As of December 31, 2019, the date we selected for purposes of choosing the median employee, our employee population consisted of approximately 706 individuals

(not including our Chief Executive Officer). This population included all full and part-time employees of ours and any consolidated subsidiaries.

To identify the median employee, we reviewed 2019 W-2 wages for all U.S. employees and equivalent taxable compensation for all non-U.S. employees included in

our employee population.

Once we identified the median employee, we calculated all of the elements of such employee’s compensation for fiscal year 2019 in accordance with the requirements
of Item 402(c)(2)(x) of Regulation S-K, resulting in an annual total compensation of $71,332. Our Chief Executive Officer’s annual total compensation for fiscal year 2019 was
$3,767,020, as disclosed in the Summary Compensation Table appearing on page 69. Based on the foregoing, our estimate of the ratio of the annual total compensation of our
Chief Executive Officer to the median of the annual total compensation of all other employees was 53:1.

Given the various methodologies that public companies are permitted to use to determine an estimate of their pay ratio, the estimated ratio reported above should not

be used as a basis for comparison between companies.

Compensation Committee Report

The  Compensation  Committee  has  reviewed  and  discussed  the  above  Compensation  Discussion  and  Analysis  required  by  Item  402(b)  of  Regulation  S-K  with  the
management  of  the  Company  and,  based  on  such  review  and  discussion,  the  Compensation  Committee  recommended  to  the  Board  that  the  Compensation  Discussion  and
Analysis be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.

The foregoing report is respectfully submitted by the Compensation Committee.

Steven Webster (Chairman)            

Christopher Papouras                

Yueping Sun

The foregoing report shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or otherwise subject to liabilities under that Section, and shall not be
deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing of the Company under the Securities Act or Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in
such filing.

65

 
 
 
Summary Compensation Table

The following table sets forth compensation information for the Company’s NEOs with respect to the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION TABLES

Christopher Bradshaw

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Crystal Gordon

Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Chief

Administrative Officer and Secretary

Jennifer Whalen(4)

Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

Stuart Stavley

Senior Vice President, Operations and Fleet

Management

Paul White

Senior Vice President, Commercial

Grant Newman

Senior Vice President, Strategy & Corporate

Development

______________________

Year

2019

2018

2017

2019

2018

2017

2019

2018

2017

2019

2018

2017

2019

2018

2017

2019

2018

2017

Salary

Bonus(1)

  Stock Awards(2)

Option
Awards

All Other
Compensation(3)

  $

695,000 
625,000 
595,000 
375,000 

— 
— 
310,000 
262,500 
231,667 
275,000 

262,500 
250,000 
275,000 
262,500 
250,000 
275,000 

86,436 
— 

  $

  $

1,838,970 
1,421,250 
703,112 
864,125 

  $

1,216,250 
937,503 
892,510 
692,756 

— 
— 
415,013 
296,395 
117,924 
358,050 

290,194 
144,431 
356,606 
290,194 
144,431 
359,494 

100,406 
— 

— 
— 
325,500 
441,781 
190,323 
288,750 

275,629 
262,505 
288,750 
275,629 
262,505 
288,750 

262,350 
— 

  $

— 
— 
— 
— 

— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 

— 
— 
— 

— 

— 
— 

  $

16,800 
16,500 
16,200 
66,519 

— 
— 
16,800 
15,239 
14,874 
16,800 

16,281 
16,200 
11,461 
11,094 
11,417 
78,941 

3,281 
— 

Total

3,767,020 
3,000,253 
2,206,822 
1,998,400 

— 
— 
1,067,313 
1,015,915 
554,788 
938,600 

844,604 
673,136 
931,817 
839,417 
668,353 
1,002,185 

452,473 
— 

(1) Represents amounts earned in respect of the Company’s annual bonus program. In January 2019, the Compensation Committee eliminated the partial deferral of bonus payments and accelerated the previously
deferred portions of the 2016 and 2017 bonuses to be paid at the same time as the 2018 bonus. The acceleration of deferred bonus payments included twenty percent (20%) of the 2016 bonuses and forty

percent (40%) of the 2017 bonuses, and included interest on the deferred portions of the bonus at the Company’s borrowing rate at the time of payment, LIBOR plus 225 bps or approximately 4.7% per annum.

During the year ended December 31, 2018 the interest that would have accrued at the Company’s current borrowing rate on previously approved bonus amounts that have been deferred totaled $19,715, $4,128,

and $4,128, for Messrs. Bradshaw, Stavley and White, respectively, and $2,928 for Ms. Whalen. The amounts paid in respect of these accelerated deferrals are not included as compensation for 2018 as the

decision to eliminate the deferred bonus program and the payment of such deferred bonus amounts occurred in 2019. Of the $864,125 paid to to Ms. Gordon, $200,000 was in connection to her appointment to

the Company.

(2) The dollar amount of restricted stock set forth in these columns reflects the aggregate grant date fair value of restricted stock awards made during 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively, in accordance with the
FASB ASC Topic 718 without regard to forfeitures. Discussion of the policies and assumptions used in the calculation of the grant date fair value are set forth in Note 12 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial

Statements included in Item 8. The amount shown for Ms. Gordon represents the value of 25,000 shares of restricted stock (with a grant date fair value of $224,000) granted in connection with Ms. Gordon’s

appointment as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer. The amounts shown for Ms. Whalen include a grant of 17,200 shares of restricted stock (with a grant date fair value of

$166,152) in 2018 in connection with her appointment as Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer. The amount shown for Mr. Newman represents the value of 22,500 shares of restricted stock (with a

grant date fair value of $262,350) granted in connection with Mr. Newman’s appointment as Senior Vice President, Strategy & Corporate Development.

(3) This  column  includes  the  Company’s  contributions  to  match  the  pre-tax  effective  deferral  contributions  (included  under  Salary  under  the  Company’s  qualified  401(k)  savings  plan).  It  also  includes  the
Company’s contributions for living costs related to hotel, flights, transportation, and meals to and from base residence to the Company’s home office. During 2019 only Ms. Gordon and Mr. Newman had other

compensation related to living costs in the amount of $38,030 and $27,125, respectively. The duration of these costs are limited.

(4) Ms. Whalen has served as Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer since February 2018. Ms. Whalen served as Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer since 2013 until her appointment as Vice

President, Acting Chief Financial Officer in June 2017.

66

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Grants of Plan-Based Awards

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to grants of share plan-based awards during the year ended December 31, 2019, to each of the NEOs.

Named Executive Officers

Approval Date

Grant Date

Number of
Shares(1)

Grant Date Fair
Value(2)

Christopher Bradshaw
President and Chief Executive Officer

Crystal Gordon
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer

Jennifer Whalen
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

Stuart Stavley
Senior Vice President, Operations & Fleet Management

Paul White
Senior Vice President, Commercial

Grant Newman
Senior Vice President, Strategy & Corporate Development
______________________

2/21/2019  

1/3/2019

3/11/2019  

1/3/2019

116,500   $
25,000(3)

1,216,250 
224,000

2/21/2019  

3/11/2019  

2/21/2019  

3/11/2019  

2/21/2019  

3/11/2019  

2/21/2019  

3/11/2019  

2/21/2019  

3/11/2019  

44,900  

31,179  

27,659  

27,659  

27,659  

468,750 

325,500 

288,750 

288,750 

288,750 

(1) The amounts set forth in this column reflect the number of shares of restricted stock granted in 2019. These awards vest in equal installments on each of the first three anniversaries of the grant date. These
restricted  stock  awards  vest  immediately  upon  the  death,  disability,  qualified  retirement,  termination  of  the  employee  by  the  Company  “without  cause,”  or  the  occurrence  of  a  “change-in-control”  of  the

Company.

(2) The grant date fair value of restricted stock awards set forth in this column reflects the aggregate grant date fair value calculated in accordance with the FASB ASC Topic 718 without regard to forfeitures.

Discussion of the policies and assumptions used in the calculation of the grant date fair value are set forth in Note 12 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8.

(3) Ms. Gordon joined the Company on January 3, 2019 and received a one-time, new-hire equity award.

67

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-end

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to outstanding equity awards at December 31, 2019, held by the NEOs.

Named Executive Officers

Christopher Bradshaw

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Crystal Gordon
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Chief

Administrative Officer

Jennifer Whalen
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

Stuart Stavley
Senior Vice President, Operations & Fleet

Management

Paul White
Senior Vice President, Commercial

Grant Newman
Senior Vice President, Strategy & Corporate

Development

______________________

Option Awards

Stock Awards

Number of Securities
Underlying
Unexercised Options
(Exercisable)

Number of Securities
Underlying Unexercised
Options (Unexercisable)  

Option
Exercise
Price

Option
Expiration
Date

Number of Shares
or Units of Stock
that Have Not
Vested

Market Value of
Shares or Units that
Have Not Vested

40,000 
60,000 

  $

— 
— 

20.48 
21.26 

3/19/2023  

3/19/2025  

  $

25,493 
64,700 
116,500 

(1) 

(3) 

(4) 

259,264 
657,999 
1,184,805 

15,000 

— 

20.48 

3/19/2023  

15,000 

— 

20.48 

3/19/2023  

16,667 
44,900 

(7) 

(4) 

2,999 
30,489 
3,232 
31,179 

7,498 
19,022 
27,659 

7,498 
19,022 
27,659 

(1) 

(3) 

(5) 

(4) 

(1) 

(3) 

(4) 

(1) 

(3) 

(4) 

15,000 
27,659 

(6) 

(4) 

169,503 
456,633 

30,500 
310,073 
32,869 
317,090 

76,255 
193,454 
281,292 

76,255 
193,454 
281,292 

152,550 
281,292 

(2) 

(2) 

(2) 

(2) 

(2) 

(2) 

(2) 

(2) 

(2) 

(2) 

(2) 

(2) 

(2) 

(2) 

(2) 

(2) 

(2) 

(1) Shares vest on March 10, 2020.
(2) These amounts equal the applicable number of shares of restricted stock multiplied by the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on December 31, 2019, which was $10.17.
(3) These shares vest in equal portions on March 12, 2020 and 2021, assuming continued employment with the Company.
(4) These shares vest in equal portions on March 11, 2020, 2021 and 2022, assuming continued employment with the Company.
(5) These shares vest on June 16, 2020, assuming continued employment with the Company.
(6) These shares vest in equal portions on September 4, 2020 and 2021, assuming continued employment with the Company.
(7) These shares vest in equal portions on December 17, 2020 and 2021, assuming continued employment with the Company.

68

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Option Exercises and Stock Vested

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the value realized from the vesting of restricted stock awards in 2019. There were no exercise of

stock options by any NEO during 2019.

Named Executive Officers

  Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting  

Value Realized on Vesting(1)

Christopher Bradshaw
President and Chief Executive Officer

Crystal Gordon
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer

Jennifer Whalen
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

Stuart Stavley
Senior Vice President, Operations & Fleet Management

Paul White
Senior Vice President, Commercial

Grant Newman
Senior Vice President, Strategy & Corporate Development
______________________

78,476   $

8,333  

25,159 

26,266 

26,266 

7,500 

829,080 

88,083 

265,515 

278,311 

278,311 

73,350 

(1) The value realized on vesting is determined by multiplying the number of shares vesting by the market price at the close of business on the date of vesting.

Potential Payments upon Death, Disability, Qualified Retirement, Termination without “Cause” or a Change in Control

For a detailed discussion of the Company’s Severance Plan, see the “Era Group Inc. Senior Executive Severance Plan”. The amounts set forth below are the amounts
that would have been paid to each NEO as a result of equity acceleration in connection with his or her death, disability, qualified retirement or termination without “cause” on
December 31, 2019.

Named Executive Officers

Stock Awards(1)

Christopher Bradshaw
President and Chief Executive Officer

Crystal Gordon
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer

Jennifer Whalen
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

Stuart Stavley
Senior Vice President, Operations & Fleet Management

Paul White
Senior Vice President, Commercial

Grant Newman
Senior Vice President, Strategy & Corporate Development

(1) Represents the value of unvested shares based on the closing price of the Common Stock as of December 31, 2019, which was $10.17.

69

  $

2,102,068 

626,133 

690,529 

551,000 

551,000 

433,842 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
In addition to the amounts set forth on the above table, the listed NEOs would have been entitled to a cash payment in the amount set forth below upon a Qualifying

Termination pursuant to a change in control event on December 31, 2019.

Named Executive Officers

Salary

Target Bonus

Cash Payment
Basis

Cash
Payment
Multiple

Total Cash
Payment(1)

Christopher Bradshaw
President and Chief Executive Officer

  $

695,000 

  $

1,042,500 

  $

1,737,500 

Crystal Gordon
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer  

Jennifer Whalen
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

Stuart Stavley
Senior Vice President, Operations & Fleet Management

Paul White
Senior Vice President, Commercial

Grant Newman
Senior Vice President, Strategy & Corporate Development

(1)

“Cash Payment” calculated as defined in the Severance Plan as described on page 65.

375,000 

232,500 

206,250 

206,250 

206,250 

750,000 

542,500 

481,250 

481,250 

481,250 

375,000 

310,000 

275,000 

275,000 

275,000 

70

3x

2x

2x

2x

2x

2x

  $

5,212,500 

1,500,000 

1,085,000 

962,500 

962,500 

962,500 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ITEM 12.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

The following table provides information with respect to the beneficial ownership of the Common Stock as of March 2, 2020 by:

•
•
•
•

each director of the Company;
each executive officer named in the summary compensation table;
all of the Company’s current directors and executive officers as a group; and
each of the Company’s stockholders who are known to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Company’s outstanding shares of Common Stock.

As  of  March  2,  2020,  there  were  21,310,613  shares  of  the  Common  Stock  outstanding.  The  amounts  and  percentages  of  Common  Stock  beneficially  owned  are
reported on the basis of the regulations of the SEC governing the determination of beneficial ownership of securities. Under these rules, a person is deemed to be a beneficial
owner of a security if that person has or shares voting power, which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting of such security, or investment power, which includes the
power to dispose of or to direct the disposition of such security. A person is also deemed to be a beneficial owner of any securities of which that person has a right to acquire
beneficial ownership within 60 days. Under these rules, more than one person may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of the same securities. Except as otherwise noted in the
footnotes below, each person or entity identified in the table has sole voting and investment power with respect to the securities they hold.

Name

Beneficial Ownership

Percentage of Class

Directors and Named Executive Officers:
Charles Fabrikant(1)
Christopher Bradshaw(2)
Stuart Stavley(3)
Steven Webster(4)
Jennifer Whalen(5)
Paul White(6)
Crystal Gordon(7)
Grant Newman(8)
Ann Fairbanks(9)
Christopher Papouras(10)
Yueping Sun(11)
All current directors and executive officers as a group (11 individuals)(12)
Principal Stockholders:
BlackRock, Inc.(13)
55 East 52nd Street 
New York, NY 10055
Wellington Management Company LLP(14)
280 Congress Street 
Boston, MA 02110
Dimensional Fund Advisors LP(15) 
Building One 
6300 Bee Cave Road 
Austin, TX 78746
Royce & Associates, LP(16)
745 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10151
Van Den Berg Management I, Inc.(17)
805 Las Cimas Parkway, Suite 430
Austin, TX 78746
The Vanguard Group(18)
100 Vanguard Blvd.
Malvern, PA 19355
_______________

*

Individually less than 1.00%.

71

670,223 
541,877 
163,036 
99,638 
112,653 
89,964 
66,894 
51,814 
37,156 
35,517 
35,281 
1,904,053 

3,128,435 

1,974,803 

1,777,106 

1,675,447 

1,495,363 

1,402,170 

3.12%

2.52%
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
8.86%

14.56%

9.19%

8.27%

7.80%

6.96%

6.52%

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1)

Includes: (i) 198,103 shares of Common Stock owned directly; (ii) 323,529 shares owned by Fabrikant International Corporation, of which Mr. Fabrikant is President, (iii) 60,000 shares held by the Charles
Fabrikant 2012 GST Exempt Trust, of which Mrs. Fabrikant is a trustee, (iv) 37,821 shares held by the Charles Fabrikant 2009 Family Trust, of which Mr. Fabrikant is a trustee, (v) 12,000 shares owned by the
Sara J. Fabrikant 2012 GST Exempt Trust, of which Mr. Fabrikant is a trustee, (vi) 800 shares owned by the Harlan Saroken 2009 Family Trust, of which Mrs. Fabrikant is a trustee, (vii) 800 shares owned by
the Eric Fabrikant 2009 Family Trust, of which Mrs. Fabrikant is a trustee and (viii) 5,748 shares of restricted stock over which Mr. Fabrikant exercises sole voting power.
Includes 206,693 shares of restricted stock over which Mr. Bradshaw exercises sole voting power and options to purchase 100,000 shares of Common Stock that have vested.
(2)
Includes 49,424 shares of restricted stock over which Mr. Stavley exercises sole voting power and options to purchase 15,000 shares of Common Stock that have vested.
(3)
Includes 5,748 shares of restricted stock over which Mr. Webster exercises sole voting power and options to purchase 40,153 shares of Common Stock that have vested.
(4)
Includes 67,899 shares of restricted stock over which Ms. Whalen exercises sole voting power.
(5)
Includes 54,179 shares of restricted stock over which Mr. White exercises sole voting power and options to purchase 15,000 shares of Common Stock that have vested.
(6)
Includes 69,900 shares of restricted stock over which Ms. Gordon exercises sole voting power.
(7)
Includes 42,659 shares of restricted stock over which Mr. Newman exercises sole voting power.
(8)
(9)
Includes 5,748 shares of restricted stock over which Ms. Fairbanks exercises sole voting power.
(10) Includes 5,748 shares of restricted stock over which Mr. Papouras exercises sole voting power.
(11) Includes 5,748 shares of restricted stock over which Ms. Sun exercises sole voting power.
(12) Includes Mmes. Fairbanks, Sun,Whalen and Gordon, and Messrs. Fabrikant, Bradshaw, Stavley, White, Papouras, Webster and Newman. The address for each such individual is c/o Era Group Inc., 945 Bunker

Hill Rd., Suite 650, Houston, Texas 77024.

(13) According to a Schedule 13G amendment filed on January 2, 2020 by BlackRock Inc. (“BlackRock”), BlackRock has sole voting power with respect to 3,093,861 shares of Common Stock and sole dispositive
power with respect to 3,128,435 shares of Common Stock. BlackRock serves as a parent holding company, and, for purposes of the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, may be deemed to beneficially
own 3,128,435 shares of Common Stock. Various persons have the right to receive, or the power to direct, the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, such shares of Common Stock. No one
person’s interest in such shares of Common Stock is more than 5% of the total Common Stock outstanding.

(14) According to a Schedule 13G amendment filed on February 14, 2020 by Wellington Management Group LLP, Wellington Group Holdings LLP, Wellington Investments Advisors Holdings LLP and Wellington
Management Company LLC (collectively, “Wellington”), Wellington has shared voting power with respect to 1,758,897 shares of Common Stock and shared dispositive power with respect to 1,974,803 shares
of Common Stock. Wellington serves as an investment advisor and for purposes of the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act may be deemed to beneficially own 1,974,803 shares of Common Stock.
Various persons have the right to receive, or the power to direct, the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, such shares of Common Stock. No one person’s interest in such shares of
Common Stock is more than 5% of the total Common Stock outstanding.

(15) According to a Schedule 13G amendment filed on February 12, 2020 by Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (“Dimensional”), Dimensional has sole voting power with respect to 1,691,157 shares of Common
Stock and sole dispositive power with respect to 1,777,106 shares of Common Stock. Dimensional furnishes investment advice to four investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of
1940, and serves as investment manager to certain other commingled group trusts and separate accounts (collectively, the “Funds”). In certain cases, subsidiaries of Dimensional may act as advisor or sub-
advisor  to  certain  Funds.  In  its  role  as  investment  advisor,  sub-advisor  and/or  manager,  neither  Dimensional  nor  its  subsidiaries  possess  voting  and/or  investment  power  over  the  shares  of  Common  Stock
owned by the Funds or may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the shares of Common Stock. However, all of the Common Stock reported herein is owned by the Funds and Dimensional disclaims
beneficial ownership of all such securities. Various Funds have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of the securities held in their respective
accounts. No one such Fund’s interest in such shares of Common Stock is more than 5% of the total Common Stock outstanding.

(16) According to a Schedule 13G amendment filed on January 21, 2020 by Royce & Associates, LP ("Royce"), Royce has sole voting power and dispositive power over 1,675,447 shares of Common Stock. Royce
is an investment adviser, and for purposes of the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act may be deemed to beneficially own 1,675,447 shares of Common Stock. Various persons have the right to receive,
or the power to direct, the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, such shares of Common Stock. No one person’s interest in such shares of Common Stock is more than 5% of the total
Common Stock outstanding.

(17) According to a Schedule 13G amendment filed on January 10, 2020 by Van Den Berg Management I, Inc. ("Van Den Berg"), Van Den Berg has sole voting power and dispositive power over 1,495,363 shares
of Common Stock. Van Den Berg is an investment adviser, and for purposes of the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act may be deemed to beneficially own 1,495,363 shares of Common Stock. Various
persons have the right to receive, or the power to direct, the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, such shares of Common Stock. No one person’s interest in such shares of Common Stock
is more than 5% of the total Common Stock outstanding.

(18) According to a Schedule 13G amendment filed on February 10, 2020 by The Vanguard Group ("Vanguard"), Vanguard has sole voting power with respect to 1,385,481 shares of Common Stock and dispositive
power  with  respect  to  1,402,170  shares  of  Common  Stock.  Vanguard  is  an  investment  adviser,  and  for  purposes  of  the  reporting  requirements  of  the  Exchange  Act  may  be  deemed  to  beneficially
own 1,402,170 shares of Common Stock. Various persons have the right to receive, or the power to direct, the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, such shares of Common Stock. No one
person’s interest in such shares of Common Stock is more than 5% of the total Common Stock outstanding.

72

 
 
 
 
In 2013, the Company adopted the 2012 Share Incentive Plan (“2012 Share Incentive Plan”) and the Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”). The following table
sets forth information as of December 31, 2019 regarding shares of Common Stock to be issued upon exercise of the weighted-average exercise price of all outstanding options,
warrants and rights granted under the 2012 Share Incentive Plan as well as the number of shares available for issuance under the 2012 Share Incentive Plan and the ESPP. The
ESPP has been suspended in connection with the Merger.

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders(1)

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

Total

______________________________

Number of Securities to be
Issued Upon Exercise of
Outstanding Options,
Warrants and Rights

Weighted Average Exercise
Price of Outstanding
Options, Warrants and
Rights

Number of Securities
Remaining Available for
Future Issuance Under
Equity Compensation
Plans (2)

203,612 

  $

— 
203,612 

19.62 

— 
— 

1,941,459 

— 
1,941,459 

(1) As of December 31, 2019, the plans with securities remaining available for future issuance consisted of the 2012 Share Incentive Plan and the ESPP. As of December 31, 2019, 1,839,835 shares of Common
Stock remained available for issuance under the 2012 Share Incentive Plan with respect to awards (other than outstanding awards) and could be issued in the form of stock options, stock appreciation rights,
stock awards and stock units, and 101,624 shares of Common Stock remained available for issuance under the ESPP.

(2) Excluding securities reflected in the first column

73

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ITEM 13.

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

Related Person Transactions Policy

The Company established a written policy for the review and approval or ratification of transactions with related persons (the “Related Person Transactions Policy”) to
assist  the  Company  in  reviewing  transactions  in  excess  of  $120,000  (“Transactions”)  involving  the  Company  and  its  subsidiaries  and  Related  Persons  (as  defined  below).
Examples  include,  among  other  things,  sales,  purchases  or  transfers  of  real  or  personal  property,  use  of  property  or  equipment  by  lease  or  otherwise,  services  received  or
furnished, borrowing or lending (including guarantees), employment by the Company of an immediate family member of a Related Person or a change in the material terms or
conditions of employment of such an individual and charitable contributions in accordance with the Company’s policies related thereto.

The Related Person Transactions Policy supplements the Company’s other conflict of interest policies set forth in its Corporate Governance Guidelines, its Company’s

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and its other internal procedures. A summary description of the Related Person Transactions Policy is set forth below.

For  purposes  of  the  Related  Person  Transactions  Policy,  a  Related  Person  includes  the  Company’s  directors,  director  nominees  and  executive  officers  since  the
beginning  of  the  Company’s  last  fiscal  year,  beneficial  owners  of  5%  or  more  of  any  class  of  the  Company’s  voting  securities  and  members  of  each  of  their  respective
Immediate Families (as defined in the Related Person Transactions Policy).

The Related Person Transactions Policy provides that Transactions must be approved or ratified by the Board. The Board delegates to the Audit Committee the review
and, when appropriate, the approval or ratification of Transactions. Upon the presentation of a proposed Transaction, the Related Person will be excused from participation and
voting on the matter. In approving, ratifying or rejecting a Transaction, the Audit Committee will consider such information as it deems important to conclude if the Transaction
is fair and reasonable to the Company.

Whether a Related Person’s interest in a Transaction is material will depend on all facts and circumstances, including whether a reasonable investor would consider the
Related  Person’s  interest  in  the  Transaction  important,  together  with  all  other  available  information,  in  deciding  whether  to  buy,  sell  or  hold  the  Company’s  securities.  In
administering this Related Person Transaction Policy, the Board or the relevant committee will be entitled (but not required) to rely upon such determinations of materiality by
the Company’s management.

The following factors will be taken into consideration in determining whether to approve or ratify a Transaction with a Related Person:

•
•
•
•

•
•
•

the Related Person’s relationship to the Company and his or her interest in the Transaction;
the material facts of the Transaction, including the proposed aggregate value of such Transaction;
the materiality of the Transaction to the Related Person and the Company, including the dollar value of the Transaction, without regard to profit or loss;
the business purpose for, and reasonableness of, the Transaction, taken in the context of the alternatives available to the Company for attaining the purposes of the
Transaction;
whether the Transaction is comparable to an arrangement that could be available on an arms-length basis and is on terms that are generally available;
whether the Transaction is in the ordinary course of the Company’s business and was proposed and considered in the ordinary course of business; and
the effect of the Transaction on the Company’s business and operations, including on its internal control over financial reporting and system of disclosure controls
or procedures, and any additional conditions or controls (including reporting and review requirements) that should be applied to such Transaction.

The  following  arrangements  will  not  generally  give  rise  to  Transactions  with  a  Related  Person  for  purposes  of  the  Related  Person  Transactions  Policy  given  their

nature, size and/or degree of significance to the Company:

•

•

•
•

use of property, equipment or other assets owned or provided by the Company, including helicopters, vehicles, housing and computer or telephonic equipment, by
a Related Person primarily for the Company’s business purposes where the value of any personal use during the course of a year is less than $10,000;
reimbursement of business expenses incurred by a director or executive officer in the performance of his or her duties and approved for reimbursement by the
Company in accordance with the Company’s customary policies and practices;
compensation arrangements for non-employee directors for their services as such that have been approved by the Board or a committee thereof;
compensation arrangements, including base pay and bonuses (whether in the form of cash or equity awards), for employees or consultants (other than a director or
nominee for election as a director) for their services as such that have been approved by the Compensation Committee and employee benefits regularly provided
under plans and

74

 
 
 
programs  generally  available  to  employees;  however,  personal  benefits  from  the  use  of  Company-owned  or  provided  assets  (“Perquisites”),  including  but  not
limited  to  personal  use  of  Company-owned  or  provided  helicopters  and  housing,  not  used  primarily  for  the  Company’s  business  purposes  may  give  rise  to  a
transaction with a Related Person, as described above;
a Transaction in which the Related Person’s interest derives solely from his or her service as a non-employee or non-executive director of another corporation or
organization that is a party to the Transaction;
a Transaction in which the Related Person’s interest derives solely from his or her service as a director, trustee or officer (or similar position) of a not-for-profit
organization or charity that receives donations from the Company, which donations are made pursuant to the Company’s policies and approved by persons other
than the Related Person;
a Transaction where the rates or charges involved are determined by competitive bids or involving the rendering of services as a common or contract carrier, or
public utility, at rates or charges fixed in conformity with law or governmental authority; and
a Transaction involving services as a bank depository of funds, transfer agent, registrar, trustee under a trust indenture, or similar services.

•

•

•

•

Certain Relationships or Related Transactions

There are no certain relationships or related person Transactions between the Company or its subsidiaries and its directors, executive officers and holders of more than

5% of its voting securities during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.

Director Independence

A  majority  of  the  Company’s  current  directors  are  independent  non-employee  directors.  The  Board  has  made  the  affirmative  determination  that  each  of  Messers.
Charles Fabrikant, Christopher Papouras, and Steven Webster, and Mses. Ann Fairbanks and Yueping Sun are independent as such term is defined by the applicable rules and
regulations of the NYSE. Additionally, each of these directors meets the categorical standards for independence established by the Board (the “Era Categorical Standards”). A
copy  of  the  Era  Categorical  Standards  is  available  on  the  Company’s  website  at  www.erahelicopters.com  by  clicking  “Investors  &  Media,”  then  “Governance”  and  then
“Governance Documents” (entitled Director Independence Standards). The Company’s website and the information contained therein or connected thereto shall not be deemed
to be incorporated into this report.

75

 
 
 
ITEM 14.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fee Information

Fees for professional services provided by Grant Thornton for the years ended December 31 were as follows:

Fees

Audit Fees

Audit-Related Fees

Tax Fees

All Other Fees

Total

2019

2018

1,001,406 
— 
— 
— 
1,001,406 

  $

  $

1,024,663 
— 
— 
— 
1,024,663 

  $

  $

Audit Fees represent fees for professional services provided in connection with the audit of the Company’s financial statements, review of the quarterly reports on
Form  10-Q,  and  services  provided  in  connection  with  statutory  audits  of  the  subsidiaries  of  the  Company  or  regulatory  filings,  including  SEC  registration  statements  and
reports. Audit-Related Fees represent fees for accounting consultations related to the performance of the audit.

The Audit Committee has determined that the provision of the services described above is compatible with maintaining the independence of our independent registered
public accountants. All of the services described in the foregoing table were approved by the Audit Committee with respect to the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 in
a manner consistent with the committee’s policies and pre-approval process.

Pre-approval Policy for Services of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Audit Committee’s policy is to pre-approve all audit services, audit-related services, and other services provided by the independent registered public accounting
firm. In accordance with that policy, the Audit Committee is expected to review and approve at least annually a list of specific services and categories of services, including
audit, audit related, tax, and other permitted services, for the current or upcoming fiscal year, subject to specified terms and fees. Any service not included in the approved list
of services or any modification to previously approved services must be specifically preapproved by the Audit Committee. Where proposed additions or modifications relate to
services to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm, the Audit Committee may delegate the responsibility of pre-approval to the Chair of the Audit
Committee. To ensure prompt handling of unforeseeable or unexpected matters that arise between Audit Committee meetings, the Audit Committee has delegated authority to
the Chair of the Audit Committee, to review and if appropriate approve in advance, any request by the independent registered public accounting firm to provide services. The
Audit Committee then reviews and approves any such services at the next Audit Committee meeting.

76

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
APPENDIX A

ADJUSTED EBITDA REPORTED RECONCILIATION

The following table provides a reconciliation of Net Income, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, to Adjusted EBITDA, for the year ended December 31,

2019 (in thousands).

Net loss

Depreciation and amortization

Interest income

Interest expense

Income tax benefit

Foreign currency losses

Loss on debt extinguishment

Other, net

Equity earnings

Special items (1)

Adjusted EBITDA

_______________

(1)

Special items include:

• $1.6 million loss on impairment of H225 helicopter; $1.0 million loss on impairment of Company's Colombian air operator certificate
• Loss on sale of corporate securities $0.6 million
• Non-routine professional fees related to the Merger of $1.5 million and other special items of $0.4 million
• Gains on the sale of capital assets other than aircraft of $1.8 million

77

2019

(4,081)

37,619 
(3,487)

13,874 
(731)

472 
13 
28 
(9,935)

3,260 
37,032 

$

$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PART IV

ITEM 15.

EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

(a) Documents filed as part of this report:

1.    Financial Statements

The consolidated financial statements filed as part of this report are listed on the Index to Consolidated Financial Statements of this Annual Report on Form
10-K.

2.    Financial Statement Schedules

All  financial  statement  schedules  have  been  omitted  here  because  they  are  not  applicable,  not  required,  or  the  information  is  shown  in  the  consolidated
financial statements or notes thereto.

3.     Exhibits

Exhibit Index

2.1 **

3.1 *

3.2 *

4.1 *

4.2 *

Exhibit Description

Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of January 23, 2020, by and among Bristow Group Inc., Era Group Inc., and Ruby Redux Merger Sub, Inc.
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 24, 2020, as amended
(File No. 001-35701)).

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Era Group Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on November 6, 2018 (File No. 001-35701)).

Amended and Restated Bylaws of Era Group Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
filed with the SEC on November 6, 2018 (File No. 001-35701)).

Form  of  Common  Stock  Certificate  of  Era  Group  Inc.  (incorporated  herein  by  reference  to  Exhibit  4.1  of  the  Company’s  Amendment  No.  2  to
Registration Statement on Form 10 filed with the SEC on January 08, 2013, as amended (File No. 001-35701)).

Indenture,  dated  as  of  December  7,  2012,  among  Era  Group  Inc.,  the  guarantors  named  therein  and  Wells  Fargo  Bank,  National  Association
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of the Company’s Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form 10 filed with the SEC on
December 18, 2012, as amended (File No. 001-35701)).

4.3  

  Description of Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

10.2 * +

10.3 * +

10.6 * +

10.8 * +

10.9 * +

10.10 * +

10.11 *

10.12 *

Era Group Inc. 2012 Share Incentive Plan. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10
filed with the SEC on October 12, 2012, as amended (File No. 001-35701)).

Form of Stock Option Grant Agreement pursuant to the Era Group Inc. 2012 Share Incentive Plan. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3
of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 5, 2013, as amended (File No. 001-35701)).

Form of Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Award Agreement pursuant to the Era Group Inc. 2012 Share Incentive Plan (incorporated herein
by reference to Exhibit 10.7 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2013 filed with the SEC on May 15,
2013 (File No. 001-35701)).

Form  of  Indemnification  Agreement  between  Era  Group  Inc.  and  individual  officers  and  directors.  (incorporated  herein  by  reference  to  Exhibit
10.10 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10 filed with the SEC on October 12, 2012, as amended (File No. 001-35701)).

Era Group Inc. Management Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.11 of the Company’s Amendment No. 1 to Registration
Statement on Form 10 filed with the SEC on December 18, 2012, as amended (File No. 001-35701)).

Era Group Inc. 2013 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1 of the Company’s Registration Statement on
Form S-8 filed with the SEC on March 8, 2013 (File No. 333-187166)).

Amendment  No.  1,  dated  September  15,  2016,  to  the  Era  Group  Inc.  2013  Employee  Stock  Purchase  Plan  (incorporated  herein  by  reference  to
Exhibit 99.2 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed with the SEC on November 2, 2016 (File No. 333-214402)).

Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated March 31, 2014 for a $300,000,000 Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility by and among Era
Group Inc., Suntrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc., Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Suntrust Bank, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.,
Deutsche  Bank  AG  New  York  Branch,  Regions  Bank  and  other  financial  institutions  identified  on  Schedule  A  thereto  (incorporated  herein  by
reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2014 filed with the SEC on May 6,
2014 (File No. 001-35701)).

78

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.13 *

10.14 *

10.15 *

10.16 *

10.17 *

10.18 * +

10.24 *

10.25 *

10.26 * +

Amendment No. 1, dated May 18, 2015 to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated March 31, 2014 by and among Era Group Inc. and its
subsidiaries a security party thereto, Suntrust Bank, as Administrative Agent, and the lenders signatories thereto (incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 10.13 of Amendment No. 1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2015 filed with the SEC on
February 29, 2016 (File No. 001-35701).

Consent and Amendment No. 2, dated March 4, 2016 to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated March 31, 2014 by and among Era
Group Inc. and its subsidiaries a security party thereto, Suntrust Bank, as Administrative Agent, and the lenders signatories thereto (incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2016 filed with the SEC
on November 1, 2016 (File No. 001-35701).

Consent and Amendment No. 3, dated October 27, 2016 to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated March 31, 2014 by and among Era
Group Inc. and its subsidiaries a security party thereto, Suntrust Bank, as Administrative Agent, and the lenders signatories thereto (incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2016 filed with the SEC
on November 1, 2016 (File No. 001-35701).

Amendment No. 4, dated March 7, 2018 to the Amended and  Restated Credit Agreement dated March 31, 2014 by and among Era Group Inc. and
its subsidiaries a security party thereto, Suntrust Bank, as Administrative Agent, and the lenders signatories thereto (incorporated herein by reference
to Exhibit 10.16 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 filed with the SEC on March 8, 2018 (File
No. 001-35701).

Amendment No. 5, dated June 8, 2018 to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated March 31, 2014 by and among Era Group Inc. and its
subsidiaries a security party thereto, Suntrust Bank, as Administrative Agent, and the lenders signatories thereto (incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 10.17 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 filed with the SEC on March 8, 2019 (File
No.001-35701).

Era Group Inc. Senior Executive Severance Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-
Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2015 filed with the SEC on August 5, 2015 (File No. 001-35701).

Promissory  note  for  a  $5,933,188  secured  note  between  Era  Helicopters,  LLC,  U.S.  Bank  Equipment  Finance,  a  division  of  U.S.  Bank  National
Association (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.21 of Amendment No. 1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year
ended December 31, 2015 filed with the SEC on February 29, 2016 (File No. 001-35701).

Promissory note for a $19,035,000 secured note between Era Helicopters, LLC, U.S. Bank Equipment Finance, a division of U.S. Bank National
Association (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.22 of Amendment No. 1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year
ended December 31, 2015 filed with the SEC on February 29, 2016 (File No. 001-35701).

Form of Restricted Stock Agreement pursuant to the Era Group Inc. 2012 Share Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.23 of
Amendment No. 1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2015 filed with the SEC on February 29,
2016 (File No. 001-35701).

10.27 * +

Form of Restricted Stock Agreement pursuant to the Era Group Inc. 2012 Share Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.27 of
the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the quarter ended December 31, 2018 filed with the SEC on March 8, 2019 (File No.001-35701).

10.28 *

10.29 *

10.30 +

10.31 +

10.32 *

10.33 *

Settlement  Agreement  and  General  Release  of  Claims,  dated  July  3,  2018  (incorporated  herein  by  reference  to  Exhibit  10.1  of  the  Company’s
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on November 6, 2018 (File No. 001-35701).

Amendment No. 6, dated March 8, 2019 to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated March 31, 2014 by and among Era Group Inc. and
its subsidiaries a security party thereto, Suntrust Bank, as AdministrativeAgent, and the lenders signatories thereto (incorporated herein by reference
to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2019 filed with the SEC on May 7, 2019 (File
No.001-35701).

  Form of Restricted Stock Grant Agreement pursuant to the Era Group Inc. 2012 Share Incentive Plan.

  Form of Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Award Agreement pursuant to the Era Group Inc. 2012 Share Incentive Plan.

Voting Agreement, dated as of January 23, 2020, by and among Bristow, Era, and Solus Alternative Asset Management LP. (incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 24, 2020, as amended (File No. 001-35701)).

Voting  Agreement,  dated  as  of  January  23,  2020,  by  and  among  Bristow,  Era,  and  South  Dakota  Retirement  System.  (incorporated  herein  by
reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 24, 2020, as amended (File No. 001-35701)).

10.34 +

  Form of Era Director Replacement Stock Option Awards.

79

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
16.1 *

21.1  

23.1

23.2

23.3

31.1  

31.2  

32.1

32.2

Change in Era Group Inc. Independent Auditors (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 16.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K
filed with the SEC on June 18, 2018 (File No. 001-35701)).

  List of subsidiaries of Era Group Inc.

Consent of Grant Thornton, LLP, independent registered public accounting firm.

Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm.

Consent of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm.

  Certification by the Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Exchange Act.

  Certification by the Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Exchange Act.

Certification by the Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
of 2002.

Certification by the Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002.

101.INS  

101.SCH  

101.CAL  

101.DEF  

101.LAB  

101.PRE  

  XBRL Instance Document

  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema

  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase

  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase

  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase

  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase

*
**

+

Incorporated herein by reference as indicated.
Schedules and exhibits have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. The Company hereby undertakes to furnish supplemental copies of any of the omitted schedules and exhibits upon
request by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Management contracts or compensatory plans or arrangements required to be filed as an Exhibit pursuant to Item 15 (b) of the rules governing the preparation of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

ITEM 16.

FORM 10-K SUMMARY

None.

80

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pursuant  to  the  requirements  of  Section  13  of  the  Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934,  the  registrant  has  duly  caused  this  report  to  be  signed  on  its  behalf  by  the

undersigned, and in the capacities indicated, thereunto duly authorized.

SIGNATURES

Era Group Inc.

By:

/s/ Jennifer Whalen

Jennifer Whalen, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

Date:

March 5, 2020

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following
persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signer

Title

/s/ Christopher S. Bradshaw

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Christopher S. Bradshaw

(Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Jennifer D. Whalen

Jennifer D. Whalen

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Accounting and Financial Officer)

/s/ Charles Fabrikant

Charles Fabrikant

/s/ Steven Webster

Steven Webster

/s/ Ann Fairbanks

Ann Fairbanks

Chairman of the Board and Director

Director

Director

/s/ Christopher P. Papouras

Director

Christopher P. Papouras

/s/ Yueping Sun

Yueping Sun

Director

81

Date

March 5, 2020

March 5, 2020

March 5, 2020

March 5, 2020

March 5, 2020

March 5, 2020

March 5, 2020

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm of Dart Holding Company Ltd.

Consolidated Financial Statements:

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2019 and 2018

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

82

Page

83

85

87

88

89

90

91

92

 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
   
   
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Era Group Inc.

Opinion on the financial statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Era Group Inc. (a Delaware corporation) and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2019 and
2018, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, changes in equity, and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31,
2019, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, based on our audits and the report of other auditors, the financial statements
present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the two
years in the period ended December 31, 2019, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

We did not audit the 2018 financial statements of Dart Holding Company Ltd., a corporation in which the Company had a 50% interest. In the consolidated financial statements,
the Company’s investment in and advances to Dart Holding Company, Ltd. is stated at $27.1 million as of December 31, 2018, and the Company’s equity in the earnings of
Dart Holding Company Ltd. is stated at $2.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. Those statements were audited by other auditors whose report has been furnished to
us, and our opinion, insofar as it relates to the amounts included for Dart Holding Company Ltd., is based solely on the report of the other auditors.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”), the Company’s internal control over
financial  reporting  as  of  December  31,  2019,  based  on  criteria  established  in  the  2013  Internal  Control-Integrated  Framework  issued  by  the  Committee  of  Sponsoring
Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”), and our report dated March 5, 2020 expressed an unqualified opinion.

Change in accounting principle
As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has changed its method of accounting for leases as of January 1, 2019 due to the adoption of
Accounting Standards Codification 842, “Leases.”

Basis for opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our
audits.  We  are  a  public  accounting  firm  registered  with  the  PCAOB  and  are  required  to  be  independent  with  respect  to  the  Company  in  accordance  with  the  U.S.  federal
securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about
whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material
misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test
basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates
made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2018.

Houston, Texas
March 5, 2020

83

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Era Group Inc.

Opinion on internal control over financial reporting
We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Era Group Inc. (a Delaware corporation) and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2019, based on
criteria established in the 2013 Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). In our
opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, based on criteria established in the 2013
Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by COSO.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”), the consolidated financial statements
of the Company as of and for the year ended December 31, 2019, and our report dated March 5, 2020 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.

Basis for opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over
financial  reporting,  included  in  the  accompanying  Management’s  Report  on  Internal  Control  Over  Financial  Reporting.  Our  responsibility  is  to  express  an  opinion  on  the
Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with
respect  to  the  Company  in  accordance  with  the  U.S.  federal  securities  laws  and  the  applicable  rules  and  regulations  of  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  and  the
PCAOB.

We  conducted  our  audit  in  accordance  with  the  standards  of  the  PCAOB.  Those  standards  require  that  we  plan  and  perform  the  audit  to  obtain  reasonable  assurance  about
whether  effective  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  was  maintained  in  all  material  respects.  Our  audit  included  obtaining  an  understanding  of  internal  control  over
financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk,
and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Definition and limitations of internal control over financial reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of
financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those
policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the
company;  (2)  provide  reasonable  assurance  that  transactions  are  recorded  as  necessary  to  permit  preparation  of  financial  statements  in  accordance  with  generally  accepted
accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company;
and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material
effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to
future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures
may deteriorate.

/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP

Houston, Texas
March 5, 2020

84

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Dart Holding Company Ltd.

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the consolidated balance sheet of Dart Holding Company Ltd. (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2018 and the related consolidated statements of income
and comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the year then ended, and the related notes (collectively the “consolidated financial statements”).

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2018 and the results of its
operations and its cash flows for the year then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Basis for Opinion

These  consolidated  financial  statements  are  the  responsibility  of  the  Company's  management.  Our  responsibility  is  to  express  an  opinion  on  the  Company's  consolidated
financial statements based on our audit.

We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect
to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We  conducted  our  audit  in  accordance  with  the  standards  of  the  PCAOB.  Those  standards  require  that  we  plan  and  perform  the  audit  to  obtain  reasonable  assurance  about
whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of
material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included
examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles
used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a
reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ KPMG LLP

Chartered Professional Accountants,

Licensed Public Accountants

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2011.

Montréal, Canada
February 27, 2019

85

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Era Group Inc.

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, changes in equity, and cash flows of Era Group Inc. (the Company) for the
year ended December 31, 2017, and the related notes (collectively, referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, based on our audit, the financial statements present
fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2017, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted
accounting principles.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our
audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with
respect  to  the  Company  in  accordance  with  the  U.S.  federal  securities  laws  and  the  applicable  rules  and  regulations  of  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  and  the
PCAOB.

We  conducted  our  audit  in  accordance  with  the  standards  of  the  PCAOB.  Those  standards  require  that  we  plan  and  perform  the  audit  to  obtain  reasonable  assurance  about
whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an
audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the
purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that
respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audit also included
evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe
that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/Ernst & Young LLP

We served as the Company’s auditor from 2007 to 2018.

Houston, Texas
March 8, 2018,
Except for Note 1 and Note 10, as to which the date is
March 7, 2019

86

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ERA GROUP INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share amounts)

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents (including $1,745 from VIEs in 2018)(1)

Receivables:

ASSETS

Trade, operating, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $261 in 2018 (including $5,565 from VIEs in 2018)

Trade, dry-leasing

Tax receivables (including $3,187 from VIEs in 2018)

Other (including $340 from VIEs in 2018)

Inventories, net (including $40 from VIEs in 2018)

Prepaid expenses (including $10 from VIEs in 2018)

Total current assets

Property and equipment:

Helicopters

Machinery, equipment and spares (including $750 from VIEs in 2018)

Construction in progress

Buildings and leasehold improvements (including $154 from VIEs in 2018)

Furniture, fixtures, vehicles and other (including $471 from VIEs in 2018)

Property and equipment, at cost

Accumulated depreciation (including $485 from VIEs in 2018)

Property and equipment, net

Operating lease right-of-use

Equity investments and advances

Intangible assets

Other assets (including $96 from VIEs in 2018)

Total assets

Current liabilities:

LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTEREST AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Accounts payable and accrued expenses (including $1,522 from VIEs in 2018)

Accrued wages and benefits (including $1,429 from VIEs in 2018)

Accrued interest

Accrued income taxes

Accrued other taxes (including $500 from VIEs in 2018)

Accrued contingencies (including $630 from VIEs in 2018)

Current portion of long-term debt (including $395 from VIEs in 2018)

Other current liabilities

Total current liabilities

Long-term debt

Deferred income taxes

Operating lease liabilities

Deferred gains and other liabilities

Total liabilities

Commitments and contingencies (see Note 8)

Redeemable noncontrolling interest

Equity:

Common stock, $0.01 par value, 60,000,000 shares authorized; 21,285,613 and 21,765,404 outstanding in 2019 and 2018, respectively, exclusive of

treasury shares

Additional paid-in capital

Retained earnings

Treasury shares, at cost, 1,152,826 and 156,737 shares in 2019 and 2018, respectively

Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax

Total equity

Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interest and stockholders’ equity

(1) Refer to footnote 5 for more detail on variable interest entities (“VIE”) 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

87

December 31,

2019

2018

  $

117,366 

  $

50,753 

32,730 
5,234 
2,860 
15,421 
20,066 
2,184 
195,861 

788,623 
38,057 
6,970 
39,112 
22,301 
895,063 
(338,164)  

  $

  $

556,899 
9,468 
— 
96 
2,191 
764,515 

12,923 
10,554 
520 
3,612 
937 
598 
18,317 
3,315 
50,776 
141,832 
103,793 
7,815 
745 
304,961 

33,306 
3,803 
3,187 
2,343 
20,673 
1,807 
115,872 

805,453 
37,487 
7,086 
45,303 
21,832 
917,161 
(317,967)

599,194 
— 
27,112 
1,107 
21,578 
764,863 

13,161 
9,267 
569 
973 
1,268 
630 
2,058 
878 
28,804 
160,217 
108,357 
— 
747 
298,125 

  $

  $

2,812 

3,302 

224 
452,009 
14,692 
(10,183)  

— 
456,742 
764,515 

  $

219 
447,298 
18,285 
(2,476)

110 
463,436 
764,863 

  $

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ERA GROUP INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except share and per share data)

Year Ended December 31,

2019

2018

2017

  $

  $

210,035 
16,024 
226,059 

  $

210,194 
11,482 
221,676 

214,927 
16,394 
231,321 

167,446 
42,092 
45,736 
255,274 
4,507 
— 
(117,018)

(136,464)

760 
(16,763)
— 
(226)
— 
(12)

(16,241)

(152,705)

(3,523)

(119,142)

(122,665)

(30,040)
1,425 
(28,615)
454 
(28,161)

154,546 
38,278 
37,619 
230,443 
3,657 
— 
(2,551)  

(3,278)  

3,487 
(13,874)  

(569)  

(472)  

(13)  

(28)  

(11,469)  

(14,747)  

3,803 
(4,534)  

(731)  

(14,016)  
9,935 
(4,081)  
488 
(3,593)   $

151,523 
45,126 
39,541 
236,190 
1,575 
42,000 

(991)  

28,070 

2,042 
(15,131)  

— 
(1,018)  
175 
54 

(13,878)  

14,192 

1,181 
1,759 
2,940 
11,252 
2,206 
13,458 
464 
13,922 

  $

  $

  $

  $

(0.17)   $

(0.17)   $

0.64 
0.64 

  $

  $

(1.36)

(1.36)

21,009,362 
21,010,715 

21,167,550 
21,180,490 

20,760,530 
20,760,530 

Revenues:

Operating revenues

Dry-leasing revenues

Total revenues

Costs and expenses:

Operating

Administrative and general

Depreciation and amortization

Total costs and expenses

Gains on asset dispositions

Litigation settlement proceeds

Loss on impairment

Operating income (loss)

Other income (expense):

Interest income

Interest expense

Loss on sale of investments

Foreign currency losses, net

Gains (losses) on debt extinguishment

Other, net

Total other income (expense)

Income (loss) before income tax expense and equity earnings

Income tax expense (benefit):

Current

Deferred

Total income tax expense (benefit)

Income (loss) before equity earnings

Equity earnings, net of tax

Net income (loss)

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries

Net income (loss) attributable to Era Group Inc.

Earnings (loss) per common share:

Basic

Diluted

Weighted average common shares outstanding:

Basic

Diluted

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

88

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ERA GROUP INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(in thousands)

Net income (loss)

Other comprehensive income:

Foreign currency translation adjustments

Total other comprehensive income

Comprehensive income (loss)

Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries

Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Era Group Inc.

Year Ended December 31,

2019

2018

2017

  $

(4,081)   $

13,458 

  $

(28,615)

— 
— 
(4,081)  
488 
(3,593)   $

— 
— 
13,458 
464 
13,922 

  $

18 
18 
(28,597)
454 
(28,143)

  $

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

89

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2016

Issuance of common stock:

Restricted stock grants

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Share award amortization

Cancellation of restricted stock

Purchase of treasury shares

Net loss

Currency translation adjustments, net of tax

December 31, 2017

Issuance of common stock:

Restricted stock grants

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Share award amortization

Cancellation of stock options

Net income (loss)

December 31, 2018

Issuance of common stock:

Restricted stock grants

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Share award amortization

Purchase of treasury shares

Exercise of call option

Net loss

Currency translation adjustments, net of tax

December 31, 2019

ERA GROUP INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
(in thousands)

Redeemable
Noncontrolling
Interest

Common
Stock

Additional
Paid-in
Capital

Retained
Earnings

Shares
Held In
Treasury

Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)

Total
Equity

  $

4,221 

  $

211 

  $

438,489 

  $

32,524 

  $

(2,899)

  $

92 

  $

468,417 

Era Group Inc. Stockholders’ Equity

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

(454)

— 

3,766 

— 

— 

— 

— 

(464)

3,302 

— 

— 

— 

— 

(2)

(488)

— 
2,812 

  $

  $

3 

1 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

215 

3 

1 

— 

— 

— 

219 

4 

1 

— 

— 

— 

— 

(3)

835 

4,671 

(48)

— 

— 

— 

443,944 

(3)

892 

2,940 

(475)

— 

447,298 

(4)

1,076 

3,641 

— 

(2)

— 

— 
224 

  $

— 
452,009 

  $

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

(28,161)

— 

4,363 

— 

— 

— 

— 

13,922 

18,285 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

(3,593)

— 
14,692 

— 

— 

— 

— 

(52)

— 

— 

(2,951)

— 

— 

— 

475 

— 

(2,476)

— 

— 

— 

(7,707)

— 

— 

— 

  $

(10,183)

  $

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

18 

110 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

110 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

(110)
— 

  $

— 

836 

4,671 

(48)

(52)

(28,161)

18 

445,681 

— 

893 

2,940 

— 

13,922 

463,436 

— 

1,077 

3,641 

(7,707)

(2)

(3,593)

(110)
456,742 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements

90

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ERA GROUP INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)

Cash flows from operating activities:

Net income (loss)

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

For the years ended December 31,

2019

2018

2017

  $

(4,081)   $

13,458 

  $

(28,615)

Depreciation and amortization

Share-based compensation

Bad debt expense, net

Interest income

Non-cash penalty and interest expenses

Gains on asset dispositions, net

Debt discount amortization

Amortization of deferred financing costs

Loss on sale of investment

Foreign currency losses, net

Losses (gains) on debt extinguishment

Loss on impairment

Deferred income tax expense (benefit)

Equity earnings, net of tax

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

Decrease (increase) in receivables

Decrease in prepaid expenses and other assets

Increase (decrease) in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities

Net cash provided by operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities:

Purchases of property and equipment

Proceeds from disposition of property and equipment

Purchase of investments

Proceeds from sale of investments

Investments in and advances to equity investees

Dividends received from equity investees

Proceeds from sale of equity investees, net

Principal payments on notes due from equity investees

Principal payments on third party notes receivable

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities:

Proceeds from Revolving Credit Facility

Long-term debt issuance costs

Payments on long-term debt

Extinguishment of long-term debt

Proceeds from share award plans

Purchase of treasury shares

Net cash used in financing activities

Effects of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of year

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of year

37,619 
3,641 
41 
(113)  

— 
(3,657)  

274 
966 

569 
481 
13 
2,551 
(4,534)  

(9,935)  

(1,140)  

1,234 
3,622 
27,551 

(6,558)  

13,252 
(5,000)  

4,430 
— 
— 
34,712 
2,334 
5,447 
48,617 

— 
— 
(2,055)  

(740)  

1,077 
(7,707)  

(9,425)  

(130)  

66,613 
50,753 
117,366 

  $

  $

39,541 
2,940 
82 
(943)  

607 
(1,575)  

253 
1,410 

— 
1,027 
(175)  

991 
1,759 
(2,206)  

501 
278 
(3,594)  

54,354 

45,736 
4,623 
144 
— 
— 
(4,507)

234 
1,136 

— 
190 
— 
117,018 
(119,142)

(1,425)

(4,889)

3,320 
6,273 
20,096 

(9,216)  

(16,770)

29,590 
— 
— 
— 
1,000 
— 
518 
934 
22,826 

— 
(1,295)  

(41,886)  

(1,221)  

893 
— 
(43,509)  

249 
33,920 
16,833 
50,753 

  $

9,392 
— 
— 
(126)

— 
— 
761 
169 
(6,574)

17,000 
— 
(45,281)

— 
836 
(52)

(27,497)

81 
(13,894)

30,727 
16,833 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

91

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ERA GROUP INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Nature  of  Operations. Era  Group  Inc.  (“Era  Group”)  and  its  consolidated  subsidiaries  (collectively  referred  to  as  the  “Company”)  is  one  of  the  largest  helicopter
operators in the world and the longest serving helicopter transport operator in the United States (“U.S.”), which is its primary area of operation. The Company is primarily
engaged in transportation services to the offshore oil and gas exploration, development and production industry. Its major customers are international, independent and major
integrated oil and gas companies and U.S. government agencies. In addition to serving the oil and gas industry, the Company provides emergency response services and utility
services. The Company operates a Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) approved maintenance repair station in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Basis of Consolidation. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Era Group Inc., its wholly-owned subsidiaries and entities that meet the criteria

of VIEs of which the Company is the primary beneficiary. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

The Company employs the equity method of accounting for investments in business ventures when it has the ability to exercise significant influence over the operating
and  financial  policies  of  the  ventures.  The  Company  reports  such  investments  in  the  accompanying  consolidated  balance  sheets  as  equity  investments  and  advances.  The
Company reports its share of earnings or losses of equity investees in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations as equity earnings (losses), net of tax.

Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“GAAP”) requires management to
make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements
and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Such estimates include, among other items, those related to allowance for doubtful accounts,
useful  lives  of  property  and  equipment,  inventories,  income  tax  provisions,  impairments,  fair  values  used  in  purchase  price  allocations  and  certain  accrued  and  contingent
liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates and those differences may be material.

Reclassification.  Certain  amounts  reported  for  prior  periods  in  the  consolidated  financial  statements  have  been  reclassified  to  conform  with  the  current  period’s

presentation.

Cash Equivalents. The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. Cash

equivalents consist of overnight investments.

Supplemental Cash Flow Information. The following table sets forth the Company’s reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported within the

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively, (in thousands):

Cash and cash equivalents
Restricted cash (1)

Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

2019

2018

2017

$

$

117,366 
— 
117,366 

  $

  $

50,753 
— 
50,753 

  $

  $

13,583 
3,250 
16,833 

(1) Restricted cash represents amounts deposited in escrow accounts at the end of each period. Escrow deposits are shown as a separate line item in the consolidated balance sheet.

92

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Trade  Receivables.  Customers  are  primarily  international,  independent  and  major  integrated  exploration,  development  and  production  companies,  international
helicopter operators and U.S. government agencies. Customers are typically granted credit on a short-term basis, and related credit risks are considered minimal. The Company
routinely reviews its trade receivables and makes provisions for probable doubtful accounts; however, those provisions are estimates and actual results could differ from those
estimates and those differences may be material. Trade receivables are deemed uncollectible and removed from accounts receivable and the allowance for doubtful accounts
when collection efforts have been exhausted. Allowance for doubtful accounts for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 were as follows (in thousands):

Balance at beginning of period

Additional allowances charged to expense

Recovery of previously reserved accounts

Write-offs

Foreign currency adjustments

Balance at end of period

2019

2018

2017

  $

261 
41 
(100)  

(145)  

(2)  

55 

  $

  $

1,196 
82 
(127)  

(760)  

(130)  

261 

  $

1,219 
144 
(82)

(68)

(17)

1,196 

  $

  $

Concentrations of Credit Risk. The  Company  is  exposed  to  concentrations  of  credit  risk  relating  to  its  receivables  due  from  customers  in  the  industries  described
above. The Company does not generally require collateral or other security to support its outstanding receivables. The Company minimizes its credit risk relating to receivables
by performing ongoing credit evaluations. The Company is also exposed to concentrations of credit risk associated with cash and cash equivalents. The Company minimizes its
credit risk relating to these positions by monitoring the financial condition of the financial institutions and counterparties involved and by primarily conducting business with
large, well-established financial institutions and diversifying its counterparties. The Company’s two largest customers comprised 39% and 52% of net trade receivables as of
December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Inventories. Inventories  are  stated  at  the  lower  of  average  cost  or  net  realizable  value  and  consist  primarily  of  spare  parts  and  fuel.  The  Company  establishes  an
allowance to accrue for the retirement of the cost of spare parts expected to be on hand at the end of a fleet’s life over the service lives of the related equipment, taking into
account  the  estimated  salvage  value  of  the  parts.  The  following  table  is  a  roll  forward  of  the  allowance  related  to  obsolete  and  excess  inventory  for  the  years  ended
December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 (in thousands):

Balance at beginning of period
Increase (decrease) in allowances, net (1)

Balance at end of period

(1) Includes $0.1 million elimination of H225 inventory reserve for 2017.

2019

2018

2017

  $

  $

3,246 
15 
3,261 

  $

  $

  $

3,739 
(493)  

3,246 

  $

4,012 
(273)

3,739 

Property  and  Equipment.  Property  and  equipment,  stated  at  cost,  is  depreciated  using  the  straight-line  method  over  the  estimated  useful  life  of  the  asset  to  an
estimated salvage value. With respect to helicopters, the estimated useful life is typically based upon a newly built asset being placed into service and represents the point at
which it is typically not justifiable for the Company to continue to operate the asset in the same or similar manner. From time to time, the Company may acquire older assets
that  have  already  exceeded  the  Company’s  useful  life  policy,  in  which  case  the  Company  depreciates  such  assets  based  on  its  best  estimate  of  remaining  useful  life.  The
Company reviews the estimated useful lives and salvage values of its property and equipment on an ongoing basis for any changes in estimates. There were no such changes
during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017.

As of December 31, 2019, the estimated useful life (in years) of the Company’s categories of new property and equipment was as follows:

Machinery, equipment and spares

Buildings and leasehold improvements

Helicopters (estimated salvage value at 40% of cost)

15 
5 
10-30 
3-5 
Equipment maintenance and repair costs and the costs of routine overhauls and inspections performed on helicopter engines and major components are charged to
operating expense as incurred. Expenditures that extend the useful life or improve the marketing and commercial characteristics of equipment, as well as major improvements
to other properties, are capitalized.

Furniture, fixtures, vehicles and other

93

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Company engages a number of third-party vendors to maintain the engines and certain components on some of its helicopter models under programs known as
power-by-hour (“PBH”) maintenance contracts. These programs require the Company to pay for the maintenance service ratably over the contract period, typically based on
actual flight hours. PBH providers generally bill monthly based on hours flown in the prior month, and the costs are expensed as incurred. In the event the Company places a
helicopter in a program after a maintenance period has begun, it may be necessary to pay an initial buy-in charge based on hours flown since the previous maintenance event.
The buy-in charge is normally recorded as a prepaid expense and amortized as an operating expense over the remaining PBH contract period. If a helicopter is sold or otherwise
removed from a program before the scheduled maintenance work is carried out, the Company may be able to recover part of its payments to the PBH provider, in which case
the Company records a reduction to operating expense.

The Company also incurs repairs and maintenance expense through vendor arrangements whereby the Company obtains repair quotes and authorizes service through a
repair  order  process.    Under  these  arrangements,  the  Company  records  the  repairs  and  maintenance  cost  as  the  work  is  completed.    As  a  result,  the  timing  of  repairs  and
maintenance may result in operating expenses varying substantially when compared with a prior year or prior quarter if a disproportionate number of repairs, refurbishments or
overhauls for components that are not covered under PBH arrangements are performed during a period.

Certain interest costs incurred during the construction of equipment are capitalized as part of the assets’ carrying values and are amortized over such assets’ estimated
useful lives.The Company did not capitalize any interest during the year ended December 31, 2019 . The Company capitalized interest of $0.1 million and $0.5 million during
the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, construction in progress, which is a component of property and equipment,
included capitalized interest of $0.7 million.

Leases. The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception or during modification or renewal of an existing lease. Operating leases are maintained for a
number of fixed assets including land, hangars, buildings, fuel tanks and tower sites. The right-of-use assets associated with these leases are reflected under long-term assets;
the current portion of the long-term payables are reflected under other current liabilities; and the payables on lease agreements past one year are recorded as long-term liabilities
on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. For those contracts with terms of twelve months or less, the lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease
term  and  recorded  in  operating  expenses  on  the  consolidated  statement  of  operations.    As  most  of  the  Company’s  leases  do  not  provide  an  implicit  rate,  the  incremental
borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date is used to determine the present value of future payments. Most of the Company’s lease agreements
allow the option of renewal or extension, which are considered a part of the lease term. When it is reasonably certain that a lease will be extended, this is incorporated into the
calculations.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets. The Company performs an impairment analysis on long-lived assets used in operations when events or changes in circumstances
indicate that the carrying value of such assets may not be recoverable. The Company’s long-lived assets are grouped at the lowest level for which there are identifiable cash
flows  that  are  largely  independent  of  the  cash  flows  of  other  groups  of  assets,  which  is  generally  at  the  fleet  group  level.  If  an  impairment  is  indicated  for  the  asset  group
classified as held and used, an impairment evaluation will be performed. Asset impairment evaluations are based on estimated undiscounted cash flows over the remaining
useful life for the assets being evaluated. If the sum of the expected future cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the asset group, the Company would be required to
recognize an impairment loss. During 2017, the Company concluded that the cash flows associated with its H225 heavy helicopters are largely independent from the cash flows
associated with the remainder of the fleet and should be evaluated separately for impairment. The Company performed an impairment analysis on the H225 helicopters, capital
parts and related inventory and determined that the projected undiscounted cash flows over the remaining useful life were less than the carrying amount. In determining the fair
value, the Company used a cost approach, which begins with the replacement cost of a new asset and adjusts for age and functional and economic obsolescence. The inputs
used in the Company’s fair value estimate were from Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy discussed in Note 2. As of December 31, 2019, the Company recorded a $1.6 million
impairment  charge  on  its  last  remaining  H225  helicopter.  In  2018  and  2017,  the  Company  recorded  a  $1.0  million  and  $117.0  million  impairment  charge  on  its  H225
helicopters, respectively.

Impairment of Equity Investees. For equity investees held, the Company performs regular reviews of each investee’s financial condition, the business outlook for its
products and services, and its present and projected results and cash flows. When an investee has experienced consistent declines in financial performance or difficulties in
raising capital to continue operations, and when the Company expects the decline to be other-than-temporary, the investment is written down to fair value. Actual results may
vary from estimates due to the uncertainty regarding the projected financial performance of investees, the severity and expected duration of declines in value and the available
liquidity in the capital markets to support the continuing operations of the investees in which the Company has investments. For the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and
2017, the Company did not recognize any impairment charges. During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company sold its equity investment in Dart Holding Company
Ltd. (“Dart”) joint venture, see note 5 for details on sale of the joint venture. As of December 31, 2019, the Company did not have any equity investees.

Intangible Assets. Intangible assets with indefinite lives are recorded during purchase price accounting in a business combination. The Company performs an annual

impairment test of indefinite lived intangible assets and interim tests to the extent

94

 
 
 
indicators of impairment develop between annual impairment tests. The Company’s impairment review process compares the fair value to the book value. To determine its fair
value, the Company uses a discounted future cash flow approach that uses estimates including, among others, projected utilization of its fleet and contract rates. These estimates
are reviewed each time the Company tests indefinite lived assets for impairment. While the Company believes its estimates and assumptions are reasonable, variations from
those estimates could produce materially different results. Intangible assets with finite useful lives are amortized over their respective estimated useful lives. During the year
ended December 31, 2019 the Company recorded a $1.0 million impairment charge on its indefinite lived intangible assets related to its subsidiary in Colombia. This amount is
included in loss on impairment on the consolidated statement of operations. As of December 31, 2019, the Company had indefinite lived intangible assets of $0.1 million and
intangible assets with finite lives of less than $0.1 million.

Business Combinations. The Company recognizes, with certain exceptions, 100% of the fair value of assets acquired, liabilities assumed, and non controlling interests
when the acquisition constitutes a change in control of the acquired entity. Shares issued in consideration for a business combination, contingent consideration arrangements
and pre-acquisition loss and gain contingencies are all measured and recorded at their acquisition-date fair value. Subsequent changes to fair value of contingent consideration
arrangements are generally reflected in earnings. Acquisition-related transaction costs are expensed as incurred, and any changes in an acquirer’s existing income tax valuation
allowances  and  tax  uncertainty  accruals  are  recorded  as  an  adjustment  to  income  tax  expense.  The  operating  results  of  entities  acquired  are  included  in  the  accompanying
consolidated statements of operations from the date of acquisition.

Deferred Financing Costs. Deferred financing costs incurred in connection with the issuance of debt are amortized over the life of the related debt using the effective
interest rate method for term loans and straight line method for revolving credit facilities. Amortization expense for deferred financing costs totaled $1.0 million, $1.4 million
and $1.1 million during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively, including the write-off of $0.4 million of debt issuance costs in 2018, in connection
with an amendment to the Company’s amended and restated senior secured revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”). Such amortization expense is included in
interest expense in the consolidated statements of operations.

Revenue Recognition. The Company recognizes revenues for flight services and emergency response services with the passing of each day as the Company has the
right to consideration from its customers in an amount that corresponds directly with the value to the Company’s customer for the performance completed to date. Therefore,
the Company has elected to exercise the right to invoice practical expedient in its adoption of ASC 606. The right to invoice represents a method for recognizing revenue over
time using the output measure of “value to the customer” which is an objective measure of an entity’s performance in a contract. The Company typically invoices its customers
on a monthly basis for revenues earned during the prior month with payment terms of 30 days. The Company’s customer arrangements do not contain any significant financing
component for its customers.

Income Taxes. Era Group and its majority-owned U.S. subsidiaries file a consolidated U.S. federal tax return. Era Group’s foreign consolidated subsidiaries each file
tax returns in their applicable jurisdictions. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities have been provided in recognition of the income tax effect attributable to the book and tax
basis differences of assets and liabilities reported in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. Deferred tax assets or liabilities are provided using the enacted tax
rates  expected  to  apply  to  taxable  income  in  the  periods  in  which  they  are  expected  to  be  settled  or  realized.  Interest  and  penalties  relating  to  uncertain  tax  positions  are
recognized  in  interest  expense  and  administrative  and  general  expense,  respectively,  in  the  accompanying  consolidated  statements  of  operations.  The  Company  records  a
valuation  allowance  to  reduce  its  deferred  tax  assets  if  it  is  more  likely  than  not  that  some  portion  or  all  of  the  deferred  tax  assets  will  not  be  realized.  The  Company  has
evaluated the newly enacted global intangible low-taxed income (GILTI) provisions, which could subject its foreign earnings to a minimum level of tax and has decided to
make an election to treat these costs as period costs.

Foreign Currency Transactions. The functional currency for each of the Company’s foreign entities is the U.S. dollar. From time to time, the Company enters into
transactions denominated in currencies other than its functional currency. Gains and losses resulting from changes in currency exchange rates between the functional currency
and the currency in which a transaction is denominated are included in foreign currency gains (losses), net in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations in the
period which the currency exchange rates change.

Earnings  (Loss)  Per  Common  Share.  Basic  earnings  (loss)  per  common  share  of  the  Company  are  computed  based  on  the  weighted  average  number  of  common
shares issued and outstanding during the relevant periods. Diluted earnings (loss) per common share of the Company are computed based on the weighted average number of
common shares issued and outstanding plus the effect of potentially dilutive securities through the application of the if-converted method and/or treasury method.

Savings Plan. The Company provides a defined contribution plan (the “Savings Plan”) for its eligible U.S.-based employees. The Savings Plan provides for qualified,
non-elective Company contributions in an amount equal to 3% of each employee’s eligible pay plus an amount equal to 100% of an employee’s first 3% of wages invested in
the Savings Plan and immediate and full vesting in the Company’s contributions. The Savings Plan is subject to annual review by the Board of Directors

95

 
 
 
of Era Group (the “Board of Directors”). The Company’s Savings Plan costs were $2.5 million, $2.3 million and $2.4 million, respectively, for the years ended December 31,
2019, 2018 and 2017.

Recent  Accounting  Pronouncements.  -  Adopted.  In  February  2016,  the  FASB  issued  ASU  No.  2016-02,  “Leases”  (ASU  No.  2016-02),  which  establishes
comprehensive accounting and financial reporting requirements for leasing arrangements.  This ASU supersedes the existing requirements in FASB ASC Topic 840, “Leases,”
and requires lessees to recognize substantially all lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet.  The provisions of this ASU also modified the definition of a lease and
outline requirements for recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leasing arrangements by both lessees and lessors.  The ASU was effective for interim and
annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and early adoption of the standard was permitted.  Entities were required to adopt the ASU using a modified retrospective
approach, subject to certain optional practical expedients, and apply the provisions of this ASU to leasing arrangements existing at or entered into after the earliest comparative
period  presented  in  the  financial  statements.  In  July  2018  this  ASU  was  further  amended  by  the  provisions  of  ASU  No.  2018-11,  “Targeted  Improvements”  to  Topic  842
whereby the FASB decided to provide an alternate transition method by allowing entities to initially apply the new leases standard at the adoption date (such as January 1, 2019,
for calendar year-end public business entities) and recognize a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption consistent
with preparers’ requests. The Company adopted the amended ASU No. 2018-11 effective January 1, 2019 using the current-period adjustment method, however upon adoption
of the standard the Company determined that a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in that period was not required. The Company also
elected an optional practical expedient to retain its former classification of leases, and as a result, the initial impact of adopting this new standard did not have a material impact
to its consolidated financial statements. Additionally, the Company elected not to bifurcate and separately account for non lease components contained in a single contract.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15, “Intangibles-Goodwill and Other-Internal-Use Software” (Subtopic 350-40), providing guidance addressing a
customer's  accounting  for  implementation  costs  incurred  in  a  cloud  computing  arrangement  (“CCA”)  that  is  considered  a  service  contract.  Under  the  new  guidance,
implementation costs for a CCA are evaluated for capitalization using the same approach as implementation costs associated with internal-use software and should be expensed
over the term of the hosting arrangement, which includes any reasonably certain renewal periods. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15,
2019  for  calendar  year-end  public  business  entities.  Early  adoption  is  permitted,  including  adoption  in  any  interim  period.  The  Company  will  not  take  possession  of
implemented software and will rely on vendors to host the software, thus determining the cloud computing arrangements are service contracts. The Company adopted ASU No.
2016-13, effective January 1, 2019, and has appropriately accounted for the implementation costs of the cloud computing arrangements entered into in the first half of 2019.
The adoption of ASU-2018-15 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

New Accounting Standards - Not Yet Adopted. In January 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-01, “Investments-Equity Securities” Topic 321, “Investments-Equity
Method  and  Joint  Ventures”  Topic  323  and  “Derivatives  and  Hedging”  Topic  815  (ASU  No.  2020-01)  as  an  update  to  ASU  No.  2016-01  “Financial  Instruments-Overall”,
further clarifying the interaction between the accounting for equity securities, equity method investments, and certain derivative instruments. This ASU clarifies that a company
should consider observable transactions that require a company to either apply or discontinue the equity method of accounting under Topic 323, for the purposes of applying the
measurement alternative in accordance with Topic 321 immediately before applying or upon discontinuing the equity method. With this update, the FASB aims to clarify that,
when determining the accounting for certain forward contracts and purchased options a company should now consider, whether upon settlement or exercise, if the underlying
securities would be accounted for under the equity method or fair value option. The FASB expects this ASU to reduce diversity in practice and increase comparability of the
accounting for these interactions. This ASU is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2020. The Company is evaluating the potential impact of
adopting this ASU but does not expect such adoption to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In  June  2016,  the  FASB  issued  ASU  No.  2016-13,  “Measurement  of  Credit  Losses  on  Financial  Instruments”  (ASU  No.  2016-13),  which  sets  forth  the  current
expected  credit  loss  model,  a  new  forward-looking  impairment  model  for  certain  financial  instruments  based  on  expected  losses  rather  than  incurred  losses.    The  ASU  is
effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and early adoption of the standard is permitted.  Entities are required to adopt this ASU using a
modified retrospective approach, subject to certain limited exceptions.  The Company has evaluated the potential impact of adopting this ASU and believes such adoption will
not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU-2018-13, “Fair Value Measurements” (ASU No. 2018-13, update to topic ASC-820), providing guidance for the changes in
unrealized gains and losses for the period included in other comprehensive income for recurring Level 3 fair value measurements held at the end of the reporting period, and the
range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements. For certain unobservable inputs, an entity may disclose other
quantitative information (such as the median or arithmetic average) in lieu of the weighted average if the entity determines that other quantitative information would be a more
reasonable and rational method to reflect the distribution of unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements. ASU-2018-13 will be effective for interim
and annual

96

 
 
 
periods  beginning  December  15,  2019.  The  Company  has  not  adopted  this  ASU  and  believes  such  adoption  will  not  have  a  material  impact  on  its  consolidated  financial
statements.

2. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

The fair value of an asset or liability is the price that would be received to sell an asset or 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. The Company utilizes a fair value hierarchy that maximizes the
use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value and defines three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value.
Level 1 inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for
the asset or liability either directly or indirectly, including quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices in markets that are not active, inputs
other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, or inputs derived from observable market data. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs that are supported by
little or no market activity and are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company did not have any assets or liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis.

The estimated fair values of the Company’s other financial assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 were as follows (in thousands):

December 31, 2019

LIABILITIES

Long-term debt, including current portion

December 31, 2018

LIABILITIES

Long-term debt, including current portion

Carrying
Amount

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

  $

160,149 

  $

— 

  $

166,691 

  $

  $

162,275 

  $

— 

  $

159,367 

  $

— 

— 

The  carrying  values  of  cash  and  cash  equivalents,  receivables  and  accounts  payable  approximate  fair  value.  The  fair  value  of  the  Company’s  long-term  debt  was
estimated using discounted cash flow analysis based on estimated current rates for similar types of arrangements. Considerable judgment was required in developing certain of
the estimates of fair value and, accordingly, the estimates presented herein are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that the Company could realize in a current market
exchange.

Investments. In 2019, the Company purchased $5.0 million of corporate securities and later in 2019, the Company sold these corporate securities for cash proceeds of

$4.4 million resulting in a net loss of $0.6 million.

3. ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS

Capital Expenditures. The  Company’s  capital  expenditures  were  $6.6 million, $9.2 million  and  $16.8 million  in  2019, 2018  and  2017,  respectively,  and  consisted
primarily of spare helicopter parts and leasehold improvements. The Company records helicopter acquisitions in property and equipment and places helicopters in service once
completion  work  has  been  finalized  and  the  helicopters  are  ready  for  use.  The  Company  sold  or  otherwise  disposed  of  property  and  equipment  for  cash  proceeds  of  $13.3
million, $29.6 million and $9.4 million in 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

97

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
A summary of changes to the Company’s owned helicopter fleet during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 were as follows:

Equipment Additions

2019

2018

2017

Heavy helicopters

_______________

Equipment Dispositions

Light helicopters - single engine

Light helicopters - twin engine

Medium helicopters

Heavy helicopters

— 
— 

1 
1 

2019

2018 (1)

2017

— 
3 
2 
— 
5 

10 
2 
1 
8 
21 

1 
1 

1 
1 
1 
— 
3 

_______________

(1)

Includes six H225 heavy helicopters disposed via sales-type leases.

Disposition. On February 23, 2018, the Company sold all of its flightseeing assets in Alaska, which consisted of eight light single engine helicopters, two operating

facilities, and related property and equipment for cash proceeds of $10.0 million.

4. LEASES

The Company leases land, hangars, buildings, fuel tanks and tower sites under operating lease agreements. The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at
inception, and many of these leases offer an option for renewal or extension. The adoption of ASC 842 allows the Company to retain its current classification of leases, and the
optional practical expedience rule has allowed the use of the current-period adjustment method to recognize a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained
earnings in the current period rather than the restatement of prior year lease amounts. The majority of the bases from which the Company operates are leased, with current
remaining terms between one year and fifty-nine years. The lease expense on those contracts with initial terms of twelve months or less are recognized on a straight-line basis
over the lease term and are not recorded on the balance sheet. The Company does not currently maintain any finance leases and has only operating lease agreements.

The Company’s maturity analysis of lease payments under operating leases that had initial terms in excess of one year as of December 31, 2018 was as follows (in

thousands):

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

Years subsequent to 2023

Total future minimum lease payments

98

  Minimum Payments

  $

  $

1,573 
1,530 
987 
562 
495 
7,952 
13,099 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Company’s maturity analysis of lease payments under operating leases that have initial terms in excess of one year as of December 31, 2019 was as follows (in

thousands):

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

Years subsequent to 2024

Total future minimum lease payments

Less: imputed interest

Present value of lease liabilities

  Minimum Payments

  $

  $

2,273 
1,801 
1,367 
1,314 
1,013 
8,370 
16,138 
6,550 
9,588 

During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company recognized $4.0 million of operating lease expense. Included in this amount was $1.5 million for contracts

with remaining terms of less than one year for the year ended December 31, 2019.

Reported balances:

Other current liabilities

Long-term lease liabilities

Total operating lease liabilities

  $

  $

As of December 31, 2019, other information related to these leases was as follows:

Weighted average remaining lease term

Weighted average discount rate

Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities during the year ended December 31, 2019 (in thousands)

  $

1,773 
7,815 
9,588 

16 years 

6.11%
2,296 

The Company generates revenues as a lessor from its dry-leasing line of service that require a fixed monthly fee for the customer’s right to use the helicopter and,
where applicable, additional charges as compensation for any support the Company may provide to the customer. Revenues from dry-leasing contracts are shown on the face of
the statement of operations.

In 2018, the Company disposed of six H225 heavy helicopters through sales-type leases. During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company recognized interest
income on these leases of $1.7 million. During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company completed the final sale of two of these helicopters and received cash proceeds
of $5.0 million. As of December 31, 2019, the Company had remaining receivables of $13.5 million, all of which is due within a year. These amounts are included in other
receivables on the consolidated balance sheet.

5. VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES AND EQUITY INVESTMENTS AND ADVANCES

VIEs

Aeróleo. On July 1, 2011, the Company acquired a 50% economic interest and a 20% voting interest in Aeróleo, a Brazilian entity that provides helicopter transport
services to the Brazilian offshore oil and gas industry, for $4.8 million in cash. The Company and its original partner also each loaned Aeróleo $6.0 million at an interest rate of
6.0%  per  annum.  On  October  1,  2015,  the  Company’s  original  partner  completed  a  transfer  of  its  50%  economic  and  80%  voting  interest  in  Aeróleo  to  a  third  party.  In
connection  with  the  transfer,  the  Company  entered  into  a  shareholders’  agreement  with  its  new  partner  that  required  supermajority  shareholder  and/or  board  approval  of
specified, significant actions, and a put/call option arrangement which gave the Company the right to purchase at any time, and the new partner the right to put to the Company
after two years, the new partner’s interest in Aeróleo. The Company has the ability to direct activities that most significantly affect Aeróleo’s financial performance, making the
Company the primary beneficiary. As a result, the Company concluded that Aeróleo was a variable interest entity and therefore should be consolidated into the Company’s
financial statements.

The Company’s consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2018 included assets of Aeróleo totaling $11.9 million and liabilities of $4.5 million. The creditors for

such liabilities do not have recourse to Era Group or its subsidiaries other than Aeróleo.

99

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
In the fourth quarter of 2019, the Company exercised its contractual call option to purchase the remaining 50% economic interest and 80% voting interest from the

Company’s partner in Aeróleo, making it a wholly-owned subsidiary as of December 31, 2019. The amount paid to effect this purchase was not material.

Joint Ventures

Dart. Era DHS LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, acquired 49% of the capital stock of Dart Helicopter Services LLC (“Dart Helicopters”), a sales,
marketing and parts manufacturing organization based in North America that engineers and manufactures after-market parts and equipment for sale to helicopter manufacturers
and operators. During 2009, the Company provided a $0.3 million loan to Dart Helicopters with a maturity of June 2012 at an annual interest rate of 5.0%, which was payable
quarterly  with  principal  due  at  maturity.  On  February  28,  2011,  the  Company  made  an  additional  investment  of  $5.0  million  in  Dart  Helicopters,  and  on  July  31,  2011,
contributed its ownership in Dart Helicopters to Dart in exchange for a 50% economic and voting interest in Dart and a note receivable of $5.1 million. The note receivable had
a balance of $2.3 million at December 31, 2018 and was paid in full in 2019.

During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company in conjunction with its 50% joint venture partner entered into an agreement to sell Dart. The transaction

closed on April 1, 2019, for gross proceeds of $38.0 million, including payment of the note receivable in March 2019, and net gains of $10.9 million.

In the first quarter of 2019, the Company purchased $0.6 million of products and services from Dart, while it was still a joint venture. During each of the years ended
December  31,  2018  and  2017,  the  Company  purchased  $2.0  million  of  products  and  services  from  Dart.  Purchases  from  Dart  are  included  in  operating  expenses  on  the
consolidated statements of income, and the note receivable was included in equity investments and advances on the consolidated balance sheets.

As of December 31, 2018, equity investments and advances in Dart was $27.1 million. During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company received dividends of

$1.0 million from Dart.

Era Training Center. Era Training Center LLC (“Era Training Center”) previously operated flight training devices and provided training services to the Company and
third-party customers. During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company provided helicopter, management and other services to the joint venture totaling $0.1
million and $0.2 million, respectively, and incurred $0.2 million and $0.5 million, respectively, for simulator fees.

During  the  year  ended  December  31,  2018,  the  Company  entered  into  an  agreement  to  dissolve  Era  Training  Center  in  exchange  for  the  settlement  of  an  existing
promissory note with an outstanding principal amount of $3.6 million by acquiring the assets of the joint venture. The agreement included the sale of three simulators to the
Company for $2.9 million, partial ownership in a fourth simulator for $0.4 million and a note receivable from the Company’s partner in Era Training Center for $0.4 million.

Combined Condensed Financial Statements

Summarized financial information for the Company’s equity investments and advances in Dart as of December 31, 2018 and for the years ended December 31, 2018

and 2017 was as follows (in thousands):

Current assets

Non-current assets

Current liabilities

Non-current liabilities

Operating revenues

Costs and expenses:

Operating and administrative

Depreciation and amortization

Total costs and expenses

Operating income

Net income

  $

2018

31,332 
30,613 
7,007 
5,558 

2018

2017

  $

45,602 

  $

42,891 

36,592 
1,754 
38,346 
7,256 
4,912 

  $

  $

35,983 
1,603 
37,586 
5,305 
3,603 

  $

  $

100

 
 
 
 
   
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Summarized financial information for the Company’s equity investments and advances in all other investees for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 was as

follows (in thousands):

Operating revenues

Costs and expenses:

Operating and administrative

Depreciation and amortization

Total costs and expenses

Operating income

Net income (loss)

2018

2017

  $

170 

  $

63 
377 
440 
(270)   $

(442)   $

  $

  $

581 

367 
503 
870 
(289)

(527)

As of December 31, 2018, cumulative undistributed net earnings of equity investees included in the Company’s consolidated retained earnings was $6.0 million.

6.

INCOME TAXES

For financial reporting purposes, income (loss) before income taxes and equity earnings for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 were as follows (in

thousands):

U.S.

Foreign

Total

2019

2018

2017

  $

  $

(13,317)   $

(1,430)  

(14,747)   $

12,633 
1,559 
14,192 

  $

(148,248)

(4,457)

  $

(152,705)

The components of income tax expense (benefit) for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 were as follows (in thousands):

Current:

Federal

State

Foreign

Total current

Deferred:

Federal

State

Foreign

Total deferred

Income tax (benefit) expense

2019

2018

2017

  $

2,935 

  $

(69)  
937 
3,803 

(4,266)  
70 
(338)  

(4,534)  

  $

(731)   $

  $

924 
219 
38 
1,181 

2,154 
(390)  

(5)  

1,759 
2,940 

  $

— 
7 
(3,530)

(3,523)

(121,359)
1,923 
294 
(119,142)

(122,665)

101

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The  following  table  reconciles  the  difference  between  the  statutory  federal  income  tax  rate  for  the  Company  and  the  effective  income  tax  rate  for  the  years  ended

December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017:

Provision (benefit):

Statutory rate

State taxes, net of federal tax benefit

State valuation allowance

Sale of investment in JV

Foreign tax credit valuation allowance

Foreign valuation allowance

Brazilian PERT Program

Other

Tax Act

2019

2018

2017

21.0 %  

10.9 %  

(11.0)%  

(8.7)%  

(4.2)%  

0.3 %  

— %  

(3.3)%  

— %  

5.0 %  

21.0 %  

(1.9)%  

0.4 %  

— %  

— %  

(2.3)%  

— %  

3.5 %  

— %  

20.7 %  

35.0 %

5.3 %

(6.6)%

— %

— %

(1.0)%

2.2 %

(0.6)%

46.0 %

80.3 %

The components of net deferred income tax liabilities as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 were as follows (in thousands):

Deferred tax liabilities:

Property and equipment

Buy-in on maintenance contracts

Total deferred tax liabilities

Deferred tax assets:

Tax loss carryforwards

Stock compensation

Reserves

Other

Valuation allowance

Total deferred tax assets

Net deferred tax liabilities

2019

2018

  $

  $

111,411 
223 
111,634 

47,243 
690 
742 
658 
(41,492)  

7,841 
103,793 

  $

  $

116,178 
423 
116,601 

44,919 
691 
788 
(285)

(37,869)

8,244 
108,357 

The Company had no federal net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards in 2019 or 2018. The Company had state income tax NOL carryforwards of $388.7 million
and $377.7 million in 2019  and  2018,  respectively,  in  various  states  and  foreign  NOL  carryforwards  of  $63.2 million  and  $56.9 million  in  2019  and  2018,  respectively,  in
various foreign jurisdictions. As of December 31, 2019, the Company had foreign tax credits of $0.6 million. The Company’s state NOL carryforwards expire from 2024 to
2039, and the foreign NOL carryforwards have unlimited carryforward periods.

After considering all available evidence in assessing the need for the valuation allowance, the Company believes that it is more likely than not the benefit from certain
foreign and state deferred tax assets will not be realized. As of December 31, 2019, the Company has provided a valuation allowance of $19.7 million with respect to the state
deferred  tax  assets  and  $21.8 million  valuation  allowance  with  respect  to  the  foreign  deferred  tax  assets  included  in  the  table  above,  made  up  of  $19.9 million  related  to
Aeróleo, $1.3 million related to Sicher, and $0.6 million related to foreign tax credits. If the assumptions change and the Company determines it will be able to realize those
deferred tax assets, the tax benefits relating to any reversal of the valuation allowance on deferred tax assets would be recorded in the income tax provision in the period in
which such adjustments are identified.

The Company’s operations are subject to the jurisdiction of multiple tax authorities, which impose various types of taxes on it including income taxes. Determining
taxes owed in any jurisdiction requires the interpretation of relevant tax laws, regulations, judicial decisions and administrative interpretation of the local tax authority. As a
result,  the  Company  is  subject  to  tax  assessments  in  such  jurisdictions  including  the  re-determination  of  taxable  amounts  by  tax  authorities  that  may  not  agree  with  the
Company’s interpretations and positions taken. The examination of the Company’s 2015 federal income tax return concluded with no adjustments during 2019.

102

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pursuant  to  ASC  740-35-25,  the  Company  asserts  permanent  reinvestment  on  its  controlled  foreign  corporations  within  Brazil,  Colombia,  and  the  British  Virgin

Islands.

The effects of a tax position are recognized in the period in which it is determined that it is more likely than not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination,
including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. The Company remains subject to examination for U.S. federal
and multiple state tax jurisdictions for tax years after 2015 and in Brazil for 2015 and subsequent years.

Pursuant to a shareholders’ agreement entered into on October 1, 2015 with the Company’s partner in Aeróleo (see Note 5), the Company is the primary beneficiary,
and Aeróleo became a consolidated entity. The Company has analyzed filing positions of Aeróleo in Brazil where it is required to file income tax returns for all open tax years
(2014 to 2019).

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of the gross unrecognized tax benefits, excluding interest and penalties, is as follows (in thousands):

Unrecognized tax benefits at the beginning of the year

Reductions due to settlements with taxing authorities

Unrecognized tax benefits at the end of the year

2019

2018

2017

$

$

11 
— 
11 

  $

  $

11  $
— 
11  $

261 
(250)

11 

Amounts  accrued  for  interest  and  penalties  associated  with  unrecognized  income  tax  benefits  are  included  in  other  expense  on  the  Consolidated  Statements  of
Operations. As of December 31, 2019, the gross amount of liability for accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits was $0.1 million. While  amounts
could change in the next twelve months, the Company does not anticipate such changes having a material impact on its financial statements.

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of the valuation allowance is as follows (in thousands):

Valuation allowance at the beginning of the year

Increases to state valuation allowance

Increases due to foreign valuation allowances

Decrease due to Brazilian PERT Program

Valuation allowance at the end of the period

2019

2018

2017

$

$

37,869 
1,616 
2,007 
— 
41,492 

  $

  $

34,967  $
50 
2,852 
— 
37,869  $

21,575 
10,010 
7,578 
(4,196)

34,967 

During  the  fourth  quarter  of  2017,  Aeróleo  elected  to  enter  certain  settled  and  open  tax  claims  in  the  Tax  Special  Regularization  Program  (the  “PERT  Program”)
pursuant to Brazil Provisional Measure No. 783 issued on May 31, 2017. The PERT Program allows for the partial settling of debts, both income tax debts and non-income-
based tax debts, due by April 30, 2017 to Brazil’s Federal Revenue Service with the use of tax credits, including income tax loss carryforwards. A utilization of $3.5 million
income tax benefit was recorded during the fourth quarter attributable to income tax loss carryforwards under the PERT Program partially offset by the accrual of operating
expense associated with certain indirect tax claims enrolled into the PERT program.

103

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
7.    LONG-TERM DEBT

The Company’s borrowings as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 were as follows (in thousands):

7.750% Senior Notes (excluding unamortized discount)

Senior secured revolving credit facility

Promissory notes

Other

Total principal balance on borrowings

Portion due with one year

Unamortized debt issuance costs

Unamortized discount

Long-term debt

The Company’s scheduled long-term debt maturities as of December 31, 2019 were as follows (in thousands):

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

Years subsequent to 2024

2019

2018

  $

  $

144,088 
— 
18,317 
— 
162,405 
(18,317)  

(1,320)  

(936)  

  $

141,832 

  $

144,828 
— 
19,980 
395 
165,203 
(2,058)

(1,712)

(1,216)

160,217 

Total Due

18,317 
— 
144,088 
— 
— 
— 
162,405 

  $

  $

7.750% Senior Notes. On December 7, 2012, Era Group issued $200.0 million in aggregate principal amount of its 7.750% senior unsecured notes due December 15,
2022  (the  “7.750%  Senior  Notes”)  and  received  net  proceeds  of  $191.9 million. Interest  on  the  7.750%  Senior  Notes  is  payable  semi-annually  in  arrears  on  June  15  and
December  15  of  each  year.  The 7.750%  Senior  Notes  may  be  redeemed  at  any  time  and  from  time  to  time  at  the  applicable  redemption  prices  set  forth  in  the  indenture
governing the 7.750% Senior Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date. The indenture governing the 7.750% Senior Notes contains covenants that
restrict Era Group’s ability to, among other things, incur additional indebtedness, pay dividends or make other distributions or repurchase or redeem its capital stock, prepay,
redeem or repurchase certain debt, make loans and investments, sell assets, incur liens, enter into transactions with affiliates, enter into agreements restricting its subsidiaries’
ability to pay dividends, and consolidate, merge or sell all or substantially all of the Company’s assets. In addition, upon a specified change of control trigger event or specified
asset sale, Era Group may be required to repurchase the 7.750% Senior Notes.

Era Group’s payment obligations under the 7.750% Senior Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by all of its wholly-owned existing U.S. subsidiaries that are
guarantors  under  the  Revolving  Credit  Facility.  The  net  proceeds  of  the  offering  were  used  to  repay  $190.0 million  of  borrowings  outstanding  under  the  Company’s  prior
$200.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility (the “Prior Credit Facility”).

During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company repurchased $0.7 million of the 7.750% Senior Notes at par for total cash of $0.7 million, including accrued

interest of less than $0.1 million, and recognized a loss on debt extinguishment of less than $0.1 million.

Revolving Credit Facility. On March 31, 2014, Era Group entered into the Revolving Credit Facility through an amendment to the Prior Credit Facility. Advances
under the Revolving Credit Facility at the closing were used to refinance indebtedness incurred under the Prior Credit Facility. On March 7, 2018, Era Group entered into a
Consent and Amendment No. 4 to the Amended and Restated Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility Agreement (the “Amendment No. 4” and the Amended and Restated
Revolving  Credit  Facility,  as  amended  by  Amendment  No.  4,  is  referred  to  herein  as  the  “Revolving  Credit  Facility”)  that,  among  other  things,  (a)  reduced  the  aggregate
principal amount of revolving loan commitments from $200.0 million to $125.0 million, (b) extended the agreement’s maturity until March 31, 2021, (c) revised the definition
of  EBITDA  to  permit  an  add-back  for  certain  litigation  expenses  related  to  the  H225  helicopters,  and  (d)  adjusted  the  maintenance  covenant  requirements  to  maintain  an
interest coverage ratio of not less than 1.75:1.00 and a senior secured leverage ratio of not more than 3.25:1.00. The applicable

104

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
margin is based on the Company’s ratio of funded debt to EBITDA and increased by 50 basis points at each tier from the previous amendment.

The Revolving Credit Facility provides the Company with the ability to borrow up to $125.0 million with a sub-limit of up to $50.0 million for letters of credit and
includes an “accordion” feature which, if exercised and subject to agreement by the lenders and the satisfaction of certain conditions, would increase total commitments by up
to $50.0 million. Availability under the Revolving Credit Facility may be limited by the terms of the 7.750% Senior Notes. The Revolving Credit Facility matures in March
2021.

Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility bear interest at a rate per annum equal to, at Era Group’s election, either a base rate or LIBOR, each as defined, plus
an applicable margin. The applicable margin is based on the Company’s ratio of funded debt to EBITDA, as defined, and ranges from 1.25% to 2.5% on the base rate margin
and 2.25% to 3.5% on the LIBOR margin. The applicable margin as of December 31, 2019 was 1.75% on the “base rate” margin and 2.75% on the LIBOR margin. In addition,
Era Group is required to pay a quarterly commitment fee based on the average unfunded portion of the committed amount at a rate based on the Company’s ratio of funded debt
to EBITDA, as defined, that ranges from 0.375% to 0.5%. As of December 31, 2019, the commitment fee was 0.5%.

The obligations under the Revolving Credit Facility are secured by a portion of the Company’s helicopter fleet and other tangible assets and are guaranteed by Era
Group’s wholly-owned U.S. subsidiaries. The Revolving Credit Facility contains various restrictive covenants including that the Company maintains a maximum senior secured
leverage  ratio,  as  defined,  a  minimum  interest  coverage  ratio  and  a  minimum  ratio  of  the  sum  of  the  fair  market  value  of  mortgaged  helicopters,  accounts  receivable  and
inventory to committed amounts under the Revolving Credit Facility as well as other customary covenants including certain restrictions on the Company’s ability to enter into
certain transactions, including those that could result in the incurrence of additional indebtedness and liens, the making of loans, guarantees or investments, sales of assets,
payments of dividends or repurchases of capital stock, and entering into transactions with affiliates. As of December 31, 2019,  the  Company  is  in  compliance  with  all  debt
covenants.

As of December 31, 2019, Era Group had no outstanding borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility, and the remaining availability was $124.3 million based on
the  borrowing  base  of  such  date,  net  of  issued  letters  of  credit  of  $0.7 million. The  availability  under  the  Revolving  Credit  Facility  is  subject  to  the  Company’s  ability  to
maintain compliance with the financial ratios discussed above. In connection with Amendment No. 4 to the Revolving Credit Facility, which reduced the total commitment
amount of the facility to $125.0 million, Era Group wrote off previously incurred debt issuance costs of $0.4 million and incurred additional debt issuance costs of $1.3 million
in the year ended December 31, 2018. The additional debt issuance costs are included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets and are amortized to interest expense in
the consolidated statements of operations over the life of the Revolving Credit Facility.

Promissory Notes. On December 23, 2010, the Company entered into a promissory note for $27.0 million to purchase a heavy helicopter. Upon maturity of the note on
December 20, 2015, the Company refinanced the then outstanding balance of $19.0 million. The new note is secured by a helicopter and bears interest at the one-month LIBOR
rate plus 1.81%. The interest rate resets monthly and at December 31, 2019 was 3.50%. The note requires monthly principal and interest payments of $0.1 million with a final
payment of $12.8 million due in December 2020.

On November 24, 2010, the Company entered into a promissory note for $11.7 million to purchase a medium helicopter. Upon maturity of the note on December 1,
2015, the Company refinanced the then outstanding balance of $5.9 million. The  new  note  is  secured  by  a  helicopter  and  bears  interest  at  the  one-month  LIBOR  rate  plus
1.81%. The interest rate resets monthly and at December 31, 2019 was 3.50%. The note requires monthly principal and interest payments of less than $0.1 million with a final
payment of $4.0 million due in December 2020.

During  the  year  ended  December  31,  2018,  the  Company  amended  the  promissory  notes  to  remove  one  helicopter  and  add  two  helicopters  for  a  total  of  three

helicopters providing cross-collateralization such that each helicopter now secures both promissory notes.

Aeróleo Debt. During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company settled certain tax disputes in Brazil totaling $3.0 million under the PERT Program and has
agreed to make installment payments on the amounts due to the applicable taxing authorities. The installments were payable in Brazilian reals and bore interest at a rate equal to
the overnight rate as published by the Central Bank of Brazil and concluded in the year ended December 31, 2019.

105

 
 
 
8. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

The Company’s unfunded capital commitments as of December 31, 2019 consisted primarily of agreements to purchase helicopters and totaled $80.5 million, of which
$69.5 million is payable in 2020 with the balance payable through 2021. The Company also had $1.3 million of deposits paid on options not yet exercised. The Company may
terminate all of its total commitments, inclusive of deposits paid on options not yet exercised, without further liability other than liquidated damages of $2.1 million  in  the
aggregate.

Brazilian Tax Disputes

In connection with its ownership of Aeróleo and its operations in Brazil, the Company has several ongoing legal disputes related to the local, municipal and federal
taxation requirements in Brazil, including assessments associated with the import and re-export of its helicopters in Brazil. The legal disputes are related to: (i) municipal tax
assessments  arising  under  the  authorities  in  Rio  de  Janeiro  (for  the  period  between  2000  and  2005)  and  Macaé  (for  the  period  between  2001  to  2006)  (collectively,  the
“Municipal Tax Disputes”); (ii) social security contributions that one of its customers was required to remit from 1995 to 1998; (iii) penalties assessed due to its alleged failure
to comply with certain deadlines related to the helicopters the Company imports and exports in and out of Brazil; and (iv) fines sought by taxing authorities in Brazil related to
its use of certain tax credits used to offset certain social tax liabilities (collectively, the “Tax Disputes”).

The aggregate amount at issue for the Tax Disputes is $13.8 million. The Municipal Tax Disputes represent the largest claims with a total amount being sought from

Aeróleo, with approximately $10.3 million at issue.

In  addition  to  the  Tax  Disputes  (and  unrelated  thereto),  Aeróleo  is  engaged  in  two  additional  civil  litigation  matters  relating  to:  (i)  a  dispute  with  its  former  tax
consultant who has alleged that $0.5 million is due and payable as a contingency fee related to execution of certain tax strategies; and (ii) a fatal accident that occurred in 1983
and was previously settled with the plaintiffs’ in the U.S. (the “Civil Disputes”). With respect to the fatal accident, the plaintiffs are seeking to collect additional amounts in
Brazil despite the previous settlement agreed upon by the parties in the U.S.

The Company continues to evaluate and assess various legal strategies for each of the Tax Disputes and the Civil Disputes. As is customary for certain legal matters in
Brazil, Aeróleo has already deposited amounts as security into an escrow account to pursue further legal appeals in several of the Tax Disputes and the Civil Disputes. As of
December 31, 2019, the Company has deposited $5.0 million into escrow accounts controlled by the court with respect to the Tax Disputes and the Civil Disputes, and the
Company has fully reserved such amounts subject to final determination and the judicial release of such escrow deposits. These estimates are based on its assessment of the
nature of these matters, their progress toward resolution, the advice of legal counsel and outside experts as well as management’s intentions and experience. Aeróleo plans to
defend the cases vigorously. As of December 31, 2019, it is not possible to determine the outcome of the Tax Disputes or the Civil Disputes, but the Company does not expect
that an outcome would have a material adverse effect on its business, financial position or results of operations.

General Litigation and Disputes

In the normal course of business, the Company is involved in various litigation matters including, among other things, claims by third parties for alleged property
damages and personal injuries. In addition, from time to time, the Company is involved in tax and other disputes with various government agencies. Management  has  used
estimates in determining the Company’s potential exposure to these matters and has recorded reserves in its financial statements related thereto as appropriate. It is possible that
a change in its estimates related to these exposures could occur, but the Company does not expect such changes in estimated costs would have a material effect on its business,
consolidated financial position or results of operations.

106

 
 
 
9. EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic earnings per common share of the Company are computed based on the weighted average number of common shares issued and outstanding during the relevant
periods. Diluted earnings per common share of the Company are computed based on the weighted average number of common shares issued and outstanding plus the effect of
potentially dilutive securities through the application of the if-converted method and/or treasury method. Dilutive securities for this purpose assumes all common shares have
been issued and outstanding during the relevant periods pursuant to the exercise of outstanding stock options.

Computations of basic and diluted earnings per common share for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 were as follows (in thousands, except share and

per share data):

Net income (loss) attributable to Era Group Inc.

Less: Net income attributable to participating securities

Net income (loss) attributable to fully vested common stock

Shares:

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding—basic
Net effect of dilutive stock options and restricted stock awards based on the treasury stock method(1)

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding—diluted

Earnings (loss) per common share:

Basic

Diluted

_______________

2019

2018

2017

(3,593)   $
— 
(3,593)   $

13,922 
307 
13,615 

  $

  $

(28,161)
— 
(28,161)

21,009,362 
1,353 
21,010,715 

21,167,550 
12,940 
21,180,490 

20,760,530 
— 
20,760,530 

(0.17)   $

(0.17)   $

0.64 
0.64 

  $

  $

(1.36)

(1.36)

  $

  $

  $

  $

(1) Excludes weighted average common shares of 204,965, 218,844 and 273,255 for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively, for certain share awards as the effect of their inclusion would

have been antidilutive.

Share  Repurchases.  On  August  14,  2014,  the  Company’s  Board  of  Directors  approved  a  share  repurchase  program  authorizing  up  to  $25.0  million  of  share

repurchases. This plan has been suspended following the announcement noted below.

During  the  year  ended  December  31,  2019,  Era  Group  repurchased  988,721  shares  of  common  stock  in  open  market  transactions  for  gross  consideration  of  $7.6

million, which is an average cost per share of $7.72. As of December 31, 2019, $15.3 million remained of the $25.0 million share repurchase program.

On January 24, 2020, the 2014 Board authorized repurchase program was suspended in connection with the entry into the merger agreement with Bristow Group Inc.
(“Bristow”). The board has authorized a special stock repurchase program that would allow for the purchase of up to $10 million of its common stock from time to time and
subject to market conditions on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. The special repurchase program will commence as soon as practicable and will end
upon the mailing of the joint proxy statement/prospectus for the merger.

107

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
10. REVENUES

The  Company  derives  its  revenues  primarily  from  oil  and  gas  flight  services,  emergency  response  services  and  dry-leasing  activities.  The  adoption  of  ASC  606
pertains to the Company’s operating revenues. Dry-leasing revenues are recognized in accordance with ASC 842. Revenue is recognized when control of the promised goods or
services is transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services.

The following table presents the Company’s operating revenues disaggregated by geographical region in which services are provided:

2019

2018

2017

$

$

146,952 
63,083 
210,035 

  $

  $

153,394 
56,800 
210,194 

  $

  $

150,583 
64,344 
214,927 

2019

2018

2017

$

$

$

139,312 
56,510 
195,822 
14,213 
— 
210,035 

2,562 
13,462 
226,059 

  $

  $

  $

143,654 
56,800 
200,454 
9,740 
— 
210,194 

3,873 
7,609 
221,676 

  $

  $

  $

134,010 
64,344 
198,354 
11,502 
5,071 
214,927 

1,604 
14,790 
231,321 

Operating revenues:

United States

Foreign

Total operating revenues

The following table presents the Company’s revenues earned by service line:

Revenues:

Oil and gas flight services:

U.S.

International

Total oil and gas

Emergency response services

Flightseeing

Total operating revenues

Dry-leasing revenues:

U.S.

International

Total revenues

The Company determines revenue recognition by applying the following steps:

1.

2.

Identify the contract with a customer;

Identify the performance obligations in the contract;

3. Determine the transaction price;

4. Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations; and

5. Recognize revenue as the performance obligations are satisfied.

The Company earns the majority of its revenue through master service agreements or subscription agreements, which typically include a fixed monthly or daily fee,
incremental fees based on hours flown and fees for ancillary items such as fuel, security, charter services, etc. The Company’s arrangements to serve its customers represent a
promise to stand-ready to provide services at the customer’s discretion.

The Company recognizes revenue for flight services and emergency response services with the passing of each day as the Company has the right to consideration from
its customers in an amount that corresponds directly with the value to the customer of performance completed to date. Therefore, the Company has elected to exercise the right
to invoice practical expedient in its adoption of ASC 606. The right to invoice represents a method for recognizing revenue over time using the output measure of “value to the
customer” which is an objective measure of an entity’s performance in a contract. The Company typically invoices customers on a monthly basis for revenues earned during the
prior month, with payment terms of 30 days. The Company’s customer arrangements do not contain any significant financing component for customers. Amounts for taxes
collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities are reported on a net basis.

108

 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
Practical Expedients and Exemptions

The Company does not incur any material incremental costs to obtain or fulfill customer contracts that require capitalization under the new revenue standard and has
elected the practical expedient afforded by the new revenue standard to expense such costs as incurred upon adoption. These costs are included as operating expenses in the
consolidated statements of operations.

The Company does not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for (i) contracts with an original expected length of one year or less and (ii) contracts

for which it recognizes revenue at the amount to which it has the right to invoice for services performed.

11. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

In the first quarter of 2019, the Company purchased $0.6 million of products and services from Dart, while it was still a joint venture. During each of the years ended
December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company purchased $2.0 million of products and services from Dart. At December 31, 2018, the Company had a note receivable from Dart
with a balance of $2.3 million. The note was paid in full during the first quarter of 2019. Purchases from Dart are included in operating expenses on the consolidated statements
of income, and the note receivable was included in equity investments and advances on the consolidated balance sheets.

During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company in conjunction with its 50% joint venture partner entered into an agreement to sell Dart. The transaction

closed on April 1, 2019, for gross proceeds of $38.0 million, including payment of the note receivable in March 2019, and net gains of $10.9 million.

During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company provided helicopter, management and other services to Era Training Center totaling $0.1 million
and $0.2 million, respectively, and incurred $0.2 million and $0.5 million, respectively, for flight training device fees. Revenues from Era Training Center were recorded in
operating revenues, and expenses incurred are recorded in operating expenses on the consolidated statements of operations. At December 31, 2018, the Company had a note
receivable from Era Training Center with a balance of $3.7 million, which was recorded in equity investments and advances on the consolidated balance sheets. Era Training
Center was dissolved in the third quarter of 2018. See further discussion in Note 5.

12. SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION

Share Incentive Plans. In 2013, the Company adopted the Era Group Inc. 2012 Incentive Plan (“2012 Plan”) under which a maximum of 4,000,000 shares of the
Company’s  common  stock,  par  value  of  $0.01  per  share  (“Common  Stock”),  are  reserved  for  issuance.    Awards  granted  under  the  2012  Plan  may  be  in  the  form  of  stock
options, stock appreciation rights, shares of restricted stock, other share-based awards (payable in cash or common stock) or performance awards, or any combination thereof,
and may be made to outside directors, employees or consultants. The Board of Directors determines, for each award, whether to issue new shares or shares from the Company’s
treasury account. As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, 1,839,835 and 2,235,379 shares, respectively, remained available for grant under the 2012 Plan.

In 2013, the Company adopted the Era Group Inc. 2013 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”) under which the Company may offer up to a maximum of 300,000
shares of Common Stock for purchase by eligible employees at a price per share equal to 85% of the lesser of (i) the fair market value per share of Common Stock on the first
day of the offering period or (ii) the fair market value per share of Common Stock on the last day of the offering period. Common Stock is made available for purchase under
the ESPP for six-month offering periods. The ESPP is intended to comply with Section 423 of the Code but is not intended to be subject to Section 401(a) of the Code or the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The Board of Directors may amend or terminate the ESPP at any time; however, no increase in the number of shares of
Common  Stock  reserved  for  issuance  under  the  ESPP  may  be  made  without  stockholder  approval.  In  2016,  the  Board  of  Directors  authorized  an  additional  400,000  to  be
reserved for issuance under the ESPP, which was approved by the stockholders of the Company at the Company’s annual meeting in 2017. The ESPP has a term of ten years.
During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company issued 120,754 shares under the ESPP. As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, 101,624 and 222,378 shares, respectively,
remained available for issuance under the ESPP. In  the  first  quarter  of  2020,  the  Company,  in  connection  with  its  entry  into  a  definitive  agreement  to  merge  with  Bristow,
suspending the ESPP.

Total share-based compensation expense, which includes stock options, restricted stock and ESPP purchases, was $3.6 million, $2.9 million and $4.6 million for the
years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. As of December 31, 2019, the Company had approximately $4.2 million  in  total  unrecognized  compensation
costs, and the weighted average period over which it is expected to be recognized is 1.8 years.

109

 
 
 
Restricted Stock Awards. During the year ended December 31, 2019, the number of shares and the weighted average grant price of restricted stock award transactions

were as follows:

2019

  Number of Shares  

Weighted Average
Grant Price

Non-vested as of December 31, 2018

Restricted stock awards granted:

Non-employee directors

Employees

Vested

Forfeited

Non-vested as of December 31, 2019

513,766 

  $

  $

  $

34,488 
361,056 
(282,911)   $
— 
626,399 

  $

  $

10.28 

10.35 
10.35 
10.31 
— 
10.31 

During  the  years  ended  December  31,  2019,  2018  and  2017,  the  Company  awarded  395,544,  331,869  and  297,256  shares,  respectively,  of  restricted  stock  at  a
weighted average grant date fair value of $10.35, $9.80 and $11.44, respectively. The total fair value of shares vested during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and
2017, determined using the closing price on the grant date, was $2.9 million, $2.8 million and $5.5 million, respectively.

Stock Option Grants. As of December 31, 2019, the Company had 203,612 stock options outstanding, that were fully vested and exercisable at a weighted average
exercise  price  of  $19.62.  The  Company  did  not  grant  any  options  during  the  years  ended  December  31,  2019  and  December  31,  2018.  The  weighted  average  remaining
contractual term on these options is 3.2 years.

13. SEGMENT INFORMATION, MAJOR CUSTOMERS AND GEOGRAPHICAL DATA

The Company has determined that its operations comprise a single segment. Helicopters are highly mobile and may be utilized in any of the Company’s service lines

as business needs dictate.

For the year ended December 31, 2019, Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (“Anadarko”), Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. (“Petrobras”) and the U.S. government accounted for
28%, 21% and 14%, respectively, of the Company’s operating revenues. For the year ended December 31, 2018, Anadarko, Petrobras and the U.S. government accounted for
31%, 23% and 15%, respectively, of the Company’s operating revenues. For the year ended December 31, 2017, Anadarko, Petrobras and the U.S. government accounted for
28%,  22%  and  16%,  respectively,  of  the  Company’s  operating  revenues.  For  the  years  ended  December  31,  2019,  2018  and  2017,  approximately  34%,  29%  and  34%,
respectively, of the Company’s operating revenues were derived from foreign operations. The Company’s foreign revenues are primarily derived from oil and gas operations in
Brazil, Colombia and Suriname as well as leasing activities in other jurisdictions.

The following represents the Company’s operating revenues by geographical region in which services are provided for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and

2017 (in thousands):

Revenues:

United States

Latin America and the Caribbean

Europe

Asia

2019

2018

2017

  $

  $

149,514 
68,802 
384 
7,359 
226,059 

  $

  $

157,267 
58,037 
608 
5,764 
221,676 

  $

  $

152,187 
68,936 
5,029 
5,169 
231,321 

110

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The  Company’s  long-lived  assets  are  primarily  its  property  and  equipment  employed  in  various  geographical  regions  of  the  world.  The  following  represents  the

Company’s property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation, based upon the assets’ physical locations as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 (in thousands):

Property and equipment, net:

United States

Latin America and the Caribbean

Europe

Asia

2019

2018

  $

  $

433,096 
96,225 
6,363 
21,215 
556,899 

  $

  $

472,838 
105,519 
8,049 
12,788 
599,194 

The  Company’s  Brazilian  operations  include  181 employees, representing approximately 26%  of  the  Company’s  total  workforce,  that  are  covered  under  collective
bargaining  agreements,  none  of  which  expire  within  the  next  year.    Any  disputes  with  its  employees  over  the  terms  of  the  collective  bargaining  agreements  could  result  in
strikes or other work stoppages, higher labor costs or other conditions that may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

14. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FOR STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

Supplemental cash flow information for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 was as follows (in thousands):

Income taxes paid, net of refunds

Interest paid to others, excluding capitalized interest

Interest received

Schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities:

2019

2018

2017

  $

  $

1,255 
12,693 
(3,374)  

  $

283 
13,581 
(1,099)  

426 
15,315 
(760)

Settlement of accrued contingent liabilities through installment obligations

— 

— 

386 

15. QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)

Selected financial information for interim quarterly periods is presented below (in thousands, except per share data). Earnings (loss) per common share are computed

independently for each of the quarters presented, and the sum of the quarterly earnings (loss) per share may not necessarily equal the total for the year:

2019

Mar. 31

Jun. 30

Sep. 30

Dec. 31

Three Months Ended

Revenues

Operating income (loss)

Net income (loss)

Net income (loss) attributable to common shares

Earnings (loss) per common share - basic

Earnings (loss) per common share - diluted

2018

Revenues

Operating income (loss)

Net income (loss)

Net income (loss) attributable to common shares

Earnings (loss) per common share - basic

Earnings (loss) per common share - diluted

  $

  $

  $

  $

  $

  $

  $

  $

  $

  $

  $

  $

111

  $

51,293 
(3,852)   $

(6,085)   $

(5,943)   $

(0.28)   $

(0.28)   $

  $

  $

55,480 
(1,823)   $
4,874 
4,940 
0.22 
0.22 

  $

  $

  $

  $

58,909 
1,687 
(2,059)   $

  $

(1,910)   $

(0.09)   $

(0.09)   $

60,377 
710 
(811)

(680)

(0.03)

(0.03)

Mar. 31

Jun. 30

Sep. 30

Dec. 31

Three Months Ended

  $

57,322 
1,651 
(1,357)   $

  $

(1,194)   $

(0.06)   $

(0.06)   $

  $

57,728 
(9,523)   $

(10,516)   $

(10,379)   $

(0.49)   $

(0.49)   $

54,610 
41,571 
31,279 
31,289 
1.44 
1.44 

  $

  $

  $

  $

  $

  $

52,016 
(5,629)

(5,948)

(5,794)

(0.27)

(0.27)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
16. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

On January 23, 2020, the Company entered into a definitive agreement with Bristow to combine the two companies in an all stock transaction, structured as a reverse

triangular merger, whereby the Company will issue shares to Bristow stockholders, while the Company continues to trade on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”).

The  transaction  is  expected  to  close  in  the  second  half  of  2020,  following  receipt  of  required  regulatory  approvals  and  satisfaction  of  other  customary  closing

conditions, including approval by Bristow’s and Era’s stockholders.

17. GUARANTORS OF SECURITIES

Era  Group’s  payment  obligations  under  the  7.750%  Senior  Notes  are  jointly  and  severally  guaranteed  by  all  of  its  existing  100%  owned  U.S.  subsidiaries  that
guarantee the Revolving Credit Facility and any future U.S. subsidiaries that guarantee the Revolving Credit Facility or other material indebtedness Era Group may incur in the
future (the “Guarantors”). All the Guarantors currently guarantee the Revolving Credit Facility, and the guarantees of the Guarantors are full and unconditional and joint and
several.

As a result of the agreement by the Guarantors to guarantee the 7.750% Senior Notes, the Company presents the following condensed consolidating balance sheets and
statements  of  operations,  comprehensive  income  and  cash  flows  for  Era  Group  (“Parent”),  the  Guarantors  and  the  Company’s  other  subsidiaries  (“Non-guarantors”).  These
statements should be read in conjunction with the accompanying consolidated financial statements and notes of the Company.

112

 
 
 
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2019

ASSETS

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

Receivables:

Trade, operating, net of allowance for doubtful accounts

Trade, dry leasing

Tax receivables

Other

Inventories, net

Prepaid expenses

Total current assets

Property and equipment

Accumulated depreciation

Property and equipment, net

Operating lease right-of-use

Investments in consolidated subsidiaries

Intangible assets

Deferred income taxes

Intercompany receivables

Other assets

Total assets

LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTEREST AND
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Current liabilities:

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

Accrued wages and benefits

Accrued interest

Accrued income taxes

Accrued other taxes

Accrued contingencies

Current portion of long-term debt

Other current liabilities

Total current liabilities

Long-term debt

Deferred income taxes

Intercompany payables

Operating lease liabilities

Deferred gains and other liabilities

Total liabilities

Redeemable noncontrolling interest

Equity:

Common stock, $0.01 par value, 60,000,000 shares authorized; 21,285,613 outstanding,

exclusive of treasury shares

Additional paid-in capital

Retained earnings

Treasury shares, at cost, 1,152,826 shares

Total equity

Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interest and stockholders’ equity

$

Parent

Guarantors

  Non-guarantors

Eliminations

Consolidated

(in thousands, except share data)

$

114,965 

  $

— 

  $

2,401 

  $

— 

  $

117,366 

$

$

27,230 

5,234 

2 

15,136 

20,019 

1,480 

69,101 

878,281 

(333,788)

544,493 

7,694 

— 

— 

— 

— 

5,500 

— 

2,858 

285 

47 

216 

11,307 

16,782 

(4,376)

12,406 

1,774 

— 

96 

— 

— 

  $

  $

1,082 
622,370 

  $

439 
26,022 

  $

10,937 

  $

9,065 

1,581 

  $

1,367 

52 

1 

487 

— 

18,317 

1,866 

40,725 

— 

112,795 

225,341 

6,434 

745 

386,040 

— 

— 

100,307 

136,023 

— 

236,330 
622,370 

  $

  $

— 

16 

450 

598 

— 

396 

4,408 

— 

907 

62,702 

1,381 

— 

69,398 

2,812 

— 

4,562 

(50,750)

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

488 

115,453 

— 

— 

— 

— 

190,142 

— 

9,909 

288,023 

670 
604,197 

405 

122 

468 

3,595 

— 

— 

— 

1,053 

5,643 

141,832 

— 

— 

— 

— 

147,475 

— 

224 

452,010 

14,671 

(10,183)

456,722 
604,197 

113

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

(190,142)

— 

(9,909)

(288,023)

— 

(488,074)

  $

  $

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

(9,909)

(288,043)

— 

— 

(297,952)

— 

— 

(104,870)

(85,252)

— 

32,730 

5,234 

2,860 

15,421 

20,066 

2,184 

195,861 

895,063 

(338,164)

556,899 

9,468 

— 

96 

— 

— 

2,191 
764,515 

12,923 

10,554 

520 

3,612 

937 

598 

18,317 

3,315 

50,776 

141,832 

103,793 

— 

7,815 

745 

304,961 

2,812 

224 

452,009 

14,692 

(10,183)

456,742 
764,515 

(46,188)
26,022 

  $

(190,122)

(488,074)

  $

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
 
 
 
   
   
   
 
 
 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
 
 
 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2018

ASSETS

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

Receivables:

Trade, operating, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $261

Trade, dry leasing

Tax receivables

Other

Inventories, net

Prepaid expenses

Total current assets

Property and equipment

Accumulated depreciation

Property and equipment, net

Equity investments and advances

Investments in consolidated subsidiaries

Intangible assets

Deferred income taxes

Intercompany receivables

Other assets

Total assets

LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTEREST AND
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Current liabilities:

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

Accrued wages and benefits

Accrued interest

Accrued income taxes

Accrued other taxes

Accrued contingencies

Current portion of long-term debt

Other current liabilities

Total current liabilities

Long-term debt

Deferred income taxes

Intercompany payables

Deferred gains and other liabilities

Total liabilities

Redeemable noncontrolling interest

Equity:

Era Group Inc. stockholders’ equity:

Common stock, $0.01 par value, 60,000,000 shares authorized; 21,765,404 outstanding,

exclusive of treasury shares

Additional paid-in capital

Retained earnings

Treasury shares, at cost, 156,737 shares

Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax

Total equity

Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interest and stockholders’ equity

Parent

Guarantors

  Non-guarantors

Eliminations

Consolidated

(in thousands, except share data)

$

48,396 

  $

— 

  $

2,357 

  $

— 

  $

50,753 

$

$

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

398 

48,794 

— 

— 

— 

— 

172,950 

— 

9,904 

366,541 

1,251 
599,440 

27,509 

3,803 

6 

1,949 

20,633 

1,219 

55,119 

900,611 

(314,567)

586,044 

27,112 

— 

— 

— 

— 

5,797 

  $

— 

3,181 

394 

40 

190 

11,959 

16,550 

(3,400)

13,150 

— 

— 

1,107 

— 

— 

  $

20,231 
688,506 

  $

96 
26,312 

  $

136 

  $

11,357 

  $

43 

500 

918 

— 

— 

— 

647 

2,244 

133,900 

— 

— 

— 

136,144 

— 

219 

447,299 

18,254 

(2,476)

— 

7,743 

69 

6 

768 

— 

1,663 

220 

21,826 

26,317 

117,015 

310,727 

720 

476,605 

3 

— 

100,306 

111,482 

— 

110 

1,668 

  $

1,481 

— 

49 

500 

630 

395 

11 

4,734 

— 

1,245 

55,847 

27 

61,853 

3,299 

— 

4,562 

(43,402)

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

(172,950)

— 

(9,904)

(366,541)

— 

(549,395)

  $

  $

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

(9,903)

(366,574)

— 

(376,477)

— 

— 

(104,869)

(68,049)

— 

— 

463,296 
599,440 

  $

211,898 
688,506 

  $

$

(38,840)
26,312 

  $

(172,918)

(549,395)

  $

114

33,306 

3,803 

3,187 

2,343 

20,673 

1,807 

115,872 

917,161 

(317,967)

599,194 

27,112 

— 

1,107 

— 

— 

21,578 
764,863 

13,161 

9,267 

569 

973 

1,268 

630 

2,058 

878 

28,804 

160,217 

108,357 

— 

747 

298,125 

3,302 

219 

447,298 

18,285 

(2,476)

110 

463,436 
764,863 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations for the Year Ended December 31, 2019

Revenues

Costs and expenses:

Operating

Administrative and general

Depreciation

Total costs and expenses

Gains on asset dispositions, net

Loss on impairment

Operating income (loss)

Other income (expense):

Interest income

Interest expense

Loss on sale of investments

Foreign currency gains (losses), net

Loss on debt extinguishment

Other, net

Total other income (expense)

Income (loss) before income taxes and equity earnings

Income tax expense (benefit)

Income (loss) before equity earnings

Equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries

Net income (loss)

Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest in subsidiary

Net income (loss) attributable to Era Group Inc.

Parent

Guarantors

  Non-guarantors
(in thousands)

Eliminations

Consolidated

$

— 

  $

202,653 

  $

55,695 

  $

(32,289)

  $

226,059 

— 

5,777 

— 

5,777 

— 

— 

(5,777)

1,617 

(13,007)

(569)

(40)

(13)

(20)

(12,032)

(17,809)

2,964 

(20,773)

17,191 

(3,582)

— 

$

(3,582)

  $

115

128,928 

28,930 

36,716 

194,574 

3,657 

(2,551)

9,185 

1,761 

(790)

— 

81 

— 

1,010 

2,062 

11,247 

(3,357)

14,604 

9,935 

24,539 

— 
24,539 

57,896 

3,571 

903 

62,370 

— 

— 

(6,675)

109 

(77)

— 

(513)

— 

(1,018)

(1,499)

(8,174)

(338)

(7,836)

— 

(7,836)

488 

(32,278)

— 

— 

(32,278)

— 

— 

(11)

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

(11)

— 

(11)

(17,191)

(17,202)

— 

  $

(7,348)

  $

(17,202)

  $

154,546 

38,278 

37,619 

230,443 

3,657 

(2,551)

(3,278)

3,487 

(13,874)

(569)

(472)

(13)

(28)

(11,469)

(14,747)

(731)

(14,016)

9,935 

(4,081)

488 

(3,593)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations for the Year Ended December 31, 2018

Revenues

Costs and expenses:

Operating

Administrative and general

Depreciation

Total costs and expenses

Gains on asset dispositions, net

Litigation settlement proceeds

Loss on impairment

Operating income (loss)

Other income (expense):

Interest income

Interest expense

Foreign currency gains, net

Gain on debt extinguishment

Other, net

Total other income (expense)

Income (loss) before income taxes and equity earnings

Income tax expense (benefit)

Income (loss) before equity earnings

Equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries

Net income (loss)

Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest in subsidiary

Net income (loss) attributable to Era Group Inc.

Parent

Guarantors

  Non-guarantors
(in thousands)

Eliminations

Consolidated

$

— 

  $

194,932 

  $

55,625 

  $

(28,881)

  $

221,676 

— 

15,017 

— 

15,017 

— 

42,000 

— 

26,983 

395 

(14,149)

(95)

— 

— 

(13,849)

13,134 

10,845 

2,289 

11,601 

13,890 

— 

122,490 

25,597 

38,553 

186,640 

1,618 

— 

(991)

8,919 

1,371 

(802)

(178)

— 

34 

425 

9,344 

(7,900)

17,244 

2,206 

19,450 

— 

57,947 

4,512 

988 

63,447 

(43)

— 

— 

(7,865)

276 

(180)

(745)

175 

20 

(454)

(8,319)

(5)

(8,314)

— 

(8,314)

464 

(28,914)

— 

— 

(28,914)

— 

— 

— 

33 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

33 

— 

33 

(11,601)

(11,568)

— 

$

13,890 

  $

19,450 

  $

(7,850)

  $

(11,568)

  $

116

151,523 

45,126 

39,541 

236,190 

1,575 

42,000 

(991)

28,070 

2,042 

(15,131)

(1,018)

175 

54 

(13,878)

14,192 

2,940 

11,252 

2,206 

13,458 

464 

13,922 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations for the Year Ended December 31, 2017

Revenues

Costs and expenses:

Operating

Administrative and general

Depreciation

Total costs and expenses

Gains on asset dispositions, net

Loss on impairment

Operating loss

Other income (expense):

Interest income

Interest expense

Foreign currency gains, net

Other, net

Total other income (expense)

Income (loss) before income taxes and equity earnings

Income tax expense (benefit)

Income (loss) before equity earnings

Equity earnings, net of tax

Equity in earnings (losses) of subsidiaries

Net income (loss)

Net income attributable to non-controlling interest in subsidiary

Net income (loss) attributable to Era Group Inc.

Parent

Guarantors

  Non-guarantors
(in thousands)

Eliminations

Consolidated

$

— 

  $

201,653 

  $

60,466 

  $

(30,798)

  $

231,321 

— 

7,887 

— 

7,887 

— 

— 

(7,887)

108 

(14,495)

256 

— 

(14,131)

(22,018)

(7,338)

(14,680)

— 

(13,481)

(28,161)

— 

133,077 

28,451 

44,756 

206,284 

4,364 

(116,586)

(116,853)

419 

(800)

330 

143 

92 

(116,761)

(112,295)

(4,466)

1,425 

— 

(3,041)

— 

65,167 

5,754 

980 

71,901 

143 

(432)

(11,724)

233 

(1,468)

(812)

(155)

(2,202)

(13,926)

(3,032)

(10,894)

— 

— 

(10,894)

454 

(30,798)

— 

— 

(30,798)

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

13,481 

13,481 

— 

$

(28,161)

  $

(3,041)

  $

(10,440)

  $

13,481 

  $

117

167,446 

42,092 

45,736 

255,274 

4,507 

(117,018)

(136,464)

760 

(16,763)

(226)

(12)

(16,241)

(152,705)

(122,665)

(30,040)

1,425 

— 

(28,615)

454 

(28,161)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Year Ended December 31, 2019

Net income (loss)

Comprehensive income (loss)

Comprehensive loss attributable to non-controlling interest in subsidiary

Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Era Group Inc.

Parent

Guarantors

  Non-guarantors
(in thousands)

Eliminations

Consolidated

$

$

(3,582)

  $

24,539 

  $

(7,836)

  $

(17,202)

  $

(3,582)

— 

(3,582)

  $

24,539 

— 
24,539 

(7,836)

488 

(17,202)

— 

  $

(7,348)

  $

(17,202)

  $

(4,081)

(4,081)

488 

(3,593)

Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Year Ended December 31, 2018

Net income (loss)

Comprehensive income (loss)

Comprehensive loss attributable to non-controlling interest in subsidiary

Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Era Group Inc.

Parent

Guarantors

  Non-guarantors
(in thousands)

Eliminations

Consolidated

$

$

13,890 

  $

19,450 

  $

(8,314)

  $

(11,568)

  $

13,890 

— 
13,890 

  $

19,450 

— 
19,450 

(8,314)

464 

(11,568)

— 

  $

(7,850)

  $

(11,568)

  $

13,458 

13,458 

464 
13,922 

Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Year Ended December 31, 2017

Net income (loss)

Other comprehensive income (loss):

Foreign currency translation adjustments

Total other comprehensive income (loss)

Comprehensive income (loss)

Comprehensive loss attributable to non-controlling interest in subsidiary

Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Era Group Inc.

Parent

Guarantors

  Non-guarantors
(in thousands)

Eliminations

Consolidated

(28,161)

  $

(3,041)

  $

(10,894)

  $

13,481 

  $

(28,615)

— 

— 

(28,161)

— 

18 

18 

(3,023)

— 

— 

— 

(10,894)

454 

(28,161)

  $

(3,023)

  $

(10,440)

  $

— 

— 

13,481 

— 
13,481 

  $

18 

18 

(28,597)

454 

(28,143)

$

$

118

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows for the Year Ended December 31, 2019

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities:

Purchases of property and equipment

Proceeds from disposition of property and equipment

Purchase of investments

Proceeds from sale of investments

Proceeds from sale of equity investees

Principal payments on notes due from equity investees

Principal payments on third party notes receivable

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities:

Payments on long-term debt

Extinguishment of long-term debt

Proceeds from share award plans

Purchase of treasury shares

Borrowings and repayments of intercompany debt

Net cash used in financing activities

Effects of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of year

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of year

Parent

Guarantors

  Non-guarantors
(in thousands)

Eliminations

Consolidated

$

75,592 

  $

(48,747)

  $

706 

  $

— 

  $

27,551 

(6,413)

13,252 

— 

— 

34,712 

2,334 

5,447 

49,332 

(1,662)

— 

— 

— 

1,077 

(585)

— 

— 

— 
— 

  $

  $

— 

— 

(5,000)

4,430 

— 

— 

— 

(570)

— 

(740)

— 

(7,707)

— 

(8,447)

— 

66,575 

48,396 
114,971 

$

119

(145)

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

(145)

(393)

— 

— 

— 

— 

(393)

(130)

38 

2,357 
2,395 

  $

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

1,077 

— 

(1,077)

— 

— 

— 

— 
— 

  $

(6,558)

13,252 

(5,000)

4,430 

34,712 

2,334 

5,447 

48,617 

(2,055)

(740)

1,077 

(7,707)

— 

(9,425)

(130)

66,613 

50,753 
117,366 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows for the Year Ended December 31, 2018

Net cash provided by operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities:

Purchases of property and equipment

Proceeds from disposition of property and equipment

Dividends received from equity investees

Principal payments on notes due from equity investees

Principal payments on third party notes receivable

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities:

Long-term debt issuance costs

Payments on long-term debt

Proceeds from share award plans

Extinguishment of long-term debt

Borrowings and repayments of intercompany debt

Net cash used in financing activities

Effects of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of year

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of year

Parent

Guarantors

  Non-guarantors
(in thousands)

Eliminations

Consolidated

$

37,596 

  $

14,639 

  $

2,119 

  $

— 

  $

54,354 

(8,867)

29,590 

1,000 

518 

934 

23,175 

— 

(1,662)

— 

— 

(39,402)

(41,064)

— 

(3,250)

3,250 
— 

  $

(349)

— 

— 

— 

— 

(349)

— 

(1,224)

— 

(1,221)

— 

(2,445)

249 

(426)

2,783 
2,357 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

(1,295)

(39,000)

893 

— 

39,402 

— 

— 

— 

— 
— 

  $

  $

(9,216)

29,590 

1,000 

518 

934 

22,826 

(1,295)

(41,886)

893 

(1,221)

— 

(43,509)

249 

33,920 

16,833 
50,753 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

37,596 

10,800 
48,396 

  $

$

120

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows for the Year Ended December 31, 2017

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities:

Purchases of property and equipment

Proceeds from disposition of property and equipment

Principal payments on notes due from equity investees

Investments in and advances to equity investees

Principal payments on third party notes receivable

Escrow deposits on like-kind exchanges, net

Net cash used in investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities:

Proceeds from Revolving Credit Facility

Payments on long-term debt

Proceeds from share award plans

Purchase of treasury shares

Borrowings and repayments of intercompany debt

Net cash used in financing activities

Effects of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of year

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of year

Parent

Guarantors

  Non-guarantors
(in thousands)

Eliminations

Consolidated

$

(14,706)

  $

32,601 

  $

2,201 

  $

— 

  $

20,096 

(16,600)

9,392 

761 

(126)

169 

— 

(6,404)

8,000 

(1,526)

— 

— 

(33,216)

(26,742)

18 

(527)

3,777 
3,250 

  $

(170)

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

(170)

— 

(755)

— 

— 

— 

(755)

31 

1,307 

1,476 
2,783 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

9,000 

(43,000)

836 

(52)

33,216 

— 

— 

— 

— 
— 

  $

  $

(16,770)

9,392 

761 

(126)

169 

— 

(6,574)

17,000 

(45,281)

836 

(52)

— 

(27,497)

81 

(13,894)

30,727 
16,833 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

32 

(14,674)

25,474 
10,800 

  $

$

121

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DESCRIPTION OF THE REGISTRANT’S SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Era Group Inc. (“we,” “our,” “us,” or the “Company”) has one class of securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the

“Exchange Act”): our common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”). The following description sets forth material terms and provisions of our Common Stock.
The following summary does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the applicable provisions of our Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation (“Certificate of Incorporation”) and our Amended and Restated Bylaws (“Bylaws”), each of which is incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the
Annual Report on Form 10-K of which this Exhibit 4.3 is a part. We encourage you to read our Certificate of Incorporation and our By-Laws for additional information.

Exhibit 4.3

General

Description of Capital Stock

Our Certificate of Incorporation provides for one class of common stock and authorizes shares of one or more series of preferred stock, the rights, preferences and

privileges of which may be designated from time to time by our board of directors subject to any limitations prescribed by law.

We have authorized 60 million shares of Common Stock and 10 million shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Preferred Stock”).

Our board of directors may issue additional shares of capital stock authorized by our Certificate of Incorporation without stockholder approval, subject to obtaining

stockholder approval to the extent required by the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) or our Certificate of Incorporation.

Common Stock

Voting Rights

Holders of our Common Stock are entitled to one vote for each share held and do not have cumulative voting rights. Directors will be elected by a plurality of the
votes of the shares of Common Stock present in person or by proxy at a meeting of stockholders and voting for nominees in the election of directors. However, our Bylaws
provide for the resignation of any director who fails to receive a majority of votes cast at an annual meeting of the stockholders (assuming that the election is uncontested).
Each director is required to submit an irrevocable resignation, which resignation would become effective upon (1) that person not receiving a majority of the votes cast in an
uncontested election and (2) acceptance by the Board of that resignation. Except as otherwise required by law, holders of our Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any
amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are
entitled,  either  separately  or  together  as  a  class  with  the  holders  of  one  or  more  other  such  series,  to  vote  thereon  pursuant  to  the  Certificate  of  Incorporation.  Except  as
otherwise provided in our Certificate of Incorporation, our Bylaws or required by law, all other matters to be voted on by our stockholders must be approved by a majority of
the shares present in person or by proxy at a meeting of stockholders and entitled to vote on the subject matter.

Dividend Rights

Subject to any applicable provisions of law and the Certificate of Incorporation, holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive proportionately any dividends as may be

declared by our Board of Directors, subject to any preferential dividend rights of outstanding Preferred Stock.

Liquidation Rights

Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive proportionately our net assets available after the payment of all

debts and other liabilities and subject to the prior rights of any outstanding Preferred Stock.

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Other Rights and Preferences

Holders  of  Common  Stock  have  no  preemptive,  subscription,  redemption  or  other  conversion  rights  and  do  not  have  any  sinking  fund  provisions.  The  rights,
preferences and privileges of holders of Common Stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of Preferred Stock
which we may designate and issue in the future.

Anti-Takeover Effects of Delaware Law, Our Certificate of Incorporation and Our Bylaws

Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws contain provisions that may delay, defer or discourage another party from acquiring control of us. We expect that these
provisions, which are summarized below, will discourage coercive takeover practices or inadequate takeover bids. These provisions are also designed to encourage persons
seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with our Board of Directors, which we believe may result in an improvement of the terms of any such acquisition in favor of
our stockholders. However, they also give our Board of Directors the power to discourage acquisitions that some stockholders may favor.

Filling Vacancies on the Board of Directors.

Any vacancy on our Board of Directors, however occurring, including a vacancy resulting from an increase in the size of our Board of Directors, may only be filled by
the vote of a majority of the Board of Directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present. Any director appointed to fill a vacancy will hold office until the next
election of directors or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified.

Stockholder Action by Written Consent.

Our Certificate of Incorporation and our Bylaws provide that subject to the terms of one or more series or classes of Preferred Stock, any action required or permitted
to be taken by the stockholders of the Company must be effected at a duly called annual meeting or special meeting of stockholders of the Company and may not be effected by
any consent in writing by such stockholders.

Meetings of Stockholders.

Our  Bylaws  provide  that  only  a  majority  of  the  members  of  our  Board  of  Directors  then  in  office  or  the  Chief  Executive  Officer  may  call  special  meetings  of  the
stockholders for any purpose or purposes. Such special meetings of the stockholders shall be held at such places, within or without the State of Delaware, or, within the sole
discretion  of  the  Board  of  Directors,  and  subject  to  such  guidelines  and  procedures  as  the  Board  of  Directors  may  adopt,  by  means  of  remote  communication,  as  shall  be
specified in the respective notices or waivers of notice thereof. The ability of stockholders to call a special meeting of stockholders is specifically denied.

Advance Notice Requirements.

Our Bylaws establish an advance notice procedure for stockholders to make nominations of candidates for election as directors or to bring other business before an annual

or special meeting of our stockholders.

The Bylaws provide that any stockholder wishing to nominate persons for election as directors at, or bring other business before, an annual meeting must deliver to our
secretary a written notice of the stockholder’s intention to do so, together with certain other information regarding the stockholder (and its director nominee(s), if applicable) as
required by our Bylaws. To be timely, the stockholder’s notice must be delivered to us not later than the 90th day nor earlier than the 120th day prior to the anniversary date of
the preceding annual meeting. If the date of the annual meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after the anniversary date of the preceding annual meeting,
then to be timely, notice must be delivered to us not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the date of such annual meeting and not later than the close of
business on the later of the 90th day prior to the date of such annual meeting or, if the first public announcement of the date of such annual meeting is less than 100 days prior
to the date of such annual meeting, the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Company.

Any stockholder wishing to nominate persons for election as directors at a special meeting called for the purpose of electing directors must deliver to our secretary a written
notice (containing certain information regarding the stockholder and its nominee(s) for director as required by our Bylaws) not later than the 90th day nor earlier than the 120th
day prior to such special

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41637.00000

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
meeting or the 10th day following the date on which notice of the date of the special meeting was mailed or public disclosure of the date of the special meeting was made,
whichever first occurs.

Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws.

As required by Delaware law, any amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation must first be approved by a majority of our Board of Directors and, if required by law or
our  Certificate  of  Incorporation,  thereafter  be  approved  by  a  majority  of  the  outstanding  shares  entitled  to  vote  on  the  amendment.  Our  Bylaws  may  be  amended  by  the
affirmative vote of (i) a majority of the directors then in office, subject to any limitations set forth in the Bylaws, without further stockholder action, or (ii) the holders of at least
a majority of the voting power of the Company’s then outstanding shares entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.

Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

We are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from
engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a three-year period following the time that this stockholder becomes an interested stockholder, unless
the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. A “business combination” includes, among other things, a merger, asset or stock sale or other transaction resulting
in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. An “interested stockholder” is a person who owns 15% or more of the corporation’s outstanding stock, or an affiliate or
associate of the corporation who did own 15% or more of the corporation’s voting stock within three years prior to the determination of interested stockholder status. Under
Section 203, a business combination between a corporation and an interested stockholder is prohibited unless it satisfies one of the following conditions:

•

•

before  the  stockholder  became  interested,  the  Board  of  Directors  approved  either  the  business  combination  or  the  transaction  which  resulted  in  the  stockholder
becoming  an  interested  stockholder;  upon  consummation  of  the  transaction  which  resulted  in  the  stockholder  becoming  an  interested  stockholder,  the  interested
stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the
voting stock outstanding, shares owned by persons who are directors and also officers, and employee stock plans, in some instances; or

at or after the time the stockholder became interested, the business combination was approved by the Board of Directors of the corporation and authorized at an annual
or special meeting of the stockholders by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder.

A Delaware corporation may opt out of Section 203 either with an express provision in its original certificate of incorporation or in an amendment to its certificate of
incorporation or bylaws approved by its stockholders. However, we have not opted out, and do not currently intend to opt out, of this provision. The statute could prohibit or
delay mergers or other takeover or change in control attempts and, accordingly, may discourage attempts to acquire us.

Blank Check Preferred Stock.

The Board of Directors may authorize the issuance of Preferred Stock with voting or conversion rights that could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of
the holders of the Common Stock. Issuing Preferred Stock provides flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, but could also, among
other things, have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our company and may adversely affect the market price of our Common Stock and the
voting and other rights of the holders of Common Stock.

Foreign Ownership

We are subject to the Federal Aviation Act, under which our helicopters may be subject to deregistration, and we may lose our ability to operate within the United States, if
persons other than citizens of the United States should come to own or control more than 25% of our voting interest. Consistent with the requirements of the Federal Aviation
Act, our Certificate of Incorporation provides that persons or entities that are not “citizens of the United States” (as defined in the Federal Aviation Act) shall not collectively
own or control more than 24.9% of the voting power of our outstanding capital stock (the “Permitted Foreign Ownership Percentage”) and that, if at any time persons that are
not citizens of the United States nevertheless collectively own or control more than the Permitted Foreign Ownership Percentage, the voting rights of our outstanding voting
capital stock in

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excess of the Permitted Foreign Ownership Percentage owned by stockholders who are not citizens of the United States shall automatically be reduced.

Listing

Our Common Stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol “ERA.”

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our Common Stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company.

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41637.00000

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
RESTRICTED STOCK GRANT AGREEMENT
PURSUANT TO THE ERA GROUP INC.
2012 SHARE INCENTIVE PLAN

Exhibit 10.30

RESTRICTED  STOCK  GRANT  AGREEMENT  (the  “Agreement”),  dated  as  of  [date]  (the  “Date  of  Grant”)  between  Era  Group  Inc.,  a  Delaware
corporation (the “Company”), and [name] (the “Grantee”).

RECITALS:

WHEREAS, the Company has adopted the Era Group Inc. 2012 Share Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have
the same meanings as in the Plan; and

WHEREAS, the Company has determined that it would be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to issue and grant to the Grantee pursuant
to the Plan, for the purpose of attracting, motivating, and retaining select employees by providing employees with an interest in the growth and development of
the Company, shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 (“Common Stock”). The Grantee desires to accept shares of the Company’s Common
Stock, upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter provided;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants hereinafter set forth, the parties agree as follows:

1. Grant of Restricted Stock. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Agreement, the Company hereby grants to the Grantee [number]
shares of restricted Common Stock (the “Restricted Stock”). Except as otherwise provided herein including, without limitation, the provisions of Paragraph 3, 7
and 8 hereof, the Grantee shall have with respect to the Restricted Stock all of the rights of a holder of Common Stock, including the right to receive dividends,
if paid, and the right to vote the Common Stock, provided, however, that, prior to the record date for any dividend, the Committee shall determine, in its sole
discretion, whether (i) the Grantee shall immediately receive the dividend on the Restricted Stock on the payment date, notwithstanding the vesting date of the
underlying Restricted Stock as set forth in Paragraph 2  below  or  (ii)  the  amount  of  the  dividend  otherwise  payable  on  the  Restricted  Stock  shall  be  held  in
escrow from and after the dividend payment date until the Restricted Stock vests, at which time the amount of the dividend shall be paid to the Grantee. The
Company shall cause the Restricted Stock to be issued in the name of the Grantee on the books and records of the Company promptly following execution of
this Agreement by the Grantee. The Grantee acknowledges that the Restricted Stock is uncertificated and shall be credited to an escrow account until the lapse
of the restriction period. Upon the request of the Company, the Grantee agrees to execute and deliver to the Company a stock power in a form satisfactory to the
Company, duly endorsed in blank, relating to the Restricted Stock.

2.

Vesting.

a. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Plan, the Restricted Stock shall vest in equal installments on each of the first
three  anniversaries  of  [date]  (each,  a  “Vesting  Date”);  provided,  however,  that,  if  any  scheduled  Vesting  Date  occurs  during  a  trading
“blackout” period with respect to the Grantee (a “Blackout Period”), then the Restricted Stock otherwise ordinarily scheduled to vest on such
Vesting Date shall instead

 
 
 
 
vest on the earlier of (a) the first day following the termination of the applicable Blackout Period, or (b) December 31 of the year in which the
Vesting Date was originally scheduled to occur.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Restricted Stock shall vest immediately, without any action on the part of the Company (or its successor as

applicable) or the Grantee if, prior to a Forfeiture (as defined below) by the Grantee, any of the following events occur:

(i)

(ii)

(iii)

(iv)

the death of the Grantee;

the Grantee becomes disabled (as defined below);

the Retirement (as defined below) of the Grantee;

the  termination  of  the  Grantee’s  employment  with  the  Company  and/or  its  subsidiaries,  as  applicable,  by  the  Company  (or  applicable
subsidiaries) without Cause (as defined below); or

(v)

the occurrence of a Change in Control of the Company, other than the Transaction (as defined below).

b. Notwithstanding  anything  in  the  Plan  to  the  contrary,  upon  the  occurrence  of  the  Transaction,  the  Restricted  Stock  shall  continue  to  vest  as
described in Paragraph 2(a) hereof and will continue to be subject to the other terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Plan. Upon the
occurrence of any of the following events following the Transaction:

(i)

(ii)

(iii)

(iv)

the death of the Grantee;

the Grantee becomes disabled (as defined below);

the Retirement (as defined below) of the Grantee;

the  termination  of  the  Grantee’s  employment  with  the  Company  and/or  its  subsidiaries,  as  applicable,  by  the  Company  (or  applicable
subsidiaries) without Cause; or

(v)

[the Grantee resigns for Good Reason (as defined below)]1,

then the Restricted Stock shall vest immediately, without any action on the part of the Company (or its successor, as applicable) or the Grantee.

c. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following respective meanings:

“Cause”  shall  mean  (i)  fraud,  embezzlement  or  gross  insubordination  on  the  part  of  the  Grantee  or  breach  by  the  Grantee  of  his  or  her
obligations under any Company policy or procedure; (ii) conviction of or the entry of a plea of nolo contendere by the Grantee for any felony; (iii) a
material breach of, or the willful failure or refusal by the Grantee to perform and discharge, his or her duties, responsibilities or obligations, as a
Grantee; or (iv) any act of moral turpitude or willful misconduct by the Grantee which (A) is intended to result in substantial personal enrichment
of  the  Grantee  at  the  expense  of  the  Company  or  any  of  its  subsidiaries  or  affiliates  or  (B)  has  a  material  adverse  impact  on  the  business  or
reputation of the Company, or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates. However, nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to alter in any way the at-
will nature of the employment relationship between Grantee and Company, unless a separate employment agreement for a fixed term is signed by
the President of the Company.

__________________________

1) To be included for participants in the Executive Severance Plan.  

 
 
 
“Disabled”  shall  mean  that  by  reason  of  injury  or  illness  (including  mental  illness)  the  Grantee  shall  be  unable  to  perform  full-time

employment duties for ninety (90) consecutive days or 120 days in a 12-month period.

“Retirement” shall mean Grantee’s formal retirement from employment with the Company under acceptable circumstances as determined by
the  Committee  in  its  sole  discretion  (which  determination  may  be  conditioned  upon,  among  other  things,  the  Grantee  entering  into  a  non-
competition agreement with the Company).

“Transaction” shall mean the consummation of the transactions contemplated by that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among

Era Group Inc., Ruby Redux Merger Sub, Inc. and Bristow Group Inc., dated as of January 23, 2020.

[“Good Reason” shall have the meaning set forth in the Era Group Inc. Senior Executive Severance Plan.]

Forfeiture. Except as set forth in Paragraph 2(a) and 2(b) hereof, upon termination of the Grantee’s employment with the Company, any unvested shares
3.
of this Restricted Stock award shall not vest and all such unvested shares shall immediately thereupon be forfeited by the Grantee to the Company without any
consideration therefor (a “Forfeiture”). 

4. Representations and Warranties of Grantee. The Grantee hereby represents and warrants to the Company as follows:

a. The Grantee has the legal right and capacity to enter into this Agreement and fully understands the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

b. The Grantee is acquiring the Restricted Stock for investment purposes only and not with a view to, or in connection with, the public distribution

thereof in violation of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

c. The  Grantee  understands  and  agrees  that  none  of  the  shares  of  the  Restricted  Stock  may  be  offered,  sold,  assigned,  transferred,  pledged,
hypothecated  or  otherwise  disposed  of  except  in  compliance  with  this  Agreement  and  the  Securities  Act  pursuant  to  an  effective  registration
statement or applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities or “blue sky” laws, and
then  only  in  accordance  with  the  Era  Group  Inc.  Insider  Trading  and  Tipping  Procedures  and  Guidelines  (the  “Insider  Trading  Policy”).  The
Grantee further understands that the Company has no obligation to cause or to refrain from causing the resale of any of the shares of the Restricted
Stock or any other shares of its capital stock to be registered under the Securities Act or to comply with any exemption under the Securities Act
which would permit the shares of the Restricted Stock to be sold or otherwise transferred by the Grantee. The Grantee further understands that,
without approval in writing pursuant to the Insider Trading Policy, no trade may be executed in any interest or position relating to the future price of
Company securities, such as a put option, call option, or short sale (which prohibition includes, among other things, establishing any “collar” or
other mechanism for the purpose of establishing a price).

5. Transferability. The Grantee shall not transfer or assign the Restricted Stock except as permitted in accordance with Section 17 of the Plan.

 
 
 
6. Withholding. All  payments  or  distributions  of  Restricted  Stock  or  with  respect  thereto  shall  be  net  of  any  amounts  required  to  be  withheld  pursuant  to
applicable federal, national, state and local tax withholding requirements. The Company may require the Grantee to remit to it an amount sufficient to satisfy
such tax withholding requirements prior to delivery of any certificates for such Restricted Stock or with respect thereto. In lieu thereof, the Company shall have
the right to withhold the amount of such taxes from any other sums due or to become due from such corporation to the Grantee as the Company shall determine.
The  Company  may,  in  its  discretion  and  subject  to  such  rules  as  it  may  adopt  (including  any  as  may  be  required  to  satisfy  applicable  tax  and/or  non-tax
regulatory requirements), permit the Grantee to pay all or a portion of the federal, national, state and local withholding taxes arising in connection with the
Restricted Stock or any payments or distributions with respect thereto by electing to have the Company withhold Common Stock having a Fair Market Value
equal to the amount to be withheld, provided that such withholding shall only be at rates required by applicable statues or regulations. Notwithstanding the
foregoing,  if  any  portion  of  the  Restricted  Stock  vests  during  a  Blackout  Period  (including  any  portion  that  vests  in  connection  with  a  termination  of  the
Grantee’s  employment),  the  Grantee’s  applicable  tax  withholding  obligation(s)  with  respect  to  such  vested  portion  shall  be  satisfied  by  the  Company
withholding Common Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount to be withheld, provided that such withholding shall only be at rates required by
applicable statues or regulations.

7. Restrictive Covenants. In consideration for the grant of Restricted Stock described above, Grantee agrees as follows:

a. Confidentiality. The Grantee shall be provided during employment and shall not disclose to anyone or make use of any trade secret or proprietary
or confidential information of the Company or an affiliate, including such trade secret or proprietary or confidential information of any customer or
other entity to which the Company owes an obligation not to disclose such information, which he or she acquires during the period of employment,
including, without limitation, records kept in the ordinary course of business, except (i) as such disclosure or use may be required or appropriate in
connection with his or her work as an employee of the Company or an affiliate, (ii) when required to do so by a court of law, governmental agency
or administrative or legislative body (including a committee thereof) with apparent jurisdiction to order him or her to divulge, disclose or make
accessible  such  information  or  (iii)  as  to  such  confidential  information  that  becomes  generally  known  to  the  public  or  trade  without  his  or  her
violation of this Paragraph 7(a). Grantee hereby agrees that prior to or immediately following his or her termination of employment he or she shall
return  all  Company  property  in  his  or  her  possession  (and  signing  a  written  acknowledgement  to  this  effect),  including  but  not  limited  to  all
computer  software,  computer  access  codes,  laptops,  cell  phones,  personal  handheld  devices,  keys  and  access  cards,  credit  cards,  vehicles,
telephones, office equipment and all copies (including drafts) of any documentation or information (however and wherever stored) relating to the
business of the Company or an affiliate.

b. Non-solicitation  of  employees  and  customers.  For  and  in  consideration  of  the  grant  of  Restricted  Stock  pursuant  to  the  terms  hereof,  and  in
recognition of the fact that the Grantee will be provided confidential information, customer goodwill, and other valuable rights of the Company or
an affiliate which must be protected, and ancillary to those agreements between the parties, the Grantee covenants and agrees that he/she will not, at
any time during his/her employment with the Company or any affiliate and for a period of twelve (12) months thereafter, in the geographic area for
which Grantee was responsible while employed by the Company or

 
 
 
 
any affiliate (specifically including the following parishes and municipalities within Louisiana in which the Company conducted business during
the  final  two  years  of  Grantee’s  employment:  Calcasieu,  Cameron,  Lafayette,  Lafourche,  Orleans,  Plaquemines,  St.  Mary,  Terrebonne  and
Vermilion), directly or indirectly, solicit or induce any customer that the Grantee serviced at the Company or any affiliate about whom the Grantee
gained confidential information during his/her employment with the Company or any affiliate in an attempt to divert, transfer, or otherwise take
away business from the Company or an affiliate. The Grantee further agrees that during his/her employment by the Company or any affiliate and
for a period of twelve (12) months thereafter, the Grantee shall not, directly or indirectly, induce, attempt to induce, or aid others in inducing, an
exempt employee of the Company or any affiliate to accept employment or affiliation with another firm or corporation engaging in such business or
activity of which the Grantee is an employee, owner, partner or consultant.

c. Non-compete. In consideration of the grant of Restricted Stock pursuant to the terms hereof, and in recognition of the fact that the Grantee will be
provided  confidential  information,  customer  goodwill,  and  other  valuable  rights  of  the  Company  or  an  affiliate  which  must  be  protected,  and
ancillary to those agreements between the parties, the Grantee covenants and agrees that he/she will not, at any time during his/her employment
with the Company or an affiliate and for a period of twelve (12) months thereafter, in the geographic area for which Grantee was responsible while
employed by the Company or any affiliate (specifically including the following parishes and municipalities within Louisiana in which the Company
conducted  business  during  the  final  two  years  of  Grantee’s  employment:  Calcasieu,  Cameron,  Lafayette,  Lafourche,  Orleans,  Plaquemines,  St.
Mary, Terrebonne and Vermilion), directly or indirectly, engage in any business or in any activity related to providing helicopter transport services,
buying, leasing or selling helicopters, and engaging in any other business for the Company which the Grantee has primary responsibility for the
Company. It is not the intent of this covenant to bar the Grantee from employment in any company in the general aviation services market, only to
limit  specific  and  direct  competition  with  the  Company.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  nothing  contained  in  this  Agreement  shall  prevent  the
Grantee from being an investor in securities of a competitor listed on a national securities exchange or actively traded over-the-counter so long as
such investments are in amounts not significant as compared to his total investments or to the aggregate of the outstanding securities of the issuer of
the same class or issue of the specific securities involved.

8. Restrictive Covenant Breach. The Company may cancel, rescind, suspend, withhold or otherwise limit or restrict all grants of Restricted Stock under this
Agreement at any time that the Grantee is not in compliance with subdivisions b and/or c of Paragraph 7 above. If the Grantee chooses to violate subdivisions b
and/or c of Paragraph 7 above, the Company shall be entitled to receive from Grantee all vested Restricted Stock previously issued to the Grantee under this
Agreement, and if Grantee has sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of the vested Restricted Stock, the Grantee shall immediately pay to the Company the
Fair Market Value of such Common Stock on the date(s) such Restricted Stock vested, without regard to any taxes that may have been deducted from such
amount. To the extent that the Company is required to seek enforcement of the provisions of Paragraph 7(b) and / or 7(c) above, the Company shall be entitled
to an award of attorney fees should it prevail in any such action

9. Scope.  The  Company  and  the  Grantee  agree  that  the  duration  and  geographic  scope  of  the  Restrictive  Covenant  provision  set  forth  in  Paragraph  7  are
reasonable. In the event that any court of competent

 
 
 
 
jurisdiction determines that the duration or the geographic scope, or both, are unreasonable and that such provision is to that extent unenforceable, the Company
and  the  Grantee  agree  that  the  provision  shall  remain  in  full  force  and  effect  for  the  greatest  time  period  and  in  the  greatest  area  that  would  not  render  it
unenforceable. The Company and the Grantee agree that a court of competent jurisdiction may modify the duration and geographic scope of the Restrictive
Covenants to the extent necessary to render the provision reasonable and enforceable. The Company and the Grantee intend that the Restrictive Covenants shall
be deemed to be a series of separate covenants, one for each and every county of each and every state of the United States of America and each and every
political subdivision of each and every country outside the United States of America where this provision is intended to be effective.

10. Remedies. In the event of a breach or threatened or intended breach of this Agreement, the Company shall be entitled, in addition to remedies otherwise
available to the Company at law or in equity, to a temporary restraining order and/or injunction, preliminary or final, enjoining and restraining such breach or
threatened  or  intended  breach.  The  Company  shall  be  entitled,  in  addition  to  any  damages  or  other  relief  awarded  by  the  court,  to  an  award  for  reasonable
attorney’s fees and costs incurred in such litigation.

11. Notices. Any notice required or permitted hereunder shall be deemed given only when delivered personally or when deposited in a United States Post
Office  as  certified  mail,  postage  prepaid,  addressed,  as  appropriate,  if  to  the  Grantee,  at  such  address  as  the  Company  shall  maintain  for  the  Grantee  in  its
personnel  records  or  such  other  address  as  he  may  designate  in  writing  to  the  Company,  and  if  to  the  Company,  at  818  Town  &  Country  Blvd.,  Suite  200
Houston, Texas 77024, Attention: General Counsel or such other address as the Company may designate in writing to the Grantee.

12. Entire Agreement.  This  Agreement  and  the  Plan  contain  the  entire  understanding  of  the  parties  hereto  with  respect  to  the  subject  matter  hereof  and
supersede all prior agreements, discussions and understandings (whether oral or written and whether express or implied) with respect to such subject matter.

13. Failure to Enforce Not a Waiver. The failure of the Company to enforce at any time any provision of this Agreement shall in no way be construed to be a
waiver of such provision or of any other provision hereof.

14. Tenure. The Grantee’s right to continue to serve the Company or any of its subsidiaries as an officer, employee, or otherwise, shall not be enlarged or
otherwise affected by the award hereunder.

15. Benefit and Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Company, its successors and assigns, and the
Grantee,  his  executors,  administrators,  personal  representatives  and  heirs.  In  the  event  that  any  part  of  this  Agreement  shall  be  held  to  be  invalid  or
unenforceable, the remaining parts hereof shall nevertheless continue to be valid and enforceable as though the invalid portions were not a part hereof.

16. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Texas, without giving
effect to principles and provisions thereof relating to conflict or choice of laws.

Amendment  and  Termination.  This  Agreement  may  not  be  amended  or  terminated  unless  such  amendment  or  termination  is  in  writing  and  duly

17.
executed by each of the parties hereto.

18. Counterparts.  This  Agreement  may  be  executed  in  counterparts,  each  of  which  shall  be  deemed  to  be  an  original,  but  all  of  which  together  shall
constitute but one and the same instrument.

 
 
 
 
 
19. Construction. In the event of a conflict or ambiguity between any term or provision contained herein and a term or provision of the Plan, the Plan will
govern and prevail; provided, however, that in the case of any conflict or ambiguity pertaining to a Change in Control, this Agreement will govern and prevail.
The construction of and decisions under the Plan and this Agreement are vested in the Committee, whose determinations shall be final, conclusive and binding
upon the Grantee.

 
 
 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has executed this Agreement on the date and year first above written.

Era Group Inc.

Christopher Bradshaw
President & Chief Executive Officer

The undersigned hereby accepts, and agrees to, all terms and provisions of this Agreement as of the date and year first above written.

______________________________

Name:

 
 
 
 
 
 
             
 
 
 
 
FORM OF NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR 
RESTRICTED STOCK GRANT AGREEMENT 
PURSUANT TO THE ERA GROUP INC. 
2012 SHARE INCENTIVE PLAN

Exhibit 10.31

RESTRICTED STOCK GRANT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), dated as of [•]1, (the “Date of Grant”) between Era Group Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and [•]2 (the “Grantee”).

RECITALS:

WHEREAS, the Company has adopted the Era Group Inc. 2012 Share Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein
shall have the same meanings as in the Plan; and

WHEREAS, the Company has determined that it would be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to issue and grant to the
Grantee pursuant to the Plan, and the Grantee desires to accept, shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 (“Common Stock”), upon
the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter provided.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants hereinafter set forth, the parties agree as follows:

- 1 -

DEPTS.00106

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Grant of Restricted Stock.  Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Agreement, the Company hereby grants to the

1.
Grantee [•]3 shares of restricted Common Stock (the “Restricted Stock”). Except as otherwise provided herein including, without limitation, the
provisions of Paragraph 3 hereof, the Grantee shall have with respect to the Restricted Stock all of the rights of a holder of Common Stock,
including the right to receive dividends, if paid, and the right to vote the Common Stock, provided, however, that, prior to the record date for any
dividend, the Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion, whether (i) the Grantee shall immediately receive the dividend on the Restricted
Stock on the payment date, notwithstanding the vesting date of the underlying Restricted Stock as set forth in Paragraph 2 below or (ii) the amount
of the dividend otherwise payable on the Restricted Stock shall be held in escrow from and after the dividend payment date until the Restricted
Stock vests, at which time the amount of the dividend shall be paid to the Grantee. The Company shall cause the Restricted Stock to be issued in
the name of the Grantee on the books and records of the Company promptly following execution of this Agreement by the Grantee. The Grantee
acknowledges that the Restricted Stock is uncertificated and shall be credited to an escrow account until the lapse of the restriction period. Upon
the request of the Company, the Grantee agrees to execute and deliver to the Company a stock power in a form satisfactory to the Company, duly
endorsed in blank, relating to the Restricted Stock.
__________________________
1) Insert date. 
2) Insert non-employee director name. 
3) Insert number of shares.  

2.    Vesting.

a. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Plan the Restricted Stock shall vest [in equal installments on each of

the first four anniversaries] [as to 100% of the Restricted Stock on the first anniversary] of the Date of Grant.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Restricted Stock shall vest immediately, without any action on the part of the Company (or its

successor as applicable) or the Grantee if, prior to a Forfeiture (as defined below) by the Grantee, any of the following events occur:

(i)    the death of the Grantee;

(ii)    the Grantee becomes disabled (as defined below); or

(iii)    the occurrence of a Change in Control of the Company, other than the Transaction (as defined below).

b. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, upon the occurrence of the Transaction, the Restricted Stock shall continue to
vest as described in Paragraph 2(a) hereof and will continue to be subject to the other terms and conditions of this Agreement and
the Plan. Upon the occurrence of any of the following events on or following the Transaction:

- 2 -

DEPTS.00106

 
 
 
 
 
i. the death of the Grantee;

ii.the Grantee becomes disabled (as defined below); or

iii.the Grantee ceasing to be a director of the Company,

then the Restricted Stock shall vest immediately, without any action on the part of the Company (or its successor, as applicable) or the
Grantee.

c. As used in this Agreement,

“Disabled” shall mean that by reason of injury or illness (including mental illness) the Grantee shall be unable to perform his or her
director duties for ninety (90) consecutive days or 120 days in a 12 month period.

“Transaction” shall mean the consummation of the transactions contemplated by that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger by and
among Era Group Inc., Ruby Redux Merger Sub, Inc. and Bristow Group Inc., dated as of January 23, 2020.

3.    Forfeiture. Except as set forth in Paragraph 2(a) and 2(b) hereof, upon termination of the Grantee’s service as a director of the Company, any
unvested shares of this Restricted Stock award shall not vest and all such unvested shares shall immediately thereupon be forfeited by the Grantee
to the Company without any consideration therefor (a “Forfeiture”).

4.    Representations and Warranties of Grantee. The Grantee hereby represents and warrants to the Company as follows:

a.

The Grantee has the legal right and capacity to enter into this Agreement and fully understands the terms and conditions of this
Agreement.

b. The Grantee is acquiring the Restricted Stock for investment purposes only and not with a view to, or in connection with, the public

distribution thereof in violation of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

c. The Grantee understands and agrees that none of the shares of the Restricted Stock may be offered, sold, assigned, transferred,

pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of except in compliance with this Agreement and the Securities Act pursuant to an
effective registration statement or applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state
securities or “blue sky” laws, and then only in accordance with the Era Group Inc. Insider Trading and Tipping Policy (the “Insider
Trading Policy”). The Grantee further understands that the Company has no obligation to cause or to refrain from causing the resale
of any of the shares of the Restricted Stock or any other shares of its capital stock to be registered under the Securities Act or to
comply with any exemption under the Securities Act which would permit the shares of the Restricted Stock to be sold or otherwise
transferred by the Grantee.

- 3 -

DEPTS.00106

 
 
 
 
The Grantee further understands that, without approval in writing pursuant to the Insider Trading Policy, no trade may be executed
in any interest or position relating to the future price of Company securities, such as a put option, call option, or short sale (which
prohibition includes, among other things, establishing any “collar” or other mechanism for the purpose of establishing a price).

5.    Transferability.  The Grantee shall not transfer or assign the Restricted Stock except as permitted in accordance with Section 17 of the Plan.

6.    Notices.  Any notice required or permitted hereunder shall be deemed given only when delivered personally or when deposited in a United
States Post Office as certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed, as appropriate, if to the Grantee, at such address as the Company shall maintain for
the Grantee in its personnel records or such other address as he may designate in writing to the Company, and if to the Company, at 818 Town &
Country Blvd., Houston, Texas 77024, Attention: General Counsel or such other address as the Company may designate in writing to the Grantee.

7.    Entire Agreement.  This Agreement and the Plan contain the entire understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter
hereof and supersede all prior agreements, discussions and understandings (whether oral or written and whether express or implied) with respect to
such subject matter. If there is any inconsistency between the terms of the Plan and the terms of this Agreement, the Plan’s terms shall supersede
and replace the conflicting term of this Agreement.

8.    Failure to Enforce Not a Waiver.  The failure of the Company to enforce at any time any provision of this Agreement shall in no way be
construed to be a waiver of such provision or of any other provision hereof.

9.    Tenure.  The Grantee’s right, if any, to continue to serve as a director of the Company or any of its subsidiaries shall not be enlarged or
otherwise affected by the award hereunder or his or her designation as a participant under the Plan.

10.    Benefit and Binding Effect.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Company, its successors and
assigns, and the Grantee, his executors, administrators, personal representatives and heirs. In the event that any part of this Agreement shall be
held to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining parts hereof shall nevertheless continue to be valid and enforceable as though the invalid
portions were not a part hereof.

11.    Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware,
without giving effect to principles and provisions thereof relating to conflict or choice of laws.

12.    Amendment and Termination.  This Agreement may not be amended or terminated unless such amendment or termination is in writing and
duly executed by each of the parties hereto.

- 4 -

DEPTS.00106

 
 
 
 
13.    Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together
shall constitute but one and the same instrument.

14.    Construction. In the event of a conflict or ambiguity between any term or provision contained herein and a term or provision of the Plan, the
Plan will govern and prevail; provided, however, that in the case of any conflict or ambiguity pertaining to a Change in Control, this Agreement
will govern and prevail. The construction of and decisions under the Plan and this Agreement are vested in the Committee, whose determinations
shall be final, conclusive and binding upon the Grantee.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has executed this Agreement on the date and year first above written.

Era Group, Inc.

Christopher Bradshaw
Chief Executive Officer 

The undersigned hereby accepts, and agrees to, all terms and provisions of this Agreement as of the date and year first above written.

Name:

- 5 -

DEPTS.00106

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ERA GROUP, INC.
2012 SHARE INCENTIVE PLAN
NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR
STOCK OPTION GRANT AGREEMENT

Exhibit 10.34

THIS STOCK OPTION GRANT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) dated as of January [__], 2013 (the "Agreement Date") sets forth the agreement of Era
Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), to grant Stock Options to [•] a member of the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Non-Employee
Director") to purchase shares of the Company's common stock, par value $.01 (the "Common Stock"), on the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter
provided.

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, SEACOR Holdings, Inc. (“SEACOR”) has effected the spin-off of the Company through a distribution of all the shares of the Company’s Common
Stock to SEACOR’s shareholders, effective as of January 31, 2013;

WHEREAS, the Compensation Committee of SEACOR, acting pursuant to its authority under the SEACOR Holdings, Inc. 2007 Share Incentive Plan to make
adjustments to outstanding awards in connection with a spin-off transaction involving SEACOR, has approved the exchange of the Stock Options granted to the
Non-Employee Director to acquire shares of the common stock of SEACOR pursuant to the agreement dated as of [•] (the “Original Award”) for Stock Options to
acquire Common Stock of the Company and based upon the approval of the Company’s Board of Directors to issue Era Common Stock upon the exercise of the
Stock Options granted hereunder and pursuant to the terms of this Agreement;

WHEREAS, the Company has adopted the Era Group Inc. 2012 Share Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).

WHEREAS, in exchange for Original Award, the Company is authorizing the grant of options pursuant to this Agreement and the Plan and the issuance of the
Company’s Common Stock upon the exercise of such options; and

WHEREAS, the Stock Options to be granted pursuant to this Agreement shall not be Incentive Stock Options (as defined in Section 422 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”)).

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants herein contained, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree
as follows:

SECTION 1.     GRANT OF STOCK OPTIONS AWARD. On the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Company grants to the Non-Employee
Director stock options to purchase a number of shares of Company common stock, par value $.01 (the "Common Stock") at the Exercise Price set forth below (the
“Stock Options”).

Number of Shares

[•]

Exercise Price

[•]

SECTION 2.    VESTING: The Stock Options shall vest and become exercisable upon the earlier of: (A) the first anniversary of the date of the Original Award
and (B) the date of the first annual meeting of the

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
stockholders of SEACOR after the date of the Original Award, provided that the Non-Employee Director is then serving as a director of the Company on such
date.

SECTION  3.       VESTING  ACCELERATOR:  The  Stock  Options  shall  become  100%  vested  and  immediately  exercisable  in  the  event  of  (A)  a  Change  in
Control or (B) the termination of the service of a Non-Employee Director by reason of Disability, Death, or Voluntary Retirement.

SECTION 4.    Payment of Exercise Price. The exercise price of the Stock Options, as set forth in Section 1 above, may be paid in cash or, in the discretion of
the Board, by the delivery of shares of Common Stock then owned by the Non-Employee Director (to be valued at the Fair Market Value on the date of exercise),
by the withholding of shares of Common Stock for which Stock Options are exercisable, or by a combination of these methods. The Board may prescribe any
other method of paying the exercise price that it determines to be consistent with applicable law and the purpose of the Plan.

Exhibit 10.34

SECTION 5.    Term.

(a)    In General. Subject to earlier termination as set forth herein, the Stock Options shall terminate on the tenth anniversary of the date of the Original

Award.

(b)    Termination of Directorship (failure to be nominated/elected to the Board). In the event that the service of the Non-Employee Director is terminated
by  reason  of  (x)  failure  of  the  Company  to  nominate  for  re-election  such  Non-Employee  Director  who  is  otherwise  eligible  or  (y)  the  failure  of  such  Non-
Employee Director to be re-elected by Stockholders following nomination by the Company (in either case, if such failure to be nominated/elected to the Board
was not due to Cause) or (z) the voluntary retirement of a Non-Employee Director, the Stock Options to the extent vested as of the date of such termination shall
expire on the earliest of: (xx) the expiration of the term set forth in Section 5(a) above and (yy) one (1) year after the date of such termination of service.

(c)    Termination of Directorship due to Death or Disability. In the event that the service of the Non-Employee Director is terminated by reason of death
or Disability (as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code), this Stock Options shall expire on the earliest of: (x) the expiration of the term set forth in Section 5(a)
above and (y) one (1) year after the date of such termination of service. Notwithstanding the above, in the event that the service of the Non-Employee Director is
terminated by reason of death and the Stock Options has a remaining term of less than one (1) year on such date, the term of this Stock Options shall automatically
be extended to the first anniversary of the date of death.

(d)    Termination of Directorship Due to Any Other Reason Including Cause. In the event that the service of the Non-Employee Director is terminated by
any reason other than voluntary retirement, failure to be nominated/elected to the Board without Cause, death or disability, the Stock Options shall no longer be
exercisable and shall terminate and be of no further force or effect from and after the date of such termination. For purposes of this agreement, "Cause" shall mean
the  failure  of  the  Company  to  nominate  for  re-election  such  Non-Employee  due  to  any  act  of  (x)  fraud  or  intentional  misrepresentation  or  (y)  embezzlement,
misappropriation or conversion of assets or opportunities of the Company or any subsidiary corporation or parent corporation of the Company.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exhibit 10.34

SECTION 6. ADJUSTMENT PROVISIONS; CHANGE IN CONTROL.

(a)    Adjustments.  If  there  shall  be  any  change  in  the  Common  Stock,  through  merger,  consolidation,  reorganization,  recapitalization,  stock  dividend,
stock  split,  reverse  stock  split,  split  up,  spin-off,  combination  of  shares,  exchange  of  shares,  dividend  in  kind  or  other  like  change  in  capital  structure  or
distribution (other than normal cash dividends) to stockholders of the Company, an adjustment shall be made to each of the outstanding Stock Options such that
each such Stock Options shall thereafter be exercisable for such, cash and/or other property as would have been received in respect of the Common Stock subject
to  such  Stock  Options  had  such  Stock  Options  been  exercised  in  full  immediately  prior  to  such  change  or  distribution,  and  such  an  adjustment  shall  be  made
successively each time any such change shall occur. In addition, in the event of any such change or distribution, in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of a
Non-Employee Director's rights under this Agreement, the Board will have authority to adjust, in an equitable manner, the number and kind of shares that may be
issued pursuant to this Agreement, the number and kind of shares subject to outstanding Stock Options (including unvested Stock Options), and the exercise price
applicable to outstanding Stock Options.

(b)        Change  in  Control.  In  the  event  there  is  a  Change  in  Control  of  the  Company,  all  then  outstanding  Stock  Options  shall  immediately  become
exercisable  as  the  case  may  be.  For  purposes  of  this  Section  2(b),  a  "Change  in  Control"  of  the  Company  shall  be  deemed  to  have  occurred  upon  any  of  the
following events:

(i)       A  change  in  control  of  the  direction  and  administration  of  the  Company's  business  of  a  nature  that  would  be  required  to  be  reported  in

response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"); or

(ii)    During any period of two (2) consecutive years, the individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board of Directors or any

individuals who would be "Continuing Directors" (as hereinafter defined) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof; or

(iii)    The Common Stock shall cease to be publicly traded; or

(iv)    The Board of Directors shall approve a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, and such transaction shall have been

consummated; or

(v)        The  Board  of  Directors  shall  approve  any  merger,  consolidation,  or  like  business  combination  or  reorganization  of  the  Company,  the
consummation  of  which  would  result  in  the  occurrence  of  any  event  described  in  Section  2(b)(ii)  or  (iii)  above,  and  such  transaction  shall  have  been
consummated.

(vi)    Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of the following shall constitute a Change in Control of the Company: (A) any spin-off of a division or
subsidiary of the Company to its stockholders; or (B) any event listed in (i) through (v) above that the Board determines not to be a Change in Control of the
Company.

(vii)        For  purposes  of  Section  2(b),  "Continuing  Directors"  shall  mean  (x)  the  directors  of  the  Company  in  office  on  the  Effective  Date  (as
defined below) and (y) any successor to any such director and any additional director who after the Effective Date was nominated or elected by a majority of the
Continuing Directors in office at the time of his or her nomination or election.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exhibit 10.34

(viii)        The  Board,  in  its  discretion,  may  determine  that,  upon  the  occurrence  of  a  Change  in  Control  of  the  Company,  the  Stock  Options
outstanding hereunder shall terminate within a specified number of days after notice to the holder, and such holder shall receive, with respect to each share of
Common Stock subject to such Stock Options, an amount equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of such shares of Common Stock immediately prior to the
occurrence  of  such  Change  in  Control  over  the  exercise  price  per  share  of  such  Stock  Options;  such  amount  to  be  payable  in  cash,  in  one  or  more  kinds  of
property (including the property, if any, payable in the transaction constituting the Change in Control) or in a combination thereof, as the Board, in its discretion,
shall determine. The provisions contained in the preceding sentence shall be inapplicable to Stock Options for which the date on which the Original Award was
granted was within six (6) months before the occurrence of a Change in Control if the holder of such Stock Options is subject to the reporting requirements of
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act and no exception from liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act is otherwise available to such holder.

SECTION 7. MISCELLANEOUS

(a)    Non-transferability. Stock Options granted to a Non-Employee Director shall not be transferable otherwise except by will or the laws of descent and
distribution, and Stock Options shall be exercisable, during the Non-Employee Director's lifetime, only by the Non-Employee Director. In the event of the death
of the Non-Employee Director, the Stock Options theretofore granted to him or her shall be exercisable during such period after his or her death by such Non-
Employee's representative.

(b)    Issuance of Common Stock. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company shall have no obligation to deliver any shares of
Common  Stock  under  the  Plan  or  make  any  other  distribution  of  benefits  under  this  Agreement  unless  such  delivery  or  distribution  would  comply  with  all
applicable laws (including, without limitation the Securities Act), and the applicable requirements of any securities exchange or similar entity.

(c)    Tenure. A Non-Employee Director's right, if any, to continue to serve as a director of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates shall not be

enlarged or otherwise affected by his or her designation as a participant under the Plan.

(c)    Governing Law. This Agreement and actions taken in connection herewith shall be governed and construed in accordance with the internal laws of

the State of Delaware, without giving effect to its choice-of-law provisions.

(d)    2012 Share Incentive Plan Controls. This Agreement is subject to all terms and provisions of the Plan, which are incorporated herein by reference. In
the event of any conflict, the terms and provisions of the Plan shall control over the terms and provisions of this Agreement. All capitalized terms herein shall
have the meanings given such terms by Plan unless otherwise defined herein or unless the context clearly indicated otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing and
for the avoidance of doubt, for the purposes of Section 6(a) of the Plan, as the exercise price of the stock options underlying the Original Award was at or above
100%  of  the  fair  market  value  of  SEACOR  Common  Stock  on  the  date  such  Original  Awards  were  originally  granted,  the  Stock  Options  have  been  issued  in
exchange for the Original Award and the adjustment set forth herein has preserved the intrinsic value of such Original Award, the Committee has determined that
the exercise price of the Era Stock Options shall be deemed to have been made at or above the Fair Market Value of a share of Era Common Stock on the date of
this Agreement.

(e)    Acknowledgement. The Stock Options granted under this Agreement have been granted in replacement of the Original Award. This award of Stock

Options is granted in exchange for the Original

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Award based upon the action of the Compensation Committee of SEACOR as authorized under the SEACOR Holdings, Inc. 2007 Share Incentive Plan to make
adjustments  to  outstanding  awards  in  connection  with  a  spin-off  transaction  involving  SEACOR,  and  based  upon  the  approval  of  the  Company’s  Board  of
Directors to issue Era Common Stock upon the exercise of the Stock Options granted hereunder.  In accepting these Stock Options, the Non-Employee Director
understands and acknowledges that the Non-Employee Director’s rights under this Agreement are in full satisfaction of the Non-Employee Director’s rights to the
outstanding portion of the Original Award, which is hereby cancelled and superseded.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, The Company has executed this Agreement on the day and year first above written.

Exhibit 10.34

ERA GROUP, INC.

Sten Gustafson
Chief Executive Officer

Dated: [•]

The undersigned hereby accepts, and agrees to, all terms and provisions of the foregoing Non-Employee Director Stock Option Grant Agreement.

[•]
Dated:        

 
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
SUBSIDIARIES OF ERA GROUP INC.

EXHIBIT 21.1

Subsidiary

Aeróleo Internacional LLC

Aeróleo Taxi Aéreo S/A

Era Aeroleo LLC

Era Australia, LLC

Era (BVI) Ltd.

Era DHS LLC

Era do Brazil LLC

Era Helicopters (Bahamas) Ltd.

Era Helicopteros de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V

Era Helicopters (Mexico) LLC

Era Helicopters, LLC

Era Leasing LLC

Era Med LLC

Hauser Investments Limited

Star Aviation Crewing Ltd.

Sicher Helicopters SAS

  Jurisdiction of Organization

  Delaware

  Brazil

  Delaware

  Delaware

  British Virgin Islands

  Delaware

  Delaware

  Bahamas

  Mexico

  Delaware

  Delaware

  Delaware

  Delaware

  British Virgin Islands

  British Virgin Islands

  Colombia

 
 
 
 
 
Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We  have  issued  our  reports  dated  March  5,  2020,  with  respect  to  the  consolidated  financial  statements  and  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  included  in  the  Annual
Report of Era Group Inc. on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. We consent to the incorporation by reference of said reports in the Registration Statements of
Era Group Inc. on Form S-8 (File No. 333-214402, File No. 333-187116 and File No. 333-186228) and Form S-3 (File No. 333-231879).

/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP

Houston, Texas
March 5, 2020

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Exhibit 23.2

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the following Registration Statements:

(1) Registration Statement (Form S-3 No. 333-231879) of Era Group Inc.,

(2) Registration Statements (Form S-8 No. 333-214402 and No. 333-187116) pertaining to the Era Group Inc. 2013 Employee Stock Purchase
Plan, and

(3) Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-186228) pertaining to the 2012 Share Incentive Plan of Era Group Inc.;

of our report dated March 8, 2018 (except Note 1 and Note 10, as to which the date is March 7, 2019), with respect to the consolidated statements
of operations, comprehensive income, changes in equity, and cash flows of Era Group Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2017 included in this
Annual Report (Form 10-K) of Era Group Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2019.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Houston, Texas

March 5, 2020

 
 
 
 
 
                    
 
 
 
KPMG LLP    Telephone     (514) 840-2100
600 de Maisonneuve Blvd. West    Fax    (514) 840-2187
Suite 1500, Tour KPMG    Internet    www.kpmg.ca
Montréal (Québec) H3A 0A3
Canada

Exhibit 23.3

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors
Dart Holding Company Ltd

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statement (No. 333-186228, 333-214402 and 333-187116) on Form S-8 and (No. 333-231879) on Form S-3 of
Era Group Inc. of our report dated February 27, 2019, with respect to the consolidated balance sheet of Dart Holding Company Ltd.as of December 31, 2018, and the related
consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the year then ended and the related notes, not included herein, which
report appears in the December 31, 2019 annual report on Form 10-K of Era Group Inc.

/s/ KPMG LLP

Chartered Professional Accountants, Licensed Public Accountants

March 5, 2020

Montréal, Canada

KPMG LLP is a Canadian limited liability partnership and a member firm of the KPMG
network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative
(“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity. KPMG Canada provides services to KPMG LLP.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EXHIBIT 31.1

I, Christopher S. Bradshaw, certify that:

1.

I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Era Group Inc.;

CERTIFICATION

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in

light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition,

results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules

13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that
material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during
the period in which this report is being prepared;

b) Designed  such  internal  control  over  financial  reporting,  or  caused  such  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  to  be  designed  under  our  supervision,  to
provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles;

c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the

disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter
(the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s
internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors

and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a) All  significant  deficiencies  and  material  weaknesses  in  the  design  or  operation  of  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  which  are  reasonably  likely  to

adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial

reporting.

Date:

March 5, 2020  

/s/ Christopher S. Bradshaw

Name:

Title:

Christopher S. Bradshaw

President and Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CERTIFICATION

EXHIBIT 31.2

I, Jennifer D. Whalen, certify that:

1.

I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Era Group Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in

light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition,

results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules

13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that
material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during
the period in which this report is being prepared;

b) Designed  such  internal  control  over  financial  reporting,  or  caused  such  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  to  be  designed  under  our  supervision,  to
provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles;

c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the

disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter
(the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s
internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors

and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions:

a) All  significant  deficiencies  and  material  weaknesses  in  the  design  or  operation  of  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  which  are  reasonably  likely  to

adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial

reporting.

Date:

March 5, 2020  

Name:

Title:

/s/ Jennifer Whalen

Jennifer D. Whalen

Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Accounting Officer)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CERTIFICATION
PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED BY SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

EXHIBIT 32.1

I, Christopher S. Bradshaw, as Principal Executive Officer of Era Group Inc. (the “Company”), certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted by Section 906 of the

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge:

(1)

(2)

the accompanying Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the period ending December 31, 2019 as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
(the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date:

March 5, 2020  

/s/ Christopher S. Bradshaw

Name:

Title:

Christopher S. Bradshaw

President and Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CERTIFICATION
PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED BY SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

EXHIBIT 32.2

I,  Jennifer  D.  Whalen,  as  Principal  Financial  Officer  of  Era  Group  Inc.  (the  “Company”),  certify,  pursuant  to  18  U.S.C.  §  1350,  as  adopted  by  Section  906  of  the

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge:

(1)

(2)

the accompanying Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the period ending December 31, 2019 as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
(the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date:

March 5, 2020  

Name:

Title:

/s/ Jennifer Whalen

Jennifer D. Whalen

Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Accounting Officer)