ASUR 2Q09 Passenger Traffic Down 26.76% YOY

MEXICO CITY, July 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE: ASR; BMV:ASUR), (ASUR) the first privatized airport group in Mexico and operator of Cancun Airport and eight other airports in southeast Mexico, today announced results for the three-and six-month periods ended June 30, 2009.

2Q09 Highlights(1):

• EBITDA(2) declined by 24.62% to Ps.400.90 million
  

• Total passenger traffic was down 26.76%
• Total revenues declined by 16.10%, due to declines of 17.71% in aeronautical revenues and 12.99% in non-aeronautical revenues
• Commercial revenues per passenger increased by 20.29% to Ps.59.29 per passenger
  

• Operating profit declined by 36.33%
  

• EBITDA margin was 59.10% compared with 65.78% in 2Q08
  

Passenger Traffic

For the second quarter of 2009, total passenger traffic declined year-over-year by 26.76%. International passenger traffic declined 30.62% while domestic passenger traffic declined by 21.63%.

On April 28, 2009 the World Health Organization  announced  the outbreak of  the H1N1 Influenza in Mexico. As a result, total year-over-year passenger traffic declined 2.1% in April, 50.7% in May and 28.4% in June.

The 30.62% decline in international passenger traffic resulted mainly from a decline of 31.31% in international traffic at the Cancun airport. The 21.63% decline in domestic passenger traffic resulted mainly from declines of 29.77%, 17.41%, 26.17%, 30.56% and 62.66% at the Mérida, Cancun, Veracruz, Villahermosa and Cozumel airports, respectively.  

For 1H09, total passenger traffic declined by 14.53% compared to 1H08, with domestic passenger traffic down 17.88% and international passenger traffic down 12.30%.

Consolidated Results for 2Q09

Total revenues for 2Q09 declined year-over-year by 16.10% to Ps.678.4 million. This was mainly due to declines of:

• 17.71% in revenues from aeronautical services principally as a result of the 26.76% decline in passenger traffic; and
  

• 12.99% in revenues from non-aeronautical services, principally as a result of the 11.74% decrease in commercial revenues detailed below.
  

ASUR classifies commercial revenues as those derived from the following activities: duty-free services, car rental, retail, banking and currency exchange, advertising, teleservices, non-permanent ground transportation, food and beverage, and parking lots.

Commercial revenues fell by 11.74% year-over-year during the quarter, mainly as a result of the decline in passenger traffic generated by the Influenza H1N1 outbreak during the period.  There were declines in revenues in the following activities

• 15.42% in duty-free stores;
• 2.89% in banking and currency exchange services;
• 31.96% in advertising;
• 20.48% in ground transportation;
• 5.71%  in retail operations;
• 22.99% in food and beverage;
  

• 14.41% in parking lot fees; and
• 13.25% in other revenues
  

These declines were partially offset by revenue increases of 31.85% in car rental companies and 10.90% in teleservices.

Total operating costs and expenses for 2Q09 increased 2.04% year over year, primarily as a result of increases of:

• 8.86% in cost of services, mainly reflecting a Ps.34.0 million deferred provision that was reversed in 2Q08 as a result of the personnel reorganization; and
• 5.25% in depreciation and amortization, resulting from the depreciation of new investments in fixed assets and improvements made to concession assets.
  

These increases were partially offset by the following declines:

• 6.46% in administrative expenses;
• 15.95% in concession fees paid to the Mexican government, mainly due to lower revenues (a factor in the calculation of the fee).
• 24.63% in the technical assistance fee paid to ITA, reflecting the decline in EBITDA for the quarter (a factor in the calculation of the fee).
  

Operating margin for the quarter declined to 35.86% from 47.26% in 2Q08. This was mainly the result of the 16.10% decline in revenues and the 2.04% increase in costs during the period.

Following the changes in Mexican tax law that took effect January 1, 2008, which established a new flat rate business tax (“Impuesto Empresarial a Tasa Unica”, or “IETU”) and eliminated the asset tax, the Company evaluated and reviewed its deferred assets and liabilities position under Mexican Financial Reporting Standards.

During 2Q09, ASUR’s subsidiaries that pay IETU made provisional tax payments of Ps.23.0 million.

During the quarter, ASUR recognized asset taxes for a total of Ps.8.9 million under the line item Provision for Asset Tax. We do not expect to recover  these asset taxes.

Net income for 2Q09 declined 50.84% to Ps.125.44 million from Ps.255.16 million in 2Q08. Earnings per common share for the quarter were Ps.0.4181, or earnings per ADS (EPADS) of US$0.3174 (one ADS represents ten series B common shares). This compares with earnings per share of Ps.0.8505, or EPADS of US$0.6457, for the same period last year.

Consolidated Results for 1H09

Total revenues for 1H09 declined year-over-year by 0.91% to Ps.1,663.0 million. This was mainly due to a 3.88% decline in revenues from aeronautical services as a result of the 14.53% decline in passenger traffic during the period, partially offset by the increase in rates that was approved in 1Q09. This decline in revenues from aeronautical services was partially offset by a 5.16% increase in revenues from non-aeronautical services, principally as a result of the 7.68% rise in commercial revenues detailed below.

Commercial revenues for 1H09 rose by 7.68% year-over-year, principally as a result of revenue increases in the following areas:

• 11.29% in duty-free stores;
• 9.44% in retail operations;
• 0.50% in advertising;
• 10.22% in banking and currency exchange services;
• 14.04% in teleservices;
• 32.67% in car rental companies; and
• 7.90% in other income.
  

These increases were partially offset by revenue declines in the following areas:

• 8.80% in parking lot fees;
• 5.44% in ground transportation services; and
• 0.67% in food and beverage.
  

Total operating costs and expenses for 1H09 increased by 3.47%, mainly due to the following:

• a 6.48% increase in cost of services, mainly due to a deferred provision that was reversed in 2Q08 as a result of the personnel reorganization; and
• a 5.71% increase in depreciation and amortization, resulting from the depreciation of investments in fixed assets and improvements made to concession assets.
  

This was partially offset by the following:

• a 6.83% decline in administrative expenses;
• a 2.53% decline in technical assistance costs, reflecting the corresponding decrease in EBITDA during the period; and
• a 6.26% decrease in concession fees, mainly due to lower revenues.
  

Operating margin decreased to 46.34% for 1H09, down from 48.62% for 1H08.  This was mainly the result of the 0.91% decline in revenues and the 3.47% increase in costs and expenses during the period.

Net income for 1H09 declined by 23.07% to Ps.467.16 million. Earnings per common share for the period were Ps.1.5572, or earnings per ADS (EPADS) of US$1.1822 (one ADS represents ten series B common shares).  This compares with Ps.2.0241, or EPADS of US$1.5367, for the same period last year.

Tariff Regulation

The Mexican Ministry of Communications and Transportation regulates the majority of ASUR’s activities by setting maximum rates, which represent the rates for the maximum possible revenues allowed per traffic unit at each airport.

ASUR’s regulated revenues for 1H09 were Ps.1,266.27 million, resulting in an annual average tariff per workload unit of Ps.149.55. ASUR’s regulated revenues accounted for approximately 76.14% of total income for the period.

The Mexican Ministry of Communications and Transportation reviews compliance with the maximum rates on an annual basis at the close of each year.

Balance Sheet

On June 30, 2009, Airport Facility Usage Rights and Airport Concessions represented 79.40% of the Company’s total assets, with current assets representing 11.74% and other assets representing 8.86%.

On June 30, 2009, cash and marketable securities were Ps.973.32 million. On the same date, shareholder’s equity was Ps.13,538.16 million and total liabilities were Ps.2,741.06 million, representing 83.16% and 16.84% of total assets, respectively.  Total deferred liabilities represented 71.03% of the Company’s total liabilities.

In May 2009, Aeropuerto de Cancun, S.A. de C.V., our subsidiary that operates the Cancun airport, executed three term credit facilities, consisting of a Ps.250 million three-year term credit facility from each of IXE Banco, Banco Santander and BBVA Bancomer. The facilities each have 11 equal amortizations of principal, are denominated in pesos, and charge interest at a rate based on the Tasa de Interes Intercambiaria de Equilibria, or Interbank Equilibrium Interest Rate (“TIIE”) plus 1.75% to 2.00%. Each of these facilities may be used for general corporate purposes, and we expect to use them to fund capital expenditures related to our master development plans. As of July 27, 2009, Ps.600 million had been disbursed under these facilities.

Some of these credit facilities require us and our Cancun Airport subsidiary to maintain a liquidity ratio of at least 1.25 to 1.00, an interest coverage ratio of at least 5.00 to 1.00, a ratio of liabilities to stated capital of no greater than 0.75 to 1.00, and a ratio of earnings before income, taxes, depreciation and amortization to debt of at least 2.00 to 1.00, or incur more than Ps.500 million of additional debt. If we fail to comply with these and other covenants, certain facilities restrict our ability to pay dividends to our shareholders.

To reduce ASUR’s exposure to adverse fluctuations in interest rates, management has entered into interest rate swap agreements for each of the three credit facilities, effective 3Q09, which have fixed the TIIE at between 6.21% to 6.37%.

Capital Expenditures

During the quarter, ASUR made investments of Ps.56.35 million as part of ASUR’s ongoing plan to modernize its airports pursuant to its master development plans. During 1H09, ASUR made capital investments of Ps.97.05 million.

2Q09 Earnings Conference Call

About ASUR:

Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S.A.B. de C.V. (ASUR) is a Mexican airport operator with concessions to operate, maintain and develop the airports of Cancun, Merida, Cozumel, Villahermosa, Oaxaca, Veracruz, Huatulco, Tapachula and Minatitlan in the southeast of Mexico. The Company is listed both on the NYSE in the U.S., where it trades under the symbol ASR, and on the Mexican Bolsa, where it trades under the symbol ASUR. One ADS represents ten (10) series B shares.

Some of the statements contained in this press release discuss future expectations or state other forward-looking information. Those statements are subject to risks identified in this press release and in ASUR’s filings with the SEC. Actual developments could differ significantly from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information is based on various factors and was derived using numerous assumptions. Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and, except as may be required by applicable law, we do not have an obligation to update or revise them, whether as a result of new information, future or otherwise.