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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K


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

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003

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 0-23158

CRONOS GLOBAL INCOME FUND XIV, L.P.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
California   94-3163375
(State or other jurisdiction of   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)    

One Front Street, Suite 925, San Francisco, California 94111
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (415) 677-8990

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

     
  Name of each exchange on
Title of each class   which registered

 
Not Applicable    

 

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

UNITS OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS


(Title of Class)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [X] . No [   ] .

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) 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.   [X]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2). Yes [   ] . No [X] .

The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant is not applicable.

Documents incorporated by Reference

      Prospectus of Cronos Global Income Fund XIV, L.P., dated December 1, 1992 included as part of Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 33-51810)

 


Table of Contents

IEA INCOME FUND IX,

Report on Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year
Ended December 31, 2003

TABLE OF CONTENTS

         
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 EXHIBIT 31.1
 EXHIBIT 31.2
 EXHIBIT 32

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PART I

Item 1. Business

     (a) General Development of Business

     The Registrant is a limited partnership organized under the laws of the State of California on July 30, 1992, for the purpose of owning and leasing marine cargo containers, special purpose containers and container-related equipment. The Registrant was initially capitalized with $100, and commenced offering its limited partnership interests to the public subsequent to December 1, 1992, pursuant to its Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 33-51810). The Registrant had no securities holders as defined by the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 as of December 31, 1992. Additionally, the Registrant was not engaged in any trade or business during the period covered by this report, as the offering broke initial impound on January 29, 1993. The offering terminated on November 30, 1993.

     The Registrant raised $59,686,180 in subscription proceeds. The following table sets forth the use of said subscription proceeds:

                 
            Percentage of
    Amount
  Gross Proceeds
Gross Subscription Proceeds
  $ 59,686,180       100.0 %
Public Offering Expenses:
               
Underwriting Commissions
  $ 5,968,618       10.0 %
Offering and Organization Expenses
  $ 1,387,438       2.3 %
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total Public Offering Expenses
  $ 7,356,056       12.3 %
 
   
 
     
 
 
Net Proceeds
  $ 52,330,124       87.7 %
Acquisition Fees
  $ 1,014,344       1.7 %
Working Capital Reserve
  $ 598,566       1.0 %
 
   
 
     
 
 
Gross Proceeds Invested in Equipment
  $ 50,717,214       85.0 %
 
   
 
     
 
 

     The general partner of the Registrant is Cronos Capital Corp. (“CCC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cronos Holdings/Investments (U.S.), Inc., a Delaware corporation. These and other affiliated companies are ultimately wholly-owned by The Cronos Group, a holding company registered in Luxembourg (the “Parent Company”) and are collectively referred to as the “Group.” The activities of the container division of the Group are managed through the Group’s subsidiary in the United Kingdom, Cronos Containers Limited (the “Leasing Company”). The Leasing Company manages the leasing operations of all equipment owned by the Group on its behalf or on behalf of other third-party container owners, including all programs organized by CCC.

     On December 1, 1992, the Leasing Company entered into a Leasing Agent Agreement with the Registrant assuming the responsibility for all container leasing activities.

     For a discussion of recent developments in the Registrant’s business, see Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Result of Operations.”

     For information concerning the containers acquired by the Registrant, see Item 2, “Properties.”

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     (b) Financial Information About Segments

     An operating segment is a component of an enterprise that engages in business activities from which it may earn revenues and incur expenses, whose operating results are regularly reviewed by the enterprise’s chief operating decision maker to make decisions about resources to be allocated to the segment and assess its performance, and about which separate financial information is available. The Leasing Company’s management operates the Registrant’s container fleet as a homogenous unit and has determined that as such it has a single reportable operating segment.

     The Registrant derives revenues from dry cargo containers and refrigerated containers. As of December 31, 2003, the Registrant operated 6,775 twenty-foot, 2,823 forty-foot and 188 forty-foot high-cube marine dry cargo containers, as well as 477 twenty-foot and 164 forty-foot marine refrigerated cargo containers. A summary of gross lease revenue earned by the Leasing Company, on behalf of the Registrant, by product, for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 follows:

                         
    2003
  2002
  2001
Dry cargo containers
  $ 2,904,414     $ 3,083,465     $ 3,595,116  
Refrigerated containers
    1,453,437       1,375,452       1,824,276  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total
  $ 4,357,851     $ 4,458,917     $ 5,419,392  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 

     Due to the Registrant’s lack of information regarding the physical location of its fleet of containers when on lease in the global shipping trade, it is impracticable to provide the geographic area information. Any attempt to separate “foreign” operations from “domestic” operations would be dependent on definitions and assumptions that are so subjective as to render the information meaningless and potentially misleading. Accordingly, the Registrant believes that it does not possess discernible geographic reporting segments as defined in SFAS 131 (“SFAS 131”), “Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information”.

     One sub-lessee of the Leasing Company, Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. (“MSC”), generated approximately 17% or $742,174 of the Leasing Company’s rental revenue earned on behalf of the Registrant during 2003. One sub-lessee of the Leasing Company, MSC, contributed approximately 15% or $822,957, and 16% or $904,779, of the Leasing Company’s rental revenue earned on behalf of the Registrant during 2002 and 2001, respectively. MSC is a private company located in Switzerland and is ranked as the second largest container liner operator in the world.

     (c) Narrative Description of Business

     (c)(1)(i) A marine cargo container is a reusable metal container designed for the efficient carriage of cargo with a minimum of exposure to loss from damage or theft. Containers are manufactured to conform to worldwide standards of container dimensions and containership fittings adopted by the International Standards Organization (“ISO”) in 1968. The standard container is either 20’ long x 8’ wide x 8’6” high (one twenty-foot equivalent unit (“TEU”), the standard unit of physical measurement in the container industry) or 40’ long x 8’ wide x 8’6” high (two TEU). Standardization of the construction, maintenance and handling of containers allows containers to be picked up, dropped off, stored and repaired efficiently throughout the world. This standardization is the foundation on which the container industry has developed.

     Standard dry cargo containers are rectangular boxes with no moving parts, other than doors, and are typically made of steel. They are constructed to carry a wide variety of cargoes ranging from heavy industrial raw materials to light-weight finished goods. Specialized containers, such as refrigerated and tank containers are utilized for the transport of temperature-sensitive goods and for the carriage of liquid cargo. Cellular palletwide containers (“CPCs”) provide shipping lines with a container with extra width for the carriage of unitized or palletized cargoes.

     One of the primary benefits of containerization has been the ability of the shipping industry to effectively lower freight rates due to the efficiencies created by standardized intermodal containers. Containers can be handled much more efficiently than loose cargo and are typically shipped via several modes of transportation, including truck, rail and ship. Containers require loading and unloading only once and remain sealed until arrival at the final destination, significantly reducing transport time, labor and handling costs and losses due to damage and theft. Efficient movement of containerized cargo between ship and shore reduces the amount of time that a ship must spend in port.

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     The logistical advantages and reduced freight rates brought about by containerization have been major catalysts for world trade growth since the late 1960’s, resulting in an increased demand for containers. The world’s container fleet has grown from an estimated 270,000 TEU in 1969 to approximately 17 million TEU by the end of 2003.

     The container leasing business is cyclical, and depends largely upon the rate of growth in the volume of world trade.

     Benefits of Leasing

     The container fleets of leasing companies represent approximately 46% of the world’s container fleet with the balance owned predominantly by shipping lines. Shipping lines, which traditionally operate on tight profit margins, often supplement their owned fleet of containers by leasing a portion of their equipment from container leasing companies and, in doing so, achieve the following financial and operational benefits:

    Leasing allows the shipping lines to utilize the equipment they need without having to make large capital expenditures;
 
    Leasing offers a shipping line an alternative source of financing in a traditionally capital-intensive industry;
 
    Leasing enables shipping lines to expand their routes and market shares at a relatively low cost without making a permanent commitment to support their new structure;
 
    Leasing allows shipping lines to respond to changing seasonal and trade route demands, thereby optimizing their capital investment and storage costs.

     Types of Leases

     On behalf of the Registrant, the Leasing Company leases the Registrant’s containers primarily to shipping lines operating in major trade routes (see Item 1(d)). Most if not all of the Registrant’s marine dry cargo containers are leased pursuant to operating leases, whereby the containers are leased to the ocean carrier on a daily basis for any desired length of time, with the flexibility of picking up and dropping off containers at various agreed upon locations around the world. Some of the Registrant’s containers may be leased pursuant to term leases, which may have durations of one to five years. Specialized containers are generally leased on longer-term leases because the higher cost, value and complexity of this equipment makes it more expensive to redeliver and lease out.

    Master lease. Master leases are leases under which a customer may lease a certain number of containers, as needed, under a general agreement between the lessor and the lessee. Such leases provide customers with greater flexibility by allowing customers to pick up and drop off containers where and when needed, subject to restrictions and availability, on pre-agreed terms. Master leases also define the number of containers that may be returned within each calendar month, the return locations and applicable drop-off charges. Due to the increased flexibility they offer, master leases usually command higher per-diem rates and generate more ancillary revenue (including pick-up, drop-off, handling and off-hire fees) than term leases. Ocean carriers generally use one-way leases to manage trade imbalances (where more containerized cargo moves in one direction than another) by picking up a container in one port and dropping it off at another location after one or more legs of a voyage. The commercial terms of master leases are usually negotiated annually.
 
    Term lease. Term leases are for a fixed period of time and include both long and short-term commitments, typically varying from three to five years. Term lease agreements may contain early termination penalties that apply in the event of early redelivery. In most cases, however, equipment cannot be returned prior to the expiration of the lease. Term leases provide greater revenue stability to the lessor, but at lower lease rates than master leases. Ocean carriers use term leases to lower their operating costs when they have a need for identified containers for a specified term. They differ from master leases in that they define the number of containers to be leased and the lease term.

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     The percentage of equipment on term leases as compared to master leases varies widely among leasing companies, depending upon each company’s leasing strategy regarding profit margins, operating costs and cash flows.

     Lease rates depend on several factors including a customer’s financial strength, type of lease, length of term, type and age of the equipment, equipment replacement costs, interest rates, maintenance provided, and market conditions.

     The terms and conditions of the Leasing Company’s leases provide that customers are responsible for paying all taxes and service charges arising from container use, maintaining the containers in good and safe operating condition while on lease and paying for repairs, excluding ordinary wear and tear, upon redelivery. Some leases provide for a “damage protection plan” whereby lessees, for an additional payment (which may be in the form of a higher per-diem rate), are relieved of the responsibility of paying some of the repair costs upon redelivery of the containers. The Leasing Company provides this service to selected customers. Repairs provided under such plans are carried out by the same depots, under the same procedures, as are repairs to containers not covered by such plans. Customers also are required to insure leased containers against physical damage and loss, and against third party liability for loss, damage, bodily injury or death.

     Customers

     The Registrant is not dependent upon any particular sub-lessee or group of sub-lessees of the Leasing Company. Only one sub-lessee accounted for more than 10% of the Leasing Company’s rental revenue earned on behalf of the Registrant. This sub-lessee, MSC, generated approximately 17% or $742,174 of the Leasing Company’s rental revenue earned during 2003 on behalf of the Registrant. The majority Leasing Company’s customers are billed and pay in United States dollars.

     The Leasing Company sets maximum credit limits for the Registrant’s customers, limiting the number of containers leased to each according to established credit criteria. The Leasing Company continually tracks its credit exposure to each customer. The Leasing Company’s credit committee meets quarterly to analyze the performance of the Registrant’s customers and to recommend actions to be taken in order to minimize credit risks. The Leasing Company uses specialist third party credit information services and reports prepared by local staff to assess credit applications.

     The Registrant may be subject to unexpected loss in rental revenue from sub-lessees of its containers that default under their container lease agreements with the Leasing Company. The Registrant and Leasing Company maintain insurance against loss or damage to the containers, loss of lease revenue in certain cases and costs of container recovery and repair in the event that a customer declares bankruptcy.

     Fleet Profile

     The Registrant acquired high-quality dry cargo containers manufactured to specifications that exceed ISO standards and are designed to minimize repair and operating costs.

     Dry cargo containers are the most commonly used type of container in the shipping industry. The Registrant’s dry cargo container fleet is constructed of all Corten® steel (i.e., Corten® roofs, walls, doors and undercarriage), which is a high-tensile steel yielding greater strength, damage and corrosion resistance than mild steel.

     Refrigerated containers are used to transport temperature-sensitive products, such as meat, fruit, vegetables and photographic film. All of the Registrant’s refrigerated containers have high-grade stainless steel interiors. The majority of the Registrant’s 20-foot refrigerated containers have high-grade stainless steel outer walls, while most of the Registrant’s 40-foot refrigerated containers are steel framed with aluminum outer walls to reduce weight. As with the dry cargo containers, all refrigerated containers are designed to minimize repair and maintenance and maximize damage resistance.

     The Registrant purchased its dry cargo containers from manufacturers in China, Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, and India. The Registrant’s refrigerated containers were purchased mainly from Korean manufacturers. The majority of its refrigeration units were purchased from Carrier Transicold, the primary container refrigeration unit supplier in the United States.

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     As of December 31, 2003, the Registrant owned 6,775 twenty-foot, 2,823 forty-foot and 188 forty-foot high-cube marine dry cargo containers, as well as 477 twenty-foot and 164 forty-foot marine refrigerated cargo containers. The following table sets forth the number of containers on lease, by container type and lease type as of December 31, 2003:

         
    Number of
    Containers on Lease
20-Foot Dry Cargo Containers:
       
Term Leases
    1,435  
Master Leases
    4,521  
 
   
 
 
Total on lease
    5,956  
 
   
 
 
40-Foot Dry Cargo Containers:
       
Term Leases
    429  
Master Leases
    1,832  
 
   
 
 
Total on lease
    2,261  
 
   
 
 
40-Foot High-Cube Dry Cargo Containers:
       
Term Leases
    48  
Master Leases
    122  
 
   
 
 
Total on lease
    170  
 
   
 
 
20-Foot Refrigerated Cargo Containers:
       
Term Leases
    192  
Master Leases
    220  
 
   
 
 
Total on lease
    412  
 
   
 
 
40-Foot Refrigerated Cargo Containers:
       
Term Leases
    109  
Master Leases
    29  
 
   
 
 
Total on lease
    138  
 
   
 
 

     The Leasing Company makes payments to the Registrant based upon rentals collected from customers after deducting certain operating expenses associated with the containers, such as the base management fee payable to the Leasing Company, certain expense reimbursements payable to CCC and the Leasing Company, the costs of maintenance and repairs not performed by lessees, independent agent fees and expenses, depot expenses for handling, inspection and storage, and additional insurance.

     Repair and Maintenance

     All containers are inspected and repaired when redelivered by customers, who are obligated to pay for all damage repair, excluding wear and tear, according to standardized industry guidelines. Some customers are relieved of the responsibility of paying some repair costs upon redelivery of containers, as described under “Description of Business – Lease Profile”. Depots in major port areas perform repair and maintenance that is verified by either independent surveyors or the Leasing Company’s technical and operations staff.

     Before any repair or refurbishment is authorized on older containers in the Registrant’s fleet, the Leasing Company’s technical and operations staff reviews the age, condition and type of container, and its suitability for continued leasing. The Leasing Company compares the cost of such repair or refurbishment with the prevailing market resale price that might be obtained for that container and makes the appropriate decision whether to repair or sell the container. The Leasing Company is authorized to make this decision on behalf of the Registrant and makes this decision by applying the same standards to the Registrant’s containers as to its own containers.

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     Disposition of Used Containers

     The Leasing Company estimates that the period for which a container may be used by the Registrant as a leased marine cargo container ranges from 12 to 15 years. On behalf of the Registrant, the Leasing Company disposes of used containers in a worldwide market in which buyers include wholesalers, mini-storage operations, construction companies and others. Although a used refrigerated container will command a higher price than a used dry cargo container, a dry cargo container will achieve a higher percentage of its original price. The market for used containers generally depends on new container prices, the quantity of containers targeted for disposal and the overall lease market for containers at a particular location. As the Registrant’s fleet ages, a larger proportion of its revenue and cash flow may be derived from selling its containers.

     Operations

     The Registrant’s sales and marketing operations are conducted through the Leasing Company in the United Kingdom, with support provided by area offices and dedicated agents located in San Francisco; New Jersey; Antwerp; Genoa; Gothenburg; Hamburg; Singapore; Hong Kong; Sydney; Tokyo; Taipei; Seoul; Rio de Janeiro; Shanghai and Madras.

     The Leasing Company also maintains agency relationships with approximately 20 independent agents around the world, who are generally paid a commission based upon the amount of revenues generated in the region or the number of containers that are leased from their area. The agents are located in jurisdictions where the volume of the Leasing Company’s business necessitates a presence in the area but is not sufficient to justify a fully-functioning Leasing Company office or dedicated agent. Agents provide marketing support to the area offices covering the region, together with limited operational support.

     In addition, the Leasing Company relies on the services of approximately 300 independently-owned and operated depots around the world to inspect, repair, maintain and store containers while off-hire. The Leasing Company’s area offices authorize all container movements into and out of the depot and supervise all repairs and maintenance performed by the depot. The Leasing Company’s technical staff sets the standards for repair of its owned and managed fleet throughout the world and monitors the quality of depot repair work. The depots provide a vital link to the Leasing Company’s operations, as the redelivery of a container into a depot is the point at which the container is off-hired from one customer and repaired in preparation for re-leasing to the next customer.

     The Leasing Company’s global network is integrated with its computer system and provides 24-hour communication between offices, agents and depots. The system allows the Leasing Company to manage and control the Registrant’s fleet on a global basis, providing it with the responsiveness and flexibility necessary to service the master lease market effectively. This system is an integral part of the Leasing Company’s service, as it processes information received from the various offices, generates billings to the Leasing Company’s lessees and produces a wide range of reports on all aspects of the Leasing Company’s leasing activities. The system records the life history of each container, including the length of time on and off lease and repair costs, as well as port activity trends, leasing activity and equipment data per customer. The operations and marketing data is fully interfaced with the finance and accounting system to provide revenue, cost and asset information to management and staff around the world.

     In recent years, the Leasing Company and other lessors have developed certain internet-based applications. For the Leasing Company, these applications allow customers access to make on-line product inquiries. The Leasing Company is continuing to develop its internet-based business and will introduce other internet options in the future, as soon as suitable applications are identified.

     Insurance

     The Leasing Company’s lease agreements typically require lessees to obtain insurance to cover all risks of physical damage and loss of the equipment under lease, as well as public liability and property damage insurance. However, the precise nature and amount of the insurance carried by each ocean carrier varies from lessee to lessee. In addition, the Registrant has purchased secondary insurance effective in the event that a lessee fails to have adequate primary coverage. This insurance covers liability arising out of bodily injury and/or property damage as a result of the ownership and operation of the containers, as well as insurance against loss or damage to the containers, loss of lease revenue in certain cases and cost of container recovery and repair in the event that a customer goes into bankruptcy. The Registrant believes that the nature and the amounts of its insurance are customary in the container leasing industry and subject to standard industry deductions and exclusions.

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     (c)(1)(ii) Inapplicable.

     (c)(1)(iii) Inapplicable.

     (c)(1)(iv) Inapplicable.

     (c)(1)(v) The Registrant’s containers are leased globally; therefore, seasonal fluctuations are minimal. Other economic and business factors to which the transportation industry in general and the container leasing industry in particular are subject, include fluctuations in general business conditions and fluctuations in supply and demand for equipment resulting from, among other things, obsolescence, changes in the methods or economics of a particular mode of transportation or changes in governmental regulations or safety standards.

     (c)(1)(vi) The Registrant established an initial working capital reserve of approximately 1% of subscription proceeds raised. In addition, the Registrant may reserve additional amounts from anticipated cash distributions to the partners to meet working capital requirements.

     Amounts due under master leases are calculated at the end of each month and billed approximately six to eight days thereafter. Amounts due under short-term and long-term leases are set forth in the respective lease agreements and are generally payable monthly. However, payment is normally received within 45-100 days of billing. Past due penalties are not customarily collected from lessees and, accordingly, are not generally levied by the Leasing Company against lessees of the Registrant’s containers.

     (c)(1)(vii) For the year ended December 31, 2003, one sub-lessee of the Leasing Company, MSC, accounted for approximately 17% or $742,174 of the Leasing Company’s rental revenue earned on behalf of the Registrant. The Registrant does not believe that its ongoing business is dependent upon a single customer, although the loss of one or more of its largest customers could have an adverse effect upon its business.

     (c)(1)(viii) Inapplicable.

     (c)(1)(ix) Inapplicable.

     (c)(1)(x) Competition among container leasing companies is based upon several factors, including the location and availability of inventory, lease rates, the type, quality and condition of the containers, the quality and flexibility of the service offered and the professional relationship between the customer and the lessor. Other factors include the speed with which a leasing company can prepare its containers for lease and the ease with which a lessee believes it can do business with a lessor or its local area office. Not all container leasing companies compete in the same market, as some supply only dry cargo containers and not specialized containers. In addition to dry cargo containers, refrigerated containers and tanks, the Leasing Company supplies a wide range of dry freight special containers.

     The Leasing Company, on behalf of the Registrant, competes with various container leasing companies in the markets in which it conducts business. including Transamerica Leasing, GE Seaco, Triton Container International Ltd., Textainer Group and others. Mergers and acquisitions have been a feature of the container leasing industry for over a decade and the leasing market is essentially comprised of three broad groups: the very large (in TEU terms) market leaders, GESeaCo, Textainer Group, Transamerica Leasing, Triton Container International Ltd., and Interpool Inc., which between them, with fleets of around 1 million TEU each in mid-2002, control approximately of two thirds of the total leased fleet; a middle tier of companies, which includes Cronos, possessing fleets in the 200,000 to 500,000 TEU range; and the smaller more specialized fleet operators. In recent years, several major leasing companies, as well as numerous smaller ones, have been acquired by competitors. The Leasing Company believes that the current trend toward consolidation in the container leasing industry will continue, up to a point. Ocean carriers have a tendency to support a number of lessors simultaneously in order to maximize competition and increase the number of available locations for redelivery of containers. Economies of scale, worldwide operations, diversity, size of fleet and financial strength are increasingly important to the successful operation of a container leasing business. Additionally, as containerization continues to grow, and regions such as China, South America and the Indian sub-continent generate an increasing volume of containerized cargo, customers may demand more flexibility from leasing companies regarding per-diem rates, pick-up and drop-off locations, and the availability of containers.

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     Some of the Leasing Company’s competitors with larger fleets have greater financial resources than the Leasing Company and may be more capable of offering lower per-diem rates on a larger fleet. In the Leasing Company’s experience, however, ocean carriers will generally lease containers from more than one leasing company in order to minimize dependence on a single supplier. Furthermore, by having as many suppliers as possible, the carrier is able to maximize the number of off-hires and off-hire locations available, as typically each supplier may limit the number of containers that can be off-hired by location. The advantage to the carrier is that this prevents the carrier from being burdened with an excess number of off-hired containers, which incur both storage and per-diem charges, in a low demand market.

     (c)(1)(xi) Inapplicable.

     (c)(1)(xii) Environmental Matters

     Countries that are signatories to the Montreal Protocol on the environment agreed in November 1992 to restrict the use of environmentally destructive refrigerants, banning the production (but not use) of refrigerant gases that are chlorofluorocarbon compounds (“CFCs”) beginning in January 1996. CFCs are used in the operation, insulation and manufacture of refrigerated containers. The environmental impact of CFCs has become increasingly prominent. On January 1, 2001, it became illegal for environmentally-destructive refrigerants to be handled, other than for disposal, in most member countries of the European Union. In the second quarter of 2001, the Leasing Company conducted a review of the Registrant’s refrigerated container equipment, which resulted in the recording of impairment charges on those containers using a CFC refrigerant, affecting both containers on and off-hire. The Leasing Company has implemented a disposal program for the Registrant’s impaired, refrigerated containers. This program has targeted the off-hire containers for immediate disposal. Those that are currently on lease will be disposed of when redelivered and off-hired by the lessee. These impaired, refrigerated containers may command lower prices in the used container market.

     In the past, the Leasing Company has retrofitted certain refrigerated containers with non-CFC refrigerants. The Leasing Company has decided not to retrofit any containers owned by the Registrant. In the unlikely event that retrofitting expenses should be required, the Registrant believes they would not be material to its results of operations.

     (c)(1)(xiii) The Registrant, as a limited partnership, is managed by CCC, the general partner, and accordingly does not itself have any employees. At February 29, 2004, CCC had 11 employees, consisting of 3 officers, 5 other managers and 3 clerical and staff personnel and the Leasing Company had 30 employees, consisting of 2 officers, 13 other managers, and 15 clerical and staff personnel.

     (d) Financial Information About Geographic Areas

     The Registrant’s business is not divided between foreign or domestic operations. The Registrant’s business is the leasing of containers worldwide to ocean carriers. To this extent, the Registrant’s operations are subject to the fluctuations of world economic and political conditions. Such factors may affect the pattern and levels of world trade.

     The Registrant believes that the profitability of, and risks associated with, leases to foreign customers is generally the same as those of leases to domestic customers. The Leasing Company’s leases generally require all payments to be made in United States currency.

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Item 2. Properties

     As of December 31, 2003, the Registrant owned 6,775 twenty-foot, 2,823 forty-foot and 188 forty-foot high-cube marine dry cargo containers, as well as 477 twenty-foot and 164 forty-foot refrigerated cargo containers, suitable for transporting cargo by rail, sea or highway. The average age, manufacturers’ invoice cost and estimated useful life of the Registrant’s containers as of December 31, 2003 were as follows:

                         
    Estimated        
    Useful Life
  Average Age
  Average Cost
20-Foot Dry Cargo Containers
  12-15 years   11 years   $ 2,453  
40-Foot Dry Cargo Containers
  12-15 years   11 years   $ 4,156  
40-Foot High-Cube Dry Cargo Containers
  12-15 years   7 years   $ 3,535  
20-Foot Refrigerated Cargo Containers
  12-15 years   10 years   $ 17,827  
40-Foot Refrigerated Cargo Containers
  12-15 years   11 years   $ 19,791  

     Utilization by lessees of the Registrant’s containers fluctuates over time depending on the supply of and demand for containers in the Registrant’s inventory locations. During 2003, utilization of the dry cargo and refrigerated container fleet averaged 82% and 83%, respectively.

     During 2003, the Registrant disposed of 532 twenty-foot, 260 forty-foot and 7 forty-foot high-cube marine dry cargo containers, as well as 19 twenty-foot and 62 forty-foot refrigerated cargo containers at an average net loss on disposal of $440 per container.

     The Registrant embarked on a refrigerated reshell program during 2000, whereby certain forty-foot refrigerated cargo containers considered to no longer be suitable for leasing were converted to twenty-foot refrigerated containers. The reshelling involved the removal of the existing machinery from the forty-foot refrigerated containers and reassembling the machinery with new twenty-foot refrigerated container shells. During 2001 and 2000, approximately $122,000 and $106,000, respectively, were paid to Cronos Equipment (Bermuda) Ltd., an affiliate of CCC and the Leasing Company, in association with the reshelling of 27 and 23 forty-foot refrigerated containers during 2001 and 2000, respectively. These amounts included the cost of the new twenty-foot refrigerated container shells, as well as miscellaneous transportation costs. The reshell program expired at the end of 2001.

Item 3. Legal

     Inapplicable.

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

     Inapplicable.

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PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters

     (a) Market Information

     (a)(1)(i) The Registrant’s outstanding units of limited partnership interests are not traded on any market nor does an established public trading market exist for such purposes.

     (a)(1)(ii)  Inapplicable.

     (a)(1)(iii) Inapplicable.

     (a)(1)(iv) Inapplicable.

     (a)(1)(v)  Inapplicable.

     (a)(2)       Inapplicable.

     (b)           Holders

             
        Number of Unit Holders
(b)(1)   Title of Class
  as of December 31, 2003
 
  Units of limited partnership interests     4,099  

     (c) Dividends

     Inapplicable. For the distributions made by the Registrant to its limited partners, see Item 6, “Selected Financial Data.”

     (d) Securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans

     Inapplicable.

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Item 6. Selected Financial Data

                                         
    Year Ended December 31,
    2003
  2002
  2001
  2000
  1999
Net lease revenue
  $ 2,602,764     $ 2,626,409     $ 3,141,175     $ 4,332,091     $ 4,011,372  
Net (loss) income
  $ (402,067 )   $ (986,224 )   $ (2,585,671 )   $ 1,025,096     $ 878,989  
Net (loss) income per unit of limited partnership interest
  $ (0.13 )   $ (0.33 )   $ (0.90 )   $ 0.29     $ 0.23  
Cash distributions per unit of limited partnership interest
  $ 1.26     $ 1.01     $ 1.15     $ 1.32     $ 1.40  
At year-end:
                                       
Total assets
  $ 17,680,268     $ 21,989,754     $ 26,124,364     $ 32,306,756     $ 35,409,876  
Partners’ capital
  $ 17,680,268     $ 21,989,754     $ 26,124,364     $ 32,306,756     $ 35,409,876  


Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

     The following discussion of the Registrant’s historical financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the historical consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto and the other financial information appearing elsewhere in this report.

     The information in this Annual Report on Form 10-K (the “Report”) contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the securities law. These forward-looking statements reflect the current view of the Registrant and CCC, with respect to future events and financial performance and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Registrant and CCC. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this Report, including statements under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” regarding the Registrant’s strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of the Registrant are forward-looking statements.

     All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Report. The Registrant does not undertake any obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Although the Registrant and CCC believe that their plans, intentions and expectations reflected in or suggested by the forward-looking statements made in this report are reasonable, the Registrant and CCC can give no assurance that these plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved. Future economic, political and industry trends that could potentially impact revenues and profitability are difficult to predict, as well as the risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, changes in demand for leased containers, changes in global business conditions and their effect on world trade, changes within the global shipping industry, the financial strength of the shipping lines and other sub-lessees of the Registrant’s containers, fluctuations in new container prices, changes in the costs of maintaining and repairing used containers, changes in competition, changes in the ability of the Leasing Company to maintain insurance on behalf of the Registrant’s container fleet, as well as other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the Registrant’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

     The Registrant’s primary objective is to generate cash flow from operations for distribution to its limited partners and, during the initial years of operation, reinvest excess cash flow in additional equipment. Aside from the initial working capital reserve retained from gross subscription proceeds (equal to approximately 1% of such proceeds), the Registrant relies primarily on container rental receipts to meet this objective as well as to finance operating needs. No credit lines are maintained to finance working capital.

     Cash distributions from operations are allocated 5% to the general partner and 95% to the limited partners. Distributions of sales proceeds are allocated 1% to the general partner and 99% to the limited partners. This sharing arrangement will remain in place until the limited partners have received aggregate distributions in an amount equal to their capital contributions plus an 8% cumulative, compounded (daily) annual return on their adjusted capital contributions. Thereafter, all distributions will be allocated 15% to the general partner and 85% to the limited partners, pursuant to Section 6.1(b) of the Registrant’s Partnership Agreement. Cash distributions from operations to the general partner in excess of 5% of distributable cash will be considered an incentive fee and compensation to the general partner.

     From inception through February 29, 2004, the Registrant has distributed, on a cash basis, $46,908,558 in cash from operations and $2,561,530 in cash from container sales proceeds to its limited partners. This represents total cash basis distributions of $49,470,088, or 83% of the limited partners’ original invested capital. Distributions are paid monthly based primarily on each quarter’s cash flow from operations. Monthly distributions are also affected by periodic increases or decreases to working capital reserves, as deemed appropriate by the general partner. Sales proceeds distributed to its partners may fluctuate in subsequent periods, reflecting the level of container disposals.

     At December 31, 2003, the Registrant had $1,647,319 in cash and cash equivalents, a decrease of $495,331 and an increase of $26,965 from the cash balances at December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively. The Registrant invests its working capital, as well as cash flows from operations and the sale of containers that have not yet been distributed to CCC or its limited partners in money market funds.

     Cash from Operating Activities: Net cash provided by operating activities, primarily generated from the billing and collection of net lease revenue, was $2,482,375 during 2003 compared to $2,529,650 during 2002.

     Cash from Investing Activities: Net cash provided by investing activities was $929,713 and $1,141,032 in 2003 and 2002, respectively. Cash provided by investing activities during 2003 represent sales proceeds generated from the sale of rental equipment.

     Cash from Financing Activities: Net cash used in financing activities was $3,907,419 during 2003 compared to $3,148,386 during 2002. These amounts represent distributions to the Registrant’s general and limited partners. The Registrant’s continuing container disposals, as well as current market conditions, should produce lower operating results and, consequently, lower distributions to its partners in subsequent periods.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

     As part of the Registrant’s ongoing business, the Registrant does not participate in transactions that generate relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities (“SPEs”), which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes. As of December 31, 2003, the Registrant was not involved in any material unconsolidated SPE transactions.

Contractual Obligations

     As of December 31, 2003, the Registrant did not have any contractual obligations or commercial commitments.

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Results of Operations

Year Ended December 31, 2003 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2002

     Pursuant to the Limited Partnership Agreement of the Registrant, all authority to administer the business of the Registrant is vested in CCC. A Leasing Agent Agreement (“Agreement”) exists between the Registrant and the Leasing Company, whereby the Leasing Company has the responsibility to manage the leasing operations of all equipment owned by the Registrant. Pursuant to the Agreement, the Leasing Company is responsible for leasing, managing and re-leasing the Registrant’s containers to ocean carriers, and has full discretion over which ocean carriers and suppliers of goods and services it may deal with. The Leasing Agent Agreement permits the Leasing Company to use the containers owned by the Registrant, together with other containers owned or managed by the Leasing Company and its affiliates, as part of a single fleet operated without regard to ownership.

     The primary component of the Registrant’s results of operations is net lease revenue. Net lease revenue is determined by deducting direct operating expenses, management fees and reimbursed administrative expenses, from gross lease revenues billed by the Leasing Company from the leasing of the Registrant’s containers. Net lease revenue is directly related to the size, utilization and per-diem rental rates of the Registrant’s fleet. Direct operating expenses are direct costs associated with the Registrant’s containers. Direct operating expenses may be categorized as follows:

    Activity-related expenses include agents costs and depot costs such as repairs, maintenance and handling.
 
    Inventory-related expenses relate to off-hire containers and comprise storage and repositioning costs. These costs are sensitive to the quantity of off-hire containers as well as the frequency at which containers are re-delivered.
 
    Legal and other expenses include legal costs, insurance and provisions for doubtful accounts.

     At December 31, 2003, approximately 77% of the original equipment remained in the Registrant’s fleet, as compared to approximately 84% at December 31, 2002. The following chart summarizes the composition of the Registrant’s fleet (based on container type) at December 31, 2003.

                                         
    Dry Cargo   Refrigerated
    Containers
  Containers
                    40-Foot        
    20-Foot
  40-Foot
  High-Cube
  20-Foot
  40-Foot
Containers on lease:
                                       
Master lease
    4,521       1,832       122       220       29  
Term lease (1-5 years)
    1,435       429       48       192       109  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Subtotal
    5,956       2,261       170       412       138  
Containers off lease
    819       562       18       65       26  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total container fleet
    6,775       2,823       188       477       164  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
                                                                                 
    Dry Cargo   Refrigerated
    Containers
  Containers
                                    40-Foot        
    20-Foot
  40-Foot
  High-Cube
  20-Foot
  40-Foot
    Units
  %
  Units
  %
  Units
  %
  Units
  %
  Units
  %
Total purchases
    8,778       100 %     3,612       100 %     216       100 %     511       100 %     350       100 %
Less disposals
    2,003       23 %     789       22 %     28       13 %     34       7 %     186       53 %
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Remaining fleet at December 31, 2003
    6,775       77 %     2,823       78 %     188       87 %     477       93 %     164       47 %
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

     Industry observers report that global container trade grew by an estimated 8% during 2003, contributing to favorable container leasing market conditions, including high levels of demand for existing containers and a decline in off-hire container inventories. As a result, the Registrant maintained a high level of utilization for its dry cargo containers, with an average of 82% during 2003 as compared to 74% and 66% in 2002 and 2001, respectively. The current leasing market contrasts sharply with the container leasing market conditions experienced during 2001, when the demand for dry cargo containers was adversely affected by a slowdown in the global economy, contributing to lower utilization rates and higher container inventories throughout the world.

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'

     The demand for leased containers by the global container shipping industry has contributed to reducing off-hire inventories primarily in Asia, and to a lesser extent in Europe and North America. In many parts of Asia and particularly in the southeastern ports, the demand for cargo containers continued to exceed available supplies. The preference by shipping lines to employ leased containers to meet their container requirements also contributed to the strong demand for leased containers during 2003. However, in response to a favorable shipping market, there are indications of an increased willingness by the shipping lines to purchase and finance the acquisition of new containers at higher levels in the near future, which may impact the demand for leased containers.

     Favorable shipping market conditions, combined with lower equipment costs and short term leases for older containers, have also resulted in the shipping lines’ diminishing discrimination against leasing older containers, a condition that typically exists during periods of surplus container supply. The favorable 2003 shipping market, combined with the current shortfall of containers, has resulted in an increase in the production of new containers during 2003 to a level that is expected to surpass record levels of previous years. The level of new container investment in 2004 is forecasted to equal or exceed the record levels of 2003. The ultimate impact of the increase in new container production on the Registrant’s operations is not immediately known, however, an increase in new container availability may reduce the demand for the Registrant’s older containers.

     Despite the benefits derived from favorable market conditions generated by the growth in world trade and strong growth in trade volumes to and from China, the uncertainty over the financial strength of the shipping industry remains a concern. Shipping lines are faced with rising container imbalances in most major trade routes and rising operating costs associated with repositioning empty containers into high demand locations. In addition, and freight rates, despite recent increases, remaining at levels lower than those achieved during previous years. The Registrant, CCC and the Leasing Company believe these conditions favor the larger more established shipping lines, which have witnessed strong recoveries in their performance over the last few years. The Registrant, CCC and the Leasing Company continue to remain cautious, as some shipping lines reported operating losses during 2002, while others became insolvent during 2003. The financial impact of such losses for these shipping lines may eventually influence the demand for leased containers as some shipping lines may experience additional financial difficulties, consolidate or become insolvent. Although the ultimate outcome, as well as its impact on the container leasing industry and the Registrant’s results of operations, is unknown, CCC, on behalf of the Registrant, will work closely with the Leasing Company to monitor outstanding receivables, collections, and credit exposure to various existing and new customers.

     Lastly, wide-ranging concerns remain regarding recovery of the world’s major economies, performance of global stock markets, geopolitical concerns arising from uncertainties within the Middle East and Asia, as well as the recent increase in new container production, all of which may temper the current demand for leased containers.

     The Registrant’s average fleet size and utilization rates for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 were as follows:

                         
    2003
  2002
  2001
Fleet size (measured in twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU))
                       
Dry cargo containers
    13,401       14,780       15,591  
Refrigerated containers
    886       1,007       1,066  
Average utilization rates
                       
Dry cargo containers
    82 %     74 %     66 %
Refrigerated containers
    83 %     75 %     77 %

     Since December 2001, the combined per-diem rental rate for the Registrant’s fleet of dry cargo containers declined by approximately 14%, while the combined per-diem rental rate for the Registrant’s fleet of refrigerated containers declined by 25%. This decline is attributable to four main factors:

    Per-diem rental rates decreased in correlation with the reduction in new container prices;
 
    The Leasing Company converted lease agreements with several shipping lines from master to long-term lease, providing greater revenue stability but at lower lease rates than those earned under master leases;
 
    The Leasing Company initiated new term leases for older equipment resulting in lower per-diem rates, while significantly reducing off-hire container inventory levels; and,