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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

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

For the quarterly period ended: September 30, 2002
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: 0-24464

THE CRONOS GROUP
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
     
LUXEMBOURG
(State or other Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
  NOT APPLICABLE
(I.R.S Employer Identification No.)

16, ALLÉE MARCONI, BOITE POSTALE 260, L-2120 LUXEMBOURG
(Address of principal executive offices)(zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area codes:
(352) 453145


     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  [   ]

     The number of Common Shares outstanding as of November 12, 2002:

         
Class   Number of Shares Outstanding

 
Common
    7,364,580  

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1 — Financial Statements
Management Representation
Condensed Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Income
Condensed Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets
Condensed Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Consolidated Unaudited Statement of Shareholders’ Equity
Notes to the Condensed Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
Item 2 — Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
General
Three Months Ended September 30, 2002 Compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 2001
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2002 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2001
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Capital Resources
Item 3 — Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Item 4 — Controls and Procedures
PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1 — Legal Proceedings
Item 2 — Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds
Item 3 — Defaults Upon Senior Securities
Item 4 — Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
Item 5 — Other Information
Item 6 — Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
Signatures
Exhibit Index
Exhibit 99.1
Exhibit 99.2


Table of Contents

The Cronos Group

TABLE OF CONTENTS
             
PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION
    1  
 
Item 1 — FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
    1  
   
Management Representation
    1  
   
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
    2  
   
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
    3  
   
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
    4  
   
Consolidated Statement of Shareholders’ Equity
    5  
   
Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
    6  
 
Item 2 — MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
    14  
   
General
    14  
   
Three Months Ended September 30, 2002 Compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 2001
    15  
   
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2002 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2001
    16  
   
Liquidity and Capital Resources
    18  
   
Capital Resources
    19  
 
Item 3 — QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
    20  
 
Item 4 — CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
    20  
PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
    21  
 
Item 1 — Legal Proceedings
    21  
 
Item 2 — Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds
    24  
 
Item 3 — Defaults Upon Senior Securities
    24  
 
Item 4 — Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
    24  
 
Item 5 — Other Information
    24  
 
Item 6 — Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
    24  

 


Table of Contents

The Cronos Group

PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1 — Financial Statements

     Management Representation

     Unless the context indicates otherwise, the “Company” means The Cronos Group and, where appropriate, includes its subsidiaries and predecessors, while “Cronos” or the “Group” means The Cronos Group together with its subsidiaries and predecessors.

     The unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements included herein have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Certain information and disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations.

     These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s latest Annual Report on Form 10-K.

     This financial information reflects, in the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary to present fairly, the results for the interim periods. Such adjustments consist of only normal recurring adjustments. The results of operations for such interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

1


Table of Contents

The Cronos Group

Condensed Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Income

(US dollar amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)
                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    September 30,   September 30,
   
 
    2002   2001   2002   2001
   
 
 
 
Gross lease revenue
  $ 28,279     $ 29,798     $ 84,533     $ 91,364  
Equipment trading revenue
    27             608        
Commissions, fees and other income:
                               
- Container Equity Programs
    309       334       929       1,000  
- Unrelated parties
    679       1,366       2,624       3,653  
Realized holding gain on sale of investment
                      301  
Equity in earnings of affiliate
    169             169        
 
   
     
     
     
 
Total revenues
    29,463       31,498       88,863       96,318  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Direct operating expenses
    6,482       8,726       21,456       23,276  
Payments to managed container owners:
                               
- Container Equity Programs
    4,592       4,231       12,626       14,733  
- Other Managed Container Owners
    9,300       9,074       26,907       28,812  
Equipment trading expenses
    27             545        
Depreciation and amortization
    3,878       3,869       11,616       11,947  
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    3,434       3,339       10,204       10,173  
Interest expense
    1,531       2,043       4,834       6,437  
Recovery of related party loans
                      (6,000 )
Impairment losses
                      4,000  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Total expenses
    29,244       31,282       88,188       93,378  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Income before income taxes
    219       216       675       2,940  
Income taxes (benefit) provision
                (2,325 )     122  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Net income
    219       216       3,000       2,818  
Other comprehensive income:
                               
- unrealised holding loss on available for sale securities arising during the period
                      (150 )
- reclassification adjustment
                      (294 )
 
   
     
     
     
 
Comprehensive income
  $ 219     $ 216     $ 3,000     $ 2,374  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Basic net income per common share
  $ 0.03     $ 0.03     $ 0.41     $ 0.34  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Diluted net income per common share
  $ 0.03     $ 0.03     $ 0.40     $ 0.34  
 
   
     
     
     
 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed unaudited consolidated financial statements.

2


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The Cronos Group

Condensed Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets

(US dollar amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)
                 
    September 30,   December 31,
    2002   2001
   
 
Assets
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 6,271     $ 4,914  
Amounts due from lessees (net)
    21,592       22,825  
Amounts receivable from container owners
    8,013       8,675  
New container equipment for resale
    114       1,463  
Net investment in direct financing leases
    7,488       7,306  
Investments
    3,717        
Container equipment (net)
    134,736       150,440  
Other equipment (net)
    498       375  
Restricted cash
    493       452  
Goodwill
    11,039       11,039  
Other intangible assets
    955       1,096  
Other assets including prepayments
    16,678       17,234  
 
   
     
 
Total assets
  $ 211,594     $ 225,819  
 
   
     
 
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity
               
Amounts payable to container owners
  $ 17,909     $ 16,889  
Amounts payable to container manufacturers
    1,591       12,888  
Other amounts payable and accrued expenses
    11,886       13,020  
Debt and capital lease obligations
    104,691       107,920  
Current and deferred income taxes
    5,365       6,912  
Deferred income and unamortized acquisition fees
    5,673       6,711  
 
   
     
 
Total liabilities
    147,115       164,340  
 
   
     
 
Shareholders’ equity
               
Common shares (2002: 7,364,580 shares, 2001: 9,158,378 shares)
    14,729       18,317  
Additional paid-in capital
    47,434       49,846  
Common shares held in treasury (1,793,798 shares)
          (6,000 )
Restricted retained earnings
    1,832       1,832  
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)
    484       (2,516 )
 
   
     
 
Total shareholders’ equity
    64,479       61,479  
 
   
     
 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 211,594     $ 225,819  
 
   
     
 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed unaudited consolidated financial statements.

3


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The Cronos Group

Condensed Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(US dollar amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)
                 
    Nine Months Ended
    September 30,
   
    2002   2001
   
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
  $ 16,064     $ 10,362  
 
   
     
 
Investing activities
               
Purchase of container and other equipment
    (5,556 )     (17,954 )
Investment in direct financing leases
    (1,093 )     (2,515 )
Change in accrued equipment purchases
    (8,959 )      
Proceeds from sales of container and other equipment
    11,759       5,926  
Proceeds from sale of investment
          484  
 
   
     
 
Net cash used in investing activities
    (3,849 )     (14,059 )
 
   
     
 
Financing activities
               
Proceeds from issuance of term debt
    16,345       52,988  
Repayments of term debt and capital lease obligations
    (27,162 )     (51,904 )
Cash deposits (restricted)
    (41 )     966  
 
   
     
 
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
    (10,858 )     2,050  
 
   
     
 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    1,357       (1,647 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    4,914       6,601  
 
   
     
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 6,271     $ 4,954  
 
   
     
 
Supplementary disclosure of cash flow information:
               
Cash paid during the period for:
               
- interest
  $ 4,274     $ 6,699  
- income taxes
    434       265  
Cash received during the period for:
               
- dividends
    1,125        
- interest
    225       552  
- income taxes
    1,016       19  
Non-cash activities:
               
- container equipment acquired under capital lease
    6,962       3,860  
- other fixed assets acquired under capital lease
          276  
- finance lease equipment acquired under capital lease
    626        
- recovery of related party loans
          6,000  
- investment in joint venture
    4,673        

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed unaudited consolidated financial statements.

4


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The Cronos Group

Consolidated Unaudited Statement of Shareholders’ Equity

(US dollar amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)

Nine months ended September 30, 2002
                                                 
                                    Retained        
            Additional   Common   Restricted   earnings   Total
    Common   paid-in   shares held   retained   (accumulated   shareholders'
    shares   capital   in treasury   earnings   deficit)   equity
   
 
 
 
 
 
Balance, December 31, 2001
  $ 18,317     $ 49,846     $ (6,000 )   $ 1,832     $ (2,516 )   $ 61,479  
Net income
                            3,000       3,000  
Retirement and cancellation of treasury shares
    (3,588 )     (2,412 )     6,000                    
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Balance, September 30, 2002
  $ 14,729     $ 47,434     $     $ 1,832     $ 484     $ 64,479  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed unaudited consolidated financial statements.

5


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The Cronos Group

Notes to the Condensed Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

(US dollar amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)

1.    The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of The Cronos Group and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.
 
2.    Operating segment data

     In September 2002, the Group announced the establishment of a joint venture container purchase program. Prior to the inception of the joint venture, the Cronos operating segments were defined as containers managed on behalf of US Limited Partnerships, containers managed on behalf of Other Managed Container Owners, and containers owned by the Group itself. In accordance with SFAS No. 131 “Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information”, Cronos structures operating segments based on the way in which management organizes the Group for making operating decisions and assessing performance. The Group views the new joint venture as a natural extension to its US Limited Partnership programs. The joint venture will target the same container products and customer base and the operating decision making and performance assessment processes will be consistent with those used for the US Limited Partnership programs. Accordingly, the Group has combined the US Limited Partnerships and the joint venture program into a revised operating segment entitled Container Equity Programs.

Condensed segment information is provided in the tables below:
                                 
            Other                
    Container   Managed                
    Equity   Container   Owned        
    Programs   Owners   Containers   Total
   
 
 
 
Three months ended September 30, 2002
                               
Gross lease revenue
  $ 7,460     $ 12,676     $ 8,143     $ 28,279  
Operating profit before indirect items
    1,373       323       2,081       3,777  
Operating profit (loss)
    307       (860 )     1,321       768  
Segment assets
    13,315       14,131       148,712       176,158  
Three months ended September 30, 2001
                               
Gross lease revenue
  $ 8,212     $ 13,523     $ 8,063     $ 29,798  
Operating profit before indirect items
    1,551       422       1,842       3,815  
Operating profit (loss)
    473       (766 )     1,133       840  
Segment assets
    11,646       15,226       156,421       183,293  
Nine months ended September 30, 2002
                               
Gross lease revenue
  $ 21,812     $ 37,874     $ 24,847     $ 84,533  
Operating profit before indirect items
    3,786       652       6,694       11,132