UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
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, 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 0-27496
CRONOS GLOBAL INCOME FUND XVI, L.P.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| California | 94-3230380 | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
One Front Street, 15th Floor, San Francisco, California 94111
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrants telephone number, including area code (415) 677-8990
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class |
Name of each exchange on which registered |
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| Not Applicable | ||
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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
UNITS OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS
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 Registrants 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]
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 XVI, L.P., dated December 28, 1995 included as part of Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 33-98290) and supplement thereto dated February 6, 1997 | |
| Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 30, 2000, filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrants Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2000 |
CRONOS GLOBAL INCOME FUND XVI, L.P.
Report on Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year
Ended December 31, 2002
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| PAGE | ||||
PART I |
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Item 1 Description of Business |
3 | |||
Item 2 Properties |
11 | |||
Item 3 Legal Proceedings |
11 | |||
Item 4 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders |
11 | |||
PART II |
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Item 5 Market for the Registrant |
12 | |||
Item 6 Selected Financial Data |
13 | |||
Item 7 Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations |
13 | |||
Item 7A Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk |
17 | |||
Item 8 Financial Statements and Supplementary Data |
17 | |||
Item 9 Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and
Financial Disclosure |
29 | |||
PART III |
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Item 10 Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant |
30 | |||
Item 11 Executive Compensation |
32 | |||
Item 12 Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management |
33 | |||
Item 13 Certain Relationships and Related Transactions |
33 | |||
Item 14 Controls and Procedures |
33 | |||
PART IV |
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Item 15 Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K |
34 | |||
2
PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Business
(a) General Development of Business
The Registrant is a limited partnership organized under the laws of the State of California on September 1, 1995, 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 28, 1995, pursuant to its Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 33-98290). The Registrant had no securities holders as defined by the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 as of December 31, 1995. Additionally, the Registrant was not engaged in any trade or business during the period covered by the report, as the offering broke initial impound on March 29, 1996. On February 3, 1997, Cronos Capital Corp. (CCC), the general partner, suspended the offer and sale of units in the Registrant. Information concerning the suspended offer and sale of units in the Registrant is incorporated by reference to the discussion in the Supplement dated February 6, 1997 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 33-98290), dated December 28, 1995, as supplemented December 27, 1996. The offering was not resumed and terminated on December 27, 1997.
The Registrant raised $31,993,340 in subscription proceeds. The following table sets forth the use of said subscription proceeds.
| Percentage of | |||||||||
| Amount | Gross Proceeds | ||||||||
Gross Subscription Proceeds |
$ | 31,993,340 | 100.0 | % | |||||
Public Offering Expenses: |
|||||||||
Underwriting Commissions |
$ | 3,199,334 | 10.0 | % | |||||
Offering and Organization Expenses |
$ | 1,482,466 | 4.6 | % | |||||
Total Public Offering Expenses |
$ | 4,681,800 | 14.6 | % | |||||
Net Proceeds |
$ | 27,311,540 | 85.4 | % | |||||
Acquisition Fees |
$ | 1,276,220 | 4.0 | % | |||||
Working Capital Reserve |
$ | 319,933 | 1.0 | % | |||||
Unexpended Proceeds |
$ | 190,993 | 0.6 | % | |||||
Gross Proceeds Invested in Equipment |
$ | 25,524,394 | 79.8 | % | |||||
On March 30, 2000, the Registrant borrowed $3,305,600 under a term loan for the purpose of acquiring additional equipment. The registrant borrowed an additional $1,011,000 on April 28, 2000 and an additional $727,000 on May 31, 2000. The term loan was obtained from one lending source pursuant to the Registrants Partnership Agreement. The loan, due to expire in the year 2006, is scheduled to be repaid in twenty-four quarterly installments from the Registrants cash generated from operations. As of December 31, 2002, fourteen quarterly installments remained.
The general partner, CCC, is 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 Groups 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 own behalf or managed on behalf of other third-party container owners, including all programs organized by CCC.
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On October 9, 1995, 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 Registrants business, see Item 7, Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
For information concerning the containers acquired by the Registrant, see Item 2, Properties.
(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 enterprises 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 Companys management operates the Partnerships container fleet as a homogenous unit and has determined that as such it has a single reportable operating segment.
The Partnership derives revenues from h containers, refrigerated containers and tank containers. As of December 31, 2002, the Partnership operated 4,449 twenty-foot, 1,483 forty-foot and 1,740 forty-foot high-cube marine dry cargo containers, as well as 87 twenty-foot and 298 forty-foot high-cube refrigerated cargo containers, and 52 twenty-four thousand-liter tanks. A summary of gross lease revenue earned by the Leasing Company on behalf of the Registrant, by product, for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000 follows:
| 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | ||||||||||
Dry cargo containers |
$ | 2,690,436 | $ | 2,756,538 | $ | 3,228,347 | ||||||
Refrigerated containers |
1,260,091 | 1,360,471 | 1,424,639 | |||||||||
Tank containers |
134,767 | 150,950 | 156,837 | |||||||||
Total |
$ | 4,085,294 | $ | 4,267,959 | $ | 4,809,823 | ||||||
Due to the Partnerships 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.
For the year ended December 31, 2002, one single sub-lessee of the Leasing Company, APL Company Pte Ltd. (APL), generated approximately 10% or $419,635 of the Leasing Companys rental revenue earned on behalf of the Registrant. During 2001 one single sub-lessee of the Leasing Company, China Ocean Shipping Company, (COSCO) generated approximately 11% or $471,775 of the Leasing Companys rental income earned on behalf of the Registrant. One sub-lessee of the Leasing Company, COSCO, contributed approximately 12% of the Leasing Companys rental revenue earned on behalf of the Registrant during 2000.
(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 container ship 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. Dry cargo containers currently constitute approximately 88% (in TEU) of the worldwide container fleet. Refrigerated and tank containers currently constitute approximately 5% (in TEU) of the worldwide container fleet, with open-tops and other specialized containers constituting the remaining 7%.
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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 and reduces the transit time of freight moves.
The logistical advantages and reduced freight rates brought about by containerization have been major catalysts for world trade growth since the late 1960s, resulting in an increased demand for containers. The worlds container fleet has grown from an estimated 270,000 TEU in 1969 to approximately 16 million TEU by the end of 2002.
The container leasing business is cyclical, and depends largely upon the rate of growth in the volume of world trade. The container leasing industry has experienced cyclical downturns during the last sixteen years.
Benefits of Leasing
Leasing companies own approximately 44% of the worlds 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 inexpensive 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 Registrants containers primarily to shipping lines operating in major trade routes (see Item 1(d)). Most if not all of the Registrants 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 Registrants 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 short-term leases under which a customer reserves the right to 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. The commercial terms of master leases are usually negotiated annually. 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 fees (including pick-up, drop-off, handling and off-hire fees) than term leases. Master lease agreements have a duration of less than one year and include one-way, repositioning and round-trip 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. |
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| | Term lease. Term leases are for a fixed period of time and include both long and short-term commitments, with most extending 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 is not 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 long-term leases 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. |
The percentage of equipment on term leases as compared to master leases varies widely among leasing companies, depending upon each companys strategy or margins, operating costs and cash flows.
Lease rates depend on several factors including the type of lease, length of term, maintenance provided, type and age of the equipment, location and availability, and market conditions.
The terms and conditions of the Leasing Companys 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 single sub-lessee of the Leasing Company, APL, contributed more than 10% of the Leasing Companys rental revenue earned on behalf of the Registrant during 2002. This customer, APL, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Singapore-based Neptune Orient Lines. Substantially all of the customers of the Leasing Company are billed and pay in United States dollars.
The Leasing Company sets maximum credit limits for the Registrants 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 Companys credit committee meets quarterly to analyze the performance of the Registrants 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 is subject to unexpected loss in rental revenue from lessees of its containers that default under their container lease agreements with the Leasing Company.
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 Registrants 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 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 Registrants refrigerated containers have high-grade stainless steel interiors. The majority of the Registrants 20-foot refrigerated containers have high-grade stainless steel walls, while most of the Registrants 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.
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Tank containers are constructed in compliance with International Maritime Organization (IMO) standards and recommendations. The tanks purchased by the Registrant have all been IMO-1 type tanks constructed to comply with IMO recommendations which require specific pressure ratings and shell thicknesses. These tanks are designed to carry highly flammable materials, corrosives, toxics and oxidizing substances, but are also capable of carrying non-hazardous materials and foodstuffs. They have a capacity of 21,000-24,000 liters and are generally insulated and equipped with steam or electrical heating.
The Registrant purchased its dry cargo containers from manufacturers in China, South Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia, India, Italy and the United Kingdom. The Registrants 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. The Registrants tank containers were purchased mainly from United Kingdom manufacturers.
As of December 31, 2002, the Registrant owned 4,449 twenty-foot, 1,483 forty-foot and 1,740 forty-foot high-cube marine dry cargo containers, as well as 87 twenty-foot and 298 forty-foot high-cube refrigerated marine cargo containers, and 52 twenty-four thousand-liter tank containers. The following table sets forth the number of containers on lease, by container type and lease type as of December 31, 2002:
| Number of | ||||||
| Containers on Lease | ||||||
20-Foot Dry Cargo Containers: |
||||||
Term Leases |
1,446 | |||||
Master Leases |
2,396 | |||||
Total on lease |
3,842 | |||||
40-Foot Dry Cargo Containers: |
||||||
Term Leases |
663 | |||||
Master Leases |
574 | |||||
Total on lease |
1,237 | |||||
40-Foot High-Cube Dry Cargo Containers: |
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Term Leases |
915 | |||||
Master Leases |
680 | |||||
Total on lease |
1,595 | |||||
20-Foot Refrigerated Cargo Containers: |
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Term Leases |
53 | |||||
Master Leases |
32 | |||||
Total on lease |
85 | |||||
40-Foot High-Cube Refrigerated Cargo
Containers: |
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Term Leases |
214 | |||||
Master Leases |
80 | |||||
Total on lease |
294 | |||||
24,000-Liter Tank Containers: |
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Term Leases |
24 | |||||
Master Leases |
12 | |||||
Total on lease |
36 | |||||
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The Leasing Company makes payments to the Registrant based upon rentals collected from ocean carriers 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 Companys technical and operations staff.
Before any repair or refurbishment is authorized on older containers in the Registrants fleet, the Leasing Companys 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 Registrants containers as to its own containers.
Disposition of Used Containers
The Leasing Company estimates that the period for which a container may be used as a leased marine cargo container ranges from 12 to 15 years. Tank containers may generally be used for 12 to 18 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 Registrants fleet ages, a larger proportion of its revenue and cash flow may be derived from selling its containers.
Operations
The Registrants 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 Companys 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 Companys area offices authorize all container movements into and out of the depot and supervise all repairs and maintenance performed by the depot. The Leasing Companys 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 Companys 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.
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The Leasing Companys 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 Registrants 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 Companys service, as it processes information received from the various offices, generates billings to the Leasing Companys lessees and produces a wide range of reports on all aspects of the Leasing Companys 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.
Insurance
The Leasing Companys 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.
(c)(1)(ii) Inapplicable.
(c)(1)(iii) Inapplicable.
(c)(1)(iv) Inapplicable.
(c)(1)(v) The Registrants 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 Registrants containers.
(c)(1)(vii) For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, one single sub-lessee of the Leasing Company, APL, accounted for approximately 10% or $419,635 of the Leasing Companys 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.
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(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. 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 distinct groups: the very large (in TEU terms) companies, GE SeaCo, Textainer Group, Transamerica Leasing, Triton Container International Ltd. and Interpool Inc., who between them, with fleets of around 1 million TEU each in mid-2002, control approximately two thirds of the total leased fleet; a middle tier of companies 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. There appears to be an upper limit to the size of the optimum fleet, beyond which dis-economies of scale and/or barriers against further market share development become apparent. Furthermore, 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.
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 this side of its business and will introduce other internet options as suitable applications are identified.
Some of the Leasing Companys competitors 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 Companys 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 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. A portion of the Registrants equipment portfolio consists of special purpose containers, primarily refrigerated containers. All of the Registrants refrigerated containers use non-CFC refrigerant gas in the operation and insulation of the containers.
The Leasing Company has determined that a retrofit of any containers owned by the Registrant is not necessary. 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 28, 2003, CCC had 11 employees, consisting of 3 officers, 5 other managers and 3 clerical and staff personnel.
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(d) Financial Information About Geographic Areas
The Registrants business is not divided between foreign or domestic operations. The Registrants business is the leasing of containers worldwide to ocean carriers. To this extent, the Registrants 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 Companys leases generally require all payments to be made in United States currency.
Item 2. Properties
As of December 31, 2002, the Registrant owned 4,449 twenty-foot, 1,483 forty-foot and 1,740 forty-foot high-cube marine dry cargo containers, as well as 87 twenty-foot and 298 forty-foot high-cube refrigerated cargo containers, and 52 twenty-four thousand-liter tanks, suitable for transporting cargo by rail, sea or highway. The average age, manufacturers invoice cost and estimated useful life of the Registrants containers as of December 31, 2002 was as follows:
| Estimated | ||||||||||||
| Useful Life | Average Age | Average Cost | ||||||||||
20-Foot Dry Cargo Containers |
12-15 years | 6 years | $ | 2,324 | ||||||||
40-Foot Dry Cargo Containers |
12-15 years | 5 years | $ | 3,302 | ||||||||
40-Foot High-Cube Dry Cargo Containers |
12-15 years | 4 years | $ | 2,926 | ||||||||
20-Foot Refrigerated Cargo Containers |
12-15 years | 7 years | $ | 22,171 | ||||||||
40-Foot High-Cube Refrigerated Cargo
Containers |
12-15 years | 7 years | $ | 26,936 | ||||||||
24,000-Liter Tanks |
12-18 years | 7 years | $ | 26,660 | ||||||||
Utilization by lessees of the Registrants containers fluctuates over time depending on the supply of and demand for containers in the Registrants inventory locations. During 2002, utilization of the dry cargo, refrigerated and tank container fleet averaged 82%, 96% and 72%, respectively.
During 2002, the Registrant disposed of 20 twenty-foot, 3 forty-foot and 3 forty-foot high-cube marine dry cargo containers, as well as 2 twenty-foot refrigerated container, at an average net gain of $43 per container.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
Inapplicable.
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
Inapplicable.
11
PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrants Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters
| (a) | Market Information |
(a)(1)(i) The Registrants 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, 2002 | ||||
| Units of limited partnership interests | 1,734 | |||||
| (c) | Dividends |
Inapplicable. For the distributions made by the Registrant to its limited partners, see Item 6, Selected Financial Data.
12
Item 6. Selected Financial Data
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | ||||||||||||||||
Net lease revenue |
$ | 2,794,199 | $ | 2,884,037 | $ | 3,563,609 | $ | 2,661,170 | $ | 3,021,343 | ||||||||||
Net income |
$ | 671,919 | $ | 658,243 | $ | 1,432,067 | $ | 1,014,965 | $ | 1,435,413 | ||||||||||
Net income per unit of
limited partnership
interest |
$ | 0.38 | $ | 0.35 | $ | 0.82 | $ | 0.56 | $ | 0.82 | ||||||||||
Cash distributions per unit of
limited partnership
interest |
$ | 0.92 | $ | 1.15 | $ | 1.60 | $ | 1.54 | $ | 1.50 | ||||||||||
At year-end: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Total assets |
$ | 23,177,983 | $ | 24,889,490 | $ | 27,024,135 | $ | 23,627,945 | $ | 25,208,928 | ||||||||||
Partners capital |
$ | 20,226,433 | $ | 21,094,654 | $ | 22,365,835 | $ | 23,627,945 | $ | 25,208,928 | ||||||||||
Item 7. Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Registrants primary objective is to generate cash flow from operations for distribution to its limited partners. Aside from the initial working capital reserve retained from gross subscription proceeds (equal to approximately 1% of such proceeds), the Registrant relies primarily on net lease revenue receipts to meet this objective. No credit lines are maintained to finance working capital.
During 2000, the Registrant borrowed $5,043,600 under a term loan for the purpose of acquiring additional equipment. The term loan was obtained from one lending source allowing the Registrant to take advantage of equipment purchasing opportunities pursuant to the Registrants agreement. The loan, due to expire in the year 2006, is scheduled to be repaid in 14 remaining quarterly installments from the Registrants cash generated from operations with $840,600 to be paid during 2003 and $2,101,500 to be paid during the years 2004 through 2006. Additionally, as a condition to the loans initial closing, the Registrant was required to place a restricted deposit of $750,000 in an account with the lender. Interest on this deposit is remitted to the Registrant on a quarterly basis. This deposit is reflected as part of the Registrants Other Assets.
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 Registrants Partnership Agreement.
From inception through February 28, 2003, the Registrant has distributed $13,915,372 in cash from operations and $79,985 in cash from container sales proceeds to its limited partners. This represents total distributions of $13,995,357, or 44% of the limited partners original invested capital. Distributions are paid monthly based primarily on each quarters 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 fluctuate in subsequent periods reflecting the level of container disposals.
13
At December 31, 2002, the Registrant had $1,561,006 in cash and cash equivalents, an increase of $265,077 and $181,387 from cash balances at December 31, 2001 and 2000, 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 was $2,547,265 and $2,602,646 during 2002 and 2001, respectively, primarily generated from the billing and collection of net lease revenue.
Cash from Investing Activities: Net cash provided by investing activities during 2002 and 2001 included proceeds generated from the sale of rental equipment of $98,552 and $83,688, respectively.
Cash from Financing Activities: During 2002, net cash used in financing activities was $2,380,740, as compared to $2,770,024 during 2001. The net cash used by financing activities during 2002 was comprised of $1,540,140 in distributions to the Registrants general and limited partners, as well as $840,600 in repayments of term debt. In comparison, during 2001, net cash used in financing activities was $2,770,024 which was comprised of distributions to the Registrants general and limited partners, totaling $1,929,424 and the repayment of term debt totaling $840,600. The loan, due to expire in the year 2006, is scheduled to be repaid in 14 remaining quarterly installments from the Registrants cash generated from operations.
Results of Operations
Year Ended December 31, 2002 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2001
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 Registrants 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. At December 31, 2002, 98% of the original equipment remained in the Registrants fleet, compared to 99% at December 31, 2001. The following chart summarizes the composition of the Registrants fleet (based on container type) at December 31, 2002.
| Dry Cargo | Refrigerated | Tank | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Containers | Containers | Containers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40-Foot | 40-Foot | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20-Foot | 40-Foot | High-Cube | 20-Foot | High-Cube | 24,000-Liter | |||||||||||||||||||||
Containers on lease: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Master lease |
2,396 | 574 | 680 | 32 | 80 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Term lease (1-5 years) |
1,446 | 663 | 915 | 53 | 214 | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Subtotal |
3,842 | 1,237 | 1,595 | 85 | 294 | 36 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Containers off lease |
607 | 246 | 145 | 2 | 4 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total container fleet |
4,449 | 1,483 | 1,740 | 87 | 298 | 52 | ||||||||||||||||||||