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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

     
[X]   QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED JUNE 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 0-18169

IEA INCOME FUND IX, L.P.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

     
California
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  94-3069954
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
One Front Street, 15th Floor, San Francisco, California
(Address of principal executive offices)
  94111
(Zip Code)

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

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 [   ].

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
Balance Sheets
Statements of Operations
Statements of Cash Flows
Notes to Unaudited Financial Statements
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
SIGNATURES
EXHIBIT INDEX
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002


Table of Contents

IEA INCOME FUND IX, L.P.

Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarterly Period
Ended June 30, 2002

TABLE OF CONTENTS

         
        PAGE
       
PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION    
Item 1.   Financial Statements    
    Balance Sheets — June 30, 2002 and December 31, 2001 (unaudited)   4
    Statements of Operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2002 and 2001 (unaudited)   5
    Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 2002 and 2001 (unaudited)   6
    Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited)   7
Item 2.   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations   12
Item 3.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk   16
PART II — OTHER INFORMATION    
Item 6.   Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K   17

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PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

     
Item 1.   Financial Statements
 
    Presented herein are the Registrant’s balance sheets as of June 30, 2002 and December 31, 2001, statements of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2002 and 2001, and statements of cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2002 and 2001.

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IEA INCOME FUND IX, L.P.

Balance Sheets

(Unaudited)

                       
          June 30,   December 31,
          2002   2001
         
 
Assets
               
Current assets:
               
 
Cash and cash equivalents, includes $450,132 at June 30, 2002 and $477,367 at December 31, 2001 in interest-bearing accounts
  $ 489,135     $ 492,681  
 
Net lease receivables due from Leasing Company (notes 1 and 2)
    38,623       30,994  
 
   
     
 
     
Total current assets
    527,758       523,675  
 
   
     
 
Container rental equipment, at cost
    7,129,004       8,725,806  
 
Less accumulated depreciation
    5,141,520       6,004,447  
 
   
     
 
   
Net container rental equipment
    1,987,484       2,721,359  
 
   
     
 
     
Total assets
  $ 2,515,242     $ 3,245,034  
 
   
     
 
Partners’ Capital
               
Partners’ capital (deficit):
               
 
General partner
  $ (102,436 )   $ (84,404 )
 
Limited partners
    2,617,678       3,329,438  
 
   
     
 
     
Total partners’ capital
  $ 2,515,242     $ 3,245,034  
 
   
     
 

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

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IEA INCOME FUND IX, L.P.

Statements of Operations

(Unaudited)

                                     
        Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
       
 
        June 30,   June 30,   June 30,   June 30,
        2002   2001   2002   2001
       
 
 
 
Net lease revenue (notes 1 and 3)
  $ 99,435     $ 195,591     $ 202,615     $ 419,316  
Other operating expenses:
                               
 
Depreciation
    127,865       119,336       270,965       238,320  
 
Other general and administrative expenses
    14,153       17,404       28,408       38,893  
 
Net loss on disposal of equipment
    74,135       27,241       110,137       58,851  
 
   
     
     
     
 
   
(Loss) income from operations
    (116,718 )     31,610       (206,895 )     83,252  
Other income:
                               
 
Interest income
    1,415       5,314       2,978       13,278  
 
   
     
     
     
 
   
Net (loss) income
  $ (115,303 )   $ 36,924     $ (203,917 )   $ 96,530  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Allocation of net (loss) income:
                               
 
General partner
  $ (1,153 )   $ 10,210     $ (2,039 )   $ 21,541  
 
Limited partners
    (114,150 )     26,714       (201,878 )     74,989  
 
   
     
     
     
 
 
  $ (115,303 )   $ 36,924     $ (203,917 )   $ 96,530  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Limited partners’ per unit share of net (loss) income
  $ (3.36 )   $ 0.79     $ (5.94 )   $ 2.21  
 
   
     
     
     
 

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

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IEA INCOME FUND IX, L.P.

Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

                   
      Six Months Ended
     
      June 30,   June 30,
      2002   2001
     
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
  $ 194,350     $ 418,673  
Cash flows provided by investing activities:
               
 
Proceeds from sale of container rental equipment
    327,979       274,051  
Cash flows used in financing activities:
               
 
Distribution to partners
    (525,875 )     (879,172 )
 
   
     
 
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
    (3,546 )     (186,448 )
Cash and cash equivalents at January 1
    492,681       741,214  
 
   
     
 
Cash and cash equivalents at June 30
  $ 489,135     $ 554,766  
 
   
     
 

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

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IEA INCOME FUND IX, L.P.

Notes to Unaudited Financial Statements

(1)    Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

        (a)    Nature of Operations
 
             IEA Income Fund IX, L.P. (the “Partnership”) is a limited partnership organized under the laws of the State of California on June 8, 1988 for the purpose of owning and leasing marine cargo containers worldwide to ocean carriers. To this extent, the Partnership’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 Partnership 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 Partnership’s leases generally require all payments to be made in United States currency.
 
             Cronos Capital Corp. (“CCC”) is the general partner and, with its affiliate Cronos Containers Limited (the “Leasing Company”), manages the business of the Partnership. CCC and the Leasing Company also manage the container leasing business for other partnerships affiliated with CCC. The Partnership shall continue until December 31, 2009, unless sooner terminated upon the occurrence of certain events.
 
             The Partnership commenced operations on December 5, 1988, when the minimum subscription proceeds of $1,000,000 were obtained. The Partnership offered 40,000 units of limited partnership interest at $500 per unit, or $20,000,000. The offering terminated on September 11, 1989, at which time 33,992 limited partnership units had been sold.
 
        (b)    Leasing Company and Leasing Agent Agreement
 
             Pursuant to the Limited Partnership Agreement of the Partnership, all authority to administer the business of the Partnership is vested in CCC. A Leasing Agent Agreement exists between CCC and the Leasing Company, whereby the Leasing Company has the responsibility to manage the leasing operations of all equipment owned by the Partnership. Pursuant to the Agreement, the Leasing Company is responsible for leasing, managing and re-leasing the Partnership’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 Partnership, 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. Since the Leasing Agent Agreement meets the definition of an operating lease in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 13, it is accounted for as a lease under which the Partnership is lessor and the Leasing Company is lessee.
 
             The Leasing Agent Agreement generally provides that the Leasing Company will make payments to the Partnership based upon rentals collected from ocean carriers after deducting direct operating expenses and management fees to CCC. The Leasing Company leases containers to ocean carriers, generally under operating leases which are either master leases or term leases (mostly one to five years). Master leases do not specify the exact number of containers to be leased or the term that each container will remain on hire but allow the ocean carrier to pick up and drop off containers at various locations, and rentals are based upon the number of containers used and the applicable per-diem rate. Accordingly, rentals under master leases are all variable and contingent upon the number of containers used. Most containers are leased to ocean carriers under master leases; leasing agreements with fixed payment terms are not material to the financial statements. Since there are no material minimum lease rentals, no disclosure of minimum lease rentals is provided in these financial statements.

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IEA INCOME FUND IX, L.P.

Notes to Unaudited Financial Statements

        (c)    Basis of Accounting
 
             The Partnership utilizes the accrual method of accounting. Net lease revenue is recorded by the Partnership in each period based upon its leasing agent agreement with the Leasing Company. Net lease revenue is generally dependent upon operating lease rentals from operating lease agreements between the Leasing Company and its various lessees, less direct operating expenses and management fees due in respect of the containers specified in each operating lease agreement.
 
        (d)    Container Rental Equipment
 
             SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets,” was adopted by the Partnership effective January 1, 2002, without a significant impact on its financial statements. In accordance with SFAS No. 144, container rental equipment is considered to be impaired if the carrying value of the asset exceeds the expected future cash flows from related operations (undiscounted and without interest charges). If impairment is deemed to exist, the assets are written down to fair value. An analysis is prepared each quarter projecting future cash flows from container rental equipment operations. Current and projected utilization rates, per-diem rental rates, direct operating expenses, fleet size and container disposals are the primary variables utilized by the analysis. Additionally, the Partnership evaluates future cash flows and potential impairment by container type rather than for each individual container, and as a result, future losses could result for individual container dispositions due to various factors, including age, condition, suitability for continued leasing, as well as the geographical location of containers when disposed. There were no impairment charges to the carrying value of container rental equipment for the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2002 and 2001.
 
             Depreciation policies are also evaluated to determine whether subsequent events and circumstances warrant revised estimates of useful lives. Container rental equipment is depreciated using the straight-line basis. Effective June 1, 2001, the estimated depreciable life was changed from a twelve-year life to a fifteen-year life and the estimated salvage value was changed from 30% to 10% of the original equipment cost. The effect of these changes is an increase to depreciation expense of approximately $68,600 and $181,700 for the respective three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2002 and an increase of approximately $23,600 for the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2001.
 
        (e)    Use of Estimates
 
             The financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP), which requires the partnership to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
             The most significant estimates included within the financial statements are the container rental equipment estimated useful lives and residual values, and the estimate of future cash flows from container rental equipment operations, used to determine the adequacy of the carrying value of container rental equipment in accordance with SFAS No. 144. Considerable judgement is required in estimating future cash flows from container rental equipment operations. Accordingly, the estimates may not be indicative of the amounts that may be realized in future periods. As additional information becomes available in subsequent periods, reserves for the impairment of the container rental equipment carrying values may be necessary based upon changes in market and economic conditions.
 

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        (f)    Financial Statement Presentation
 
             These financial statements have been prepared without audit. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting procedures have been omitted. It is suggested that these financial statements be read in conjunction with the financial statements and accompanying notes in the Partnership’s latest annual report on Form 10-K.
 
             The interim financial statements presented herewith reflect all adjustments of a normal recurring nature which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to a fair statement of the financial condition and results of operations for the interim periods presented. The results of operations for such interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

IEA INCOME FUND IX, L.P.

Notes to Unaudited Financial Statements

(2)    Net Lease Receivables Due from Leasing Company
 
     Net lease receivables due from the Leasing Company are determined by deducting direct operating payables and accrued expenses, base management fees payable, and reimbursed administrative expenses payable to CCC and its affiliates from the rental billings earned by the Leasing Company under operating leases to ocean carriers for the containers owned by the Partnership, as well as proceeds earned from container disposals. Net lease receivables at June 30, 2002 and December 31, 2001 were as follows:

                 
    June 30,   December 31,
    2002   2001
   
 
Gross lease receivables
  $ 247,325     $ 281,929  
Less:
               
Direct operating payables and accrued expenses
    146,704       170,872  
Damage protection reserve
    5,894       8,276  
Base management fees payable
    36,973       42,086  
Reimbursed administrative expenses
    2,691       3,761  
Allowance for doubtful accounts
    16,440       25,940  
 
   
     
 
Net lease receivables
  $ 38,623     $ 30,994  
 
   
     
 

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(3)    Net Lease Revenue
 
     Net lease revenue is determined by deducting direct operating expenses, base management fees and reimbursed administrative expenses to CCC from the rental revenue earned by the Leasing Company under operating leases to ocean carriers for the containers owned by the Partnership. Net lease revenue for the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2002 and 2001 was as follows:

                                 
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
   
 
    June 30,   June 30,   June 30,   June 30,
    2002   2001   2002   2001
   
 
 
 
Rental revenue (note 4)
  $ 152,756     $ 258,736     $ 336,187     $ 565,746  
Less:
                               
Rental equipment operating expenses
    33,156       32,227       89,749       79,711  
Base management fees
    10,682       18,105       23,535       39,534  
Reimbursed administrative expenses
    9,483       12,813       20,288       27,185  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Net lease revenue
  $ 99,435     $ 195,591     $ 202,615     $ 419,316  
 
   
     
     
     
 

IEA INCOME FUND IX, L.P.

Notes to Unaudited Financial Statements

(4)    Operating Segment
 
     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. Management operates the Partnership’s container fleet as a homogenous unit and has determined that as such it has a single reportable operating segment.
 
     The Partnership derives its revenues from leasing marine dry cargo containers. As of June 30, 2002, the Partnership operated 898 twenty-foot, 356 forty-foot and 632 forty-foot high-cube marine dry cargo containers.
 
     Due to the Partnership’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.
 

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(5)    New Accounting Pronouncements
 
     In August 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations,” which is effective for all fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2002. This standard requires a company to record the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation in the period in which it is incurred, and a corresponding increase in the carrying value of the related long-lived asset. The Registrant is currently evaluating the impact that SFAS No. 143 will have on its financial statements.
 
     In June 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS 146, “Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities”, which addresses accounting for restructuring and similar costs. SFAS 146 supersedes previous accounting guidance, principally Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 94-3. SFAS 146 requires that the liability for costs associated with an exit or disposal activity be recognized when the liability is incurred. Under Issue 94-3, a liability for an exit cost was recognized at the date of the Company’s commitment to an exit plan. SFAS 146 also establishes that the liability should initially be measured and recorded at fair value. Accordingly, SFAS 146 may affect the timing of recognizing future restructuring costs as well as the amounts recognized. The Registrant believes that SFAS 146 will not have a significant impact on its financial position or results of operations.

******

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

It is suggested that the following discussion be read in conjunction with the Registrant’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K.

General

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 exists between CCC 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. At June 30, 2002, 40% of the original equipment remained in the Registrant’s fleet, as compared to 48% at December 31, 2001. The following chart summarizes the composition of the Registrant’s fleet (based on container type) at June 30, 2002.

                             
                        40-Foot
        20-Foot   40-Foot   High-Cube
       
 
 
Containers on lease:
                       
 
Term leases
    496       196       150  
 
Master leases
    276       59       304  
 
 
   
     
     
 
   
Subtotal
    772       255       454  
Containers off lease
    126       101       178  
 
 
   
     
     
 
 
Total container fleet
    898       356       632  
 
 
   
     
     
 
                                                   
                                      40-Foot
      20-Foot   40-Foot   High-Cube
     
 
 
      Units   %   Units   %   Units   %
     
 
 
 
 
 
Total purchases
    2,327       100 %     799       100 %     1,653       100 %
 
Less disposals
    1,429       61 %     443       55 %     1,021       62 %
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Remaining fleet at June 30, 2002
    898       39 %     356       45 %     632       38 %
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 

During 2001, demand for dry cargo containers was adversely affected by the slowdown in the global economy resulting in an excess supply of containers in many locations. As a result of increasing worldwide container inventories during 2001, cautious forecasts for global economic recovery and a reduction in the level of capital available for new production, the demand for new container production declined. Accordingly, prices for new containers reached historic lows, creating further downward pressure on lease per-diem rates and container residual values.

At the end of 2001, the Registrant, CCC and the Leasing Company viewed this slowdown in new container production as having positive short and long-term affects for the container leasing industry. During the first six months of 2002, a general improvement in the world’s economic climate, combined with reduced funding for new container production, contributed to container shortfalls in many Asian locations and a corresponding increase in the demand for existing, older containers. The surge in demand experienced during the first six months of 2002 was a primary factor in reducing off-hire container inventories primarily in Asia, and to a lesser extent Europe and North America. During the first six months of 2002, the average monthly utilization of the Registrant’s dry cargo fleet increased from 71% for December 2001 to 77% for June 2002. However, lease per-diem rates, which are influenced by new container prices and borrowing rates, continued to

(Continued)

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remain depressed. An improvement in lease per-diem rates is not expected until new container prices increase to much higher levels. The Registrant, CCC and the Leasing Company expect the current level of demand for cargo containers to continue into the third quarter of 2002; however, a moderate or slowly-developing economic recovery in the US and other world economies, as well as an increase in new container production, may temper the current demand for leased containers. The Leasing Company, on behalf of the Registrant, will seek to exploit the current demand for leased containers by repositioning off-hire equipment to locations of greatest demand and by pursuing leasing opportunities through the Leasing Company’s global marketing network.

Despite recent improvements in container leasing market conditions, the effect of the slowdown in global economic conditions on the container leasing industry’s customers, the shipping lines, coupled with their acquisition of new, larger container ships, have created a condition of excess shipping capacity. The uncertainty over the financial strength of the shipping industry appears to favor the larger more established shipping lines. The Registrant, CCC and the Leasing Company continue to remain cautious, as some shipping lines have reported operating losses during 2002. The financial impact of such losses on the 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.

The Registrant’s average fleet size and utilization rates for the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2002 and 2001 were as follows:

                                 
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
   
 
    June 30,   June 30,   June 30,   June 30,
    2002   2001   2002   2001
   
 
 
 
Average fleet size (measured in twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU))
    3,035       3,988       3,224       4,088  
Average Utilization
    76 %     76 %     74 %     78 %

Although utilization levels increased from December 31, 2001 levels, many older containers, including those of the Registrant, were leased under term leases that command lower per-diem rates. These term leases, combined with the market’s impact on short-term, master lease per-diem rates, contributed to an overall decline in the Registrant’s per-diem rates. For the three and six-month period ended June 30, 2002, the Registrant’s per-diem rates declined by approximately 20% and 21%, when compared to the same three and six-month periods in the prior year.

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 rental 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.

Three Months Ended June 30, 2002 Compared to the Three Months Ended June 30, 2001

Loss from operations for the three months ended June 30, 2002 was $116,718, as compared to income of $31,610 during the corresponding period of 2001. The decrease was primarily due to a decline in net lease revenue, an increase in the net loss on disposal of equipment, and a $8,529 increase in depreciation expense that resulted from a change in the estimated life and salvage value of the containers, effective June 1, 2001.

Net lease revenue of $99,435 for the three months ended June 30, 2002 was $96,156 lower than in the corresponding period of 2001. The decrease was primarily due to a $105,980 decline in gross rental revenue (a component of net lease revenue) from the same period in 2001. Gross rental revenue was primarily impacted by the Registrant’s smaller fleet size and lower per-diem rental rates. Other components of net lease revenue, including reimbursed administrative expenses and management fees, were lower by a combined $9,824 when compared to the corresponding period in 2001, partially offsetting the decline in gross lease revenue.

(Continued)

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Depreciation expense of $127,865 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2002 was $8,529 higher than the same period in 2001. Effective June 1, 2001, the Registrant changed the estimated life of its rental container equipment from an estimated 12-year life to a 15-year life, and its estimated salvage value from 30% to 10% of original equipment cost. The effect of these changes was an increase in depreciation expense of approximately $68,600 for the three months ended June 30, 2002.

Other general and administrative expenses were $14,153 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2002, a decrease of $3,251 or 18.7% when compared to the corresponding period in 2001. Contributing to this decline were legal costs and costs related to investor communications.

Net loss on disposal of equipment was a result of the Registrant disposing of 226 containers during the three-month period ended June 30, 2002, as compared to 143 containers during the same period in 2001. These disposals resulted in a loss of $74,135 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2002, as compared to a loss of $27,241 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2001. The Registrant believes that the net loss on container disposals in the three-month period ended June 30, 2002 was a result of various factors including the age, condition, suitability for continued leasing, as well as the geographical location of the containers when disposed. These factors will continue to influence the decision to repair or dispose of a container when it is returned by a lessee, as well as the amount of sales proceeds received and the related gain or loss on container disposals. The level of the Registrant’s container disposals in subsequent periods will also contribute to fluctuations in the net gain or loss on disposals. There were no reductions to the carrying value of container rental equipment during the three-month periods ended June 30, 2002 and 2001.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2002 Compared to the Six Months Ended June 30, 2001

Loss from operations for the six months ended June 30, 2002 was $206,895, as compared to income of $83,252 during the corresponding period of 2001. The decrease was primarily due to a decline in net lease revenue, an increase in net loss on disposal of equipment, and a $32,645 increase in depreciation expense that resulted from a change in the estimated life and salvage value of the containers, effective June 1, 2001.

Net lease revenue of $202,615 for the six months ended June 30, 2002 was $216,701 lower than in the corresponding period of 2001. The decrease was primarily due to a $229,559 decline in gross rental revenue (a component of net lease revenue) from the same period in 2001. Gross rental revenue was impacted by the Registrant’s smaller fleet size, lower per-diem rental rates and a lower average utilization rate for the six-month period ended June 30, 2002. Other components of net lease revenue, including reimbursed administrative expenses and management fees, were lower by a combined $22,896 when compared to the corresponding period in 2001, partially offsetting the decline in gross lease revenue.

Depreciation expense of $270,965 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2002 was $32,645 higher than the same period in 2001. Effective June 1, 2001, the Registrant changed the estimated life of its rental container equipment from an estimated 12-year life to a 15-year life, and its estimated salvage value from 30% to 10% of original equipment cost. The effect of these changes was an increase in depreciation expense of approximately $181,700 for the six months ended June 30, 2002.

Other general and administrative expenses were $28,408 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2002, a decrease of $10,485 or 27% when compared to the corresponding period in 2001. Contributing to this decline were legal costs and costs related to investor communications.

Net loss on disposal of equipment was a result of the Registrant disposing of 412 containers during the six-month period ended June 30, 2002, as compared to 287 containers during the same period in 2001. These disposals resulted in a loss of $110,137 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2002, as compared to a loss of $58,851 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2001. There were no reductions to the carrying value of container rental equipment during the six-month periods ended June 30, 2002 and 2001.

(Continued)

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash from Operating Activities: Net cash provided by operating activities was $194,350 and $418,673 during the first six months of 2002 and 2001, respectively, primarily generated from the billing and collections of net lease revenue.

Cash from Investing Activities: Net cash provided by investing activities during the six-month periods ending June 30 2002 and 2001, included sales proceeds generated from the sale of rental equipment of $327,979 and $274,051 respectively.

Cash from Financing Activities: Net cash used in financing activities was $525,875 during the first six months of 2002 compared to $879,172 in the corresponding period of 2001. 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. Sales proceeds distributed to its partners may fluctuate in subsequent periods, reflecting the level of container disposals.

Capital Resources

Aside from the initial working capital reserve retained from the gross subscription proceeds (equal to approximately 1% of such proceeds), the Registrant relied primarily on container rental receipts and proceeds from container sales to generate distributions to its general and limited partners, as well as to finance current operating needs. No credit lines are maintained to finance working capital.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In August 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations,” which is effective for all fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2002. This standard requires a company to record the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation in the period in which it is incurred, and a corresponding increase in the carrying value of the related long-lived asset. The Registrant is currently evaluating the impact that SFAS No. 143 will have on its financial statements.

In June 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS 146, “Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities”, which addresses accounting for restructuring and similar costs. SFAS 146 supersedes previous accounting guidance, principally Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 94-3. SFAS 146 requires that the liability for costs associated with an exit or disposal activity be recognized when the liability is incurred. Under Issue 94-3, a liability for an exit cost was recognized at the date of the Company’s commitment to an exit plan. SFAS 146 also establishes that the liability should initially be measured and recorded at fair value. Accordingly, SFAS 146 may affect the timing of recognizing future restructuring costs as well as the amounts recognized. The Registrant believes that SFAS 146 will not have a significant impact on its financial position or results of operations.

Inflation

The Registrant believes inflation has not had a material adverse effect on the results of its operations.

(Continued)

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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Exchange rate risk: Substantially all of the Registrant’s revenues are billed and paid in US dollars and a significant portion of costs are billed and paid in US dollars. Of the remaining costs, the majority are individually small, unpredictable and incurred in various denominations and thus are not suitable for cost effective hedging.

The Leasing Company may hedge a portion of the expenses that are predictable and are principally in UK pounds sterling. As exchange rates are outside of the control of the Registrant and Leasing Company, there can be no assurance that such fluctuations will not adversely affect its results of operations and financial condition.

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PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

(a)    Exhibits

         
Exhibit        
No.   Description   Method of Filing

 
 
3(a)   Limited Partnership Agreement of the Registrant, amended and restated as of September 12, 1988   *
3(b)   Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Registrant   **
99.1   Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.   Filed with this document
99.2   Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.   Filed with this document
       
*   Incorporated by reference to Exhibit “A” to the Prospectus of the Registrant dated September 12, 1988, included as part of Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 33-23321)
 
**   Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 33-23321)

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SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
     
  IEA INCOME FUND IX, L.P.
 
 
  By  Cronos Capital Corp.
The General Partner
     
  By  /s/ Dennis J. Tietz
 
  Dennis J. Tietz
President and Director of Cronos Capital Corp. (“CCC”)
Principal Executive Officer of CCC
     
  By  /s/ John Kallas
 
  John Kallas
Chief Financial Officer and Director of Cronos Capital Corp. (“CCC”)
Principal Financial and Accounting Officer of CCC

Date: August 13, 2002

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EXHIBIT INDEX

         
Exhibit        
No.   Description   Method of Filing

 
 
3(a)   Limited Partnership Agreement of the Registrant, amended and restated as of September 12, 1988   *
3(b)   Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Registrant   **
99.1   Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.   Filed with this document
99.2   Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.   Filed with this document


*   Incorporated by reference to Exhibit “A” to the Prospectus of the Registrant dated September 12, 1988, included as part of Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 33-23321)
**   Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 33-23321)