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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 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 0-23886

CRONOS GLOBAL INCOME FUND XV, L.P.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
California
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  94-3186624
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

One Front Street, 15th Floor, San Francisco, California 94111
(Address of principal executive offices) (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
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
SIGNATURES
EXHIBT INDEX
Exhibit 99.1
Exhibit 99.2


Table of Contents

CRONOS GLOBAL INCOME FUND XV, L.P.

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

TABLE OF CONTENTS

         
        PAGE
PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION    
Item 1.   Financial Statements    
    Balance Sheets — September 30, 2002 and December 31, 2001 (unaudited)   4
    Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2002 and 2001 (unaudited)   5
    Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 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
Item 4.   Controls and Procedures   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 September 30, 2002 and December 31, 2001, statements of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2002 and 2001, and statements of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 and 2001.

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CRONOS GLOBAL INCOME FUND XV, L.P.

Balance Sheets

(Unaudited)

                         
            September 30,   December 31,
            2002   2001
           
 
       
Assets
               
Current assets:
               
 
Cash and cash equivalents, includes $3,771,681 at September 30, 2002 and $3,697,086 at December 31, 2001 in interest-bearing accounts
  $ 4,194,436     $ 3,712,087  
 
Net lease receivables due from Leasing Company (notes 1 and 2)
    986,133       1,004,796  
 
   
     
 
     
Total current assets
    5,180,569       4,716,883  
 
   
     
 
Container rental equipment, at cost
    122,178,179       123,512,650  
 
Less accumulated depreciation
    53,880,306       48,840,452  
 
   
     
 
   
Net container rental equipment
    68,297,873       74,672,198  
 
   
     
 
     
Total assets
  $ 73,478,442     $ 79,389,081  
 
   
     
 
       
Partners’ Capital
               
Partners’ capital (deficit):
  $ (328,871 )   $ (85,604 )
 
General partner
    73,807,313       79,474,685  
 
   
     
 
 
Limited partners
               
     
Total partners’ capital
  $ 73,478,442     $ 79,389,081  
 
   
     
 

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

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CRONOS GLOBAL INCOME FUND XV, L.P.

Statements of Operations

(Unaudited)

                                     
        Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
       
 
        September 30,   September 30,   September 30,   September 30,
        2002   2001   2002   2001
       
 
 
 
Net lease revenue (notes 1 and 3)
  $ 1,837,137     $ 1,637,838     $ 4,986,768     $ 5,805,895  
Other operating expenses:
                               
 
Depreciation
    1,873,870       1,895,009       5,641,172       5,542,841  
 
Other general and administrative expenses
    45,527       59,063       145,039       239,037  
 
Net loss on disposal of equipment
    86,464       2,248       169,934       734  
 
   
     
     
     
 
   
(Loss) income from operations
    (168,724 )     (318,482 )     (969,377 )     23,283  
Other income:
                               
 
Interest income
    10,030       26,966       32,078       118,560  
 
   
     
     
     
 
   
Net (loss) income
  $ (158,694 )   $ (291,516 )   $ (937,299 )   $ 141,843  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Allocation of net (loss) income:
                               
 
General partner
  $ (1,587 )   $ 73,619     $ (9,373 )   $ 266,151  
 
Limited partners
    (157,107 )     (365,135 )     (927,926 )     (124,308 )
 
   
     
     
     
 
 
  $ (158,694 )   $ (291,516 )   $ (937,299 )   $ 141,843  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Limited partners’ per unit share of net loss
  $ (0.02 )   $ (0.05 )   $ (0.13 )   $ (0.02 )
 
   
     
     
     
 

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

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CRONOS GLOBAL INCOME FUND XV, L.P.

Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

                   
      Nine Months Ended
     
      September 30,   September 30,
      2002   2001
     
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
  $ 4,961,168     $ 6,039,836  
Cash provided by investing activities:
               
 
Proceeds from disposal of equipment
    494,520       368,037  
Cash used in financing activities:
               
 
Distribution to partners
    (4,973,340 )     (6,798,932 )
 
   
     
 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    482,348       (391,059 )
Cash and cash equivalents at January 1
    3,712,087       4,126,805  
 
   
     
 
Cash and cash equivalents at September 30
  $ 4,194,435     $ 3,735,746  
 
   
     
 

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

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CRONOS GLOBAL INCOME FUND XV, L.P.

Notes to Unaudited Financial Statements

(1)   Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

  (a)   Nature of Operations
 
      Cronos Global Income Fund XV, L.P. (the “Partnership”) is a limited partnership organized under the laws of the State of California on August 26, 1993, for the purpose of owning and leasing marine cargo containers, special purpose containers and container related equipment 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, 2012, unless sooner terminated upon the occurrence of certain events.
 
      The Partnership commenced operations on February 22, 1994, when the minimum subscription proceeds of $2,000,000 were received from over 100 subscribers (excluding from such count Pennsylvania residents, the general partner, and all affiliates of the general partner). The Partnership offered 7,500,000 units of limited partnership interest at $20 per unit or $150,000,000. The offering terminated on December 15, 1995, at which time 7,151,569 limited partnership units had been sold.
 
  (b)   Leasing Company and Leasing Agent Agreement
 
      A Leasing Agent Agreement exists between the Partnership 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 and the Leasing Company. 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.

(Continued)

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CRONOS GLOBAL INCOME FUND XV, 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 nine-month periods ended September 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 $147,000 and $119,000 for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2002 and 2001, respectively. The change in depreciation expense was approximately $89,000 for the three-month period ended September 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.

(Continued)

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CRONOS GLOBAL INCOME FUND XV, L.P.

Notes to Unaudited Financial Statements

  (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 accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) 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 period presented. The results of operations for such interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

(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 September 30, 2002 and December 31, 2001 were as follows:

                 
    September 30,   December 31,
    2002   2001
   
 
Gross lease receivables
  $ 2,617,562     $ 2,753,136  
Less:
               
Direct operating payables and accrued expenses
    1,009,727       1,129,209  
Damage protection reserve
    169,498       102,469  
Base management fees
    170,722       191,144  
Reimbursed administrative expenses
    52,730       59,478  
Allowance for doubtful accounts
    228,752       266,040  
 
   
     
 
Net lease receivables
  $ 986,133     $ 1,004,796  
 
   
     
 

(Continued)

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CRONOS GLOBAL INCOME FUND XV, L.P.

Notes to Unaudited Financial Statements

(3)   Net Lease Revenue
 
    Net lease revenue is determined by deducting direct operating expenses, base management fees and reimbursed administrative expenses to CCC and its affiliates 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 nine-month periods ended September 30, 2002 and 2001 were as follows:

                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
   
 
    September 30,   September 30,   September 30,   September 30,
    2002   2001   2002   2001
   
 
 
 
Rental revenue (note 4)
  $ 3,095,933     $ 3,312,737     $ 9,266,171     $ 10,299,492  
Less:
                               
Rental equipment operating expenses
    872,671       1,268,878       3,128,002       3,249,826  
Base management fees
    214,250       227,632       634,775       706,632  
Reimbursed administrative expenses
    171,875       178,389       516,626       537,139  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Net lease revenue
  $ 1,837,137     $ 1,637,838     $ 4,986,768     $ 5,805,895  
 
   
     
     
     
 

(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 cargo containers. As of September 30, 2002, the Partnership operated 25,143 twenty-foot, 8,500 forty-foot and 2,103 forty-foot high-cube marine dry cargo containers, 460 twenty-foot and 99 forty-foot high-cube refrigerated cargo containers, and 225 twenty-four thousand-liter tanks. A summary of gross lease revenue, by product, for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2002 and 2001 follows:

                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
   
 
    September 30,   September 30,   September 30,   September 30,
    2002   2001   2002   2001
   
 
 
 
Dry cargo containers
  $ 2,608,435     $ 2,733,136     $ 7,820,927     $ 8,583,024  
Refrigerated containers
    326,777       407,855       1,003,637       1,205,029  
Tank containers
    160,721       171,746       441,607       511,439  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Total
  $ 3,095,933     $ 3,312,737     $ 9,266,171     $ 10,299,492  
 
   
     
     
     
 

    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 geographic area information.

(Continued)

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CRONOS GLOBAL INCOME FUND XV, L.P.

Notes to Unaudited Financial Statements

(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 Partnership 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 Partnership’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

A Leasing Agent Agreement exists between the Registrant and the Leasing Company, whereby the Leasing Company has the responsibility to manage the leasing operations of all equipment owned by the Registrant. Pursuant to the Agreement, the Leasing Company is responsible for leasing, managing and re-leasing the Registrant’s containers to ocean carriers, and has full discretion over which ocean carriers and suppliers of goods and services it may deal with. The Leasing Agent Agreement permits the Leasing Company to use the containers owned by the Registrant, together with other containers owned or managed by the Leasing Company and its affiliates, as part of a single fleet operated without regard to ownership. At September 30, 2002, 96% of the original equipment remained in the Registrant’s fleet, unchanged from December 31, 2001. The following chart summarizes the composition of the Registrant’s fleet (based on container type) at September 30, 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
    11,582       3,099       1,089       240       1       80  
 
Term lease (1-5 years)
    8,478       3,102       642       169       97       108  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
   
Subtotal
    20,060       6,201       1,731       409       98       188  
Containers off lease
    5,083       2,299       372       51       1       37  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total container fleet
    25,143       8,500       2,103       460       99       225  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
                                                                                                   
      Dry Cargo   Refrigerated   Tank
      Containers   Containers   Containers
     
 
 
                                      40-Foot                   40-Foot                
      20-Foot   40-Foot   High-Cube   20-Foot   High-Cube   24,000-Liter
     
 
 
 
 
 
      Units   %   Units   %   Units   %   Units   %   Units   %   Units   %
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total purchases
    26,446       100 %     8,751       100 %     2,179       100 %     463       100 %     100       100 %     229       100 %
 
Less disposals
    1,303       5 %     251       3 %     76       3 %     3       1 %     1       1 %     4       2 %
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Remaining fleet at September 30, 2002
    25,143       95 %     8,500       97 %     2,103       97 %     460       99 %     99       99 %     225       98 %
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

Over the past two years, the slowdown and uneven recovery in the global economy has led to reduced levels of capital available for new container investment and a corresponding increase in demand for existing dry cargo containers. During 2002, the surge in demand for existing containers has contributed to reducing off-hire inventories primarily in Asia, and to a lesser extent Europe and North America. Many Asian locations are now experiencing container shortfalls as limited new container production is unable to meet current market demands. To exploit this demand, the Leasing Company has repositioned off-hire equipment to locations of greatest demand and pursued leasing opportunities through its global network of marketing services. As a result, average utilization of the Registrant’s dry cargo fleet increased from 67% during the month of December 2001 to 78% during the month of September 2002. However, lease per-diem rates, which are influenced by new container prices and borrowing rates, continued to remain depressed. An improvement in lease per-diem rates is not expected until new container prices increase to much higher levels. The demand for cargo containers has continued into the fourth quarter of 2002 and is expected to continue into early 2003. However, wide-ranging concerns remain about waning consumer confidence within the world’s economies, a rise in oil prices, weak global stock markets, the uncertain impact of a possible war in Iraq, as well as an increase in new container production, which may temper the current demand for leased containers.

Despite recent improvements in container leasing market conditions, the effect of the sporadic global economic recovery on the container leasing industry’s customers, the shipping lines, coupled with their acquisition of new, larger containerships, has created a condition of excess shipping capacity. The uncertainty over the financial strength of the shipping industry

(Continued)

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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.

On October 8, 2002, the Pacific Maritime Association’s 10-day lock-out of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union ended. During this 10-day period, the flow of world trade, particularly in Pacific trade routes was disrupted, creating some interesting short-term benefits to the container leasing industry as shipping lines were unable to off-hire containers during the 10-day lock out, and ships were delayed at congested ports, exacerbating the shortage of container inventories throughout Asia. While these conditions served to create further short-term demand for existing cargo containers, the long-term impact of this lock-out will not be known until the labor issues associated with the lock-out are ultimately resolved, shipping lines assess their losses, and containers and ships are redeployed into areas of demand.

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

                                   
      Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
     
 
      September 30,   September 30,   September 30,   September 30,
      2002   2001   2002   2001
     
 
 
 
Average fleet size (measured in twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU))
                               
 
Dry cargo containers
    46,470       47,055       46,673       47,112  
 
Refrigerated containers
    658       659       658       660  
 
Tank containers
    225       225       225       225  
Average Utilization
                               
 
Dry cargo containers
    77 %     65 %     73 %     67 %
 
Refrigerated containers
    91 %     92 %     91 %     92 %
 
Tank containers
    83 %     81 %     78 %     80 %

Although dry cargo container utilization levels have increased since December 31, 2001, many older dry cargo containers, including those of the Registrant, were leased under lower priced term leases. These term leases, combined with the market’s impact on short-term, master lease per-diem rates for dry cargo containers, contributed to an overall decline in the Registrant’s per-diem rates. Dry cargo container average per-diem rental rates for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2002 declined approximately 17% when compared to the same periods in the prior year. Refrigerated per-diem rental rates continue to be impacted by lower new container prices and borrowing rates. Refrigerated container average per-diem rental rates for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2002 increased approximately 4% and declined approximately 12% when compared to the same periods in the prior year. Tank container average per-diem rental rates for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2002 declined 11%, when compared to the same period 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 September 30, 2002 Compared to the Three Months Ended September 30, 2001

Loss from operations for the three months ended September 30, 2002 was $168,724, as compared to $318,482 during the corresponding period of 2001. The decrease was primarily due to higher net lease revenue, partially offset by the increase in the net loss on disposal of equipment.

(Continued)

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Net lease revenue of $1,837,137 for the three months ended September 30, 2002 was $199,299 higher than in the corresponding period of 2001. The increase was due to a $396,207 decline in rental equipment operating expenses, partially offset by a $216,804 decrease in gross rental revenue. Gross rental revenue was primarily impacted by the Registrant’s lower per-diem rental rates. Rental equipment operating expenses declined as a result of higher combined utilization rates and its impact on activity related expenses such as storage. Management fees and reimbursed administrative expenses, components of net lease revenue, were lower by $19,896 when compared to the corresponding period in 2001.

Depreciation expense of $1,873,870 for the three months ended September 30, 2002 was $21,139 lower than the same period in 2001.

Other general and administrative expenses were $45,527 in the third quarter of 2002, compared to $59,063 in the corresponding period of 2001, representing a decrease of $13,536 or 23%. Contributing to this decrease were declines in professional fees and costs related to investor communications, partially offset by increases in net exchange rate losses.

Loss on disposal of equipment was a result of the Registrant disposing of 196 containers during the three-month period ended September 30, 2002, as compared to 51 containers during the same period in 2001. These disposals resulted in a loss of $86,464 for the three-month period ended September 30, 2002, as compared to $2,248 for the three-month period ended September 30, 2001. The Registrant believes that the net loss on container disposals in the three-month period ended September 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.

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2002 Compared to the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2001

Income (loss) from operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 was a loss of $969,377, as compared to income of $23,283 during the corresponding period of 2001. The decrease was primarily due to an increase in the net loss on disposal of equipment and a decline in net lease revenue.

Net lease revenue of $4,986,768 for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 was $819,127 lower than in the corresponding period of 2001. The decrease was primarily due to a $1,033,321 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 lower per-diem rental rates. Management fees and reimbursed administrative expenses, components of net lease revenue, were lower by $92,370 when compared to the corresponding period in 2001, partially offsetting the decline in gross lease revenue. Rental equipment operating expenses decreased by $121,824 when compared to the corresponding period in 2001 due to higher combined utilization rates and a decline in activity related costs, such as storage.

Depreciation expense of $5,641,172 for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 was $98,331 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 cumulative effect of these changes was an increase in depreciation expense of approximately $147,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2002.

Other general and administrative expenses were $145,039 in the first nine months of 2002, compared to $239,037 in the corresponding period of 2001, representing a decrease of $93,998 or 39%. Contributing to this decrease were declines in net exchange rate losses, professional fees and costs related to investor communications.

Net (loss) gain on disposal of equipment was a result of the Registrant disposing of 495 containers during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2002, as compared to 146 containers during the same period in 2001. These disposals resulted in a loss of $169,934 for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2002, as compared to $734 for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2001.

(Continued)

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash from Operating Activities: Net cash provided by operating activities was $4,961,168 and $6,039,836 during the first nine 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 nine-month periods ending September 30, 2002 and 2001 included sales proceeds generated from the sale of rental equipment of $494,520 and $368,037, respectively.

Cash from Financing Activities: Net cash used in financing activities was $4,973,340 during the first nine months of 2002 compared to $6,798,932 in the corresponding period of 2001. These amounts represent distributions to the Registrant’s general and limited partners. The Registrant’s fleet size, as well as current market conditions, may 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 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 Registrant’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 the Leasing Company, there can be no assurance that such fluctuations will not adversely affect its results of operations and financial condition.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

The principal executive and principal financial officers of CCC have evaluated the disclosure controls and procedures of the Registrant within 90 days prior to the filing of this quarterly report. As used herein, the term “disclosure controls and procedures” has the meaning given to the term by Rule 13a-14 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), and includes the controls and other procedures of the Registrant that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Registrant in the reports that it files with the SEC under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Based upon their evaluation, the principal executive and principal financial officers of CCC have concluded that the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by the Registrant in this report is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms applicable to the preparation of this report.

There have been no significant changes in the Registrant’s internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect the Registrant’s internal controls subsequent to the evaluation described above conducted by CCC’s principal executive and financial officers.

(Continued)

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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 December 15, 1993   *
         
3(b)   Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Registrant   **
         
10   Form of Leasing Agent Agreement with Cronos Containers Limited   ***
         
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
****

(b)   Reports on Form 8-K
 
    No reports on Form 8-K were filed by the Registrant during the quarter ended September 30, 2002.


*   Incorporated by reference to Exhibit “A” to the Prospectus of the Registrant dated December 17, 1993, included as part of Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 33-69356)
**   Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 33-69356)
***   Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 33-69356)
****   These two certifications, required by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, other than as required by Section 906, are not deemed to be “filed” with the Commission or subject to the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or to the liabilities of Section 18 of said Act.

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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.

         
    CRONOS GLOBAL INCOME FUND XV, 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: November 14, 2002

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Cronos Global Income Fund XV, L.P.

CERTIFICATIONS
(Exchange Act Rule 13a-14)

         I, Dennis J. Tietz, certify that:

         1.     I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Cronos Global Income Fund XV, L.P. (the “Registrant”);

         2.     Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;

         3.     Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

         4.     The other certifying officer of Cronos Capital Corp. (“CCC”), the General Partner of the Registrant, and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the Registrant and we have:

         (a)  designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the Registrant is made known to us by others within CCC, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

         (b)  evaluated the effectiveness of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the “Evaluation Date”); and

         (c)  presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

         5.     CCC’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the Registrant’s auditors and the Board of Directors of CCC:

         (a)  all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the Registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the Registrant’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

         (b)  any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Registrant’s internal controls; and

         6.     CCC’s other certifying officer of CCC and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

Date: November 14, 2002

/s/ DENNIS J TIETZ


Dennis J Tietz
President of CCC
(Chief Executive Officer)

 


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Cronos Global Income Fund XV, L.P.

CERTIFICATIONS
(Exchange Act Rule 13a-14)

         I, John Kallas, certify that:

         1.     I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Cronos Global Income Fund XV, L.P. (the “Registrant”);

         2.     Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;

         3.     Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

         4.     The other certifying officer of Cronos Capital Corp. (“CCC”), the General Partner of the Registrant, and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the Registrant and we have:

         (a)  designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the Registrant is made known to us by others within CCC, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

         (b)  evaluated the effectiveness of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the “Evaluation Date”); and

         (c)  presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

         5.     CCC’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the Registrant’s auditors and the Board of Directors of CCC:

         (a)  all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the Registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the Registrant’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

         (b)  any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Registrant’s internal controls; and

         6.     CCC’s other certifying officer of CCC and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

Date: November 14, 2002

/s/ JOHN KALLAS


John Kallas
Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer of CCC

 


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EXHIBT INDEX

         
Exhibit        
No.   Description   Method of Filing

 
 
3(a)   Limited Partnership Agreement of the Registrant, amended and restated as of December 15, 1993   *
         
3(b)   Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Registrant   **
         
10   Form of Leasing Agent Agreement with Cronos Containers Limited   ***
         
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 December 17, 1993, included as part of Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 33-69356)
**   Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 33-69356)
***   Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 33-69356)
****   These two certifications, required by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, other than as required by Section 906, are not deemed to be “filed” with the Commission or subject to the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or to the liabilities of Section 18 of said Act.