Back to GetFilings.com

Table of Contents

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

Commission file number 0-18169

IEA INCOME FUND IX, L.P.

(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

IEA INCOME FUND IX, L.P.

Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarterly Period
Ended September 30, 2003

TABLE OF CONTENTS

2

Table of Contents

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

Presented herein are the Registrant’s balance sheets as of September 30, 2003 and December 31, 2002, statements of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, and statements of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002.

3

Table of Contents

IEA INCOME FUND IX, L.P.

Balance Sheets

(Unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral of these financial statements.

4

Table of Contents

IEA INCOME FUND IX, L.P.

Statements of Operations

(Unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral of these financial statements.

5

Table of Contents

IEA INCOME FUND IX, L.P.

Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral of these financial statements.

6

Table of Contents

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 September 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.

Continued

7

Table of Contents

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
			In accordance with SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets,” 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 nine-month periods ended September 30, 2003 and 2002.
			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.
	(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

8

Table of Contents

IEA INCOME FUND IX, 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 periods 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 Payables Due to Leasing Company
		Net lease payables due to 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 payables at September 30, 2003 and December 31, 2002 were as follows:

Continued

9

Table of Contents

IEA INCOME FUND IX, 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 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, 2003 and 2002 was as follows:

(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 September 30, 2003, the Partnership operated 693 twenty-foot, 296 forty-foot and 424 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 geographic area information.

10

Table of Contents

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 September 30, 2003, 30% of the original equipment remained in the Registrant’s fleet, as compared to 34% at December 31, 2002. The following chart summarizes the composition of the Registrant’s fleet (based on container type) at September 30, 2003.

Strong growth in the volume of global container trade during the nine-month period ending September 30, 2003 contributed to favorable container leasing market conditions, allowing the Registrant to maintain a high level of utilization for its containers. At September 30, 2003, the Registrant’s utilization measured 84% as compared to 81% at December 31, 2002. The demand for leased containers by the global container shipping industry has contributed to reducing off-hire inventories primarily in Asia, and to a lesser extent Europe and North America. In many parts of Asia and particularly in the southeastern ports, the demand for cargo containers continued to exceed available supplies. Also contributing to the strong demand for leased containers during 2003 has been the preference of shipping lines to purchase fewer containers for their own account. Due to recent operating losses and requirements to deploy capital within other parts of their business, including the investment in new, larger, containerships and the support of terminal, information technology and other infrastructure requirements, funds for new container investment have been limited. As a result, shipping lines have strategically made the decision to employ leased containers to meet their container requirements. However, in response to a favorable shipping market, there are indications of an increased willingness by the shipping lines to purchase and finance the acquisition of new containers at higher levels in the near future, which may impact the demand for leased containers.

The favorable shipping market conditions, combined with lower cost, short term leases for older containers, have also resulted in the shipping lines’ diminishing discrimination against leasing older containers, a condition that typically exists during periods

(Continued)

11

Table of Contents

of surplus container supply. The favorable 2003 shipping market, combined with the current shortfall of containers, is expected to result in an increase in the production of new containers during 2003, in comparison to 2002 and 2001 production levels. However, new container production is expected to remain below the record container production levels achieved during 2000. The ultimate impact of the industry’s increase in new container production on the Registrant’s operations is not immediately known, however, an increase in new container availability may reduce the demand for the Registrant’s older containers.

Although favorable market conditions for container lessors currently exists, the uncertainty over the financial strength of the shipping industry remains a concern. Current conditions appear to favor the larger more established shipping lines, which have witnessed strong recoveries in their performance. The Registrant, CCC and the Leasing Company continue to remain cautious, as some shipping lines reported operating losses during 2002, while others have become insolvent during 2003. The financial impact of such losses for these shipping lines may eventually influence the demand for leased containers as some shipping lines may experience additional financial difficulties, consolidate or become insolvent. Although the ultimate outcome, as well as its impact on the container leasing industry and the Registrant’s results of operations, is unknown, CCC, on behalf of the Registrant, will work closely with the Leasing Company to monitor outstanding receivables, collections, and credit exposure to various existing and new customers.

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

The Registrant’s average fleet size and utilization rates for the three and nine-months periods ended September 30, 2003 and 2002 were as follows:

Per-diem rates for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2003 declined approximately 8% and 12%, respectively, in comparison to the same periods in the prior year, and is attributable to three main factors that have taken place since 2002:

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

Although per-diem rental rates have declined from 2002 levels, static new container prices and an increase in demand for leased containers have resulted in the stabilization of per-diem rental rates during 2003. A significant improvement in lease per-diem rates is not expected until new container prices increase to much higher levels.

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, 2003 Compared to the Three Months Ended September 30, 2002

Net lease revenue of $73,658 for the three months ended September 30, 2003 was $16,998 lower than in the corresponding period of 2002. The decrease was due to a $28,473 decline in gross rental revenue (a component of net lease revenue) from the same period in 2002. Gross rental revenue was impacted by the Registrant’s smaller fleet size and lower per-diem rental rates.

(Continued)

12

Table of Contents

Other components of net lease revenue, including reimbursed administrative expenses, rental equipment operating expenses and management fees, were lower by a combined $11,475 when compared to the corresponding period in 2002, partially offsetting the decline in gross lease revenue. Contributing to the decline in rental equipment operating expenses were decreases in storage expenses, and the provision for doubtful accounts, partially offset by an increase in repair and maintenance expenses.

Depreciation expense of $92,048 for the three-month period ended September 30, 2003 was $22,800 lower than the same period in 2002, a result of the Registrant’s declining fleet size.

Other general and administrative expenses were $14,023 for the three-month period ended September 30, 2003, consistent with the corresponding period in 2002.

Net gain (loss) on disposal of equipment was a result of the Registrant disposing of 58 containers during the three-month period ended September 30, 2003, as compared to 149 containers during the same period in 2002. These disposals resulted in a net gain of $1,256 for the three-month period ended September 30, 2003, as compared to a net loss of $33,508 for the three-month period ended September 30, 2002. The Registrant believes that the net gain on container disposals in the three-month period ended September 30, 2003 was a result of various factors including the volume of disposed containers, 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 due to impairment during the three-month periods ended September 30, 2003 and 2002.

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2003 Compared to the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2002

Net lease revenue of $230,573 for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 was $62,698 lower than in the corresponding period of 2002. The decrease was primarily due to a $136,032 decline in gross rental revenue (a component of net lease revenue) from the same period in 2002. Gross rental revenue was impacted by the Registrant’s smaller fleet size and lower per-diem rental rates for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2003. Other components of net lease revenue, including reimbursed administrative expenses, rental equipment expenses and management fees, were lower by a combined $73,334 when compared to the corresponding period in 2002, partially offsetting the decline in gross lease revenue. Contributing to the decline in rental equipment operating expenses were decreases in handling, repositioning and storage costs. Such costs were partially offset by a $1,848 increase in the provision for doubtful accounts.

Depreciation expense of $289,111 for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2003 was $96,702 lower than the same period in 2002, a result of the Registrant’s declining fleet size.

Other general and administrative expenses were $42,048 for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2003, consistent with the corresponding period in 2002.

Net gain (loss) on disposal of equipment was a result of the Registrant disposing of 216 containers during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2003, as compared to 561 containers during the same period in 2002. These disposals resulted in a gain of $7,515 for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2003, as compared to a loss of $143,645 for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2002. The Registrant believes that the net gain on container disposals in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2003 was a result of various factors including the volume of disposed containers, 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 due to impairment during the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2003 and 2002.

(Continued)

13

Table of Contents

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash from Operating Activities: Net cash provided by operating activities was $184,654 and $286,662 during the first nine months of 2003 and 2002, respectively, primarily generated from the billing and collection of net lease revenue.

Cash from Investing Activities: Net cash provided by investing activities during the nine-month periods ending September 30 2003 and 2002, included sales proceeds generated from the sale of rental equipment of $182,945 and $478,378 respectively.

Cash from Financing Activities: Net cash used in financing activities was $426,143 during the first nine months of 2003 compared to $819,647 in the corresponding period of 2002. These amounts represent distributions to the Registrant’s general and limited partners. The Registrant’s continuing container disposals, as well as current market conditions, should produce lower operating results and, consequently, lower distributions to its partners in subsequent periods. Sales proceeds distributed to its partners may fluctuate in subsequent periods, reflecting the level of container disposals.

Capital Resources

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. Quarterly distributions are also affected by periodic increases or decreases to working capital reserves, as deemed appropriate by CCC, to ensure cash reserves on hand are sufficient to meet the Registrant’s operating requirements. No credit lines are maintained to finance working capital.

Critical Accounting Policies

Container equipment – depreciable lives: Container rental equipment is depreciated over a useful life of 15 years to a residual value of 10%. The Registrant re-evaluates the period of amortization and residual values to determine whether subsequent events and circumstances warrant revised estimates of useful lives and residual values.

Container equipment – valuation: The Registrant reviews container rental equipment when changes in circumstances require consideration as to whether the carrying value of the equipment has become impaired, pursuant to guidance established in SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets.” The Registrant considers assets to be impaired if the carrying value of the asset exceeds the future projected cash flows from related operations (undiscounted and without interest charges). When impairment is deemed to exist, the assets are written down to fair value or projected discounted cash flows from related operations. The Registrant periodically evaluates future cash flows and potential impairment of its fleet by container type rather than for each individual container. Therefore, future losses could result for individual container dispositions due to various factors including age, condition, suitability for continued leasing, as well as geographic location of the containers where disposed. Considerable judgment 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.

Inflation

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

(Continued)

14

Table of Contents

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. The Leasing Company believes that the proportion of US dollar revenues may decrease in future years, reflecting a more diversified customer base and lease portfolios. 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.

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.

15

Table of Contents

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

(a)

Exhibits

(b)		Reports on Form 8-K
		No reports on Form 8-K were filed by the Registrant during the quarter ended September 30, 2003.

16

Table of Contents

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.

Date: November 12, 2003

17

Table of Contents

EXHIBIT INDEX

18