SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
/X/ Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2003
/ / 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: 333-84730
LEASE EQUITY APPRECIATION FUND I, L.P.
_______________________________________________________________________________
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 68-0492247
_______________________________________________________________________________
(State of organization) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
1845 Walnut Street, Suite 1000, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103
_______________________________________________________________________________
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
(215) 574-1636
_______________________________________________________________________________
(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 regis-
trant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such fil-
ing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes __X__ No _____
Page 1 of 20
Part I: Financial Information
Item 1: Financial Statements
LEASE EQUITY APPRECIATION FUND I, L.P.
BALANCE SHEETS
ASSETS
(Unaudited) (Audited)
March 31, December 31,
2003 2002
________ ________
Cash and cash equivalents $2,282,873 $1,001
Accounts receivable 41,795 -
Due from related parties 218,107 -
Net investment in direct
financing leases 4,743,513 -
Equipment under operating leases
(net of accumulated depreciation
of $1,776 and $-, respectively) 60,392 -
Equipment held for sale or lease 1,691,928 -
__________ ______
Total assets $9,038,608 $1,001
========== ======
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL
Liabilities:
Lease rents paid in advance $ 42,122 $ -
Accounts payable and accrued expenses 21,521 -
Accounts payable-equipment 1,552,751 -
Due to related parties 1,116,364 -
Bank warehouse debt 3,869,880 -
Security deposits 99,870 -
__________ ______
Total liabilities 6,702,508 -
Partners' capital 2,336,100 1,001
__________ ______
Total liabilities and
partners' capital $9,038,608 $1,001
========== ======
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
2
LEASE EQUITY APPRECIATION FUND I, L.P.
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the three months ended March 31, 2003
(Unaudited)
Income:
Earned income on direct financing leases $33,411
Rentals 1,972
Other 550
_______
35,933
_______
Expenses:
Depreciation 1,776
Interest expense 12,404
General and administrative 115
General and administrative to related
party 20,913
Management fee to related party 2,816
_______
38,024
_______
Net loss ($ 2,091)
=======
Net loss per limited partnership unit ($0.09)
======
Weighted average number of
limited partnership units
outstanding during the period 22,059
=======
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
3
LEASE EQUITY APPRECIATION FUND I, L.P.
STATEMENT OF PARTNERS' CAPITAL
For the three months ended March 31, 2003
(Unaudited)
General Limited Partners
Partner Units Amount Total
_______ _____ ______ _____
Balance, January 1, 2003 $1,000 10 $ 1 $ 1,001
Partners' contribution - 26,851 2,679,990 2,679,990
Expenses incurred for the sale
of partnership units - - (342,799) (342,799)
Redemption - (10) (1) (1)
Net loss (21) - (2,070) (2,091)
______ ______ __________ __________
Balance, March 31, 2003 $ 979 26,851 $2,335,121 $2,336,100
====== ====== ========== ==========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
4
LEASE EQUITY APPRECIATION FUND I, L.P.
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
For the three months ended March 31, 2003
(Unaudited)
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss ($2,091)
__________
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to
net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation 1,776
(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable (41,795)
(Increase) decrease in due from related parties (218,107)
Increase (decrease) in lease rents paid
in advance 42,122
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and
accrued expenses 21,521
Increase (decrease) in due to related parties 1,116,364
Increase (decrease) in security deposits 99,870
__________
1,021,751
__________
Net cash provided by operating activities 1,019,660
__________
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisition of equipment under operating lease (62,168)
Acquisition of equipment held for sale or lease (1,691,928)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable-equipment 1,552,751
Investment in direct financing leases (4,847,955)
Proceeds from direct financing leases,
net of earned income 104,442
__________
Net cash used in investing activities (4,944,858)
__________
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from bank warehouse debt 3,869,880
Partners' capital contributions 2,679,990
Redemption of partner's capital (1)
Payment of expenses incurred for
the sale of partnership units (342,799)
__________
Net cash provided by financing activities 6,207,070
__________
Increase in cash and cash equivalents 2,281,872
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning
of period 1,001
__________
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $2,282,873
==========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
5
LEASE EQUITY APPRECIATION FUND I, L.P.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
March 31, 2003
(Unaudited)
BASIS OF PRESENTATION
The accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements have been prepared
by the Fund in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in
the United States of America, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission. In the opinion of Management, all ad-
justments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for
a fair presentation have been included. These condensed financial statements
should be read with the audited financial statements and notes thereto as of
December 31, 2002 and for the year then ended. The results for the three
months ended March 31, 2003 are not necessarily indicative of the results that
may be expected for the year ended December 31, 2003.
1. ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS OPERATIONS
Lease Equity Appreciation Fund I, L.P. (the Fund), a Delaware limited
partnership was formed on January 31, 2002 by LEAF Asset Management, Inc.
(the General Partner). The Fund's fiscal year ends on December 31. LEAF Asset
Management, Inc., a Delaware corporation, is a wholly owned subsidiary of LEAF
Financial Corporation. LEAF Financial Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary
of Resource Leasing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Resource America, Inc.
Resource America, Inc. is a publicly-traded company (NASDAQ: REXI) with inter-
ests in real estate, finance, energy and equipment leasing.
The General Partner and the initial limited partner capitalized the Fund.
On March 3, 2003, the Fund satisfied its minimum offering requirements and
commenced operations. At that time, the initial limited partner withdrew from
the Partnership.
As of March 31, 2003, the Fund raised $2,679,990 through the sale of 26,851
limited partnership units. The Fund will acquire a diversified portfolio
of equipment that will be leased to end users throughout the United States.
The Fund will also acquire existing portfolios of equipment subject to existing
leases from other equipment lessors. The primary objective of the Fund is to
invest the net proceeds raised from the sale of limited partnership units in
equipment and portfolios of equipment subject to existing equipment leases
in order to generate regular cash distributions to the limited partners over
the life of the Fund.
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Use of Estimates
In preparing financial statements in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America, management is required to
make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and
liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the
date of the financial statements and revenues and expenses during the
reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
6
LEASE EQUITY APPRECIATION FUND I, L.P.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)
Accounting for Leases
The Fund's leasing operations consist of both direct financing and
operating leases which are recorded in accordance with Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 13. Under the direct financing method of accounting
for leases, income (the excess of the aggregate future rentals and estimated
unguaranteed residuals upon expiration of the lease over the related equipment
cost) is recognized over the life of the lease using the interest method.
Under the operating method of accounting for leases, the cost of the leased
equipment is recorded as an asset and depreciated on a straight-line basis over
its estimated useful life, up to seven years. Acquisition fees associated with
lease placements are allocated to equipment when purchased and depreciated as
part of equipment cost. Rental income consists primarily of monthly periodic
rentals due under the terms of the leases. Generally, during the remaining
terms of existing operating leases, the Fund will not recover all of the
undepreciated cost and related expenses of its rental equipment and is prepared
to remarket the equipment in future years. Upon sale or other disposition of
assets, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the
accounts and the resulting gain of loss, if any, is reflected in income.
Equipment held for sale or lease
Equipment held for sale or lease is carried at its estimated net
realizable value.
Income Taxes
Federal and State income tax regulations provide that taxes on the income
or benefits from losses of the Fund are reportable by the partners in
their individual income tax returns. Accordingly, no provision for such
taxes has been made in the accompanying financial statements.
Statements of Cash Flows
For purposes of the statements of cash flows, the Fund considers all highly
liquid debt instruments purchased with a maturity of three months or less to be
cash equivalents.
Net Income (loss)per Limited Partnership Unit
Net income (loss) per limited partnership unit is computed by
dividing net income (loss) allocated to limited partners by the weighted
average number of limited partnership units outstanding during the period.
The weighted average number of units outstanding during the period is computed
based on the number of units issued during the period weighted for the days
outstanding during the period.
7
LEASE EQUITY APPRECIATION FUND
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
The Fund adopted FASB Interpretation 45 (FIN 45), "Guarantor's Accounting
and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, including Indirect Guarantees of
Indebtedness of Others" on January 1, 2003. FIN 45 requires a guarantor
entity, at the inception of a guarantee covered by the measurement provisions
of the interpretation, to record a liability for the fair value of the
obligation undertaken in issuing the guarantee. FIN 45 applies prospectively
to guarantees the Fund issues or modifies subsequent to December 31, 2002. The
adoption of FIN 45 did not have a material impact on the financial position or
results of operations of the Fund.
In January 2003, the FASB issued FIN 46 "Consolidation of Variable Interest
Entities". FIN 46 clarifies the application of Accounting Research Bulletin
51, "Consolidated Financial Statements", for certain entities that do not have
sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without
additional subordinated financial support from other parties or in which equity
investors do not have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest
("variable interest entities"). Variable interest entities within the scope of
FIN 46 will be required to be consolidated by their primary beneficiary. The
primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity is determined to be the party
that absorbs a majority of the entity's expected losses, receives a majority of
its expected returns, or both. FIN 46 applies immediately to variable interest
entities created after January 31, 2003, and to variable interest entities in
which an enterprise obtains an interest after that date. It applies in the
first fiscal year or interim period beginning after June 15, 2003, to variable
interest entities in which an enterprise holds a variable interest that it
acquired before February 1, 2003. The Fund is in the process of determining
what impact, if any, the adoption of the provisions of FIN 46 will have upon
its financial condition or results of operations. The Fund does not anticipate
FIN 46 to have a material impact on its financial position or results of
operations of the Fund.
3. ALLOCATION OF PARTNERSHIP INCOME, LOSS AND CASH DISTRIBUTIONS
Cash distributions, if any, are made monthly as follows: 99% to the Limited
Partners and 1% to the General Partner until the Limited Partners have received
an amount equal to their unpaid cumulative return and thereafter, to investment
and reinvestment in investments or, if the General Partner shall elect not to
invest or reinvest such distributable cash, 99% to the Limited Partners and 1%
to the General Partner.
Net income for any fiscal period during the reinvestment period shall be
allocated 99% to the Limited Partners and 1% to the General Partner. Income
during the liquidation period shall be allocated first to the Partners in
proportion to and to the extent of the deficit balances, if any, in their
respective capital accounts. Thereafter, net income shall be allocated 99%
to the Limited Partners and 1% to the General Partner.
8
LEASE EQUITY APPRECIATION FUND I, L.P.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
3. ALLOCATIONS OF PARTNERSHIP INCOME, LOSS AND CASH DISTRIBUTION (continued)
Net losses for any fiscal period are allocated 99% to the Limited Partners
and 1% to the General Partner until the Limited Partners have been allocated
losses equal to the excess, if any, of their aggregated capital account
balances over their aggregated adjusted capital contributions. Next, losses
are allocated to the partners in proportion to and to the extent of their
respective remaining positive capital account balances, if any. Thereafter,
losses are allocated 99% to the Limited Partners and 1% to the General Partner.
4. EQUIPMENT LEASED
The Fund's direct financing leases are for initial lease terms ranging
from 10 to 80 months. Unguaranteed residuals for direct financing leases
represent the estimated amounts recoverable at lease termination from lease
extensions or disposition of the equipment. The Fund reviews these residual
values quarterly. If the equipment's fair market value is below the estimated
residual value, an adjustment is made.
The approximate net investment in direct financing leases as of
March 31, 2003 is as follows:
Minimum lease payments to be received $5,381,000
Unguaranteed residuals 180,000
Unearned rental income (789,000)
Unearned residual income (28,000)
__________
$4,744,000
==========
Equipment on lease consists of equipment under an operating lease
for an initial lease term of 31 months.
The future approximate minimum rentals to be received on non-
cancelable direct financing and operating leases as of March 31, 2003
are as follows:
Years Ending December 31 Direct Financing Operating
___________________________ __________________ ___________
2003 $1,319,000 $18,000
2004 1,504,000 24,000
2005 1,159,000 17,000
2006 716,000 -
2007 477,000 -
Thereafter 206,000 -
__________ _______
$5,381,000 $59,000
========== =======
9
LEASE EQUITY APPRECIATION FUND I, L.P.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
5. BANK WAREHOUSE DEBT
The Fund and its affiliates entered into a revolving credit line with
National City Bank that has an aggregated borrowing limit of up to $10 million
consisting of revolving credit and loan components. Interest on the
facility is calculated at LIBOR plus three percent per annum at the time of
borrowing. The interest rate on the outstanding debt at March 31, 2003 was
4.34%. Borrowings under the facility are collateralized by the leases being
financed and the underlying equipment being leased. The agreement contains
certain covenants pertaining to the Fund and its affiliates, including the
maintenance of certain financial ratios. At March 31, 2003, all financial
covenants have been met. The facility expires on June 10, 2003 at which time
the outstanding principal balance of $3,869,880 is due unless the credit line
is renewed.
6. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES
The General Partner receives an organization and offering expense allowance
of 3% of the offering proceeds with respect to expenses incurred in organizing
the Fund and offering the units. This expense allowance does not cover
underwriting fees or sales commissions.
The General Partner receives a fee for assisting the Fund in acquiring
equipment and portfolios of equipment subject to existing equipment leases.
This fee is equal to 2% of the purchase price paid for the equipment and
portfolios of equipment subject to existing equipment leases, including in
each instance, debt it incurs or assumes in connection with the acquisition.
The General Partner receives a subordinated annual asset management
fee of 3% of gross rental payments for operating leases, as defined in the
Partnership Agreement, or 2% of gross rental payments for full payout leases,
as defined in the Partnership Agreement, or a competitive fee, whichever is
less. An operating lease, as defined in the Partnership Agreement, is one in
which the aggregate noncancellable rental payments during the initial term of
the lease, on a net present value basis, are not sufficient to recover the
purchase price of the equipment. A full payout lease, as defined in the
Partnership Agreement, is one in which the gross rental payments, on a net
present value basis, are atleast sufficient to recover the purchase price of
the equipment. During the Fund's five-year investment period, the management
fee will be subordinated to the payment of a cumulative annual distribution to
the Fund's limited partners equal to 8% of their capital contributions, as
adjusted by distributions deemedto be a return of capital.
The General Partner receives a subordinated remarketing fee equal to
one-half of a competitive commission, to a maximum of 3% of the contract sales
price, for arranging the sale of the Fund's equipment after the expiration of
a lease. This commission will be subordinated to the payment of a cumulative
8% annual return to the limited partners on their capital contributions, as
adjusted by distributions deemed to be a return of capital.
10
LEASE EQUITY APPRECIATION FUND I, L.P.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
MARCH 31, 2003
6. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES (Continued)
The General Partner will receive a commission equal to the lesser of a
competitive rate or 2% of gross rental payments derived from any re-lease
of equipment if the re-lease is with the original lessee or its affiliates.
The General Partner and its parent company are reimbursed by the fund for
certain costs of services and materials used by or for the Fund except those
items covered by the above-mentioned fees.
Anthem Securities, Inc. (Anthem Securities), an indirect wholly-owned
subsidiary of Resources America, receives an underwriting fee of 2% of the
offering proceeds for obtaining and managing the group of selling broker-
dealers who will sell the units in the offering. Anthem Securities will also
receive sales commissions of 8% of the proceeds of each unit sold by it,
although it is not anticipated that it will sell a material number of units.
During the first quarter of 2003, the Fund transferred its checking and
investment accounts from The Bancorp Bank ("TBB") to Commerce Bank. The son
and the spouse of the Chairman of Resource America, Inc. are the Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer, respectively, of TBB.
The following is a summary of fees and costs of services and materials
charged by the General Partner or its affiliates during the three months
ended March 31, 2003 (unaudited):
Acquisition fee $129,449
Management fee 2,816
Organization and offering expense 80,400
Reimbursable costs 20,913
Selling commissions and
underwriting fee 262,399
Due from related parties at March 31, 2003 represents monies due the Fund
from the General Partner and/ or its affiliates for amounts collected and not
yet remitted to the Fund.
Due to related parties at March 31, 2003 represents monies due to the
General Partner and/ or its parent company for the fees and costs mentioned
above as well as reimbursement for equipment funding.
7. CASH DISTRIBUTION
The General Partner declared and paid a cash distribution of $81,212 in
April 2003 for the month ended March 31, 2003 to all admitted partners as of
March 31, 2003. There were no cash distributions paid during the three months
ended March 31, 2003.
11
LEASE EQUITY APPRECIATION FUND I, L.P.
Item 2: MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Lease Equity Appreciation Fund I, L.P. broke escrow on March 3, 2003.
The Fund had revenues of $35,933 for the three months ended March 31, 2003.
Earned income from direct financing leases and rentals from operating leases
comprised 98% of total revenues. Expenses were $38,024 for the three months
ended March 31, 2003.
The Fund had a net loss of $2,091 for the three months ended
March 31, 2003. The loss per limited partnership unit, after loss allocated
to the General Partner was ($0.09) based on a weighted average number of
limited partnership units outstanding of 22,059.
ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
The Fund raised $2,679,990 from the sale of limited partnership units
as of March 31, 2003. The Fund invested the proceeds raised, together with
borrowed funds from the bank warehouse line, in direct financing leases of
$4,847,955 and operating leases of $62,168 during the quarter ended
March 31, 2003.
Subsequent to March 31, 2003, the General Partner declared and paid a cash
distribution of $81,212 to all admitted partners as of March 31, 2003.
The cash position of the Fund is reviewed daily and cash is invested on a
short-term basis.
The Fund's cash from operations is expected to continue to be adequate to
cover all operating expenses and contingencies during the next twelve month
period.
Item 3: QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Not applicable.
Item 4: CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
The Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of LEAF Asset
Management, Inc., the General Partner of the Fund, have concluded, based on an
evaluation conducted within 90 days prior to the filing date of this Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q, that the Fund's disclosure controls and procedures as
defined in Rules Section 240.13a-14(c) and 240.15d-14(c) are effective.
There have been no significant changes in the Fund's internal controls
or in other factors since the date of the Chief Executive Officer's and Chief
Financial Officer's evaluation that could significantly affect these internal
controls, including any corrective actions with regard to significant de-
ficiencies and material weaknesses.
12
Part II: Other Information
LEASE EQUITY APPRECIATION FUND I, L.P.
March 31, 2003
Item 1. Legal Proceedings: Inapplicable.
Item 2. Changes in Securities: Inapplicable.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities: Inapplicable.
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Securities Holders: Inapplicable.
Item 5. Other Information: Inapplicable.
Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K:
a) Exhibit No. Description
----------- -----------
99.1 Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C.,
Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002
99.2 Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C.,
Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002
b) Reports on Form 8-K: None
13
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the re-
gistrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the under-
signed, thereunto duly authorized.
LEASE EQUITY APPRECIATION FUND I, L.P.
5-15-03 By: /s/ Crit S. DeMent
____________________________
Crit S. DeMent
Chairman of the Board of Directors
of LEAF Asset Management, Inc.
5-15-03 By: /s/ Miles Herman
____________________________
Miles Herman
President and a Director of
LEAF Asset Management, Inc.
(Principal Executive Officer)
5-15-03 By: /s/ Freddie M. Kotek
____________________________
Freddie M. Kotek
Vice Chairman and a Director of
LEAF Asset Management, Inc.
5-15-03 By: /s/ Marianne T. Schuster
____________________________
Marianne T. Schuster
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of
LEAF Asset Management, Inc.
(Principal Financial Officer)
14
I, Miles Herman, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Lease Equity
Appreciation Fund I, L.P.;
2. Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any
untrue statement of 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 registrant's other certifying officers 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, including its consolidated
subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particu-
larly 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 effect-
tiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as
of the Evaluation Date;
5. The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based
on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant's auditors and the audit
committee of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the
equivalent function):
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. The registrant's other certifying officers 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.
15
CERTIFICATIONS (continued)
Date: May 15, 2003
/s/ Miles Herman
____________________________
Miles Herman
President and a Director of LEAF Asset Management, Inc. (The General Partner)
(Principal Executive Officer)
16
CERTIFICATIONS
I, Marianne T. Schuster, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Lease Equity
Appreciation Fund I, L.P.;
2. Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any
untrue statement of 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 registrant's other certifying officers 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, including its consolidated
subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particul-
arly 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 effect-
iveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as
of the Evaluation Date;
5. The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based
on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant's auditors and the audit
committee of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the
equivalent function):
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. The registrant's other certifying officers 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.
17
CERTIFICATIONS (continued)
Date: May 15, 2003
/s/ Marianne T. Schuster
____________________________
Marianne T. Schuster
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of LEAF Asset Management, Inc.
(The General Partner)
(Principal Financial Officer)
18
Exhibit 99.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the Quarterly Report of Lease Equity Appreciation Fund I,
L.P. (the "Fund") on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2003 as
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the
"Report"), I, Miles Herman, Principal Executive Officer of LEAF Asset
Management, Inc., the General Partner of the Fund, certify, pursuant to 18
U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002, that:
(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a)
or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
material respects, the financial condition and results of opera-
tions of the Fund.
/s/ Miles Herman
________________________
Miles Herman
Principal Executive Officer of LEAF Asset Management, Inc.
May 15, 2003
19
Exhibit 99.2
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the Quarterly Report of Lease Equity Appreciation Fund I,
L.P. (the "Fund") on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2003 as
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the
"Report"), I, Marianne T. Schuster, Principal Financial Officer of LEAF
Asset Management, Inc., the General Partner of the Fund, certify, pursuant
to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-
Oxley Act of 2002, that:
(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a)
or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
material respects, the financial condition and results of opera-
tions of the Fund.
/s/ Marianne T. Schuster
________________________
Marianne T. Schuster
Principal Financial Officer of LEAF Asset Management, Inc.
May 15, 2003
20