Atel Capital Equipment Fund Ix (ZZHJC) 10-Q 2018 Q1 Quarterly report

Form 10-Q

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

x	Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
	For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2018

o	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 000-50210

ATEL Capital Equipment Fund IX, LLC

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

California	94-3375584
(State or other jurisdiction of Incorporation or organization)	(I. R. S. Employer Identification No.)

The Transamerica Pyramid, 600 Montgomery Street, 9th Floor, San Francisco, California 94111
(Address of principal executive offices)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code(415) 989-8800

Securities registered pursuant to section 12(b) of the Act:None

Securities registered pursuant to section 12(g) of the Act:Limited Liability Company Units

Indicate by a 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.Yesx Noo

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).Yesx Noo

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definition of “accelerated filer, large accelerated filer and smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filero     Accelerated filero     Non-accelerated filero     Smaller reporting companyx
Emerging growth companyo

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yeso Nox

The number of Limited Liability Company Units outstanding as of April 30, 2018 was 12,055,016.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

None.

ATEL CAPITAL EQUIPMENT FUND IX, LLC

Index

Part I. Financial Information		3
Item 1. Financial Statements (Unaudited)		3
Balance Sheets, March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017		3
Statements of Income for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017		4
Statements of Changes in Members’ Capital for the year ended December 31, 2017 and for the three months ended March 31, 2018		5
Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017		6
Notes to the Financial Statements		7
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations		16
Item 4. Controls and Procedures		18
Part II. Other Information		19
Item 1. Legal Proceedings		19
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds		19
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities		19
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures		19
Item 5. Other Information		19
Item 6. Exhibits		19

2

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements (Unaudited).

ATEL CAPITAL EQUIPMENT FUND IX, LLC
 
BALANCE SHEETS
 
MARCH 31, 2018 AND DECEMBER 31, 2017
(in thousands)

	March 31, 2018		December 31, 2017
	(Unaudited)
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$	863	$	441
Accounts receivable, net		142		112
Investment in securities		5		5
Investments in equipment and leases, net		3,479		3,703
Prepaid expenses and other assets		61		68
Total assets	$	4,550	$	4,329
LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS’ CAPITAL
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities:
Managing Member	$	15	$	18
Due to affiliates		49		39
Other		147		137
Deposits due lessees		6		6
Unearned operating lease income		68		49
Total liabilities		285		249
Commitments and contingencies
Members’ capital:
Managing Member		—		—
Other Members		4,265		4,080
Total Members’ capital		4,265		4,080
Total liabilities and Members’ capital	$	4,550	$	4,329

See accompanying notes.

3

ATEL CAPITAL EQUIPMENT FUND IX, LLC
 
STATEMENTS OF INCOME
 
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED
MARCH 31, 2018 AND 2017
(in thousands, except for units and per unit data)
(Unaudited)

		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2018		2017
Revenues:
Leasing and lending activities:
Operating leases		$	472	$	636
Gain on sales of lease assets			83		3
Other revenue			2		2
Total revenues			557		641
Expenses:
Depreciation of operating lease assets			83		122
Asset management fees to Managing Member			14		25
Cost reimbursements to Managing Member and/or affiliates			111		119
Provision for credit losses			—		2
Amortization of initial direct costs			1		—
Other management fees			5		7
Professional fees			55		51
Outside services			39		33
Insurance			12		11
Railcar and equipment maintenance			22		35
Franchise fees and state taxes	��		1		2
Storage fees			11		12
Postage			6		6
Printing and photocopying			3		10
Other			11		25
Total operating expenses			374		460
Other income, net			2		2
Net income		$	185	$	183
Net income:
Managing Member		$	—	$	183
Other Members			185		—
		$	185	$	183
Net income per Limited Liability Company Unit (Other Members)		$	0.02	$	—
Weighted average number of Units outstanding			12,055,016		12,055,016

See accompanying notes.

4

ATEL CAPITAL EQUIPMENT FUND IX, LLC
 
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN MEMBERS’ CAPITAL
 
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017
AND FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED
MARCH 31, 2018
(in thousands, except for units and per unit data)

			Amount
	Units		Other Members			Managing Member			Total
Balance December 31, 2016		12,055,016	$	7,361		$	—		$	7,361
Distributions to Other Members ($0.32 per Unit)		—		(3,842	)		—			(3,842	)
Distributions to Managing Member		—		—			(312	)		(312	)
Net income		—		561			312			873
Balance December 31, 2017		12,055,016		4,080			—			4,080
Net income		—		185			—			185
Balance March 31, 2018 (unaudited)		12,055,016	$	4,265		$	—		$	4,265

See accompanying notes.

5

ATEL CAPITAL EQUIPMENT FUND IX, LLC
 
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED
MARCH 31, 2018 AND 2017
(in thousands)
(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2018			2017
Operating activities:
Net income	$	185		$	183
Adjustment to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Gain on sales of lease assets		(83	)		(3	)
Depreciation of operating lease assets		83			122
Amortization of initial direct costs		1			—
Provision for credit losses		—			2
Accounts receivable		(30	)		(2	)
Prepaid expenses and other assets		7			9
Accounts payable, Managing Member and affiliates		7			50
Accounts payable, other		10			(164	)
Unearned operating lease income		19			(70	)
Net cash provided by operating activities		199			127
Investing activities:
Proceeds from sales of lease assets		223			8
Principal payments received on direct financing leases		—			1
Net cash provided by investing activities		223			9
Financing activities:
Distributions to Other Members		—			(2,260	)
Distributions to Managing Member		—			(183	)
Net cash used in financing activities		—			(2,443	)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		422			(2,307	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		441			3,421
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	863		$	1,114
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid during the period for taxes	$	3		$	7

See accompanying notes.

6

ATEL CAPITAL EQUIPMENT FUND IX, LLC
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

1. Organization and Limited Liability Company matters:

ATEL Capital Equipment Fund IX, LLC (the “Company” or the “Fund”) was formed under the laws of the State of California on September 27, 2000 for the purpose of engaging in the sale of limited liability company investment units and acquiring equipment to engage in equipment leasing, lending and sales activities, primarily in the United States. The Managing Member or Manager of the Company is ATEL Financial Services, LLC (“AFS”), a California limited liability company. The Company may continue until December 31, 2020. Contributions in the amount of $600 were received as of December 31, 2000, $100 of which represented AFS’s continuing interest, and $500 of which represented the initial Member’s capital investment.

As of January 15, 2003, the offering was terminated. As of that date, the Company had received subscriptions for 12,065,266 Units ($120.7 million). Subsequent to January 15, 2003, Units totaling 10,250 were rescinded or repurchased and funds returned to investors (net of distributions paid and allocated syndication costs, as applicable). As of March 31, 2018, 12,055,016 Units remain issued and outstanding.

On January 1, 2010, the Company commenced liquidation phase activities pursuant to the guidelines of the Operating Agreement. Pursuant to the terms of the Operating Agreement, AFS receives compensation and reimbursements for services rendered on behalf of the Company (See Note 6). The Company is required to maintain reasonable cash reserves for working capital, for the repurchase of Units and for contingencies. The repurchase of Units is solely at the discretion of AFS.

These unaudited interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto contained in the report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

2. Summary of significant accounting policies:

Basis of presentation:

The accompanying unaudited financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q as mandated by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The unaudited interim financial statements reflect all adjustments which are, in the opinion of the Managing Member, necessary for a fair statement of financial position and results of operations for the interim periods presented. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

Certain prior period amounts may have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. These reclassifications had no significant impact on the reported financial position or results of operations.

Footnote and tabular amounts are presented in thousands, except as to Units and per Unit data.

In preparing the accompanying unaudited financial statements, the Managing Member has reviewed events that have occurred after March 31, 2018, up until the issuance of the financial statements. No events were noted which would require additional disclosure in the footnotes to the financial statements, or adjustments thereto.

Use of estimates:

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management 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 reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Such estimates primarily relate to the determination of residual values at the end of the lease term and expected future cash flows used for impairment analysis purposes and for determination of the allowance for doubtful accounts.

7

ATEL CAPITAL EQUIPMENT FUND IX, LLC
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

2. Summary of significant accounting policies: - (continued)

Segment reporting:

The Company is not organized by multiple operating segments for the purpose of making operating decisions or assessing performance. Accordingly, the Company operates in one reportable operating segment in the United States.

The primary geographic regions in which the Company seeks leasing opportunities are North America and Europe. The table below summarizes geographic information relating to the sources, by nation, of the Company’s total revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, and long-lived tangible assets as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 (dollars in thousands):

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2018		% of Total			2017		% of Total
Revenue
North America	$	538		97	%	$	623		97	%
Canada		19		3	%		11		2	%
United Kingdom		—		0	%		7		1	%
Total International		19		3	%		18		3	%
Total	$	557		100	%	$	641		100	%

	As of March 31,					As of December 31,
	2018		% of Total			2017		% of Total
Long-lived assets
North America	$	3,388		97	%	$	3,610		97	%
Canada		91		3	%		91		3	%
United Kingdom		—		0	%		2		0	%
Total International		91		3	%		93		3	%
Total	$	3,479		100	%	$	3,703		100	%

Investment in securities:

Purchased securities

The Company's investment securities not registered for public sale that do not have readily determinable fair values are measured at cost minus impairment, and adjusted for changes in observable prices. There were neither impaired securities at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 nor investment securities sold or disposed of during the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

Other income, net:

Other income, net consisted solely of net gains and losses on foreign exchange transactions.

Per Unit data:

The Company issues only one class of Units, none of which are considered dilutive. Net income and distributions per Unit are based upon the weighted average number of Other Members’ Units outstanding during the period.

Fair value:

Fair value measurements and disclosures are based on a fair value hierarchy as determined by significant inputs used to measure fair value. The three levels of inputs within the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

8

ATEL CAPITAL EQUIPMENT FUND IX, LLC
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

2. Summary of significant accounting policies: - (continued)

Level 1 — Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. An active market for the asset or liability is a market in which transactions for the asset or liability occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis, generally on a national exchange.

Level 2 — Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, and model-based valuations in which all significant inputs are observable in the market.

Level 3 — Valuation is modeled using significant inputs that are unobservable in the market. These unobservable inputs reflect the Company’s own estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.

The Company’s valuation policy is determined by members of the Asset Management, Credit and Accounting departments. Whenever possible, the policy is to obtain quoted market prices in active markets to estimate fair values for recognition and disclosure purposes. Where quoted market prices in active markets are not available, fair values are estimated using discounted cash flow analyses, broker quotes, information from third party remarketing agents, third party appraisals of collateral and/or other valuation techniques. These techniques are significantly affected by certain of the Company’s assumptions, including discount rates and estimates of future cash flows. Potential taxes and other transaction costs are not considered in estimating fair values. As the Company is responsible for determining fair value, an analysis is performed on prices obtained from third parties. Such analysis is performed by asset management and credit department personnel who are familiar with the Company’s investments in equipment, and equity securities of venture companies. The analysis may include a periodic review of price fluctuations and validation of numbers obtained from a specific third party by reference to multiple representative sources.

Recent accounting pronouncements:

In August 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-15 — Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (“ASU 2016-15”). ASU 2016-15 addresses specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice. The amendments in this Update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. This guidance is effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2018. The adoption of ASU 2016-15 did not have a material impact on its financial statements and disclosures.

In June 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-13, Financial Instruments — Credit Losses (Topic 326) (“ASU 2016-13”). The main objective of this Update is to provide financial statement users with more decision-useful information about the expected credit losses on financial instruments and other commitments to extend credit held by a reporting entity at each reporting date. To achieve this objective, the amendments in this Update replace the incurred loss impairment methodology in current GAAP with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. The amendments affect entities holding financial assets and net investment in leases that are not accounted for at fair value through net income. The amendments affect loans, debt securities, trade receivables, net investments in leases, off-balance-sheet credit exposures, reinsurance receivables, and any other financial assets not excluded from the scope that have the contractual right to receive cash. ASU 2016-13 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. Management is currently evaluating the standard and expects the Update may potentially result in an increase in the allowance for credit losses given the change to estimated losses over the contractual life adjusted for expected prepayments.

9

ATEL CAPITAL EQUIPMENT FUND IX, LLC
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

2. Summary of significant accounting policies: - (continued)

In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (“ASU 2016-02”). The new standard will require lessees to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities arising from operating leases with lease terms greater than 12 months in the statement of financial position. Lessor accounting per ASU 2016-02 is mostly unchanged from the previous lease accounting under GAAP. Certain changes were made to the lessor accounting guidance in order to align the lessor accounting with the lessee accounting model and Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Similar to the previous guidance, lessors will classify leases as operating, direct financing, or sales-type. Lessors in operating leases will continue to recognize the underlying asset and recognize income on a straight-line basis. Lessors determine whether a lease is a sale of the underlying asset based on whether the lessee effectively obtains control of the underlying assets. ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. While early adoption is permitted, the Company does not expect to elect that option. The Company expects to adopt the guidance in the first quarter 2019 using the modified retrospective method. Management is currently evaluating the impact of this standard on the financial statements and its operational and related disclosure requirements, including the impact on the Company’s current lease portfolio from a lessor perspective. Given the limited changes to lessor accounting, Management does not expect material changes to recognition or measurement, but the Company is early in the implementation process and will continue to evaluate the impact.

In January 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-01, Financial Instruments — Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (“ASU 2016-01”). The new standard provides guidance related to accounting for equity investments and financial liabilities under the fair value option, and the presentation and disclosure requirements for financial instruments. ASU 2016-01, among other things, (i) requires equity investments, with certain exceptions, to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income, (ii) simplifies the impairment assessment of equity investments without readily determinable fair values by requiring a qualitative assessment to identify impairment, (iii) eliminates the requirement for public business entities to disclose the method(s) and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value that is required to be disclosed for financial instruments measured at amortized cost on the balance sheet, (iv) requires public business entities to use the exit price notion when measuring the fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes, and (v) requires separate presentation of financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form of financial asset on the balance sheet or the accompanying notes to the financial statements. ASU 2016-01 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. This guidance is effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2018. The adoption of ASU 2016-01 did not have a material impact on its financial statements and disclosures. The Company elected to record equity investments without readily determinable fair values at cost, less impairment, and adjusted for changes in observable prices. Any changes in the basis of these equity investments are reported in current earnings.

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2014-09”), which amends the existing accounting standards for revenue recognition. ASU 2014-09 is based on principles that govern the recognition of revenue at an amount an entity expects to be entitled when products are transferred to customers. On July 9, 2015, the FASB approved the deferral of the effective date of ASU 2014-09 by one year and in August 2015, issued Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date (“ASU 2015-14”). ASU 2015-14 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period. Earlier application is permitted only as of annual reporting periods beginning after December 31, 2016, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period. The new revenue standard may be applied retrospectively to each prior period presented or retrospectively with the cumulative effect recognized as of the date of adoption. This guidance is effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2018. Management

10

ATEL CAPITAL EQUIPMENT FUND IX, LLC
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

2. Summary of significant accounting policies: - (continued)

evaluated the impact of such adoption on the financial statements of the Company indicated that such impact was immaterial as the new revenue guideline does not affect revenues from leases and loans, which comprise the majority of the Company’s revenues since leases are not included within the scope of Topic 825.

3. Allowance for credit losses:

The Company’s allowance for credit losses totaled $12 thousand at both March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017. All of such allowance was related to delinquent operating lease receivables.

4. Investment in equipment and leases, net:

The Company’s investment in equipment and leases consists of the following (in thousands):

	Balance December 31, 2017		Reclassifications, Additions/ Dispositions			Depreciation/ Amortization Expense or Amortization of Leases			Balance March 31, 2018
Net investment in operating leases	$	3,079	$	(144	)	$	(83	)	$	2,852
Assets held for sale or lease, net		616		4			—			620
Initial direct costs, net of accumulated amortization of $3 at March 31, 2018 and $2 at December 31, 2017		8		—			(1	)		7
Total	$	3,703	$	(140	)	$	(84	)	$	3,479

Impairment of investments in leases and assets held for sale or lease:

Recorded values of the Company’s leased asset portfolio are reviewed each quarter to confirm the reasonableness of established residual values and to determine whether there is indication that an asset impairment might have taken place. The Company uses a variety of sources and considers many factors in evaluating whether the respective book values of its assets are appropriate. In addition, the Company may direct a residual value review at any time if it becomes aware of issues regarding the ability of a lessee to continue to make payments on its lease contract. An impairment loss is measured and recognized only if the estimated undiscounted future cash flows of the asset are less than their net book value. The estimated undiscounted future cash flows are the sum of the residual value of the asset at the end of the asset’s lease contract and undiscounted future rents from the existing lease contract, if any. The residual value assumes, among other things, that the asset is utilized normally in an open, unrestricted and stable market. Short-term fluctuations in the marketplace are disregarded and it is assumed that there is no necessity either to dispose of a significant number of the assets simultaneously, if held in quantity, or to dispose of the asset quickly. Impairment is measured as the difference between the fair value (as determined by a valuation method using discounted estimated future cash flows, third party appraisals or comparable sales of similar assets as applicable based on asset type) of the asset and its carrying value on the measurement date. Upward adjustments for impairments recognized in prior periods are not made in any circumstances.

As a result of these reviews, management determined that no impairment losses existed during the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

The Company utilizes a straight line depreciation method for equipment in all of the categories currently in its portfolio of operating lease transactions. Depreciation expense on the Company’s equipment was $83 thousand and $122 thousand for the respective three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017. The Company recorded $1 thousand and $0 initial direct cost amortization during the respective three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

All of the leased property was acquired beginning in 2001 through 2010.

11

ATEL CAPITAL EQUIPMENT FUND IX, LLC
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

4. Investment in equipment and leases, net: - (continued)

Operating leases:

Property on operating leases consists of the following (in thousands):

	Balance December 31, 2017			Additions			Reclassifications or Dispositions			Balance March 31, 2018
Transportation, rail	$	11,996		$	—		$	(220	)	$	11,776
Marine vessels		9,700			—			—			9,700
Transportation, other		1,371			—			—			1,371
Materials handling		615			—			(42	)		573
Construction		417			—			(417	)		—
Manufacturing		124			—			(124	)		—
Other		11			—			—			11
		24,234			—			(803	)		23,431
Less accumulated depreciation		(21,155	)		(83	)		659			(20,579	)
Total	$	3,079		$	(83	)	$	(144	)	$	2,852

The average estimated residual value for assets on operating leases was 11% of the assets’ original cost at both March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017. There were no operating leases placed in non-accrual status as of the same dates.

The Company may earn revenues from its containers, marine vessel and certain other assets based on utilization of such assets on a fixed-term lease. Contingent rentals (i.e., short-term, operating charter hire payments) and the associated expenses are recorded when earned and/or incurred. The revenues associated with these rentals are included as a component of operating lease revenues and totaled $15 thousand and $21 thousand for the respective three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

At March 31, 2018, the aggregate amounts of future minimum lease payments receivable are as follows (in thousands):

	Operating Leases
Nine months ending December 31, 2018	$	957
Twelve months ending December 31, 2019		929
2020		527
2021		129
2022		25
	$	2,567

12

ATEL CAPITAL EQUIPMENT FUND IX, LLC
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

4. Investment in equipment and leases, net: - (continued)

The useful lives for each category of leases is reviewed at a minimum of once per quarter. As of March 31, 2018, the respective useful lives of each category of lease assets in the Company’s portfolio are as follows (in years):

Equipment category	Useful Life
Transportation, rail		35 – 40
Marine vessels		20 – 30
Manufacturing		10 – 15
Construction		7 – 10
Materials handling		7 – 10
Transportation, other		7 – 10

5. Related party transactions:

The terms of the Operating Agreement provide that AFS and/or affiliates are entitled to receive certain fees for equipment management and resale and for management of the Company.

The Operating Agreement allows for the reimbursement of costs incurred by AFS for providing administrative services to the Company. Administrative services provided include Company accounting, finance/treasury, investor relations, legal counsel and lease and equipment documentation. AFS is not reimbursed for services whereby it is entitled to receive a separate fee as compensation for such services, such as management of equipment. The Company would be liable for certain future costs to be incurred by AFS to manage the administrative services provided to the Company.

Each of ATEL Leasing Corporation (“ALC”) and AFS is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ATEL Capital Group and performs services for the Company. Acquisition services, equipment management, lease administration and asset disposition services are performed by ALC; investor relations, communications and general administrative services for the Company are performed by AFS.

Cost reimbursements to the Managing Member are based on its costs incurred in performing administrative services for the Company. These costs are allocated to each managed entity based on certain criteria such as managed assets, number of investors or contributed capital based upon the type of cost incurred. The Operating Agreement places an annual limit and a cumulative limit for cost reimbursements to AFS and/or affiliates. Any reimbursable costs incurred by AFS and/or affiliates during the year exceeding the annual and/or cumulative limits cannot be reimbursed in the current year, though such costs may be recovered in future years to the extent of the cumulative limit. As of March 31, 2018, the Company has not exceeded the annual and/or cumulative limitations discussed above.

During the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, AFS and/or affiliates earned fees and billed for reimbursements of costs and expenses pursuant to the Operating Agreement as follows (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2018		2017
Costs reimbursed to Managing Member and/or affiliates	$	111	$	119
Asset management fees to Managing Member and/or affiliates		14		25
	$	125	$	144

13

ATEL CAPITAL EQUIPMENT FUND IX, LLC
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

6. Commitments and Contingencies:

At March 31, 2018, the Company had no commitments to purchase lease assets or fund investments in notes receivable.

7. Members’ capital:

As of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, 12,055,016 Units were issued and outstanding. The Company was authorized to issue up to 15,000,000 Units in addition to the Units issued to the initial Members (50 Units).

Distributions to the Other Members were as follows (in thousands, except as to Units and per Unit data):

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2018		2017
Distributions declared	$	—	$	2,260
Weighted average number of Units outstanding		12,055,016		12,055,016
Weighted average distributions per Unit	$	—	$	0.19

8. Fair value measurements:

Under applicable accounting standards, fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date.

The measurement methodologies are as follows:

Impaired off-lease equipment (non-recurring)

The Company had no fair value adjustments relative to impaired equipment during the three months ended March 31, 2018 and for the year ended December 31, 2017. Under the Fair Value Measurements Topic of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification, the fair values of such impaired equipment are classified within Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy as the data sources utilized for the valuation of the assets reflect significant inputs that are unobservable in the market. Such valuation utilizes a market approach technique and uses inputs that reflect the sales price of similar assets sold by affiliates and/or information from third party remarketing agents not readily available in the market.

The following disclosure of the estimated fair value of financial instruments is made in accordance with the guidance provided by the Financial Instruments Topic of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification. Fair value estimates, methods and assumptions, set forth below for the Company’s financial instruments, are made solely to comply with the requirements of the Financial Instruments Topic.

The Company has determined the estimated fair value amounts by using market information and valuation methodologies that it considers appropriate and consistent with the fair value accounting guidance. Considerable judgment is required to interpret market data to develop the estimates of fair value. The use of different market assumptions and/or estimation methodologies may have a material effect on the estimated fair value amounts.

Cash and cash equivalents

The recorded amounts of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents approximate fair value because of the liquidity and short-term maturity of these instruments.

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ATEL CAPITAL EQUIPMENT FUND IX, LLC
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

8. Fair value measurements: - (continued)

Commitments and Contingencies

Management has determined that the fair value of contingent liabilities (or guarantees) is not considered material because management believes there has been no event that has occurred wherein a guarantee liability has been incurred or will likely be incurred.

The following tables present estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments in accordance with the guidance provided by the Financial Instruments Topic of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 (in thousands):

	Fair Value Measurements at March 31, 2018
	Carrying Amount		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Financial assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	863	$	863	$	—	$	—	$	863

	Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2017
	Carrying Amount		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Financial assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	441	$	441	$	—	$	—	$	441
Investment in securities		5		—		—		5		5

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

Statements contained in this Item 2, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and elsewhere in this Form 10-Q, which are not historical facts, may be forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. In particular, economic recession and changes in general economic conditions, including fluctuations in demand for equipment, lease rates, and interest rates, may result in delays in investment and reinvestment, delays in leasing, re-leasing, and disposition of equipment, and reduced returns on invested capital. The Company’s performance is subject to risks relating to lessee defaults and the creditworthiness of its lessees. The Company’s performance is also subject to risks relating to the value of its equipment at the end of its leases, which may be affected by the condition of the equipment, technological obsolescence and the markets for new and used equipment at the end of lease terms. Investors are cautioned not to attribute undue certainty to these forward-looking statements which speak only as of the date of this Form 10-Q. We undertake no obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this Form 10-Q or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, other than as required by law.

Overview

ATEL Capital Equipment Fund IX, LLC (the “Company” or the “Fund”) is a California limited liability company that was formed in September 2000 for the purpose of engaging in the sale of limited liability company investment units and acquiring equipment to generate revenues from equipment leasing, lending and sales activities, primarily in the United States. The Managing Member of the Company is ATEL Financial Services, LLC (“AFS”), a California limited liability company.

Results of Operations

The three months ended March 31, 2018 versus the three months ended March 31, 2017

The Company had net income of $185 thousand, and $183 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The net results for 2018 reflected decreases in both total revenues and total operating expenses when compared to the prior period.

Revenues

Total revenues for the three months ended March 2018 decreased by $84 thousand, or 13%, as compared to the prior year period. Such decrease was largely due to a $164 thousand, or 26%, decrease in operating lease revenues, the result of continued portfolio run-off and the sales of lease assets; offset in part, by an $80 thousand increase in gain on sales of lease assets primarily due to a change in the mix of assets sold.

Expenses

Total expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2018 decreased by $86 thousand, or 19%, as compared to the prior year period. Such net decrease in total expenses was largely the result of a $39 thousand, or 32%, decrease in depreciation expense, the result of portfolio run-off and sales of lease assets; a $14 thousand, or 56%, decrease in other expenses related to appraisal, inspection, property taxes, and miscellaneous expenses; a $13 thousand, or 37%, decrease in railcar and equipment maintenance, the result of run-off and sales of lease assets; and an $11 thousand, or 44%, decrease in asset management fees to the Managing Member, reflecting a diminished level of operating lease revenues which is consistent with the Company’s continued liquidation phase activities. Partially offsetting these, and other reductions in expense, was a $6 thousand, or 18%, increase in outside services, indicative of additional efforts required to comply with certain regulatory requirements.

Capital Resources and Liquidity

The Company’s cash and cash equivalents totaled $863 thousand and $441 thousand at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. The liquidity of the Company varies, increasing to the extent cash flows from leases and proceeds of asset sales exceed expenses and decreasing as distributions are made to Members and to the extent expenses exceed cash flows from leases and proceeds from asset sales.

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The primary source of liquidity for the Company is its cash flow from leasing activities. As initial lease terms expire, the Company re-leases or sells the equipment. The future liquidity beyond the contractual minimum rentals will depend on the Company’s success in remarketing or selling the equipment as it comes off-rental.

The Company currently believes it has available adequate reserves to meet its immediate cash requirements and those of the next twelve months, but in the event those reserves were found to be inadequate, the Company would likely be in a position to borrow against its current portfolio to meet such requirements. AFS envisions no such requirements for operating purposes.

Cash Flows

The following table sets forth summary cash flow data (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2018		2017
Net cash provided by (used in):
Operating activities	$	199	$	127
Investing activities		223		9
Financing activities		—		(2,443	)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	$	422	$	(2,307	)

The three months ended March 31, 2018 versus the three months ended March 31, 2017

During the three months ended March 2018 and 2017, the Company’s primary sources of liquidity were cash flows from its portfolio of operating lease contracts. In addition, the Company realized $223 thousand and $8 thousand of proceeds from sales or dispositions of equipment during the respective three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

No distributions were paid during the three months ended March 2018. During the three months ended March 2017, cash was primarily used to pay distributions totaling $2.3 million to Other Members and $183 thousand to the Managing Member.

Distributions

Beginning with the month of February 2001, the Company commenced periodic distributions based on cash flows from operations. The monthly distributions were discontinued in 2010 as the Company entered its liquidation phase. The rates and frequency of periodic distributions paid by the Fund during its liquidation phase are solely at the discretion of the Manager.

Commitments and Contingencies and Off-Balance Sheet Transactions

Commitments and Contingencies

At March 31, 2018, the Company had no commitments to purchase lease assets or fund investments in notes receivable.

Off-Balance Sheet Transactions

None.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

For detailed information on recent accounting pronouncements, see Note 2, Summary of significant accounting policies.

Significant Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management 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 reporting period. On an on-going

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basis, the Company evaluates its estimates, which are based upon historical experiences, market trends and financial forecasts, and upon various other assumptions that management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances and at that certain point in time. Actual results may differ, significantly at times, from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

The Company’s significant accounting policies are described in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. There have been no material changes to the Company’s significant accounting policies since December 31, 2017.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures

The Company’s Managing Member’s President and Chief Executive Officer, and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer (“Management”), evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on the evaluation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, Management concluded that as of the end of the period covered by this report, the design and operation of these disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

The Company does not control the financial reporting process, and is solely dependent on the Management of the Managing Member, who is responsible for providing the Company with financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. The Managing Member’s disclosure controls and procedures, as they are applicable to the Company, means controls and other procedures of an issuer that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the issuer in the reports that it files or submits under the Act (15 U.S.C. 78aet seq.) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by an issuer in the reports that it files or submits under the Act is accumulated and communicated to the issuer’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Changes in internal control

There were no changes in the Managing Member’s internal control over financial reporting, as it is applicable to the Company, during the quarter ended March 31, 2018 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Managing Member’s internal control over financial reporting, as it is applicable to the Company.

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

In the ordinary course of conducting business, there may be certain claims, suits, and complaints filed against the Company. In the opinion of management, the outcome of such matters, if any, will not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations. No material legal proceedings are currently pending against the Company or against any of its assets.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

None.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

None.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

Not Applicable.

Item 5. Other Information.

None.

Item 6. Exhibits.

Documents filed as a part of this report:

1. Financial Statement Schedules

All other schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission are not required under the related instructions or are inapplicable, and therefore have been omitted.

2. Other Exhibits

31.1	Certification of Dean L. Cash
31.2	Certification of Paritosh K. Choksi
32.1	Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. section 1350 of Dean L. Cash
32.2	Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. section 1350 of Paritosh K. Choksi
101.INS	XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.LAB	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
101.DEF	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

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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.

Date: May 14, 2018

ATEL CAPITAL EQUIPMENT FUND IX, LLC
(Registrant)

		By: ATEL Financial Services, LLC Managing Member of Registrant
By:	/s/ Dean L. Cash Dean L. Cash President and Chief Executive Officer of ATEL Financial Services, LLC (Managing Member)
By:	/s/ Paritosh K. Choksi Paritosh K. Choksi Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of ATEL Financial Services, LLC (Managing Member)
By:	/s/ Samuel Schussler Samuel Schussler Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer of ATEL Financial Services, LLC (Managing Member)

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