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 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For Quarter Ended March 31, 2000 Commission File Number 0-14052 NEW ENGLAND LIFE PENSION PROPERTIES III; A REAL ESTATE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Massachusetts 04-2847256 (State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) incorporation or organization) 225 Franklin Street, 25th Fl. Boston, Massachusetts 02110 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (617) 261-9000 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Former name, former address and former fiscal year if changed since last report 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 twelve (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 NEW ENGLAND LIFE PENSION PROPERTIES III; A REAL ESTATE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP FORM 10-Q FOR QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2000 PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION --------------------- 2 NEW ENGLAND LIFE PENSION PROPERTIES III; A REAL ESTATE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP BALANCE SHEETS March 31, 2000 December 31, 1999 (Unaudited) (Audited) --------------- ----------------- ASSETS Real estate investment: Property, net $5,832,327 $5,918,532 ---------- ---------- 5,832,327 5,918,532 Cash and cash equivalents 308,426 324,989 ---------- ---------- $6,140,753 $6,243,521 ========== ========== LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL Accounts payable $ 85,628 $ 81,339 Accrued management fee 13,327 13,532 ---------- ---------- Total liabilities 98,955 94,871 ---------- ---------- Partners' capital: Limited partners ($183.60 per unit; 75,000 units authorized, 68,414 units issued and outstanding) 6,040,335 6,146,119 General partners 1,463 2,531 ---------- ---------- Total partners' capital 6,041,798 6,148,650 ---------- ---------- $6,140,753 $6,243,521 ========== ========== (See accompanying notes to unaudited financial statements) 3 NEW ENGLAND LIFE PENSION PROPERTIES III; A REAL ESTATE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, 2000 1999 ------------ -------------- INVESTMENT ACTIVITY Property rentals $ 232,845 $ 316,867 Property operating expenses (77,014) (102,695) Depreciation and amortization (56,037) (67,652) ------------ ---------- Total real estate operations 99,794 146,520 Gain on sale of property - 1,509,931 ------------ ---------- Total real estate activity 99,794 1,656,451 Interest on cash equivalents 4,306 22,255 ------------ ---------- Total investment activity 104,100 1,678,706 ------------ ---------- PORTFOLIO EXPENSES General and administrative 60,797 84,981 Management fee 13,327 56,248 ------------ ---------- 74,124 141,229 ------------ ---------- Net Income $ 29,976 $1,537,477 ============ ========== Net income per limited partnership unit $ 0.43 $ 22.25 ============ ========== Cash distributions per limited partnership unit $ 1.98 $ 3.21 ============ ========== Number of limited partnership units outstanding during the period 68,414 68,414 ============ ========== (See accompanying notes to unaudited financial statements) 4 NEW ENGLAND LIFE PENSION PROPERTIES III; A REAL ESTATE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP STATEMENTS OF PARTNERS' CAPITAL (Unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, 2000 1999 ------------------- ----------------- General Limited General Limited Partner Partners Partner Partners ------- -------- ------- -------- Balance at beginning of period $ 2,531 $6,146,119 $ 209 $ 9,196,048 Cash distributions (1,368) (135,460) (2,218) (219,609) Net income 300 29,676 15,375 1,522,102 -------- ---------- ------- ----------- Balance at end of period $ 1,463 $6,040,335 $13,366 $10,498,541 ======== ========== ======= =========== (See accompanying notes to unaudited financial statements) 5 NEW ENGLAND LIFE PENSION PROPERTIES III; A REAL ESTATE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP SUMMARIZED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, --------------------------- 2000 1999 ------ ------- Net cash provided by operating activities $ 120,265 $ 179,438 --------- ---------- Cash flows from investing activities: Net proceeds from sale of property - 2,639,445 --------- ---------- Net cash provided by investing activities - 2,639,445 --------- ---------- Cash flows from financing activity: Distributions to partners (136,828) (221,827) --------- ---------- Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (16,563) 2,597,056 Cash and cash equivalents: Beginning of period 324,989 1,952,504 --------- ---------- End of period $ 308,426 $4,549,560 ========= ========== (See accompanying notes to unaudited financial statements) 6 NEW ENGLAND LIFE PENSION PROPERTIES III; A REAL ESTATE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited financial statements contain all adjustments necessary to present fairly the Partnership's financial position as of March 31, 2000 and December 31, 1999 and the results of its operations, its cash flows and partners' capital for the three months ended March 31, 2000 and 1999. These adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. See notes to financial statements included in the Partnership's 1999 Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information relating to the Partnership's financial statements. NOTE 1 - ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS - ----------------------------------- New England Life Pension Properties III; A Real Estate Limited Partnership (the "Partnership") is a Massachusetts limited partnership organized for the purpose of investing primarily in newly constructed and existing income producing real properties. The Partnership primarily serves as an investment for qualified pension and profit sharing plans and other entities intended to be exempt from federal income tax. The Partnership commenced operations in July 1985 and acquired the remaining investment it currently owns prior to the end of 1988. The Partnership intended to dispose of its investments within twelve years of their acquisition, and then liquidate; however, the Managing General Partner extended the holding period, having determined it to be in the best interest of the limited partners. The Partnership has engaged AEW Real Estate Advisors, Inc. (the "Advisor") to provide asset management advisory services. NOTE 2 - PROPERTY - ----------------- Effective January 1, 1998, the management and control of the business and affairs of the 270 Technology Park joint venture, including the sale of the property, is vested solely in the Partnership through its 98% general partner interest in the joint venture. Accordingly, as of January 1, 1998, the investment has been accounted for as a wholly-owned property. The remaining 2% general partner interest is owned by NELLP III/MORF III Associates Limited Partnership, an entity in which the Partnership owns a 50% interest. The carrying value of the joint venture investment at conversion ($6,162,959) was allocated to land, building and improvements, and other net operating assets. The building is being depreciated over 30 years, beginning January 1, 1998. North Cabot Industrial Park (formerly Marathon/Hayward) ------------------------------------------------------- In September 1985, the Partnership acquired land in Hayward, California, for $786,130 and leased it back to the seller. The Partnership also made a nonrecourse permanent mortgage loan of $2,663,870 to the ground lessee to finance two research and development buildings located on the land. 7 NEW ENGLAND LIFE PENSION PROPERTIES III; A REAL ESTATE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP On November 15, 1994, the Partnership restructured this ground lease/mortgage loan investment into a wholly-owned property, due to the inability of the ground lessee/mortgagor to meet its financial obligations. The Partnership received $85,000 in settlement of the guaranty provided by principals of the ground lessee. The Partnership obtained title to the improvements on the land and to certain other operating assets in full satisfaction of the related mortgage loan and obligations under the ground lease, and in consideration of the assumption by the Partnership of certain operating liabilities. The carrying value of the ground lease/mortgage loan investment as of the date of restructuring was allocated to land, buildings and net operating assets. The buildings and improvements (two industrial buildings in Hayward, California) were being depreciated over 25 years beginning November 15, 1994. Prior to 1994, the Managing General Partner determined that the carrying value of this investment should be reduced to its estimated fair market value. Accordingly, the carrying value was reduced by $2,500,000. On March 18, 1999, the North Cabot Industrial Park investment was sold to an unaffiliated third party for gross proceeds of $2,800,000. The Partnership received net proceeds of $2,639,445 and recognized a gain of $1,509,931 ($21.85 per limited partnership unit). On April 29, 1999, the Partnership made a capital distribution of $2,539,528 ($37.12 per limited partnership unit) from the proceeds of the sale. The following is a summary of the Partnership's investment in property. March 31, 2000 December 31, 1999 --------------- ------------------ Land $ 215,404 $ 215,404 Buildings and improvements 5,667,126 5,667,126 Accumulated depreciation and amortization (390,323) (343,490) Net operating assets 340,120 379,492 Property held for disposition - - ---------- ---------- $5,832,327 $5,918,532 ========== ========== NOTE 3 - SUBSEQUENT EVENT - ------------------------- Distributions of cash from operations relating to the quarter ended March 31, 2000 were made on April 27, 2000 in the aggregate amount of $134,755 ($1.95 per limited partnership unit). 8 NEW ENGLAND LIFE PENSION PROPERTIES III; A REAL ESTATE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and - --------------------------------------------------------------- Results of Operations - --------------------- Liquidity and Capital Resources - ------------------------------- The Partnership completed its offering of units of limited partnership interest in December 1985 and a total of 68,414 units were sold. The Partnership received proceeds of $61,950,285, net of selling commissions and other offering costs, which were invested in real estate, used to pay related acquisition costs, or retained as working capital reserves. The Partnership made nine real estate investments, six of which were sold prior to 1994, and one of which was sold in each of 1998 and 1999. As a result of the sales and similar transactions, capital of $55,853,190 ($816.40 per Limited Partnership Unit) has been returned to the limited partners through March 31, 2000. At March 31, 2000, the Partnership had $308,426 in cash and cash equivalents, of which $134,755 was used for cash distributions to partners on April 27, 2000; the remainder is being retained as working capital reserves. The source of future liquidity and cash distributions to partners will primarily be cash generated by the Partnership's remaining real estate investment and invested cash and cash equivalents. Distributions of cash from operations related to the first quarter of 2000 were made at the annualized rate of 4.25% on the adjusted capital contribution of $183.60 per limited partnership unit. Distributions of cash from operations related to the first quarter of 1999 were made at the annualized rate of 4.25% on the adjusted capital contribution of $231.54 per limited partnership unit. At the time of the 1999 first quarter distribution, the Partnership also made a special distribution of operating cash previously held in reserves in the amount of $5.77 per limited partnership unit. The carrying value of real estate investments in the financial statements at March 31, 2000 is at depreciated cost, or if the investment's carrying value is determined not to be recoverable through expected undiscounted future cash flows, the carrying value is reduced to estimated fair market value. The fair market value of such investments is further reduced by the estimated cost of sale for properties held for sale. Carrying value may be greater or less than current appraised value. At March 31, 2000, the appraised value of the remaining real estate investment exceeded its related carrying value by approximately $750,000. The current appraised value of real estate investments has been determined by the Managing General Partner and is generally based on a combination of traditional appraisal approaches performed by the Advisor and independent appraisers. Because of the subjectivity inherent in the valuation process, the current appraised value may differ significantly from that which could be realized if the real estate were actually offered for sale in the marketplace. 9 NEW ENGLAND LIFE PENSION PROPERTIES III; A REAL ESTATE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP Results of Operations - --------------------- Form of Real Estate Investments The North Cabot Industrial Park investment was a wholly-owned property, which was sold in March 1999. Effective January 1, 1998, 270 Technology Park was converted to a wholly-owned property; it was previously structured as a joint venture with a real estate management/development firm. Operating Factors The North Cabot Industrial Park was sold on March 18, 1999, and the Partnership recognized a gain of $1,509,931. Occupancy at North Cabot Industrial Park was 92% at the time of the sale. Occupancy at 270 Technology Park was 66% at March 31, 2000 down from 96% at March 31, 1999 due to Betchel Power Corporation vacating a portion of their space. This space is being marketed for lease at this time. Investment Results Interest on cash equivalents decreased by approximately $18,000 between the first three months of 1999 and 2000. The decrease is primarily due to lower average invested balances as a result of the sale of North Cabot Industrial Park on March 18, 1999. Real estate operating results were $99,794 for the first three months of 2000, and $146,520 for the comparable period of 1999. The decrease of $46,726 is primarily due to a decrease in operating performance at 270 Technology Park due to a decline in occupancy and an increase in bad debt expense offset by a decrease in operating expenses as a result of lower legal fees. Cash flow from operations decreased by approximately $59,000 between the two three-month periods. The decrease is primarily due to the decrease in operating results discussed above. Portfolio Expenses General and administrative expenses primarily consist of state taxes, real estate appraisal, legal, accounting, printing and servicing agent fees. These expenses decreased by approximately $24,000, or 28% between the first three months of 1999 and 2000 primarily due to a decrease in state taxes. The Partnership management fee is 9% of distributable cash flow from operations after any increase or decrease in working capital reserves as determined by the managing general partner. 10 NEW ENGLAND LIFE PENSION PROPERTIES III; A REAL ESTATE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP The management fee decreased by approximately $43,000 between the comparative three month periods of 1999 and 2000. The 1999 management fee was higher due to a special distribution of operating reserves. 11 NEW ENGLAND LIFE PENSION PROPERTIES III; A REAL ESTATE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP FORM 10-Q FOR QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2000 PART II OTHER INFORMATION ------------------- Items 1-5 Not Applicable Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K a. Exhibits: (27) Financial Data Schedule b. Reports on Form 8-K: No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the quarter ended March 31, 2000. 12 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. NEW ENGLAND LIFE PENSION PROPERTIES III; A REAL ESTATE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP (Registrant) May 9, 2000 /s/ Alison Husid Cutler ------------------------------------- Alison Husid Cutler President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Managing General Partner, Copley Properties Company III, Inc. May 9, 2000 /s/ Karin J. Lagerlund ------------------------------------- Karin J. Lagerlund Principal Financial and Accounting Officer of Managing General Partner, Copley Properties Company III, Inc. 13