UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM 8-K
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CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of report (date of earliest event reported): May 28, 1997
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Commission File No. 33-15551
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POLARIS AIRCRAFT INCOME FUND IV,
A California Limited Partnership
State of Organization: California
IRS Employer Identification No. 94-3039169
201 Mission Street, 27th Floor, San Francisco, California 94105
Telephone - (415) 284-7400
This document consists of 6 pages.
Item 2.
On May 28, 1997, Polaris Investment Management Corporation (the "General
Partner" or "PIMC"), on behalf of Polaris Aircraft Income Fund IV (the
"Partnership"), executed definitive documentation for the purchase of all of the
Partnership's 13 remaining aircraft (the "Aircraft") and certain of its notes
receivables by Triton Aviation Services IV LLC, a special purpose company (the
"Purchaser"). The final closings for the purchase of 9 of the 13 Aircraft had
occurred as of June 6, 1997. The Purchaser is managed by Triton Aviation
Services, Ltd. ("Triton Aviation"), a privately held aircraft leasing company
which was formed in 1996 by Triton Investments, Ltd., a company which has been
in the marine cargo container leasing business for 17 years and is diversifying
its portfolio by leasing commercial aircraft. Each Aircraft was sold subject to
the existing leases.
The General Partner's Decision To Approve The Transaction
In determining whether the transaction was in the best interests of the
Partnership and its unitholders, the General Partner evaluated, among other
things, the risks and significant expenses associated with continuing to own and
remarket the Aircraft (many of which were subject to leases that were nearing
expiration). The General Partner determined that such a strategy could require
the Partnership to expend a significant portion of its cash reserves for
remarketing and that there was a substantial risk that this strategy could
result in the Partnership having to reduce or even suspend future cash
distributions to limited partners. The General Partner concluded that the
opportunity to sell the Aircraft at an attractive price would be beneficial in
the present market where demand for Stage II aircraft is relatively strong
rather than attempting to sell the aircraft "one-by-one" over the coming years
when the demand for such Aircraft might be weaker. During the months of intense
negotiations, GE Capital Aviation Services, Inc. ("GECAS"), which provides
aircraft marketing and management services to the General Partner, sought to
obtain the best price and terms available for these Stage II aircraft given the
aircraft market and the conditions and types of planes owned by the Partnership.
Both the General Partner and GECAS approved the sale terms of the Aircraft (as
described below) as being in the best interest of the Partnership and its
unitholders because both believe that this transaction will optimize the
potential cash distributions to be paid to limited partners. To ensure that no
better offer could be obtained, the terms of the transaction negotiated by GECAS
included a "market-out" provision that permitted the Partnership to elect to
accept an offer for all (but no less than all) of the assets to be sold by it to
the Purchaser on terms which it deemed more favorable, with the ability of the
Purchaser to match the offer or decline to match the offer and be entitled to be
compensated in an amount equal to 1 1/2% of the Purchaser's proposed purchase
price. The Partnership did not receive any other offers and, accordingly, the
General Partner believes that a valid market check has occurred confirming that
the terms of this transaction were the most beneficial that could have been
obtained.
The Terms of the Transaction
The total purchase price (the "Purchase Price") to the Purchaser is $29,748,000
which is allocable to the Aircraft and to certain notes receivable by the
Partnership. The Purchaser is not receiving any of the Partnership's cash
reserves, estimated to be approximately $10,400,000 after the anticipated July
cash distribution is made to limited partners. The Purchaser paid into an escrow
account $3,351,410 of the Purchase Price in cash at the closing and delivered a
promissory note (the "Promissory Note") for the balance of $26,396,590. As
described below, this transaction will enable the Partnership to distribute to
limited partners the cash down payment received on the sale of the Aircraft and
permit the Partnership to distribute to limited partners a substantial portion
of cash reserves which have been held by the Partnership. The Partnership
intends to make this distribution as part of its July 1997 quarterly
distribution to limited partners.
The Promissory Note is to be repaid beginning June 30, 1997 in 28 quarterly
installments of principal and interest in the amount of $1,294,663 over a period
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of seven years bearing interest at a rate of 12% per annum with a balloon
principal payment in the amount of $4,812,392 due on March 31, 2004. The
Purchaser has the right to voluntarily prepay the Promissory Note in whole or in
part at any time without penalty. In addition, the Promissory Note is subject to
mandatory partial prepayment in certain specified instances.
Under the terms of the transaction, the Purchaser's assets, which are limited to
the Aircraft, including any income or proceeds therefrom, and any funds made
available to Purchaser under the working capital line described below constitute
the sole source of payments under the Promissory Note. Although no security
interest over the Aircraft or the leases is granted in favor of the Partnership,
the equity interests in the Purchaser have been pledged to the Partnership. In
connection with that pledge, the Purchaser is prohibited from incurring
indebtedness other than (i) the Promissory Note; (ii) deferred taxes not yet due
and payable; (iii) indebtedness incurred to hushkit Aircraft owned by the
Purchaser; (iv) demand loans to another SPC (defined below) at a market rate of
interest; and (v) debt to trade creditors incurred in the ordinary course of
business. In addition, the Purchaser undertakes to keep the Aircraft and leases
free of any lien, security interest or other encumbrance other than (i) inchoate
taxes and materialmen's liens and the like, (ii) in the event that the Purchaser
elects to install hushkits on any Aircraft, secured debt to the extent of the
full cost of such hushkit and other hushkits acquired with proceeds from the
same loan facility; (iii) liens lessees are customarily permitted to incur that
are required to be removed. The Purchaser has the right to sell any of the
Aircraft without the consent of the Partnership, except that the Partnership's
consent would be required in the event that the sale price is less than the
portion of the outstanding balance of the Promissory Note which is allocable to
the Aircraft in question and the Purchaser does not have sufficient funds to
make up the difference. In the event that any of the Aircraft are sold by the
Purchaser, the Promissory Note is subject to a mandatory prepayment of the
portion of the Promissory Note which is allocable to the Aircraft sold.
Polaris Aircraft Income Fund II, Polaris Aircraft Income Fund III, Polaris
Aircraft Income Fund V and Polaris Aircraft Income Fund VI have also sold
certain aircraft assets to separate special purpose companies under common
management with the Purchaser (collectively, together with the Purchaser, the
"SPC's") on terms similar to those set forth above, with the exception of the
Polaris Aircraft Income Fund VI aircraft, which were sold on an all cash basis.
Under the terms of the transaction, the Purchaser's Manager has undertaken to
make available a working capital line to the Purchaser of up to approximately
$2,598,000 to fund operating obligations of the Purchaser. This working capital
line is guaranteed by Triton Investments, Ltd., the parent of the Purchaser's
Manager and such guarantor provided the Partnership with a copy of its most
recent balance sheet showing a consolidated net worth (net of minority
interests) of at least $150-million at December 31, 1996. Provided that the
Purchaser is not in default in making payments due under the Promissory Note to
the Partnership, the Purchaser is permitted to dividend to its equity owners an
amount not to exceed approximately $70,000 per month. The Purchaser may
distribute additional dividends to the equity owners to the extent of the
working capital advances made by the Purchaser's Manager provided that the
working capital line available to the Purchaser will be deemed increased to the
extent of such dividends.
The Purchaser purchased the Aircraft effective as of April 1, 1997
notwithstanding the actual closing dates. The utilization of an effective date
facilitated the determination of rent and other allocations between the parties.
The Purchaser has the right to receive all income and proceeds, including rents
and receivables, from the Aircraft accruing from and after April 1, 1997, and
the Promissory Note commenced bearing interest as of April 1, 1997.
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Neither PIMC nor GECAS will receive a sales commission in connection with the
transaction. In addition, PIMC will not be paid a management fee with respect to
the collection of the Promissory Note. Neither PIMC nor GECAS or any of its
affiliates holds any interest in Triton Aviation or any of Triton Aviation's
affiliates. John Flynn, the current President of Triton Aviation, was a Polaris
executive until May 1996 and has over 15 years experience in the commercial
aviation industry. At the time Mr. Flynn was employed at PIMC, he had no
affiliation with Triton Aviation or its affiliates.
With respect to the 4 Aircraft that have not yet been transferred to the
Purchaser as of June 6, 1997, the Partnership has agreed to obtain the
Purchaser's consent before undertaking any significant action, such as making a
material modification or waiving a default under a lease.
Anticipated July Cash Distribution
The Partnership anticipates making a cash distribution to the limited partners
of approximately $8,664,376 ($17.33 per limited partnership unit) by July 30,
1997. Such distribution would be comprised of (i) the cash down payment received
from the sale of the Aircraft, less estimated transaction expenses (representing
approximately $6.00 per limited partnership unit); (ii) the portion of the
Partnership's cash reserves which the General Partner determined is available
for distribution (representing approximately $9.00 per limited partnership
unit); and (iii) the Promissory Note payment due from the Purchaser on June 30,
1997 (representing approximately $2.33 per limited partnership unit). The
foregoing anticipated distribution is based on the assumptions that the closings
for all the Aircraft being sold to the Purchaser occur prior to July 1, 1997,
the Partnership timely receives all payments due from the Purchaser and the
Partnership incurs estimated operating and administrative expenses (including
expenses in connection with the transaction) of approximately $177,000 for the
quarter ended June 30, 1997. The Partnership's estimated cash distributions to
limited partners constitutes forward looking information based upon the above
assumptions that may, for any number of reasons, not occur. Accordingly, there
can be no assurance that the Partnership will make a cash distribution in the
amount anticipated.
Estimated Cash Reserves
The Partnership estimates its cash reserves will be approximately $10,400,000
($18.72 per limited partnership unit) after the cash distribution to limited
partners anticipated to be made in July 1997. PIMC has determined that the
Partnership maintain these cash reserves as a prudent measure to insure that the
Partnership has available funds in the event the Purchaser defaults under the
Promissory Note and for other contingencies including expenses of the
Partnership. The Partnership's cash reserves will be monitored and may be
revised from time to time as further information becomes available in the
future.
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Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.
a) Financial Statements. None
b) Pro Forma Information. None
c) Exhibits.
2.1 Purchase, Assignment and Assumption Agreement
2.2 Escrow Agreement
2.3 Pledge and Security Agreement
2.4 Keep Well Agreement
2.5 Promissory Note
2.6 Guaranty (Keep Well)
2.7 Guaranty (SPV Indebtedness)
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SIGNATURE
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.
POLARIS AIRCRAFT INCOME FUND IV
(Registrant)
By: Polaris Investment
Management Corporation,
General Partner
June 6, 1997 By: /S/Marc A. Meiches
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Marc A. Meiches
Chief Financial Officer
(principal financial officer and
principal accounting officer of
Polaris Investment Management
Corporation, General Partner of
the Registrant)
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