UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form
For the year ended
For the transition period from to
Commission File number
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
(State or other jurisdiction of | (I. R. S. Employer |
(Address of principal executive offices)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (
Securities registered pursuant to section 12(b) of the Act: None
Securities registered pursuant to section 12(g) of the Act:
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class: |
| Trading Symbol |
| Name of each exchange on which registered: |
N/A |
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐
If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Act of 1934. Yes ☐
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.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files).
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer ☐ | Accelerated filer ☐ | Smaller reporting company | |
Emerging growth company |
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. ☐
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements.
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).Yes
State the aggregate market value of voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant:
State the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was sold, or the average bid and asked price of such common equity, as of a specified date within the past 60 days. (See definition of affiliate in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.) Not applicable
The number of Limited Liability Company Units outstanding as of February 28, 2025 was
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
None.
PART I
Item 1. BUSINESS
General Development of Business
ATEL 17, LLC (the “Company” or the “Fund”) was formed under the laws of the state of California on April 16, 2015 (“Date of Inception”) for the purpose of equipment financing and acquiring equipment to engage in equipment leasing and sales activities. The Managing Member of the Company is ATEL Managing Member, LLC (the “Managing Member” or “Manager”), a Nevada limited liability company. The Managing Member is controlled by ATEL Financial Services, LLC (“AFS”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of ATEL Capital Group. The Fund may continue as provided in the ATEL 17, LLC limited liability company operating agreement dated April 24, 2015 (the “Operating Agreement”). Contributions in the amount of $500 were received as of April 28, 2015, which represented the initial member’s capital investment. As a limited liability company, the liability of any individual member for the obligations of the Fund is limited to the extent of capital contributions to the Fund by the individual member.
The offering of the Company was granted effectiveness by the Securities and Exchange Commission as of January 5, 2016. The offering will continue until the earlier of a period of two years from that date or until sales of the limited liability company units (Units) to the public reach $150 million. As of February 2, 2016, subscriptions for the minimum number of Units (120,000, representing $1.2 million), excluding subscriptions from Pennsylvania investors, had been received and the Fund requested subscription proceeds to be released from escrow. On that date, the Company commenced initial operations and continued in its development stage activities until transitioning to an operating enterprise during the first quarter of 2016. Pennsylvania subscriptions are subject to a separate escrow and are released to the Fund only when aggregate subscriptions for all investors equal to at least $7.5 million. Total contributions to the Fund exceeded $7.5 million on July 6, 2016, at which time a request was processed to release the Pennsylvania escrowed amounts. The offering terminated on January 5, 2018.
As of December 31, 2024, cumulative gross contributions less rescissions and repurchases (net of distributions paid and allocated syndication costs, as applicable) totaling $25.7 million (inclusive of the $500 initial Member’s capital investment) have been received. As of the same date, 2,554,249 Units were issued and outstanding.
The Company’s principal objectives are to invest in a diversified portfolio of investments that will generate a favorable overall return to investors and (i) preserve, protect and return the Fund’s invested capital; (ii) generate regular cash distributions to Unit holders during the Offering Stage and Operating Stage of the Fund, with any balance remaining after required minimum distributions, equal to not less than 8% nor more than 10% per annum on investors’ Original Invested Capital, to be used to purchase additional investments during the first six years after the year the offering terminates; and (iii) provide additional cash distributions during the Liquidating Stage, commencing with the end of the six year reinvestment period and continuing until all investment portfolio assets have been sold or otherwise disposed.
Pursuant to the terms of the Operating Agreement, the Managing Member and/or its affiliates receives compensation for services rendered and reimbursements for costs incurred on behalf of the Company. (See Note 6, Related party transactions, as set forth in Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.) 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 the Managing Member.
Narrative Description of Business
The Company has acquired and intends to acquire various types of new and used equipment subject to leases and to make loans secured by equipment acquired by its borrowers. The Company’s primary investment objective is to acquire investments primarily in low-technology, low-obsolescence capital equipment such as the core operating equipment used by companies in the manufacturing, mining and transportation industries. A portion of the portfolio will include some more technology-dependent equipment such as certain types of communications equipment, medical equipment, manufacturing equipment and office equipment.
1
The Company only purchases equipment under pre-existing leases or for which a lease will be entered into concurrently at the time of the purchase. Through December 31, 2024 the Company has purchased equipment with a total acquisition price of $16.7 million. The Company has also funded investments in notes receivable totaling $6.2 million through December 31, 2024.
As of the date of the final commitment of its proceeds from the sale of Units, the Company’s objective is to have at least 75% of its investment portfolio (by cost) consist of equipment leased to lessees that the Manager deems to be high quality corporate credits and/or leases guaranteed by such high quality corporate credits. High quality corporate credits are lessees or guarantors who have a credit rating by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. of “Baa3” or better, or the credit equivalent as determined by the Manager, or are public and private corporations with substantial revenues and histories of profitable operations, as well as established hospitals with histories of profitability or municipalities. The remaining 25% of the initial investment portfolio may include equipment lease transactions and other debt or equity financing for companies which, although deemed creditworthy by the Manager, would not satisfy the specific credit criteria for the portfolio described above. Included in this 25% of the portfolio may be growth capital financing investments. No more than 25% of the initial portfolio, by cost, will consist of these growth capital financing investments.
The equipment financing industry is highly competitive. Equipment manufacturers, corporations, partnerships and others offer users an alternative to the purchase of most types of equipment with payment terms that vary widely depending on the type of financing, the lease or loan term and type of equipment. The ability of the Company to keep the equipment leased and the terms of purchase, lease and sale of equipment depends on various factors (many of which neither the Managing Member nor the Company can control), such as general economic conditions, including the effects of inflation or recession, and fluctuations in supply and demand for various types of equipment resulting from, among other things, technological and economic obsolescence.
The Managing Member will use its best efforts to diversify lessees by geography and industry and to maintain an appropriate balance and diversity in the types of equipment acquired and the types of leases entered into by the Company, and will apply the following policies: (i) The Managing Member will seek to limit the amount invested in equipment or property leased to any single lessee to not more than 20% of the aggregate purchase price of investments as of the final commitment of net offering proceeds; (ii) in no event will the Company’s equity investment in equipment or property leased to a single lessee exceed an amount equal to 20% of the maximum capital from the sale of Units (or $30,000,000); and (iii) the Managing Member will seek to invest not more than 20% of the aggregate purchase price of equipment in equipment acquired from a single manufacturer. However, this last limitation is a general guideline only, and the Company may acquire equipment from a single manufacturer in excess of the stated percentage during the offering period and before the offering proceeds are fully invested, or if the Managing Member deems such a course of action to be in the Company’s best interest.
The primary geographic region in which the Company seeks leasing opportunities is North America. All of the Company’s current operating revenues and long-lived assets relate to customers domiciled in North America.
The business of the Company is not seasonal. The Company has no full time employees. Employees of the Managing Member and affiliates provide the services the Company requires to effectively operate. The cost of these services is reimbursed by the Company to the Managing Member and affiliates per the Operating Agreement.
For further information refer to the financial statements and footnotes.
2
Equipment Leasing Activities
The Company has acquired a diversified portfolio of equipment. The equipment, all currently located in the U.S., has been leased to lessees in various industries. The following tables set forth the types of equipment acquired by the Company through December 31, 2024 and the industries to which the assets have been leased (dollars in thousands):
| Purchase Price |
|
| |||
Excluding | Percentage of Total |
| ||||
Asset Types | Acquisition Fees | Acquisitions |
| |||
Transportation, rail | $ | 3,679 |
| 22.05 | % | |
Construction |
| 2,891 |
| 17.33 | % | |
Mining |
| 2,749 |
| 16.48 | % | |
Aviation |
| 2,118 |
| 12.70 | % | |
Materials handling |
| 1,330 |
| 7.97 | % | |
Paper processing |
| 1,058 |
| 6.34 | % | |
Marine vessels |
| 1,041 |
| 6.24 | % | |
Containers |
| 860 |
| 5.15 | % | |
Agriculture |
| 742 |
| 4.45 | % | |
Transportation services, other |
| 215 |
| 1.29 | % | |
$ | 16,683 |
| 100.00 | % |
| Purchase Price |
|
| |||
Excluding | Percentage of Total |
| ||||
Industry of Lessee | Acquisition Fees | Acquisitions |
| |||
Transportation, rail | $ | 3,679 |
| 22.05 | % | |
Chemical |
| 2,515 |
| 15.08 | % | |
Transportation, air |
| 2,118 |
| 12.70 | % | |
Agriculture |
| 1,818 |
| 10.90 | % | |
Construction |
| 1,728 |
| 10.36 | % | |
Industrial machinery |
| 1,569 |
| 9.40 | % | |
Paper and allied products |
| 1,058 |
| 6.34 | % | |
Utilities |
| 1,041 |
| 6.24 | % | |
Refuse systems |
| 860 |
| 5.15 | % | |
Transportation services, other |
| 297 |
| 1.78 | % | |
$ | 16,683 |
| 100.00 | % |
From inception to December 31, 2024, the Company had disposed of certain leased assets as set forth below (in thousands):
Original | |||||||||
Equipment Costs | |||||||||
Excluding | |||||||||
Asset Types | Acquisition Fees | Sale Price | Gross Rents | ||||||
Agriculture | $ | 742 | $ | 301 | $ | 824 | |||
Construction | 507 | 114 | 545 | ||||||
Containers | 860 | 353 | 822 | ||||||
Material Handling | 577 | 268 | 646 | ||||||
Transportation services, other | 97 | 49 | 138 | ||||||
Transportation, rail | 1,956 | 988 | 1,330 | ||||||
$ | 4,739 | $ | 2,073 | $ | 4,305 |
For further information regarding the Company’s equipment lease portfolio as of December 31, 2024, see Note 4, Investment in equipment and leases, net, as set forth in Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
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Notes Receivable Activities
The Company finances assets in diverse industries. The following tables set forth the types of assets financed by the Company through December 31, 2024 and the industries to which the assets have been financed (dollars in thousands):
| Amount Financed |
|
| |||
Excluding | Percentage of Total | |||||
Asset Types | Acquisition Fees | Acquisitions | ||||
Research | $ | 1,599 |
| 25.89 | % | |
Manufacturing | 871 | 14.10 | % | |||
Agriculture | 706 | 11.43 | % | |||
Miscellaneous |
| 3,000 |
| 48.58 | % | |
$ | 6,176 |
| 100.00 | % |
| Amount Financed |
|
| |||
Excluding | Percentage of Total | |||||
Industry of Lessee | Acquisition Fees | Acquisitions | ||||
Business services | $ | 1,500 | 24.29 | % | ||
Electrical | 1,125 |
| 18.22 | % | ||
Health services |
| 1,000 |
| 16.19 | % | |
Computer engines | 871 | 14.10 | % | |||
Agriculture | 706 | 11.43 | % | |||
Manufacturing | 500 | 8.10 | % | |||
Research & development |
| 474 |
| 7.67 | % | |
$ | 6,176 |
| 100.00 | % |
From inception to December 31, 2024, assets financed by the Company that are associated with terminated loans are as follows (in thousands):
| Amount Financed |
| Early |
| |||||
Excluding | Termination of | Total | |||||||
Asset Types | Acquisition Fees | Notes Proceeds | Payments Received | ||||||
Research | $ | 1,599 | $ | 854 | $ | 1,057 | |||
Manufacturing | 871 | - | 1,100 | ||||||
Agriculture | 706 | 76 | 795 | ||||||
Miscellaneous | 3,000 | 359 | 3,048 | ||||||
$ | 6,176 | $ | 1,289 | $ | 6,000 |
The Company had no notes receivable as of December 31, 2024 and 2023.
Item 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
Item 1C. CYBERSECURITY
The Company's information security program is designed with the goal of maintaining the safety and security of its systems and data.
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The objective in managing cybersecurity risk is to avoid or minimize the impact of efforts to penetrate, disrupt or misuse Company systems or information. Cybersecurity helps to maintain an environment that encourages efficiency, innovation, and economic prosperity while promoting safety, security, business confidentiality, and privacy
● | Prioritize and scope. Identify organization objectives and priorities and determine the scope of systems and assets that support the selected business line or process. |
● | Orient. Identify Information Systems and assets, regulatory requirements, and overall risk approach, identify threats to, and vulnerabilities of, those systems and assets. |
● | Risk assessment. Identify the likelihood of a cybersecurity event and the impact on the organization. Consider emerging risks. |
● | Target Profile. Create a Target Profile focusing on categories, subcategories, and desired cybersecurity outcomes. |
● | Determine, Analyze, and Prioritize Gaps. Compare the Current Profile and the Target Profile to determine gaps and create a prioritized action plan to address those gaps. |
● | Implement Action Plan. Determine actions to take and monitor against the Target Profile. |
IT Management must also consider how the cybersecurity program might incorporate privacy principles such as:
● | Individual consent to the use of personal information |
● | Collecting the minimum amount of personal information |
● | Controls over the use and disclosure of personal information |
● | Use and retention of personal information related to a cybersecurity incident |
● | Transparency for certain cybersecurity activities |
● | Accountability and auditing |
IT Management ensures that the Company’s risks are properly monitored, managed and mitigated to the extent possible; and oversees the implementation and maintenance of formal strategies that govern information resources.
In addition, the Company has established processes and systems designed to mitigate cyber risk, including regular and on-going education and training for employees, preparedness simulations and tabletop exercises, and recovery and resilience tests. We engage in regular assessments of our infrastructure, software systems, and network architecture, using internal cybersecurity experts and
The Company also leverages internal and external auditors and independent external partners to periodically review its processes, systems, and controls, including with respect to our information security program, to assess their design and operating effectiveness and make recommendations to strengthen our risk management program
Item 2. PROPERTIES
The Company does not own or lease any real property, plant or material physical properties other than the equipment held for lease as set forth in Item 1.
Item 3. 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 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
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PART II
Item 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Market Information
There are certain material conditions and restrictions on the transfer of Units imposed by the terms of the Operating Agreement. Consequently, there is no public market for Units and it is not anticipated that a public market for Units will develop. In the absence of a public market for the Units, there is no currently ascertainable fair market value for the Units.
Holders
As of December 31, 2024, a total of 408 investors were Unitholders of record in the Company.
Fund Valuation
Background to Fund Valuation
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), in conjunction with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) updated rules for the presentation of account statement values relative to pricing of Direct Placement Program (“DPP”) shares. Under FINRA Notice 15-02 (the “Notice”) the SEC approved amendments to National Association of Securities Dealers (“NASD”) Rule 2340, Customer Account Statements, and FINRA rule 2310, which address a FINRA member firm’s participation in a public offering of a DPP. In summary, the amendments require a FINRA member firm to include in the account statements for customers holding DPP securities a per share value for the DPP. This per share value must be prepared by, or with the material assistance or confirmation of, a third-party valuation expert or service. The results of this valuation must be disclosed in the issuer’s reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. A valuation in compliance with the Notice must be undertaken and published on at least an annual basis.
The effective date of the Notice was April 11, 2016.
Methodologies
Broker dealers are required to provide a per share estimated value on the customer account statements for each non-listed DPP security held by their customers. Such estimated value must have been developed in a manner reasonably designed to provide a reliable value. Two valuation methodologies have been defined by FINRA, which by such designation are presumed to be reliable.
Net Investment Methodology
The amendments to NASD Rule 2340(c)(1)(A) require “net investment” to be based on the “amount available for investment” percentage disclosed in the “Estimated Use of Proceeds” section of the issuer’s offering prospectus. In essence, such value is equal to the offering price less selling commissions, other offering and organization expenses, and capital reserves. This method may be used for up to 150 days following the second anniversary of a Fund breaking escrow.
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Appraised Value Methodology
As amended, Rule NASD 2340(c)(1)(B) requires that the per share estimated value disclosed in an issuer’s most recent periodic or current report be based upon an appraisal of the assets and liabilities of the program by, or with the material assistance or confirmation of, a third-party valuation expert or service, in conformity with standard industry valuation practice as it relates to both the aforementioned assets and liabilities. No later than 150 days following the second anniversary of the issuer’s break of escrow for its minimum offering, this methodology must be used to establish the required estimated values.
Unit Valuation
The per Unit valuation estimate for ATEL 17, LLC has been conducted, and the results disclosed herein, in compliance with the mandates of the Notice.
For ATEL 17, LLC, its estimated value per Unit reflects the Manager’s estimate of current portfolio valuation of all assets and liabilities of the Fund, calculated on a per Unit basis, and as such, does not represent a market value for the Units and may not accurately reflect the value of the Fund Units to the Unit holders if held over time to Fund maturity.
In connection with any estimate of per Unit value, Unit holders and all parties are reminded that no public market for the Units exists. Additionally, in order to preserve the Fund’s pass-through status for federal income tax purposes, the Fund will not permit a secondary market or the substantial equivalent of a secondary market for the Units. In the absence of a public market for the Units, there is no currently ascertainable fair market value for the Units.
The estimate of per Unit value does not take into account any extraordinary potential future business activity of the Fund; rather the valuation represents a snapshot view of the Fund’s portfolio as of the valuation date. In addition, the Fund does not include any analysis of the distributions that have already been paid by the Fund, nor the anticipated returns to Unit holder over the full course of the Fund life cycle, which will be dependent on many factors.
Disclosure
The estimated value per Unit reported in this Form 10-K has been calculated using the “Appraised Value Methodology” described above under “Methodologies” above, as of December 31, 2024.
ATEL 17, LLC, will satisfy the disclosure requirements for providing estimated per Unit values pursuant to the Notice as follows:
For these disclosure, subsequent to the Fund's initial compliance with FINRA 15-02, annual disclosures of estimated per unit values, through the termination of the Fund, will be accomplished and included on an annual basis in a document filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission available to the public.
Specifics Underlying Valuation Methodology:
Notes and Explanation of Valuation Components and Calculation
A. | Fund Assets and Liabilities (other than as specifically identified below): The estimated values for non-interest bearing items such as current assets and liabilities are assumed to equal their reported GAAP balances as an appropriate approximation of their fair values. Debt (interest bearing) is assumed to equal the fair values of the debt as disclosed in the footnotes of the financial statements. |
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B. | Investment in equipment and leases (net of fees and expenses): The estimated values for equipment are based on calculating the present value of the projected future cash flows. Projected future cash flows include both the remaining contractual lease payments, plus assumptions on lease renewals and sale value of the residuals. Projected future cash flows are net of projected future fees and expenses including: |
● | management fees applicable for the Fund (1.25% of the aggregate original equipment cost of Portfolio Assets during offering stage, 1.75% of the aggregate net Portfolio Assets during operating stage and 1.75% of the Book Value of the Fund Assets less total cash reported as of the end of the most recent prior fiscal quarter or year, as the case may be) |
● | carried interest applicable for the Fund (0.01% of distributions) |
● | operating expenses which are assumed to be 3% of original equipment costs for the Fund |
Projected future cash flows have been discounted back to present value at discount rates based on like-term U.S. Treasury yields (as of the valuation date) plus a 400 basis point spread, to account for the credit risk differentials between the instrument being valued and U.S. Treasury security yields.
Residual values assumptions used in the cash flow projections are as follows:
For On-Lease and Month-to-Month Lease: Considers realized residual as a percent of book residual of 193.7%, based on ATEL’s historical track record as of December 31, 2024.
For Off-Lease: A current fair market value of off-lease equipment is based upon estimates from ATEL’s seasoned Asset Management Group.
Special Situation Leases: The valuation of certain leases has been performed outside of the above noted protocol based upon specific lease assumptions different than the macro assumptions above, due to the specific situations of those leases.
C. | Investments in Notes Receivable: The estimated values for Investments in Notes Receivable are estimated based upon various methodologies deployed by financial and credit management including, but not limited to, credit analysis, third party appraisal and/or discounted cash flow analysis based upon current market value techniques and market rates for similar types of lending arrangements, which may consider adjustments for impaired loans as deemed necessary. |
D. | Investments in Equity Securities: The estimated values for Investments in Securities have been based on the estimated net book value as of the valuation date (with impairment adjustments), plus any unrealized gain on equity. The unrealized gain on equity is based on either: a) the most recent round of financing, b) the most recent 409A valuation provided by the underlying companies of the warrants, or c) the Manager’s estimate of the company valuations based on all available information, including company financials, company valuation reports, public press releases, and other sources. |
E. | Warrants Outstanding: The estimated values for Warrants Outstanding considers the reported GAAP balances to be an appropriate approximation of their fair values. |
F. | Accrued distributions: Accrued distributions, which are payable to the Unit holders have been removed from the balance sheet liability section because they are not a liability to a third party. |
8
ATEL 17, LLC Unit Valuation
The Manager’s estimated per Unit value of ATEL 17, LLC at December 31, 2024 as determined, and derived under the guidelines of the Appraised Value Methodology, and pursuant to the above specific enumerated component valuation methodologies and calculations, equals $2.17. An independent national public accounting firm with valuation expertise was retained to examine, attest and confirm ATEL 17, LLC’s per Unit valuation and its component methodologies and calculation as it relates to compliance with the regulatory mandate defined in the Notice. In this regard, they examined the components of the valuation methodologies and determined them to be reasonable and within industry standards. Other component attributes, including the bases and related key assumptions of the calculation were tested for their completeness, underlying documentation support and mathematical accuracy. Upon completion of their efforts, their attestation report confirmed that the per unit valuation of ATEL 17, LLC, and the related notes, in all material respects, was based upon industry practice as described in the Manager’s valuation approach.
Disclaimer
The foregoing Fund valuation has been performed solely for the purpose of providing an estimated value per Unit in accordance with a regulatory mandate, in order to provide the broker dealer and custodian community with a valuation on a reasonable basis for use in assigning an estimation of a Unit holder’s account value. Any statement of such valuation is to be accompanied by statements that the value so calculated does not represent an estimate of the amount a Unit holder would receive if the Unit holder were to seek to sell the Units, and that the Fund intends to liquidate its assets in the ordinary course of its business and over the Fund’s term. Further, each Fund Valuation is to be accompanied by a disclosure that there can be no assurance as to (1) when the Fund will be fully liquidated, (2) the amount the Fund may actually receive if and when the Fund seeks to liquidate its assets, (3) the amount of lease or loan payments the Fund will actually receive over the remaining term, (4) the amount of asset disposition proceeds the Fund will actually receive over the remaining term, and (5) the amounts that may actually be received in distributions by Unit holders over the course of the remaining term.
Distributions
The Unitholders of record are entitled to certain distributions as provided under the Operating Agreement. The Company commenced periodic distributions beginning with the month of April 2016. Additional distributions have been consistently made through December 31, 2024.
Cash distributions were paid by the Fund to Unitholders of record as of November 30, 2024, and paid through December 31, 2024. Distributions may be characterized for tax, accounting and economic purposes as a return of capital, a return on capital (including escrow interest) or a portion of each. Generally, the portion of each cash distribution by a company which exceeds its net income for the fiscal period would constitute a return of capital. The Fund is required by the terms of its Operating Agreement to distribute the net cash flow generated by its investments in certain minimum amounts during the Reinvestment Period before it can reinvest its operating cash flow in additional portfolio assets. See the discussion in the ATEL 17, LLC Prospectus dated January 5, 2016 (“Prospectus”) under “Income, Losses and Distributions — Reinvestment.” Accordingly, the amount of cash flow from Fund investments distributed to Unitholders will not be available for reinvestment in additional portfolio assets.
Cash distributions were based on current and anticipated gross revenues from the leases and loans acquired. During the Fund’s acquisition and operating stages, the Fund may incur short term borrowing to fund regular distributions of such gross revenues to be generated by newly acquired transactions during their respective initial fixed terms. As such, all Fund periodic cash distributions made during these stages have been, and are expected in the future to be, based on the Fund’s actual and anticipated gross revenues to be generated from the binding initial terms of the leases and loans acquired.
9
The following table summarizes distribution activity for the Fund from inception through December 31, 2024 (in thousands except for Units and Per Unit Data):
Total | Weighted | |||||||||||||||||||||
Return of | Distribution | Total | Distribution | Average Units | ||||||||||||||||||
Distribution Period (1) |
| Paid |
| Capital |
|
| of Income |
|
| Distribution |
|
| per Unit (2) |
| Outstanding (3) | |||||||
Monthly and quarterly distributions |
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Feb 2016 - Nov 2016 | Apr 2016 - Dec 2016 | $ | 492 | $ | - | $ | 492 | $ | 0.64 | 770,832 | ||||||||||||
Dec 2016 - Nov 2017 | Jan 2017 - Dec 2017 |
| 1,540 |
| - |
| 1,540 | 0.78 | 1,967,313 | |||||||||||||
Dec 2017 - Nov 2018 | Jan 2018 - Dec 2018 | 2,043 | - | 2,043 | 0.80 | 2,562,088 | ||||||||||||||||
Dec 2018 - Nov 2019 | Jan 2019 - Dec 2019 | 2,052 | - | 2,052 | 0.80 | 2,565,749 | ||||||||||||||||
Dec 2019 - Nov 2020 | Jan 2020 - Dec 2020 | 2,052 | - | 2,052 | 0.80 | 2,565,749 | ||||||||||||||||
Dec 2020 - Nov 2021 | Jan 2021 - Dec 2021 | 2,053 | - | 2,053 | 0.80 | 2,565,749 | ||||||||||||||||
Dec 2021 - Nov 2022 | Jan 2022 - Dec 2022 | 2,053 | - | 2,053 | 0.80 | 2,565,749 | ||||||||||||||||
Dec 2022 - Nov 2023 | Jan 2023 - Dec 2023 | 2,053 | - | 2,053 | 0.80 | 2,565,749 | ||||||||||||||||
Dec 2023 - Nov 2024 | Jan 2024 - Dec 2024 | 1,500 | - | 1,500 | 0.58 | 2,564,295 | ||||||||||||||||
$ | 15,838 | $ | - | $ | 15,838 | $ | 6.80 | |||||||||||||||
Source of distributions |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||
Lease and loan payments and sales proceeds received | $ | 15,838 | 100.00% | $ | - | 0.00% | $ | 15,838 | 100.00% |
|
|
(1) | Investors may elect to receive their distributions either monthly or quarterly. See “Timing and Method of Distributions” on Page 67 of the Prospectus. |
(2) | Total distributions per Unit represents the per Unit distributions rate for those units which were outstanding for all of the applicable period. |
(3) | Balances shown represent weighted average units for the period from February 2 - November 30, 2016, December 1, 2016 - November 30, 2017, December 1, 2017 - November 30, 2018, December 1, 2018 - November 30, 2019, December 1, 2019 - November 30, 2020, December 1, 2020 - November 30, 2021, December 1, 2021 - November 30, 2022, December 1, 2022 - November 30, 2023 and December 1, 2023 - November 30, 2024, respectively. |
Item 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
A smaller reporting company is not required to present selected financial data in accordance with item 301(c) of Regulation S-K.
10
Item 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Statements contained in this Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” (“MD&A”) and elsewhere in this Form 10-K, 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-K. 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-K or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, other than as required by law.
Overview
ATEL 17, LLC (the “Company” or the “Fund”) was formed under the laws of the state of California on April 16, 2015 (“Date of Inception”) for the purpose of equipment financing and acquiring equipment to engage in equipment leasing and sales activities.
The offering of the Company was granted effectiveness by the Securities and Exchange Commission as of January 5, 2016. The offering will continue until the earlier of a period of two years from that date or until sales of the Limited Liability Company Units (“Units”) to the public reach $150 million. As of February 2, 2016, subscriptions for the minimum number of Units (120,000, representing $1.2 million), excluding subscriptions from Pennsylvania investors, had been received and the Fund requested subscription proceeds to be released from escrow. On that date, the Company commenced initial operations and continued in its development stage activities until transitioning to an operating enterprise during the first quarter of 2016. Pennsylvania subscriptions are subject to a separate escrow and are released to the Fund only when aggregate subscriptions for all investors equal to at least $7.5 million. Total contributions to the Fund exceeded $7.5 million on July 6, 2016, at which time a request was processed to release the Pennsylvania escrowed amounts. The offering was terminated on January 5, 2018. As of December 31, 2024, 2,554,249 Units were issued and outstanding.
During 2016, the Company initiated its initial acquisition stage with the investment of the net proceeds from the public offering of Units. Subsequently, during the reinvestment period (“Reinvestment Period”) (defined as six full years following the year the offering was terminated), the Company has reinvested and will reinvest cash flow in excess of certain amounts required to be distributed to the members and/or utilized its credit facilities to acquire additional equipment. Throughout the Reinvestment Period, which ends December 31, 2024, the Company anticipates continued reinvestment of cash flow in excess of minimum distributions and other obligations. The Company is governed by its Operating Agreement.
The Company may continue until terminated as provided in the Operating Agreement. Periodic distributions are paid at the discretion of the Managing Member.
Results of Operations
The Company had net losses of $6 thousand and $490 thousand for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Compared to prior year, the results for 2024 reflect an increase in total operating revenues, a decline in total operating expenses and a favorable change in other gains and losses related to the fair valuation of the Company’s equity securities and warrants.
11
Revenues
Total operating revenues increased by $128 thousand, or 7%, when compared to prior year. Such increase was primarily due to $221 thousand gains realized from the sale of certain transportation equipment during 2024. There were no such sales during the prior year. In addition, other revenue was higher by $34 thousand mainly due to an increase in deferred maintenance fees charged on returned equipment with excess wear and tear. These increases in revenues were partially offset by a $127 thousand reduction in operating lease revenues mainly due to lease run-off and equipment sales.
Expenses
Total operating expenses declined by $261 thousand, or 12%, primarily due to lower depreciation expense, asset management fees and interest expense. These decreases were partially offset by an increase in professional fees.
Depreciation expense decreased by $231 thousand largely due to lease run-off and equipment sales. Such decrease was net of a $45 thousand increase in additional depreciation recorded to reflect year-to-date changes in the estimated residual value of certain equipment generating revenue under month-to-month extensions. Moreover, asset management fees declined by $48 thousand due to the Company’s declining managed assets and related revenue, and interest expense decreased by $18 thousand as a result of the scheduled run-off of the Company’s borrowings under non-recourse debt. These reductions in expense were offset by a $43 thousand increase in professional fees attributable to legal fees related to outstanding distribution checks.
Other gain (loss)
During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company recorded other gains totaling $26 thousand and other losses of $69 thousand, respectively, to reflect unrealized gains and losses on the fair valuation of the Company’s investment securities and warrants portfolio.
Other income recorded during the current year all relates to unrealized gains on the Company’s warrant positions. During the prior year, the Company recorded unrealized losses of $61 thousand on such warrant positions. The year over year favorable change was due to an increase in the price of underlying securities of the Company’s warrant portfolio. Unrealized gains and losses on the Company’s publicly traded securities was deemed de minimis for 2024. During 2023, the Company recorded an unrealized loss of $10 thousand on such securities. The favorable change in the fair value of the securities was mainly due to the steadying of the price of the underlying security after a period of steep decline.
Capital Resources and Liquidity
At December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company’s cash and cash equivalents totaled $358 thousand and $1.0 million, 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 leases and other assets are acquired, as distributions are made to the Members and to the extent expenses exceed cash flows from leases and proceeds from asset sales.
The Company currently believes it has adequate reserves available to meet its immediate cash requirements and those of the next twelve months, but in the event those reserves are found to be inadequate, the Company would likely be in a position to borrow against its current portfolio to meet such requirements. The Managing Member envisions no such requirements for operating purposes.
12
Cash Flows
The following table sets forth summary cash flow data (in thousands):
2024 | 2023 | |||||
Net cash provided by (used in): | ||||||
Operating activities | $ | 871 | $ | 918 | ||
Investing activities |
| 311 |
| 13 | ||
Financing activities |
| (1,824) |
| (2,575) | ||
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents | $ | (642) | $ | (1,644) |
During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company’s main source of liquidity was cash flows from its portfolio of operating lease contracts. During the current year, the Company received $311 thousand of proceeds from sales of lease assets. There were no sales of lease assets during the prior year. In addition, during the prior year, the Company received $13 thousand of proceeds from sales of securities. There were no such proceeds during the current year.
During the same respective years, cash was primarily used to pay distributions and repay borrowings under non-recourse debt. Cash used to pay distributions totaled $1.5 million and $2.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively; and repayments of non-recourse debt totaled $288 thousand and $522 thousand for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. In addition, during the current year, the Company repurchased units worth $36 thousand. There were no such repurchases during the prior year.
Distributions
The Company commenced periodic distributions beginning with the month of February 2016. Additional distributions have been consistently made through December 31, 2024. See Item 5, Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities, for additional information regarding the distributions.
Commitments and Contingencies and Off-Balance Sheet Transactions
Commitments and Contingencies
At December 31, 2024, there were no commitments to purchase lease assets or to fund investments in notes receivable.
Off-Balance Sheet Transactions
None.
Item 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
See the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, Financial Statements and Notes to Financial Statements attached hereto at pages 14 through 31.
13
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Members
ATEL 17, LLC
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of ATEL 17, LLC (the “Company”), as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the related statements of operations, changes in members’ capital, and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Management of the Company’s Managing Member. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures to respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matters
Critical audit matters are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. We determined that there are no critical audit matters.
/s/ Moss Adams LLP
San Francisco, California
March 19, 2025
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2015.
14
ATEL 17, LLC
BALANCE SHEETS
DECEMBER 31, 2024 AND 2023
(In Thousands)
| 2024 |
| 2023 | |||
ASSETS |
|
|
|
| ||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | | $ | | ||
Accounts receivable, net |
| |
| | ||
Warrants, fair value |
| |
| | ||
Investments in equipment and leases, net |
| |
| | ||
Prepaid expenses and other assets |
| |
| | ||
Total assets | $ | | $ | | ||
LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS' CAPITAL |
|
|
|
| ||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities: |
|
|
|
| ||
Due to Managing Member and affiliates | $ | | $ | | ||
Accrued distributions to Other Members | | | ||||
Other |
| |
| | ||
Non-recourse debt | | | ||||
Unearned operating lease income |
| |
| | ||
Total liabilities |
| |
| | ||
Commitments and contingencies (Note 8) | ||||||
Members’ capital: |
|
|
|
| ||
Managing Member | | | ||||
Other Members |
| |
| | ||
Total Members’ capital |
| |
| | ||
Total liabilities and Members’ capital | $ | | $ | |
See accompanying notes.
15
ATEL 17, LLC
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2024 AND 2023
(In Thousands Except for Units and Per Unit Data)
2024 |
| 2023 | ||||
Operating revenues: |
|
|
| |||
Leasing and lending activities: |
|
|
| |||
Operating lease revenue, net | $ | | $ | | ||
Gain on sales of lease assets | | - | ||||
Other revenue |
| |
| | ||
Total operating revenues |
| |
| | ||
Operating expenses: |
|
| ||||
Depreciation of operating lease assets |
| |
| | ||
Asset management fees to Managing Member |
| |
| | ||
Cost reimbursements to Managing Member and/or affiliates |
| |
| | ||
Amortization of initial direct costs |
| |
| | ||
Interest expense | | | ||||
Professional fees |
| |
| | ||
Outside services |
| |
| | ||
Taxes on income and franchise fees |
| |
| | ||
Bank charges |
| |
| | ||
Other expense |
| |
| | ||
Total operating expenses |
| |
| | ||
Net loss from operations | ( | ( | ||||
Other gain (loss): | ||||||
Gain on sale of securities | - | | ||||
Unrealized loss on fair value adjustment for equity securities | - | ( | ||||
Unrealized gain (loss) on fair value adjustment for warrants |
| |
| ( | ||
Total other gain (loss) | | ( | ||||
Net loss | $ | ( | $ | ( | ||
Net loss: |
|
|
|
| ||
Managing Member | $ | - | $ | - | ||
Other Members | ( | ( | ||||
$ | ( | $ | ( | |||
Net loss per Limited Liability Company Unit - | $ | ( | $ | ( | ||
Weighted average number of Units outstanding |
| |
| |
See accompanying notes.
16
ATEL 17, LLC
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN MEMBERS’ CAPITAL
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2024 AND 2023
(In Thousands Except for Units and Per Unit Data)
Amount |
| ||||||||||
Other | Managing | ||||||||||
Units | Members | Member | Total | ||||||||
Balance December 31, 2022 | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
Distributions to Other Members ($ | — |
| ( |
| - |
| ( | ||||
Net loss |
| - |
| ( |
| - |
| ( | |||
Balance December 31, 2023 |
| | | | | ||||||
Repurchase of Units | ( | ( | - | ( | |||||||
Distributions to Other Members ($ |
| - |
| ( |
| - |
| ( | |||
Net loss |
| - |
| ( |
| - |
| ( | |||
Balance December 31, 2024 |
| | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||
See accompanying notes.
17
ATEL 17, LLC
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2024 AND 2023
(In Thousands)
2024 |
| 2023 | |||
Operating activities: |
|
|
| ||
Net loss | $ | ( | $ | ( | |
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities: |
|
| |||
Gain on sales of lease assets |
| ( |
| - | |
Depreciation of operating lease assets | | | |||
Amortization of initial direct costs | | | |||
Gain on sale of securities | - | ( | |||
Unrealized loss on fair value adjustment for equity securities | - | | |||
Unrealized (gain) loss on fair value adjustment for warrants |
| ( |
| | |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
|
| |||
Accounts receivable |
| |
| ( | |
Prepaid expenses and other assets | | | |||
Due to Managing Member and affiliates |
| ( |
| ( | |
Accounts payable, other | ( | | |||
Unearned operating lease income |
| ( |
| ( | |
Net cash provided by operating activities |
| |
| | |
Investing activities: |
|
|
|
| |
Proceeds from sale of securities | - | | |||
Proceeds from sales of equipment under operating leases | | - | |||
Net cash provided by investing activities |
| |
| | |
Financing activities: |
|
|
|
| |
Repayments under non-recourse debt | ( | ( | |||
Repurchase of Units | ( | - | |||
Distributions to Other Members |
| ( |
| ( | |
Net cash used in financing activities |
| ( |
| ( | |
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents |
| ( |
| ( | |
Cash at beginning of year |
| |
| | |
Cash at end of year | $ | | $ | | |
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information: |
|
|
|
| |
Cash paid during the year for interest | $ | | $ | | |
Cash paid during the year for taxes | $ | | $ | | |
Schedule of non-cash investing and financing transactions: |
|
|
|
| |
Distributions payable to Other Members at year-end | $ | | $ | | |
See accompanying notes.
18
ATEL 17, LLC
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. Organization and Limited Liability Company matters:
ATEL 17, LLC (the “Company” or the “Fund”) was formed under the laws of the state of
The offering of the Company was granted effectiveness by the Securities and Exchange Commission as of January 5, 2016. The offering will continue until the earlier of a period of
As of December 31, 2024, cumulative gross contributions, less rescissions and repurchases (net of distributions paid and allocated syndication costs, as applicable), totaling $
The Company’s principal objectives are to invest in a diversified portfolio of investments that will (i) preserve, protect and return the Company’s invested capital; (ii) generate regular cash distributions to members, with any balance remaining after required minimum distributions to be used to purchase additional investments during the Reinvestment Period (ending
calendar years after the completion of the Company’s public offering of Units) and (iii) provide additional cash distributions following the Reinvestment Period and until all investment portfolio assets have been sold or otherwise disposed.Pursuant to the terms of the Operating Agreement, the Managing Member and/or its affiliates receives compensation for services rendered and reimbursements for costs incurred on behalf of the Company. (See Note 6, Related party transactions.) 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 the Managing Member.
2. Summary of significant accounting policies:
Basis of presentation:
The accompanying balance sheets as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, and the related statements of operations, changes in members’ capital, and cash flows for the years then ended, have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (‘GAAP’) and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. These reclassifications had no significant effect on the reported financial position or results from operations.
Footnote and tabular amounts are presented in thousands, except as to Units and per Unit data.
19
ATEL 17, LLC
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
In preparing the accompanying financial statements, the Company has reviewed, as determined necessary by the Managing Member, events that have occurred after December 31, 2024, up until the issuance of the financial statements. No events were noted which would require disclosure in the footnotes to the financial statements.
Cash and cash equivalents:
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in banks and cash equivalent investments such as U.S. Treasury instruments with original and/or purchased maturities of
Use of Estimates:
The preparation of the 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 the 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 on accounts receivable.
Accounts receivable:
Accounts receivable represent the amounts billed under operating lease contracts, and notes receivable which are currently due to the Company. Allowances for doubtful accounts are typically established based on historical charge off and collection experience and the collectability of specifically identified lessees and borrowers, and invoiced amounts. Accounts receivable deemed uncollectible are generally charged off against the allowance on a specific identification basis. Recoveries of amounts that were previously written-off are recorded as other income in the period received.
Credit risk:
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk include cash and cash equivalents, operating lease receivables, and accounts receivable. The Company places the majority of its cash deposits in noninterest-bearing accounts with financial institutions that have no less than $
Equipment on operating leases and related revenue recognition:
Equipment subject to operating leases is stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is being recognized on a straight-line method over the terms of the related leases to the equipment’s estimated residual values. Off-lease equipment is generally not subject to depreciation. The Company depreciates all lease assets, in accordance with guidelines consistent with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 360-10-35-3, over the periods of the lease terms contained in each asset’s respective lease contract to the estimated residual value at the end of the lease contract. All lease assets are purchased only concurrent with the execution of a lease commitment by the lessee. Thus, the original depreciation period corresponds with the term of the original lease. Once the term of an original lease contract is completed, the subject property is typically sold to the existing user, re-leased to the existing user, or, when off-lease, is held for sale. Assets which are re-leased continue to be depreciated using the terms of the new lease agreements and the estimated residual values at the end of the new lease terms, adjusted downward as necessary. Assets classified as held-for-sale are carried at the lower of carrying amount, or the fair value less cost to sell.
20
ATEL 17, LLC
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Company does not use the equipment held in its portfolio, but holds it solely for lease and ultimate sale. In the course of marketing equipment that has come off-lease, management may determine at some point that re-leasing the assets may provide a superior return for investors and would then execute another lease. Upon entering into a new lease contract, management will estimate the residual value once again and resume depreciation. If, and when, the Company, at any time, determines that depreciation in value may have occurred with respect to an asset held-for-sale, the Company would review the value to determine whether a material reduction in value had occurred and recognize any appropriate impairment. All lease assets, including off-lease assets, are subject to the Company’s quarterly impairment analysis, as described below. Maintenance costs associated with the Fund’s portfolio of leased assets are expensed as incurred. Major additions and betterments are capitalized.
Operating lease revenue is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the underlying leases. The initial lease terms will vary as to the type of equipment subject to the leases, the needs of the lessees and the terms to be negotiated, but initial leases are generally on terms from
Operating leases are generally placed in a non-accrual status (i.e., no revenue is recognized) when payments are more than
Initial direct costs:
Incremental costs of a lease that would not have been incurred if the lease had not been obtained are capitalized and amortized over the lease term. All other costs associated with the execution of the Company’s leases are expensed as incurred.
Acquisition expense:
Acquisition expense represents costs which include, but are not limited to, legal fees and expenses, travel and communication expenses, cost of appraisals, accounting fees and expenses and miscellaneous expenses related to the selection and acquisition of equipment which are reimbursable to the Managing Member under the terms of the Operating Agreement. As the costs are not eligible for capitalization as initial direct costs, such amounts are expensed as incurred.
Asset valuation:
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 the 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. 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, if held in quantity, simultaneously 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.
21
ATEL 17, LLC
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Segment reporting:
The Company is organized into
The Company’s chief operating decision makers (“CODM”) are the Managing Member’s Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer. The CODM are presented with the Fund’s financial statements and equipment leasing transaction portfolio in order to evaluate revenues and expenses, and assess the Fund’s overall return. The Company believes that its equipment leasing business operates as
The primary geographic region in which the Company seeks leasing opportunities is North America. For the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 and as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, all of the Company’s current operating revenues and long-lived assets related to customers domiciled in the United States.
Investment in securities:
From time to time, the Company may receive rights to purchase equity securities of its borrowers or receive warrants in connection with its lending arrangements.
Investment in equity securities
The Company’s equity securities registered for public sale with readily determinable fair values are measured at fair value with any changes in fair value recognized in the Company’s results of operations. The Company’s equity securities that do not have readily determinable fair values are measured at cost minus impairment, and adjusted for changes in observable prices. Factors considered by the Managing Member in determining fair value include, but are not limited to, available financial information, the issuer’s ability to meet its current obligations and indications of the issuer’s subsequent ability to raise capital. The fair value of the Company’s investment equity securities was de minimis as of December 31, 2024 and 2023. All of such securities were publicly held and had readily determinable fair values. Unrealized gains and losses for the year ended December 31, 2024 were de minimis. During 2023, the Company recorded $
Warrants
Warrants owned by the Company are not registered for public sale, but are considered derivatives and are reflected at an estimated fair value on the balance sheet as determined by the Managing Member. The estimated fair value of the Company’s portfolio of warrants was $
22
ATEL 17, LLC
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Income Taxes:
The Company is treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 701 of the Internal Revenue Code, a partnership is not subject to federal income taxes. Accordingly, the Company has provided current franchise income taxes for only those states which levy income taxes on partnerships. The related provision for state income taxes was $
The tax bases of the Company’s net assets and liabilities vary from the amounts presented in these financial statements at December 31, 2024 and 2023 as follows (in thousands):
| 2024 |
| 2023 | |||
Financial statement basis of net assets | $ | | $ | | ||
Tax basis of net assets (unaudited) |
| |
| | ||
Difference | $ | ( | $ | |
The primary differences between the tax bases of net assets and the amounts recorded in the financial statements are the result of differences in accounting for syndication costs and differences between the depreciation methods used in the financial statements and the Company’s tax returns.
The following reconciles the net income reported in these financial statements to the loss reported on the Company’s federal tax return (unaudited) for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands):
| 2024 |
| 2023 | |||
Net income per financial statements | $ | ( | $ | ( | ||
Tax adjustments (unaudited): |
|
|
|
| ||
Adjustment to depreciation expense |
| |
| | ||
Adjustments to revenues |
| |
| ( | ||
Other |
| ( |
| | ||
Income per federal tax return (unaudited) | $ | | $ | |
Per Unit data:
Net loss and distributions per Unit are based upon the weighted average number of members Units outstanding during the year.
Recent accounting pronouncements:
In October 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2023-06, Disclosure Improvements—Codification Amendments in Response to the SEC’s Disclosure Update and Simplification Initiative, which incorporates into the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) certain incremental disclosure requirements introduced by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) as part of its disclosure update and simplification initiative. The amendments in this update are intended to clarify or improve presentation and disclosure requirements around a variety of ASC Topics, improve entity comparability for users, and align ASC requirements with SEC regulations. For entities subject to the SEC’s existing disclosure requirements, the effective date for each amendment will be the date on which the SEC’s removal of that related disclosure from Regulation S-X or Regulation S-K becomes effective. However, if by June 30, 2027, the SEC has not removed the related disclosure from its regulations, the amendments will be removed from the ASC and not become effective. Early adoption is prohibited. The Company does not expect the issuance of this ASU to have a material impact on its financial statements and disclosures.
23
ATEL 17, LLC
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280) – Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures – to enhance disclosures about significant segment expenses for public entities reporting segment information. It requires that a public entity disclose, on an annual and interim basis, significant expense categories for each reportable segment. Significant expense categories are derived from expenses that are 1) regularly reported to an entity’s chief operating decision-maker (“CODM”), and 2) included in a segment’s reported measure of profit or loss. The disclosures should include an amount for “other segment items”, reflecting the difference between 1) segment revenue less significant segment expenses, and 2) the reportable segment’s profit or loss measures. It requires that a public entity disclose the title and position of the CODM and how the CODM uses the reported measure of profit or loss to assess segment performance and to allocate resources. Further it clarifies that entities with a single reportable segment must disclose both new and existing segment reporting requirements. The amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Entities must adopt the guidance on a retrospective basis. The Company has evaluated the disclosure requirements of this update and have presented these enhancements in Note 2 – Summary of significant accounting policies, Segment reporting.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740)—Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, which include improvements to income tax disclosures by requiring (1) consistent categories and greater disaggregation of information in the rate reconciliation and (2) income taxes paid disaggregated by jurisdiction. This ASU also includes certain other amendments to better align disclosures with Regulation S-X and to remove disclosures no longer considered cost beneficial or relevant. This ASU is effective for public entities for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024, with earlier or retrospective application permitted. The amendments in this ASU should be applied prospectively for annual financial statements not yet issued or made available for issuance. The Company is evaluating the future impact of the issuance of this ASU on its financial statements and disclosures.
In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220) – Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses, which requires disclosure in the notes to financial statements about specific types of expenses included in the expense captions presented on the face of the statement of operations. The requirements of the ASU are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2026, and for interim periods beginning after December 15, 2027, with early adoption permitted. The requirements will be applied prospectively with the option for retrospective application. The Company is currently evaluating the impact related to the adoption of ASU 2024-03 on its financial statement disclosures.
3. Concentration of credit risk and major customers:
The Company leases equipment to lessees and provides debt financing to borrowers in diversified industries. Leases and notes receivable are subject to the Managing Member’s credit committee review. The leases and notes receivable provide for the return of the equipment to the Company upon default.
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, there were concentrations (greater than or equal to 10% as a percentage of total equipment cost) of equipment leased to lessees and/or financed for borrowers in certain industries as follows:
Percentage | ||||||
of Total Equipment Cost | ||||||
Industry | 2024 | 2023 | ||||
Chemical |
| | % | | % | |
Construction |
| | % | | % | |
Transportation, air |
| | % | | % | |
Transportation, rail |
| | % | | % |
24
ATEL 17, LLC
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
During 2024 and 2023, certain lessees and/or financial borrowers generated significant portions (defined as greater than or equal to 10%) of the Company’s total leasing and lending revenues, excluding gains or losses on disposition of assets, as follows:
Percentage of Total Leasing | ||||||||
and Lending Revenues | ||||||||
Lessee |
| Type of Equipment |
| 2024 | 2023 | |||
Holcim - Acm Management, Inc. |
| Mining | | % | | % | ||
Mosaic Fertilizer, LLC |
| Material Handling | | % | | % | ||
Union Pacific Railroad Company | Railroad |
| | % | | % | ||
Signature Flight Support LLC | Aviation | | % | | % |
These percentages are not expected to be comparable in future periods due to anticipated changes in the mix of investments and/or lessees as a result of normal business activities.
4. Investment in equipment and leases, net:
The Company’s investment in equipment and leases consists of the following (in thousands):
Balance | Additions/ | Depreciation/ | Balance | ||||||||
December 31, | Dispositions/ | Amortization | December 31, | ||||||||
2023 |
| Reclassifications |
| Expense |
| 2024 | |||||
Equipment under operating leases, net | $ | | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | | |||
Assets held for sale or lease, net |
| — | | — | | ||||||
Initial direct costs, net |
| |
| |
| ( |
| | |||
Total | $ | | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | |
Impairment of equipment:
As a result of impairment reviews, management determined that
The Company utilizes a straight line depreciation method over the term of the equipment lease for equipment under operating leases currently in its portfolio. Depreciation expense on the Company’s equipment totaled $
IDC amortization expense related to the Company’s operating leases totaled $
All of the Company’s lease asset purchases and capital improvements were made during the years from 2016 through 2022.
25
ATEL 17, LLC
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Operating leases:
Property under operating leases consists of the following (in thousands):
Balance | Balance | |||||||||||
December 31, | Reclassifications | December 31, | ||||||||||
| 2023 |
| Additions |
| or Dispositions |
| 2024 | |||||
Construction | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
Mining |
| |
| |
| ( |
| | ||||
Aviation |
| |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Transportation, rail | | | | | ||||||||
Materials handling |
| |
| |
| ( |
| | ||||
Paper processing |
| |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Transportation, other |
| |
| |
| ( |
| | ||||
| |
| |
| ( |
| | |||||
Less accumulated depreciation |
| ( |
| ( |
| |
| ( | ||||
Total | $ | | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | |
The average estimated residual value for assets on operating leases was
At December 31, 2024, the aggregate amounts of future minimum lease payments receivable are as follows (in thousands):
| Operating | ||
Leases | |||
Year ending December 31, 2025 | $ | | |
2026 |
| | |
2027 |
| | |
2028 |
| | |
2029 | | ||
2030 | | ||
$ | |
The useful lives for each category of leases is reviewed at a minimum of once per quarter. As of December 31, 2024, 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 |
| |
Aviation |
| |
Mining |
| |
Paper processing |
| |
Construction |
| |
Materials handling |
| |
Transportation, other |
|
26
ATEL 17, LLC
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
5. Allowance for doubtful accounts:
The Company had
6. Related party transactions:
The terms of the Operating Agreement provide that the Managing Member 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 the Managing Member and/or affiliates for providing administrative services to the Company. Administrative services provided include Company accounting, investor relations, legal counsel and lease and equipment documentation. The Managing Member is not reimbursed for services whereby it is entitled to receive a separate fee as compensation for such services, such as management of investments.
Each of AFS and ATEL Leasing Corporation (“ALC”) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ATEL Capital Group, Inc. and performs services for the Company on behalf of the Managing Member. Acquisition services, equipment management, lease administration and asset disposition services are performed by ALC; investor relations, communications and general administrative services are performed by AFS.
Cost reimbursements to the Managing Member or its affiliates 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 total assets, number of investors or contributed capital based upon the type of cost incurred. The Managing Member believes that the costs reimbursed are the lower of (i) actual costs incurred on behalf of the Company or (ii) the amount the Company would be required to pay independent parties for comparable administrative services in the same geographic location.
Pursuant to the Operating Agreement, the Managing Member and/or affiliates earned fees and billed for reimbursements during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 as follows (in thousands):
2024 |
| 2023 | ||||
$ | | $ | | |||
| |
| | |||
$ | | $ | |
7. Non-recourse debt:
At December 31, 2024, non-recourse debt consists of one notes payable to a financial institution. The note payments are due in monthly installments. Interest on the note is
The non-recourse debt does not contain any material financial covenants. The debt is secured by a lien granted by the Company to the non-recourse lenders on (and only on) the discounted lease transactions. The lenders have recourse only to the following collateral: the specific leased equipment; the related lease chattel paper; the lease receivables; and proceeds of the foregoing items. The non-recourse obligation is payable solely out of the respective specific security and the Company does not guarantee (nor is the Company otherwise contractually responsible for) the payment of the non-recourse debt as a general obligation or liability of the Company. Although the Company does not have any direct or general liability in connection with the non-recourse debt apart from the security granted, the Company is directly and generally liable and responsible for certain representations, warranties, and covenants made to the lenders, such as warranties as to genuineness of the transaction parties’ signatures, as to the genuineness of the respective lease chattel paper or the transaction as a whole, or as to the Company’s good title to or perfected interest in the secured collateral, as well as similar representations, warranties and covenants typically provided by non-recourse borrowers and customary in the equipment finance industry, and are viewed by such industry as being consistent with non-recourse discount
27
ATEL 17, LLC
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
financing obligations. Accordingly, as there are no financial covenants or ratios imposed on the Company in connection with the non-recourse debt, the Company has determined that there are no material covenants with respect to the non-recourse debt that warrant footnote disclosure.
Future minimum payments of non-recourse debt are as follows (in thousands):
| Principal |
| Interest |
| Total | ||||
Year ending December 31, 2025 | $ | | | $ | | ||||
2026 | | | | ||||||
2027 | | | | ||||||
2028 | | | | ||||||
| $ | |
| $ | |
| $ | |
8. Commitments and contingencies:
At December 31, 2024, there were
The Company enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The Company’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Company has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these contracts and expects the risk of loss to be remote.
The Managing Member knows of no facts or circumstances that would make the Company’s contractual commitments outside standard mutual covenants applicable to commercial transactions between businesses. Accordingly, the Company believes that these indemnification obligations are made in the ordinary course of business as part of standard commercial and industry practice, and that any potential liability under the Company’s similar commitments is remote. Should any such indemnification obligation become payable, the Company would separately record and/or disclose such liability in accordance with GAAP.
9. Members’ capital:
A total of
The Company has the right, exercisable at the Managing Member’s discretion, but not the obligation, to repurchase Units of a Unitholder who ceases to be a U.S. Citizen, for a price equal to
The Fund’s net income or net losses are to be allocated
Fund distributions are to be allocated
28
ATEL 17, LLC
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Distributions to the Other Members for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 were as follows (in thousands except Units and per Unit data):
2024 |
| 2023 | ||||
Distributions | $ | | $ | | ||
Weighted average number of Units outstanding |
| |
| | ||
Weighted average distributions per Unit | $ | | $ | |
10. 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.
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:
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.
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 equipment portfolio, notes receivable 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.
At December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company’s warrants and investments securities were measured at fair value on a recurring basis. There were no assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis as of December 31, 2024 and 2023.
29
ATEL 17, LLC
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Such fair value adjustments utilized the following methodology:
Warrants (recurring)
Warrants owned by the Company are not registered for public sale, but are considered derivatives and are carried on the balance sheet at an estimated fair value at the end of the period. The valuation of the warrants are determined using a Black-Scholes formulation of value based upon the stock price(s), the exercise price(s), the volatility of comparable venture companies, the time to maturity, and a risk free interest rate for the term(s) of the warrant exercise(s). As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the calculated fair value of the Fund’s warrant portfolio approximated $
The following table reconciles the beginning and ending balances of the Company’s Level 3 recurring assets (in thousands):
Year Ended | ||||||
December 31, | ||||||
2024 |
| 2023 | ||||
Fair value of warrants at beginning of year | $ | | $ | | ||
Unrealized gain (loss) on fair value adjustment for warrants |
| |
| ( | ||
Fair value of warrants at end of year | $ | | $ | |
Investment in equity securities (recurring)
The Company’s equity securities registered for public sale with readily determinable fair values are measured at fair value with any changes in fair value recognized in the Company’s results of operations. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the fair value of the Company’s investment securities was deemed de minimis. Such valuation is classified within Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy.
The following table summarizes the valuation techniques and significant unobservable inputs used for the Company’s recurring and non-recurring fair value calculation/adjustments categorized as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy at December 31, 2024 and 2023:
December 31, 2024 | ||||||||
| Valuation |
| Valuation |
| Unobservable |
| Range of Input Values | |
Name | Frequency | Technique | Inputs | (Weighted Average) | ||||
Warrants |
| Recurring |
| Black-Scholes formulation |
| Stock price | $ | |
|
|
|
|
| Exercise price | $ | ||
|
|
|
|
| Time to maturity (in years) |
| ||
|
|
|
|
| Annualized volatility |
|
December 31, 2023 | ||||||||
| Valuation |
| Valuation |
| Unobservable |
| Range of Input Values | |
Name | Frequency | Technique | Inputs | (Weighted Average) | ||||
Warrants |
| Recurring |
| Black-Scholes formulation |
| Stock price | $ | |
|
|
|
|
| Exercise price | $ | ||
|
|
|
|
| Time to maturity (in years) | |||
|
|
|
|
| Annualized volatility |
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 and should be read in conjunction with the Company’s financial statements and related notes.
30
ATEL 17, LLC
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Company determines 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.
Non-recourse debt
The fair value of the Company’s non-recourse debt is estimated using discounted cash flow analyses, based upon current market borrowing rates for similar types of borrowing arranagements.
Commitments and Contingencies
Management has determined that no recognition for the fair value of the Company’s loan commitments is necessary because their terms are made on a market rate basis and require borrowers to be in compliance with the Company’s credit requirements at the time of funding.
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 December 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands):
Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2024 | |||||||||||||||
| Carrying |
|
|
|
| ||||||||||
Amount | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||
Financial assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||
Warrants, fair value |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |||||
Financial liabilities: | |||||||||||||||
Non-recourse debt | | | | | |
Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||||
| Carrying |
|
|
|
| ||||||||||
Amount | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||
Financial assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||
Warrants, fair value | |
| |
| |
| |
| | ||||||
Financial liabilities: | |||||||||||||||
Non-recourse debt | | | | | |
31
Item 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES
None.
Item 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures
The Company’s Managing Member’s Chief Executive Officer, and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial and Operating Officer (“Management”), evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-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, the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial and Operating Officer 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. 78a et 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.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
The Management of the Managing Member is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as that term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f) for the Company, and for performing an assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024. The internal control process of the Managing Member, as it is applicable to the Company, was designed to provide reasonable assurance to Management regarding the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements, and includes those policies and procedures that:
(1) | Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, and that the Company’s receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorization of the Management of the Managing Member; and |
(2) | Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. |
All internal control processes, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those processes determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to the reliability of financial statement preparation and presentation. Further, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
32
Management of the Managing Member assessed the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting, as it is applicable to the Company, as of December 31, 2024. In making this assessment, it used the criteria set forth in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on its assessment, Management of the Managing Member concluded that the Managing Member’s internal control over financial reporting, as it is applicable to the Company, was effective as of December 31, 2024.
This annual report does not include an audit report of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s internal control over financial reporting was not subject to audit by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm pursuant to Section 989G of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which exempts non-accelerated filers from Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
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 year ended December 31, 2024 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Managing Member’s internal control over financial reporting, as it is applicable to the Company.
Item 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
33
PART III
Item 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, PROMOTERS AND CONTROL PERSONS; COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(A) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT
The registrant is a Limited Liability Company and has no officers or directors.
ATEL Managing Member, LLC (the “Managing Member” or “Manager”) is the Company’s Managing Member. The Managing Member is controlled by ATEL Financial Services, LLC (“AFS”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of ATEL Capital Group (“ACG” or “ATEL”). The outstanding voting capital stock of ATEL is owned 100% by Dean L. Cash.
Each of AFS and ATEL Leasing Corporation (“ALC”) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ACG and performs services for the Company on behalf of the Managing Member. Acquisition services, equipment management, lease administration and asset disposition services are performed by ALC; investor relations and communications services, and general administrative services are performed by AFS. ATEL Securities Corporation (“ASC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of AFS, performs distribution services in connection with the Company’s public offering of its Units.
The officers and directors of ATEL and its affiliates are as follows:
Dean L. Cash | Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of ATEL Managing Member, LLC (Managing Member) | |
Paritosh K. Choksi | Director, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of ATEL Managing Member, LLC (Managing Member) | |
Dean L. Cash, age 74, became chairman, president and chief executive officer of ATEL in April 2001. Mr. Cash joined ATEL as director of marketing in 1980 and served as a vice president since 1981, executive vice president since 1983 and a director since 1984. Prior to joining ATEL, Mr. Cash was a senior marketing representative for Martin Marietta Corporation, data systems division, from 1979 to 1980. From 1977 to 1979, he was employed by General Electric Corporation, where he was an applications specialist in the medical systems division and a marketing representative in the information services division. Mr. Cash was a systems engineer with Electronic Data Systems from 1975 to 1977, and was involved in maintaining and developing software for commercial applications. Mr. Cash received a B.S. degree in psychology and mathematics in 1972 and an M.B.A. degree with a concentration in finance in 1975 from Florida State University. Mr. Cash is an arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association and is qualified as a registered principal with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.
Paritosh K. Choksi, age 71, joined ATEL in 1999 as a director, senior vice president and its chief financial officer. He became its executive vice president and CFO/COO in April 2001. Prior to joining ATEL, Mr. Choksi was chief financial officer at Wink Communications, Inc. from 1997 to 1999. From 1977 to 1997, Mr. Choksi was with Phoenix American Incorporated, a financial services and management company, where he held various positions during his tenure, and was senior vice president, chief financial officer and director when he left the company. Mr. Choksi was involved in all corporate matters at Phoenix and was responsible for Phoenix’s capital market needs. He also served on the credit committee overseeing all corporate investments, including its venture lease portfolio. Mr. Choksi was a part of the executive management team which caused Phoenix’s portfolio to increase from $50 million in assets to over $2 billion. Mr. Choksi is a member of the board of directors of Syntel, Inc. Mr. Choksi received a bachelor of technology degree in mechanical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay; and an M.B.A. degree from the University of California, Berkeley.
Audit Committee
The board of directors of the Managing Member acts as the audit committee of the Company. Dean L. Cash and Paritosh K. Choksi are members of the board of directors of the Managing Member and are deemed to be financial experts. They are not independent of the Company.
34
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Based solely on a review of Forms 3, 4, and 5, the Company is not aware of any failures to file reports of beneficial ownership required to be filed during or for the year ended December 31, 2024.
Code of Ethics
A Code of Ethics that is applicable to the Company, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of its Manager, ATEL Managing Member, LLC, or persons acting in such capacity on behalf of the Company, is included as Exhibit 14.1 to this report.
Item 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The registrant has no officers or directors.
Set forth hereinafter is a description of the nature of remuneration paid and to be paid to the Manager and its affiliates. The amount of such remuneration paid for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 is set forth in Item 8 of this report under the caption “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data — Notes to Financial Statements — Related party transactions,” at Note 6 thereof, which information is hereby incorporated by reference.
Asset Management Fee and Carried Interest
The Company pays the Manager an annual Asset Management Fee in an amount equal to 1.25% of the aggregate Purchase Price of Portfolio Assets acquired by the Fund through the end of each month during the period. Upon commencement of the Operating State; the period starting with the final sale of Units and ending six calendar years after the final sale of units, and the first two years of the Liquidating Stage; the period occurring after the Operating Stage until the final sale of units, the Company will pay the Manager an annual Asset Management Fee in an amount equal to an annualized 1.75% of the aggregate net Portfolio Assets, calculated for each month during the period as the aggregate Purchase Price of Portfolio Assets as of the end of the month, less the amount of the aggregate Purchase Price of Portfolio Assets attributable to Portfolio Assets which have been sold or otherwise disposed by the Fund through the end of the month. The Asset Management Fee payable for services rendered during the reminder of the Liquidating Stage will be equal to an annualized 1.75% of the Book Value of Fund Assets less total cash reported as of the end of the most recent prior fiscal quarter or year, as the case may be. The Asset Management Fee is paid on a monthly basis.
The Manager supervises performance of all management activities, including, among other activities: the acquisition and financing of the investment portfolio, collection of lease and loan revenues, monitoring compliance by lessees borrowers with their contract terms, assuring that investment assets are being used in accordance with all operative contractual arrangements, paying operating expenses and arranging for necessary maintenance and repair of equipment and property in the event a lessee fails to do so, monitoring property, sales and use tax compliance and preparation of operating financial data. The Manager intends to delegate all or a portion of its duties and the Asset Management Fee to one or more of its affiliates who are in the business of providing such services.
The Manager also receives, as its Carried Interest, an amount equal to 0.01% of all Company Distributions.
Limitations on Fees
The Fund has adopted a single Asset Management Fee plus the Carried Interest as a means of compensating the Manager for sponsoring the Fund and managing its operations. While this compensation structure is intended to simplify management compensation for purposes of investor’s understanding, state securities administrators use a more complicated compensation structure in their review of equipment program offerings in order to assure that those offerings are fair under the states’ merit review guidelines. The total of all Front End Fees, the Carried Interest and the Asset Management Fee will be subject to the Asset Management Fee Limit in order to assure these state administrators that the Fund will not bear greater fees than permitted under the state merit review guidelines. The North American Securities Administrators Association, Inc. (“NASAA”) is an organization of state securities administrators, those state
35
government agencies responsible for qualifying securities offerings in their respective states. NASAA has established standards for the qualification of a number of different types of securities offerings and investment products, including its Statement of Policy on Equipment Programs (the “NASAA Equipment Leasing Guidelines”). Article IV, Sections C through G of the NASAA Equipment Leasing Guidelines establish the standards for payment of reasonable carried interests, promotional interests and fees for equipment acquisition, management, resale and releasing services to equipment leasing program sponsors. Article IV, Sections C through G of the NASAA Equipment Leasing Guidelines set the maximum compensation payable to the sponsor and its affiliates from an equipment leasing program such as the Fund. The Asset Management Fee Limit will equal the maximum compensation payable under Article IV, Sections C through G of the NASAA Equipment Leasing Guidelines as in effect on the date of the Fund’s prospectus (the “NASAA Fee Limitation”). Under the Asset Management Fee Limit, the Fund will calculate the maximum fees payable under the NASAA Fee Limitation and guarantee that the Asset Management Fee it will pay the Manager and its Affiliates, when added to its Carried Interest, will never exceed the fees and interest payable to a sponsor and its affiliates under the NASAA Fee Limitation.
Asset Management Fee Limit. The Asset Management Fee Limit will be calculated each year during the Fund’s term by calculating the maximum amount of fees that would be payable to the Manager from the Initial Closing Date though the end of the year in question under Article IV, Sections C through G, and Article V, Section F, of the North American Securities Administrators Association Statement of Policy on Equipment Programs in effect as of the initial effective date of the Fund’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 for the initial public offering of its Units (the “NASAA Guidelines”). For purposes of the application of the NASAA Guidelines, all Portfolio Assets will be deemed “Equipment” as defined in the NASAA Guidelines. To the extent that the total amount paid to the Manager through the end of such year as the Asset Management Fee and the Carried Interest would cause the total compensation to exceed the aggregate amount of fees that would have been payable a calculated under the NASAA Guidelines through the end of that year, the Asset Management Fee and/or Carried Interest for the year will be reduced to equal the maximum aggregate fees that would have been payable under the NASAA Guidelines through the end of that year. The limitations set forth in this Section 8.3 will be subject to adjustment pursuant to the limitations imposed under Section 15.7 relating to the Minimum Investment in Equipment.
Minimum Investment in Equipment/Maximum Front-End Fees. The Manager must commit not less than 85.875% of the Gross Proceeds to Investment in Equipment, with the balance thereof available to pay Organization and Offering Expenses and Front End Fees, however designated. Under the North American Securities Administrators Association, Inc. (“NASAA”) Statement of Policy concerning Equipment Programs in effect as of the initial effective date of the Fund’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 for the initial public offering of its Units (referred to herein as the “NASAA Guidelines”), the Fund is required to commit a minimum percentage of the Gross Proceeds to Investment in Equipment, which shall be deemed to be Portfolio Assets for the purposes of this Agreement, calculated as the greater of: (i) 80% of the Gross Proceeds reduced by 0.0625% for each 1% of indebtedness encumbering the Fund’s Portfolio Assets; or (ii) 75% of such Gross Proceeds. The maximum amounts to be paid under the terms of this Agreement are subject to the application of the Asset Management Fee Limit provided in Section 8.3, which limits the annual amount payable to the Manager and its Affiliates as the Asset Management Fee and the Carried Interest to an aggregate not to exceed the maximum amount of fees that would be payable to the Manager under specified provisions of the NASAA Guidelines. Upon completion of the offering of Units, final commitment of Net Proceeds to acquisition of Portfolio Assets and establishment of final levels of permanent portfolio debt encumbering such Portfolio Assets, the Manager shall calculate the maximum carried interest and promotional interest payable to the Manager and its Affiliates under the NASS Guidelines and compare such total permitted fees to the total of the Asset Management Fee and Carried Interest. If and to the extent that the fees exceed the Asset Management Fee Limit provided in Section 8.3, the fees payable to the Manager and its Affiliates shall be reduced as described herein. In such event, Section 8.3 of this Agreement shall be amended immediately to reduce the amounts calculated as the Carried Interest by an amount sufficient to cause the total of such compensation to comply with the limitations in the NASAA Guidelines on the aggregate of promotional interests and carried interests. A comparison of the Front End Fees actually paid by the End and the NASAA Guideline maximums fixed as set forth above shall be repeated, and any required adjustments shall be made, at least annually thereafter.
See Note 6 to the financial statements as set forth in Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, for amounts paid.
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Item 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners
At December 31, 2024, no investor is known to hold beneficially more than 5% of the issued and outstanding Units.
Security Ownership of Management
The parent of ATEL Managing Member, LLC is the beneficial owner of Limited Liability Company Units as follows:
|
|
| ||||
(1) |
| (2) |
| (3) |
| (4) |
Limited Liability Company Units | ATEL Financial Services, LLC | Initial Limited Liability | 0.0020% |
Item 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
See Item 8 of this report under the caption “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data — Notes to Financial Statements — Related party transactions” at Note 6 thereof.
Item 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company incurred audit fees with its principal auditors totaling $98 thousand and $76 thousand, respectively.
Audit fees consist of the aggregate fees and expenses billed in connection with the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements and the review of the financial statements included in the Company’s quarterly reports on Form 10- Q.
The board of directors of the Managing Member acts as the audit committee of the registrant. Engagements for audit services, audit related services and tax services are approved in advance by the Chief Financial Officer of the Managing Member acting on behalf of the board of directors of the Managing Member in its role as the audit committee of the Company.
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PART IV
Item 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a) |
| Financial Statements and Schedules | |||
1. | Financial Statements | ||||
Included in Part II of this report: | |||||
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm ( | 14 | ||||
15 | |||||
Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 | 16 | ||||
Statements of Changes in Members’ Capital for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 | 17 | ||||
Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 | 18 | ||||
19 | |||||
2. | Financial Statement Schedules | ||||
All 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. | |||||
(b) | Exhibits | ||||
Certification of Dean L. Cash pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) | |||||
Certification of Paritosh K. Choksi pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) | |||||
Certification of Dean L. Cash pursuant to 18 U.S.C. section 1350 | |||||
Certification of Paritosh K. Choksi pursuant to 18 U.S.C. section 1350 | |||||
(101.INS) | Inline XBRL Instance Document | ||||
(101.SCH) | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document | ||||
(101.CAL) | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document | ||||
(101.LAB) | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document | ||||
(101.PRE) | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document | ||||
(101.DEF) | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document | ||||
(104) | The cover page for the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended | ||||
December 31, 2024 has been formatted in Inline XBRL |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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: March 19, 2025
ATEL 17, LLC
(Registrant)
By: | ATEL Managing Member, LLC Managing Member of Registrant | ||
By: | /s/ Dean L. Cash | ||
Dean L. Cash | |||
Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of ATEL Managing Member, LLC (Managing Member) | |||
By: | /s/ Paritosh K. Choksi | ||
Paritosh K. Choksi | |||
Director, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of ATEL Managing Member, LLC (Managing Member) | |||
By: | /s/ Raymond A. Rigo | ||
Raymond A. Rigo | |||
Senior Vice President, Fund Controller of ATEL Managing Member, LLC (Managing Member) |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
SIGNATURE |
| CAPACITIES |
| DATE | ||
/s/ Dean L. Cash | Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive | March 19, 2025 | ||||
Dean L. Cash | ||||||
/s/ Paritosh K. Choksi | Director, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial | March 19, 2025 | ||||
Paritosh K. Choksi | ||||||
/s/ Raymond A. Rigo | Senior Vice President, Fund Controller of ATEL Managing Member, LLC (Managing Member) | March 19, 2025 | ||||
Raymond A. Rigo |
No proxy materials have been or will be sent to security holders. An annual report will be furnished to security holders subsequent to the filing of this report on Form 10-K, and copies thereof will be furnished supplementally to the Commission when forwarded to the security holders.
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