Organization and Partnership Matters

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2013

Organization and Partnership Matters [Abstract]

Organization and Partnership Matters

1.  Organization and partnership matters:

ATEL Cash Distribution Fund VI, L.P. (the “Partnership” or the “Fund”) was formed under the laws of the State of California on June 29, 1994 for the purpose of engaging in the sale of limited liability investment units and acquiring equipment to engage in equipment leasing and sales activities, primarily in the United States. The Partnership may continue until December 31, 2015. The General Partner of the Partnership is ATEL Financial Services, LLC (“AFS”). Prior to converting to a limited liability company structure, AFS was formerly known as ATEL Financial Corporation.

The Partnership conducted a public offering of 12,500,000Limited Partnership Units (“Units”), at a price of $10 per Unit. Upon the sale of the minimum amount of Units of $1.2 million and the receipt of the proceeds thereof on January 3, 1995, the Partnership commenced operations in its primary business (acquiring equipment to engage in equipment leasing and sales activities). On November 23, 1996, subscriptions for 12,500,000 ($125 million) Limited Partnership Units had been received, in addition to the initial Limited Partners’ Units, and the offering terminated. As of June 30, 2013,  12,478,676Units were issued and outstanding.

The Partnership’s principal objectives have been to invest in a diversified portfolio of equipment that (i) preserves, protects and returns the Partnership’s invested capital; (ii) generates regular distributions to the partners of cash from operations and cash from sales or refinancing, with any balance remaining after certain minimum distributions to be used to purchase additional equipment during the reinvestment period (“Reinvestment Period”) (defined as six full years following the year the offering was terminated), which ended December 31, 2002 and (iii) provides additional distributions following the Reinvestment Period and until all equipment has been sold. The Partnership is governed by its Limited Partnership Agreement (“Partnership Agreement”).

Pursuant to the Partnership Agreement, AFS receives compensation for services rendered and reimbursements for costs incurred on behalf of the Partnership (See Note 4). The Partnership is required to maintain reasonable cash reserves for working capital, the repurchase of Units and contingencies. The repurchase of Units is solely at the discretion of AFS.

As of June 30, 2013, the Partnership continues in the liquidation phase of its life cycle, as defined in the Partnership Agreement, and is generally making distributions on an annual basis or at the discretion of the General Partner.

These unaudited interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto contained in the report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.