SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

OR

INTERPOOL, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in the charter)

211 COLLEGE ROAD EAST, PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY 08540
(Address of principal executive office) (Zip Code)

(609) 452-8900
(Registrant’s telephone number including area code)

SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT:

SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(g) OF THE ACT:
NONE

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes |X| No |_|

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K 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. |_|

The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately $147,845,611 as of March 20, 2001.

At March 20, 2001, there were 27,421,452 shares of the registrant’s Common Stock outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the registrant’s Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 15, 2001 are incorporated by reference into Part III of the Form 10-K.

INTERPOOL, INC.

FORM 10-K

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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PART I

ITEM 1.    BUSINESS

Interpool, Inc. (the “Company” or “Interpool”) is the largest lessor of intermodal chassis in the United States and one of the world’s leading lessors of intermodal dry freight standard containers. At December 31, 2000, the Company’s container fleet totaled approximately 654,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (“TEUs”), the industry standard measure of dimension for containers used in international trade, and its chassis fleet totaled approximately 175,000 chassis. The Company leases its containers and chassis to over 400 customers, including nearly all of the world’s 20 largest international container shipping lines.

The efficiencies and cost savings inherent in intermodal transportation of containerized cargo have facilitated the dramatic growth of international trade. Intermodal transportation permits movement of cargo in a standard steel container by means of a combination of ship, rail and truck without unpacking and repacking of the contents during transit. The Company believes the world’s dry freight standard container fleet has grown from fewer than .4 million TEUs in 1970 to approximately 12.5 million TEUs by the end of 2000. During the year 2000 the Company estimates that approximately 1.6 million TEUs were produced, of which .5 million have been estimated to be replacements of older containers. Concurrently with this growth of the world’s container fleet, the domestic chassis fleet has grown to accommodate the increased container traffic. Leasing companies have played a significant role in the growth of intermodal transportation, supplying approximately half of the world’s container and chassis requirements.

The Company focuses on leasing container chassis and dry freight standard containers on a long-term basis in order to achieve high utilization of its equipment and stable and predictable earnings. From 1991 through 1994, the combined utilization rate of the Company’s container and chassis fleets averaged at least 90%. At the end of 1995 and 1996 the combined utilization rate of the Company’s container and chassis fleets was approximately 97% and at December 31, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 such rate was approximately 98%. A substantial portion of the Company’s newly acquired equipment is leased on a long-term basis and, at December 31, 2000, approximately 81% of its total equipment fleet was leased on this basis. The remainder of the Company’s equipment is leased under short-term agreements to satisfy customers’ peak or seasonal requirements, generally at higher rates than under long-term leases. The Company concentrates on standard dry cargo containers and chassis because such equipment may be more readily remarketed upon expiration of a lease than specialized equipment. In financing its equipment acquisitions, Interpool generally seeks to meet debt service requirements from the leasing revenue generated by its equipment.

The Company conducts its container and chassis leasing business through its two subsidiaries, Interpool Limited and Trac Lease, Inc. (“Trac Lease”), respectively. Certain other United States equipment leasing activities are conducted through Interpool itself.

The Company and its predecessors have been involved in the leasing of containers and chassis since 1968. The Company leases containers throughout the world, with particular emphasis on the Pacific Rim. The Company leases chassis to customers for use in the United States. The Company maintains contact with its customers through a worldwide network of offices, agents and sales representatives. The Company believes one of the key factors in its ability to compete effectively has been the long-standing relationship management has established with most of the world’s large shipping lines. In addition, Interpool relies on its strong credit rating and low financing costs to maintain its competitive position.

From time to time the Company considers possible acquisitions of complementary businesses and asset portfolios. In October 2000, the Company completed the acquisition of the North American Intermodal division of Transamerica Leasing, Inc. (TA), a subsidiary of Transamerica Finance Corporation and AEGON N.V. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company acquired substantially all of the domestic containers, chassis, and trailers of the North American intermodal division and related assets and assumed certain of the liabilities of the business. The Company paid approximately $672.0 million in cash, with such acquisition being financed through a combination of cash and proceeds from committed secured financing facilities equal to approximately $365.0 million. In the acquisition, the Company acquired approximately 70,000 chassis, 23,000 rail trailers and 18,000 domestic containers.

In January 2001, the Company and TIP Intermodal Services (TIP), a GE Capital Company, announced the signing of a definitive agreement for the sale of 50,000 rail trailers and domestic containers by the Company to TIP, including all 41,000 units that the Company acquired from Transamerica Leasing, Inc. in October of 2000. The Company expects to consumate this transaction during the first half of 2001.

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In April 1998, the Company established a strategic alliance with another container leasing company whose business complements that of the Company through the acquisition of a 50% interest in Container Applications International, Inc. (CAI), whose business is primarily in the short-term master lease market. The Company also provided CAI with financing to repay debt.

Company History

The Company is a Delaware corporation formed in February 1988. The Company is the successor to a line of container and chassis leasing businesses that traces its beginning to the 1960‘s.

Interpool Limited, a container and chassis leasing business, was formed in 1968 by Warren L. Serenbetz, a director of the Company and executive consultant until January 1995, Martin Tuchman, currently Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and director of the Company, and two other individuals. In 1978, Interpool Limited was sold to Thyssen-Bornemisza, N.V. (“Thyssen”). As part of Thyssen, Interpool Limited continued to be managed by Messrs. Serenbetz and Tuchman. In 1986, Messrs. Serenbetz and Tuchman, along with Mr. Raoul J. Witteveen and two other senior executives formed and became the stockholders of Trac Lease. In 1988, the Company was formed by Messrs. Serenbetz, Tuchman and Witteveen and acquired Interpool Limited from Thyssen (the “Interpool Limited Acquisition”). In 1993, the Company acquired 87.5% of Trac Lease (the “Trac Lease Acquisition”). In the first quarter of 1996 pursuant to an Agreement of Merger between Trac Lease and Trac Lease Merger Corp., a newly formed subsidiary (the “Trac Merger”), the Company acquired the minority interests in Trac Lease and as a result Trac Lease became a wholly owned subsidiary.

Intermodal Transportation

The fundamental component of intermodal transportation is the container. Containers provide a secure and cost-effective method of transporting finished goods and component parts because they are generally freely inter-changeable between different modes of transport, making it possible to move cargo from a point of origin to a final destination without the repeated unpacking and repacking of the goods required by traditional shipping methods. The same container may be carried successively on a ship, rail car and truck and across international borders with minimal customs formalities. Containerization is more efficient, more economical and safer in the transportation of cargo than “break bulk transport” in which the goods are unpacked and repacked at various intermediate points enroute to their final destination. By eliminating manual repacking operations when differing modes of transportation are used, containerization reduces freight and labor costs. In addition, automated handling of containers permits faster loading and unloading and more efficient utilization of transportation equipment, thereby reducing transit time. The protection provided by sealed containers also reduces damage to goods and loss and theft of goods during shipment. Containers may also be picked up, dropped off, stored and repaired at independent common user depots located throughout the world.

The adoption of uniform standards for containers in 1968 by the International Standards Organization (the “ISO”) precipitated a rapid growth of the container industry, as shipping companies recognized the advantages of containerization over traditional break bulk transportation of cargo. This growth resulted in substantial investments in containers, container ships, port facilities, chassis, specialized rail cars and handling equipment.

Most containers are constructed of steel in accordance with recommendations of the ISO. The basic container type is the general-purpose dry freight standard container (accounting for approximately 87% of the world’s container fleet), which measures 20 or 40 feet long, 8 feet wide and 8½ or 9½ feet high. In general, 20-foot containers are used to carry heavy, dense cargo loads (such as industrial parts and certain food products) and in areas where transport facilities are less developed, while 40-foot containers are used for lighter weight finished goods (such as apparel, electronic appliances and other consumer goods) in areas with better developed transport facilities. Standards adopted by the International Convention for Safe Containers and the Institute of International Container Lessors govern the operation and maintenance of containers.

The demand for containers is influenced primarily by the volume of international and domestic trade. In recent years, however, the rate of growth in the container industry has exceeded that of world trade as a whole due to several factors, including the existence of geographical trade imbalances, the expansion of shipping lines, and changes in manufacturing practices, such as growing reliance on “just-in-time” delivery methods and increased exports by certain technologically advanced countries of component parts for assembly in other countries and the subsequent re-importation of finished products.

When a container vessel arrives in port, each container is loaded onto a chassis or rail car. A chassis is a rectangular, wheeled steel frame, generally 20 or 40 feet in length, built specifically for the purpose of transporting a container. Once mounted, the container and chassis are the functional equivalent of a trailer. When mounted on a chassis, the container may be trucked either to its final destination or to a railroad terminal for loading onto a rail car. Similarly, a container shipped by rail may be transferred to a chassis to travel over the road to its final destination. As the use of containers has become a predominant factor in the intermodal movement of cargo, the chassis has become a prerequisite for the domestic segment of the journey. A chassis seldom travels permanently with a single container, but instead serves as a transport vehicle for containers that are loaded or unloaded at ports or railroad terminals. Because of differing international road regulations and the lack of international standards for chassis, chassis used in the United States are seldom used in other countries.

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In recent years domestic railroads and trucking lines have begun actively marketing intermodal use of services for the domestic transportation of freight. Management believes that this trend should serve to accelerate the growth of intermodal transportation, and hence result in increased container and chassis demand.

As a result of the advantages of intermodal containerization and the increased globalization of the world economy, the use of containers for domestic intermodal transportation has also grown over the last few years. Greater use of containers on cargo ships led railroad and trucking companies to develop the capacity to transport containers domestically by chassis and rail car. In addition, shipping companies began soliciting domestic freight in order to mitigate the cost of moving empty containers back to the port areas for use again in international trade. The introduction in the mid-1980‘s of the double stack railroad car, specially designed to carry containers stacked one on top of another, accelerated the growth of domestic intermodal transportation by reducing shipping costs still further. Due to these trends, an increasing portion of domestic cargo is now being shipped by container instead of by a conventional highway trailer.

The Leasing Market and the Company’s Strategy

Benefits of Leasing

Leasing companies own approximately half of the world’s domestic chassis and half of the container fleet, with the balance owned predominantly by shipping lines. Leasing companies have maintained this market position because container shipping lines receive both financial and operational benefits by leasing a portion of their equipment. The principal benefits to shipping lines of leasing are:

Because of these benefits, container shipping lines generally obtain a significant portion of their container fleets from leasing companies, either on short-term or long-term leases. Short-term leases provide a considerable degree of operational flexibility in allowing a customer to pick up and drop off containers at various locations worldwide at any time. However, customers pay for this flexibility in the form of substantially higher lease rates for short-term leases and drop-off charges for the privilege of returning equipment to certain locations. Most short-term leases are “master leases,” under which a customer reserves the right to lease a certain number of containers, as needed under a general agreement between the lessor and the lessee. Long-term leases provide the lessee with advantageous pricing structures, but usually contain an early termination provision allowing the lessee to return equipment prior to expiration of the lease only upon payment of an early termination fee. Since 1991, the Company has experienced minimal early returns under its long-term leases, primarily because of the penalties involved and because customers must return all containers covered by the particular long-term lease being terminated, generally totaling several hundred units, and bear substantial costs related to their repositioning and repair. Frequently, a lessee will retain long-term leased equipment well beyond the initial lease term. In these cases, long-term leases will be renewed at the then prevailing market rate, either for additional one-year periods or as part of a short-term agreement. In some cases, the customer has the right to purchase the equipment at the end of a long-term lease. The Company’s long-term leases generally have five to eight year terms.

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The Company often enters into long-term “direct finance” leases. Under a direct finance lease, the customer owns the container at the expiration of the lease term. Although customers pay a higher per diem rate under a direct finance lease than under a long-term operating lease, a direct finance lease enables the Company to provide customers with access to financing on terms generally comparable to those available from financial institutions, which provide this type of financing.

Shipping lines generally spread their business over a number of leasing companies in order to avoid dependence on a single supplier.

Unlike the business of container leasing, which is global in scale, the Company’s chassis leasing business is almost exclusively a domestic business. Many of the customers for the Company’s chassis, however, are United States subsidiaries or branches of international shipping lines.

Company Strategy

The Company emphasizes long-term leases in order to minimize the impact of economic cycles on the Company’s revenues and to achieve high utilization and stable and predictable earnings. The lower rate of turnover provided by long-term leases enables the Company to concentrate on the expansion of its asset base through the purchase and lease of new equipment, rather than on the repeated re-marketing of its existing fleet.

The result of this strategy has been to establish the Company as one of the world’s leading lessors of dry freight standard containers. The Company intends to continue its emphasis on acquiring and leasing dry freight standard containers, rather than investing significantly in special purpose equipment such as refrigerated or tank containers. Management believes that the Company currently has one of the youngest container fleets of the world’s ten largest container lessors.

The Company, with a fleet of approximately 175,000 chassis, is the largest chassis lessor in the United States. The Company’s chassis leasing strategy includes an emphasis on long-term leasing of new or re-manufactured chassis which allows the Company to offer equipment packages to its customers at the most attractive cost to the Company.

In order to re-deploy chassis that are coming off long-term leases, the Company operates “chassis pools” for most of the major port authorities and terminal operators on the Eastern seaboard and the Gulf coast. A chassis pool is an inventory of chassis available for short-term leasing to customers of the port or terminal. The principal ports in the United States where the Company supplies chassis pools are Boston, Baltimore, Norfolk, Charleston, Savannah, New Orleans and Houston.

Like most leasing companies, the Company depends on high utilization of its equipment in order to run its operations profitably. Because the Company has most of its container and chassis fleets under long-term leases, the Company believes that it has generally experienced better utilization in periods of weak demand than other leasing companies having a smaller proportion of their fleets under long-term leases. From 1991 through 1994, the annual utilization of the Company’s container fleet and Trac Lease’s chassis fleet averaged at least 90%. At the end of 1995 and 1996, the combined utilization rate of the Company’s container and chassis fleets was approximately 97%, and at December 31, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 such rate was approximately 98%.

Operations

Lease Terms

Lease rentals are typically calculated on a per diem basis, regardless of the term of the lease. The Company’s leases generally provide for monthly or quarterly billing and require payment by the lessee within 30 to 60 days after presentation of an invoice. Generally, the lessee is responsible for payment of all taxes and other charges arising out of use of the equipment and must carry specified amounts of insurance to cover physical damage to and loss of equipment, as well as bodily injury and property damage to third parties. In addition, the Company’s leases usually require lessees to repair any damage to the containers and chassis. Lessees are also required to indemnify the Company against losses to the Company arising from accidents or similar occurrences involving the leased equipment. The Company’s leases generally provide for pick-up, drop-off and other charges and set forth a list of locations where lessees may pick up or return equipment. The Company’s long-term leases generally have five to eight year terms.

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Equipment Tracking and Billing

The Company uses a real time, internet accessible proprietary computer software system to enable sophisticated equipment tracking and billing and to provide a central operating database that coordinates the Company’s container and chassis leasing activities. The system processes information received electronically from the Company’s regional offices. The system records the movement and status of each container and chassis and links that information with the complex data comprising the specific lease terms in order to generate billings to lessees. More than 15,000 movement transactions per month are routinely processed through the system, which is capable of tracking revenue on the basis of individual containers and chassis. The system also generates a wide range of management reports containing information on all aspects of the Company’s leasing activities.

Sources of Supply

Because of the rising demand for containers and the availability of relatively inexpensive labor in the Pacific Rim, approximately 80% of world container production now occurs in China. Containers are also produced in other countries, such as South Korea, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Turkey, South Africa, and, to a lesser extent, in other parts of the world. Most chassis used in the United States are manufactured domestically due to the high cost of transportation to the United States of chassis manufactured abroad. Manufacturers of chassis frequently produce over-the-road trailers as well, and can convert some production capability to chassis as needed.

Upon completion of manufacture, new containers and chassis are inspected to insure that they conform to applicable standards of the ISO and other international self-regulatory bodies.

Maintenance, Repairs and Refurbishment

Maintenance for new containers and chassis has generally been minor in nature. However, as containers and chassis age, the need for maintenance increases, and they may eventually require extensive maintenance.

The Company’s customers are generally responsible for maintenance and repairs of equipment other than normal wear and tear. When normal wear and tear to equipment is extensive, the equipment may have to be refurbished or remanufactured. Refurbishing and remanufacturing involve substantial cost, although chassis can be remanufactured for substantially less than the cost of purchasing a new chassis. Because facilities for this purpose are not available at all depots or branches, equipment requiring refurbishment or remanufacture may have to be repositioned, at additional expense, to the nearest suitable facility. Alternatively, the Company may elect to sell equipment-requiring refurbishment.

Depots

The Company, including its affiliate CAI, operates depots in all major transporation markets throughout the world. Depots are facilities owned by third parties at which containers and other items of transportation equipment are stored, maintained and repaired. The Company retains independent agents at these depots to handle and inspect equipment delivered to or returned by lessees, to store equipment that is not leased and to handle maintenance and repairs of containers and chassis. Some agents are paid a fixed monthly retainer to defray recurring operating expenses and some are guaranteed a minimum level of commission income. In addition, the Company generally reimburses its agents for incidental expenses.

Repositioning and Related Expenses

If lessees in large numbers return equipment to a location which has a larger supply than demand, the Company may incur expenses in repositioning the equipment to a better location. Such repositioning expenses generally range between $50 and $500 per item of equipment, depending on geographic location, distance and other factors, and may not be fully covered by the drop-off charge collected from the lessee. In connection with necessary repositioning, the Company may also incur storage costs, which generally range between $.20 and $2.50 per TEU per day. In addition, the Company bears certain operating expenses associated with its containers and chassis, such as the costs of maintenance and repairs not performed by lessees, agent fees, depot expenses for handling, inspection and storage and any insurance coverage in excess of that maintained by lessee. The Company’s insurance coverage provides protection against various risks but generally excludes war-related and other political risks.

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Disposition of Containers and Chassis and Residual Values

From time to time, the Company sells equipment that was previously leased. The decision whether to sell depends on the equipment’s condition, remaining useful life and suitability for continued leasing or for other uses, as well as prevailing local market resale prices and an assessment of the economic benefits of repairing and continuing to lease the equipment compared to the benefits of selling. Containers are usually sold to shipping or transportation companies for continued use in the intermodal transportation industry or to secondary market buyers, such as wholesalers, depot operators, mini storage operators, construction companies and others, for use as storage sheds and similar structures. Because old chassis are more easily remanufactured than old containers, chassis are less likely to be sold than containers.

At the time of sale, the residual value of a container or chassis will depend, among other factors, upon mechanical or economic obsolescence, as well as its physical condition. While there have been no major technological advances in the short history of containerization that have made active equipment obsolete, several changes in standards have decreased the demand for older equipment, such as the increase in the standard height of containers from 8 feet to 8½ feet in the early 1970’s.

Marketing and Customers

The Company leases its containers and chassis to over 400 shipping and transportation companies throughout the world, including nearly all of the world’s 20 largest international container shipping lines and major North American railroads. With a network of offices and agents covering major ports in the United States, Europe and the Far East, the Company has been able to supply containers in nearly all locations requested by its customers. In 2000, the Company’s top 25 customers represented approximately 67% of its consolidated revenues, with no single customer accounting for more than 7%.

The customers for the Company’s chassis are a large number of domestic companies, many of which are domestic subsidiaries or branches of international shipping lines to which the Company also leases containers.

The Company maintains close relationships with a large customer base on which detailed credit records are kept. The Company’s credit policy sets different maximum exposure limits for its customers. Credit criteria may include, but are not limited to, customer trade route, country, social and political climate, assessments of net worth, asset ownership, bank and trade credit references, credit bureau reports, and operational history.

The Company seeks to reduce credit risk by maintaining insurance coverage against defaults and equipment losses. Although there can be no assurance that such coverage will be available in the future, the Company currently maintains contingent physical damage, recovery/repatriation and loss of revenue insurance, which provides coverage in the event of a customer’s default. The policy covers the cost of recovering the Company’s equipment from the customer, including repositioning costs, the cost of repairing the equipment and the value of equipment which cannot be located or is uneconomical to recover. It also covers a portion of the lease revenues the Company may lose as a result of the customer’s default (i.e., 180 days of lease payments following default). The Company has the option to renew the current policy for periods through December 2001, subject to premium adjustments.

Competition

There are many companies leasing intermodal transportation equipment with which the Company competes. Some of the Company’s competitors have greater financial resources than the Company or are subsidiaries or divisions of much larger companies. Over the last several years, there has been consolidation in the container leasing business resulting from several acquisitions. The result of the consolidation has been fewer lessors, a more rationalized industry and a stabilizing pricing environment.

In addition, the containerized shipping industry, which the Company services, competes with providers of alternative methods of transporting goods, such as by air, truck and rail. The Company believes that in most instances such alternative methods are not as cost-effective as shipping of containerized cargo.

Because rental rates for containers and chassis are not subject to regulation by any government authority but are determined principally by the demand for and supply of equipment in each geographical area, price is one of the principal methods by which the Company competes. In times of low demand and excess supply, leasing companies tend to grant price concessions, such as free days or pick-up credits, in order to keep their equipment on lease and to avoid storage charges. The Company attempts to design lease packages tailored to the requirements of individual customers and considers its long-term relationships with customers to be important to its ability to compete effectively. The Company also competes on the basis of its ability to deliver equipment in a timely manner in accordance with customer requirements.

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Other Business Operations

In addition to its container and chassis leasing operations through Interpool Limited and Trac Lease, the Company also receives revenues from other activities. The Company leases approximately 500 freight rail cars to railroad companies through its Chicago based Railpool division. Microtech Leasing Corporation, a 75.5% owned subsidiary of the Company, leases microcomputers and related equipment, as does Personal Computer Rentals, Inc. (PCR), a 51% owned subsidiary.

PoolStat Chassis Pool Management

Trac Lease has developed a business service, which allows for cooperative management of chassis among competing shipping lines. Under this program, shipping lines can “pool” their chassis at common locations such as marine terminals and railroad depots. The PoolStat software compiles data from each location and reports on levels of chassis contribution as compared to levels of chassis usage by each shipping line in the cooperative pool. The benefit of this program to the shipping lines is a lower overall inventory requirement at each location. In addition, centralized maintenance and repair improves service levels to customers and the trucking community. The benefits to Trac Lease are the management fee, and the closer relationship forged with the same shipping lines, which lease chassis from Trac Lease on both a long and short-term basis. A number of leasing and other companies have been vying to provide cooperative pool services to the shipping community, and Trac Lease has been successful at winning a number of the contracts awarded to date. PoolStat now has approximately 150,000 chassis under contract and is actively looking to increase its level of business. Management believes that PoolStat is the leading producer of chassis management tools in the United States.

Employees

As of December 31, 2000 the Company had approximately 480 employees, approximately 460 of whom are based in the United States. Included in the total employee count are approximately 240 employees of PCR. None of the Company’s employees is covered by a collective bargaining agreement. The Company believes its relations with its employees are good.

ITEM 2.    PROPERTIES

In connection with the Company’s acquisition of Transamerica Leasing, Inc’s. North American Intermodal Division in October 2000, the Company purchased certain real property located in Chicago, Illinois and Atlanta, Georgia. The Chicago, Illinois site consists of an office and garage building containing approximately 20,000 square feet on approximately 38 acres. The Atlanta, Georgia site consists of approximately 14 acres upon which 9 trailer buildings have been placed to serve as office facilities. The purchase price for these two properties was included in the acquisition’s aggregate purchase price.

In July 1998 the Company purchased approximately 18,000 square feet of condominium office space located on the 27^th floor at 633 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017 and relocated the Company’s New York office to this new location during the fourth quarter of 1998. All the Company’s’ other commercial office space, aggregating approximately 38,000 square feet, is leased. The Company’s executive offices are located at 211 College Road East, Princeton, New Jersey. The Company also leases office facilities in Chicago, Portland, Barbados, Aberdeen, Antwerp, Basel, Hong Kong and Singapore.

ITEM 3.    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The Company is engaged in various legal proceedings from time to time incidental to the conduct of its business. In the opinion of management, the Company is adequately insured against the claims relating to such proceedings, and any ultimate liability arising out of such proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition or results of operations of the Company.

ITEM 4.    SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

There were no matters submitted to a vote of security holders through solicitation of proxies during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2000.

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PART II

ITEM 5.    MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED
                  SHAREHOLDER MATTERS   

The Common Stock of the Company is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “IPX”. The following table sets forth for the periods indicated commencing on January 1, 1998, the high and low last reported sale prices for the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange. All share and per share data have been adjusted to reflect the 3-for-2 stock split effected on March 27, 1997 and have been rounded to the nearest eighth.

As of March 20, 2001 there were approximately 1,500 record holders of Common Stock. On March 20, 2001 the last reported sale price of the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange was $16.90 per share.

The Company paid a quarterly dividend in the amount of 3.75 cents per share on its Common Stock in January, April, July and October 2000.

ITEM 6.    SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The following table sets forth selected historical and pro forma consolidated financial data for the Company, for the periods and at the dates indicated. The historical financial data for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2000, and at December 31, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, and 1996, are derived from and qualified by reference to the historical consolidated financial statements that have been audited and reported upon by Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public accountants. This information should be read in conjunction with the historical consolidated financial statements of the Company and the notes thereto.

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SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
(in thousands, except per share amounts)

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ITEM 7.    MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
                  AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion of the Company’s historical financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the historical consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto and the other financial information appearing elsewhere in this report.

Certain of the matters discussed herein and elsewhere in this Form 10-K may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and as such may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Interpool to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

General

The Company generates revenues through leasing transportation equipment, primarily dry freight standard containers and container chassis. Most of the Company’s revenues are derived from payments under operating leases and income earned under finance leases, under which the lessee has the right to purchase the equipment at the end of the lease term.

In October 2000, the Company completed the acquisition of the North American Intermodal division of Transamerica Leasing, Inc. (TA), a subsidiary of Transamerica Finance Corporation and AEGON N.V. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company acquired substantially all of the domestic containers, chassis, and trailers of the North American intermodal division and related assets and assumed certain of the liabilities of the business. The Company paid approximately $672.0 million in cash, with such acquisition being financed through a combination of cash and proceeds from committed secured financing facilities equal to approximately $365.0 million. In the acquisition, the Company acquired approximately 70,000 chassis, 23,000 rail trailers and 18,000 domestic containers. The acquisition was effective October 1, 2000 and was accounted for as a purchase transaction. The results of operations from October 1, 2000 through December 31, 2000 include only the chassis acquired from TA as the rail trailers and domestic containers were identified as held for sale at the time of purchase.

In January 2001, the Company and TIP announced the signing of a definitive agreement for the sale of 50,000 rail trailers and domestic containers by the Company to TIP, including all 41,000 rail trailers and domestic containers the Company acquired from TA in October 2000. The assets held for sale as of December 31, 2000 include $285.1 million related to the units acquired from TIP and $63.3 million of assets previously owned by the Company. The Company expects to record a gain of $4.3 million upon the consummation of this sale, which represents the premium paid for the units previously owned by the Company over their net book value.

In May 1999, the Company acquired a 51% interest in PCR, a nationwide lessor of computers and related equipment. PCR combined with Microtech represents the computer leasing segment as detailed in Note 15 to the 2000 Consolidated Financial Statements. Revenues from this segment in 2000, 1999 and 1998 were $44.8 million, $28.1 million and $8.1 million, respectively. Income before taxes from this segment in 2000, 1999 and 1998 were $2.4 million, $2.0 million and $.7 million, respectively.

Revenue derived from an operating lease generally consists of the total lease payment from the customer. In 2000, 1999 and 1998, revenues derived from operating leases were $266.0 million (93% of revenues), $189.2 million (90% of revenues), and $148.0 million (81% of revenues), respectively.

Revenue derived from a direct finance lease consists only of income recognized over the term of the lease using the effective interest method. The principal component of the direct finance lease payment is reflected as a reduction to the net investment in the direct finance lease. In 2000, 1999 and 1998, total payments from direct finance leases were $88.9 million, $86.7 million and $128.1 million, respectively. The revenue component of total lease payments totaled $21.1 million (7% of revenues), $20.7 million (10% of revenues) and $34.3 million (19% of revenues) in 2000, 1999 and 1998, respectively. The decrease in the revenue component of total lease payments during 1999 was a result of the reduction in finance lease revenues of $14.2 million as a result of the securitized lease receivables.

The Company’s mix of operating and direct finance leases is a function of customer preference and demand and the Company’s success in meeting those customer requirements. During the initial two years of either an operating lease or a direct finance lease, the contribution to the Company’s earnings before interest and taxes is very similar. In subsequent periods, however, the operating lease will generally be more profitable than a direct finance lease, primarily due to the return of principal inherent in a direct finance lease. However, after the long-term portion (and any renewal) of an operating lease expires, the operating lease will have redeployment costs and related risks which are avoided under a direct finance lease.

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The Company conducts business with shipping line customers throughout the world and is thus subject to the risks of operating in disparate political and economic conditions. Offsetting this risk is the worldwide nature of the shipping business and the ability of the Company’s shipping line customers to shift their operations from areas of unfavorable political and/or economic conditions to more promising areas. Substantially all of the Company’s revenues are billed and paid in U.S. dollars. In addition, the Company’s container purchases are paid for in U.S. dollars. The Company believes these factors substantially mitigate foreign currency rate risks.

Certain of the shipping lines to which the Company leases containers are entities domiciled in several Asian countries. In addition, many of the Company’s customers are substantially dependent upon shipments of goods exported from Asia. Economic disruption, political instability or military disturbances in these areas of the world could adversely affect the Company. Although the Company has not experienced any material adverse impact on its business as a result of the recent financial conditions in certain Asian markets, there can be no assurance that financial turmoil in one or more of the Asian markets would not adversely affect the Company’s business.

The Company’s container leasing operations are conducted through Interpool Limited, a Barbados corporation. The Company’s effective tax rate benefits substantially from the application of an income tax convention, pursuant to which the profits of Interpool Limited from container leasing operations are exempt from federal taxation in the United States. Such profits are subject to Barbados tax at rates which are significantly lower than the applicable rates in the United States. See “—United States Federal Income Tax.” The Company’s chassis leasing operations are conducted primarily through Trac Lease and Interpool Inc. Certain other United States equipment leasing activities are conducted through Interpool itself.

In June 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities. In June 1999, the FASB issued Statement No. 137, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities - Deferral of the Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 133. In June 2000, the FASB issued Statement 138, Accounting for Certain Derivative Instruments and Certain Hedging Activities, an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133. Statement 133, as amended, establishes accounting and reporting standards requiring that every derivative instrument (including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts) be recorded in the balance sheet as either an asset or liability measured at its fair value. The Statement requires that changes in the derivative instrument’s fair value be recognized currently in earnings unless specific hedge accounting criteria are met. Special accounting for qualifying hedges allows a derivative instrument’s gains and losses to offset related results on the hedged item in the income statement, to the extent effective, and requires that a company must formally document, designate, and assess the effectiveness of transactions that receive hedge accounting.

Statement 133, as amended, is effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2000. A company may also implement the Statement as of the beginning of any fiscal quarter after issuance (that is, fiscal quarters beginning June 16, 1998, and thereafter). Statement 133 cannot be applied retroactively. Statement 133 must be applied to (a) derivative instruments and (b) certain derivative instruments embedded in hybrid instruments. With respect to hybrid instruments, a company may elect to apply Statement 133, as amended, to (1) all hybrid instruments, (2) only those hybrid instruments that were issued, acquired, or substantively modified after December 31, 1997, or (3) only those hybrid instruments that were issued, acquired, or substantively modified after December 31, 1998.

The Company adopted Statement 133 effective January 1, 2001. The Company plans to apply Statement 133 to only those hybrid instruments that were issued, acquired, or substantively modified after December 31, 1998.

The Company has not yet quantified all effects of adopting Statement 133 on its financial statements. However, as discussed in the following paragraphs, the Statement could increase volatility in earnings and other comprehensive income or involve certain changes in the Company’s business practices.

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Statement 133, in part, allows special hedge accounting for fair value and cash flow hedges. Statement 133 provides that the gain or loss on a derivative instrument designated and qualifying as a fair value hedging instrument as well as the offsetting loss or gain on the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk be recognized currently in earnings in the same accounting period. Statement 133 provides that the effective portion of the gain or loss on a derivative instrument designated and qualifying as a cash flow hedging instrument be reported as a component of other comprehensive income and be reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged forecasted transaction affects earnings. (The remaining gain or loss on the derivative instrument, if any, must be recognized currently in earnings.)

As of December 31, 2000, the Company had entered into 13 interest rate swap agreements with various financial institutions. The aggregate notional balance of the swaps was $384.7 million as of December 31, 2000. These agreements are used by the Company to manage interest rate risks created by loans indexed to a floating rate index, primarily LIBOR. Under current generally accepted accounting principals (GAAP), the interest differential payable or receivable by the Company on its interest rate swaps is accrued by the Company as interest rates change, and is recognized by the Company over the life of the swap agreement as an adjustment of interest expense. In contrast Statement 133 effectively will require that changes in the fair value of the swap agreements which are designated as effective cash flow hedges, be reported as a component of other comprehensive income and changes in the fair value of the swap agreements that do not qualify for hedge accounting to be reported in earnings. If Statement 133 had to be applied to all swap agreements in place at December 31, 2000, changes in the fair value of the agreements would increase liabilities by approximately $9.0 million, with offsetting amounts recorded in earnings of $2.4 million and accumulated other comprehensive income of $7.4 million and an increase to earnings (net of tax) of $.8 million.

Results of Operations

Year Ended December 31, 2000 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 1999

Revenues. The Company’s revenues increased to $287.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2000, from $217.8 million in the year ended December 31, 1999, an increase of $69.3 million or 32%. The increase was due to increased operating lease revenues of $59.2 million primarily generated by an expanded container and chassis fleet, as well as an $18.0 million increase in leasing revenues contributed by PCR as compared to the prior year as a result of the acquisition of PCR, which took place in May 1999. Additionally, the Company’s October 2000 acquisition of the North American Intermodal division of Transamerica Leasing, Inc. resulted in $20.8 million of additional leasing revenues generated by the assets acquired which are not included as part of the assets held for sale as more fully detailed in Notes 5 and 6 to the 2000 Consolidated Financial Statements.

Lease Operating and Administrative Expenses. The Company’s lease operating and administrative expenses increased to $93.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2000 from $73.8 million in the year ended December 31, 1999, an increase of $19.8 million. The increase was primarily due to a $13.2 million increase in lease operating and administrative expenses contributed by PCR as compared to the prior year as a result of the acquisition of PCR, which took place in May 1999. Additionally, the Company’s October 2000 acquisition of the North American Intermodal division of Transamerica Leasing, Inc. resulted in $6.5 million of additional lease operating and administrative expenses, as well as higher operating and administrative expenses resulting from expanded operations generating increased equipment rental, licensing, consulting, insurance and salary expense, partially offset by additional bad debt reserves for specific losses incurred during the three months ended March 31, 1999.

Depreciation and Amortization of Leasing Equipment. The Company’s depreciation and amortization expenses increased to $68.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2000 from $61.7 million in the year ended December 31, 1999, an increase of $6.7 million. The increase was due to $4.1 million of depreciation and amortization as a result of the acquisition of the North American Intermodal division of Transamerica Leasing, Inc., a $3.3 million increase in depreciation and amortization as a result of the acquisition of PCR, which took place in May 1999, as well as an increased fleet size, partially offset by a write-down during 1999 of certain equipment for which the residual value was impaired, and a change in the depreciation life of chassis from 15 years to 17.5 years effective October 1, 2000.

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Other (Income)/Expense, Net. The change in other (income)/expense, net of $.1 million was due to an increase in the Company’s income from unconsolidated subsidiaries of $.4 million. Additionally the Company’s net loss on sale of leasing equipment was $1.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2000, as compared to a net loss of $1.2 million in 1999.

Interest Expense, Net. The Company’s net interest expense increased to $70.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2000 from $54.3 million in the year ended December 31, 1999, an increase of $16.4 million. The increase in net interest expense was due to increased interest expense of $20.8 million, as well as increased investment income of $4.4 million. The increase in interest expense was primarily due to increased borrowings to and capital expenditures, including interest expense on the debt incurred to acquire the North America Intermodal division of Transamerica Leasing, Inc., resulting in incremental interest expense of $19.6 million, as well as increased borrowing costs resulting in incremental interest expense of $1.2 million. The increase in investment income during 2000 was primarily due to increased cash and short-term investment levels held, in anticipation of the acquisition of the North American Intermodal division of Transamerica Leasing, Inc.

Provision for Income Taxes. The Company’s provision for income taxes increased to $8.6 million from $3.4 million primarily due to increased taxable income, as well as a greater income contribution from the domestic intermodal division.

Income Before Cumulative Effect of Change in Accounting Principle and Extraordinary Gain. As a result of the factors described above, the Company’s income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle and extraordinary gain increased to $43.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2000 from $21.9 million in the year ended December 31, 1999.

Cumulative Effect of Change in Accounting Principle. The Company recorded the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle of $.7 million in the three months ended March 31, 2000. This represents a change in the Company’s accounting for its maintenance and repairs expense from an accrual to cash basis, as recommended by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Extraordinary Gain. The Company recorded an extraordinary gain on the retirement of debt of $.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2000.

Net Income. As a result of the factors described above, the Company’s net income increased to $44.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2000 from $22.6 million in the year ended December 31, 1999.

Year Ended December 31, 1999 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 1998

Revenues. The Company’s revenues increased to $217.8 million for the year ended December 31, 1999, from $182.3 million in the year ended December 31, 1998, an increase of $35.5 million or 19%. The increase was due to increased operating lease revenues of $23.5 million primarily generated by an expanded container and chassis fleet, $18.3 million in leasing revenues generated by the assets acquired in the PCR acquisition, as well as a gain of $7.9 million recognized from a securitization completed during the three months ended March 31, 1999, partially offset by a decrease in finance lease revenues of $14.2 million. Subsequent to the securitization, the Company recognizes revenue only on its retained interest in the securitized lease receivables.

Lease Operating and Administrative Expenses. The Company’s lease operating and administrative expenses increased to $73.8 million for the year ended December 31, 1999 from $45.0 million in the year ended December 31, 1998, an increase of $28.8 million. The increase was primarily due to additional bad debt reserves for specific losses, $15.3 million of lease operating and administrative expenses as a result of the acquisition of PCR, as well as higher operating and administrative costs resulting from expanded operations generating increased commission, insurance and salary expense.

Depreciation and Amortization of Leasing Equipment. The Company’s depreciation and amortization expenses increased to $61.7 million in the year ended December 31, 1999 from $42.6 million in the year ended December 31, 1998, an increase of $19.1 million. The increase was due to a $6.8 million write-down of certain container equipment for which the residual value was impaired, an increased fleet size, as well as $2.2 million of depreciation and amortization as a result of the acquisition of PCR. A specific manufacturer of containers provided the Company with defective containers subject to a warranty claim, for which the expenses are not recoverable due to the bankruptcy of the manufacturer. The Company isolated the unit numbers of the defective containers and analyzed the proceeds received upon the sale of these defective containers. The Company then reduced the book value of these defective containers to scrap value in order to approximate their net realizable value.

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Other (Income)/Expense, Net. The change in other (income)/expense, net of $4.6 million was due to a decrease in the Company’s income from unconsolidated subsidiaries of $2.1 million. Additionally the Company’s net loss on sale of leasing equipment was $1.2 million in the year ended December 31, 1999 versus a gain of $1.3 million in 1998.

Interest Expense, Net. The Company’s net interest expense increased to $54.3 million in the year ended December 31, 1999 from $53.2 million in the year ended December 31, 1998, an increase of $1.1 million. The increase in net interest expense was due to increased interest expense of $2.1 million, as well as increased investment income of $1.0 million. The increase in interest expense was primarily due to increased borrowings to fund capital expenditures resulting in incremental interest expense of $3.9 million, partially offset by reduced borrowing costs resulting in interest expense savings of $1.8 million.

Provision for Income Taxes. The Company’s provision for income taxes decreased to $3.4 million from $5.8 million primarily due to lower taxable income.

Income Before Extraordinary Gain. As a result of the factors described above, the Company’s income before extraordinary gain decreased to $21.9 million in the year ended December 31, 1999 from $37.6 million in the year ended December 31, 1998.

Extraordinary Gain. The Company recorded an extraordinary gain on the retirement of debt of $.7 million in the year ended December 31, 1999.

Net Income. As a result of the factors described above, the Company’s net income decreased to $22.6 million in the year ended December 31, 1999 from $37.6 million in the year ended December 31, 1998.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company uses funds from various sources to finance the acquisition of equipment for lease to customers. The primary funding source are cash provided by operations, borrowings, generally from banks, securitization of lease receivables, the issuance of capital lease obligations and the sale of the Company’s debt securities. In addition, the Company generates cash from the sale of equipment being retired from the Company’s fleet. In general, the Company seeks to meet debt service requirements from the leasing revenue generated by its equipment. Since 1990, the Company has been steadily increasing its fleet of containers and adding to its portfolio of finance leases. The Company generated cash flow from operations of $191.5 million, $157.9 million, and $162.6 million in 2000, 1999 and 1998, respectively. In 2000, 1999 and 1998 net cash provided by financing activities was $616.5 million, $250.3 million and $183.1 million, respectively, resulting from the issuance of debt in excess of debt payments and dividends paid. The Company has purchased equipment costing $320.3 million in 2000, $324.3 million in 1999, and $263.0 million in 1998.

In March 1999, the Company established a container securitization facility of $250.0 million. This program provides the Company with a lower cost of capital for its finance lease business and access to an additional source of funding. On March 31, 1999, the Company securitized approximately $235.5 million of lease receivables through utilization of $190.0 million of this facility and recorded a pre-tax gain of $7.9 million which is included in revenues; other costs and associated tax effect brought the net gain to $5.5 million. A portion of the gain has been deferred to record an estimate of the losses under recourse provisions for the lease receivables securitized. Included in other investment securities at December 31, 2000, is approximately $30.4 million of retained interests in the securitized lease receivables. At December 31, 2000, $105.4 million of the container securitization facility was utilized.

In October 2000, the Company established a secured financing facility in the amount of $300.0 million of which $100.0 million is due on October 23, 2001. The remaining $200.0 million is payable in quarterly installments of $.5 million beginning January 31, 2001, with a balloon payment of $196.5 million due on October 24, 2002. At December 31, 2000, the interest rate on the secured financing facility was 8.81%.

In July 2000, the Company established a chassis securitization facility of $280.0 million. In October 2000, this chassis securitization facility was increased to $300.0 million. At December 31, 2000, $284.8 million of this facility was outstanding. This facility provides the Company an additional source of funding and is accounted for as on-balance sheet secured debt financing.

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The Company has a $215.0 million revolving credit facility with a group of commercial banks; on December 31, 2000, $190.0 million was outstanding, with an interest rate of 7.69%. In July 2000, this facility was renewed and amended with the term extended to July 31, 2005. The credit limit remains at $215.0 million through July 31, 2003; thereafter the credit limit declines to $193.5 million through July 31, 2004 and $172.0 million through July 31, 2005. In addition, as of December 31, 2000, the Company had available lines of credit of $68.8 million under various facilities, under which $50.3 million was outstanding. Interest rates under these facilities ranged from 7.6% to 9.0%. Subsequent to December 31, 2000 the Company has continued to incur and repay debt obligations in connection with financing its equipment leasing activities.

In February 1998, the Company issued $100 million principal amount of 6-5/8% Notes due 2003 (the “6-5/8% Notes”). The net proceeds were used to repay $83 million in borrowings under the revolving credit agreement and for other general corporate purposes. During the first quarter of 2000, the Company retired $8.2 million of the 6 5/8% Notes and recognized an extraordinary gain of $.5 million. During the fourth quarter of 1999, the Company retired $17.0 million of the 6-5/8% Notes and recognized an extraordinary gain of $.7 million. As of December 31, 2000, $74.8 million principal amount of 6-5/8% Notes remain outstanding.

In April 1998, the Company acquired a 50% interest in CAI, a container leasing company whose business is primarily in the short-term master lease market. CAI would not be deemed a “significant subsidiary” of the Company for purposes of the Securities and Exchange Commission accounting requirements. The Company also advanced CAI subordinated debt. The Company’s investment in and advances to CAI totaled approximately $50.7 million.

In October 2000, the Company completed the acquisition of the North American Intermodal division of Transamerica Leasing, Inc., a subsidiary of Transamerica Finance Corporation and AEGON N.V. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company acquired substantially all of the domestic containers, chassis, and trailers of the North American intermodal division and related assets and assumed certain of the liabilities of the business. The Company paid approximately $672.0 million in cash, with such acquisition being financed through a combination of cash and proceeds from committed secured financing facilities equal to approximately $365.0 million. In the acquisition, the Company acquired approximately 70,000 chassis, 23,000 rail trailers and 18,000 domestic containers.

In January 2001, the Company and Transport International Pool, Inc., frequently referred to as TIP Intermodal Services (TIP), a GE Capital Company, announced the signing of a definitive agreement for the sale of 50,000 rail trailers and domestic containers by the Company to TIP, including all 41,000 rail trailers and domestic containers that the Company acquired from Transamerica Leasing, Inc. in October of 2000. The Company expects to consumate this transaction during the first half of 2001.

In May 1999, the Company’s Microtech subsidiary acquired a 51% interest in Personal Computer Rentals, Inc. (PCR), a nationwide lessor of computers and related equipment. The Company also provided financing to PCR.

As of December 31, 2000, commitments for capital expenditures totaled approximately $17.4 million. The Company expects to fund such capital expenditures through a combination of cash flow from the Company’s operations, borrowings under its available credit facilities and additional funds raised through the sale of its debt securities in the private and/or public markets.

The Company believes that cash generated by continuing operations, together with existing short-term credit facilities, the issuance of debt securities in the appropriate markets and the portion of the proceeds remaining from recent debt security sales will be sufficient to finance the Company’s working capital needs for its existing business, planned capital expenditures and expected debt repayments over the next twelve months. The Company anticipates that long-term financing will continue to be available for the purchase of equipment to expand its business in the future. In addition, from time to time interpool explores new sources of capital both at the parent and subsidiary levels.

As previously announced, the Company has authorized the repurchase up to 1,000,000 shares of its common stock. The shares will be purchased from time to time through open market purchases or privately negotiated transactions. A total of 158,500 shares were purchased by the Company during the fourth quarter of 1999, for an aggregate purchase price of $1.17 million.

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The following table sets forth certain historical cash flow information for the three years ended December 31, 2000.

From time to time, the Company enters into discussions with third parties regarding potential acquisitions or business combinations. If additional capital were to be required for any such acquisition, there can be no assurance that such additional capital would be available on terms acceptable to the Company.

On January 27, 1998, the Company filed a shelf registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission under which the Company may offer from time to time up to $400 million aggregate principal amount of its debt and/or equity securities. As of March 29, 2001, this registration statement has not yet become effective.

In 2000, the Company entered into interest rate swap contracts with notional amounts totaling $185.0 million. The terms of the interest rate swap contracts are for two and seven years. The interest rate swap contracts convert variable rate debt into fixed rate debt. The maturity of these contracts coincides with the maturity of the underlying debt instruments hedged. At December 31, 2000, the notional amount was approximately $184.1 million.

In 1998, the Company entered into interest rate swap contracts with notional amounts totaling $79.7 million. The terms of the interest rate swap contracts are for three, five and seven years. The interest rate swap contracts convert available rate debt into fixed rate debt. The maturity of these contracts coincides with the principal and maturity of the underlying debt instruments hedged. The notional amount was reduced for 2000 when a portion of the debt was retired. At December 31, 2000, the notional amount was approximately $44.0 million.

In 1996, the Company entered into a five-year interest rate swap contract, with a notional amount of $80 million to convert variable rate debt into fixed rate debt. The maturity of this contract coincides with the principal and maturity of the underlying debt instruments hedged. The notional amount was reduced for 1997 when a portion of the debt was retired. At December 31, 2000, the notional amount was approximately $13.4 million.

Interest rate swap contracts are intended to be an integral part of borrowing transactions and, therefore are not recognized at fair market value. Interest differentials paid or received under these contracts are recognized as yield adjustments to the effective yield of the underlying debt instruments hedged. Interest rate swap contracts would only be recognized at fair value if the hedged relationship is terminated. Gains or losses accumulated prior to termination of the relationship would be amortized as a yield adjustment over the shorter of the remaining life of the contract, or the remaining period to maturity of the underlying debt instrument hedged. If the contract remained outstanding after termination of the hedged relationship, subsequent changes in market value of the contract would be recognized in earnings. The Company does not use leverage swaps and does not use leverage in any of its investment activities that would put principal capital at risk.

United States Federal Income Tax

The Company is subject to federal and state income taxes as a Subchapter “C” corporation under the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”). The Company, Trac Lease, Inc. and other United States subsidiaries file a consolidated United States federal income tax return. This consolidated group is liable for federal income taxes on its worldwide income.

Personal holding company issues. If the Company or any of its subsidiaries were classified as a personal holding company, such corporation’s undistributed personal holding company income would be subject to a federal income tax of 39.6% in addition to its regular federal income tax liability. The federal income tax laws have two requirements for classifying a company as a personal holding company. The Company and its subsidiaries currently satisfy the first requirement, the ownership of more than 50% of the value of the Company’s stock by five or fewer individuals. Whether or not the Company or any of its subsidiaries satisfies the second requirement, that at least 60% of such corporation’s adjusted ordinary gross income constitutes personal holding company income, will depend upon such corporation’s income mix.

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Based upon current management projections, Interpool will be considered a personal holding company for federal income tax purposes for 2000 (and possibly in subsequent years). If Interpool or any of its subsidiaries is classified as a personal holding company for federal income tax purposes, in addition to its regular federal income tax liability, Interpool’s or such subsidiary’s undistributed personal holding company income (generally taxable income with certain adjustments, including a deduction for federal income taxes and dividends paid) would be subject to a personal holding company tax of 39.6%. Management anticipates that for 2000 Interpool’s current level of dividends will be sufficient to avoid having any undistributed personal holding company income, and thus does not anticipate that there will be any personal holding company tax imposed for 2000. There can be no assurance, however, that the Company will not at some point in the future become liable for such personal holding company tax. Furthermore, the Company may at some point in the future elect to increase the dividend rate on its common stock in order to avoid such tax.

The Company has incurred certain losses from leasing activities that are characterized for tax purposes as “Suspended Passive Losses.” These losses can be carried forward indefinitely to offset income from future leasing activities. As of December 31, 2000 such suspended passive losses totaled approximately $201.1 million.

Trac Lease. Trac Lease has approximately $15.6 million of net operating loss carry-forwards for federal income tax purposes, which may be used only to offset the income of Trac Lease and, if not utilized, will expire between 2005 and 2006. The use of substantially all these loss carry-forwards is subject to a number of limitations under federal tax laws.

Interpool Limited. Under certain circumstances, the Company may be liable for United States federal income taxes on earnings of Interpool Limited and any other foreign subsidiaries of the Company, whether or not such earnings are distributed to the Company. This would occur if Interpool Limited realized “Subpart F income” as defined in the Code, if it were deemed to be a foreign personal holding company or a passive foreign investment company, or if it were to have an increase in earnings invested in United States property.

Subpart F income includes foreign personal holding company income, such as dividends, interest and rents. Although a substantial portion of Interpool Limited’s income consists of rents from container leasing activities, the Company believes that such rents are not Subpart F income because they are derived from the active conduct of a trade or business and received from unrelated persons. However, Interpool Limited has received some dividend and interest income in past years, which was taxed as Subpart F income.

If Interpool Limited were treated as a foreign personal holding company for any year, the Company would be taxed on the amount the Company would have received if Interpool Limited had distributed all its income to the Company as a dividend. One of the conditions for treating a foreign subsidiary as a foreign personal holding company is that a minimum of 60% of the foreign subsidiary’s gross income must be foreign personal holding company income. Foreign personal holding company income does not include rental income that constitutes at least 50% of the subsidiary’s gross income. Because the Company expects that rental income will constitute at least 50% of Interpool Limited’s gross income, the Company does not anticipate that Interpool Limited will be deemed a foreign personal holding company.

A parent company is also subject to taxation when a foreign subsidiary increases the amount of its earnings invested in United States property during any calendar year. The Company does not expect that Interpool Limited will invest any earnings in United States property.

At December 31, 2000 unremitted earnings of this subsidiary were approximately $201.0 million. The deferred U.S. Federal Income taxes related to the unremitted earnings of this subsidiary would be approximately $70.0 million, assuming these earnings are taxable at the U.S. statutory rate, net of foreign tax credits.

United States/Barbados income tax convention. Interpool Limited’s business is managed and controlled in Barbados; it also has a permanent establishment in the United States. Under the Tax Convention, any profits of Interpool Limited from leasing of containers used in international trade generally are taxable only in Barbados and not in the United States. For its taxable years commencing prior to January 1, 1994, Interpool Limited is entitled to the benefits of the Tax Convention for each year that more than 50% of the shares of Interpool Limited are owned, directly or indirectly, by United States citizens or residents (the “stock ownership test”) and its income is not used in substantial part, directly or indirectly, to meet liabilities to persons who are not residents or citizens of the United States (the “base erosion test”). The Company believes that Interpool Limited passes both of these tests and should continue to be eligible for the benefits of the Tax Convention, but there can be no assurance as to such continued eligibility. If Interpool Limited ceased to be eligible for the benefits of the Tax Convention, a substantial portion of its income would become subject to the 35% United States federal income tax and the 30% branch profits tax.

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A protocol to the Tax Convention has been ratified by the United States and Barbados, which amends the eligibility provision of the Tax Convention, making the stock ownership test easier to satisfy and the base erosion test more difficult to satisfy. The protocol became effective on January 1, 1994 and applies to taxable years of Interpool Limited commencing on or after that date. The Company believes that Interpool Limited will continue to satisfy the base erosion test and remain eligible for the benefits of the Tax Convention after 1993.

Neither the Tax Convention nor the protocol affords Interpool Limited any relief from the personal holding company tax or the accumulated earnings tax. To the extent that Interpool Limited has United States source income that is personal holding company income or is not needed in its business, Interpool Limited could be taxed on such income unless such income is distributed to the Company as a dividend. The Company expects that Interpool Limited would distribute any such income to the Company.

State and Local Taxes

Income taxes. The Company and Trac Lease are liable for state and local income taxes on their income, and Interpool Limited is liable for state and local income taxes on its earnings attributable to operations in the United States.

Sales tax. To date, Interpool Limited and Trac Lease generally have not paid sales taxes on their leasing revenues to the states in which they conduct business because management has believed such revenues to be exempt from state sales taxes on several grounds, including a long-standing interpretation of the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution that would prohibit the imposition of a tax on cargo containers and chassis used primarily for transportation of goods in interstate commerce or international trade. Recently, Itel Containers International Corp. (“Itel”), a container leasing company, challenged an attempt by the State of Tennessee to collect sales tax on Itel’s proceeds from the leasing of containers delivered in Tennessee. In a ruling by the United States Supreme Court in February 1993, Itel’s position was rejected and the Court upheld the right of Tennessee to impose sales tax on leasing revenues from containers delivered in Tennessee. The Company cannot predict the extent to which states other than Tennessee will now attempt to collect sales tax on the Company’s equipment leasing revenues based on this Supreme Court decision. Under the terms of the Company’s equipment leases, the Company would be entitled to pass any such sales tax on to its lessees.

Inflation

Management believes that inflation has not had a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations. In the past, the effects of inflation on administrative and operating expenses have been largely offset through economies of scale achieved through expansion of the business.

ITEM 7A.    QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Interest Rate Risk

The nature of our business exposes us to market risk arising from changes in interest rates. The Company manages interest rate risk to protect its margins on existing transactions. Interest rate risk is the risk of earnings volatility attributable to changes in interest rates. Additionally, the Company considers interest rate swap contracts as an integral part of borrowing transactions. The Company seeks to minimize its exposure by entering into amortizing interest rate swap contracts, which coincide with the principal and maturity of the underlying debt instruments hedged. The Company does not use leveraged swaps and does not use leverage in any of its investment activities that would put principal capital at risk.

For 2000, a 10% change in interest rates would result in a $1.2 million change in pretax earnings of the Company.

For further information regarding the Company’s floating and fixed rate debt, reference is made to Note 4 to the 2000 Consolidated Financial Statements.

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Credit Risk

The Company leases its containers and chassis to over 400 shipping and transportation companies throughout the world.

For further information regarding the Company’s credit risk procedures, reference is made to Item 1 – Marketing and Customers.

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

Index to Consolidated Financial Statements

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

To the Stockholders of Interpool, Inc.:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Interpool, Inc. (a Delaware corporation) and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2000 and 1999, and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2000. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Interpool, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2000 and 1999, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2000 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

Arthur Andersen LLP

New York, New York
February 28, 2001

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INTERPOOL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
DECEMBER 31, 2000 AND 1999

(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these balance sheets.

24

INTERPOOL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2000, 1999 AND 1998

(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these statements.

25

INTERPOOL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2000, 1999 AND 1998

(dollars and shares in thousands)

The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these statements.

26

INTERPOOL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2000, 1999 AND 1998

(dollars in thousands)

The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these statements.

27

INTERPOOL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

(1)   Nature of operations and significant accounting policies:

The nature of operations and the significant accounting policies used by Interpool, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company” or “Interpool”) in the preparation of the accompanying consolidated financial statements are summarized below. The Company’s accounting records are maintained in United States dollars and the consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

Nature of operations—

The Company and its subsidiaries conduct business principally in a single industry segment, the leasing of intermodal dry freight standard containers, chassis and other transportation related equipment. Within this single industry segment, the Company has three reportable segments: container leasing, domestic intermodal equipment and computer leasing equipment. The container-leasing segment specializes in the leasing of intermodal dry freight standard containers, while the domestic intermodal equipment segment specializes in the leasing of intermodal container chassis and other equipment namely freight rail cars and intermodal trailers. The computer leasing segment specializes in the leasing of microcomputers and other related equipment. The Company leases its containers principally to international container shipping lines located throughout the world. The customers for the Company’s chassis are a large number of domestic companies, many of which are domestic subsidiaries or branches of international shipping lines. Equipment is purchased directly or acquired through conditional sales contracts and lease agreements, many of which qualify as capital leases.

Basis of consolidation—

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and subsidiaries more than 50% owned. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated. Minority interest in equity of subsidiaries represents the minority stockholders’ proportionate share of the equity in the income of the subsidiaries. In connection with acquisitions in 1988 and 1993 of certain consolidated subsidiaries, the excess of fair value of assets acquired over the acquisition cost was allocated proportionately to certain assets to reduce the value assigned to those assets. For accounting purposes this allocation has only been recorded in the consolidation of the Company and its subsidiaries.

In connection with certain investments in which the Company does not own a majority interest, these investments are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. The excess of costs over the fair value of net assets acquired is being amortized on a straight-line basis over twenty years. In addition, the Company’s equity in the income and/or loss from such equity investments is included in other (income)/expense, net. The Company’s investment in its equity method investees is included in other assets.

The Company’s equity in the income and/or loss from such equity investments, net of goodwill amortization, is included in other (income)/expense, net and was approximately $835, $1,315 and ($686) for the years ended December 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998, respectively.

Goodwill—

Goodwill represents the excess of costs over the fair value of net assets acquired and is being amortized on a straight-line basis over twenty years and is included in other assets.

Translation of foreign currencies—

The Company considers the U. S. dollar its functional currency and therefore, translates foreign currency statements using an average exchange rate for revenue and expense accounts and the rate of exchange in effect at the balance sheet date for assets and liabilities. Substantially all transactions are U.S. dollar denominated.

Revenues—

Equipment leasing revenues include revenue from operating leases and income on direct financing leases, which is recognized over the term of the lease using the effective interest method.

28

(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Leasing equipment—

As of December 31, 2000, in excess of 98% of leasing equipment is on lease to customers. The net value of equipment available for hire is not material.

Depreciation and amortization of leasing equipment (both equipment currently on-lease to customers and available for hire) are provided under the straight-line method based on the following estimated useful lives:

Effective October 1, 2000, the Company revised its estimate of the depreciation life of chassis from 15 years to 17.5 years. The effect of this change was to decrease depreciation expense by $955 for the three months ended December 31, 2000.

Gains or losses resulting from the disposition of leasing equipment are recorded in the year of disposition.

The residual value of leasing equipment is estimated based on the projections for the economic value and market value of intermodal equipment as well as the Company’s experience in leasing and selling similarly aged equipment. Such projected values are reviewed and updated when market and/or economic conditions change. The Company continually reviews leasing equipment and other long-lived assets to evaluate whether changes have occurred that would suggest these assets may be impaired based on the estimated cash flows of the assets over the remaining amortization period. If this review indicates that the remaining estimated useful life requires revision or that the asset is not recoverable, the carrying amount of the asset is reduced to its fair value.

Marketable and other investment securities—

Management has determined that all securities are to be held for an indefinite period of time and classified as securities available-for-sale carried at market value. Unrealized holding gains and losses for available-for-sale securities are credited (charged) to a component of stockholders’ equity net of related income taxes. Management determines the appropriate classifications of securities at the time of purchase.

Premium and discount on securities are included in interest income over the period from acquisition to maturity using the level-yield method. The specific identification method is used to record gains and losses on security transactions.

The Company classified the Retained Interest as an available for sale security, which is included in “Other Investment Securities” in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

Sales of available-for-sale securities for the twelve months ended December 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998, respectively, resulted in proceeds of $107, $642 and $7,838, gross gains of $11, $88 and $1,945, and gross losses of $0, $131 and $211.

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of available for sale securities as of December 31, 2000 and 1999 are as follows:

29

(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of other investment securities, by contractual maturity, are shown below:

Comprehensive income—

Comprehensive income consists of net income or loss for the current period and revenues, expenses, gains, and losses that have been previously excluded from the income statement and were only reported as a component of equity. All prior periods have been restated.

The tax effect of comprehensive income is as follows:

Interest rate swaps—

Interest rate swap contracts are intended to be an integral part of borrowing transactions and, therefore are not recognized at fair value. Interest differentials paid or received under these contracts are recognized as yield adjustments to the effective yield of the underlying debt instruments hedged. Interest rate swap contracts would only be recognized at fair value if the hedged relationship is terminated. Gains or losses accumulated prior to termination of the relationship would be amortized as a yield adjustment over the shorter of the remaining life of the contract, or the remaining period to maturity of the underlying debt instrument hedged. If the contract remained outstanding after termination of the hedged relationship, subsequent changes in market value of the contract would be recognized in earnings. The Company does not use leveraged swaps and does not use leverage in any of its investment activities that would put principal capital at risk.

Fair value of financial instruments—

The carrying amount of cash and short-term investments, trade receivables and payables, accrued interest receivable and payable approximate fair value. The carrying amount and estimated fair value of the Company’s debt and capital securities is $1,693,036 and $1,602,473, respectively, at December 31, 2000. The carrying amount and estimated fair value of the Company’s debt and capital securities is $1,073,228 and $1,003,094, respectively, at December 31, 1999.

The following table summarizes the carrying and fair values of the interest rate swap contracts in place at December 31, 2000 and 1999:

30

(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Concentration of credit risk—

The Company extends credit to its customers after extensive credit evaluation. At December 31, 2000 approximately 19% of accounts receivable and notes receivable and 73% of the net investment in direct financing leases were from customers outside of the United States. At December 31, 1999, approximately 29% of accounts receivable and notes receivable and 65% of the net investment in direct financing leases were from customers outside of the United States.

The Company’s credit exposure to Korean, South American and Indonesian customers at December 31, 2000 and 1999 represented 6% and 4%, respectively, of accounts receivable and notes receivable and 16% and 13%, respectively, of the net investment in direct financing leases. During 2000, 1999 and 1998 respectively, 6%, 4% and 8% of the Company’s consolidated revenues were from these customers.

In 2000, 1999 and 1998 the Company’s top 25 customers represented approximately 67%, 67% and 68%, respectively, of its consolidated revenues, with no single customer accounting for more than 7%.

Net income per share—

Basic net income per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period (which is net of treasury shares). Diluted income per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock. The dilutive effect of stock options have been added to the weighted shares outstanding in the diluted earnings per share computation.

A reconciliation of weighted average common shares outstanding to weighted average common shares outstanding assuming dilution follows:

On September 16, 1998 the Company canceled all of the 4,393,501 options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding under its 1993 Stock Option Plan for Executive Officers and Directors, as well as the Company’s Nonqualified Stock Option Plan for Non-employee, Non-consultant Directors and issued 4,393,501 new options in their place. The newly issued options were granted with an exercise price equal to the closing market price of the Company’s stock as of September 16, 1998 (the “date of grant”). This results in a new measurement date whereby the newly issued options vest six months from date of grant and expire ten years from date of grant. All other terms and conditions of the newly issued options are similar to the canceled options.

Prospective accounting pronouncements—

In June 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities. In June 1999, the FASB issued Statement No. 137, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities - Deferral of the Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 133. In June 2000, the FASB issued Statement 138, Accounting for Certain Derivative Instruments and Certain Hedging Activities, an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133. Statement 133, as amended, establishes accounting and reporting standards requiring that every derivative instrument (including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts) be recorded in the balance sheet as either an asset or liability measured at its fair value. The Statement requires that changes in the derivative instrument’s fair value be recognized currently in earnings unless specific hedge accounting criteria are met. Special accounting for qualifying hedges allows a derivative instrument’s gains and losses to offset related results on the hedged item in the income statement, to the extent effective, and requires that a company must formally document, designate, and assess the effectiveness of transactions that receive hedge accounting.

31

(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Statement 133, as amended, is effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2000. A company may also implement the Statement as of the beginning of any fiscal quarter after issuance (that is, fiscal quarters beginning June 16, 1998, and thereafter). Statement 133 cannot be applied retroactively. Statement 133 must be applied to (a) derivative instruments and (b) certain derivative instruments embedded in hybrid instruments. With respect to hybrid instruments, a company may elect to apply Statement 133, as amended, to (1) all hybrid instruments, (2) only those hybrid instruments that were issued, acquired, or substantively modified after December 31, 1997, or (3) only those hybrid instruments that were issued, acquired, or substantively modified after December 31, 1998.

The Company plans to adopt Statement 133 on January 1, 2001. The Company plans to apply Statement 133 to only those hybrid instruments that were issued, acquired, or substantively modified after December 31, 1998.

The Company has not yet quantified all effects of adopting Statement 133 on its financial statements. However, as discussed in the following paragraphs, the Statement could increase volatility in earnings and other comprehensive income or involve certain changes in the Company’s business practices.

Statement 133, in part, allows special hedge accounting for fair value and cash flow hedges. Statement 133 provides that the gain or loss on a derivative instrument designated and qualifying as a fair value hedging instrument as well as the offsetting loss or gain on the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk be recognized currently in earnings in the same accounting period. Statement 133 provides that the effective portion of the gain or loss on a derivative instrument designated and qualifying as a cash flow hedging instrument be reported as a component of other comprehensive income and be reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged forecasted transaction affects earnings. (The remaining gain or loss on the derivative instrument, if any, must be recognized currently in earnings.)

As of December 31, 2000, the Company had entered into 13 interest rate swap agreements with various financial institutions. The aggregate notional balance of the swaps was $384,739 as of December 31, 2000. These agreements are used by the Company to manage interest rate risks created by loans indexed to a floating rate index, primarily LIBOR. Under current generally accepted accounting principals (GAAP), the interest differential payable or receivable by the Company on its interest rate swaps is accrued by the Company as interest rates change, and is recognized by the Company over the life of the swap agreement as an adjustment of interest expense. In contrast Statement 133 effectively will require that changes in the fair value of the swap agreements which are designated as effective cash flow hedges, be reported as a component of other comprehensive income and changes in the fair value of the swap agreements that do not qualify for hedge accounting to be reported in earnings. If Statement 133 had to be applied to all swap agreements in place at December 31, 2000, changes in the fair value of the agreements would increase liabilities by approximately $9,012, With offsetting amounts recorded as decreases to deferred tax liabilities of $2,435 and accumulated other comprehensive income of $7,411 and an increase to earnings (net of tax) of $834.

Use of estimates—

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

Reclassifications—

Certain reclassifications have been made to the 1999 amounts in order to conform to the 2000 presentation.

32

(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

(2)   Income taxes:

Significant components of deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2000 and 1999 were as follows:

One of the Company’s subsidiaries has tax net operating loss carryforwards (NOLs) for Federal income tax purposes totaling approximately $15,602 which may be used only to offset that subsidiary’s income. These NOLs, if not utilized, will expire between 2005 and 2006. In addition, NOLs of approximately $201,094 have been granted as a result of certain losses from leasing activities that are characterized as suspended passive losses. These losses can be carried forward indefinitely to offset income from future leasing activities.

A significant subsidiary of the Company is a Barbados corporation. Under the terms of a protocol between the United States and Barbados, the subsidiary’s leasing income is fully taxable by Barbados, but exempt from U.S. Federal taxation. Since 1991, the Barbados tax rate was a maximum of 2½% of income earned in Barbados. No deferred U.S. Federal income taxes have been provided on the unremitted earnings of the subsidiary since it is the Company’s intention to indefinitely reinvest such earnings. At December 31, 2000 unremitted earnings of this subsidiary were approximately $201,000. The deferred U.S. Federal Income taxes related to the unremitted earnings of this subsidiary would be approximately $70,000, assuming these earnings are taxable at the U.S. statutory rate, net of foreign tax credits.

A reconciliation of the U. S. statutory tax rate to the actual tax rate follows:

The provision for income taxes reflected in the accompanying consolidated statements of income is as follows:

For further information regarding the Company’s tax structure reference is made to Item 7 of this Form 10-K.

(3)   Leasing activities:

As lessee—

The net book value of assets acquired through capital leases was $359,021 at December 31, 2000. The aggregate capital lease obligations, secured by equipment, with installments payable in varying amounts through 2010, were $375,633 at December 31, 2000.

33

(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

As of December 31, 2000, the annual maturities of capital leases and related interest were as follows:

The Company leases office space and certain leasing equipment under operating leases expiring at various dates through 2010. Rental expense under operating leases aggregated $9,069, $5,229 and $4,088 for the periods ended December 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998, respectively.

As of December 31, 2000, the aggregate minimum rental commitment under operating leases having initial or remaining noncancellable lease terms in excess of one year was as follows:

As lessor—

The Company has entered into various leases of equipment that qualify as direct financing leases. At the inception of a direct finance lease, the Company records a net investment based on the gross investment (representing the total future minimum lease payments plus unguaranteed residual value), net of unearned lease income. The unguaranteed residual value is generally equal to the purchase option of the lessee, which in the case of the Company’s lease contracts is insignificant and is included in total lease receivables. Unearned income represents the excess of gross investment over equipment cost. Receivables under these direct financing leases, net of unearned income, are collectible through 2008 as follows:

As of December 31, 2000 the Company also had noncancelable operating leases, under which it will receive future minimum rental payments as follows:

Effective January 1, 1995 the Company began capitalizing lease commissions and amortizing this cost over the average life of the related lease contract. At December 31, 2000 and 1999, $3,801 and $3,981 of these commissions were included in other assets.

34

(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Allowance for doubtful accounts—

The following summarizes the activity in the allowance for doubtful accounts:

The allowance for doubtful accounts includes the Company’s estimate of allowances necessary for receivables on both operating and finance lease receivables. Once a finance lease is determined to be non-performing, Company procedures provide for the following events to take place in order to evaluate collectibility:

As of December 31, 2000 and 1999, included in accounts and notes receivable are non-performing receivables of $10,034 and $9,808, respectively.

As all outstanding amounts due for non-performing finance lease accounts are reclassified to accounts and notes receivable, an allowance for doubtful accounts for the net investment in direct financing leases is not required.

(4)   Debt:

Debt consists of notes and loans with installments payable in varying amounts through 2008, with effective interest rates of approximately 4.2% to 12.0% and a weighted average rate of 7.51% in 2000. The principal amount of debt payable under fixed rate contracts is $635,300. Remaining debt is payable under floating rate arrangements. Approximately $389,500 of floating rate debt outstanding has been converted to fixed rate debt through the use of interest rate swaps as described below. The agreements contain certain covenants, which, among other things, provide for the maintenance of specified levels of tangible net worth (as defined) and a maximum debt to net worth ratio. At December 31, 2000, under covenants in the Company’s loan agreement approximately $151,900 of retained earnings were available for dividends. The Company was in compliance with its debt covenants at December 31, 2000.

As of December 31, 2000, the annual maturities of notes and loans, net of interest thereon were as follows:

The Company has a $215,000 revolving credit facility with a group of commercial banks; on December 31, 2000, $190,000 was outstanding, with an interest rate of 7.69%. In July 2000, this facility was renewed and amended with the term extended to July 31, 2005. The credit limit remains at $215.0 million through July 31, 2003; thereafter the credit limit declines to $193.5 million through July 31, 2004 and $172.0 million through July 31, 2005. In addition, as of December 31, 2000, the Company had available lines of credit of $68,834 under various facilities, under which $50,303 was outstanding. Interest rates under these facilities ranged from 7.6% to 9.0%. Subsequent to December 31, 2000 the Company has continued to incur and repay debt obligations in connection with financing its equipment leasing activities.

In October 2000, the Company established a secured financing facility in the amount of $300,000, of which $100,000 is due on October 23, 2001. The remaining $200,000 is payable in quarterly installments of $500 beginning January 31, 2001, with a balloon payment of $196,500 due on October 24, 2002. At December 31, 2000, the interest rate on the secured financing facility was 8.81%.

35

(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

In July 2000, the Company established a chassis securitization facility of $280,000 million. In October 2000, this chassis securitization facility was increased to $300,000 million. At December 31, 2000, $284,830 million of this facility was outstanding. This facility provides the Company an additional source of funding and is accounted for as on-balance sheet secured debt financing.

In February 1998, the Company issued $100,000 principal amount of 6-5/8% Notes due 2003 (the “6-5/8% Notes”). The net proceeds were used to repay $83,000 in borrowings under the revolving credit agreement and for other general corporate purposes. During the fourth quarter of 1999, the Company retired $17,000 of the 6-5/8% Notes and recognized an extraordinary gain of $740 net of tax expense of $494. During the first quarter of 2000, the Company retired $8,200 of the 6-5/8% Notes and recognized an extraordinary gain of $471 net of tax expense of $314. As of December 31, 2000, $74,800 principal amount of the 6-5/8% Notes remains outstanding.

In July and August, 1997, the Company issued $225,000 of ten year notes, comprised of $150,000 of 7.35% Notes due 2007 and $75,000 of 7.20% Notes due 2007. The net proceeds from these offerings were used to repay secured indebtedness, to purchase equipment and for other investments. During the first quarter of 2000, the Company retired $3,000 of the 7.35% Notes and recognized an extraordinary gain of $369 net of tax expense of $246. As of December 31, 2000, $147,000 principal amount of the 7.35% Notes remains outstanding.

In addition to the debt specifically identified above, the Company has additional notes and loan outstanding with various financial institutions totaling $120,470, as of December 31, 2000, with installments payable in varying amounts through 2008 with interest rates of approximately 4.2% to 12.0%.

In 2000, the Company entered into interest rate swap contracts with notional amounts totaling $334,882. The terms of the interest rate swap contracts are for two and seven years. The interest rate swap contracts convert variable rate debt into fixed rate debt. The maturity of these contracts coincides with the maturity of the underlying debt instruments hedged. At December 31, 2000, the notional amount was approximately $332,015.

In 1998, the Company entered into interest rate swap contracts with notional amounts totaling $79,709. The terms of the interest rate swap contracts are for three, five and seven years. The interest rate swap contracts convert variable rate debt into fixed rate debt. The maturity of these contracts coincides with the maturity of the underlying debt instruments hedged. In 2000, a portion of the debt instrument hedged was retired and the related portion of the swap contract was closed. At December 31, 2000, the notional amount was approximately $44,048.

In 1996, the Company entered into a five-year interest rate swap contract with a notional amount of $80,000 to convert variable rate debt into fixed rate debt. The maturity of this contract coincides with the maturity of the underlying debt instruments hedged. In 1997, a portion of the debt instrument hedged was retired and the related portion of the swap contract was closed. At December 31, 2000, the notional amount was approximately $13,437.

(5)   Acquisition of North American Intermodal Division of Transamerica Leasing, Inc.:

In October, 2000, the Company completed the acquisition of the North American Intermodal division of Transamerica Leasing, Inc. (TA), a subsidiary of Transamerica Finance Corporation and AEGON N.V. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company acquired substantially all of the domestic containers, chassis, and trailers of TA and related assets and assumed certain of the liabilities of the business. The Company paid approximately $681,000 in cash for the acquisition, which includes $8,400 in fees and other costs for advisors, of which $1,650 is payable to a director of the Company for consultation services rendered. The acquisition was financed through a combination of cash on hand, proceeds obtained from a committed secured financing facility in the amount of approximately $300,000, as well as approximately $101,000 of proceeds obtained from a chassis securitization facility established in July 2000.

In the acquisition, the Company acquired approximately 70,000 chassis, 23,000 rail trailers and 18,000 domestic containers. The acquisition was effective October 1, 2000 in a transaction accounted for under the purchase method of accounting, accordingly the acquired assets and liabilities have been recorded at the estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. In January 2001, the Company and TIP Intermodal Services (TIP), a GE Capital Company, announced the signing of a definitive agreement for the sale of 50,000 rail trailers and domestic containers by the Company to TIP, including all of the rail trailers and domestic containers the Company acquired from TA in October 2000. The Company established a basis in the assets acquired from TA to be sold to TIP equal to (i) TA’s historical net book value of the assets ($273,572), (ii) the expected gain to be realized from the sale to TIP ($5,614), (iii) the estimated cash collections (net of cash disbursements) resulting from the operations of these assets from October 1, 2000 through the estimated date of disposition of March 31, 2001 ($7,296) and (iv) the incremental amount of interest expense from October 1, 2000 through March 31, 2001 associated with the acquisition of these assets ($18,828). The excess of the purchase price paid over the book value of the assets and liabilities acquired (after establishing the basis associated with the assets held for sale) in an amount approximating $66,500 has been allocated to the chassis acquired from TA and is being amortized over the remaining depreciable life of those chassis.

36

(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

The following table presents the pro forma consolidated results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2000 and 1999 as if the above acquisition had occurred on January 1:

(6)   Assets Held for Sale:

In January 2001, the Company and TIP announced the signing of a definitive agreement for the sale of 50,000 rail trailers and domestic containers by the Company to TIP, including all 41,000 rail trailers and domestic containers the Company acquired from TA in October 2000. The assets held for sale as of December 31, 2000 include $279.2 million related to the units acquired from TA, $5.9 million of accounts receivable and $63.3 million of assets previously owned by the Company. The Company expects to record a gain of $1.8 million upon the consummation of this sale, which represents the premium paid for the units previously owned by the Company over their net book value.

(7)   Lease securitization program:

On March 30, 1999, the Company entered into an asset backed note program (the “ABN Program”). The ABN Program involved the sale by the Company of direct finance leases (collateralized by intermodal containers) with a historical net book value of $228,832 (the “Assets”). The Assets were sold to a special purpose entity whose sole business activity is issuing asset backed notes (“ABNs”), supported by the future cash flows of the Assets. Proceeds received by the Company upon selling the Assets were $189,087 of cash and the lowest priority ABN issued in the ABN Program (the “Retained Interest”) with an allocated historical book value of $47,687.

The transaction was accounted for as a sale by the Company for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, the Company recorded a pre-tax gain from the sale of $7,942 ($5,742 net of expenses) during the quarter ended March 31, 1999, which is included in revenues in the accompanying consolidated statements of income. The gain represents the difference between (i) the historical basis in the net assets sold and (ii) the cash received plus the allocated historical book value of the Retained Interest. The allocated historical book value of the Retained Interest is determined using the relative amounts of the fair market value of the interests sold to third parties, and the estimated fair market value of Retained Interest.

The Company classified the Retained Interest as an available for sale security, which is included in “Other Investment Securities” in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Accordingly, the Retained Interest is accounted for at fair value, with any changes in fair value over its allocated historical book value recorded as a component of other comprehensive income, net of tax, in the statement of changes in shareholders’ equity. As of December 31, 2000, the Company estimated the fair market value of Retained Interest was $30,454 using a discounted cash flow model assuming expected credit losses of 1.5% and a discount rate of 12.6%. For the years ended December 31, 2000 and 1999, the Company recorded interest income on the Retained Interest totaling $4,145 and $3,050, respectively, which is included in revenues in the accompanying, consolidated statements of income.

37

(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Interpool Limited, a subsidiary of the Company (the “Servicer”), acts as servicer for the Assets. Pursuant to the terms of the servicing agreement, the Servicer is paid a fee of 0.40% of the assets under management. The Company’s management has determined that the servicing fee paid approximates the fair value for services provided, as such, no servicing asset or liability has been recorded. Such servicing fees are included in revenues in the accompanying consolidated statement of income.

At December 31, 2000, key economic assumptions and the sensitivity of the current fair value of residual cash flows to immediate 10 percent and 20 percent adverse changes in those assumptions are as follows:

The table below summarizes certain cash flows received from and paid to securitization trusts:

(8)    Acquisition of Personal Computer Rentals, Inc.:

In May 1999, the Company’s Microtech subsidiary acquired a 51% interest in Personal Computer Rentals Inc. (PCR), a nationwide lessor of computers and related equipment at a cost of approximately $3,150. The Company accounted for the acquisition of PCR as a purchase. Accordingly, the acquired assets and liabilities assumed have been recorded at the estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. The Company recorded goodwill of approximately $1,557 in connection with such acquisition, which is being amortized on a straight-line basis over twenty years.

The results of operations of PCR are included in the accompanying consolidated statements of income from the respective date of acquisition.

The following table presents the pro forma consolidated results of operations for the years ended December 31, 1999 and 1998 as if the above acquisition had occurred on January 1: