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Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

 

x

Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2011.

OR

 

¨

Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the transition period from                      to                     .

Commission File Number: 001-33096

 

 

United States Natural Gas Fund, LP

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   20-5576760

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

1320 Harbor Bay Parkway, Suite 145

Alameda, California 94502

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

(510) 522-9600

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

N/A

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 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.

x  Yes     ¨  No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

x  Yes     ¨  No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer

 

x

  

Accelerated filer

 

¨

Non-accelerated filer

 

¨

  

Smaller reporting company

 

¨

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

¨  Yes     x  No

 

 

 


Table of Contents

UNITED STATES NATURAL GAS FUND, LP

Table of Contents

 

     Page  

Part I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

  

Item 1. Condensed Financial Statements.

     1   

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition  and Results of Operations.

     19   

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

     37   

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

     39   

Part II. OTHER INFORMATION

  

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

     40   

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

     40   

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

     40   

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

     40   

Item 4. Removed and Reserved.

     40   

Item 5. Other Information.

     40   

Item 6. Exhibits.

     40   


Table of Contents

Part I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.

Condensed Financial Statements.

Index to Condensed Financial Statements

 

Documents

   Page  

Condensed Statements of Financial Condition at March  31, 2011 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2010

     2   

Condensed Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) at March 31, 2011

     3   

Condensed Statements of Operations (Unaudited) for the three months ended March  31, 2011 and 2010

     5   

Condensed Statement of Changes in Partners’ Capital (Unaudited) for the three months ended March 31, 2011

     6   

Condensed Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) for the three months ended March  31, 2011 and 2010

     7   

Notes to Condensed Financial Statements for the period ended March  31, 2011 (Unaudited)

     8   

 

1


Table of Contents

United States Natural Gas Fund, LP

Condensed Statements of Financial Condition

At March 31, 2011 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2010

 

     March 31,
2011
     December 31,
2010
 

Assets

     

Cash and cash equivalents (Note 5)

   $ 1,978,523,029       $ 2,320,745,778   

Equity in UBS Securities LLC trading accounts:

     

Cash

     182,117,248         314,624,216   

Unrealized gain on open commodity futures and cleared swap contracts

     59,920,663         87,405,280   

Unrealized gain on open swap contracts

     22,587,540         27,200,226   

Receivable for units sold

     36,655,674         -   

Investment receivable

     30,103,852         16,538,472   

Dividend receivable

     32,465         54,186   

Other assets

     156,003         163,424   
                 

Total assets

   $ 2,310,096,474       $ 2,766,731,582   
                 
               

Liabilities and Partners’ Capital

     

General Partner management fees payable (Note 3)

   $ 1,082,934       $ 1,223,496   

Payable for units redeemed

     -         95,399,015   

Interest payable

     29,292         -   

Professional fees payable

     1,270,706         2,332,979   

Brokerage commissions payable

     216,250         236,250   

License fees payable

     142,681         158,697   

Directors’ fees payable

     20,066         24,308   
                 
               

Total liabilities

     2,761,929         99,374,745   
                 
               

Commitments and Contingencies (Notes 3, 4 and 5)

     
               

Partners’ Capital

     

General Partner

     -         -   

Limited Partners

     2,307,334,545         2,667,356,837   
                 

Total Partners’ Capital

     2,307,334,545         2,667,356,837   
                 
               

Total liabilities and partners’ capital

   $ 2,310,096,474       $ 2,766,731,582   
                 
               

Limited Partners’ units outstanding

     200,697,828         222,300,000
                 

Net asset value per unit

   $ 11.50       $ 12.00
                 

Market value per unit

   $ 11.50       $ 11.98
                 

 

*

On March 8, 2011, there was a 2-for-1 reverse unit split. Historical units outstanding, net asset value per unit and market value per unit have been adjusted to reflect the 2-for-1 reverse unit split on a retroactive basis.

See accompanying notes to condensed financial statements

 

2


Table of Contents

United States Natural Gas Fund, LP

Condensed Schedule of Investments (Unaudited)

At March 31, 2011

 

     Number of
Contracts
     Gain on Open
Commodity
Contracts
     % of
Partners’
Capital
 

Open Cleared Swap Contracts - Long

        

Foreign Contracts

        

ICE Natural Gas Cleared Swap ICE LOT contracts, expiring May 2011

     55,915       $ 36,835,513         1.59   
                          

Open Futures Contracts - Long

        

United States Contracts

        

NYMEX Natural Gas Futures NG contracts, expiring May 2011

     6,606         8,250,100         0.36   

NYMEX Natural Gas Futures NN contracts, expiring May 2011

     22,520         14,835,050         0.64   
                          
     29,126         23,085,150         1.00   
                          

Total Open Cleared Swap and Futures Contracts

     85,041       $ 59,920,663         2.59   
                          
        
    
 
Principal
Amount
  
  
    

 

Market

Value

  

  

  

Cash Equivalents

        

United States Treasury Obligation

        

U.S. Treasury Bill, 0.07%, 6/23/2011*

   $    250,000,000       $ 249,959,651                         10.83   
                    
        

United States - Money Market Funds

        

Fidelity Institutional Government Portfolio – Class I

     476,565,164         476,565,164         20.65   

Goldman Sachs Financial Square Funds – Government Fund – Class SL

     350,461,034         350,461,034         15.19   

Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Fund – Government Portfolio

     675,362,164         675,362,164         29.27   
                    

Total Money Market Funds

        1,502,388,362         65.11   
                    
        

Total Cash Equivalents

      $ 1,752,348,013         75.94   
                    

 

*

Security or partial security segregated as collateral for open over-the-counter total return swap contracts.

 

See accompanying notes to condensed financial statements.

 

3


Table of Contents

United States Natural Gas Fund, LP

Condensed Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)

At March 31, 2011

 

Open Over-the-Counter Total Return Swap Contracts

 

         Notional
Amount
     Market Value     Unrealized
Gain (Loss)
    Range of
Termination
Dates
 

Swap agreement to receive return on the Custom Natural Gas Index (UNG) – Excess Return

     $     245,450,029       $         1,908,785      $         1,908,785                  4/20/2011   

Swap agreement to receive return on the Custom Natural Gas Index (UNG) – Excess Return

       98,941,589         769,844        769,844        6/08/2011   

Swap agreement to receive return on the eXtra US1 Excess Return Index

       282,889,080         (104,756     (104,756     4/29/2011   

Swap agreement to receive return on the eXtra US1 Excess Return Index

       81,826,848         (897     (897     9/30/2011   

Swap agreement to receive return on the eXtra US1 Excess Return Index

       110,485,530         (36,368     (36,368     8/17/2011   

Swap agreement to receive return on the NYMEX Henry Hub Natural Gas Futures Contract

       314,673,610         20,050,932        20,050,932       
 
5/06/2011-
8/31/2011
 
  
                 

Total unrealized gain on open swap contracts

          $ 22,587,540     
                 

See accompanying notes to condensed financial statements.

 

4


Table of Contents

United States Natural Gas Fund, LP

Condensed Statements of Operations (Unaudited)

For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010

 

     Three months
ended

March  31, 2011
    Three months
ended

March 31, 2010
 

Income

    

Gain (loss) on trading of commodity contracts:

    

Realized gain (loss) on closed futures contracts

   $ 2,603,815      $ (465,823,610

Realized loss on closed swaps contracts

     (28,899,684     (697,388,429

Change in unrealized loss on open futures contracts

     (27,484,617     (101,594,860

Change in unrealized loss on open swaps contracts

     (4,612,686     (18,732,581

Dividend income

     114,922        136,183   

Interest income

     97,995        83,705   

Other income

     58,000        47,000   
                
    

Total loss

     (58,122,255     (1,283,272,592
                
    

Expenses

    

General Partner management fees (Note 3)

     3,184,351        5,044,409   

Brokerage commissions

     1,396,783        1,741,599   

Professional fees

     698,239        751,918   

Directors’ fees

     40,119        49,156   

Other expenses

     243,595        262,662   
                
    

Total expenses

     5,563,087        7,849,744   
                
    

Net loss

   $ (63,685,342   $ (1,291,122,336
                

Net loss per limited partnership unit

   $ (0.50   $ (6.33 )* 
                

Net loss per weighted average limited partnership unit

   $ (0.30   $ (6.09 )* 
                

Weighted average limited partnership units outstanding

     210,749,107        212,110,556  * 
                

 

*

On March 8, 2011, there was a 2-for-1 reverse unit split. The Condensed Statements of Operations (Unaudited) has been adjusted for the period shown to reflect the 2-for-1 reverse unit split on a retroactive basis.

See accompanying notes to condensed financial statements.

 

5


Table of Contents

United States Natural Gas Fund, LP

Condensed Statement of Changes in Partners’ Capital (Unaudited)

For the three months ended March 31, 2011

 

Limited Partners Limited Partners Limited Partners
     General Partner     Limited Partners     Total  

Balances, at December 31, 2010

   $ -        $ 2,667,356,837      $ 2,667,356,837   

Addition of 90,600,000 partnership units

     -          551,537,522        551,537,522   

Redemption of 334,502,172 partnership units*

     -          (847,874,472     (847,874,472

Net loss

     -          (63,685,342     (63,685,342
                        
      

Balances, at March 31, 2011

   $ -        $ 2,307,334,545      $ 2,307,334,545   
                        
      

Net Asset Value Per Unit:

      

At December 31, 2010

   $ 12.00    
            

At March 31, 2011

   $ 11.50       
            

 

*

On March 8, 2011, there was a 2-for-1 reverse unit split. The Condensed Statement of Changes in Partners’ Capital (Unaudited) has been adjusted for the period reflected to reflect the 2-for-1 reverse unit split on a retroactive basis.

See accompanying notes to condensed financial statements.

 

6


Table of Contents

United States Natural Gas Fund, LP

Condensed Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010

 

     Three months ended
March 31, 2011
    Three months ended
March 31, 2010
 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:

    

Net loss

   $ (63,685,342   $ (1,291,122,336

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

    

Decrease in commodity futures trading account – cash

     132,506,968        263,375,209   

Unrealized loss on open futures contracts

     27,484,617        101,594,860   

Unrealized loss on open swap contracts

     4,612,686        18,732,581   

Increase in investment receivable

     (13,565,380     (109,657,245

(Increase) decrease in dividend receivable and other assets

     29,142        (46,183

Decrease in General Partner management fees payable

     (140,562     (469,466

Decrease in investment payable

     -        (19,112,096

Increase in swap premiums received

     -        230,574,218   

Increase (decrease) in interest payable

     29,292        (20,751

Decrease in professional fees payable

     (1,062,273     (56,359

Decrease in brokerage commissions payable

     (20,000     (16,000

Decrease in license fees payable

     (16,016     (8,737

Decrease in directors’ fees payable

     (4,242     (943
                

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

     86,168,890        (806,233,248
                
    

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:

    

Addition of partnership units

     514,881,848        195,674,968   

Redemption of partnership units

     (943,273,487     (637,766,682
                
    

Net cash used in financing activities

     (428,391,639     (442,091,714
                
    

Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents

     (342,222,749     (1,248,324,962
    

Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period

     2,320,745,778        3,896,493,193   
                

Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period

   $ 1,978,523,029      $ 2,648,168,231   
                

See accompanying notes to condensed financial statements.

 

7


Table of Contents

United States Natural Gas Fund, LP

Notes to Condensed Financial Statements

For the period ended March 31, 2011 (Unaudited)

NOTE 1 - ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS

The United States Natural Gas Fund, LP (“USNG”) was organized as a limited partnership under the laws of the state of Delaware on September 11, 2006. USNG is a commodity pool that issues limited partnership units (“units”) that may be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc. (the “NYSE Arca”). Prior to November 25, 2008, USNG’s units traded on the American Stock Exchange (the “AMEX”). USNG will continue in perpetuity, unless terminated sooner upon the occurrence of one or more events as described in its Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership dated as of December 31, 2010 (the “LP Agreement”). The investment objective of USNG is for the daily changes in percentage terms of its units’ net asset value to reflect the daily changes in percentage terms of the spot price of natural gas delivered at the Henry Hub, Louisiana as measured by the changes in the price of the futures contract on natural gas as traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange (the “NYMEX”) that is the near month contract to expire, except when the near month contract is within two weeks of expiration, in which case the futures contract will be the next month contract to expire, less USNG’s expenses. It is not the intent of USNG to be operated in a fashion such that the NAV will equal, in dollar terms, the spot price of natural gas or any particular futures contract based on natural gas. USNG accomplishes its objective through investments in futures contracts for natural gas, crude oil, heating oil, gasoline and other petroleum-based fuels that are traded on the NYMEX, ICE Futures or other U.S. and foreign exchanges (collectively, “Futures Contracts”) and other natural gas-related investments such as cash-settled options on Futures Contracts, forward contracts for natural gas, cleared swap contracts and over-the-counter transactions that are based on the price of natural gas, crude oil and other petroleum-based fuels, Futures Contracts and indices based on the foregoing (collectively, “Other Natural Gas-Related Investments”). As of March 31, 2011, USNG held 6,606 NG Futures Contracts and 22,520 NN Financially Settled Futures Contracts traded on the NYMEX, 55,915 cleared swap contracts traded on the ICE Futures, and over-the-counter swap transactions with four counterparties.

USNG commenced investment operations on April 18, 2007 and has a fiscal year ending on December 31. United States Commodity Funds LLC (“USCF”) is responsible for the management of USNG. USCF is a member of the National Futures Association (the “NFA”) and became a commodity pool operator registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”) effective December 1, 2005. USCF is also the general partner of the United States Oil Fund, LP (“USOF”), the United States 12 Month Oil Fund, LP (“US12OF”), the United States Gasoline Fund, LP (“UGA”) and the United States Heating Oil Fund, LP (“USHO”), which listed their limited partnership units on the AMEX under the ticker symbols “USO” on April 10, 2006, “USL” on December 6, 2007, “UGA” on February 26, 2008 and “UHN” on April 9, 2008, respectively. As a result of the acquisition of the AMEX by NYSE Euronext, each of USOF’s, US12OF’s, UGA’s and USHO’s units commenced trading on the NYSE Arca on November 25, 2008. USCF is also the general partner of the United States Short Oil Fund, LP (“USSO”), the United States 12 Month Natural Gas Fund, LP (“US12NG”) and the United States Brent Oil Fund, LP (“USBO”), which listed their limited partnership units on the NYSE Arca under the ticker symbols “DNO” on September 24, 2009, “UNL” on November 18, 2009 and “BNO” on June 2, 2010, respectively. USCF is also the sponsor of the United States Commodity Index Fund (“USCI”), a series of the United States Commodity Index Funds Trust (the “Trust”) which listed its units on the NYSE Arca under the ticker symbol “USCI” on August 10, 2010. USCF has also filed a registration statement to register units of the United States Metals Index Fund, the United States Agriculture Index Fund and the United States Copper Index Fund, three additional series of the Trust.

USNG issues units to certain authorized purchasers (“Authorized Purchasers”) by offering baskets consisting of 100,000 units (“Creation Baskets”) through ALPS Distributors, Inc., as the marketing agent (the “Marketing Agent”). The purchase price for a Creation Basket is based upon the net asset value of a unit calculated shortly after the close of the core trading session on the NYSE Arca on the day the order to create the basket is properly received.

In addition, Authorized Purchasers pay USNG a $1,000 fee for each order placed to create one or more Creation Baskets or to redeem one or more baskets consisting of 100,000 units (“Redemption Baskets”). Units may be purchased or sold on a nationally recognized securities exchange in smaller increments than a Creation Basket or Redemption Basket. Units purchased or sold on a nationally recognized securities exchange are not purchased or sold at the net asset value of USNG but rather at market prices quoted on such exchange.

 

8


Table of Contents

In April 2007, USNG initially registered 30,000,000 units on Form S-1 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). On April 18, 2007, USNG listed its units on the AMEX under the ticker symbol “UNG”. On that day, USNG established its initial net asset value by setting the price at $50.00 per unit and issued 200,000 units in exchange for $10,001,000. USNG also commenced investment operations on April 18, 2007, by purchasing Futures Contracts traded on the NYMEX based on natural gas. As of March 31, 2011, USNG had registered a total of 1,480,000,000 units.

On March 8, 2011, after the close of trading on the NYSE Arca, USNG effected a 2-for-1 reverse unit split and post-split units of USNG began trading on March 9, 2011. As a result of the reverse unit split, every two pre-split units of USNG were automatically exchanged for one post-split unit. Immediately prior to the reverse split, there were 447,200,000 units of USNG issued and outstanding, each representing a net asset value of $5.16. Immediately after the reverse unit split, the number of issued and outstanding units of USNG decreased to 223,600,000, not accounting for fractional units, and the net asset value relating to each unit increased to $10.31. In connection with the reverse unit split, the CUSIP number of USNG’s units changed to 912318110. USNG’s ticker symbol, “UNG,” remains the same.

The accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC and, therefore, do not include all information and footnote disclosure required under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The financial information included herein is unaudited; however, such financial information reflects all adjustments, which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for the fair presentation of the condensed financial statements for the interim period.

NOTE 2 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Revenue Recognition

Commodity futures contracts, forward contracts, physical commodities and related options are recorded on the trade date. All such transactions are recorded on the identified cost basis and marked to market daily. Unrealized gains or losses on open contracts are reflected in the condensed statement of financial condition and represent the difference between the original contract amount and the market value (as determined by exchange settlement prices for futures contracts and related options and cash dealer prices at a predetermined time for forward contracts, physical commodities, and their related options) as of the last business day of the year or as of the last date of the condensed financial statements. Changes in the unrealized gains or losses between periods are reflected in the condensed statement of operations. USNG earns interest on its assets denominated in U.S. dollars on deposit with the futures commission merchant at the overnight Federal Funds Rate less 32 basis points. In addition, USNG earns income on funds held at the custodian at prevailing market rates earned on such investments.

Investments in over-the-counter total return swap contracts (see Note 5) are arrangements to exchange a periodic payment for a market-linked return, each based on a notional amount. To the extent that the total return of the commodity future, security or index underlying the transaction exceeds or falls short of the offsetting periodic payment obligation, USNG receives a payment from, or makes a payment to, the swap counterparty. The over-the-counter swap contracts are valued daily based upon the appreciation or depreciation of the underlying securities subsequent to the effective date of the contract. Changes in the value of the swaps are reported as unrealized gains and losses and periodic payments are recorded as realized gains or losses in the accompanying Condensed Statements of Operations.

Brokerage Commissions

Brokerage commissions on all open commodity futures contracts are accrued on a full-turn basis.

Swap Premiums

Upfront fees paid by USNG for over-the-counter swap contracts are reflected on the Condensed Statements of Financial Condition and represent payments made upon entering into a swap agreement to compensate for differences between the stated terms of the agreement and prevailing market conditions. The fees are amortized daily over the term of the swap agreement.

 

9


Table of Contents

Income Taxes

USNG is not subject to federal income taxes; each partner reports his/her allocable share of income, gain, loss deductions or credits on his/her own income tax return.

In accordance with GAAP, USNG is required to determine whether a tax position is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by the applicable taxing authority, including resolution of any tax related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. USNG files an income tax return in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, and may file income tax returns in various U.S. states. USNG is not subject to income tax return examinations by major taxing authorities for years before 2007 (year of inception). The tax benefit recognized is measured as the largest amount of benefit that has a greater than fifty percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. De-recognition of a tax benefit previously recognized results in USNG recording a tax liability that reduces net assets. However, USNG’s conclusions regarding this policy may be subject to review and adjustment at a later date based on factors including, but not limited to, on-going analyses of and changes to tax laws, regulations and interpretations thereof. USNG recognizes interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax fees payable, if assessed. No interest expense or penalties have been recognized as of and for the period ended March 31, 2011.

Creations and Redemptions

Authorized Purchasers may purchase Creation Baskets or redeem Redemption Baskets only in blocks of 100,000 units at a price equal to the net asset value of the units calculated shortly after the close of the core trading session on the NYSE Arca on the day the order is placed.

USNG receives or pays the proceeds from units sold or redeemed within three business days after the trade date of the purchase or redemption. The amounts due from Authorized Purchasers are reflected in USNG’s condensed statement of financial condition as receivable for units sold, and amounts payable to Authorized Purchasers upon redemption are reflected as payable for units redeemed.

Partnership Capital and Allocation of Partnership Income and Losses

Profit or loss shall be allocated among the partners of USNG in proportion to the number of units each partner holds as of the close of each month. USCF may revise, alter or otherwise modify this method of allocation as described in the LP Agreement.

Calculation of Net Asset Value

USNG’s net asset value is calculated on each NYSE Arca trading day by taking the current market value of its total assets, subtracting any liabilities and dividing the amount by the total number of units issued and outstanding. USNG uses the closing price for the contracts on the relevant exchange on that day to determine the value of contracts held on such exchange.

Net Income (Loss) per Unit

Net income (loss) per unit is the difference between the net asset value per unit at the beginning of each period and at the end of each period. The weighted average number of units outstanding was computed for purposes of disclosing net income (loss) per weighted average unit. The weighted average units are equal to the number of units outstanding at the end of the period, adjusted proportionately for units redeemed based on the amount of time the units were outstanding during such period. There were no units held by USCF at March 31, 2011.

 

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Offering Costs

Offering costs incurred in connection with the registration of additional units after the initial registration of units are borne by USNG. These costs include registration fees paid to regulatory agencies and all legal, accounting, printing and other expenses associated with such offerings. These costs are accounted for as a deferred charge and thereafter amortized to expense over twelve months on a straight-line basis or a shorter period if warranted.

Cash Equivalents

Cash equivalents include money market funds and overnight deposits or time deposits with original maturity dates of three months or less.

Reclassification

Certain amounts in the accompanying condensed financial statements were reclassified to conform with the current presentation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of condensed financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires USNG’s management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed financial statements, and the reported amounts of the revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results may differ from those estimates and assumptions.

Other

On March 8, 2011, after the close of the NYSE Arca, Inc., USNG effected a 2-for-1 reverse unit split and post-split units of USNG began trading on March 9, 2011. The unaudited condensed financial information reported in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q gives effect to the reverse split and the post-split of units as if they had been completed on January 1, 2010.

The unaudited condensed financial information and pro forma financial information, as well as the historical combined financial information as of and for the year ended December 31, 2010 was derived from USNG’s historical financial statements and has been audited by Spicer Jeffries LLP. The historical financial information as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2011 is unaudited. The condensed financial statements in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q are presented in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 260 for purposes of presenting the 2-for-1 reverse split on a historical basis for all periods reported.

NOTE 3 - FEES PAID BY THE FUND AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

USCF Management Fee

Under the LP Agreement, USCF is responsible for investing the assets of USNG in accordance with the objectives and policies of USNG. In addition, USCF has arranged for one or more third parties to provide administrative, custody, accounting, transfer agency and other necessary services to USNG. For these services, USNG is contractually obligated to pay USCF a fee, which is paid monthly, that is equal to 0.60% per annum of average daily net assets of $1,000,000,000 or less and 0.50% per annum of average daily net assets that are greater than $1,000,000,000.

Ongoing Registration Fees and Other Offering Expenses

USNG pays all costs and expenses associated with the ongoing registration of its units subsequent to the initial offering. These costs include registration or other fees paid to regulatory agencies in connection with the offer and sale of units, and all legal, accounting, printing and other expenses associated with such offer and sale. For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, USNG incurred $27,900 and $34,200, respectively, in registration fees and other offering expenses.

 

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Directors’ Fees and Expenses

USNG is responsible for paying its portion of the directors’ and officers’ liability insurance of all affiliated funds for which USCF serves as general partner or sponsor (all affiliated funds including USCI) and the fees and expenses of the independent directors who also serve as audit committee members of those affiliated USCF funds organized as limited partnerships (all affiliated funds, excluding USCI). Effective as of April 1, 2010, USNG became responsible for paying its portion of any payments that may become due to the independent directors pursuant to the deferred compensation agreements entered into between the independent directors, USCF and each of the affiliated funds, except USCI. USNG shares all director fees and expenses, including any that may become due pursuant to the deferred compensation agreements, with all the affiliated funds, except USCI, based on the relative assets of each fund, computed on a daily basis. These fees and expenses for the affiliated funds, as described above, for the year ending December 31, 2011, are estimated to be a total of $540,000.

Licensing Fees

As discussed in Note 4 below, USNG entered into a licensing agreement with the NYMEX on May 30, 2007. Pursuant to the agreement, USNG and the affiliated funds managed by USCF, other than USBO and USCI, pay a licensing fee that is equal to 0.04% for the first $1,000,000,000 of combined assets of the funds and 0.02% for combined assets above $1,000,000,000. During the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, USNG incurred $142,709 and $222,636, respectively, under this arrangement.

Investor Tax Reporting Cost

The fees and expenses associated with USNG’s audit expenses and tax accounting and reporting requirements are paid by USNG. These costs are estimated to be $2,500,000 for the year ending December 31, 2011.

Other Expenses and Fees

In addition to the fees described above, USNG pays all brokerage fees, transaction costs for over-the-counter swaps and other expenses in connection with the operation of USNG, including the costs incurred with the preparation and execution of the reverse split, but excluding costs and expenses paid by USCF as outlined in Note 4 below.

NOTE 4 - CONTRACTS AND AGREEMENTS

USNG is party to a marketing agent agreement, dated as of April 17, 2007, as amended from time to time, with the Marketing Agent and USCF, whereby the Marketing Agent provides certain marketing services for USNG as outlined in the agreement. The fee of the Marketing Agent, which is borne by USCF, is equal to 0.06% on USNG’s assets up to $3 billion and 0.04% on USNG’s assets in excess of $3 billion.

The above fee does not include the following expenses, which are also borne by USCF: the cost of placing advertisements in various periodicals; web construction and development; or the printing and production of various marketing materials.

USNG is also party to a custodian agreement, dated March 5, 2007, as amended from time to time, with Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (“BBH&Co.”) and USCF, whereby BBH&Co. holds investments on behalf of USNG. USCF pays the fees of the custodian, which are determined by the parties from time to time. In addition, USNG is party to an administrative agency agreement, dated March 5, 2007, as amended from time to time, with USCF and BBH&Co., whereby BBH&Co. acts as the administrative agent, transfer agent and registrar for USNG. USCF also pays the fees of BBH&Co. for its services under such agreement and such fees are determined by the parties from time to time.

Currently, USCF pays BBH&Co. for its services, in the foregoing capacities, a minimum amount of $75,000 annually for its custody, fund accounting and fund administration services rendered to USNG and each of the affiliated funds managed by USCF, as well as a $20,000 annual fee for its transfer agency services. In addition, USCF pays BBH&Co. an asset-based charge of (a) 0.06% for the first $500 million of USNG’s, USOF’s, US12OF’s, UGA’s, USHO’s, USSO’s, US12NG’s, USBO’s and USCI’s combined net assets, (b) 0.0465% for USNG’s, USOF’s, US12OF’s, UGA’s, USHO’s, USSO’s, US12NG’s, USBO’s and USCI’s combined net

 

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assets greater than $500 million but less than $1 billion, and (c) 0.035% once USNG’s, USOF’s, US12OF’s, UGA’s, USHO’s, USSO’s, US12NG’s, USBO’s and USCI’s combined net assets exceed $1 billion. The annual minimum amount will not apply if the asset-based charge for all accounts in the aggregate exceeds $75,000. USCF also pays transaction fees ranging from $7 to $15 per transaction.

USNG has entered into a brokerage agreement with UBS Securities LLC (“UBS Securities”). The agreement requires UBS Securities to provide services to USNG in connection with the purchase and sale of Futures Contracts and Other Natural Gas-Related Investments that may be purchased and sold by or through UBS Securities for USNG’s account. In accordance with the agreement, UBS Securities charges USNG commissions of approximately $7 to $15 per round-turn trade, including applicable exchange and NFA fees for Futures Contracts and options on Futures Contracts.

On May 30, 2007, USNG and the NYMEX entered into a licensing agreement whereby USNG was granted a non-exclusive license to use certain of the NYMEX’s settlement prices and service marks. Under the licensing agreement, USNG and the affiliated funds managed by USCF, other than USBO and USCI, pay the NYMEX an asset-based fee for the license, the terms of which are described in Note 3.

USNG expressly disclaims any association with the NYMEX or endorsement of USNG by the NYMEX and acknowledges that “NYMEX” and “New York Mercantile Exchange” are registered trademarks of the NYMEX.

NOTE 5 - FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS, OFF-BALANCE SHEET RISKS AND CONTINGENCIES

USNG engages in the trading of futures contracts, options on futures contracts, cleared swaps and over-the-counter swaps (collectively, “derivatives”). USNG is exposed to both market risk, which is the risk arising from changes in the market value of the contracts, and credit risk, which is the risk of failure by another party to perform according to the terms of a contract.

USNG may enter into futures contracts, options on futures contracts, cleared swaps and over-the-counter swaps to gain exposure to changes in the value of an underlying commodity. A futures contract obligates the seller to deliver (and the purchaser to accept) the future delivery of a specified quantity and type of a commodity at a specified time and place. Some futures contracts may call for physical delivery of the asset, while others are settled in cash. The contractual obligations of a buyer or seller may generally be satisfied by taking or making physical delivery of the underlying commodity or by making an offsetting sale or purchase of an identical futures contract on the same or linked exchange before the designated date of delivery. Cleared swaps are over-the-counter agreements that are eligible to be cleared by a clearinghouse, e.g., ICE Clear Europe, but which are not traded on an exchange. A cleared swap is created when the parties to an off-exchange over-the-counter transaction agree to extinguish their over-the-counter contract and replace it with a cleared swap. Cleared swaps are intended to provide the efficiencies and benefits that centralized clearing on an exchange offers to traders of futures contracts, including credit risk intermediation and the ability to offset positions initiated with different counterparties.

The purchase and sale of futures contracts, options on futures contracts and cleared swaps require margin deposits with a futures commission merchant. Additional deposits may be necessary for any loss on contract value. The Commodity Exchange Act requires a futures commission merchant to segregate all customer transactions and assets from the futures commission merchant’s proprietary activities.

Futures contracts and cleared swaps involve, to varying degrees, elements of market risk (specifically commodity price risk) and exposure to loss in excess of the amount of variation margin. The face or contract amounts reflect the extent of the total exposure USNG has in the particular classes of instruments. Additional risks associated with the use of futures contracts are an imperfect correlation between movements in the price of the futures contracts and the market value of the underlying securities and the possibility of an illiquid market for a futures contract.

Through March 31, 2011, all of USNG’s investment contracts were exchange-traded futures contracts, cleared swaps or fully-collateralized over-the-counter swaps. The liquidity and credit risks associated with exchange-traded contracts and cleared swaps are generally perceived to be less than those associated with over-the-counter transactions since, in over-the-counter transactions, a party must rely solely on the credit of its respective individual counterparties. At March 31, 2011, USNG maintained over-the-counter

 

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transactions with four counterparties. Over-the-counter transactions subject USNG to the credit risk associated with counterparty non-performance. The credit risk from counterparty non-performance associated with such instruments is the net unrealized gain, if any, on the transaction. USNG has credit risk under its futures contracts since the sole counterparty to all domestic and foreign futures contracts is the clearinghouse for the exchange on which the relevant contracts are traded. However, as compared to its over-the-counter transactions, it may more easily realize value by reselling its futures contracts. In addition, USNG bears the risk of financial failure by the clearing broker.

At March 31, 2011, USNG’s counterparties posted $33,802,279 in cash and $0 in securities as collateral with USNG’s custodian, as compared with $10,260,000 in cash and $0 securities at March 31, 2010. Under these agreements, USNG posted collateral with respect to its obligations of $140,534,883 in cash and $64,799,038 in securities, such as U.S. Treasuries, at March 31, 2011, as compared with $259,652,889 in cash and $86,584,859 in securities at March 31, 2010.

USNG’s cash and other property, such as U.S. Treasuries, deposited with a futures commission merchant are considered commingled with all other customer funds, subject to the futures commission merchant’s segregation requirements. In the event of a futures commission merchant’s insolvency, recovery may be limited to a pro rata share of segregated funds available. It is possible that the recovered amount could be less than the total of cash and other property deposited. The insolvency of a futures commission merchant could result in the complete loss of USNG’s assets posted with that futures commission merchant; however, the vast majority of USNG’s assets are held in U.S. Treasuries, cash and/or cash equivalents with USNG’s custodian and would not be impacted by the insolvency of a futures commission merchant. Also, the failure or insolvency of USNG’s custodian could result in a substantial loss of USNG’s assets.

USCF invests a portion of USNG’s cash in money market funds that seek to maintain a stable net asset value. USNG is exposed to any risk of loss associated with an investment in these money market funds. As of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, USNG had deposits in domestic and foreign financial institutions, including cash investments in money market funds, in the amounts of $2,160,640,277 and $2,635,369,994, respectively. This amount is subject to loss should these institutions cease operations.

For derivatives, risks arise from changes in the market value of the contracts. Theoretically, USNG is exposed to market risk equal to the value of futures contracts purchased and unlimited liability on such contracts sold short. As both a buyer and a seller of options, USNG pays or receives a premium at the outset and then bears the risk of unfavorable changes in the price of the contract underlying the option.

USNG’s policy is to continuously monitor its exposure to market and counterparty risk through the use of a variety of financial, position and credit exposure reporting controls and procedures. In addition, USNG has a policy of requiring review of the credit standing of each broker or counterparty with which it conducts business.

The financial instruments held by USNG are reported in its condensed statement of financial condition at market or fair value, or at carrying amounts that approximate fair value, because of their highly liquid nature and short-term maturity.

 

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NOTE 6 - FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The following table presents per unit performance data and other supplemental financial data for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 for the unitholders. This information has been derived from information presented in the condensed financial statements.

 

          For the three months
ended
March 31, 2011
(Unaudited)
    For the three months
ended
March 31, 2010
(Unaudited)
 

Per Unit Operating Performance:

     
     

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $ 12.00  *    $ 20.14  * 

Total loss

      (0.47     (6.30 )* 

Total expenses

      (0.03     (0.04 )* 
                 

Net decrease in net asset value

      (0.50     (6.34 )* 
                 

Net asset value, end of period

    $ 11.50      $ 13.80  * 
                 
     

Total Return

      (4.17 )%      (31.48 )% 
                 
     

Ratios to Average Net Assets

     

Total loss

      (2.44 )%      (32.98 )% 
                 

Expenses excluding management fees**

      0.41  %      0.29  % 
                 

Management fees**

      0.54  %      0.53  % 
                 

Net loss

      (2.67 )%      (33.18 )% 
                 

 

 

*

On March 8, 2011, there was a 2-for-1 reverse unit split. The Financial Highlights (Unaudited) have been adjusted for the periods shown to reflect the 2-for-1 reverse unit split on a retroactive basis.

 

 

**

Annualized

Total returns are calculated based on the change in value during the period. An individual unitholder’s total return and ratio may vary from the above total returns and ratios based on the timing of contributions to and withdrawals from USNG.

NOTE 7 - FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

USNG values its investments in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 820 – Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (“ASC 820”). ASC 820 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expands disclosures about fair value measurement. The changes to past practice resulting from the application of ASC 820 relate to the definition of fair value, the methods used to measure fair value, and the expanded disclosures about fair value measurement. ASC 820 establishes a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between: (1) market participant assumptions developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of USNG (observable inputs) and (2) USNG’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions developed based on the best information available under the circumstances (unobservable inputs). The three levels defined by the ASC 820 hierarchy are as follows:

Level I – Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity has the ability to access at the measurement date.

Level II – Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level I that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level II assets include the following: quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means (market-corroborated inputs).

Level III – Unobservable pricing input at the measurement date for the asset or liability. Unobservable inputs shall be used to measure fair value to the extent that observable inputs are not available.

 

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In some instances, the inputs used to measure fair value might fall within different levels of the fair value hierarchy. The level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement in its entirety falls shall be determined based on the lowest input level that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.

The following table summarizes the valuation of USNG’s securities at December 31, 2010 using the fair value hierarchy:

 

$1,902,183,385 $1,902,183,385 $1,902,183,385 $1,902,183,385

At December 31, 2010

  Total     Level I     Level II     Level III  

Short-Term Investments

  $ 1,902,183,385      $ 1,902,183,385      $ -        $ -     

Exchange-Traded Futures Contracts

    56,023,955        56,023,955        -          -     

Exchange-Traded Cleared Swap Contracts

    31,381,325        31,381,325        -          -     

Over-the-Counter Total Return Swap Contracts

    27,200,226        -          -          27,200,226   

During the year ended December 31, 2010, there were no significant transfers between Level I and Level II.

Following is a reconciliation of assets in which significant observable inputs (Level III) were used in determining fair value:

 

Total Return Swap Contracts

      

Beginning balance as of 12/31/09

   $ (39,408,688

Realized gain (loss)*

     -     

Change in unrealized gain (loss)

     66,608,914   
        

Ending balance as of 12/31/10

   $ 27,200,226   
        

 

*

The realized gain (loss) incurred during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 for total return swaps was $(905,660,856).

The following table summarizes the valuation of USNG’s securities at March 31, 2011 using the fair value hierarchy:

 

$1,752,348,013 $1,752,348,013 $1,752,348,013 $1,752,348,013

At March 31, 2011

   Total      Level I      Level II      Level III  

Short-Term Investments

   $ 1,752,348,013       $ 1,752,348,013       $ -         $ -     

Exchange-Traded Futures Contracts

     23,085,150         23,085,150         -           -     

Exchange-Traded Cleared Swap Contracts

     36,835,513         36,853,513         -           -     

Over-the-Counter Total Return Swap Contracts

     22,587,540         -           -           22,587,540   

During the three months ended March 31, 2011, there were no significant transfers between Level I and Level II.

 

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Following is a reconciliation of assets in which significant observable inputs (Level III) were used in determining fair value:

 

Total Return Swap Contracts

      

Beginning balance as of 12/31/10

   $ 27,200,226   

Realized gain (loss)*

     -     

Change in unrealized gain (loss)

     (4,612,686
        

Ending balance as of 03/31/11

   $ 22,587,540   
        

 

*

The realized gain (loss) incurred during the three months ended March 31, 2011 for total return swaps was $(28,899,684).

Effective January 1, 2009, USNG adopted the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification 815 — Derivatives and Hedging, which require presentation of qualitative disclosures about objectives and strategies for using derivatives, quantitative disclosures about fair value amounts and gains and losses on derivatives.

Fair Value of Derivative Instruments

 

Derivatives not Accounted

for as Hedging Instruments

   Condensed
Statement of
Financial Condition
Location
   Fair Value
At March 31, 2011
     Fair Value
At December 31, 2010
 

Futures - Commodity Contracts

   Assets    $ 59,920,663       $ 87,405,280   

Swaps - Commodity Contracts

   Assets -      22,587,540         27,200,226   
   Unrealized      
   Appreciation      

The Effect of Derivative Instruments on the Condensed Statements of Operations

 

           For the three months ended
March 31, 2011
    For the three months ended
March 31, 2010
 

Derivatives not Accounted

for as Hedging Instruments

  

Location of Gain or (Loss)
on Derivatives Recognized
in Income

   Realized
Gain or  (Loss)
on Derivatives
Recognized
in  Income
    Change in
Unrealized
Gain or (Loss)
Recognized
in  Income
    Realized
Gain or  (Loss)
on Derivatives
Recognized
in  Income
    Change in
Unrealized
Gain or (Loss)
Recognized
in  Income
 

Futures -
Commodity Contracts

  

Realized gain (loss) on closed futures positions

   $ 2,603,815        $ (465,823,610  
  

Change in unrealized loss on open futures positions

     $ (27,484,617     $ (101,594,860

Swaps -
Commodity Contracts

  

Realized loss on closed swap contracts

     (28,899,684       (697,388,429  
  

Change in unrealized loss on open swap contracts

       (4,612,686       (18,732,581

NOTE 8 - RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In January 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2010-06 “Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements.” ASU No. 2010-06 clarifies existing disclosure and requires additional disclosures regarding fair value measurements. Effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, entities will need to disclose information about purchases, sales, issuances and settlements of Level 3 securities on

 

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a gross basis, rather than as a net number as currently required. The implementation of ASU No. 2010-06 is not expected to have a material impact on USNG’s financial statement disclosures.

NOTE 9 - SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

USNG has performed an evaluation of subsequent events through the date the financial statements were issued. This evaluation did not result in any subsequent events that necessitated disclosures and/or adjustments.

 

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Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the condensed financial statements and the notes thereto of the United States Natural Gas Fund, LP (“USNG”) included elsewhere in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q.

Forward-Looking Information

This quarterly report on Form 10-Q, including this “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” contains forward-looking statements regarding the plans and objectives of management for future operations. This information may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause USNG’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements, which involve assumptions and describe USNG’s future plans, strategies and expectations, are generally identifiable by use of the words “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” “intend” or “project,” the negative of these words, other variations on these words or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that may be incorrect, and USNG cannot assure investors that the projections included in these forward-looking statements will come to pass. USNG’s actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors.

USNG has based the forward-looking statements included in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q on information available to it on the date of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, and USNG assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Although USNG undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, investors are advised to consult any additional disclosures that USNG may make directly to them or through reports that USNG in the future files with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K.

Introduction

USNG, a Delaware limited partnership, is a commodity pool that issues units that may be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca, Inc. (the “NYSE Arca”). The investment objective of USNG is for the daily changes in percentage terms of its units’ net asset value (“NAV”) to reflect the daily changes in percentage terms of the spot price of natural gas delivered at the Henry Hub, Louisiana, as measured by the changes in the price of the futures contract for natural gas traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange (the “NYMEX”) that is the near month contract to expire, except when the near month contract is within two weeks of expiration, in which case it will be measured by the futures contract that is the next month contract to expire, less USNG’s expenses. It is not the intent of USNG to be operated in a fashion such that the NAV will equal, in dollar terms, the spot price of natural gas or any particular futures contract based on natural gas.

USNG invests in futures contracts for natural gas, crude oil, heating oil, gasoline and other petroleum-based fuels that are traded on the NYMEX, ICE Futures or other U.S. and foreign exchanges (collectively, “Futures Contracts”) and other natural gas-related investments such as cash-settled options on Futures Contracts, forward contracts for natural gas, cleared swap contracts and over-the-counter transactions that are based on the price of natural gas, crude oil and other petroleum-based fuels, Futures Contracts and indices based on the foregoing (collectively, “Other Natural Gas-Related Investments”). For convenience and unless otherwise specified, Futures Contracts and Other Natural Gas-Related Investments collectively are referred to as “Natural Gas Interests” in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q. Due, in part, to USNG’s obligation to comply with current and potential regulatory limits, it has invested in, and may continue to invest in, Other Natural Gas-Related Investments in order to fulfill its investment objective.

USNG seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in a combination of Futures Contracts and Other Natural Gas-Related Investments such that changes in its NAV, measured in percentage terms, will closely track the changes in the price of the Benchmark Futures Contract, also measured in percentage terms. USNG’s general partner believes the changes in the price of the Benchmark Futures Contract have historically exhibited a close correlation with the changes in the spot price of natural gas. The general partner of USNG, United States Commodity Funds LLC (“USCF”), believes that it is not practical to manage the portfolio to achieve such an investment goal when investing in Futures Contracts and Other Natural Gas-Related Investments.

 

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In addition, due to potential regulatory limitations, USNG may determine to hold greater amounts of cash and cash equivalents and lesser amounts of Natural Gas Interests, or greater amounts of Other Natural Gas-Related Investments if it determines that this will most appropriately satisfy USNG’s investment objective. Holding more cash and cash equivalents and fewer Natural Gas Interests, or more Other Natural Gas-Related Investments for some period of time may result in increased tracking error. Increasing USNG’s investments in Other Natural Gas-Related Investments, such as through increased investments in over-the-counter swaps, may result in increased tracking error due to the fact that transaction costs for over-the-counter swaps are significantly higher as compared to those for exchange-traded Natural Gas Interests, which to date are the principal investment of USNG. In the event that USNG determines that suitable Other Natural Gas-Related Investments are not obtainable, USNG will need to consider other actions to protect its unitholders and to permit USNG to achieve its investment objective.

On any valuation day, the Benchmark Futures Contract is the near month futures contract for natural gas traded on the NYMEX unless the near month contract is within two weeks of expiration, in which case the Benchmark Futures Contract becomes, over a 4-day period, the next month contract for natural gas traded on the NYMEX. “Near month contract” means the next contract traded on the NYMEX due to expire. “Next month contract” means the first contract traded on the NYMEX due to expire after the near month contract.

The regulation of commodity interests in the United States is a rapidly changing area of law and is subject to ongoing modification by governmental and judicial action. On July 21, 2010, a broad financial regulatory reform bill, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”), was signed into law that includes provisions altering the regulation of commodity interests. Provisions in the new law include the requirement that position limits be established on a wide range of commodity interests including energy-based and other commodity futures contracts, certain cleared commodity swaps and certain over-the-counter commodity contracts; new registration, recordkeeping, capital and margin requirements for “swap dealers” and “major swap participants” as determined by the new law and applicable regulations; and the forced use of clearinghouse mechanisms for most swap transactions that are currently entered into in the over-the-counter market. The new law and the rules that are currently being and are expected to be promulgated thereunder may negatively impact USNG’s ability to meet its investment objective either through limits or requirements imposed on it or upon its counterparties. Further, increased regulation of, and the imposition of additional costs on, swap transactions under the new legislation and implementing regulations could cause a reduction in the swap market and the overall derivatives markets, which could restrict liquidity and adversely affect USNG. In particular, new position limits imposed on USNG or its counterparties may impact USNG’s ability to invest in a manner that most efficiently meets its investment objective, and new requirements, including capital and mandatory clearing, may increase the cost of USNG’s investments and doing business, which could adversely affect USNG’s investors.

Additionally, the Dodd-Frank Act requires the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”) to promulgate rules establishing position limits for futures and options contracts on commodities, as well as for swaps that are economically equivalent to futures or options. On January 13, 2011, the CFTC proposed new rules, which if implemented in their proposed form, would establish position limits and limit formulas for certain physical commodity futures, including Futures Contracts and options on Futures Contracts, executed pursuant to the rules of designated contract markets (i.e., certain regulated exchanges) and commodity swaps that are economically equivalent to such futures and options contracts. The CFTC has also proposed aggregate position limits that would apply across different trading venues to contracts based on the same underlying commodity. At this time, it is unknown precisely when such position limits would take effect. The CFTC’s position limits for futures contracts held during the last few days of trading in the near month contract to expire, which, under the CFTC’s proposed rule would be substantially similar to the position limits currently set by the exchanges, could take effect as early as Spring 2011. Based on the CFTC’s current proposal, other position limits would not take effect until March 2012 or later.

On April 12, 2011, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Farm Credit System and the Federal Housing Finance Agency (collectively, the “Prudential Regulators”) and the CFTC issued proposed rules establishing minimum initial and variation margin collection requirements for certain swap dealers and major swap participants (collectively, “Covered Swap Entities”), which if adopted, would require Covered Swap Entities to collect minimum initial and variation margin amounts from swap counterparties. The Prudential Regulators’ proposed rules would apply to those Covered Swap Entities that are regulated by the Prudential Regulators and the CFTC’s proposed rules would apply to Covered Swap Entities that are not regulated by the Prudential Regulators.

The amount of initial and variation margin that Covered Swap Entities would be required to collect under the proposed rules varies based on whether their counterparty to a particular swap is (1) a Covered Swap Entity, (2) a “high-risk” financial entity end-user, (3) a “low-risk” financial entity end-user (e.g., financial entities subject to capital requirements imposed by bank or insurance regulators, that predominantly use swaps to hedge and that do not have significant swap exposure) or (4) a non-financial end-user. With certain exceptions not applicable to USNG and the affiliated funds managed by USCF, Covered Swap Entities would not be required to post initial or variation margin to any of their counterparties except for other Covered Swap Entities.

Covered Swap Entities and all financial entity end-users would be required to post initial margin and variation margin when they enter into swaps with Covered Swap Entities. Margin posted by “low-risk” financial entity end-users could be subject to thresholds under the proposed rules. As commodity pools, USNG and the affiliated funds managed by USCF would be “high-risk” financial entity end-users and would therefore have to post margin without thresholds.

On April 27, 2011, the CFTC and the SEC proposed joint rules defining “swaps” and “security-based swaps,” thus providing more clarity regarding which transactions will be regulated as such under the Dodd-Frank Act. The rules proposed in April 2011 are currently open to the public for comment at the time of the filing of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q. The CFTC has now issued proposed versions of all of the rules it is required to promulgate under the Dodd-Frank Act but, with one exception not applicable to USNG and the affiliated funds managed by USCF, the CFTC has not promulgated any final rules or indicated when such final rules would take effect. The effect of the future regulatory change on USNG is impossible to predict, but it could be substantial and adverse.

 

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USCF, which is registered as a commodity pool operator (“CPO”) with the CFTC, is authorized by the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of USNG (the “LP Agreement”) to manage USNG. USCF is authorized by USNG in its sole judgment to employ and establish the terms of employment for, and termination of, commodity trading advisors or futures commission merchants.

Price Movements

Natural gas futures prices exhibited a general downtrend during the three months ended March 31, 2011. The price of the Benchmark Futures Contract started the period at $4.405. It hit a peak on January 21, 2011 of $4.743 and then fell during the course of the period. The low price of the period was on March 3, 2011, when the Benchmark Futures Contract was $3.778. The Benchmark Futures Contract on March 31, 2011 was $4.389, for a return of approximately -0.36% over the period. USNG’s NAV initially rose during the period, taking into account the reverse split, from a starting level of $12.00* per unit to a high on January 21, 2011 of $12.87* per unit. USNG’s NAV reached its low for the period on March 3, 2011 at $10.09* per unit. The NAV on March 31, 2011 was $11.50, down approximately 4.17% over the period. The Benchmark Futures Contract prices listed above began with the February 2011 contract and ended with the May 2011 contract. The return of approximately -0.36% on the Benchmark Futures Contract listed above is a hypothetical return only and could not actually be achieved by an investor holding Futures Contracts. An investment in natural gas Futures Contracts would need to be rolled forward during the time period described in order to achieve such a result. Furthermore, the change in the nominal price of these differing natural gas Futures Contracts, measured from the start of the period to the end of the period, does not represent the actual benchmark results that USNG seeks to track, which are more fully described below in the section titled “Tracking USNG’s Benchmark.”

During the three months ended March 31, 2011, the natural gas futures market was primarily in a state of contango, meaning that the price of the near month natural gas Futures Contract was typically lower than the price of the next month natural gas Futures Contract, or contracts further away from expiration. A contango market is one in which the price of the near month natural gas Futures Contract is less than the price of the next month natural gas Futures Contract, or contracts further away from expiration. As a result of contango or backwardation, as the case may be, the return of approximately -0.36% on the Benchmark Futures Contract listed above is a hypothetical return only and could not actually be achieved by an investor holding futures contracts. For a discussion of the impact of backwardation and contango on total returns, see “Term Structure of Natural Gas Futures Prices and the Impact on Total Returns” below.

 

*

Adjusted to give effect to the reverse unit split of 2-for-1 executed on March 8, 2011.

Valuation of Futures Contracts and the Computation of the NAV

The NAV of USNG’s units is calculated once each NYSE Arca trading day. The NAV for a particular trading day is released after 4:00 p.m. New York time. Trading during the core trading session on the NYSE Arca typically closes at 4:00 p.m. New York time. USNG’s administrator uses the NYMEX closing price (determined at the earlier of the close of the NYMEX or 2:30 p.m. New York time) for the contracts held on the NYMEX, but calculates or determines the value of all other USNG investments, including cleared swaps or other futures contracts, as of the earlier of the close of the NYSE Arca or 4:00 p.m. New York time.

 

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Results of Operations and the Natural Gas Market

Results of Operations. On April 18, 2007, USNG listed its units on the American Stock Exchange (the “AMEX”) under the ticker symbol “UNG.” On that day, USNG established its initial offering price at $50.00 per unit and issued 200,000 units to the initial authorized purchaser, Merrill Lynch Professional Clearing Corp., in exchange for $10,001,000 in cash. As a result of the acquisition of the AMEX by NYSE Euronext, USNG’s units no longer trade on the AMEX and commenced trading on the NYSE Arca on November 25, 2008.

Since its initial offering of 30,000,000 units, USNG has registered four subsequent offerings of its units: 50,000,000 units which were registered with the SEC on November 21, 2007, 100,000,000 units which were registered with the SEC on August 28, 2008, 300,000,000 units which were registered with the SEC on May 6, 2009 and 1,000,000,000 units which were registered with the SEC on August 12, 2009. Units offered by USNG in the subsequent offerings were sold by it for cash at the units’ NAV as described in the applicable prospectus. On March 8, 2011, after the close of trading on the NYSE Arca, USNG effected a 2-for-1 reverse unit split and post-split units of USNG began trading on March 9, 2011. As a result of the reverse unit split, every two pre-split units of USNG were automatically exchanged for one post-split unit. Immediately prior to the reverse unit split, there were 447,200,000 units of USNG issued and outstanding, each representing a NAV of $5.16. Immediately after the reverse unit split, the number of issued and outstanding units of USNG decreased to 223,600,000, not accounting for fractional units, and the NAV relating to each unit increased to $10.31. As of March 31, 2011, USNG had issued 980,000,000 units, 200,697,828 of which were outstanding. As of March 31, 2011, there were 500,000,000 units registered but not yet issued.

More units may have been issued by USNG than are outstanding due to the redemption of units. Unlike funds that are registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, units that have been redeemed by USNG cannot be resold by USNG. As a result, USNG contemplates that additional offerings of its units will be registered with the SEC in the future in anticipation of additional issuances and redemptions.

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2011 Compared to the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010

As of March 31, 2011, the total unrealized gain on Futures Contracts, cleared swap contracts and over-the-counter swap contracts owned or held on that day was $82,508,203 and USNG established cash deposits, including cash investments in money market funds that were equal to $2,160,640,277. USNG held 91.57% of its cash assets in overnight deposits and money market funds at its custodian bank, while 8.43% of the cash balance was held as margin deposits for the Futures Contracts purchased. The ending per unit NAV on March 31, 2011 was $11.50.

By comparison, as of March 31, 2010, the total unrealized loss on Futures Contracts, cleared swap contracts and over-the-counter swap contracts owned or held on that day was $201,513,394 and USNG established cash deposits, including cash investments in money market funds, that were equal to $3,118,486,686. USNG held 84.92% of its cash assets in overnight deposits and money market funds at its custodian bank, while 15.08% of the cash balance was held as margin deposits for the Futures Contracts purchased. The decrease in cash assets in overnight deposits and money market funds for March 31, 2011 as compared to March 31, 2010 was the result of USNG’s greater size in the prior period as measured by total net assets. The ending per unit NAV on March 31, 2010 was $13.80*. The decrease in the per unit NAV from March 31, 2011 as compared to March 31, 2010 was primarily a result of lower prices for natural gas and the related decline in the value of the Futures Contracts, cleared swap contracts, and over-the-counter swap contracts that USNG had invested in between the period ended March 31, 2010 and the period ended March 31, 2011.

 

*

Adjusted to give effect to the reverse unit split of 2-for-1 executed on March 8, 2011.

Portfolio Expenses. USNG’s expenses consist of investment management fees, brokerage fees and commissions, certain offering costs, licensing fees, the fees and expenses of the independent directors of USCF and expenses relating to tax accounting and reporting requirements. The management fee that USNG pays to USCF is calculated as a percentage of the total net assets of USNG. For total net assets of up to $1 billion, the management fee is 0.60%. For total net assets over $1 billion, the management fee is 0.50% on the incremental amount of assets. The fee is accrued daily and paid monthly.

 

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During the three months ended March 31, 2011, the daily average total net assets of USNG were $2,382,862,199. The management fee incurred by USNG during the period amounted to $3,184,351, which was calculated at the 0.60% rate on total net assets up to and including $1 billion and at the rate of 0.50% on total net assets over $1 billion, and accrued daily. Management fees as a percentage of average net assets averaged 0.54% over the course of this three month period. By comparison, during the three months ended March 31, 2010, the daily average total net assets of USNG were $3,891,576,206. The management fee paid by USNG during this three month period amounted to $5,044,409, which was calculated at the 0.60% rate for total net assets up to and including $1 billion and at the rate of 0.50% on total net assets over $1 billion, and accrued daily. Management fees as a percentage of average net assets averaged 0.53% over the course of this three month period. USNG’s management fees as a percentage of total net assets were higher for the three months ended March 31, 2011 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2010 due to USNG having a smaller percentage of total net assets in excess of $1 billion that were therefore charged the lower rate of 0.50%.

In addition to the management fee, USNG pays all brokerage fees, transaction costs for over-the-counter swaps and other expenses, including certain tax reporting costs, licensing fees for the use of intellectual property, ongoing registration or other fees paid to the SEC, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) and any other regulatory agency in connection with offers and sales of its units subsequent to the initial offering and all legal, accounting, printing and other expenses associated therewith. The total of these fees and expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2011 was $2,378,736, which included $27,900 for the costs incurred for the preparation and execution of the reverse split, as well as in registration fees paid to the SEC, as compared to $2,805,335 for the three months ended March 31, 2010. The decrease in expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2011 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2010 was the result of USNG’s greater size in the prior period as measured by total net assets. For the three months ended March 31, 2011, USNG incurred $27,900 in ongoing registration fees and other expenses relating to the registration and offering of additional units. By comparison, for the three months ended March 31, 2010, USNG incurred $34,200 in ongoing registration fees and other expenses relating to the registration and offering of additional units. The decrease in registration fees and expenses incurred by USNG for the three months ended March 31, 2011 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2010 was primarily due to a slower amortization of prepaid registration costs, which were matched to the faster rate of unit creations during the three months ended March 31, 2011.

USNG is responsible for paying its portion of the directors’ and officers’ liability insurance of all affiliated funds for which USCF serves as general partner and sponsor (all affiliated funds including the United States Commodity Index Fund (“USCI”)) and the fees and expenses of the independent directors who also serve as audit committee members of those affiliated USCF funds organized as limited partnerships (all affiliated funds, excluding USCI). Affiliated funds of USNG include the United States Oil Fund, LP (“USOF”), the United States 12 Month Oil Fund, LP (“US12OF”), the United States Gasoline Fund, LP (“UGA”), the United States Heating Oil Fund, LP (“USHO”), the United States Short Oil Fund, LP (“USSO”), the United States 12 Month Natural Gas Fund, LP (“US12NG”), the United States Brent Oil Fund, LP (“USBO”) and USCI. USNG shares the fees and expenses with each affiliated fund, as described above, based on the relative assets of each fund computed on a daily basis. These fees and expenses for the year ending December 31, 2011 are estimated to be a total of $540,000 for all affiliated funds. By comparison, for the year ended December 31, 2010, these fees and expenses amounted to a total of $1,107,140 for all affiliated funds, and USNG’s portion of such fees and expenses was $629,670. Effective as of April 1, 2010, USNG became responsible for paying its portion of any payments that may become due to the independent directors pursuant to the deferred compensation agreements entered into between the independent directors, USCF and the affiliated funds, except USCI.

USNG also incurs commissions to brokers for the purchase and sale of Futures Contracts, Other Natural Gas-Related Investments or short-term obligations of the United States of two years or less (“Treasuries”). During the three months ended March 31, 2011, total commissions paid to brokers amounted to $1,396,783. By comparison, during the three months ended March 31, 2010, total commissions paid to brokers amounted to $1,741,599. The decrease in the total commissions paid to brokers for the three months ended March 31, 2011 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2010 was primarily a function of decreased brokerage fees due to a lower number of Natural Gas Interests being held and traded as a result of the decrease in USNG’s average total net assets, and the replacement of a portion of these Natural Gas Interests with investments in over-the-counter swaps during the three months ended March 31, 2011. As an annualized percentage of total net assets, the figure for the three months ended March 31, 2011 represents approximately 0.24% of total net assets. By comparison, the figure for the three months ended March 31, 2010 represented approximately 0.18% of total net assets. However, there can be no assurance that commission costs and portfolio turnover will not cause commission expenses to rise in future quarters.

 

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USNG incurred $1,286,109 in transaction costs during the three months ended March 31, 2011 as compared to $2,107,009 in transaction costs during the three months ended March 31, 2010. USNG’s transaction fees were lower during the three months ended March 31, 2011 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2010 due to reduced transaction costs for over-the-counter swaps, including up front fees and spreads charged by counterparties. However, these costs remain somewhat higher as compared to those for exchange-traded Natural Gas Interests.

The fees and expenses associated with USNG’s audit expenses and tax accounting and reporting requirements are paid by USNG. These costs are estimated to be $2,500,000 for the year ending December 31, 2011.

Dividend and Interest Income. USNG seeks to invest its assets such that it holds Futures Contracts and Other Natural Gas-Related Investments in an amount equal to the total net assets of its portfolio. Typically, such investments do not require USNG to pay the full amount of the contract value at the time of purchase, but rather require USNG to post an amount as a margin deposit against the eventual settlement of the contract. As a result, USNG retains an amount that is approximately equal to its total net assets, which USNG invests in Treasuries, cash and/or cash equivalents. This includes both the amount on deposit with the futures commission merchant as margin, as well as unrestricted cash and cash equivalents held with USNG’s custodian bank. The Treasuries, cash and/or cash equivalents earn income that accrues on a daily basis. For the three months ended March 31, 2011, USNG earned $212,917 in dividend and interest income on such cash and/or cash equivalents. Based on USNG’s average daily total net assets, this was equivalent to an annualized yield of 0.04%. USNG purchased Treasuries during the three months ended March 31, 2011 and also held cash and/or cash equivalents during this time period. By comparison, for the three months ended March 31, 2010, USNG earned $219,888 in dividend and interest income on such cash and/or cash equivalents. Based on USNG’s average daily total net assets, this was equivalent to an annualized yield of 0.02%. USNG purchased Treasuries during the three months ended March 31, 2010 and also held cash and/or cash equivalents during this time period. Interest rates on short-term investments, including cash, cash equivalents and Treasuries, were slightly higher during the three months ended March 31, 2011 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2010. As a result, the amount of income earned by USNG as a percentage of total net assets was higher during the three months ended March 31, 2011 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2010.

Tracking USNG’s Benchmark

USCF seeks to manage USNG’s portfolio such that changes in its average daily NAV, on a percentage basis, closely track the changes in the average daily price of the Benchmark Futures Contract, also on a percentage basis. Specifically, USCF seeks to manage the portfolio such that over any rolling period of 30 valuation days, the average daily change in USNG’s NAV is within a range of 90% to 110% (0.9 to 1.1) of the average daily change in the price of the Benchmark Futures Contract. As an example, if the average daily movement of the price of the Benchmark Futures Contract for a particular 30-valuation day time period was 0.5% per day, USCF would attempt to manage the portfolio such that the average daily movement of the NAV during that same time period fell between 0.45% and 0.55% (i.e., between 0.9 and 1.1 of the benchmark’s results). USNG’s portfolio management goals do not include trying to make the nominal price of USNG’s NAV equal to the nominal price of the current Benchmark Futures Contract or the spot price for natural gas. USCF believes that it is not practical to manage the portfolio to achieve such an investment goal when investing in listed Futures Contracts and Other Natural Gas-Related Investments.

For the 30 valuation days ended March 31, 2011, the simple average daily change in the Benchmark Futures Contract was 0.305%, while the simple average daily change in the NAV of USNG over the same time period was 0.302%. The average daily difference was -0.004% (or -0.4 basis points, where 1 basis point equals 1/100 of 1%). As a percentage of the daily movement of the Benchmark Futures Contract, the average error in daily tracking by the NAV was -5.516%, meaning that over this time period USNG’s tracking error was within the plus or minus 10% range established as its benchmark tracking goal. The first chart below shows the daily movement of USNG’s NAV versus the daily movement of the Benchmark Futures Contract for the 30-valuation day period ended March 31, 2011. The second chart below shows the monthly total returns of USNG as compared to the monthly value of the Benchmark Futures Contract since inception.

 

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Since the commencement of the offering of USNG’s units to the public on April 18, 2007 to March 31, 2011, the simple average daily change in the Benchmark Futures Contract was -0.169%, while the simple average daily change in the NAV of USNG over the same time period was -0.168%. The average daily difference was 0.0002% (or 0.02 basis points, where 1 basis point equals 1/100 of 1%). As a percentage of the daily movement of the Benchmark Futures Contract, the average error in daily tracking by the NAV was -0.329%, meaning that over this time period USNG’s tracking error was within the plus or minus 10% range established as its benchmark tracking goal.

LOGO

*PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS

 

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LOGO

*PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS

An alternative tracking measurement of the return performance of USNG versus the return of its Benchmark Futures Contract can be calculated by comparing the actual return of USNG, measured by changes in its NAV, versus the expected changes in its NAV under the assumption that USNG’s returns had been exactly the same as the daily changes in its Benchmark Futures Contract.

For the three months ended March 31, 2011, the actual total return of USNG as measured by changes in its NAV was -4.17%. This is based on an initial NAV, taking into account the reverse split, of $12.00* on December 31, 2010 and an ending NAV as of March 31, 2011 of $11.50. During this time period, USNG made no distributions to its unitholders. However, if USNG’s daily changes in its NAV had instead exactly tracked the changes in the daily return of the Benchmark Futures Contract, USNG would have had an estimated NAV of $11.53 as of March 31, 2011, for a total return over the relevant time period of -3.92%. The difference between the actual NAV total return of USNG of -4.17% and the expected total return based on the Benchmark Futures Contract of -3.92% was an error over the time period of -0.25%, which is to say that USNG’s actual total return underperformed the benchmark result by that percentage. USCF believes that a portion of the difference between the actual return and the expected benchmark return can be attributed to the net impact of the expenses that USNG pays, offset in part by the income that USNG collects on its cash and cash equivalent holdings. During the three months ended March 31, 2011, USNG received dividend and interest income of $212,917, which is equivalent to a weighted average income rate of 0.04% for such period. In addition, during the three months ended March 31, 2011, USNG also collected $58,000 from its Authorized Purchasers for creating or redeeming baskets of units. This income contributed to USNG’s actual return. However, if the total assets of USNG increase, management believes that the impact on total returns of these fees from creations and redemptions will diminish as a percentage of the total return. During the three months ended March 31, 2011, USNG incurred total expenses of $5,563,087. Income from dividends and interest and Authorized Purchaser collections net of expenses was $(5,292,170), which is equivalent to an annualized weighted average net income rate of (0.90)% for the three months ended March 31, 2011.

 

*

Adjusted to give effect to the reverse unit split of 2-for-1 executed on March 8, 2011.

By comparison, for the three months ended March 31, 2010, the actual total return of USNG as measured by changes in its NAV was -31.48%. This was based on an initial NAV of $20.14* on December 31, 2009 and an ending NAV as of March 31, 2010 of $13.80*. During this time period, USNG made no distributions to its unitholders. However, if USNG’s daily changes in its NAV had instead exactly tracked the changes in the daily return of the Benchmark Futures Contract, USNG would have had an estimated NAV of

 

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$6.92 as of March 31, 2010, for a total return over the relevant time period of -31.25%. The difference between the actual NAV total return of USNG of -31.48% and the expected total return based on the Benchmark Futures Contract of -30.06% was an error over the time period of -1.19%, which is to say that USNG’s actual total return underperformed the benchmark result by that percentage. USCF believes that a portion of the difference between the actual return and the expected benchmark return can be attributed to the net impact of the expenses that USNG paid, offset in part by the income that USNG collected on its cash and cash equivalent holdings. During the three months ended March 31, 2010, USNG received dividend and interest income of $219,888, which is equivalent to a weighted average income rate of 0.02% for such period. In addition, during the three months ended March 31, 2010, USNG also collected $47,000 from its Authorized Purchasers for creating or redeeming baskets of units. This income also contributed to USNG’s actual return. During the three months ended March 31, 2010, USNG incurred total expenses of $7,849,744. Income from dividends and interest and Authorized Purchaser collections net of expenses was $(7,582,856), which is equivalent to an annualized weighted average net income rate of (0.79)% for the three months ended March 31, 2010.

 

*

Adjusted to give effect to the reverse unit split of 2-for-1 executed on March 8, 2011.

There are currently three factors that have impacted or are most likely to impact USNG’s ability to accurately track its Benchmark Futures Contract.

First, USNG may buy or sell its holdings in the then current Benchmark Futures Contract at a price other than the closing settlement price of that contract on the day during which USNG executes the trade. In that case, USNG may pay a price that is higher, or lower, than that of the Benchmark Futures Contract, which could cause the changes in the daily NAV of USNG to either be too high or too low relative to the changes in the Benchmark Futures Contract. During the three months ended March 31, 2011, USCF attempted to minimize the effect of these transactions by seeking to execute its purchase or sale of the Benchmark Futures Contract at, or as close as possible to, the end of the day settlement price. However, it may not always be possible for USNG to obtain the closing settlement price and there is no assurance that failure to obtain the closing settlement price in the future will not adversely impact USNG’s attempt to track the Benchmark Futures Contract over time.

Second, USNG earns dividend and interest income on its cash, cash equivalents and Treasury holdings. USNG is not required to distribute any portion of its income to its unitholders and did not make any distributions to unitholders during the three months ended March 31, 2011. Interest payments, and any other income, were retained within the portfolio and added to USNG’s NAV. When this income exceeds the level of USNG’s expenses for its management fee, brokerage commissions and other expenses (including ongoing registration fees, licensing fees and the fees and expenses of the independent directors of USCF), USNG will realize a net yield that will tend to cause daily changes in the NAV of USNG to track slightly higher than daily changes in the Benchmark Futures Contract. During the three months ended March 31, 2011, USNG earned, on an annualized basis, approximately 0.04% on its cash holdings. It also incurred cash expenses on an annualized basis of 0.54% for management fees and approximately 0.24% in brokerage commission costs related to the purchase and sale of futures contracts, and 0.17% for other expenses. The foregoing fees and expenses resulted in a net yield on an annualized basis of approximately (0.91)% and affected USNG’s ability to track its benchmark. If short-term interest rates rise above the current levels, the level of deviation created by the yield would decrease. Conversely, if short-term interest rates were to decline, the amount of error created by the yield would increase. When short-term yields drop to a level lower than the combined expenses of the management fee and the brokerage commissions, then the tracking error becomes a negative number and would tend to cause the daily returns of the NAV to underperform the daily returns of the Benchmark Futures Contract.

Third, USNG may hold Other Natural Gas-Related Investments in its portfolio that may fail to closely track the Benchmark Futures Contract’s total return movements. In that case, the error in tracking the Benchmark Futures Contract could result in daily changes in the NAV of USNG that are either too high, or too low, relative to the daily changes in the Benchmark Futures Contract. During the three months ended March 31, 2011, USNG held Other Natural Gas-Related Investments. These holdings included a financially settled natural gas futures contract traded on NYMEX whose settlement price tracks the settlement price of the Benchmark Futures Contract. USNG also held investments in cleared swaps traded on the ICE Futures whose settlement price also tracks the settlement price of the Benchmark Futures Contract and fully-collateralized over-the-counter swaps designed to track the settlement price of the

 

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Benchmark Futures Contract. Due, in part, to the increased size of USNG over the last several quarters and its obligations to comply with current and potential regulatory limits, USNG has invested in Other Natural Gas-Related Investments, such as over-the-counter swaps, which have increased transaction-related expenses and may result in increased tracking error. Over-the-counter swaps increase transaction-related expenses due to the fact that USNG must pay to the swap counterparty certain fees that USNG does not have to pay for transactions executed on an exchange. Finally, due to potential regulatory limitations, USNG may determine to hold greater amounts of cash and cash equivalents and lesser amounts of Natural Gas Interests, if it determines that will most appropriately satisfy USNG’s investment objective. Holding more cash and cash equivalents and less Natural Gas Interests for some period of time may result in increased tracking error. There are additional Other Natural Gas-Related Investments that USNG is permitted to invest in whose price movements may not track the settlement price of the Benchmark Futures Contract.

Term Structure of Natural Gas Futures Prices and the Impact on Total Returns. Several factors determine the total return from investing in a futures contract position. One factor that impacts the total return that will result from investing in near month futures contracts and “rolling” those contracts forward each month is the price relationship between the current near month contract and the next month contract. For example, if the price of the near month contract is higher than the next month contract (a situation referred to as “backwardation” in the futures market), then absent any other change there is a tendency for the price of a next month contract to rise in value as it becomes the near month contract and approaches expiration. Conversely, if the price of a near month contract is lower than the next month contract (a situation referred to as “contango” in the futures market), then absent any other change there is a tendency for the price of a next month contract to decline in value as it becomes the near month contract and approaches expiration.

As an example, assume that the price of natural gas for immediate delivery (the “spot” price), was $7 per 10,000 million British thermal units (“MMBtu”), and the value of a position in the near month futures contract was also $7. Over time, the price of 10,000 MMBtu of natural gas will fluctuate based on a number of market factors, including demand for natural gas relative to its supply. The value of the near month contract will likewise fluctuate in reaction to a number of market factors. If investors seek to maintain their position in a near month contract and not take delivery of the natural gas, every month they must sell their current near month contract as it approaches expiration and invest in the next month contract.

If the futures market is in backwardation, e.g., when the expected price of natural gas in the future would be less, the investor would be buying a next month contract for a lower price than the current near month contract. Hypothetically, and assuming no other changes to either prevailing natural gas prices or the price relationship between the spot price, the near month contract and the next month contract (and ignoring the impact of commission costs and the income earned on Treasuries, cash and/or cash equivalents), the value of the next month contract would rise as it approaches expiration and becomes the new near month contract. In this example, the value of the $7 investment would tend to rise faster than the spot price of natural gas, or fall slower. As a result, it would be possible in this hypothetical example for the spot price of natural gas to have risen to $9 after some period of time, while the value of the investment in the futures contract would have risen to $10, assuming backwardation is large enough or enough time has elapsed. Similarly, the spot price of natural gas could have fallen to $5 while the value of an investment in the futures contract could have fallen to only $6. Over time, if backwardation remained constant, the difference would continue to increase.

If the futures market is in contango, the investor would be buying a next month contract for a higher price than the current near month contract. Hypothetically, and assuming no other changes to either prevailing natural gas prices or the price relationship between the spot price, the near month contract and the next month contract (and ignoring the impact of commission costs and the income earned on Treasuries, cash and/or cash equivalents), the value of the next month contract would fall as it approaches expiration and becomes the new near month contract. In this example, it would mean that the value of the $7 investment would tend to rise slower than the spot price of natural gas, or fall faster. As a result, it would be possible in this hypothetical example for the spot price of natural gas to have risen to $9 after some period of time, while the value of the investment in the futures contract will have risen to only $8, assuming contango is large enough or enough time has elapsed. Similarly, the spot price of natural gas could have fallen to $6 while the value of an investment in the futures contract could have fallen to $5. Over time, if contango remained constant, the difference would continue to increase.

 

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The chart below compares the price of the near month contract to the average price of the near 12 month contracts over the last 10 years (2001-2010) for natural gas. When the price of the near month contract is higher than the average price of the near 12 month contracts, the market would be described as being in backwardation. When the price of the near month contract is lower than the average price of the near 12 month contracts, the market would be described as being in contango. Although the prices of the near month contract and the average price of the near 12 month contracts do tend to move up or down together, it can be seen that at times the near month prices are clearly higher than the average price of the near 12 month contracts (backwardation), and other times they are below the average price of the near 12 month contracts (contango). In addition, investors can observe that natural gas prices, both front month and second month, often display a seasonal pattern in which the price of natural gas tends to rise in the early winter months and decline in the summer months. This mirrors the physical demand for natural gas, which typically peaks in the winter.

LOGO

*PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS

An alternative way to view backwardation and contango data over time is to subtract the dollar price of the near month natural gas Futures Contract from the dollar price of the near 12 month natural gas Futures Contracts. If the resulting number is a positive number, then the near month price is higher than the average price of the near 12 months and the market could be described as being in backwardation. If the resulting number is a negative number, then the near month price is lower than the average price of the near 12 months and the market could be described as being in contango. The chart below shows the results from subtracting the average dollar price of the near 12 month contracts from the near month price for the 10 year period between 2001 and 2010. Investors will note that the natural gas market spent time in both backwardation and contango. Investors will further note that the markets display a seasonal pattern that corresponds to the seasonal demand patterns for natural gas above. That is, in many, but not

 

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all, cases the average price of the near 12 month contracts is higher than the near month during the approach to the winter months as the price of natural gas for delivery in those winter months rises on expectations of demand. At the same time, the price of the near month, when that month is just before the onset of winter, does not rise as far or as fast as the average price of the near 12 month contracts whose delivery falls during the winter season.

LOGO

*PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS

An investment in a portfolio that involved owning only the near month contract would likely produce a different result than an investment in a portfolio that owned an equal number of each of the near 12 months’ worth of contracts. Generally speaking, when the natural gas futures market is in backwardation, the near month only portfolio would tend to have a higher total return than the 12 month portfolio. Conversely, if the natural gas futures market was in contango, the portfolio containing 12 months’ worth of contracts would tend to outperform the near month only portfolio. The chart below shows the annual results of owning a portfolio consisting of the near month contract and a portfolio containing the near 12 months’ worth of contracts. In addition, the chart shows the annual change in the spot price of natural gas. In this example, each month, the near month only portfolio would sell the near month contract at expiration and buy the next month out contract. The portfolio holding an equal number of the near 12 months’ worth of contracts would sell the near month contract at expiration and replace it with the contract that becomes the new twelfth month contract.

 

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LOGO

*PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS

As seen in the chart above, there have been periods of both positive and negative annual total returns for both hypothetical portfolios over the last 10 years. In addition, there have been periods during which the near month only approach had higher returns, and periods where the 12 month approach had higher total returns. The above chart does not represent the performance history of USNG or any affiliated funds.

Historically, the natural gas futures markets have experienced periods of contango and backwardation. Because natural gas demand is seasonal, it is possible for the price of Futures Contracts for delivery within one or two months to rapidly move from backwardation into contango and back again within a relatively short period of time of less than one year. While the investment objective of USNG is not to have the market price of its units match, dollar for dollar, changes in the spot price of natural gas, contango impacted the total return on an investment in USNG units during the three months ended March 31, 2011 relative to a hypothetical direct investment in natural gas. For example, an investment in USNG units made on December 31, 2010 and held to March 31, 2011 decreased, based upon the changes in the NAV for USNG units on those days, by approximately -4.17%, while the spot price of natural gas for immediate delivery during the same period decreased by approximately -0.36% (note: this comparison ignores the potential costs associated with physically owning and storing natural gas, which could be substantial). By comparison, during the period from December 31, 2009 to March 31, 2010, contango impacted the total return on an investment in USNG units relative to a hypothetical direct investment in natural gas. For example, an investment in USNG units made on December 31, 2009 and held to March 31, 2010 decreased, based upon the changes in the NAV for USNG units on those days, by approximately -31.48%, while the spot price of natural gas for immediate delivery during the same period decreased by approximately 30.56% (note: this comparison ignores the potential costs associated with physically owning and storing natural gas, which could be substantial).

 

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Periods of contango or backwardation do not materially impact USNG’s investment objective of having the percentage changes in its per unit NAV track the percentage changes in the price of the Benchmark Futures Contract since the impact of backwardation and contango tend to equally impact the percentage changes in price of both USNG’s units and the Benchmark Futures Contract. It is impossible to predict with any degree of certainty whether backwardation or contango will occur in the future. It is likely that both conditions will occur during different periods and, because of the seasonal nature of natural gas demand, both may occur within a single year’s time.

Natural Gas Market. During the three months ended March 31, 2011, natural gas prices in the United States were impacted by several factors. The amount of natural gas in storage rose above, and remained near the high of, average levels as compared to the previous five years. Colder temperatures during January and February 2011, followed by warmer temperatures during March 2011, contributed to the decline in prices. In addition, increased natural gas production also contributed to a decline in natural gas prices during the three months ended March 31, 2011, with prices reaching a low of $3.7780 on March 3, 2011.

Natural Gas Price Movements in Comparison to Other Energy Commodities and Investment Categories. USCF believes that investors frequently measure the degree to which prices or total returns of one investment or asset class move up or down in value in concert with another investment or asset class. Statistically, such a measure is usually done by measuring the correlation of the price movements of the two different investments or asset classes over some period of time. The correlation is scaled between 1 and -1, where 1 indicates that the two investment options move up or down in price or value together, known as “positive correlation,” and -1 indicates that they move in completely opposite directions, known as “negative correlation.” A correlation of 0 would mean that the movements of the two are neither positively nor negatively correlated, known as “non-correlation.” That is, the investment options sometimes move up and down together and other times move in opposite directions.

For the ten-year time period between March 31, 2001 and March 31, 2011, the chart below compares the monthly movements of natural gas prices versus the monthly movements of the prices of several other energy commodities, such as crude oil, heating oil, and unleaded gasoline, as well as several major non-commodity investment asset classes, such as large cap U.S. equities, U.S. government bonds and global equities. It can be seen that over this particular time period, the movement of natural gas on a monthly basis was not strongly correlated, positively or negatively, with the movements of large cap U.S. equities, U.S. government bonds or global equities. However, movements in natural gas had a positive, but weak, correlation to movements in both heating oil and crude oil. Natural gas did not strongly correlate, either positively or negatively, with unleaded gasoline.

 

Correlation Matrix

March 31, 2001-2011

   Large
Cap U.S.
Equities
(S&P 500)
     U.S. Gov’t.
Bonds
(EFFAS
U.S. Gov’t.
Bond Index)
     Global
Equities
(FTSE
World
Index)
     Crude
Oil
     Heating
Oil
     Unleaded
Gasoline
     Natural
Gas
 

Large Cap U.S. Equities (S&P 500)

     1.000         -0.336         0.968         0.214         0.186         0.175         0.059   

U.S. Gov’t. Bonds (EFFAS U.S. Gov’t. Bond Index)

        1.000         -0.303         -0.168         -0.126         -0.242         0.096   

Global Equities (FTSE World Index)

           1.000         0.308         0.270         0.235         0.109   

Crude Oil

              1.000         0.846         0.756         0.399   

Heating Oil

                 1.000         0.721         0.484   

Unleaded Gasoline

                    1.000         0.309   

Natural Gas

                       1.000   

Source: Bloomberg, NYMEX

                    

PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS

 

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The chart below covers a more recent, but much shorter, range of dates than the above chart. It can be seen that over this particular time period, the movement of natural gas on a monthly basis was not strongly correlated, positively or negatively, with the movements of large-cap U.S. equities, U.S. government bonds, global equities, crude oil, heating oil and gasoline.

 

Correlation Matrix

12 Months ended March 31, 2011

   Large Cap
U.S.
Equities
(S&P 500)
     U.S. Gov’t.
Bonds
(EFFAS
U.S. Gov’t.
Bond Index)
     Global
Equities
(FTSE
World
Index)
     Crude
Oil
     Heating
Oil
     Unleaded
Gasoline
     Natural
Gas
 

Large Cap U.S. Equities (S&P 500)

     1.000         -0.709         0.974         0.774         0.795         0.657         0.090   

U.S. Gov’t. Bonds (EFFAS U.S. Gov’t. Bond Index)

        1.000         -0.621         -0.689         -0.654         -0.721         -0.275   

Global Equities (FTSE World Index)

           1.000         0.771         0.781         0.621         0.044   

Crude Oil

              1.000         0.883         0.957         0.248   

Heating Oil

                 1.000         0.829         -0.063   

Unleaded Gasoline

                    1.000         0.217   

Natural Gas

                       1.000   

Source: Bloomberg, NYMEX

                    

PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS

Investors are cautioned that the historical price relationships between natural gas and various other energy commodities, as well as other investment asset classes, as measured by correlation may not be reliable predictors of future price movements and correlation results. The results pictured above would have been different if a different range of dates had been selected. USCF believes that natural gas has historically not demonstrated a strong correlation with equities or bonds over long periods of time. However, USCF also believes that in the future it is possible that natural gas could have long-term correlation results that indicate prices of natural gas more closely track the movements of equities or bonds. In addition, USCF believes that, when measured over time periods shorter than ten years, there will always be some periods where the correlation of natural gas to equities and bonds will be either more strongly positively correlated or more strongly negatively correlated than the long term historical results suggest.

The correlations between natural gas, crude oil, heating oil and gasoline are relevant because USCF endeavors to invest USNG’s assets in natural gas Futures Contracts and Other Natural Gas-Related Investments so that daily changes in percentage terms in USNG’s NAV correlate as closely as possible with daily changes in percentage terms in the price of the Benchmark Futures Contract. If certain other fuel-based commodity futures contracts do not closely correlate with the natural gas Futures Contract, then their use could lead to greater tracking error. As noted above, USCF also believes that the changes in percentage terms in the price of the Benchmark Futures Contract will closely correlate with changes in percentage terms in the spot price of natural gas.

Critical Accounting Policies

Preparation of the condensed financial statements and related disclosures in compliance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires the application of appropriate accounting rules and guidance, as well as the use of estimates. USNG’s application of these policies involves judgments and actual results may differ from the estimates used.

USCF has evaluated the nature and types of estimates that it makes in preparing USNG’s condensed financial statements and related disclosures and has determined that the valuation of its investments, which are not traded on a United States or internationally

 

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recognized futures exchange (such as forward contracts and over-the-counter contracts) involves a critical accounting policy. The values which are used by USNG for its Futures Contracts are provided by its commodity broker who uses market prices when available, while over-the-counter contracts are valued based on the present value of estimated future cash flows that would be received from or paid to a third party in settlement of these derivative contracts prior to their delivery date and valued on a daily basis. In addition, USNG estimates interest and dividend income on a daily basis using prevailing rates earned on its cash and cash equivalents. These estimates are adjusted to the actual amount received on a monthly basis and the difference, if any, is not considered material.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

USNG has not made, and does not anticipate making, use of borrowings or other lines of credit to meet its obligations. USNG has met, and it is anticipated that USNG will continue to meet, its liquidity needs in the normal course of business from the proceeds of the sale of its investments, or from the Treasuries, cash and/or cash equivalents that it intends to hold at all times. USNG’s liquidity needs include: redeeming units, providing margin deposits for its existing Futures Contracts or the purchase of additional Futures Contracts and posting collateral for its over-the-counter contracts and payment of its expenses, summarized below under “Contractual Obligations.”

USNG currently generates cash primarily from: (i) the sale of baskets consisting of 100,000 units (“Creation Baskets”) and (ii) income earned on Treasuries, cash and/or cash equivalents. USNG has allocated substantially all of its net assets to trading in Natural Gas Interests. USNG invests in Natural Gas Interests to the fullest extent possible without being leveraged or unable to satisfy its current or potential margin or collateral obligations with respect to its investments in Futures Contracts and Other Natural Gas-Related Investments. A significant portion of USNG’s NAV is held in cash and cash equivalents that are used as margin and as collateral for its trading in Natural Gas Interests. The balance of the net assets is held in USNG’s account at its custodian bank. Income received from USNG’s money market funds is paid to USNG. In prior periods, the amount of cash earned by USNG from the sale of Creation Baskets and from income earned has exceeded the amount of cash required to pay USNG’s expenses. However, during the three months ended March 31, 2011, USNG’s expenses exceeded the income USNG earned and the cash earned from the sale of Creation Baskets. During the three months ended March 31, 2011, USNG was forced to use other assets to pay cash expenses, which could cause a drop in USNG’s NAV over time. To the extent expenses have exceeded income, USNG’s NAV will be negatively impacted.

USNG’s investments in Natural Gas Interests may be subject to periods of illiquidity because of market conditions, regulatory considerations and other reasons. For example, most commodity exchanges limit the fluctuations in futures contracts prices during a single day by regulations referred to as “daily limits.” During a single day, no trades may be executed at prices beyond the daily limit. Once the price of a futures contract has increased or decreased by an amount equal to the daily limit, positions in the contracts can neither be taken nor liquidated unless the traders are willing to effect trades at or within the specified daily limit. In addition, USNG’s over-the-counter contracts have very limited liquidity since they are negotiated agreements that are not transferable by USNG except with the consent of its counterparty, and even if consent were granted, there may not be an available transferee. Such market conditions or contractual limits could prevent USNG from promptly liquidating its positions in Natural Gas Interests. During the three months ended March 31, 2011, USNG was not forced to purchase or liquidate any of its positions while daily limits were in effect; however, USNG cannot predict whether such an event may occur in the future.

Since the initial offering of units, USNG has been responsible for expenses relating to: (i) management fees, (ii) brokerage fees and commissions and fees associated with its over-the-counter transactions, (iii) licensing fees for the use of intellectual property, (iv) ongoing registration expenses in connection with offers and sales of its units subsequent to the initial offering, (v) other expenses, including certain tax reporting costs, (vi) fees and expenses of the independent directors of USCF and (vii) other extraordinary expenses not in the ordinary course of business, while USCF has been responsible for expenses relating to the fees of USNG’s Marketing Agent, Administrator and Custodian and registration expenses relating to the initial offering of units. If USCF and USNG are unsuccessful in raising sufficient funds to cover these respective expenses or in locating any other source of funding, USNG will terminate and investors may lose all or part of their investment.

 

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Market Risk

Trading in Futures Contracts and Other Natural Gas-Related Investments, such as forwards, involves USNG entering into contractual commitments to purchase or sell natural gas at a specified date in the future. The aggregate market value of the contracts will significantly exceed USNG’s future cash requirements since USNG intends to close out its open positions prior to settlement. As a result, USNG is generally only subject to the risk of loss arising from the change in value of the contracts. USNG considers the “fair value” of its derivative instruments to be the unrealized gain or loss on the contracts. The market risk associated with USNG’s commitments to purchase natural gas is limited to the aggregate market value of the contracts held. However, should USNG enter into a contractual commitment to sell natural gas, it would be required to make delivery of the natural gas at the contract price, repurchase the contract at prevailing prices or settle in cash. Since there are no limits on the future price of natural gas, the market risk to USNG could be unlimited.

USNG’s exposure to market risk depends on a number of factors, including the markets for natural gas, the volatility of interest rates and foreign exchange rates, the liquidity of the Futures Contracts and Other Natural Gas-Related Investments markets and the relationships among the contracts held by USNG. Drastic market occurrences could ultimately lead to the loss of all or substantially all of an investor’s capital.

Credit Risk

When USNG enters into Futures Contracts and Other Natural Gas-Related Investments, it is exposed to the credit risk that the counterparty will not be able to meet its obligations. The counterparty for the Futures Contracts traded on the NYMEX and on most other futures exchanges is the clearinghouse associated with the particular exchange. In general, in addition to margin required to be posted by the exchange or clearinghouse in connection with trades on the exchange or through the clearinghouse, clearinghouses are backed by their members who may be required to share in the financial burden resulting from the nonperformance of one of their members and, therefore, this additional member support should significantly reduce credit risk. Some foreign exchanges are not backed by their clearinghouse members but may be backed by a consortium of banks or other financial institutions. There can be no assurance that any counterparty, clearinghouse, or their members or their financial backers will satisfy their obligations to USNG in such circumstances.

During the three months ended March 31, 2011, USNG entered into fully collateralized over-the-counter transactions with four counterparties. Unlike most exchange-traded futures contracts, cleared swaps or exchange-traded options on such futures, each party to an over-the-counter contract bears the credit risk that the other party may not be able to perform its obligations under its contract. See “Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q for a discussion of over-the-counter contracts.

USCF attempts to manage the credit risk of USNG by following various trading limitations and policies. In particular, USNG generally posts margin and/or holds liquid assets that are approximately equal to the market value of its obligations to counterparties under the Futures Contracts and Other Natural Gas-Related Investments it holds. USCF has implemented procedures that include, but are not limited to, executing and clearing trades only with creditworthy parties and/or requiring the posting of collateral or margin by such parties for the benefit of USNG to limit its credit exposure. UBS Securities LLC, USNG’s commodity broker, or any other broker that may be retained by USNG in the future, when acting as USNG’s futures commission merchant in accepting orders to purchase or sell Futures Contracts on United States exchanges, is required by CFTC regulations to separately account for and segregate as belonging to USNG, all assets of USNG relating to domestic Futures Contracts trading. These futures commission merchants are not allowed to commingle USNG’s assets with their other assets. In addition, the CFTC requires commodity brokers to hold in a secure account USNG’s assets related to foreign Futures Contracts trading and, in some cases, to cleared swaps executed through the futures commission merchant. Similarly, under its current over-the-counter agreements, USNG requires that collateral it posts or receives be posted with its custodian and, under agreements among the custodian, USNG and its counterparties, such collateral is segregated.

See “Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q for a discussion of over-the-counter contracts.

 

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As of March 31, 2011, USNG had deposits in domestic and foreign financial institutions, including cash investments in money market funds, in the amount of $2,160,640,277. This amount is subject to loss should these institutions cease operations.

Off Balance Sheet Financing

As of March 31, 2011, USNG has no loan guarantee, credit support or other off-balance sheet arrangements of any kind other than agreements entered into in the normal course of business, which may include indemnification provisions relating to certain risks that service providers undertake in performing services which are in the best interests of USNG. While USNG’s exposure under these indemnification provisions cannot be estimated, they are not expected to have a material impact on USNG’s financial position.

Redemption Basket Obligation

In order to meet its investment objective and pay its contractual obligations described below, USNG requires liquidity to redeem units, which redemptions must be in blocks of 100,000 units called “Redemption Baskets”. USNG has to date satisfied this obligation by paying from the cash or cash equivalents it holds or through the sale of its Treasuries in an amount proportionate to the number of units being redeemed.

Contractual Obligations

USNG’s primary contractual obligations are with USCF. In return for its services, USCF is entitled to a management fee calculated monthly as a fixed percentage of USNG’s NAV, currently 0.60% for a NAV of $1 billion or less, and thereafter 0.50% for a NAV above $1 billion.

USCF agreed to pay the start-up costs associated with the formation of USNG, primarily its legal, accounting and other costs in connection with USCF’s registration with the CFTC as a CPO and the registration and listing of USNG and its units with the SEC, FINRA and the AMEX, respectively. However, since USNG’s initial offering of units, offering costs incurred in connection with registering and listing additional units of USNG have been directly borne on an ongoing basis by USNG, and not by USCF.

USCF pays the fees of USNG’s marketing agent, ALPS Distributors, Inc., and the fees of the custodian and transfer agent, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (“BBH&Co.”), as well as BBH&Co.’s fees for performing administrative services, including those in connection with the preparation of USNG’s condensed financial statements and its SEC and CFTC reports. USCF and USNG have also entered into a licensing agreement with the NYMEX pursuant to which USNG and the affiliated funds managed by USCF, other than USBO and USCI, pay a licensing fee to the NYMEX. USNG also pays the fees and expenses associated with its tax accounting and reporting requirements.

In addition to USCF’s management fee, USNG pays its brokerage fees (including fees to a futures commission merchant), over-the-counter dealer spreads and up-front fees, any licensing fees for the use of intellectual property, and, subsequent to the initial offering, registration and other fees paid to the SEC, FINRA, or other regulatory agencies in connection with the offer and sale of units, as well as legal, printing, accounting and other expenses associated therewith, and extraordinary expenses. The latter are expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of USNG’s business, including expenses relating to the indemnification of any person against liabilities and obligations to the extent permitted by law and under the LP Agreement, the bringing or defending of actions in law or in equity or otherwise conducting litigation and incurring legal expenses and the settlement of claims and litigation. Commission payments to a futures commission merchant are on a contract-by-contract, or round turn, basis. USNG also pays a portion of the fees and expenses of the independent directors of USCF. See Note 3 to the Notes to Condensed Financial Statements (Unaudited) in Item 1 of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q.

The parties cannot anticipate the amount of payments that will be required under these arrangements for future periods, as USNG’s NAVs and trading levels to meet its investment objective will not be known until a future date. These agreements are effective for a specific term agreed upon by the parties with an option to renew, or, in some cases, are in effect for the duration of USNG’s existence. Either party may terminate these agreements earlier for certain reasons described in the agreements.

 

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As of March 31, 2011, USNG’s portfolio consisted of 6,606 Natural Gas NG Futures Contracts traded on the NYMEX, 22,520 Natural Gas NN Futures Contracts traded on the NYMEX, 55,915 cleared swaps traded on the ICE Futures and total return swaps with an aggregate market value of $22,587,540. For a list of USNG’s current holdings, please see USNG’s website at www.unitedstatesnaturalgasfund.com.

 

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

Over-the-Counter Derivatives (Including Spreads and Straddles)

At March 31, 2011, USNG maintained fully-collateralized over-the-counter (“OTC”) swap transactions with four counterparties and was in the process of negotiating agreements governing OTC transactions with additional counterparties. Unlike most of the exchange-traded futures contracts, cleared swaps or exchange-traded options on such futures, each party to an OTC Contract bears the credit risk that the other party may not be able to perform its obligations under its contract.

Some natural gas-based derivatives transactions contain fairly generic terms and conditions and are available from a wide range of participants. Other natural gas-based derivatives have highly customized terms and conditions and are not as widely available. Many of these OTC Contracts are cash-settled forwards for the future delivery of natural gas- or petroleum-based fuels that have terms similar to the Futures Contracts. Others take the form of “swaps” in which the two parties exchange cash flows based on pre-determined formulas tied to the spot price of natural gas, forward natural gas price or natural gas futures price. In these swaps, a party pays a fixed price per unit and the other pays a variable price based on the average price of futures contracts for a specified period or the price on a specific date, with payments typically made between the parties on a net basis. For example, USNG may enter into OTC derivative contracts whose value will be tied to changes in the difference between the spot price of natural gas, the price of Futures Contracts traded on the NYMEX and the prices of other Futures Contracts in which USNG may invest.

To reduce the credit risk that arises in connection with such contracts, USNG has entered into agreements with each counterparty that provide for the netting of its overall exposure to such counterparty based on the Master Agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. that provides for the netting of its overall exposure to its counterparty (i.e., the amount the counterparty would have to pay to USNG if the transaction with the counterparty were to terminate on that day). USNG must, to the extent its counterparty has exposure to it under the transaction, also post collateral.

USCF assesses or reviews, as appropriate, the creditworthiness of each potential or existing counterparty to an over-the-counter contract pursuant to guidelines approved by USCF’s board of directors (the “Board”). Furthermore, USCF on behalf of USNG only enters into OTC Contracts with counterparties who are, or are affiliates of, (a) banks regulated by a United States federal bank regulator, (b) broker-dealers regulated by the SEC, (c) insurance companies domiciled in the United States, or (d) producers, users or traders of energy, whether or not regulated by the CFTC. Any entity acting as a counterparty shall be regulated in either the United States or the United Kingdom unless otherwise approved by the Board after consultation with its legal counsel. Existing counterparties are also reviewed periodically by USCF. USNG will also require that the counterparty be highly rated and/or provide collateral or other credit support. Even if collateral is used to reduce counterparty credit risk, sudden changes in the value of OTC transactions may leave a party open to financial risk due to a counterparty default since the collateral held may not cover a party’s exposure on the transaction in such situations.

The Dodd-Frank Act requires the CFTC and SEC to establish both “initial and variation margin requirements” on all swaps that are not cleared by a registered clearing organization (i.e., uncleared swaps). In addition, the Dodd-Frank Act provides parties who post initial margin to a swap dealer or major swap participant with a statutory right to insist that such margin be held in a segregated account with an independent custodian. At this time, the CFTC has proposed rules addressing margin requirements and the statutory right of certain market participants but has not implemented any rules on these issues. On April 12, 2011, the Prudential Regulators and the CFTC issued proposed rules establishing minimum initial and variation margin collection requirements for Covered Swap Entities, which if adopted, would require Covered Swap Entities to collect minimum initial and variation margin amounts from swap counterparties. The Prudential Regulators’ proposed rules would apply to those Covered Swap Entities that are regulated by the Prudential Regulators and the CFTC’s proposed rules would apply to Covered Swap Entities that are not regulated by the Prudential Regulators.

The amount of initial and variation margin that Covered Swap Entities would be required to collect under the proposed rules varies based on whether their counterparty to a particular swap is (1) a Covered Swap Entity, (2) a “high-risk” financial entity end-user, (3) a “low-risk” financial entity end-user (e.g., financial entities subject to capital requirements imposed by bank or insurance regulators, that predominantly use swaps to hedge and that do not have significant swap exposure) or (4) a non-financial end-user. With certain exceptions not applicable to USNG and the affiliated funds managed by USCF, Covered Swap Entities would not be required to post initial or variation margin to any of their counterparties except for other Covered Swap Entities.

Covered Swap Entities and all financial entity end-users would be required to post initial margin and variation margin when they enter into swaps with Covered Swap Entities. Margin posted by “low-risk” financial entity end-users could be subject to thresholds under the proposed rules. As commodity pools, USNG and the affiliated funds managed by USCF would be “high-risk” financial entity end-users and would therefore have to post margin without thresholds.

On April 27, 2011, the CFTC voted to propose rules for capital requirements for Covered Swap Entities that are not regulated by a Prudential Regulator. Covered Swap Entities that are regulated by a Prudential Regulator will be subject to the capital requirements already imposed by such Prudential Regulator. In general, higher levels of capital would be imposed on Covered Swap Entities that do not collect margin from their counterparties (or that collect margin subject to thresholds) in connection with their swaps, and could increase the costs of such swaps. The rules proposed in April 2011 are currently open to the public for comment at the time of the filing of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q.

 

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In general, valuing OTC derivatives is less certain than valuing actively traded financial instruments such as exchange-traded futures contracts and securities or cleared swaps because the price and terms on which such OTC derivatives are entered into or can be terminated are individually negotiated and those price and terms may not reflect the best price or terms available from other sources. In addition, while market makers and dealers generally quote indicative prices or terms for entering into or terminating OTC Contracts, they typically are not contractually obligated to do so, particularly if they are not a party to the transaction. As a result, it may be difficult to obtain an independent value for an outstanding OTC derivatives transaction.

USNG may employ spreads or straddles in its trading to mitigate the differences in its investment portfolio and its goal of tracking the price of the Benchmark Futures Contract. USNG would use a spread when it chooses to take simultaneous long and short positions in futures written on the same underlying asset, but with different delivery months. The effect of holding such combined positions is to adjust the sensitivity of USNG to changes in the price relationship between futures contracts, which will expire sooner, and those that will expire later. USNG would use such a spread if USCF felt that taking such long and short positions, when combined with the rest of its holdings, would more closely track the investment goals of USNG, or if USCF felt it would lead to an overall lower cost of trading to achieve a given level of economic exposure to movements in natural gas prices. USNG would enter into a straddle when it chooses to take an option position consisting of a long (or short) position in both a call option and put option. The economic effect of holding certain combinations of put options and call options can be very similar to that of owning the underlying futures contracts. USNG would make use of such a straddle approach if, in the opinion of USCF, the resulting combination would more closely track the investment goals of USNG or if it would lead to an overall lower cost of trading to achieve a given level of economic exposure to movements in natural gas prices.

During the three months ended March 31, 2011, USNG employed hedging methods such as those described above to the extent it invested in fully-collateralized over-the-counter swap transactions designed to track percentage changes in the price of the Benchmark Futures Contract. During the three months ended March 31, 2011, USNG was exposed to counterparty risk on its fully-collateralized over-the-counter swap transactions with four counterparties.

The counterparty credit ratings for the exposure on over-the-counter swap transactions to which USNG was a party that would be owed to USNG due to a default or early termination by USNG’s counterparties at March 31, 2010, December 31, 2010 and March 31, 2011 were:

 

     March 31, 2010  

Moody’s Credit Rating

   Number of
Counterparties
   Notional
Value
     Credit
Exposure
    Collateral
Held
     Exposure,
Net of
Collateral*
 

Aa1

   1    $ 527,839,520       $ —        $ —         $ —     

A2

   1      233,131,597         —          —           —     

Aa3

   1      412,246,426         —          —           —     

Unrated

   2      432,088,277         (11,517,599)        10,260,000         (1,257,599)   
                                       

Total

   5    $ 1,605,305,820       $ (11,517,599   $ 10,260,000       $ (1,257,599 )- 
                                       
     December 31, 2010  

Moody’s Credit Rating

   Number of
Counterparties
   Notional
Value
     Credit
Exposure
    Collateral
Held
     Exposure,
Net of
Collateral*
 

A2

   1    $ 379,600,265       $ —        $ 6,239,881       $ (6,239,881

Aa3

   2      682,253,294         27,427,071        15,389,043         12,038,028   
                                       

Total

   3    $ 1,061,853,559       $ 27,427,071      $ 21,628,924       $ 5,798,147   
                                       

 

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     March 31, 2011  

Moody’s Credit Rating

   Number of
Counterparties
   Notional
Value
     Credit
Exposure
     Collateral
Held
     Exposure,
Net of
Collateral*
 

A2

   1    $ 364,715,928       $ 23,104,527       $ 12,512,109       $ 10,592,418   

Aa2

   1      110,485,530         6,999,324         3,790,000         3,209,324   

Aa3

   2      659,065,228         22,787,679         17,500,170         5,287,509   
                                        

Total

   4    $ 1,134,266,686       $ 52,891,530       $ 33,802,279       $ 19,089,251   
                                        

 

*

The difference reflects minimum transfer amounts for collateral and potentially one day’s movement in the underlying total return, which would be collateralized the following business day.

The aggregate notional amount of USNG’s over-the-counter derivative transactions, which consisted of total return swaps, decreased to $1,134,266,686 at March 31, 2011, as compared to $1,605,305,820 at March 31, 2010. The aggregate notional amount of these derivative transactions, which is not included in the Condensed Schedule of Investments (Unaudited), is indicative of USNG’s activities in derivative transactions, but is not an indicator of the level of credit risk associated with these transactions.

At March 31, 2011, USNG’s counterparties posted $33,802,279 in cash and $0 in securities as collateral with USNG’s custodian, as compared with $10,260,000 in cash and $0 in securities at March 31, 2010. Under these over-the-counter swap agreements, USNG posted collateral with respect to its obligations of $140,534,882.85 in cash and $64,799,038 in securities, such as U.S. Treasuries at March 31, 2011, as compared with $259,652,889 in cash and $86,584,859 in securities at March 31, 2010.

USNG anticipates that the use of Other Natural Gas-Related Investments together with its investments in Futures Contracts will produce price and total return results that closely track the investment goals of USNG. However, there can be no assurance of this. OTC Contracts may result in higher transaction-related expenses that the brokerage commissions paid in connection with the purchase of Futures Contracts, which may impact USNG’s ability to successfully track the Benchmark Futures Contract.

 

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures.

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

USNG maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that material information required to be disclosed in USNG’s periodic reports filed or submitted under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time period specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.

The duly appointed officers of USCF, including its chief executive officer and chief financial officer, who perform functions equivalent to those of a principal executive officer and principal financial officer of USNG if USNG had any officers, have evaluated the effectiveness of USNG’s disclosure controls and procedures and have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures of USNG have been effective as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report on Form 10-Q.

 

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Change in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in USNG’s internal control over financial reporting during USNG’s last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, USNG’s internal control over financial reporting.

Part II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings.

Not applicable.

 

Item 1A.

Risk Factors.

There have been no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in USNG’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, filed on March 1, 2011.

 

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

Not applicable.

 

Item 3.

Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

Not applicable.

 

Item 4.

Removed and Reserved.

 

Item 5.

Other Information.

Monthly Account Statements

Pursuant to the requirement under Rule 4.22 under the Commodity Exchange Act, each month USNG publishes an account statement for its unitholders, which includes a Statement of Income (Loss) and a Statement of Changes in NAV. The account statement is furnished to the SEC on a current report on Form 8-K pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and posted each month on USNG’s website at www.unitedstatesnaturalgasfund.com.

 

Item 6.

Exhibits.

Listed below are the exhibits, which are filed as part of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q (according to the number assigned to them in Item 601 of Regulation S-K):

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description of Document

10.1(1)

 

Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership.

31.1(2)

 

Certification by Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31.2(2)

 

Certification by Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.1(2)

 

Certification by Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.2(2)

 

Certification by Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

101.INS(3)

 

XBRL Instance Document

101.SCH(3)

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema

101.CAL(3)

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase

101.DEF(3)

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase

101.LAB(3)

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase

101.PRE(3)

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase

 

(1)

Incorporated by reference to Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on January 3, 2011.

(2)

Filed herewith.

(3)

In accordance with Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, the information in these exhibits is furnished and deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, is deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

United States Natural Gas Fund, LP (Registrant)

By: United States Commodity Funds LLC, its general partner

By:

 

/s/ Nicholas D. Gerber

Nicholas D. Gerber

President and Chief Executive Officer

(Principal executive officer)

Date: May 10, 2011

By:

 

/s/ Howard Mah

Howard Mah

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal financial and accounting officer)

Date: May 10, 2011

 

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