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EX-32.02 - EX-32.02 - Aspect FuturesAccess LLCa17-20659_1ex32d02.htm
EX-32.01 - EX-32.01 - Aspect FuturesAccess LLCa17-20659_1ex32d01.htm
EX-31.02 - EX-31.02 - Aspect FuturesAccess LLCa17-20659_1ex31d02.htm
EX-31.01 - EX-31.01 - Aspect FuturesAccess LLCa17-20659_1ex31d01.htm

 

 

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

(Mark One)

 

x      QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2017

 

OR

 

o         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 0-51085

 

ASPECT FUTURESACCESS LLC

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

20-1227650

(State or other jurisdiction of

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

incorporation or organization)

 

 

 

c/o Merrill Lynch Alternative Investments LLC

250 Vesey Street, 11th Floor

New York, New York 10281

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)

 

609-274-5838

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

 

Yes x    No o

 

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).

 

Yes x    No o

 

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,”  “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer o

Accelerated filer o

 

 

 

 

Non-accelerated filer x

Smaller reporting company o

 

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

 

 

Emerging growth company o

 

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o

 

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

 

Yes o    No x

 

As of September 30, 2017, 52,451,237 units of limited liability company interest were outstanding.

 

 

 



 

ASPECT FUTURESACCESS LLC

 

QUARTERLY REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER 30, 2017 ON FORM 10-Q

 

Table of Contents

 

 

 

 

PAGE

 

 

 

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

Financial Statements

 

1

 

 

 

 

Item 2.

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

 

18

 

 

 

 

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

28

 

 

 

 

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

 

33

 

 

 

PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

 

33

 

 

 

 

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

 

33

 

 

 

 

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

33

 

 

 

 

Item 3.

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

 

35

 

 

 

 

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures

 

35

 

 

 

 

Item 5.

Other Information

 

35

 

 

 

 

Item 6.

Exhibits

 

36

 


 


 

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.  Financial Statements

 

ASPECT FUTURESACCESS LLC

(A Delaware Limited Liability Company)

 

STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

(unaudited)

 

 

 

September 30,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

 

Equity in commodity trading accounts:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash (including restricted cash of $20,020,374 for 2017 and $18,554,979 for 2016)

 

$

76,541,685

 

$

108,234,200

 

Unrealized profit on open futures contracts

 

3,077,818

 

3,315,560

 

Unrealized profit on open forwards contracts

 

1,449,330

 

2,545,779

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

462,239

 

498,940

 

Other assets

 

52,963

 

29,752

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL ASSETS

 

$

81,584,035

 

$

114,624,231

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS’ CAPITAL:

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Brokerage commissions payable

 

$

14,002

 

$

13,237

 

Sponsor and Advisory fees payable

 

190,043

 

364,710

 

Redemptions payable

 

4,551,164

 

2,168,565

 

Unrealized loss on open futures contracts

 

2,636,155

 

2,688,443

 

Unrealized loss on open forwards contracts

 

2,716,702

 

2,166,697

 

Other liabilities

 

281,553

 

816,026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

 

10,389,619

 

8,217,678

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MEMBERS’ CAPITAL:

 

 

 

 

 

Members’ Capital (52,451,237 Units and 71,901,800 Units outstanding; unlimited Units authorized)

 

71,194,416

 

106,406,553

 

Total Members’ Capital

 

71,194,416

 

106,406,553

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS’ CAPITAL

 

$

81,584,035

 

$

114,624,231

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET ASSET VALUE PER UNIT:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class A

 

$

1.5120

 

$

1.6560

 

Class C

 

$

1.3388

 

$

1.4766

 

Class D

 

$

1.8541

 

$

2.0080

 

Class I

 

$

1.5881

 

$

1.7327

 

Class M

 

$

0.9932

 

$

1.0759

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

1



 

ASPECT FUTURESACCESS LLC

(A Delaware Limited Liability Company)

 

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(unaudited)

 

 

 

For the three

 

For the three

 

For the nine

 

For the nine

 

 

 

months ended

 

months ended

 

months ended

 

months ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

2017

 

2016

 

TRADING PROFIT (LOSS):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Realized, net

 

$

(2,162,344

)

$

2,040,758

 

$

(3,964,000

)

$

(4,086,728

)

Change in unrealized, net

 

1,764,741

 

(3,405,110

)

(1,831,908

)

2,845,585

 

Brokerage commissions

 

(113,449

)

(96,525

)

(319,559

)

(322,670

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total trading profit (loss), net

 

(511,052

)

(1,460,877

)

(6,115,467

)

(1,563,813

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INVESTMENT INCOME (EXPENSE):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest, net

 

194,953

 

57,588

 

494,222

 

158,413

 

Other income

 

 

 

517,000

 

647,420

 

Total investment income (expense)

 

194,953

 

57,588

 

1,011,222

 

805,833

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXPENSES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Management fee

 

336,055

 

607,422

 

1,308,735

 

1,883,724

 

Sponsor fee

 

391,085

 

593,168

 

1,333,623

 

1,850,884

 

Performance fee

 

 

 

 

330,158

 

Other

 

131,401

 

168,295

 

449,695

 

444,444

 

Total expenses

 

858,541

 

1,368,885

 

3,092,053

 

4,509,210

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INVESTMENT INCOME (LOSS)

 

(663,588

)

(1,311,297

)

(2,080,831

)

(3,703,377

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCOME (LOSS)

 

$

(1,174,640

)

$

(2,772,174

)

$

(8,196,298

)

$

(5,267,190

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCOME (LOSS) PER UNIT:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of Units outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class A

 

12,432,571

 

14,200,292

 

13,357,519

 

14,186,336

 

Class C

 

36,810,316

 

49,261,931

 

40,381,379

 

50,102,053

 

Class D

 

1,920,371

 

2,170,371

 

1,920,371

 

2,170,371

 

Class I

 

804,139

 

1,261,196

 

943,059

 

1,240,020

 

Class M

 

5,701,802

 

9,004,926

 

6,916,197

 

8,509,630

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss) per weighted average Unit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class A

 

$

(0.0221

)

$

(0.0381

)

$

(0.1418

)

$

(0.0711

)

Class C

 

$

(0.0215

)

$

(0.0386

)

$

(0.1333

)

$

(0.0743

)

Class D

 

$

(0.0214

)

$

(0.0385

)

$

(0.1539

)

$

(0.0589

)

Class I

 

$

(0.0201

)

$

(0.0385

)

$

(0.1388

)

$

(0.0690

)

Class M

 

$

(0.0091

)

$

(0.0219

)

$

(0.0711

)

$

(0.0382

)

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

2


 


 

ASPECT FUTURESACCESS LLC

(A Delaware Limited Liability Company)

 

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN MEMBERS’ CAPITAL

FOR THE  NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2017 AND 2016

(unaudited) (in Units)

 

 

 

Members’ Units
December 31, 2015

 

Subscriptions

 

Redemptions

 

Members’ Units
September 30, 2016

 

 

Members’ Units
December 31, 2016

 

Subscriptions

 

Redemptions

 

Members’ Units
September 30, 2017

 

Class A

 

13,784,327

 

1,182,248

 

(1,076,144

)

13,890,431

 

 

14,454,830

 

142,531

 

(4,928,204

)

9,669,157

 

Class C

 

50,633,610

 

2,232,076

 

(4,184,470

)

48,681,216

 

 

45,337,665

 

132,736

 

(10,705,659

)

34,764,742

 

Class D

 

2,170,371

 

 

 

2,170,371

 

 

1,920,371

 

 

 

1,920,371

 

Class I

 

1,177,582

 

94,065

 

(10,451

)

1,261,196

 

 

1,077,016

 

17,896

 

(398,043

)

696,869

 

Class M

 

7,646,193

 

2,465,214

 

(1,067,968

)

9,043,439

 

 

9,111,918

 

534,427

 

(4,246,247

)

5,400,098

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Members’ Units

 

75,412,083

 

5,973,603

 

(6,339,033

)

75,046,653

 

 

71,901,800

 

827,590

 

(20,278,153

)

52,451,237

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

3


 


 

ASPECT FUTURESACCESS LLC

(A Delaware Limited Liability Company)

 

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN MEMBERS’ CAPITAL

FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2017 AND 2016

(unaudited)

 

 

 

Members’ Capital
December 31, 2015

 

Subscriptions

 

Redemptions

 

Net Income (Loss)

 

Members’ Capital
September 30, 2016

 

 

Members’ Capital
December 31, 2016

 

Subscriptions

 

Redemptions

 

Net Income (Loss)

 

Members’ Capital
September 30, 2017

 

Class A

 

$

25,267,334

 

$

2,224,230

 

$

(1,986,982

)

$

(1,007,960

)

$

24,496,622

 

 

$

23,937,426

 

$

227,400

 

$

(7,650,140

)

$

(1,894,511

)

$

14,620,175

 

Class C

 

83,632,250

 

3,723,000

 

(6,852,067

)

(3,721,142

)

76,782,041

 

 

66,943,683

 

196,000

 

(15,212,598

)

(5,383,470

)

46,543,615

 

Class D

 

4,755,051

 

 

 

(127,914

)

4,627,137

 

 

3,856,070

 

 

 

(295,575

)

3,560,495

 

Class I

 

2,250,929

 

181,766

 

(20,125

)

(85,504

)

2,327,066

 

 

1,866,159

 

31,000

 

(659,551

)

(130,917

)

1,106,691

 

Class M

 

8,966,272

 

2,950,172

 

(1,268,022

)

(324,670

)

10,323,752

 

 

9,803,215

 

563,820

 

(4,511,770

)

(491,825

)

5,363,440

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Members’ Capital

 

$

124,871,836

 

$

9,079,168

 

$

(10,127,196

)

$

(5,267,190

)

$

118,556,618

 

 

$

106,406,553

 

$

1,018,220

 

$

(28,034,059

)

$

(8,196,298

)

$

71,194,416

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

4


 


 

ASPECT FUTURESACCESS LLC

(A Delaware Limited Liability Company)

 

FINANCIAL DATA HIGHLIGHTS

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2017 (unaudited)

 

The following per Unit data and ratios have been derived from information provided in the financial statements.

 

 

 

Class A

 

Class C

 

Class D

 

Class I

 

Class M

 

Per Unit Operating Performance:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

 

$

1.5343

 

$

1.3619

 

$

1.8754

 

$

1.6098

 

$

1.0040

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net realized and net change in unrealized trading profit (loss)

 

(0.0091

)

(0.0080

)

(0.0112

)

(0.0095

)

(0.0060

)

Brokerage commissions

 

(0.0022

)

(0.0019

)

(0.0027

)

(0.0023

)

(0.0014

)

Interest income, net

 

0.0037

 

0.0033

 

0.0046

 

0.0039

 

0.0025

 

Expenses (d)

 

(0.0147

)

(0.0165

)

(0.0120

)

(0.0138

)

(0.0059

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

 

$

1.5120

 

$

1.3388

 

$

1.8541

 

$

1.5881

 

$

0.9932

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Return: (a) (c)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total return before Performance fees

 

-1.45

%

-1.69

%

-1.14

%

-1.35

%

-1.07

%

Performance fees

 

0.00

%

0.00

%

0.00

%

0.00

%

0.00

%

Total return after Performance fees

 

-1.45

%

-1.69

%

-1.14

%

-1.35

%

-1.07

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Members’ Capital: (c)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses (excluding Performance fees) (b)

 

0.96

%

1.21

%

0.65

%

0.86

%

0.58

%

Performance fees

 

0.00

%

0.00

%

0.00

%

0.00

%

0.00

%

Expenses (including Performance fees)

 

0.96

%

1.21

%

0.65

%

0.86

%

0.58

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net investment income (loss) (excluding Performance fees)

 

-0.71

%

-0.96

%

-0.40

%

-0.61

%

-0.34

%

Performance fees

 

0.00

%

0.00

%

0.00

%

0.00

%

0.00

%

Net investment income (loss) (including Performance fees)

 

-0.71

%

-0.96

%

-0.40

%

-0.61

%

-0.34

%

 


(a) The total return is calculated for each class taken as a whole based on the change in net asset value.  An individual member’s return may vary from these returns based on timing of capital transactions.

(b) The expense ratios do not include brokerage commissions.

(c) The ratios and total return are not annualized.

(d) Expenses are presented net inclusive of other income.

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

5



 

ASPECT FUTURESACCESS LLC

(A Delaware Limited Liability Company)

 

FINANCIAL DATA HIGHLIGHTS

FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2017 (unaudited)

 

The following per Unit data and ratios have been derived from information provided in the financial statements.

 

 

 

Class A

 

Class C

 

Class D

 

Class I

 

Class M

 

Per Unit Operating Performance:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

 

$

1.6560

 

$

1.4766

 

$

2.0080

 

$

1.7327

 

$

1.0759

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net realized and net change in unrealized trading profit (loss)

 

(0.1061

)

(0.0942

)

(0.1295

)

(0.1113

)

(0.0694

)

Brokerage commissions

 

(0.0057

)

(0.0050

)

(0.0069

)

(0.0059

)

(0.0037

)

Interest income, net

 

0.0088

 

0.0078

 

0.0108

 

0.0093

 

0.0058

 

Expenses (d)

 

(0.0410

)

(0.0464

)

(0.0283

)

(0.0367

)

(0.0154

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

 

$

1.5120

 

$

1.3388

 

$

1.8541

 

$

1.5881

 

$

0.9932

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Return: (a) (c)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total return before Performance fees

 

-8.70

%

-9.33

%

-7.67

%

-8.35

%

-7.68

%

Performance fees

 

0.00

%

0.00

%

0.00

%

0.00

%

0.00

%

Total return after Performance fees

 

-8.70

%

-9.33

%

-7.67

%

-8.35

%

-7.68

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Members’ Capital: (c)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses (excluding Performance fees) (b)

 

3.04

%

3.79

%

1.98

%

2.74

%

1.92

%

Performance fees

 

0.00

%

0.00

%

0.00

%

0.00

%

0.00

%

Expenses (including Performance fees)

 

3.04

%

3.79

%

1.98

%

2.74

%

1.92

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net investment income (loss) (excluding Performance fees)

 

-1.94

%

-2.60

%

-0.88

%

-1.44

%

-0.66

%

Performance fees

 

0.00

%

0.00

%

0.00

%

0.00

%

0.00

%

Net investment income (loss) (including Performance fees)

 

-1.94

%

-2.60

%

-0.88

%

-1.44

%

-0.66

%

 


(a) The total return is calculated for each class taken as a whole based on the change in net asset value.  An individual member’s return may vary from these returns based on timing of capital transactions.

(b) The expense ratios do not include brokerage commissions.

(c) The ratios and total return are not annualized.

(d) Expenses are presented net inclusive of other income.

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

6



 

ASPECT FUTURESACCESS LLC

(A Delaware Limited Liability Company)

 

FINANCIAL DATA HIGHLIGHTS

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 (unaudited)

 

The following per Unit data and ratios have been derived from information provided in the financial statements.

 

 

 

Class A

 

Class C

 

Class D

 

Class I

 

Class M

 

Per Unit Operating Performance:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

 

$

1.8024

 

$

1.6160

 

$

2.1704

 

$

1.8836

 

$

1.1619

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net realized and net change in unrealized trading profit (loss)

 

(0.0199

)

(0.0179

)

(0.0240

)

(0.0208

)

(0.0129

)

Brokerage commissions

 

(0.0014

)

(0.0013

)

(0.0017

)

(0.0015

)

(0.0009

)

Interest income, net

 

0.0008

 

0.0008

 

0.0010

 

0.0009

 

0.0005

 

Expenses

 

(0.0183

)

(0.0204

)

(0.0137

)

(0.0171

)

(0.0070

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

 

$

1.7636

 

$

1.5772

 

$

2.1320

 

$

1.8451

 

$

1.1416

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Return: (a) (c)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total return before Performance fees

 

-2.15

%

-2.40

%

-1.77

%

-2.04

%

-1.75

%

Performance fees

 

0.00

%

0.00

%

0.00

%

0.00

%

0.00

%

Total return after Performance fees

 

-2.15

%

-2.40

%

-1.77

%

-2.04

%

-1.75

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Members’ Capital: (c)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses (excluding Performance fees) (b)

 

1.02

%

1.27

%

0.64

%

0.89

%

0.64

%

Performance fees

 

0.00

%

0.00

%

0.00

%

0.00

%

0.00

%

Expenses (including Performance fees)

 

1.02

%

1.27

%

0.64

%

0.89

%

0.64

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net investment income (loss) (excluding Performance fees)

 

-0.97

%

-1.22

%

-0.59

%

-0.87

%

-0.59

%

Performance fees

 

0.00

%

0.00

%

0.00

%

0.00

%

0.00

%

Net investment income (loss) (including Performance fees)

 

-0.97

%

-1.22

%

-0.59

%

-0.87

%

-0.59

%

 


(a) The total return is calculated for each class taken as a whole based on the change in net asset value.  An individual member’s return may vary from these returns based on timing of capital transactions.

(b) The expense ratios do not include brokerage commissions.

(c) The ratios and total return are not annualized.

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

7



 

ASPECT FUTURESACCESS LLC

(A Delaware Limited Liability Company)

 

FINANCIAL DATA HIGHLIGHTS

FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 (unaudited)

 

The following per Unit data and ratios have been derived from information provided in the financial statements.

 

 

 

Class A

 

Class C

 

Class D

 

Class I

 

Class M

 

Per Unit Operating Performance:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

 

$

1.8330

 

$

1.6517

 

$

2.1909

 

$

1.9115

 

$

1.1726

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net realized and net change in unrealized trading profit (loss)

 

(0.0170

)

(0.0151

)

(0.0207

)

(0.0178

)

(0.0111

)

Brokerage commissions

 

(0.0047

)

(0.0042

)

(0.0057

)

(0.0049

)

(0.0030

)

Interest income, net

 

0.0023

 

0.0021

 

0.0028

 

0.0024

 

0.0015

 

Expenses (d)

 

(0.0500

)

(0.0573

)

(0.0353

)

(0.0461

)

(0.0184

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

 

$

1.7636

 

$

1.5772

 

$

2.1320

 

$

1.8451

 

$

1.1416

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Return: (a) (c)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total return before Performance fees

 

-3.52

%

-4.24

%

-2.42

%

-3.20

%

-2.37

%

Performance fees

 

-0.27

%

-0.27

%

-0.27

%

-0.27

%

-0.27

%

Total return after Performance fees

 

-3.79

%

-4.51

%

-2.69

%

-3.47

%

-2.64

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Members’ Capital: (c)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses (excluding Performance fees) (b)

 

2.99

%

3.74

%

1.87

%

2.69

%

1.87

%

Performance fees

 

0.26

%

0.26

%

0.26

%

0.26

%

0.26

%

Expenses (including Performance fees)

 

3.25

%

4.00

%

2.13

%

2.95

%

2.13

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net investment income (loss) (excluding Performance fees)

 

-2.36

%

-3.06

%

-1.21

%

-2.08

%

-1.30

%

Performance fees

 

-0.26

%

-0.26

%

-0.26

%

-0.26

%

-0.26

%

Net investment income (loss) (including Performance fees)

 

-2.62

%

-3.32

%

-1.47

%

-2.34

%

-1.56

%

 


(a) The total return is calculated for each class taken as a whole based on the change in net asset value.  An individual member’s return may vary from these returns based on timing of capital transactions.

(b) The expense ratios do not include brokerage commissions.

(c) The ratios and total return are not annualized.

(d) Expenses are presented net inclusive of other income.

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

8


 


 

ASPECT FUTURESACCESS LLC

(A Delaware Limited Liability Company)

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

 

1.              ORGANIZATION

 

Aspect FuturesAccess LLC (the “Fund”), a FuturesAccessSM Program (“FuturesAccess”) fund, which is an investment company as defined by Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) guidance, was organized under the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act on May 17, 2004 and commenced trading activities on April 1, 2005.  The Fund engages in the speculative trading of futures and forward contracts on a wide range of commodities.  Aspect Capital Limited (“Aspect” or “Trading Advisor”) is the trading advisor of the Fund. The Trading Advisor trades the Aspect Diversified Program (the “Trading Program”) for the Fund.

 

Merrill Lynch Alternative Investments LLC (“MLAI”, the “Sponsor” or the “Managing Member”) is the sponsor and manager of the Fund. MLAI is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation. Bank of America Corporation and its affiliates are referred to herein as “BofA Corp.”. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“MLPF&S”) is currently the exclusive clearing broker for the Fund.  MLAI may select other parties as clearing broker(s). Merrill Lynch International (“MLI”) is the primary foreign exchange (“F/X”) forward prime broker for the Fund. MLAI may select other of its affiliates, or third parties, as F/X or other over-the-counter (“OTC”) prime brokers. MLPF&S and MLI are BofA Corp. affiliates.

 

FuturesAccess is a group of managed futures funds sponsored by MLAI (“FuturesAccess Funds”).  FuturesAccess is exclusively available to investors that have investment accounts with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, U.S. Trust and other divisions or affiliates of BofA Corp.  FuturesAccess Funds currently are composed of direct-trading funds advised by a single trading advisor. Although redemption terms vary among FuturesAccess Funds, FuturesAccess applies, with some exceptions, the same minimum investment amounts, fees and other operational criteria across all FuturesAccess Funds.  Each trading advisor participating in FuturesAccess employs different technical, fundamental, systematic and/or discretionary trading strategies.

 

Interests in the Fund are not insured or otherwise protected by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government authority.  Interests are not deposits or other obligations of, and are not guaranteed by, BofA Corp. or by any bank.  Interests are subject to investment risks, including the possible loss of the full amount invested.

 

The Fund considers all highly liquid investments, with a maturity of three months or less when acquired, to be cash equivalents classified as Level II within the fair value hierarchy discussed in Note 3. As of September 30, 2017, the Fund held no cash equivalents. Cash was held at a nationally recognized financial institution.

 

In the opinion of management, these interim financial statements contain all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair statement of the financial position of the Fund as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 and the results of its operations for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.  However, the operating results for the interim periods may not be indicative of the results for the full year.

 

9



 

Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) have been omitted.  These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Fund’s report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the year ended December 31, 2016.

 

Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that may affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates and such differences could be material.

 

10



 

2.              CONDENSED SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS

 

The Fund’s investments, defined as unrealized profit (loss) on open contracts on the Statements of Financial Condition, as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, are as follows:

 

September 30, 2017

 

 

 

Long Positions

 

Short Positions

 

Net Unrealized

 

 

 

 

 

Commodity Industry

 

Number of

 

Unrealized

 

Percent of

 

Number of

 

Unrealized

 

Percent of

 

Profit (Loss)

 

Percent of

 

 

 

Sector

 

Contracts/Notional*

 

Profit (Loss)

 

Members’ Capital

 

Contracts/Notional*

 

Profit (Loss)

 

Members’ Capital

 

on Open Positions

 

Members’ Capital

 

Maturity Dates

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agriculture

 

100

 

$

(89,091

)

-0.13

%

(787

)

$

20,139

 

0.03

%

$

(68,952

)

-0.10

%

November 2017 - February 2018

 

Currencies - Futures

 

4

 

2,944

 

0.00

%

(4

)

(64

)

0.00

%

2,880

 

0.00

%

December 2017

 

Currencies - Forwards*

 

165,233,420

 

(2,227,889

)

-3.13

%

(129,074,174

)

960,517

 

1.35

%

(1,267,372

)

-1.78

%

December 2017

 

Energy

 

401

 

700,561

 

0.98

%

(150

)

(185,614

)

-0.26

%

514,947

 

0.72

%

October 2017 - December 2017

 

Interest rates

 

1,335

 

(657,647

)

-0.92

%

(791

)

272,510

 

0.38

%

(385,137

)

-0.54

%

December 2017 - March 2020

 

Metals

 

331

 

(978,761

)

-1.37

%

(96

)

113,095

 

0.16

%

(865,666

)

-1.21

%

October 2017 - January 2018

 

Stock indices

 

1,391

 

1,170,155

 

1.64

%

(164

)

73,436

 

0.10

%

1,243,591

 

1.74

%

October 2017 - December 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

 

$

(2,079,728

)

-2.93

%

 

 

$

1,254,019

 

1.76

%

$

(825,709

)

-1.17

%

 

 

 

December 31, 2016

 

 

 

Long Positions

 

Short Positions

 

Net Unrealized

 

 

 

 

 

Commodity Industry

 

Number of

 

Unrealized

 

Percent of

 

Number of

 

Unrealized

 

Percent of

 

Profit (Loss)

 

Percent of

 

 

 

Sector

 

Contracts/Notional*

 

Profit (Loss)

 

Members’ Capital

 

Contracts/Notional*

 

Profit (Loss)

 

Members’ Capital

 

on Open Positions

 

Members’ Capital

 

Maturity Dates

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agriculture

 

455

 

$

(151,581

)

-0.14

%

(710

)

$

394,646

 

0.37

%

$

243,065

 

0.23

%

February 2017 - April 2017

 

Currencies - Futures

 

3

 

(7,065

)

-0.01

%

(27

)

14,105

 

0.01

%

7,040

 

0.00

%

March 2017

 

Currencies - Forwards*

 

155,465,380

 

(771,410

)

-0.72

%

(199,845,797

)

1,150,492

 

1.08

%

379,082

 

0.36

%

March 2017

 

Energy

 

190

 

255,974

 

0.24

%

(40

)

(56,180

)

-0.05

%

199,794

 

0.19

%

January 2017 - March 2017

 

Interest rates

 

510

 

308,025

 

0.29

%

(3,415

)

173,276

 

0.16

%

481,301

 

0.45

%

March 2017 - June 2019

 

Metals

 

280

 

(1,436,353

)

-1.35

%

(195

)

501,993

 

0.47

%

(934,360

)

-0.88

%

February 2017 - April 2017

 

Stock indices

 

1,087

 

621,635

 

0.58

%

(429

)

8,642

 

0.01

%

630,277

 

0.59

%

January 2017 - March 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

 

$

(1,180,775

)

-1.11

%

 

 

$

2,186,974

 

2.05

%

$

1,006,199

 

0.94

%

 

 

 


*Currencies – Forwards present notional amounts as converted to USD.

 

No individual contract’s unrealized profit or loss comprised greater than 5% of Members’ Capital as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016. With respect to each commodity industry sector listed in the above chart, the net unrealized profit (loss) on open positions is the sum of the unrealized profits (losses) of long positions and short positions, netting unrealized losses against unrealized profits as applicable.  Net unrealized profit and loss provides a rough measure of the exposure of the Fund to the various sectors as of the date listed, although such exposure can change at any time.

 

11



 

3.   FAIR VALUE OF INVESTMENTS

 

Fair value of an investment is the amount that would be received to sell the investment in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (i.e. the exit price). All investments (including derivative financial instruments and derivative commodity instruments) are held for trading purposes.  The investments are recorded on trade date and open contracts are recorded at fair value (described below) at the measurement date. Investments denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates prevailing at the measurement date.  Profits or losses are realized when contracts are liquidated.  Unrealized profits or losses on open contracts are included in Equity in commodity trading accounts on the Statements of Financial Condition.  Any change in net unrealized profit or loss from the preceding period/year is reported in the respective Statements of Operations.

 

The fair value measurement guidance established by U.S. GAAP is a hierarchical disclosure framework which prioritizes and ranks the level of market price observability used in measuring investments at fair value. Market price observability is impacted by a number of factors, including the type of investment and the characteristics specific to the investment. Investments with readily available active quoted prices or for which fair value can be measured from actively quoted prices generally will have a higher degree of market price observability and a lesser degree of judgment used in measuring fair value.

 

Investments measured and reported at fair value are classified and disclosed in one of the following categories:

 

Level I — Quoted prices are available in active markets for identical investments as of the reporting date. The type of investments included in Level I are publicly traded investments. As required by the fair market value measurement guidance in U.S. GAAP, the Fund does not adjust the quoted price for these investments even in situations where the Fund holds a large position and a sale could reasonably impact the quoted price.

 

Level II — Pricing inputs are other than quoted prices in active markets, which are either directly or indirectly observable as of the reporting date, and fair value is determined through the use of generally accepted and understood models or other valuation methodologies. Investments which are generally included in this category are investments valued using market data.

 

Level III — Pricing inputs are unobservable and include situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the investment. Fair value for these investments is determined using valuation methodologies that consider a range of factors, including but not limited to the nature of the investment, local market conditions, trading values on public exchanges for comparable securities, current and projected operating performance and financing transactions subsequent to the acquisition of the investment. The inputs into the determination of fair value require significant management judgment. Due to the inherent uncertainty of these estimates, these values may differ materially from the values that would have been used had a ready market for these investments existed.

 

In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, an investment’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. MLAI’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, and considers factors specific to the investment.

 

The following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for investments, as well as the general classification of such investments pursuant to the valuation hierarchy.

 

12



 

Exchange traded investments are fair valued by the Fund by using the reported closing price on the primary exchange where such investments are traded.  These closing prices are observed through the clearing broker and third party pricing services. For non-exchange traded investments, quoted values and other data provided by nationally recognized independent pricing sources are used as inputs into the process for determining fair values.

 

The Fund has determined that Level I investments would include its futures and options contracts where quoted prices are available in an active market.

 

Where the Fund believes that quoted market prices are not available or that the market is not active, fair values are estimated by using observable prices of investments with similar characteristics and these are generally classified as Level II investments. The Fund determined that Level II investments would include its forwards and certain futures contracts.

 

Transfers of investments between different levels of the fair value hierarchy, if any, are recorded as of the beginning of the reporting period. There were no transfers to or from any level during the three or nine month periods ended September 30, 2017 or the year ended December 31, 2016.

 

The Fund’s unrealized profit (loss) on open forwards and futures contracts, by the above fair value hierarchy levels, as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, are as follows:

 

2017

 

Net unrealized profit (loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

on open contracts

 

Total

 

Level I

 

Level II

 

Level III

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Futures

 

$

3,077,818

 

$

2,988,475

 

$

89,343

 

$

 

Forwards

 

1,449,330

 

 

1,449,330

 

 

 

 

$

4,527,148

 

$

2,988,475

 

$

1,538,673

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Futures

 

$

2,636,155

 

$

1,874,393

 

$

761,762

 

$

 

Forwards

 

2,716,702

 

 

2,716,702

 

 

 

 

$

5,352,857

 

$

1,874,393

 

$

3,478,464

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 30, 2017

 

$

(825,709

)

$

1,114,082

 

$

(1,939,791

)

$

 

 

13



 

2016

 

Net unrealized profit (loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

on open contracts

 

Total

 

Level I

 

Level II

 

Level III

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Futures

 

$

3,315,560

 

$

2,983,356

 

$

332,204

 

$

 

Forwards

 

2,545,779

 

 

2,545,779

 

 

 

 

$

5,861,339

 

$

2,983,356

 

$

2,877,983

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Futures

 

$

2,688,443

 

$

1,527,806

 

$

1,160,637

 

$

 

Forwards

 

2,166,697

 

 

2,166,697

 

 

 

 

$

4,855,140

 

$

1,527,806

 

$

3,327,334

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2016

 

$

1,006,199

 

$

1,455,550

 

$

(449,351

)

$

 

 

The Fund’s volume of trading forwards and futures as of the nine month period ended September 30, 2017 and year ended December 31, 2016 are representative of the activity throughout these periods.

 

The Fund engages in the speculative trading of futures, options on futures and forward contracts on a wide range of commodities. Such contracts meet the definition of a derivative as noted in the ASC guidance for accounting for derivative and hedging activities. The fair value amounts of, and the net profits and losses on, derivative instruments are disclosed in the Statements of Financial Condition and Statements of Operations, respectively. There are no credit related contingent features embedded in these derivative contracts. The total notional, number of contracts and fair values of derivative instruments by contract type/commodity sector are disclosed in Note 2.

 

The Fund maintains margin deposits and cash collateral with its futures and forwards brokers, respectively, based on the greater of exchange margin or amounts determined by the respective broker. At September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the initial margin deposits (cash) are used to satisfy the margin requirements to establish the futures or forward contracts and are presented on the Statements of Financial Condition in Cash in the Equity in commodity trading accounts. The variation margin on open contracts is presented gross on the Statements of Financial Condition in Unrealized profit or loss on futures or forwards contracts, respectively. The Fund is subject to agreements which support the ability to settle net with its counterparties; however, the Fund has elected to present the related balances on the Statements of Financial Condition on a gross basis. The net of these amounts plus the restricted cash presented within the Cash in the Equity in commodity trading accounts on the Statements of Financial Condition represents the Fund’s net exposure.

 

The following table indicates the trading profits and losses before brokerage commissions, by commodity industry sector for each of the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2017 and 2016:

 

14



 

 

 

For the three months ended

 

For the nine months ended

 

 

 

September 30, 2017

 

September 30, 2017

 

Commodity Industry

 

profit (loss)

 

profit (loss)

 

Sector

 

from trading, net

 

from trading, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agriculture

 

$

(2,117,517

)

$

(943,971

)

Currencies

 

(1,500,359

)

(4,791,964

)

Energy

 

843,873

 

(2,138,995

)

Interest rates

 

(204,325

)

(5,412,543

)

Metals

 

25,113

 

(437,867

)

Stock indices

 

2,555,612

 

7,929,432

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total, net

 

$

(397,603

)

$

(5,795,908

)

 

 

 

For the three months ended

 

For the nine months ended

 

 

 

September 30, 2016

 

September 30, 2016

 

Commodity Industry

 

profit (loss)

 

profit (loss)

 

Sector

 

from trading, net

 

from trading, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agriculture

 

$

(363,509

)

$

(1,530

)

Currencies

 

(228,995

)

(2,755,166

)

Energy

 

(984,339

)

(1,197,116

)

Interest rates

 

(1,077,937

)

6,813,669

 

Metals

 

91,843

 

(2,736,142

)

Stock indices

 

1,198,585

 

(1,364,858

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total, net

 

$

(1,364,352

)

$

(1,241,143

)

 

The Fund is subject to the risk of insolvency of a counterparty, an exchange, a clearinghouse, MLPF&S or other BofA Corp. entities.  Fund assets could be lost or impounded during lengthy bankruptcy proceedings.  Were a substantial portion of the Fund’s capital tied up in a bankruptcy or other similar types of proceedings, MLAI might suspend or limit trading, perhaps causing the Fund to miss significant profit opportunities.  There are increased risks in dealing with unregulated trading counterparties including the risk that assets may not benefit from the protection afforded to “customer funds” deposited with regulated dealers and brokers.

 

4.   MARKET AND CREDIT RISKS

 

The nature of this Fund has certain risks, which cannot all be presented in the financial statements.  The following summarizes some of those risks.

 

Market Risk

 

Derivative instruments involve varying degrees of market risk.  Changes in the level or volatility of interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates or the market values of the financial instruments or

 

15



 

commodities underlying such derivative instruments frequently result in changes in the Fund’s unrealized profit (loss) on open contracts on such derivative instruments as reflected in the Statements of Financial Condition.  The Fund’s exposure to market risk is influenced by a number of factors, including the relationships among the derivative instruments held by the Fund as well as the volatility and liquidity of the markets in which the derivative instruments are traded.  Investments in foreign markets may also entail legal and political risks.

 

MLAI has procedures in place intended to control market risk exposure, although there can be no assurance that it will, in fact, succeed in doing so.  These procedures focus primarily on monitoring the trading of the Trading Advisor, calculating the Net Asset Value of the Fund as of the close of business on each day and reviewing outstanding positions for over-concentrations.  While MLAI does not intervene in the markets to hedge or diversify the Fund’s market exposure, MLAI may urge the Trading Advisor to reallocate positions in an attempt to avoid over-concentrations.  However, such interventions are expected to be unusual.  It is expected that MLAI’s basic risk control procedures will consist of the process of Trading Advisor monitoring, with the market risk controls being applied by the Trading Advisor.

 

Credit Risk

 

The risks associated with exchange-traded contracts are typically perceived to be less than those associated with over-the-counter (non-exchange-traded) transactions because exchanges typically (but not universally) provide clearinghouse arrangements in which the collective credit (in some cases limited in amount, in some cases not) of the members of the exchange/clearinghouse is pledged to support the financial integrity of the exchange/clearinghouse.  In over-the-counter transactions, on the other hand, traders must rely solely on the credit of their respective individual counterparties.  Margins, which may be subject to loss in the event of a default, are generally required in exchange traded contracts, and in the over-the-counter markets counterparties may also require margin. The credit risk associated with these instruments from counterparty nonperformance is the unrealized profit (loss) on open contracts, if any, included in the Statements of Financial Condition.

 

MLAI, as sponsor of the Fund, has a general policy of maintaining clearing and prime brokerage arrangements with BofA Corp. affiliates, such as MLPF&S and MLI, although MLAI may engage non-BofA Corp. affiliated service providers as clearing brokers or prime brokers for the Fund. This policy may increase risk to the Fund by preventing the diversification of brokers used by the Fund.

 

The Fund, in its normal course of business, enters into various contracts, with MLPF&S acting as its futures clearing broker and MLI as its forwards prime broker. In the event of default, all futures balances are eligible for offset with a net settlement due to MLPF&S.  In the event of default, all forwards balances are eligible for offset with a net settlement due to MLI.

 

Indemnifications

 

In the normal course of business, the Fund has entered, or may in the future, enter into agreements that obligate the Fund to indemnify certain parties, including BofA Corp. affiliates. No claims have actually been made with respect to such indemnities and any quantification would involve hypothetical claims that have not been made. Based on the Fund’s experience, MLAI expects the risk of loss to be remote and, therefore, no provision has been recorded.

 

5.   RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

MLAI owns 50 Class D Units which represent less than 1% of the Fund’s Net Asset Value as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016.

 

16



 

MLAI, the Fund and certain other FuturesAccess Funds, MLAI’s HedgeAccess® Program of hedge funds and other BofA Corp. funds (each a “Serviced Fund” and collectively, the “Serviced Funds”) have entered into a transfer agency and investor services agreement with Financial Data Services, Inc. (the “Transfer Agent”), a wholly owned subsidiary of BofA Corp. and affiliate of MLAI.  The Transfer Agent provides registrar, distribution disbursing agent, transfer agent and certain other services related to the issuance, redemption, exchange and transfer of Units.  The fees charged by the Transfer Agent for its services were 0.02% per year of the aggregate net assets of the Serviced Funds. The fee is paid monthly in arrears.  The Transfer Agent also receives reimbursement for its out-of-pocket expenses and certain extraordinary expenses.  MLAI allocates the Transfer Agent fees to each of the Serviced Funds, including the Fund, on a monthly basis based on each Serviced Fund’s net assets. The Transfer Agent fee allocated to the Fund for the three month periods ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 amounted to $4,003 and $5,089, respectively. The Transfer Agent fee allocated to the Fund for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 amounted to $13,773 and $17,809, respectively, of which $4,328 and $5,825 was payable to the Transfer Agent as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

 

Brokerage commissions, interest, net and Sponsor fees, as presented on the Statements of Operations, are all received from or paid to related parties. Equity in commodity trading accounts, including cash and Unrealized profit (loss), as presented on the Statements of Financial Condition are held with a related party.

 

As of September 1, 2017, the Management Fee for the Class A, Class I, Class D and Class M Units has been reduced from 2% to 1% of the Net Asset Value of each Class of Units and the Trading Advisor will no longer share its Management Fee with the Sponsor.  In connection with the fee reduction and the cessation of the fee sharing, the Class D Units, which were not previously subject to a Sponsor’s Fee, will now pay a Sponsor’s Fee equal to 0.75% of the Net Asset Value of the Class D Units.

 

6.   SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

Management has evaluated the impact of subsequent events on the Fund through the date the financial statements were issued and has determined that there were no subsequent events that require adjustments to, or disclosure in, the financial statements.

 

17



 

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

 

PERIOD-END NET ASSET VALUE PER UNIT

 

The Fund calculates the Net Asset Value per Unit of each Class of Units as of the last calendar day of each month, the fifteenth calendar day of each month and as of any other dates MLAI may determine in its discretion (each, a “Calculation Date”). The Fund’s Net Asset Value as of any Calculation Date generally equals the value of the Fund’s account under the management of the Trading Advisor as of that date, plus any other assets held by the Fund, minus accrued Sponsor, management and performance fees, trading liabilities, including brokerage commissions, any offering or operating costs, and all other liabilities of the Fund.  MLAI or its delegates are authorized to make all Net Asset Value determinations.

 

MLAI believes that the Net Asset Value used to calculate subscription and redemption value and to report performance to investors is a useful performance measure for the investors of the Fund.  Therefore, the charts below are referencing Net Asset Value at each Calculation Date.

 

PERIOD-END NET ASSET VALUE PER UNIT CLASS A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jan. 15th

 

Jan.

 

Feb. 15th

 

Feb.

 

Mar. 15th

 

Mar.

 

Apr. 15th

 

Apr.

 

May 15th

 

May

 

Jun. 15th

 

Jun.

 

Jul. 15th

 

Jul.

 

Aug. 15th

 

Aug.

 

Sep. 15th

 

Sep.

 

2016

 

$

1.9322

 

$

1.8827

 

$

1.9169

 

$

1.9244

 

$

1.8487

 

$

1.8465

 

$

1.8329

 

$

1.7545

 

$

1.7463

 

$

1.7194

 

$

1.7459

 

$

1.8024

 

$

1.7918

 

$

1.8132

 

$

1.8113

 

$

1.7594

 

$

1.7061

 

$

1.7636

 

2017

 

$

1.6689

 

$

1.6461

 

$

1.6976

 

$

1.6694

 

$

1.6412

 

$

1.6117

 

$

1.6048

 

$

1.5969

 

$

1.5931

 

$

1.5771

 

$

1.5834

 

$

1.5343

 

$

1.5291

 

$

1.5399

 

$

1.5201

 

$

1.5863

 

$

1.5298

 

$

1.5120

 

 

PERIOD-END NET ASSET VALUE PER UNIT CLASS C

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jan. 15th

 

Jan.

 

Feb. 15th

 

Feb.

 

Mar. 15th

 

Mar.

 

Apr. 15th

 

Apr.

 

May 15th

 

May

 

Jun. 15th

 

Jun.

 

Jul. 15th

 

Jul.

 

Aug. 15th

 

Aug.

 

Sep. 15th

 

Sep.

 

2016

 

$

1.7403

 

$

1.6947

 

$

1.7248

 

$

1.7308

 

$

1.6620

 

$

1.6594

 

$

1.6460

 

$

1.5750

 

$

1.5670

 

$

1.5420

 

$

1.5652

 

$

1.6160

 

$

1.6057

 

$

1.6242

 

$

1.6219

 

$

1.5748

 

$

1.5264

 

$

1.5772

 

2017

 

$

1.4874

 

$

1.4664

 

$

1.5116

 

$

1.4858

 

$

1.4600

 

$

1.4331

 

$

1.4263

 

$

1.4186

 

$

1.4147

 

$

1.3997

 

$

1.4049

 

$

1.3619

 

$

1.3568

 

$

1.3658

 

$

1.3476

 

$

1.4057

 

$

1.3551

 

$

1.3388

 

 

PERIOD-END NET ASSET VALUE PER UNIT CLASS D

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jan. 15th

 

Jan.

 

Feb. 15th

 

Feb.

 

Mar. 15th

 

Mar.

 

Apr. 15th

 

Apr.

 

May 15th

 

May

 

Jun. 15th

 

Jun.

 

Jul. 15th

 

Jul.

 

Aug. 15th

 

Aug.

 

Sep. 15th

 

Sep.

 

2016

 

$

2.3107

 

$

2.2529

 

$

2.2952

 

$

2.3056

 

$

2.2163

 

$

2.2150

 

$

2.1995

 

$

2.1069

 

$

2.0983

 

$

2.0672

 

$

2.1005

 

$

2.1704

 

$

2.1590

 

$

2.1862

 

$

2.1854

 

$

2.1242

 

$

2.0611

 

$

2.1320

 

2017

 

$

2.0249

 

$

1.9986

 

$

2.0625

 

$

2.0296

 

$

1.9967

 

$

1.9621

 

$

1.9549

 

$

1.9466

 

$

1.9433

 

$

1.9250

 

$

1.9343

 

$

1.8754

 

$

1.8703

 

$

1.8847

 

$

1.8616

 

$

1.9439

 

$

1.8753

 

$

1.8541

 

 

PERIOD-END NET ASSET VALUE PER UNIT CLASS I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jan. 15th

 

Jan.

 

Feb. 15th

 

Feb.

 

Mar. 15th

 

Mar.

 

Apr. 15th

 

Apr.

 

May 15th

 

May

 

Jun. 15th

 

Jun.

 

Jul. 15th

 

Jul.

 

Aug. 15th

 

Aug.

 

Sep. 15th

 

Sep.

 

2016

 

$

2.0155

 

$

1.9641

 

$

2.0002

 

$

2.0084

 

$

1.9297

 

$

1.9278

 

$

1.9137

 

$

1.8324

 

$

1.8241

 

$

1.7962

 

$

1.8243

 

$

1.8836

 

$

1.8728

 

$

1.8955

 

$

1.8940

 

$

1.8401

 

$

1.7846

 

$

1.8451

 

2017

 

$

1.7464

 

$

1.7229

 

$

1.7773

 

$

1.7482

 

$

1.7189

 

$

1.6882

 

$

1.6813

 

$

1.6734

 

$

1.6678

 

$

1.6510

 

$

1.6579

 

$

1.6098

 

$

1.6047

 

$

1.6163

 

$

1.5958

 

$

1.6655

 

$

1.6065

 

$

1.5881

 

 

PERIOD-END NET ASSET VALUE PER UNIT CLASS M

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jan. 15th

 

Jan.

 

Feb. 15th

 

Feb.

 

Mar. 15th

 

Mar.

 

Apr. 15th

 

Apr.

 

May 15th

 

May

 

Jun. 15th

 

Jun.

 

Jul. 15th

 

Jul.

 

Aug. 15th

 

Aug.

 

Sep. 15th

 

Sep.

 

2016

 

$

1.2366

 

$

1.2056

 

$

1.2283

 

$

1.2340

 

$

1.1870

 

$

1.1868

 

$

1.1785

 

$

1.1289

 

$

1.1243

 

$

1.1077

 

$

1.1255

 

$

1.1619

 

$

1.1559

 

$

1.1704

 

$

1.1701

 

$

1.1375

 

$

1.1037

 

$

1.1416

 

2017

 

$

1.0851

 

$

1.0709

 

$

1.1047

 

$

1.0871

 

$

1.0687

 

$

1.0502

 

$

1.0453

 

$

1.0409

 

$

1.0391

 

$

1.0290

 

$

1.0339

 

$

1.0040

 

$

1.0013

 

$

1.0090

 

$

0.9966

 

$

1.0407

 

$

1.0042

 

$

0.9932

 

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

The Fund borrows only to a limited extent and only on a strictly short-term basis in order to finance losses on non-U.S. dollar denominated trading positions pending the conversion of the Fund’s U.S. dollar deposits.  These borrowings are at a prevailing short-term rate in the relevant currency.

 

Substantially all of the Fund’s assets are held in cash with the brokers. Changes in interest rates could cause periods of strong up or down price trends, during which the Fund’s profit or loss potential might increase.

 

18



 

Inflation in commodity prices could also generate price movements, which the strategies might successfully follow. The Fund should be able to close out its open trading positions and liquidate its holdings relatively quickly and at market prices, except in unusual circumstances.  This typically permits the Fund to limit losses as well as reduce market exposure on short notice should its strategies indicate doing so.

 

As a commodity pool, the Fund maintains an extremely large percentage of its assets in cash, which it must have available to post initial and variation margin on futures contracts.  This cash is also used to fund redemptions.  While the Fund has the ability to fund redemption proceeds from liquidating positions, as a practical matter positions are not liquidated to fund redemptions.  In the event that positions were liquidated to fund redemptions, MLAI, as the manager of the Fund, has the ability to override decisions of the Trading Advisor to fund redemptions if necessary, but in practice the Trading Advisor would determine in its discretion which investments should be liquidated.

 

For the nine month period ended September 30, 2017, Fund capital decreased 33.09% from $106,406,553 to $71,194,416. This decrease was attributable to the net loss from operations of $8,196,298 coupled with the redemption of 20,278,153 redeemable Units resulting in an outflow of $28,034,059.  The cash outflow was offset with cash inflow of $1,018,220 due to subscriptions of 827,590 Units. Future redemptions could impact the amount of funds available for investment in commodity contract positions in subsequent months.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

Investments

 

All investments (including derivatives) are held for trading purposes.  Investments are recorded on trade date and open contracts are recorded at fair value (as described below) at the measurement date.  Investments denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates prevailing at the measurement date.  Profits or losses are realized when contracts are liquidated.  Unrealized profits or losses on open contracts are included as a component of equity in commodity trading accounts on the Statements of Financial Condition.  Realized profits or losses and any change in net unrealized profits or losses from the preceding period are reported in the Statements of Operations.

 

Fair Value Measurements

 

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.  For more information on the Fund’s treatment of fair value, see Financial Statements Note 3, Fair Value of Investments.

 

Futures Contracts

 

The Fund trades exchange listed futures contracts.  A listed futures contract is a firm commitment to buy or sell a standardized quantity of an underlying asset over a specified duration.  The Fund buys and sells contracts based on indices of financial assets such as stocks, domestic and global stock indices, as well as contracts on various physical commodities. Prices paid or received on these contracts are determined by the ask or bid provided by the exchanges on which they are traded.   Contracts may be settled in physical form or cash settled depending upon the contract.  Upon the execution of a trade, margin requirements determine the amount of cash that must be on deposit to secure the transaction.  These amounts are considered restricted cash on the Fund’s Statements of Financial Condition.  Contracts are priced daily by the Fund and the profit or loss is based on the daily mark to market and is recorded as unrealized profit (loss).  When the contract is closed, the Fund records a realized profit or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed.  Because transactions in futures contracts require participants to make both initial margin deposits of cash or other assets and variation margin deposits, through the futures broker or directly with the exchange on which the contracts are traded, credit exposure is limited.  Realized profit (loss), net and change in unrealized profit (loss), net on futures contracts are recognized in the

 

19



 

period in which the contract is closed or the changes occur, respectively and are included in the Statements of Operations.  The Fund also trades futures contracts on the London Metals Exchange (LME). The valuation pricing for LME contracts is based on action of a committee that incorporates prices from the most liquid trading sessions of the day and can also rely on other inputs such as supply and demand factors and bids and asks from open outcry sessions.

 

Forward Foreign Currency Contracts

 

Foreign currency contracts are those contracts where the Fund agrees to receive or deliver a fixed quantity of foreign currency for an agreed-upon price on an agreed future date.  Foreign currency contracts are valued daily, and the Fund’s net equity therein, representing unrealized profit or loss on the contracts as measured by the difference between the forward foreign exchange rates at the dates of entry into the contracts and the forward rates at the reporting date, is included in the Statements of Financial Condition.  Realized profit (loss), net and change in unrealized profit (loss), net on foreign currency contracts are recognized in the period in which the contract is closed or the changes occur, respectively and are included in the Statements of Operations.

 

Interest Rates and Income

 

BofA Corp.’s “Interest Earning Program”, which offers interest on cash balances subject to a negotiated schedule, will generally apply to Fund cash assets during any time they are maintained by MLAI with its affiliates.  The present interest rate under the Interest Earning Program on U.S. dollar cash balances is the daily effective federal funds rate less 20 basis points, recalculated and accrued daily, and subject to a floor of 0%, except for currencies designated by MLPF&S as “negative interest rate currencies”.  MLPF&S deposits certain of the Fund’s assets as margin or collateral with clearinghouses and/or depositories. As a result of the present low interest rate environment, these clearinghouses and depositories charge MLPF&S fees to account for the negative interest rates on cash balances for certain currencies, which may change from time to time.  Accordingly, MLPF&S charges the Fund a “negative interest rate fee” for any currencies designated by MLPF&S as a “negative interest rate currency”.

 

Income Taxes

 

No provision for income taxes has been made in the accompanying financial statements as each investor is individually responsible for reporting income or loss based on such investor’s share of the Fund’s income and expenses as reported for income tax purposes.

 

The Fund follows the ASC guidance on accounting for uncertain tax positions. This guidance provides how uncertain tax positions should be recognized, measured, presented and disclosed in the financial statements.  This guidance also requires the evaluation of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the course of preparing the Fund’s financial statements to determine whether the tax positions are “more-likely-than-not” to be sustained by the applicable tax authority.  Tax positions with respect to tax at the Fund level not deemed to meet the “more-likely-than-not” threshold would be recorded as a tax benefit or expense in the current year. A prospective investor should be aware that, among other things, income taxes could have a material adverse effect on the periodic calculations of the Net Asset Value of the Fund, including reducing the Net Asset Value of the Fund to reflect reserves for income taxes, such as foreign withholding taxes, that may be payable by the Fund. This could cause benefits or detriments to certain investors, depending upon the timing of their entry and exit from the Fund. MLAI has analyzed the Fund’s tax positions and has concluded that a prior provision for income tax of $517,000, generated by trading in Spain, was previously required in the Fund’s financial statements. However, as a result of the expiry of the statute of limitations allowing for tax authority pursuit of portions of such exposure, MLAI subsequently reversed such provision. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the entire $517,000 of such provision was reversed. This amount is reflected within other

 

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income on the Statements of Operations.  The following is the major tax jurisdiction for the Fund and the earliest tax year subject to examination: United States – 2013.

 

Reform Act

 

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act amended the definition of “eligible contract participant” and the Fund expects to meet the amended definition as it applies to trading in “retail forex” transactions so long as its total assets exceed $10 million.  If the Fund does not meet the definition of “eligible contract participant” for purposes of trading in “retail forex” transactions, it could lead to the Fund being unable to trade such transactions in the interbank market and bearing higher upfront and mark-to-market margin, less favorable trade pricing, and the possible imposition of new or increased fees.  “Retail forex” markets available to parties that do not meet the definition of “eligible contract participant” could also be significantly less liquid than the interbank market.  Moreover, the creditworthiness of the counterparties with whom the Fund may be required to trade in such circumstances could be significantly weaker than the creditworthiness of MLI and the currency forward counterparties with which the Fund would otherwise engage for its currency forward transactions.

 

Results of Operations

 

January 1, 2017 to September 30, 2017

 

January 1, 2017 to March 31, 2017

 

The Fund experienced a net trading loss of $1,520,988 before brokerage commissions and related fees in the first quarter of 2017. The Fund’s profits were primarily attributable to the stock indices and metals sectors. The agriculture, currency, energy and interest rates sectors posted losses.

 

The stock indices sector posted profits to the Fund. Profits were posted to the Fund at the beginning of the first quarter.  Stock markets made gains in January, with long positions in Asian stock indices among the Trading Program’s top performers, boosted by signs of growth in China. The Korean Kospi index rose strongly following news that the country’s jobless rate fell. Despite the uncertain mood in markets, the VIX index fell to its lowest level in more than two years making the Trading Program’s short position one of the top performers. Profits were posted to the Fund in the middle of the quarter. Stock markets rallied strongly through most of February as stronger U.S. economic data helped to boost risk appetite. The Trading Program’s long positions in most stock indices contributed positively in February. Profits were posted to the Fund at the end of the quarter due to the Trading Program’s long positions in Korea and European markets being among the most profitable.

 

The metals sector posted profits to the Fund. Profits were posted to the Fund at the beginning of the first quarter. Market uncertainty caused gold prices to rise in January, leading to losses from the Trading Program’s short positions. Expectations of increased demand for industrial metals led to gains from the Trading Program’s long positions in copper and zinc. Profits were posted to the Fund in the middle of the quarter due to the Trading Program’s long positions in aluminum and nickel. Losses were posted to the Fund at the end of the quarter as the silver price fell in March leading to losses from the Trading Program’s long position.

 

The agriculture sector posted losses to the Fund. Losses were posted to the Fund at the beginning of the first quarter only to be reversed in the middle of the first quarter.  Profits were posted to the Fund in the middle of the quarter as cocoa prices fell on concerns about a glut in West Africa, making the Trading Program’s short position the top performer in February. Losses were posted to the Fund at the end of the quarter as increasing likelihood of an El Niño weather system caused cocoa prices to reverse their previous downward trend.

 

The currency sector posted losses to the Fund. Profits were posted to the Fund at the beginning of the first quarter. The Dollar Index rose at the beginning of January only to fall at the end of the month. The weakening

 

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U.S. dollar led to losses from the Trading Program’s long USD/JPY position, but long positions in commodity currencies and the Brazilian real were profitable. Profits were posted to the Fund in the middle of the quarter. The release of strong Australian jobs data pushed the Australian dollar higher to the benefit of the Trading Program’s long exposure. The Brazilian real also rose after the central bank resumed currency intervention. By contrast, the New Zealand dollar fell on expectations that the Reserve Bank of New Zealand would keep rates unchanged, leading to losses for the Trading Program. Losses were posted to the Fund at the end of the quarter due to the Trading Program’s short position in EUR/NOK, as the Norwegian krone fell on news that inflation in Norway is below expectations. The Trading Program’s long exposure to the New Zealand dollar also incurred losses following news of weaker-than-expected economic growth figures in New Zealand.

 

The energy sector posted losses to the Fund. Losses were posted to the Fund at the beginning of the first quarter. In energy markets, natural gas prices declined following reports that U.S. inventory levels decreased by less than expected, while oil prices also fell on signs that U.S. output may offset OPEC-led production cuts. Losses were posted to the Fund in the middle of the quarter as natural gas prices fell on news of lower than expected draws on storage. Losses were posted to the Fund at the end of the quarter. The Trading Program’s long oil positions suffered as prices fell as U.S. crude inventories remained at high levels.

 

The interest rate sector posted losses to the Fund. Losses were posted to the Fund at the beginning of the first quarter. Anticipation of rising U.S. rates caused fixed income markets to sell off. Losses were posted to the Fund in the middle of the quarter. Italian bond yields fell in February following Matteo Renzi’s resignation as leader of the ruling Democratic Party and the announcement of a leadership contest, leading to losses from the Trading Program’s short position in the Italian 10 year bond. Yields on other fixed income markets also fell, leading to losses from the Trading Program’s short positions. Losses were posted to the Fund at the end of the quarter. Government bond yields fell during March, following the U.S. Federal Reserve’s signal of a more gradual path of future tightening, leading to losses from the Trading Program’s short fixed income positions.

 

April 1, 2017 to June 30, 2017

 

The Fund experienced a net trading loss of $3,877,317 before brokerage commissions and related fees in the second quarter of 2017. The Fund’s profits were primarily attributable to the agriculture and stock indices sectors.  The metals, energy, currency and interest rate sectors posted losses.

 

The agriculture sector posted profits to the Fund. Profits were posted to the Fund at the beginning of the second quarter as cattle prices continued to rise on news of tight supplies, while cocoa prices fell on the prospect of increased supply from the Ivory Coast. Sugar prices fell on expectations of strong Brazilian exports, leading to gains. Profits were posted to the Fund in the middle of the quarter due to the Trading Program’s short position in sugar and long position in cattle. Sugar prices fell on news of higher than expected supplies from Brazil, while cattle prices rose following news that extreme weather in the U.S. Midwest may have killed thousands of animals. Losses were posted to the Fund at the end of the second quarter due to the Trading Program’s short positions in soy markets and wheat making the sector a negative contributor.

 

The stock indices sector posted profits to the Fund. Profits were posted to the Fund at the beginning through the middle of the second quarter. Global stock markets continued to rise in May, fuelled by strong U.S. jobs figures at the start of the month and expectations that the U.S. Federal Reserve may raise U.S. interest rates in June. Additionally, the victory of centrist Emmanuel Macron over the Eurosceptic Marine Le Pen in the French presidential election boosted European markets. The Trading Program made gains from its long positions in stock indices, despite a temporary mid-month reversal in stock markets. Losses were posted to the Fund at the end of the second quarter. The stock indices sector gave back most of its profits, ending June with gains from long positions in Asian and emerging market indices but losses from long positions in European indices.

 

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The metals sector posted losses to the Fund. Losses were posted to the Fund at the beginning through the middle of the second quarter. The weaker U.S. dollar helped gold and silver advance, leading to losses from the metals sector in May. Losses were posted to the Fund at the end of the second quarter.

 

The energy sector posted losses to the Fund. Losses were posted to the Fund at the beginning of the second quarter. Energy markets exhibited some sharp swings amid uncertainty over the impact of output cuts by major producers. Losses came from some of the Trading Program’s long oils positions amid demand concerns. Losses were posted to the Fund in the middle of the second quarter. The Trading Program’s short positions in oils markets made losses, after the decision by OPEC members and Russia to extend output cuts. Losses were posted to the Fund at the end of the second quarter. The energies sector gave back earlier profits in June as prices rose at the end of the month, leading to losses from the Trading Program’s short positions.

 

The currency sector posted losses to the Fund. Losses were posted to the Fund at the beginning of the second quarter. The Trading Program’s net short Euro position incurred losses as the currency hit a five-month high against the U.S. dollar following the outcome of France’s presidential vote. The Trading Program’s net short British sterling position also made losses as the British sterling rallied in the aftermath of the announcement of a U.K. general election for early June. Gains came from the Trading Program’s short exposure to the Canadian dollar. Losses were posted to the Fund in the middle of the second quarter. The Dollar Index fell in May, leading to losses from the Trading Program’s long U.S. dollar positions against major currencies. Losses were posted to the Fund at the end of the second quarter. Performance from currencies were mixed in June as the Trading Program’s long exposures to the New Zealand dollar and the Mexican peso were profitable, but losses came from the Trading Program’s short exposure to the Canadian dollar, which rose on hints that Canadian rates could rise earlier than expected.

 

The interest rate sector posted losses to the Fund. Losses were posted to the Fund at the beginning through the middle of the second quarter. Performance in fixed income markets were muted in May. Small profits from the Trading Program’s long position in the Italian 10 year bond were not enough to offset losses in other fixed income markets. Losses were posted to the Fund at the end of the second quarter. The bonds sector had been profitable up until the final week of June, but ended as the main underperformer, with the Trading Program’s long positions in U.K. and European bonds among the worst performers.

 

July 1, 2017 to September 30, 2017

 

The Fund experienced a net trading loss of $397,603 before brokerage commissions and related fees in the third quarter of 2017. The Fund’s profits were primarily attributable to the stock indices, energy and metal sectors.  The interest rates, currency and agriculture sectors posted losses.

 

The stock indices sector posted profits to the Fund. Profits were posted to the Fund at the beginning of the third quarter. The Trading Program made profits from its continued net long exposure to stock indices as long positions in Asian emerging markets dominated those profits. Profits were posted to the Fund in the middle of the second quarter. Early in August the Dow Jones hit a record high following a strong U.S. jobs report, but shortly afterwards the escalating tension between the U.S. and North Korea contributed to a significant fall in global stock markets although stock markets later recovered. Long positions in Asian and emerging market indices made profits, with the exception of the Korean Kospi 200. Profits were posted to the Fund at the end of the third quarter. The Federal Reserve, European Central Bank and Bank of England all sent signals that they may tighten before the end of the year. In the United Kingdom, data showed inflation above its target level and lowering unemployment. Global stock markets rallied as a result, leading to profits from the Trading Program’s long positions.

 

The energy sector posted profits to the Fund. Profits were posted to the Fund at the beginning through the middle of the third quarter. Prices of refined oil products jumped in August as Hurricane Harvey led to the shutdown of major US refineries and the closure of several key pipelines. Profits were posted to the Fund at

 

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the end of the third quarter. Oil markets rose at the end of September on speculation of potential supply disruptions in the Middle East, leading to profits from the Trading Program’s long positions in gas oil and Brent crude positions.

 

The metals sector posted profits to the Fund. Profits were posted to the Fund through the middle of the third quarter. Long positions in copper were among the top markets in August, largely driven by signs of strong demand from China, while the Trading Program’s long gold position benefited from safe haven appeal during the month. Losses were posted to the Fund at the end of the third quarter as copper prices fell on signs of a weakening demand from China. Losses also came from the Trading Program’s long gold position as geopolitical concerns faded.

 

The interest rate sector posted losses to the Fund. Profits were posted to the Fund at the beginning of the third quarter. Fixed income markets were generally quiet throughout July as the Trading Program made small profits from its net long exposures. Profits were posted to the Fund in the middle of the third quarter. Bond yields generally fell in August driven by signs that the U.S. might refrain from raising rates further and later by safe haven appeal amid geopolitical tension. The Trading Program’s long positions in European, Japanese and shorter-dated U.S. bonds all contributed positively. Losses were posted to the Fund at the end of the third quarter due to the Trading Program’s long positions in the United Kingdom and European bond positions.

 

The currency sector posted losses to the Fund. Profits were posted to the Fund at the beginning of the third quarter. On balance the Trading Program was able to make profits from the sector but some of the best and worst markets were currency markets. The Trading Program was positioned to capture the U.S. dollar weakness successfully against the New Zealand dollar, Australian dollar and Brazilian real but it was the wrong way around against the Japanese yen. Aided by resurgent oil prices, the Norwegian krone rallied against its longer term bearish trend, making it the Trading Program’s worst performer. Losses were posted to the Fund in the middle of the third quarter as the Trading Program’s short U.S. dollar positions against commodity currencies were the key underperformers. Also, the New Zealand dollar fell amid signs that the country will keep interest rates on hold for longer. Losses were posted to the Fund at the end of the third quarter as the British sterling rallied after the Bank of England’s hawkish commentary, leading to losses. Other short U.S. dollar positions also struggled.

 

The agriculture sector posted losses to the Fund. Losses were posted to the Fund at the beginning of the third quarter due to the Trading Program’s short positions in sugar, coffee and soy. Adverse weather conditions in Brazil impacted the outlook for crop yields in coffee and sugar. Profits were posted to the Fund in the middle of the third quarter. The Trading Program’s short positions in sugar and soy markets benefited as prices resumed their falls on signs of strong harvests. Losses were posted to the Fund at the end of the third quarter due to the Trading Program’s short positions in soy and wheat markets.

 

January 1, 2016 to September 30, 2016

 

January 1, 2016 to March 31, 2016

 

The Fund experienced a net trading profit of $2,551,977 before brokerage commissions and related fees in the first quarter of 2016. The Fund’s profits were primarily attributable to the interest rates and energy sectors. The stock indices, agriculture, metals and currency sectors posted losses.

 

The interest rate sector posted profits to the Fund. Profits were posted to the Fund at the beginning of the first quarter. Poor economic data from the U.S. and China raised concerns about the global economy and caused bond markets to rally on safe haven appeal. This led to profits from the Trading Program’s long bond positions. Later in January, speculation that the European Central Bank would introduce additional stimulus measures and the Bank of Japan’s decision to reduce interest rates drove further profits. Profits were posted to the Fund in the middle of the quarter. Against a background of heightened volatility in equity markets, safe haven assets

 

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were favored by investors. This, combined with the threat of deflation in Europe and Japan, saw investors favoring longer maturity fixed income markets which resulted in profits posted to the Fund from the Trading Program’s long fixed income positions. Losses were posted to the Fund at the end of the quarter as the Trading Program’s long fixed income exposures were affected as a resurgence of global risk appetite led to bonds generally trading lower.

 

The energy sector posted profits to the Fund. Profits were posted to the Fund at the beginning of the first quarter. The Trading Program’s short positions in oils made gains as prices fell below $30 per barrel, driven by a rise in U.S. inventory levels and the expectation of additional production from Iran. Profits were posted to the Fund in the middle of the quarter as the Trading Program profited from continuing bearish trends in natural gas as an inventory glut pushed prices lower. Losses were posted to the Fund at the end of the quarter due to the Trading Program’s short positions in energies as natural gas rallied during the month of March.

 

The stock indices sector posted losses to the Fund. Losses were posted to the Fund at the beginning of the first quarter. The large sell-offs in stock markets led to losses from the stock indices sector at the beginning of January. However, the Trading Program responded and switched its small net long positions to net short positions. During January, most stock indices recorded losses, but there were profits from short positions in emerging market stock indices. Profits were posted to the Fund in the middle of the quarter. Against a background of heightened volatility in equity markets, safe haven assets were favored by investors in February. The Trading Program’s small short exposures to emerging markets, such as the Indian Nifty and the Chinese H-Shares indices also posted profits to the Fund. Losses were posted to the Fund at the end of the quarter. Mixed directional positioning among stock indices led to small gains overall in March. In particular, gains were made from the long position in Korea but remaining shorts positions in China and other emerging markets detracted from gains.

 

The agriculture sector posted losses to the Fund. Losses were posted to the Fund at the beginning of the first quarter, however this reversed in the middle of the quarter as the Trading Program profited from continuing bearish trends in wheat contracts as an inventory glut pushed prices lower. Losses were posted to the Fund at the end of the quarter due to the Trading Program’s short positions in grains.

 

The metals sector posted losses to the Fund. Profits were posted to the Fund at the beginning of the first quarter, however this reversed in the middle of the quarter. A tighter global supply of zinc as a result of production cuts led to a price rally which negatively affected the Trading Program’s short positions. Gold and silver appreciated during February as investors sought refuge from the equity sell-off. The Trading Program’s positions switched to long positions but were unable to turn a profit in February. Losses were posted to the Fund at the end of the quarter due to the Trading Program’s short positions in metal which rallied during March.

 

The currency sector posted losses to the Fund. Profits were posted to the Fund at the beginning of the first quarter as the Canadian dollar weakened, driven by the declining oil price, while British sterling also fell amid concerns about the health of the United Kingdom’s economy. Losses were posted to the Fund in the middle of the quarter. Currencies proved to be challenging for the Trading Program’s medium term trend following systems as several established trends retraced. The U.S. dollar weakened against its major counterparts, in particular against the Canadian dollar, amid concern over the vulnerability of the American economy. The Swiss franc and the Japanese yen, sought after as safe haven currencies, both rallied despite their respective central banks actively pursuing negative interest rate policies. Losses were posted to the Fund at the end of the quarter due to the U.S. dollar weakening and the Japanese yen strengthening which were reversals of longer-term established trends.

 

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April 1, 2016 to June 30, 2016

 

The Fund experienced a net trading loss of $2,428,768 before brokerage commissions and related fees in the second quarter of 2016. The Fund’s profits were primarily attributable to the interest rates and agriculture sectors. The currency, metals, stock indices and energy sectors posted losses.

 

The interest rate sector posted profits to the Fund. Losses were posted to the Fund at the beginning of the second quarter. A global government bond sell-off led to losses from the Trading Program’s long positions. In Europe, yields spiked after the European Central Bank left rates unchanged, Profits were posted to the Fund in the middle of the second quarter. Longer-maturity European fixed income yields continued to drift lower and thus rewarded the Trading Program’s long exposures. Profits were posted to the Fund at the end of the second quarter. The yield on the 10-year German bund fell into negative territory, while yields on UK and Japanese bonds also touched record lows which resulted in the Trading Program’s long bond positions among the best performers in June.

 

The agriculture sector posted profits to the Fund. Losses were posted to the Fund at the beginning of the second quarter as soy markets experienced a strong rally driven by poor weather in South America, making the Trading Program’s short position in soybean meal the worst overall performer. Profits were posted to the Fund in the middle of the second quarter. Some of the Trading Program’s most profitable positions were those capturing the continued rally in the price of soy related markets. Sugar and soy prices rallied in June resulting in profits posted to the Fund at the end of the second quarter.

 

The currency sector posted losses to the Fund. Losses were posted to the Fund at the beginning of the second quarter. The Japanese yen rose sharply after the Bank of Japan left monetary policy unchanged, to the benefit of the Trading Program. The net short exposure to the British sterling suffered from sentiment swings regarding Brexit. Losses also came from the Trading Program’s net long exposure to the Australian dollar, as speculation of a rate cut increased. Losses were posted to the Fund in the middle of the quarter. The U.S. dollar appreciated against most of its major peers during May despite having weakened for most of the year. However, idiosyncratic events dominated the Trading Program’s losses in currencies wherein in Australia, rates were surprisingly cut (also impacting short fixed income positions) and in both Turkey and Brazil, political events led to rapid depreciations of the local currencies. Profits were posted to the Fund at the end of the second quarter. Gains from the currencies sector came from the Trading Program’s net long exposure to the Japanese yen, which rallied on safe-haven appeal. A weak U.S. jobs report at the start of June caused the U.S. dollar to fall, leading to losses from some long positions in the U.S. Dollar positions such as the long USD/CHF position. The Trading Program responded to this weakness by switching its net exposure to the U.S. dollar from long to short during the month.

 

The metals sector posted losses to the Fund. Losses were posted to the Fund at the beginning of the second quarter due to the Trading Program’s short positions in industrial metals. Losses were posted to the Fund in the middle of the second quarter. The Trading Program incurred losses from long positions in silver and platinum. Losses were posted to the Fund at the end of the second quarter.

 

The stock indices sector posted losses to the Fund. Losses were posted to the Fund at the beginning through the middle of the second quarter. The Trading Program struggled to capture stock market trends, as markets were impacted by uncertainty surrounding global growth and U.S. monetary policy. Losses were posted to the Fund at the end of the second quarter. Stock markets were unsettled in June by the uncertainty surrounding the Brexit debate. While the Trading Program made losses from its small net long exposure to stock indices, some short stock index positions were profitable. Losses also came from the Trading Program’s short position in the VIX index, which surged following the Brexit result.

 

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The energy sector posted losses to the Fund. Losses were posted to the Fund at the beginning of the second quarter. Oil markets rebounded, with Brent crude experiencing gains boosted by a weak U.S. dollar and a decline in U.S. production. While the Trading Program responded by switching to a long position in Brent, losses came from short positions in other oil markets. Losses were posted to the Fund in the middle of the second quarter. Canadian wildfires and supply disruptions in Nigeria contributed to oil gains. The Trading Program’s net positions in the oils complex turned long towards the end of May, but still ended the month with small losses. Losses were posted to the Fund at the end of the second quarter. Natural gas rallied strongly on supply concerns in June, while the Trading Program’s positions in oils also incurred losses as prices oscillated.

 

July 1, 2016 to September 30, 2016

 

The Fund experienced a net trading loss of $1,364,352 before brokerage commissions and related fees in the third quarter of 2016. The Fund’s profits were primarily attributable to the stock indices and metals sectors. The agriculture, energy, interest rates and currency sectors posted losses.

 

The stock indices sector posted profits to the Fund. Profits were posted to the Fund at the beginning of the third quarter due to the Trading Program’s long positions in Asian emerging markets and in the U.S. The Trading Program’s long positions in emerging market stock indices resulted in profits posted to the Fund in the middle of the quarter. Losses were posted to the Fund at the end of the quarter. Global stocks declined after the European Central Bank’s decision to keep monetary policy unchanged.

 

The metals sector posted profits to the Fund. Profits were posted to the Fund at the beginning of the third quarter. Metals prices rallied in July following strong Chinese GDP data to the benefit of the Trading Program’s long positions. Losses were posted to the Fund in the middle of the quarter as expectations of a U.S. Federal Reserve interest rate hike in the near term led to a selloff in precious metals, particularly silver, resulting in losses from the Trading Program’s reducing long exposure. Losses were posted to the Fund at the end of the quarter. The flat contribution in September from the metals sector reflects gains from long positions in palladium, zinc and nickel being offset by losses from short positions in aluminum, copper and gold.

 

The agriculture sector posted losses to the Fund. Losses were posted to the Fund at the beginning of the third quarter as the fall in price of many agricultural markets as crop forecasts improved represented a reversal of the recent trend. Agriculturals was the worst performing sector in July as long positions in sugar and soy markets struggled. Profits were posted to the Fund in the middle of the quarter. A global supply in wheat and corn resulted in bearish trends resulting in profits posted to the Fund due to the Trading Program’s short grains positions. A continued rally in sugar, largely driven by a stronger Brazilian real, also resulted in gains. Profits were posted to the Fund at the end of the quarter due to the Trading Program’s long positions in sugar and coffee as prices rose on Brazilian supply concerns and short positions in meats as prices fell on news of strong U.S. production.

 

The energy sector posted losses to the Fund. Profits were posted to the Fund at the beginning of the third quarter. The decline in oil prices as inventories continued to build was profitable for the Trading Program’s short positions. Losses were posted to the Fund in the middle of the third quarter. Crude oil entered a bull market in August. Prices rebounded partly on speculation that OPEC might try to stabilize the market. This price reversal proved challenging to the Trading Program’s medium-term trend following systems, where reducing short positions incurred losses. Losses were posted to the Fund at the end of the quarter due to the Trading Program’s short position in oil resulting from a tentative agreement by OPEC members to cut oil production towards the end of September.

 

The interest rate sector posted losses to the Fund. Profits were posted to the Fund at the beginning of the third quarter. Fixed income performance was variable which reflected the price oscillations in bond markets throughout July. Gains from U.K. gilts and longer maturity U.S. bonds offset the Trading Program’s losses at the shorter end of the U.S. yield curve. Losses were posted to the Fund in the middle of the third quarter. With the exception of U.K. gilts, longer term yields in developed economies generally rose leading to losses from the Trading Program’s long exposures. Losses were posted to the Fund at the end of the quarter as bond price movements fell early September before recovering but not enough to offset losses.

 

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The currency sector posted losses to the Fund. Losses were posted to the Fund at the beginning through the middle of the third quarter. The Trading Program’s net short U.S. dollar position resulted in losses in August as the U.S. dollar rallied after U.S. Federal Reserve Chair, Janet Yellen’s upbeat assessment of the U.S. economy. A rapid deterioration of South Africa’s fiscal credibility led to a sharp selloff in the South African rand, reversing its longer term strength. Profits were posted to the Fund at the end of the quarter. The news of a tentative agreement by OPEC members to cut oil production towards the end of the September drove the Norwegian krone higher against the Euro, benefiting the Trading Program. Other gains from the currencies sector were driven by U.S. dollar weakness in the wake of the Federal Reserve’s decision not to raise interest rates, particularly the Trading Program’s long positions in emerging market currencies against the U.S. dollar.

 

The Fund has no applicable off-balance sheet arrangements or tabular disclosure of contractual obligations of the type described in Items 303(a)(4) and 303(a)(5) of Regulation S-K.

 

Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

Introduction

 

The Fund is a speculative commodity pool. The market sensitive instruments held by it are acquired for speculative trading purposes and all or substantially all of the Fund’s assets are subject to the risk of trading loss.  Unlike an operating company, the risk of market sensitive instruments is integral, not incidental, to the Fund’s main line of business.

 

Market movements result in frequent changes in the fair market value of the Fund’s open positions and, consequently, in its earnings and cash flow. The Fund’s market risk is influenced by a wide variety of factors, including the level and volatility of interest rates, exchange rates, equity price levels, the market value of financial instruments and contracts, the diversification effects among the Fund’s open positions and the liquidity of the markets in which it trades.

 

The Fund, under the direction of the Trading Advisor, rapidly acquires and liquidates both long and short positions in a wide range of different markets.  Consequently, it is not possible to predict how a particular future market scenario will affect performance, and the Fund’s past performance is not necessarily indicative of its future results.

 

Value at Risk is a measure of the maximum amount which the Fund could reasonably be expected to lose in a given market sector. However, the inherent uncertainty of the Fund’s speculative trading and the recurrence in the markets traded by the Fund of market movements far exceeding expectations could result in actual trading or non-trading losses far beyond the indicated Value at Risk or the Fund’s experience to date (i.e., “risk of ruin”). In light of the foregoing, as well as the risks and uncertainties intrinsic to all future projections, the quantifications included in this section should not be considered to constitute any assurance or representation that the Fund’s losses in any market sector will be limited to Value at Risk or by the Fund’s attempts to manage its market risk.

 

Quantifying The Fund’s Trading Value At Risk

 

Quantitative Forward-Looking Statements

 

The following quantitative disclosures regarding the Fund’s market risk exposures contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor from civil liability provided for such statements by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (set forth in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Securities Exchange Act”)). All quantitative disclosures in this section are deemed to be forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor, except for statements of historical fact.

 

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The Fund’s risk exposure in the various market sectors traded by the Trading Advisor is quantified below in terms of Value at Risk.  Due to the Fund’s fair value accounting, any loss in the fair value of the Fund’s open positions is directly reflected in the Fund’s earnings (realized or unrealized) and cash flow (in the case of exchange-traded contracts in which profits and losses on open positions are settled daily through variation margin).

 

Exchange maintenance margin requirements have been used by the Fund as the measure of its Value at Risk.  Maintenance margin requirements are set by exchanges to equal or exceed the maximum loss in the fair value of any given contract incurred in 95%-99% of the one-day time periods included in the historical sample (generally approximately one year) researched for purposes of establishing margin levels.  The maintenance margin levels are established by dealers and exchanges using historical price studies as well as an assessment of current market volatility (including the implied volatility of the options on a given futures contract) and economic fundamentals to provide a probabilistic estimate of the maximum expected near-term one-day price fluctuation.

 

In the case of market sensitive instruments which are not exchange-traded (almost exclusively currencies in the case of the Fund), the margin requirements for the equivalent futures positions have been used as Value at Risk.  In those rare cases in which a futures-equivalent margin is not available, dealers’ margins have been used.

 

100% positive correlation in the different positions held in each market risk category has been assumed.  Consequently, the margin requirements applicable to the open contracts have been aggregated to determine each trading category’s aggregate Value at Risk.  The diversification effects resulting from the fact that the Fund’s positions are rarely, if ever, 100% positively correlated have not been reflected.

 

The Fund’s Trading Value at Risk in Different Market Sectors

 

The following table indicates the average, highest and lowest trading Value at Risk associated with the Fund’s open positions by market category for the fiscal period. For the nine month periods ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, the Fund’s average capitalization was $90,382,464 and $123,554,393, respectively.

 

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September 30, 2017

 

 

 

Average Value

 

% of Average

 

Highest Value

 

Lowest Value

 

Market Sector

 

at Risk

 

Capitalization

 

at Risk

 

at Risk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agriculture

 

$

1,116,575

 

1.24

%

$

1,776,989

 

$

113,189

 

Currencies

 

2,767,597

 

3.06

%

3,912,231

 

1,898,765

 

Energy

 

712,523

 

0.79

%

1,483,670

 

313,492

 

Interest Rates

 

1,962,990

 

2.17

%

2,816,901

 

1,405,097

 

Metals

 

651,670

 

0.72

%

1,420,504

 

171,724

 

Stock Indices

 

2,460,334

 

2.72

%

3,586,652

 

1,422,222

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

9,671,689

 

10.70

%

$

14,996,947

 

$

5,324,489

 

 

September 30, 2016

 

 

 

Average Value

 

% of Average

 

Highest Value

 

Lowest Value

 

Market Sector

 

at Risk

 

Capitalization

 

at Risk

 

at Risk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agriculture

 

$

997,535

 

0.81

%

$

1,250,659

 

$

786,143

 

Currencies

 

3,420,482

 

2.76

%

5,335,631

 

1,304,625

 

Energy

 

403,483

 

0.33

%

780,510

 

106,389

 

Interest Rates

 

3,479,344

 

2.82

%

6,747,550

 

585,432

 

Metals

 

1,079,914

 

0.86

%

2,272,813

 

404,584

 

Stock Indices

 

676,103

 

0.55

%

1,182,567

 

16,723

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

10,056,861

 

8.13

%

$

17,569,730

 

$

3,203,896

 

 

Material Limitations on Value at Risk as an Assessment of Market Risk

 

The face value of the market sector instruments held by the Fund is typically many times the applicable maintenance margin requirement (maintenance margin requirements generally ranging between approximately 1% and 10% of contract face value) as well as many times the capitalization of the Fund.  The magnitude of the Fund’s open positions creates a “risk of ruin” not typically found in most other investment vehicles.  Because of the size of its positions, certain market conditions — unusual, but historically recurring from time to time — could cause the Fund to incur severe losses over a short period of time.   The foregoing Value at Risk table — as well as the past performance of the Fund — gives no indication of this “risk of ruin.”

 

Non-Trading Risk

 

Foreign Currency Balances; Cash on Deposit with MLPF&S and MLI

 

The Fund has non-trading market risk on its foreign cash balances not needed for margin. However, these balances (as well as the market risk they represent) are immaterial.

 

The Fund also has non-trading market risk on approximately 90% of its assets which are held in cash at MLPF&S. The value of this cash is not interest rate sensitive, but there is cash flow risk in that if interest rates decline so will the cash flow generated on these monies.

 

30



 

Qualitative Disclosures Regarding Primary Trading Risk Exposures

 

The following qualitative disclosures regarding the Fund’s market risk exposures — except for (i) those disclosures that are statements of historical fact and (ii) the descriptions of how the Fund manages its primary market risk exposures — constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act. The Fund’s primary market risk exposures as well as the strategies used and to be used by MLAI and the Trading Advisor for managing such exposures are subject to numerous uncertainties, contingencies and risks, any one of which could cause the actual results of the Fund’s risk controls to differ materially from the objectives of such strategies. Government interventions, defaults and expropriations, illiquid markets, the emergence of dominant fundamental factors, political upheavals, changes in historical price relationships, an influx of new market participants, increased regulation and many other factors could result in material losses as well as in material changes to the risk exposures and the risk management strategies of the Fund. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s current market exposure and/or risk management strategies will not change materially or that any such strategies will be effective in either the short- or long-term. Investors must be prepared to lose all or substantially all of the time value of their investment in the Fund.

 

The following were the primary trading risk exposures of the Fund as of December 31, 2016, by market sector. There have been no material changes at September 30, 2017.

 

Interest Rates

 

Interest rate movements directly affect the price of derivative sovereign bond positions held by the Fund and indirectly the value of its stock index and currency positions. Interest rate movements in one country as well as relative interest rate movements between countries may materially impact the Fund’s profitability. The Fund’s primary interest rate exposure is to interest rate fluctuations in the United States and the other G-7 countries.  However, the Fund may also take positions in the government debt of smaller nations. MLAI anticipates that G-7 interest rates will remain the primary market exposure of the Fund for the foreseeable future.

 

Currencies

 

The Fund trades in a number of currencies. However, the Fund’s major exposures have typically been in the U.S. dollar/Japanese yen, U.S. dollar/Euro and U.S. dollar/Swiss franc positions. The Fund does not anticipate that the risk profile of the Fund’s currency sector will change significantly in the future. The currency trading Value at Risk figure includes foreign margin amounts converted into U.S. dollars with an incremental adjustment to reflect the exchange rate risk of maintaining Value at Risk in a functional currency other than U.S. dollars.

 

Stock Indices

 

The Fund’s primary equity exposure is to S&P 500, Nikkei and German DAX equity index price movements. The Fund is primarily exposed to the risk of adverse price trends or static markets in the major U.S., European and Asian indices.

 

Metals

 

The Fund’s metals market exposure is to fluctuations in the price of precious and non-precious metals.

 

31



 

Agricultural Commodities

 

The Fund’s primary agricultural commodities exposure is to agricultural price movements which are often directly affected by severe or unexpected weather conditions. Soybeans, cocoa and livestock accounted for the substantial bulk of the Fund’s agricultural commodities exposure.

 

Energy

 

The Fund’s primary energy market exposure is to natural gas and crude oil price movements, often resulting from political developments in the Middle East. Oil prices can be volatile and substantial profits and losses have been and are expected to continue to be experienced in this market.

 

Qualitative Disclosures Regarding Non-Trading Risk Exposure

 

The following were the primary non-trading risk exposures of the Fund as of December 31, 2016. There have been no material changes at September 30, 2017.

 

Foreign Currency Balances

 

The Fund’s primary foreign currency balances are in Japanese yen, British pounds and Euros.

 

U.S. Dollar Cash Balance

 

The Fund holds the vast majority of its U.S. dollars in cash at MLPF&S and MLI. The Fund has immaterial cash flow interest rate risk on its cash on deposit with MLPF&S in that declining interest rates would cause the income from such cash to decline.

 

Qualitative Disclosures Regarding Means of Managing Risk Exposure

 

Trading Risk

 

MLAI has procedures in place intended to control market risk, although there can be no assurance that it will, in fact, succeed in doing so.  While MLAI does not itself intervene in the markets to hedge or diversify the Fund’s market exposure, MLAI may urge the Trading Advisor to reallocate positions in an attempt to avoid over-concentrations.  However, such interventions are unusual, except in cases in which it appears that the Trading Advisor has begun to deviate from past practice and trading policies or to be trading erratically. MLAI’s basic control procedures consist of the process of monitoring the Trading Advisor with the market risk controls being applied by the Trading Advisor itself.

 

Risk Management

 

With respect to market and liquidity risk, the Trading Advisor employs a value-at-risk methodology and other risk management procedures to monitor the exposure of the Trading Program to this risk within pre-defined guidelines.  If risk exceeds the maximum prescribed level, risk reducing investments will be entered into.  Additionally, the Trading Advisor has developed mechanisms designed to ensure that risk is controlled effectively at both an individual market and portfolio level.  In seeking to control the risks of the Trading Program, the Trading Advisor may intervene in the risk management framework in extreme market situations where the Trading Advisor believes that an intervention is in the best interests of its clients.  The Trading Advisor has an Operational Risk Committee, which is responsible for managing all operational risk affecting the Trading Advisor.  Operational risk is defined as the risk of loss resulting from inadequate or failed processes, people and systems or external events.  It includes the risk of failure of a broker or other service provider, the risk of the loss of investment or operational capability at the Trading Advisor, the risk of breaches of intellectual property security and the risk of breaches of law or regulation.

 

32



 

Non-Trading Risk

 

The Fund controls the non-trading exchange rate risk by regularly converting foreign currency balances back into U.S. dollars at least once per week, and more frequently if a particular foreign currency balance becomes unusually high.

 

The Fund has cash flow interest rate risk on its cash on deposit with MLPF&S in that declining interest rates would cause the income from such cash to decline. However, a certain amount of cash or cash equivalents must be held by the Fund in order to facilitate margin payments and pay expenses and redemptions. MLAI does not take any steps to limit the cash flow risk on its cash held on deposit at MLPF&S.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

MLAI’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, on behalf of the Fund, have evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) or Rule 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act) with respect to the Fund as of the end of the quarter which ended September 30, 2017, and, based on their evaluation, have concluded that these disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

 

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

No change in internal control over financial reporting (in connection with Rule 13a-15 or Rule 15d-15 under the Securities Exchange Act) occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2017 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1.                               Legal Proceedings

 

None.

 

Item 1A.  Risk Factors

 

There are no material changes from risk factors as previously disclosed in the Fund’s report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 17, 2017.

 

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

 

(a)  Units are privately offered and sold to “accredited investors” (as defined in Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act) in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and Rule 506 thereunder.  The selling agent of the Units is MLPF&S.

 

The Fund’s sales of unregistered securities are as follows for each Class of Units:

 

33



 

CLASS A

 

 

 

Subscription

 

 

 

 

 

Amount

 

Units

 

NAV (1)

 

1/01/2017

 

$

24,375

 

14,653

 

$

1.6560

 

1/16/2017

 

 

 

1.6689

 

2/01/2017

 

 

 

1.6461

 

2/16/2017

 

24,500

 

14,368

 

1.6976

 

3/01/2017

 

 

 

1.6694

 

3/16/2017

 

 

 

1.6412

 

4/01/2017

 

 

 

1.6117

 

4/16/2017

 

 

 

1.6048

 

5/01/2017

 

 

 

1.5969

 

5/16/2017

 

 

 

1.5931

 

6/01/2017

 

49,500

 

31,226

 

1.5771

 

6/16/2017

 

 

 

1.5834

 

7/01/2017

 

 

 

 

1.5343

 

7/16/2017

 

 

 

1.5291

 

8/01/2017

 

49,875

 

32,388

 

1.5399

 

8/16/2017

 

 

 

1.5201

 

9/01/2017

 

79,150

 

49,896

 

1.5863

 

9/16/2017

 

 

 

1.5298

 

10/01/2017

 

 

 

1.5120

 

 

CLASS C*

 

 

 

Subscription

 

 

 

 

 

Amount

 

Units

 

NAV (1)

 

1/01/2017

 

$

50,000

 

33,693

 

$

1.4766

 

1/16/2017

 

 

 

1.4874

 

2/01/2017

 

146,000

 

99,043

 

1.4664

 

2/16/2017

 

 

 

1.5116

 

3/01/2017

 

 

 

1.4858

 

3/16/2017

 

 

 

1.4600

 

4/01/2017

 

 

 

1.4331

 

4/16/2017

 

 

 

1.4263

 

5/01/2017

 

 

 

1.4186

 

5/16/2017

 

 

 

1.4147

 

6/01/2017

 

 

 

1.3997

 

6/16/2017

 

 

 

1.4049

 

7/01/2017

 

 

 

1.3619

 

7/16/2017

 

 

 

1.3568

 

8/01/2017

 

 

 

1.3658

 

8/16/2017

 

 

 

1.3476

 

9/01/2017

 

 

 

1.4057

 

9/16/2017

 

 

 

1.3551

 

10/01/2017

 

 

 

1.3388

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CLASS D

 

 

 

Subscription

 

 

 

 

 

Amount

 

Units

 

NAV (1)

 

1/01/2017

 

$

 

 

$

2.0080

 

1/16/2017

 

 

 

2.0249

 

2/01/2017

 

 

 

1.9986

 

2/16/2017

 

 

 

2.0625

 

3/01/2017

 

 

 

2.0296

 

3/16/2017

 

 

 

1.9967

 

4/01/2017

 

 

 

1.9621

 

4/16/2017

 

 

 

1.9549

 

5/01/2017

 

 

 

1.9466

 

5/16/2017

 

 

 

1.9433

 

6/01/2017

 

 

 

1.9250

 

6/16/2017

 

 

 

1.9343

 

7/01/2017

 

 

 

1.8754

 

7/16/2017

 

 

 

1.8703

 

8/01/2017

 

 

 

1.8847

 

8/16/2017

 

 

 

1.8616

 

9/01/2017

 

 

 

1.9439

 

9/16/2017

 

 

 

1.8753

 

10/01/2017

 

 

 

1.8541

 

 

CLASS I

 

 

 

Subscription

 

 

 

 

 

Amount

 

Units

 

NAV (1)

 

1/01/2017

 

$

 

 

$

1.7327

 

1/16/2017

 

 

 

1.7464

 

2/01/2017

 

31,000

 

17,896

 

1.7229

 

2/16/2017

 

 

 

1.7773

 

3/01/2017

 

 

 

1.7482

 

3/16/2017

 

 

 

1.7189

 

4/01/2017

 

 

 

1.6882

 

4/16/2017

 

 

 

1.6813

 

5/01/2017

 

 

 

1.6734

 

5/16/2017

 

 

 

1.6678

 

6/01/2017

 

 

 

1.6510

 

6/16/2017

 

 

 

1.6579

 

7/01/2017

 

 

 

1.6098

 

7/16/2017

 

 

 

1.6047

 

8/01/2017

 

 

 

1.6163

 

8/16/2017

 

 

 

1.5958

 

9/01/2017

 

 

 

1.6655

 

9/16/2017

 

 

 

1.6065

 

10/01/2017

 

 

 

1.5881

 

 

34



 

CLASS M

 

 

 

Subscription

 

 

 

 

 

Amount

 

Units

 

NAV (1)

 

1/01/2017

 

$

308,088

 

285,135

 

$

1.0759

 

1/16/2017

 

 

 

1.0851

 

2/01/2017

 

15,000

 

13,948

 

1.0709

 

2/16/2017

 

 

 

1.1047

 

3/01/2017

 

 

 

1.0871

 

3/16/2017

 

75,732

 

70,488

 

1.0687

 

4/01/2017

 

 

 

1.0502

 

4/16/2017

 

 

 

1.0453

 

5/01/2017

 

 

 

1.0409

 

5/16/2017

 

 

 

1.0391

 

6/01/2017

 

 

 

1.0290

 

6/16/2017

 

 

 

1.0339

 

7/01/2017

 

 

 

1.0040

 

7/16/2017

 

150,000

 

149,805

 

1.0013

 

8/01/2017

 

 

 

1.0090

 

8/16/2017

 

15,000

 

15,051

 

0.9966

 

9/01/2017

 

 

 

1.0407

 

9/16/2017

 

 

 

1.0042

 

10/01/2017

 

150,000

 

151,027

 

0.9932

 

 


(1) Beginning of the period Net Asset Value

 

(* For Class C — Effective after February 1, 2017, the Fund will no longer offer Class C Units to new or existing investors.)

 

Class A Units are subject to upfront sales commissions paid to MLPF&S ranging from 1.0% to 2.5% of  an investor’s gross subscription amount. Effective after February 1, 2017 the range of upfront sales commissions applicable to the Class A Units was updated to be up to 2.5%. Class D Units and Class I Units are subject to upfront sales commissions paid to MLPF&S up to 2.5% of an investor’s gross subscription amount. Sales commissions are directly deducted from subscription amounts.

 

(b)  Not applicable.

(c)  Not applicable.

 

Item 3.                               Defaults Upon Senior Securities

 

None.

 

Item 4.                               Mine Safety Disclosures

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 5.                               Other Information

 

None.

 

35



 

Item 6.                               Exhibits

 

The following exhibits are filed herewith to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q:

 

31.01 and

31.02                                                                 Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certifications

 

Exhibit 31.01

and 31.02                                         Are filed herewith.

 

32.01 and

32.02                                                                 Section 1350 Certifications

 

Exhibit 32.01

and 32.02                                         Are filed herewith.

 

Exhibit 101                                 Are filed herewith.

 

The following materials from the Fund’s quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2017 formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Statements of Financial Condition (ii) Statements of Operations (iii) Statements of Changes in Members’ Capital (iv) Financial Data Highlights and (v) Notes to Financial Statements, tagged as blocks of text.

 

36



 

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.

 

 

 

ASPECT FUTURESACCESS LLC

.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

MERRILL LYNCH ALTERNATIVE

 

 

INVESTMENTS LLC

 

 

(Manager)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date: November 14, 2017

By:

/s/ NANCY FAHMY

 

 

Nancy Fahmy

 

 

Chief Executive Officer and President

 

 

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date: November 14, 2017

By:

/s/ BARBRA E. KOCSIS

 

 

Barbra E. Kocsis

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

(Principal Financial Officer)

 

37