Attached files
file | filename |
---|---|
10-K/A - ML TREND-FOLLOWING FUTURES FUND L.P. | efc10-181_fm10ka.htm |
EX-32.01 - ML TREND-FOLLOWING FUTURES FUND L.P. | efc10-181_ex3201.htm |
EX-13.03 - ML TREND-FOLLOWING FUTURES FUND L.P. | efc10-181_ex1303.htm |
EX-13.04 - ML TREND-FOLLOWING FUTURES FUND L.P. | efc10-181_ex1304.htm |
EX-13.01 - ML TREND-FOLLOWING FUTURES FUND L.P. | efc10-181_ex1301.htm |
EX-31.01 - ML TREND-FOLLOWING FUTURES FUND L.P. | efc10-181_ex3101.htm |
EX-13.05 - ML TREND-FOLLOWING FUTURES FUND L.P. | efc10-181_ex1305.htm |
EX-32.02 - ML TREND-FOLLOWING FUTURES FUND L.P. | efc10-181_ex32021.htm |
EX-31.02 - ML TREND-FOLLOWING FUTURES FUND L.P. | efc10-181_ex3102.htm |
EXHIBIT
13.02
ML ASPECT
FUTURESACCESS LLC
(A
Delaware Limited Liability Company)
|
||
Financial
Statements for the year ended
December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 and Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |

ML ASPECT
FUTURESACCESS LLC
(A Delaware Limited Liability
Company)
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
Page | |
REPORT
OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
|
1
|
FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS:
|
|
Statements
of Financial Condition as of December 31, 2008 and 2007
|
2
|
Statements
of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and
2006
|
3 |
Statements
of Changes in Member’s Capital for the years ended December 31,
2008,
|
|
2007
and 2006
|
4
|
Financial
Data Highlights for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and
2006
|
6 |
Notes
to Financial Statements
|
9 |
ML ASPECT
FUTURESACCESS LLC
(A Delaware Limited Liability
Company)
STATEMENTS
OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
DECEMBER
31, 2008 AND 2007
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
ASSETS:
|
||||||||
Equity
in commodity futures trading accounts:
|
||||||||
Cash
(including restricted cash of $24,334,309 for 2008 and $40,922,943 for
2007)
|
$ | 334,291,578 | $ | 267,131,712 | ||||
Net
unrealized profit on open contracts
|
11,866,510 | 9,368,575 | ||||||
Cash
|
241,619 | 40,779 | ||||||
Accrued
interest
|
19,502 | 966,433 | ||||||
TOTAL
ASSETS
|
$ | 346,419,209 | $ | 277,507,499 | ||||
LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS’
CAPITAL:
|
||||||||
LIABILITIES:
|
||||||||
Brokerage
commissions payable
|
$ | 58,192 | $ | 126,258 | ||||
Management
fee payable
|
536,784 | 419,877 | ||||||
Sponsor
fee payable
|
279,746 | 247,535 | ||||||
Redemptions
payable
|
9,241,236 | 8,473,549 | ||||||
Perfomance
fee payable
|
15,635,853 | 1,956,978 | ||||||
Initial
offering costs payable
|
- | 19,200 | ||||||
Other
|
233,592 | 249,128 | ||||||
Total
liabilities
|
25,985,403 | 11,492,525 | ||||||
MEMBERS’
CAPITAL:
|
||||||||
Sponsor's
Interest (20,647 Units and 20,647 Units)
|
32,331 | 25,576 | ||||||
Members'
Interest (195,021,681 Units and 208,133,972 Units)
|
320,401,475 | 265,989,398 | ||||||
Total
members’ capital
|
320,433,806 | 266,014,974 | ||||||
TOTAL
LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS' CAPITAL
|
$ | 346,419,209 | $ | 277,507,499 | ||||
NET
ASSET VALUE PER UNIT (SEE NOTE 6)
|
||||||||
(Based
on 195,042,328 and 208,154,619 Units outstanding, unlimited Units
authorized)
|
||||||||
See
notes to financial statements.
|
2
ML ASPECT FUTURESACCESS LLC
(A Delaware Limited Liability
Company)
STATEMENTS
OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008, 2007 AND 2006
2008
|
2007
|
2006
|
||||||||||
TRADING
PROFIT (LOSS):
|
||||||||||||
Realized
|
$ | 93,209,117 | $ | 12,040,023 | $ | 3,685,911 | ||||||
Change
in unrealized
|
2,497,935 | 3,857,805 | 4,871,886 | |||||||||
Brokerage
commissions
|
(787,841 | ) | (1,052,707 | ) | (364,137 | ) | ||||||
Total
trading profit (loss)
|
94,919,211 | 14,845,121 | 8,193,660 | |||||||||
INVESTMENT
INCOME:
|
||||||||||||
Interest
|
5,306,094 | 10,674,137 | 3,456,878 | |||||||||
EXPENSES:
|
||||||||||||
Management
fee
|
5,712,987 | 4,139,254 | 1,479,278 | |||||||||
Sponsor
fee
|
3,172,388 | 2,781,129 | 1,358,328 | |||||||||
Performance
fee
|
16,320,740 | 2,038,070 | 1,416,045 | |||||||||
Other
|
743,997 | 665,497 | 663,356 | |||||||||
Total
expenses
|
25,950,112 | 9,623,950 | 4,917,007 | |||||||||
NET
INVESTMENT INCOME (LOSS)
|
(20,644,018 | ) | 1,050,187 | (1,460,129 | ) | |||||||
NET
INCOME (LOSS)
|
$ | 74,275,193 | $ | 15,895,308 | $ | 6,733,531 | ||||||
NET
INCOME (LOSS) PER UNIT:
|
||||||||||||
Weighted
average number of Units outstanding
|
||||||||||||
Class
A
|
18,577,490 | 17,685,024 | 6,463,612 | |||||||||
Class
C
|
76,318,438 | 77,729,481 | 41,576,411 | |||||||||
Class
D
|
10,392,579 | 16,490,950 | 9,623,303 | |||||||||
Class
I
|
10,689,594 | 13,298,470 | 8,746,222 | |||||||||
Class
DS*
|
31,288,535 | 11,050,699 | ||||||||||
Class
DT**
|
61,607,169 | 82,941,449 | ||||||||||
Net
income (loss) per weighted average Unit
|
||||||||||||
Class
A
|
$ | 0.3475 | $ | 0.0917 | $ | 0.1353 | ||||||
Class
C
|
$ | 0.3154 | $ | 0.0782 | $ | 0.0948 | ||||||
Class
D
|
$ | 0.3998 | $ | 0.0994 | $ | 0.0862 | ||||||
Class
I
|
$ | 0.3644 | $ | 0.0942 | $ | 0.1242 | ||||||
Class
DS*
|
$ | 0.3373 | $ | 0.1602 | ||||||||
Class
DT**
|
$ | 0.4081 | $ | 0.0426 | ||||||||
*Class
DS commenced on April 2, 2007 and was previously known as Class
D-SM.
|
||||||||||||
**Class
DT commenced on June 1, 2007 and was previously known as Class
D-TF.
|
||||||||||||
See
notes to financial statements.
|
3
ML ASPECT
FUTURESACCESS LLC
(A Delaware Limited Liability
Company)
STATEMENTS
OF CHANGES IN MEMBER’S CAPITAL
FOR THE
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008, 2007 AND 2006
Members'
Capital December 31, 2005
|
Members'
Capital December 31, 2006
|
Members'
Capital December 31, 2007
|
Members'
Capital December 31, 2008
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Subscriptions
|
Redemptions
|
Subscriptions
|
Redemptions
|
Subscriptions
|
Redemptions
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class
A
|
2,099,133 | 12,533,998 | (834,543 | ) | 13,798,588 | 5,509,263 | (1,419,855 | ) | 17,887,996 | 4,471,164 | (3,654,554 | ) | 18,704,606 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class
C
|
15,745,021 | 50,660,812 | (3,092,087 | ) | 63,313,746 | 30,581,247 | (14,724,727 | ) | 79,170,266 | 14,556,104 | (25,455,625 | ) | 68,270,745 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class
D
|
4,742,754 | 13,160,166 | (4,371,011 | ) | 13,531,909 | 6,087,954 | (3,319,371 | ) | 16,300,492 | 659,229 | (10,043,745 | ) | 6,915,976 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class
I
|
5,948,484 | 6,289,323 | (119,170 | ) | 12,118,637 | 3,341,115 | (4,095,954 | ) | 11,363,798 | 3,063,709 | (5,466,260 | ) | 8,961,247 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class
DS*
|
- | - | - | - | 13,988,458 | (220,336 | ) | 13,768,122 | 37,814,013 | (10,038,276 | ) | 41,543,859 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class
DT**
|
- | - | - | - | 91,381,476 | (21,738,178 | ) | 69,643,298 | 1,552,098 | (20,570,148 | ) | 50,625,248 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total
Members' Units
|
28,535,392 | 82,644,299 | (8,416,811 | ) | 102,762,880 | 150,889,513 | (45,518,421 | ) | 208,133,972 | 62,116,317 | (75,228,608 | ) | 195,021,681 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class
A
|
10,319 | - | - | 10,319 | - | - | 10,319 | - | - | 10,319 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class
C
|
10,328 | - | - | 10,328 | - | - | 10,328 | - | - | 10,328 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total
Sponsor's Units
|
20,647 | - | - | 20,647 | - | - | 20,647 | - | - | 20,647 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
*Class
DS commenced on April 2, 2007 and was previously known as Class
D-SM.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
**Class
DT commenced on June 1, 2007 and was previously known as Class
D-TF.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
See
notes to financial statements.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4
ML ASPECT
FUTURESACCESS LLC
(A Delaware Limited Liability
Company)
STATEMENTS
OF CHANGES IN MEMBERS' CAPITAL
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008, 2007 AND 2006
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008, 2007 AND 2006
Members'
Capital December 31, 2005
|
Subscriptions
|
Redemptions
|
Net
Income
|
Members'
Capital December 31, 2006
|
Subscriptions
|
Redemptions
|
Net
Income
|
Members'
Capital December 31, 2007
|
Subscriptions
|
Redemptions
|
Net
Income
|
Members'
Capital December 31, 2008
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class
A
|
$ | 2,233,102 | $ | 13,919,256 | $ | (935,963 | ) | $ | 873,239 | $ | 16,089,634 | $ | 6,430,196 | $ | (1,712,053 | ) | $ | 1,620,687 | $ | 22,428,464 | $ | 6,143,861 | $ | (5,234,543 | ) | $ | 6,452,930 | $ | 29,790,712 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Class
C
|
16,664,400 | 55,538,003 | (3,393,896 | ) | 3,942,484 | 72,750,991 | 35,450,778 | (17,423,204 | ) | 6,080,158 | 96,858,723 | 19,482,963 | (35,319,265 | ) | 24,068,580 | 105,091,001 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class
D
|
5,186,047 | 15,378,348 | (4,979,747 | ) | 829,458 | 16,414,106 | 7,675,895 | (4,145,982 | ) | 1,639,960 | 21,583,979 | 975,000 | (14,864,105 | ) | 4,154,640 | 11,849,514 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class
I
|
6,299,150 | 6,943,693 | (130,958 | ) | 1,086,399 | 14,198,284 | 3,891,855 | (4,968,583 | ) | 1,252,596 | 14,374,152 | 4,181,986 | (7,985,878 | ) | 3,894,853 | 14,465,113 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class
DS*
|
- | - | - | - | - | 16,742,584 | (276,777 | ) | 1,770,147 | 18,235,954 | 56,116,079 | (14,003,395 | ) | 10,554,233 | 70,902,871 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class
DT**
|
- | - | - | - | - | 116,922,597 | (27,944,560 | ) | 3,530,089 | 92,508,126 | 2,229,235 | (31,578,299 | ) | 25,143,202 | 88,302,264 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total
Members' Interest
|
$ | 30,382,699 | $ | 91,779,300 | $ | (9,440,564 | ) | $ | 6,731,580 | $ | 119,453,015 | $ | 187,113,905 | $ | (56,471,159 | ) | $ | 15,893,637 | $ | 265,989,398 | $ | 89,129,124 | $ | (108,985,485 | ) | $ | 74,268,438 | $ | 320,401,475 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Class
A
|
$ | 11,001 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 1,034 | $ | 12,035 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 905 | $ | 12,940 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 3,495 | $ | 16,435 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class
C
|
10,953 | - | - | 917 | 11,870 | - | - | 766 | 12,636 | - | - | 3,260 | 15,896 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total
Sponsor's Interest
|
$ | 21,954 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 1,951 | $ | 23,905 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 1,671 | $ | 25,576 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 6,755 | $ | 32,331 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total
Members' Capital
|
$ | 30,404,653 | $ | 91,779,300 | $ | (9,440,564 | ) | $ | 6,733,531 | $ | 119,476,920 | $ | 187,113,905 | $ | (56,471,159 | ) | $ | 15,895,308 | $ | 266,014,974 | $ | 89,129,124 | $ | (108,985,485 | ) | $ | 74,275,193 | $ | 320,433,806 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
*Class
DS commenced on April 2, 2007 and was previously known as Class
D-SM.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
**Class
DT commenced on June 1, 2007 and was previously known as Class
D-TF.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
See
notes to financial statements.
|
5
ML ASPECT
FUTURESACCESS LLC
(A Delaware Limited Liability
Company)
FINANCIAL
DATA HIGHLIGHTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008
The
following per Unit data and ratios have been derived from information provided
in the financial statements.
Per Unit Operating
Performance:
|
Class
A
|
Class
C
|
Class
D
|
Class
I
|
Class
DS *
|
Class
DT **
|
||||||||||||||||||
Net
asset value, beginning of year
|
$ | 1.2538 | $ | 1.2234 | $ | 1.3241 | $ | 1.2649 | $ | 1.3245 | $ | 1.3283 | ||||||||||||
Realized
and change in unrealized trading profit (loss)
|
0.4553 | 0.4427 | 0.4925 | 0.4616 | 0.4811 | 0.4891 | ||||||||||||||||||
Brokerage
commissions
|
(0.0037 | ) | (0.0036 | ) | (0.0039 | ) | (0.0037 | ) | (0.0039 | ) | (0.0039 | ) | ||||||||||||
Interest
income
|
0.0247 | 0.0241 | 0.0265 | 0.0250 | 0.0261 | 0.0264 | ||||||||||||||||||
Expenses
|
(0.1374 | ) | (0.1473 | ) | (0.1258 | ) | (0.1336 | ) | (0.1211 | ) | (0.0957 | ) | ||||||||||||
- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net
asset value, end of year
|
$ | 1.5927 | $ | 1.5393 | $ | 1.7134 | $ | 1.6142 | $ | 1.7067 | $ | 1.7442 | ||||||||||||
Total Return:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total
return before Performance fees
|
34.07 | % | 32.81 | % | 36.67 | % | 34.69 | % | 35.82 | % | 36.81 | % | ||||||||||||
Performance
fees
|
-6.22 | % | -6.24 | % | -6.32 | % | -6.24 | % | -6.04 | % | -4.76 | % | ||||||||||||
Total
return after Performance fees
|
27.03 | % | 25.82 | % | 29.41 | % | 27.61 | % | 28.86 | % | 31.31 | % | ||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Members'
Capital:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Expenses
(excluding Performance fees)
|
3.84 | % | 4.86 | % | 2.36 | % | 3.45 | % | 2.30 | % | 1.80 | % | ||||||||||||
Performance
fees
|
5.90 | % | 5.91 | % | 5.98 | % | 5.91 | % | 5.74 | % | 4.48 | % | ||||||||||||
Expenses
(including Performance fees)
|
9.74 | % | 10.77 | % | 8.34 | % | 9.36 | % | 8.04 | % | 6.28 | % | ||||||||||||
Net
investment income (loss)
|
-7.93 | % | -8.96 | % | -6.51 | % | -7.54 | % | -6.24 | % | -4.48 | % | ||||||||||||
*Class DS and was previously known as Class D-SM. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
**Class
DT was previously known as Class D-TF.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
See
notes to financial statements.
|
6
ML ASPECT
FUTURESACCESS LLC
(A Delaware Limited Liability
Company)
FINANCIAL
DATA HIGHLIGHTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2007
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2007
The
following per Unit data and ratios have been derived from information provided
in the financial statements.
Per Unit Operating
Performance:
|
Class
A
|
Class
C
|
Class
D
|
Class
I
|
Class
DS (a)*
|
Class
DT (a)**
|
||||||||||||||||||
Net
asset value, beginning of period
|
$ | 1.1660 | $ | 1.1491 | $ | 1.2130 | $ | 1.1716 | $ | 1.1631 | $ | 1.2795 | ||||||||||||
Realized
trading profit
|
0.0733 | 0.0718 | 0.0766 | 0.0737 | 0.1013 | 0.0343 | ||||||||||||||||||
Change
in unrealized trading profit (loss)
|
0.0226 | 0.0220 | 0.0240 | 0.0229 | 0.0563 | (0.0026 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Brokerage
commissions
|
(0.0057 | ) | (0.0056 | ) | (0.0059 | ) | (0.0057 | ) | (0.0046 | ) | (0.0035 | ) | ||||||||||||
Interest
income
|
0.0580 | 0.0569 | 0.0607 | 0.0584 | 0.0456 | 0.0354 | ||||||||||||||||||
Expenses
|
(0.0604 | ) | (0.0708 | ) | (0.0443 | ) | (0.0560 | ) | (0.0372 | ) | (0.0148 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net
asset value, end of period
|
$ | 1.2538 | $ | 1.2234 | $ | 1.3241 | $ | 1.2649 | $ | 1.3245 | $ | 1.3283 | ||||||||||||
Total Return:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total
return before Performance fees
|
8.61 | % | 7.54 | % | 10.26 | % | 9.05 | % | 15.06 | % | 3.89 | % | ||||||||||||
Performance
fees
|
-1.38 | % | -1.36 | % | -1.35 | % | -1.38 | % | -1.35 | % | -0.17 | % | ||||||||||||
Total
return after Performance fees
|
7.53 | % | 6.47 | % | 9.15 | % | 7.96 | % | 13.88 | % | 3.81 | % | ||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Members'
Capital:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Expenses
(excluding Performance fees)
|
3.92 | % | 4.98 | % | 2.39 | % | 3.54 | % | 1.75 | % | 1.05 | % | ||||||||||||
Performance
fees
|
1.24 | % | 1.20 | % | 1.06 | % | 1.14 | % | 1.25 | % | 0.15 | % | ||||||||||||
Expenses
(including Performance fees)
|
5.16 | % | 6.18 | % | 3.45 | % | 4.68 | % | 3.00 | % | 1.20 | % | ||||||||||||
Net
investment income (loss)
|
-0.20 | % | -1.19 | % | 1.53 | % | 0.34 | % | 0.62 | % | 1.63 | % | ||||||||||||
*Class
DS commenced on April 2, 2007 and was previously known as Class
D-SM.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
**Class
DT commenced on June 1, 2007 and was previously known as Class
D-TF.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
(a)
The ratios to average members' capital for these two classes have
been annualized. The total return ratios are not
annualized.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
See
notes to financial statements.
|
7
ML ASPECT
FUTURESACCESS LLC
(A Delaware Limited Liability
Company)
FINANCIAL
DATA HIGHLIGHTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006
The
following per Unit data and ratios have been derived from information provided
in the financial statements.
Per Unit Operating
Performance:
|
Class
A
|
Class
C
|
Class
D
|
Class
I
|
||||||||||||
Net
asset value, beginning of year
|
$ | 1.0638 | $ | 1.0584 | $ | 1.0935 | $ | 1.0590 | ||||||||
Realized
trading profit
|
0.0429 | 0.0422 | 0.0444 | 0.0422 | ||||||||||||
Change
in unrealized trading profit (loss)
|
0.0872 | 0.0866 | 0.0904 | 0.0873 | ||||||||||||
Brokerage
commissions
|
(0.0057 | ) | (0.0057 | ) | (0.0059 | ) | (0.0057 | ) | ||||||||
Interest
income
|
0.0505 | 0.0500 | 0.0522 | 0.0505 | ||||||||||||
Expenses
|
(0.0727 | ) | (0.0824 | ) | (0.0616 | ) | (0.0617 | ) | ||||||||
Net
asset value, end of year
|
$ | 1.1660 | $ | 1.1491 | $ | 1.2130 | $ | 1.1716 | ||||||||
Total Return:
|
||||||||||||||||
Total
return before Performance fees
|
11.70 | % | 10.59 | % | 13.38 | % | 12.14 | % | ||||||||
Performance
fees
|
-2.29 | % | -2.23 | % | -2.56 | % | -1.72 | % | ||||||||
Total
return after Performance fees
|
9.45 | % | 8.42 | % | 10.79 | % | 10.53 | % | ||||||||
Ratios to Average Members'
Capital:
|
||||||||||||||||
Expenses
(excluding Performance fees)
|
4.69 | % | 5.73 | % | 3.17 | % | 4.10 | % | ||||||||
Performance
fees
|
2.82 | % | 2.01 | % | 1.89 | % | 1.77 | % | ||||||||
Expenses
(including Performance fees)
|
7.51 | % | 7.74 | % | 5.07 | % | 5.87 | % | ||||||||
Net
investment loss
|
-2.47 | % | -2.76 | % | 0.01 | % | -1.12 | % | ||||||||
See
notes to financial statements.
|
8
ML ASPECT
FUTURESACCESS LLC
(A Delaware Limited Liability
Company)
NOTES TO
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1.
|
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING
POLICIES
|
|
Organization
|
ML Aspect
FuturesAccess LLC (the “Fund”), a Merrill Lynch FuturesAccess Program (the
“Program”) fund, 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, options on futures and forward
contracts on a wide range of commodities. Aspect Capital Limited (“Aspect”) is
the trading advisor of the Fund. Merrill Lynch Alternative
Investments LLC (“MLAI”) is the Sponsor of the Fund. MLAI is an indirect
wholly-owned subsidiary of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. (“Merrill Lynch”).
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“MLPF&S”), a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Merrill Lynch, is the Fund’s commodity
broker.
The
Program is a group of commodity pools sponsored by MLAI (each pool is a “Program
Fund” or collectively, “Program Funds”) each of which places substantially all
of it assets in a managed futures or forward trading account managed by a single
or multiple commodity trading advisors. Each Program Fund is generally similar
in terms of fees, Classes of Units and redemption rights. Each of the
Program Funds implements a different trading strategy.
The Fund
offers six Classes of Units: Class A, Class C, Class D, DT, DS, and
Class I. Each Class of Units except for DT and DS was offered at
$1.00 per Unit during the initial offering period and subsequently is offered at
Net Asset Value per Unit for all other purposes (see Note 6). Class
DS commenced on April 2, 2007 and was offered at 1.1631 and Class DT commenced
on June 1, 2007 and was offered at $1.2795. The six Classes of Units
are subject to different Sponsor fees.
Effective
January 1, 2009, Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. became a wholly-owned subsidiary
of Bank of America Corporation pursuant to a merger agreement.
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, Bank of
America Corporation or any of its affiliates or by any
bank. Interests are subject to investment risks, including the
possible loss of the full amount invested.
|
Estimates
|
The preparation
of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) requires management to
make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and
liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of
the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses
during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those
estimates.
9
|
Revenue
Recognition
|
Commodity
futures, options on futures and forward contract transactions are recorded on
the trade date and open contracts are reflected in Net unrealized profit (loss)
on open contracts in the Statements of Financial Condition as the difference
between the original contract value and the market value (for those commodity
interests for which market quotations are readily available) or at fair
value. The change in unrealized profit (loss) on open contracts from
one period to the next is reflected in Change in unrealized under Trading profit
(loss) in the Statements of Operations.
Foreign Currency
Transactions
The
Fund’s functional currency is the U.S. dollar; however, it transacts business in
U.S. dollars and in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Assets and
liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated
into U.S. dollars at the rates in effect at the date of the Statements of
Financial Condition. Income and expense items denominated in
currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars at the
rates in effect during the period. Gains and losses resulting from
the translation to U.S. dollars are reported in Realized in the Statements of
Operations.
Cash at
Broker
A portion
of the assets maintained at MLPF&S is restricted cash required to meet
maintenance margin requirements. Included in cash deposits with the
broker at December 31, 2008 and 2007 were restricted cash for margin
requirements of $24,334,309 and $40,922,943, respectively.
Operating Expenses, Offering
Costs and Selling Commissions
|
The
Fund pays for all routine operating costs (including ongoing offering
costs, administration, custody, transfer, exchange and redemption
processing, legal, regulatory filing, tax, audit, escrow, accounting and
printing fees and expenses) incurred by the Fund. The Fund also
pays any extraordinary expenses.
|
|
MLAI
paid all the expenses incurred in connection with the initial offering of
the Units. The costs consist of offering costs at the Program
level. The Fund is reimbursing MLAI for these costs in 60
monthly installments. For financial reporting purposes in
conformity with U.S. GAAP, the Fund deducted the total initial offering
costs of $73,981 from Members’ Capital at inception. For all other
purposes, including determining the Net Asset Value per Unit for
subscription and redemption purposes, the Fund amortizes offering costs
over an estimated 60 month period (see Note
6).
|
|
Class
A Units are subject to a sales commission paid to MLPF&S ranging from
1.0% to 2.5%. Class D and Class I Units are subject to sales
commissions up to 0.5%. The rate assessed to a given
subscription is based upon the subscription amount. Sales
commissions are directly deducted from subscription
amounts. Class C, DS and DT Units are not subject to any sales
commissions.
|
10
|
Income
Taxes
|
|
No
provision for income taxes has been made in the accompanying financial
statements as each Member is individually responsible for reporting income
or loss based on such Member’s share of the Fund’s income and expenses as
reported for income tax purposes.
|
|
Distributions
|
|
The
Members are entitled to receive, equally per Unit, any distributions which
may be made by the Fund. No such distributions have been
declared for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and
2006.
|
|
Subscriptions
|
|
Units
are offered as of the close of business at the end of each
month. Shares are purchased as of the first business day of any
month at Net Asset Value for all other purposes (see Note 6), but the
subscription request must be submitted at least three calendar days before
the end of the preceding month. Subscriptions submitted less
than three days before the end of a month will be applied to Units
subscriptions as of the beginning of the second month after receipt,
unless revoked by MLAI.
|
|
|
Redemptions and
Exchanges
|
|
A
Member may redeem or exchange some or all of such Member’s Units at Net
Asset Value for all other purposes (see Note 6) as of the close of
business, on the last business day of any month, upon ten calendar days’
notice (“notice period”).
|
|
An
investor in the Fund can exchange these Units for Units of the same Class
in other Program Funds as of the beginning of each calendar month upon at
least ten days prior notice. The minimum exchange amount is
$10,000.
|
|
Redemption
requests are accepted within the notice period. The Fund does
not accept any redemption requests after the notice period. All
redemption requests received after the notice period will be processed for
the following month.
|
|
Dissolution of the
Fund
|
|
The
Fund may terminate if certain circumstances occur as set forth in the
offering memorandum, which include but are not limited to the
following:
|
|
(a) Bankruptcy,
dissolution, withdrawal or other termination of the trading advisor of
this Fund.
(b) Any
event which would make unlawful the continued existence of this
Fund
(c) Determination
by MLAI to liquidate or withdraw from the
Fund.
|
|
Indemnifications
|
|
In
the normal course of business, the Fund enters into contracts and
agreements that contain a variety of representations and warranties and
which provide general indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum
exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future
claims that may be made against the Fund that have not yet
occurred. The Fund expects the risk of any future obligation
under these indemnifications to be
remote.
|
11
2.
|
CONDENSED
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
|
|
The
Fund’s investments, defined as Net unrealized profit (loss) on open
contracts in the Statement of Financial Condition as of December 31, 2008
and 2007 are as follows:
|
2008
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Long
Positions
|
Short
Positions
|
Net
Unrealized
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Commodity
Industry
|
Number
of
|
Unrealized
|
Percent
of
|
Number
of
|
Unrealized
|
Percent
of
|
Profit
(Loss)
|
Percent
of
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sector
|
Contracts
|
Profit (Loss)
|
Members' Capital
|
Contracts
|
Profit (Loss)
|
Members' Capital
|
on Open Positions
|
Members' Capital
|
Maturity Dates
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Agriculture
|
145 | $ | 333,270 | 0.10 | % | (1,240 | ) | $ | (860,947 | ) | -0.27 | % | $ | (527,677 | ) | -0.17 | % |
January
2009 - March 2009
|
||||||||||||||||
Currencies
|
2,211,124 | 1,544,260 | 0.48 | % | (461,942 | ) | (2,356,344 | ) | -0.74 | % | (812,084 | ) | -0.26 | % |
January
2009
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Energy
|
41 | 75,848 | 0.02 | % | (407 | ) | 946,274 | 0.30 | % | 1,022,122 | 0.32 | % |
February
2009
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Interest
rates
|
8,731 | 13,032,113 | 4.07 | % | - | - | 0.00 | % | 13,032,113 | 4.07 | % |
March
2009 -
March
2010
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Metals
|
45 | 88,866 | 0.03 | % | (503 | ) | (723,498 | ) | -0.23 | % | (634,632 | ) | -0.20 | % |
February
2009 - April 2009
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Stock
indices
|
3 | 3,950 | 0.00 | % | (176 | ) | (217,282 | ) | -0.07 | % | (213,332 | ) | -0.07 | % |
January
2009 - March 2009
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Total
|
$ | 15,078,307 | 4.70 | % | $ | (3,211,797 | ) | -1.01 | % | $ | 11,866,510 | 3.69 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
320,433,806 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2007
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Long
Positions
|
Short
Positions
|
Net
Unrealized
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Commodity
Industry
|
Number
of
|
Unrealized
|
Percent
of
|
Number
of
|
Unrealized
|
Percent
of
|
Profit
(Loss)
|
Percent
of
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sector
|
Contracts
|
Profit (Loss)
|
Members' Capital
|
Contracts
|
Profit (Loss)
|
Members' Capital
|
on Open Positions
|
Members' Capital
|
Maturity Dates
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Agriculture
|
2,772 | $ | 2,761,795 | 1.04 | % | (401 | ) | $ | 222,953 | 0.08 | % | $ | 2,984,748 | 1.12 | % |
February
2008 - March 2008
|
||||||||||||||||||
Currencies
|
4,354,115 | (1,168,777 | ) | -0.44 | % | (3,514,474 | ) | (320,354 | ) | -0.12 | % | (1,489,131 | ) | -0.56 | % |
January
2008
|
||||||||||||||||||
Energy
|
993 | 2,556,173 | 0.96 | % | (237 | ) | (414,080 | ) | -0.16 | % | 2,142,093 | 0.80 | % |
January
2008 - February 2008
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Interest
rates
|
10,247 | 3,073,089 | 1.16 | % | (6,459 | ) | 1,016,950 | 0.38 | % | 4,090,039 | 1.54 | % |
March
2008 - December 2008
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Metals
|
468 | 259,457 | 0.10 | % | (540 | ) | 1,225,157 | 0.46 | % | 1,484,614 | 0.56 | % |
February
2008 - April 2008
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Stock
indices
|
201 | 163,245 | 0.06 | % | (734 | ) | (7,033 | ) | 0.00 | % | 156,212 | 0.06 | % |
January
2008 - March 2008
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Total
|
$ | 7,644,982 | 2.88 | % | $ | 1,723,593 | 0.64 | % | $ | 9,368,575 | 3.53 | % |
|
No
individual contract’s unrealized profit or loss comprised greater than 5%
of the Member’s Capital as of December 31, 2008 and
2007.
|
12
3.
|
FAIR VALUE OF
INVESTMENTS
|
In
September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, Fair Value Measurement
(“FAS 157”). FAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring
fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. The Fund
adopted FAS 157 as of January 1, 2008. The adoption of FAS 157 did not have a
material impact on the Fund’s financial statements.
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).
FAS 157
established 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 FAS 157, 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. Investments that are included in this category generally are privately
held debt and equity securities.
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 table summarizes the valuation of the Fund’s investments by the above
FAS 157 fair value hierarchy levels as of December 31, 2008.
Total
|
Level
I
|
Level
II
|
Level
III
|
|||||
Net
unrealized
profit
(loss) on
open
contracts
|
$11,866,510
|
$11,866,510
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
13
4.
|
RELATED
PARTY TRANSACTIONS
|
The Fund’s U.S. dollar assets are maintained at
MLPF&S. On assets held in U.S. dollars, Merrill Lynch credits the Fund with
interest at the most favorable rate payable by MLPF&S to accounts of Merrill
Lynch affiliates but not less than 75% of such prevailing rate. The
Fund is credited with interest on any of its assets and net gains actually held
by MLPF&S non-U.S. dollar currencies at a prevailing local rate received by
Merrill Lynch. Merrill Lynch may derive certain economic benefit, in
excess of the interest which Merrill Lynch pays to the Fund, from possession of
such assets
Merrill Lynch charges the Fund at prevailing
local interest rates for financing realized and unrealized losses on the Fund’s
non-U.S. dollar-denominated positions. Such amounts are netted against interest
income due to the insignificance of such amounts.
The Fund
charges Sponsor fees on the month-end net assets after all other charges at
annual rates equal to 1.50% for Class A, 2.50% for Class C, 1.10% on Class
I. Class D, DS, and DT are not charged a Sponsor
Fee. Sponsor fees are paid to MLAI.
The Fund
pays brokerage commissions on actual cost per round turn. The average
round-turn commission rate charged to the Fund for the year ended December 31,
2008 and 2007, and 2006 was approximately $6.03, $9.92 and $12.13, respectively,
(not including, in calculating round-turn, forward contracts on a
futures-equivalent basis).
5.
|
ADVISORY
AGREEMENT
|
The Fund
and Aspect have entered into an Advisory Agreement. This agreement shall
continue in effect until December 31, 2011. Thereafter, this
agreement shall be automatically renewed for successive three-year periods, on
the same terms, unless terminated at any time by either Aspect or the Fund upon
90 days’ written notice to the other party. Aspect determines the
commodity futures, options on futures and forward contract trades to be made on
behalf of their respective Fund accounts, subject to certain trading policies
and to certain rights reserved by MLAI.
The Fund
charges annual management fees on the Fund’s average month-end net assets
allocated to them after reduction for the brokerage commissions accrued with
respect to such assets and are payable to Aspect on a monthly basis. Management
Fees are 2.0% for all classes except for Class DT which charges a 1.5%
Fee. Aspect pays MLAI 25% of the management fees on all classes
except Class DT in return for sponsoring and providing ongoing administration
and operational support to the fund.
Performance
fees are charged by the Fund on any New Trading Profit, as defined, and are
payable to Aspect as of either the end of each calendar year or upon any interim
period for which there are net redemption of Units, to the extent of the
applicable percentage of any New Trading Profit attributable to such Units. The
fund charges a 20% performance fee for all classes except Class DT which is
charged a performance fee of 15%. Aspect pays MLAI re 25% of any
Performance fees paid by the Fund except Class DT.
14
6.
|
NET
ASSET VALUE PER UNIT
|
|
For
financial reporting purposes, in conformity with U.S. GAAP, the Fund
deducted the total initial offering costs payable to MLAI at inception
from Members’ Capital for purposes of determining Net Asset
Value. For all other purposes, including computing Net Asset
Value for purposes of member subscription and redemption activity, such
costs are amortized over 60 months. Consequently, as of
December 31, 2008 and 2007, the Net Asset Value and Net Asset Value per
Unit of the different Classes for financial reporting purposes and for all
other purposes are as
follows:
|
December
31,2008
Net
Asset Value
|
Net
Asset Value per Unit
|
|||||||||||||||||||
All
Other Purposes (unaudited)
|
Financial
Reporting
|
Number
of Units
|
All
Other Purposes (unaudited)
|
Financial
Reporting
|
||||||||||||||||
Class
A
|
$ | 29,804,179 | $ | 29,807,147 | 18,714,925 | $ | 1.5925 | $ | 1.5927 | |||||||||||
Class
C
|
105,099,697 | 105,106,897 | 68,281,073 | 1.5392 | 1.5393 | |||||||||||||||
Class
D
|
11,852,201 | 11,849,514 | 6,915,976 | 1.7137 | 1.7134 | |||||||||||||||
Class
I
|
14,470,870 | 14,465,113 | 8,961,247 | 1.6148 | 1.6142 | |||||||||||||||
Class
DS
|
70,896,651 | 70,902,871 | 41,543,859 | 1.7065 | 1.7067 | |||||||||||||||
Class
DT
|
88,290,270 | 88,302,264 | 50,625,248 | 1.7440 | 1.7442 | |||||||||||||||
$ | 320,413,868 | $ | 320,433,806 | 195,042,328 | ||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2007
Net
Asset Value
|
Net
Asset Value per Unit
|
|||||||||||||||||||
All
Other Purposes (unaudited)
|
Financial
Reporting
|
Number
of Units
|
All
Other Purposes (unaudited)
|
Financial
Reporting
|
||||||||||||||||
Class
A
|
$ | 22,441,846 | $ | 22,441,404 | 17,898,315 | $ | 1.2539 | $ | 1.2538 | |||||||||||
Class
C
|
96,877,717 | 96,871,359 | 79,180,594 | 1.2235 | 1.2234 | |||||||||||||||
Class
D
|
21,588,645 | 21,583,979 | 16,300,492 | 1.3244 | 1.3241 | |||||||||||||||
Class
I
|
14,381,886 | 14,374,152 | 11,363,798 | 1.2656 | 1.2649 | |||||||||||||||
Class
DS
|
18,235,954 | 18,235,954 | 13,768,122 | 1.3245 | 1.3245 | |||||||||||||||
Class
DT
|
92,508,126 | 92,508,126 | 69,643,298 | 1.3283 | 1.3283 | |||||||||||||||
$ | 266,034,174 | $ | 266,014,974 | 208,154,619 | ||||||||||||||||
15
|
7.
|
WEIGHTED
AVERAGE UNITS
|
|
The
weighted average number of Units outstanding for each Class is computed
for purposes of calculating net income per weighted average Unit. The
weighted average number of Units outstanding for each Class for the years
ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 equals the Units outstanding
as of such date, adjusted proportionately for Units sold or redeemed based
on the respective length of time each was outstanding during the
year.
|
8.
|
RECENT
ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
|
In March
2008, the FASB released Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 161,
Disclosures about Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities – an amendment to FASB Statement No.
133 (“FAS 161”). FAS 161 requires qualitative disclosures about objectives and
strategies for using derivatives, quantitative disclosures about fair value
amounts of and gains and losses on derivative instruments, and disclosures about
credit-risk related contingent features in derivative agreements. The
application of FAS 161 is required for fiscal years beginning after November 15,
2008 and interim periods within those fiscal years. Currently, the Fund is
evaluating the implications of FAS 161 on its financial statements.
In May 2008, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 162, “The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles” (“FAS 162”). FAS 162 identifies the sources of accounting principles and the framework for selecting the accounting principles used in preparing financial statements of nongovernmental entities that are presented in conformity with U.S. GAAP. Currently, U.S. GAAP hierarchy is provided in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants U.S. Auditing Standards (“AU”) Section 411, “The Meaning of Present Fairly in Conformity With Generally Accepted Accounting Principles”. The Fund does not expect the adoption of FAS 162 to have an impact on its financial statements.
9.
|
MARKET
AND CREDIT RISK
|
The
nature of this Fund has certain risks, which cannot all be presented on 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 commodities underlying such
derivative instruments frequently result in changes in the Fund’s net 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 they will, in fact, succeed in doing so. These
procedures focus primarily on monitoring the trading of Aspect, 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 Aspect 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 ongoing process of advisor monitoring, with the market risk
controls being applied by Aspect.
16
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 provide clearinghouse arrangements in which the
collective credit (in some cases limited in amount, in some cases not) of the
members of the exchange is pledged to support the financial integrity of the
exchange. 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 trading, and counterparties may
also require margin in the over-the-counter markets.
The
credit risk associated with these instruments from counterparty nonperformance
is the Net unrealized profit (loss) on open contracts, if any, included in the
Statements of Financial Condition. The Fund attempts to mitigate this risk by
dealing exclusively with Merrill Lynch entities as clearing
brokers.
The Fund,
in its normal course of business, enters into various contracts, with MLPF&S
acting as its commodity broker. Pursuant to the brokerage arrangement
with MLPF&S (which includes a netting arrangement), to the extent that such
trading results in receivables from and payables to MLPF&S, these
receivables and payables are offset and reported as a net receivable or payable
and included in Equity in commodity futures trading accounts in the Statements
of Financial Condition.
17
* * * * * * * * * * *
To the
best of the knowledge and belief of the
undersigned,
the information contained in this
report is
accurate and complete.
/s/
Barbra E.
Kocsis
Barbra E.
Kocsis
Chief
Financial Officer
Merrill
Lynch Alternative Investments LLC
Sponsor
of
ML Aspect
FuturesAccess LLC
18