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EXCEL - IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT - ML TREND-FOLLOWING FUTURES FUND L.P.Financial_Report.xls

 

 

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 March 31, 2013

 

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 0-28928

 

ML TREND-FOLLOWING FUTURES FUND L.P.

(Exact Name of Registrant as

specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

13-3887922

(State or other jurisdiction of

 

(IRS Employer Identification No.)

incorporation or organization)

 

 

 

c/o Merrill Lynch Alternative Investments LLC

Four World Financial Center, 11th Floor

250 Vesey Street

New York, New York 10080

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)

 

212-449-3517

(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 Web site 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” and “smaller reporting 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)

 

 

 

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 March 31, 2013, 648,817 units of limited partnership interest were outstanding.

 

 

 



 

ML TREND-FOLLOWING FUTURES FUND L.P.

 

QUARTERLY REPORT FOR MARCH 31, 2013 ON FORM 10-Q

 

Table of Contents

 

 

 

PAGE

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

 

Item 1.

Financial Statements

3

 

 

 

Item 2.

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

13

 

 

 

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

17

 

 

 

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

25

 

 

 

PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

 

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

26

 

 

 

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

26

 

 

 

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

26

 

 

 

Item 3.

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

26

 

 

 

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures

26

 

 

 

Item 5.

Other Information

26

 

 

 

Item 6.

Exhibits

27

 

2



 

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.   Financial Statements

 

ML TREND-FOLLOWING FUTURES FUND L.P.

(a Delaware Limited Partnership)

 

STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

(unaudited)

 

 

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash

 

$

348,695

 

$

347,871

 

Investments in Portfolio Funds (cost $90,868,138 for 2013 and cost $99,498,961 for 2012)

 

111,118,164

 

118,389,845

 

Due from Portfolio Funds

 

4,604,088

 

4,494,805

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL ASSETS

 

$

116,070,947

 

$

123,232,521

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS’ CAPITAL

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Wrap fee payable

 

$

386,901

 

$

410,773

 

Redemptions payable

 

4,216,937

 

4,083,733

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

 

4,603,838

 

4,494,506

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PARTNERS’ CAPITAL:

 

 

 

 

 

General Partner (9 Units and 9 Units)

 

1,546

 

1,517

 

Limited Partners (648,808 Units and 704,577 Units)

 

111,465,563

 

118,736,498

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total partners’ capital

 

111,467,109

 

118,738,015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS’ CAPITAL:

 

$

116,070,947

 

$

123,232,521

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET ASSET VALUE PER UNIT

 

 

 

 

 

(Based on 648,817 and 704,586 Units outstanding; unlimited Units authorized)

 

$

171.8005

 

$

168.5217

 

 

See notes to  financial statements.

 

3



 

ML TREND-FOLLOWING FUTURES FUND L.P.

(a Delaware Limited Partnership)

 

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(unaudited)

 

 

 

For the three

 

For the three

 

 

 

months ended

 

months ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

TRADING PROFIT (LOSS):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Realized, net

 

$

2,066,385

 

$

2,997,022

 

Change in unrealized, net

 

1,359,142

 

(3,249,080

)

Total trading profit (loss), net

 

3,425,527

 

(252,058

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXPENSES:

 

 

 

 

 

Wrap fee

 

1,181,722

 

1,692,027

 

Total expenses

 

1,181,722

 

1,692,027

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INVESTMENT INCOME (LOSS)

 

(1,181,722

)

(1,692,027

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET PROFIT (LOSS)

 

$

2,243,805

 

$

(1,944,085

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET PROFIT (LOSS) PER UNIT:

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of General Partner and Limited Partner Units outstanding

 

$

690,241

 

918,561

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss) per weighted average General Partner and Limited Partner Unit

 

$

3.25

 

$

(2.12

)

 

See notes to  financial statements.

 

4



 

ML TREND-FOLLOWING FUTURES FUND L.P.

(a Delaware Limited Partnership)

 

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN PARTNERS’ CAPITAL

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013 AND 2012

(unaudited)

 

 

 

Units

 

General
Partner

 

Limited
Partners

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PARTNERS’ CAPITAL, December 31, 2011

 

931,842

 

$

1,650

 

$

170,827,390

 

$

170,829,040

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subscriptions

 

2,017

 

 

370,304

 

370,304

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Profit (Loss)

 

 

(20

)

(1,944,065

)

(1,944,085

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Redemptions

 

(56,070

)

 

(10,279,500

)

(10,279,500

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PARTNERS’ CAPITAL, March 31, 2012

 

877,789

 

$

1,630

 

$

158,974,129

 

$

158,975,759

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PARTNERS’ CAPITAL, December 31, 2012

 

704,586

 

$

1,517

 

$

118,736,498

 

$

118,738,015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subscriptions

 

220

 

 

37,000

 

37,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Profit (Loss)

 

 

29

 

2,243,776

 

2,243,805

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Redemptions

 

(55,989

)

 

(9,551,711

)

(9,551,711

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PARTNERS’ CAPITAL, March 31, 2013

 

648,817

 

$

1,546

 

$

111,465,563

 

$

111,467,109

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

5



 

ML TREND-FOLLOWING FUTURES FUND L.P.

(A Delaware Limited Partnership)

 

FINANCIAL DATA HIGHLIGHTS

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013 AND 2012 (unaudited)

 

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

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

Three months ended

 

 

 

March 31, 2013

 

March 31, 2012

 

Per Unit Operating Performance:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

 

$

168.5217

 

$

183.3240

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

4.9908

 

(0.3730

)

Interest income, net (3)

 

 

 

Expenses (1)

 

(1.7120

)

(1.8417

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

 

$

171.8005

 

$

181.1093

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Return: (2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total return

 

1.95

%

-1.21

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets: (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

1.01

%

1.00

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net investment profit (loss)

 

-1.01

%

-1.00

%

 


(1) The ratios do not reflect the proportionate share of income and expense of the Portfolio Funds.

(2) The total return calculations are based on compounded monthly returns and is calculated for each class taken as a whole. An individual partners’ return may vary from these returns based on timing of capital transactions.

(3) Interest income, net is less than $0.0001 per Unit

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

6



 

ML TREND-FOLLOWING FUTURES FUND L.P.

(a Delaware Limited Partnership)

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

 

1.              SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

ML Trend-Following Futures Fund L.P. (the “Partnership”), a Merrill Lynch FuturesAccessSM Program (the “FuturesAccess”) fund, was organized under the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act on December 11, 1995 and commenced trading on July 15, 1996.  The Partnership operates as a “fund of funds”, allocating and reallocating its capital, under the direction of Merrill Lynch Alternative Investments LLC (“MLAI” or “General Partner” or “Sponsor”), the sponsor and general partner of the Partnership, among underlying FuturesAccess Funds (each a “Portfolio Fund”, and collectively the “Portfolio Funds”) (See Note 2).  Presently there are five Portfolio Funds.  MLAI is the sponsor and manager of the Portfolio Funds.

 

MLAI is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation. Bank of America Corporation and its affiliates are referred to herein as “BAC”. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“MLPF&S”) is the exclusive futures clearing broker for the Portfolio Funds.  The Sponsor may select other parties as clearing broker(s). Merrill Lynch International Bank Ltd. (“MLIB”) is the primary foreign exchange (“F/X”) forward prime broker for the Portfolio Funds.  The Sponsor may select other parties as F/X or other over-the-counter (“OTC”) prime brokers, including Bank of America N.A. (“BANA”).  MLPF&S, MLIB and BANA are BAC affiliates.  The Royal Bank of Scotland Plc acts as the primary OTC prime broker for one of the Portfolio Funds, Man AHL FuturesAccess LLC, only in respect of precious metals OTC forward transactions, which are not expected to exceed 5% of the overall risk of Man AHL FuturesAccess LLC.

 

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 BAC. FuturesAccess Funds currently are composed of direct-trading funds advised by a single trading advisor or funds of funds for which MLAI acts as the advisor and allocates capital among multiple trading advisors.  Each FuturesAccess Fund is generally similar in terms of fees, although redemption terms vary among FuturesAccess Funds.  Each trading advisor participating in FuturesAccess employs different technical, fundamental, systematic and/or discretionary strategies.

 

Interests in the Partnership 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, BAC or by any bank.  Interests are subject to investment risks, including the possible loss of the full amount invested.

 

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 Partnership as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 and the results of its operations for the three month period ended March 31, 2013 and 2012. However, the operating results for the interim periods may not be indicative of the results for the full year.

 

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

 

7



 

thereto included in the Partnership’s report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the year ended December 31, 2012.

 

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.

 

Revision

 

During the quarter, the Partnership identified that it miscalculated its net investment income ratio during the quarters from 2009 through first quarter 2012.   However, this miscalculation did not affect the Partnership’s annual reports.  The Partnership had been showing net income over average assets rather than the applicable net investment income over average assets.  As a result, the 2012 presentation of the net investment income ratio has been revised here to show the appropriate ratio.

 

2.              INVESTMENTS IN PORTFOLIO FUNDS

 

The five funds in which the Partnership is invested in as of March 31, 2013 are; Aspect FuturesAccess LLC (“Aspect”) (formerly ML Aspect FuturesAccess LLC), ML BlueTrend FuturesAccess LLC (“BlueTrend”), Man AHL FuturesAccess LLC (“Man”), ML Transtrend DTP Enhanced FuturesAccess LLC (“Transtrend”) and ML Winton FuturesAccess LLC (“Winton”).  MLAI may, in its discretion, change Portfolio Funds at any time. MLAI may vary the percentage of the Partnership’s total portfolio allocated to the different Portfolio Funds at MLAI’s discretion. There is no pre-established range for the minimum and maximum allocations that may be made to any individual Portfolio Funds.

 

The investment transactions were accounted for on trade date. The investments in the Portfolio Funds were valued at fair value and are reflected in the Statements of Financial Condition. In determining fair value, MLAI utilized the net asset value of the underlying Portfolio Funds which approximates fair value. The fair value was net of all fees relating to the Portfolio Funds, paid or accrued. Additionally, MLAI monitored the performance of the Portfolio Funds. Such monitoring procedures included, but were not limited to: monitoring market movements in Portfolio Funds’ investments, comparing performance to industry benchmarks, and in-depth conference calls and site visits with the Portfolio Funds’ Managers.

 

The details of investments in Portfolio Funds at and for the period ended March 31, 2013 are as follows:

 

March 31, 2013

 

 

 

Fair Value

 

Percentage of
Partners’ Capital

 

Profit (Loss)

 

Cost @ 3/31/13

 

Management
Fee

 

Performance
Fee

 

Redemptions
Permitted

 

Winton

 

$

22,223,633

 

19.94

%

$

951,709

 

$

14,341,275

 

$

(88,759

)

$

(4,173

)

Semi -Monthly

 

Aspect

 

22,223,632

 

19.94

%

452,603

 

16,957,855

 

(88,431

)

 

Semi -Monthly

 

Transtrend

 

22,223,633

 

19.94

%

78,999

 

17,124,145

 

(58,509

)

 

Semi -Monthly

 

Bluetrend

 

22,223,634

 

19.94

%

1,075,291

 

18,414,485

 

(59,596

)

(207,960

)

Monthly

 

Man

 

22,223,632

 

19.94

%

866,925

 

24,030,378

 

(59,113

)

 

Monthly

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Investment in Portfolio Funds at fair value

 

$

111,118,164

 

99.70

%

$

3,425,527

 

$

90,868,138

 

$

(354,408

)

$

(212,133

)

 

 

 

8



 

The details of investments in Portfolio Funds at and for the year ended December 31, 2012 are as follows:

 

December 31, 2012

 

 

 

Fair Value

 

Percentage of
Partners’ Capital

 

Profit (Loss)

 

Cost @ 12/31/12

 

Management
Fee

 

Performance
Fee

 

Redemptions
Permitted

 

Winton

 

$

23,677,969

 

19.94

%

$

(1,252,467

)

$

15,896,089

 

$

(447,194

)

$

(519

)

Semi -Monthly

 

Aspect

 

23,677,968

 

19.94

%

(2,759,516

)

18,338,732

 

(446,670

)

(15,340

)

Semi -Monthly

 

Transtrend

 

23,677,970

 

19.94

%

421,627

 

18,172,896

 

(300,227

)

(37,953

)

Semi -Monthly

 

Bluetrend

 

23,677,970

 

19.94

%

60,564

 

20,519,264

 

(299,709

)

(57,205

)

Monthly

 

Man

 

23,677,968

 

19.94

%

(2,228,170

)

26,571,980

 

(297,337

)

 

Monthly

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Investment in Portfolio Funds at fair value

 

$

118,389,845

 

99.70

%

$

(5,757,962

)

$

99,498,961

 

$

(1,791,137

)

$

(111,017

)

 

 

 

These investments are recorded at fair value. In accordance with Regulation S-X, a prescribed regulation by the Securities and Exchange Commission, there are specific formats and contents of financial reports. The following is summarized financial information for each of the Portfolio Funds:

 

 

 

As of March 31, 2013

 

 

 

Total Assets

 

Total Liabilities

 

Total Capital

 

Winton

 

$

1,125,138,224

 

$

17,503,069

 

$

1,107,635,155

 

Aspect

 

268,983,680

 

7,838,991

 

261,144,689

 

Transtrend

 

143,353,303

 

4,488,164

 

138,865,139

 

Bluetrend

 

172,441,981

 

5,858,614

 

166,583,367

 

Man

 

33,987,669

 

2,585,560

 

31,402,109

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

1,743,904,857

 

$

38,274,398

 

$

1,705,630,459

 

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2012

 

 

 

Total Assets

 

Total Liabilities

 

Total Capital

 

Winton

 

$

1,111,588,919

 

$

19,201,742

 

$

1,092,387,177

 

Aspect

 

279,441,442

 

7,200,449

 

272,240,993

 

Transtrend

 

154,050,850

 

4,998,418

 

149,052,432

 

Bluetrend

 

177,358,085

 

7,053,649

 

170,304,436

 

Man

 

35,278,824

 

1,853,473

 

33,425,351

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

1,757,718,120

 

$

40,307,731

 

$

1,717,410,389

 

 

 

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net

 

 

 

Income (Loss)

 

Commissions

 

Other

 

Income (Loss)

 

Winton

 

$

1,065,838

 

$

(8,283

)

$

(105,846

)

$

951,709

 

Aspect

 

581,826

 

(18,715

)

(110,508

)

452,603

 

Transtrend

 

200,782

 

(40,154

)

(81,629

)

78,999

 

Bluetrend

 

1,384,321

 

(25,420

)

(283,610

)

1,075,291

 

Man

 

1,065,778

 

(43,935

)

(154,918

)

866,925

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

4,298,545

 

$

(136,507

)

$

(736,511

)

$

3,425,527

 

 

 

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net

 

 

 

Income (Loss)

 

Commissions

 

Other

 

Income (Loss)

 

Winton

 

$

(217,646

)

$

(10,151

)

$

(139,336

)

$

(367,133

)

Aspect

 

732,001

 

(21,417

)

(233,256

)

477,328

 

Transtrend

 

1,215,324

 

(44,300

)

(109,333

)

1,061,691

 

Bluetrend

 

(255,229

)

(32,793

)

(115,914

)

(403,936

)

Man

 

(830,622

)

(21,836

)

(167,549

)

(1,020,007

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

643,828

 

$

(130,497

)

$

(765,388

)

$

(252,057

)

 

9



 

3.              FAIR VALUE OF INVESTMENTS

 

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) which provides authoritative guidance on fair value measurement. This guidance defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements.

 

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). Purchase and sale of investments are recorded on a trade date basis. Realized profits and losses on investments are recognized when the investments are sold. 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 hierarchal 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 Partnership does not adjust the quoted price for these investments even in situations where the Partnership 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.

 

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.

 

Investments in Portfolio Funds are valued using the net asset value reported by the investment company, which management believes approximates fair value. These net asset values are the prices used to execute trades with these Portfolio Funds.

 

10



 

Although there are monthly transactions in these Portfolio Funds interests, the NAV’s are materially based on portfolios of Level I and Level II assets and liabilities for which the Portfolio Funds have transparency.  As such, the Partnership determined that its investments in these Portfolio Funds in this case, would be classified as Level II. There were no transfers to or from Level II during the three month period ended March 31, 2013.

 

The following table summarizes the valuation of the Partnership’s investments by the above fair value hierarchy levels as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012:

 

Investment in 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Portfolio Funds

 

Total

 

Level I

 

Level II

 

Level III

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2013

 

$

111,118,164

 

$

 

$

111,118,164

 

$

 

December 31, 2012

 

$

118,389,845

 

$

 

$

118,389,845

 

$

 

 

4.              MARKET, CREDIT AND CONCENTRATION RISKS

 

The nature of this Partnership 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 Portfolio Funds’ net unrealized profit (loss) on such derivative instruments as reflected in the Portfolio Funds’ Statement(s) of Financial Condition.  The Partnership’s exposure to market risk is influenced by a number of factors, including the relationships among the derivative instruments held by the Portfolio Funds 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 the Portfolio Funds, calculating the Net Asset Value of the Fund and the Portfolio Funds 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 Portfolio Funds’ market exposure, MLAI may urge the respective trading advisors 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 respective trading advisors.

 

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 none) 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 net unrealized profit (loss) on open contracts, if any, included in the Portfolio Funds’ Statements of Financial Condition.

 

11



 

MLAI, as sponsor of the Portfolio Funds, has a general policy of maintaining clearing and prime brokerage arrangements with BAC affiliates, such as MLPF&S and MLIB, although MLAI may engage non-BAC affiliated service providers as clearing brokers or prime brokers for the Portfolio Funds.

 

The Portfolio Funds, in their normal course of business, enter into various contracts, with MLPF&S acting as their clearingbroker. Pursuant to the brokerage arrangement with MLPF&S (which includes a netting arrangement), MLPF&S has the right to net receivables and payables.

 

Concentration Risk

 

The Partnership’s investments in the Portfolio Funds are subject to the market and credit risk of the Portfolio Funds. Because the majority of the Partnership’s capital is invested in the Portfolio Funds, any changes in the market conditions that would adversely affect the Portfolio Funds could significantly impact the solvency of the Partnership.

 

Indemnifications

 

In the normal course of business, the Partnership has entered, or may in the future enter, into agreements that obligate the Partnership to indemnify third parties, including affiliates of the Partnership, for breach of certain representations and warranties made by the Partnership. 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 Partnership’s experience, MLAI expects the risk of loss to be remote and, therefore, no provision has been recorded.

 

5.              RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

MLAI and the Partnership have entered into a transfer agency and investor services agreement with Financial Data Services, Inc. (the “Registrar and Transfer Agent”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of BAC and affiliate of MLAI. The Registrar and Transfer Agent performs the transfer agent and investor services functions for the Partnership.  The agreement with the Registrar and Transfer Agent calls for a fee to be paid based on the collective net asset of funds managed or sponsored by MLAI.  The fee rate ranges from 0.016% to 0.02% based on aggregate net assets.  MLAI allocates the Registrar and Transfer Agent fees to each of the managed/sponsored funds on a monthly basis based on the Partnership’s net assets and the fee is payable monthly in arrears. The Registrar and Transfer Agent fee, which was 0.02% of aggregate asset level, allocated to the Partnership for the three months ended March 31, 2013 are paid on behalf of the Partnership by the Sponsor. These fees are included in the wrap fee.

 

Interest and wrap fees as presented on the Statements of Operations are all received from or paid to related parties.

 

6.              SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

The General Partner has evaluated the impact of subsequent events on the Partnership through the date the financials were able to be issued and has determined that there were no subsequent events that require adjustments to, or disclosure in, the financial statements.

 

12



 

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

 

MONTH-END NET ASSET VALUE PER UNIT

 

MLAI believes that the Net Asset Value used to calculate subscription and redemption value and to report performance to investors throughout the period is a useful performance measure for the investors of the Partnership.  Therefore, the charts below referencing Net Asset Value and performance measurements are based on the Net Asset Value for financial reporting purposes.

 

The Partnership calculates the Net Asset Value per Unit as of the last business day of each month (each, a “Calculation Date”). The Partnership’s “Net Asset Value” as of any Calculation Date generally equals the value of the Partnership’s interests in the Portfolio Funds as of such date plus any other assets held by the Partnership, minus accrued Sponsor wrap fees and all other liabilities of the Partnership.  MLAI or its delegates are authorized to make all Net Asset Value determinations.

 

MONTH-END NET ASSET VALUE PER INITIAL UNIT

 

 

 

Jan.

 

Feb.

 

Mar.

 

2012

 

$

183.7531

 

$

185.8545

 

$

181.1093

 

2013

 

$

171.6601

 

$

168.4627

 

$

171.8005

 

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

The Partnership and the Portfolio Funds borrow 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 Partnership’s and the Portfolio Funds’ U.S. dollar deposits.  These borrowings are at a prevailing short-term rate in the relevant currency.

 

Inflation by itself does not affect profitability, but it can cause price movements that do so.

 

The Partnership’s and the Portfolio Funds’ assets and open positions are generally highly liquid.

 

The Partnership and the Portfolio Funds changes its positions and market focus frequently.  Consequently, the fact that the Partnership and the Portfolio Funds realized gains or incurred losses in certain markets (gold, stock indices, currencies, etc.) in the past is not necessarily indicative of whether the Partnership and the Portfolio Funds will do so in the future.

 

Investors in the Partnership generally may redeem any or all of their Units at Net Asset Value, effective as of the last day of any calendar month, upon providing notice at least 10 calendar days prior to month-end.

 

As a commodity pool, the Partnership maintains an extremely large percentage of its assets in cash at the underlying Portfolio Funds, which they must have available to post initial and variation margin on futures contracts.  This cash is also used to fund redemptions.  While the Portfolio 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 sponsor of the Portfolio Fund, has the ability to override decisions of the Trading Advisor to fund redemptions if necessary, but in practice the respective Trading Advisors would determine, in its discretion which investments should be liquidated.

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2013 Partnership capital decreased 6.12% from $118,738,015 to $111,467,109.  This decrease was attributable to the net profit from operations of $2,243,805, coupled with the redemption of 55,989 Redeemable Units resulting in an outflow of $9,551,711. The cash outflow was offset with cash inflow of $37,000 due to subscriptions of 220 Units. Future redemptions could impact the amount of funds available for investment in the Portfolio Funds in subsequent months.

 

13



 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

Statement of Cash Flows

 

The Partnership is not required to provide a Statement of Cash Flows.

 

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 measurement date (i.e. the exit price). Purchases and sales of investments are recorded on trade date. Realized profits and losses on investments is recognized when the investments are sold. Any change in net unrealized profit or loss from the preceding period is reported on 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 Partnership’s treatment of fair value see Note 3, Fair Value of Investments.

 

Income Taxes

 

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

 

The Partnership follows the ASC guidance issued for accounting for uncertainty in income taxes.  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 Partnership’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 partnership level not deemed to meet the “more-likely-than-not” threshold would be recorded as a tax benefit or expense in the current year.  The General Partner has analyzed the Partnership’s tax positions and has concluded that no provision for income tax is required in the Partnership’s financial statements. The following is the major tax jurisdiction for the Partnership and the earliest tax year subject to examination: United States — 2009.

 

Reform Act

 

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Reform Act”) was signed into law on July 21, 2010. The Reform Act enacts financial regulatory reform, and may alter the way in which the Partnership conducts certain trading activities.   The Reform Act includes measures to broaden the scope of derivative instruments subject to regulation, including by requiring clearing and exchange trading of certain derivatives, imposing new capital and margin reporting, registration and business conduct requirements for certain market participants and imposing position limits on certain over-the-counter derivatives. The Reform Act grants the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission substantial new authority and requires numerous rulemakings by these agencies. The ultimate impact of these derivatives regulations, and the time it will take to comply, remains uncertain. The final regulations may impose additional operational and compliance costs on the Partnership.

 

14



 

Results of Operations

 

January 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013

 

January 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013

 

The following table is an allocation by sector as a percentage of net unrealized profits and losses on open positions for the Fund as a whole taking into account the positions at the underlying Portfolio Fund Level and the allocation to each underlying Portfolio Fund as of March 31, 2013:

 

March 31, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

Percent of

 

 

 

Net Unrealized

 

Net Unrealized

 

Commodity Industry

 

Profit (Loss)

 

Profit (Loss)

 

Sector

 

on Open Positions

 

on Open Positions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agriculture

 

$

 251,046

 

10.98

%

Currencies

 

(175,489

)

-7.67

%

Energy

 

17,919

 

0.78

%

Interest rates

 

1,756,786

 

76.81

%

Metals

 

222,506

 

9.73

%

Stock indices

 

214,374

 

9.37

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

2,287,142

 

100.00

%

 

The Partnership experienced a net trading profit for the first quarter ended March 31, 2013 of $3,425,527.

 

References herein to the Partnership’s trading and portfolio refer to such trading conducted, and portfolio held, through the Partnership’s Portfolio Funds.  References herein to the trading and portfolio of the Portfolio Funds refer to such trading and portfolios generally.

 

The Partnership started the year with a long bias in both risk assets and fixed income. The only meaningful short exposures were in the Japanese yen, natural gas, grains and soft commodities.  This posture shifted partially over the course of the first quarter. The biggest changes took place in currencies and commodities. These two asset classes were most affected by rising risk aversion in February and March. The portfolio got short many foreign currencies as well as metals and livestock. The only market where the shift went the other way was natural gas, as the Portfolio Funds adopted a long posture as prices rose sharply in March.

 

Equity indices drove performance. The Portfolio Funds came into the year with long positions across geographies given that stock prices have generally been rising since the summer of 2012. With the fiscal cliff issue resolved in the early days of the first quarter, markets continued to rise, even picking up some momentum. Gains came from diverse positions during January. In February and March, there was some divergence in markets, with U.S. and Japanese equities continuing to rise while those in Europe and China saw some downward moves due to inconclusive elections in Italy, a banking crisis in Cyprus and signs of slowing growth in China. Despite this divergence, the asset class was positive each month of the quarter.

 

Currencies also contributed positively to performance over the first quarter. At the start of the year, the Portfolio Funds had long positions in most foreign currencies, balanced by significant short exposure in the Japanese yen. This positioning performed positively in January given a pro-risk investment environment. In February, risk aversion returned to markets to some extent. A contracting euro-zone economy coupled with Italian elections where no single group of parties won enough votes to form a coalition government disrupted the stability for the continent. Many foreign currencies depreciated against the U.S. dollar and the Portfolio Funds generally adopted a short posture. The general trend of a strong U.S. dollar continued into March. At this point, the Portfolio Funds

 

15



 

were decidedly long the U.S. dollar and generally made back the February losses. Overall, the asset class was positive for the quarter. Short yen positions performed best, generating gains each month of the quarter.

 

In fixed income, the Portfolio Funds had long positions throughout the first quarter resulting in losses. In January, these positions lost money. Risk assets were rallying while fixed income was selling off. Many even questioned whether a new period of rising interest rates was already upon us. These worries turned out to be premature as problems in Europe led to a renewed push into fixed income. Yields came back down and the Portfolio Funds made back some, though not all, of their January losses during February and March.

 

Commodities also performed poorly. Coming into the first quarter, the Portfolio Funds had long exposure in the oil complex and metals coupled with short exposure in natural gas and agricultural markets. Many commodities initially rallied, generating some gains. That changed in February as markets generally fell due to slowing growth and the potential for less demand from China as well as from a contracting Europe. These moves hurt the Portfolio Funds. The Portfolio Funds generally adopted a short posture in all sectors except for oil.

 

January 1, 2012 to March 31, 2012

 

January 1, 2012 to March 31, 2012

 

The following table is an allocation by sector as a percentage of net unrealized profits and losses on open positions for the Fund as a whole taking into account the positions at the underlying Portfolio Fund Level and the allocation to each underlying Portfolio Fund as of March 31, 2012:

 

March 31, 2012

 

 

 

 

 

Percent of

 

 

 

Net Unrealized

 

Net Unrealized

 

Commodity Industry

 

Profit (Loss)

 

Profit (Loss)

 

Sector

 

on Open Positions

 

on Open Positions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agriculture

 

$

521,147

 

-810.03

%

Currencies

 

(728,043

)

1131.62

%

Energy

 

(48,746

)

75.77

%

Interest rates

 

(114,326

)

177.70

%

Metals

 

(229,882

)

357.31

%

Stock indices

 

535,514

 

-832.37

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

(64,336

)

100.00

%

 

The Partnership experienced a net trading loss for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 of $252,058.

 

The Partnership returned an estimated -2.6% in March, bringing its quarter and year to date performance to -1.2%. In comparison, the DJ CS AllHedge Managed Futures Index was down an estimated -2.4% in March and is up 0.7% YTD. Performance was negative for all the Portfolio Funds. Returns ranged from -1.0% to -4.3%.

 

Coming into March, the Partnership continued to be long most markets and asset classes. In equity indices, the year started with a strong rally that spanned several global equity markets. Following strong up moves in both January and February, the Portfolio Funds built up large long equity index positions across several geographies. These positions tended to be the biggest in the U.S. and Europe, with somewhat smaller long positions in Japan and Asia. Commodities represented another significant risk allocation. The Portfolio Funds tended to have large long positions in oil and oil products as well as precious metals and short positions in natural gas. In crops, grains and industrial metals, positions were close to neutral, with longs and short balancing each other. Within currencies, a few large positions dominated, including shorts in the euro and longs in the Australian dollar. In other currencies, the Portfolio Funds generally had small long exposure. Finally, fixed income exposure was on the long side, in both rates and bonds.

 

16



 

This positioning produced negative results in March and the Partnership swung from positive performance in the first two months to being negative for the quarter. March saw reversals in many markets and the Portfolio Funds posted losses as a result. The biggest reversals came mid-month in the bonds sector. With the U.S. Federal Reserve raising its U.S. economic outlook, bonds sold off globally. Given that the Portfolio Funds had large long positions, they suffered losses and moved to cut positions. Currencies also saw losses. Foreign currencies generally depreciated against the U.S. dollar following good economic numbers in the U.S. The euro, where the Portfolio Funds were short, ended the month slightly higher, adding to losses and profits in equity indices. The Portfolio Funds had large long positions in U.S. and Asian indices which proved profitable. European indices generally fell in March due to the negative impact from the debt crisis and recessions, offsetting some profits and commodities generally proved profitable. Short natural gas positions made money when the price of natural gas fell over -20%. There were some profits in industrial metals and agricultural markets from short positions.

 

The Partnership 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 Portfolio Funds are a speculative commodity pools.  The market sensitive instruments held by   the Portfolio Funds’ are acquired for speculative trading purposes and all or substantially all of the Portfolio Funds’ 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 Portfolio Funds’ main line of business.

 

Market movements result in frequent changes in the fair market value of the Portfolio Funds’ open positions and, consequently, in its earnings and cash flow.  The Portfolio Funds’ 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 Portfolio Funds’ open positions and the liquidity of the markets in which it trades.

 

The Portfolio Funds’ under the direction of their respective Trading Advisors rapidly acquire and liquidate both long and short positions in a wide range of different markets.  Consequently, it is not possible to predict how a possible future market scenario will affect performance, and the Partnership’s and the Portfolio Funds’ past performance is not necessarily indicative of its future results.

 

Value at Risk is a measure of the maximum amount which the Partnership and the Portfolio Funds could reasonably be expected to lose in a given market sector.  However, the inherent uncertainty of the Partnership’s and the Portfolio Funds’ speculative trading and the recurrence in the markets traded by the Partnership and the Portfolio Funds of market movements far exceeding expectations could result in actual trading or non-trading losses far beyond the indicated Value at Risk or the Partnership’s and the Portfolio Funds’ 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 inclusion of the quantification in this section should not be considered to constitute any assurance or representation that the Partnership’s and the Portfolio Funds’ losses in any market sector will be limited to Value at Risk or by the Partnership’s and the Portfolio Funds’ attempts to manage its market risk.

 

Quantifying the Partnership’s Trading Value At Risk

 

Quantitative Forward-Looking Statements

 

The following quantitative disclosures regarding the Partnership’s market risk exposures contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor from civil liability provided for such statements by the

 

17



 

Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (set forth in Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the 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.

 

The Partnership’s risk exposure in the various market sectors traded by the Portfolio Funds is quantified below in terms of Value at Risk.  Due to the Portfolio Funds’ fair value accounting, any loss in the fair value of the Portfolio Funds’ open positions is directly reflected in the Portfolio Funds’ earnings (realized or unrealized) and cash flow (at least 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 Portfolio Funds as the measure of their 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% to 99% of the one-day time periods included in the historical sample (approximately one year, generally) 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 Portfolio Funds), 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 (which would reduce the Value at Risk estimates) resulting from the fact that the Portfolio Funds’ positions are rarely, if ever, 100% positively correlated have not been reflected.

 

The following information with respect to Value At Risk (“VAR”) is set forth in respect of the Portfolio Funds separately, rather than for the Partnership on a stand-alone basis.

 

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

 

The following tables indicate the average, highest, and lowest trading Value at Risk associated with the Portfolio Funds’ open positions by market category for   months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012.

 

18



 

Aspect Class DT (3) 

 

March 31, 2013

 

 

 

 

Average

 

% of Average

 

Highest Value

 

Lowest Value

 

Market Sector 

 

Value at Risk

 

Capitalization

 

At Risk

 

At Risk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agricultural Commodities

 

$

433,470

 

1.88

%

$

505,356

 

$

383,205

 

Energy

 

235,668

 

1.02

%

274,750

 

208,340

 

Interest Rates

 

411,938

 

1.79

%

480,253

 

364,170

 

Metals

 

414,750

 

1.80

%

483,532

 

366,656

 

Stock Indices

 

152,966

 

0.66

%

178,333

 

135,228

 

Currencies

 

507,917

 

2.20

%

592,149

 

449,019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL

 

$

2,156,709

 

9.35

%

$

2,514,373

 

$

1,906,618

 

 


(3) Average Capitalization of Aspect Class DT is $23,310,261.

 

Aspect Class DT (3)

 

March 31, 2012

 

 

 

Average

 

% of Average

 

Highest Value

 

Lowest Value

 

Market Sector 

 

Value at Risk

 

Capitalization

 

At Risk

 

At Risk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agricultural Commodities

 

$

861,919

 

2.59

%

$

912,516

 

$

790,875

 

Energy

 

581,413

 

1.75

%

615,543

 

533,489

 

Interest Rates

 

452,499

 

1.36

%

479,062

 

415,202

 

Metals

 

83,290

 

0.25

%

88,180

 

76,425

 

Stock Indices

 

1,044,536

 

3.14

%

1,105,852

 

958,439

 

Currencies

 

48,523

 

0.15

%

51,371

 

44,523

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL

 

$

3,072,180

 

9.24

%

$

3,252,524

 

$

2,818,953

 

 


(3) Average Capitalization of Aspect Class DT is $33,289,873.

 

19



 

Bluetrend Class DT (2)

 

March 31, 2013

 

 

 

Average

 

% of Average

 

Highest Value

 

Lowest Value

 

Market Sector 

 

Value at Risk

 

Capitalization

 

At Risk

 

At Risk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agricultural Commodities

 

$

60,073

 

0.26

%

$

66,449

 

$

52,956

 

Energy

 

230,482

 

1.00

%

254,945

 

203,177

 

Interest Rates

 

1,633,860

 

7.09

%

1,807,275

 

1,440,301

 

Metals

 

38,565

 

0.17

%

42,658

 

33,996

 

Stock Indices

 

435,576

 

1.89

%

481,808

 

383,975

 

Currencies

 

148,414

 

0.64

%

164,166

 

130,832

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL

 

$

2,546,970

 

11.05

%

$

2,817,301

 

$

2,245,237

 

 


(2) Average capitalization of Bluetrend Class DT is $23,058,202.

 

Bluetrend Class DT (2)

 

March 31, 2012

 

 

 

Average

 

% of Average

 

Highest Value

 

Lowest Value

 

Market Sector 

 

Value at Risk

 

Capitalization

 

At Risk

 

At Risk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agricultural Commodities

 

$

441,821

 

1.33

%

$

472,794

 

$

421,869

 

Energy

 

871,138

 

2.62

%

932,207

 

831,799

 

Interest Rates

 

66,618

 

0.20

%

71,288

 

63,610

 

Metals

 

438,812

 

1.32

%

469,574

 

418,996

 

Stock Indices

 

9,796

 

0.03

%

10,483

 

9,354

 

Currencies

 

1,451,395

 

4.36

%

1,553,143

 

1,385,853

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL

 

$

3,279,580

 

9.86

%

$

3,509,489

 

$

3,131,481

 

 


(2) Average capitalization of Bluetrend Class DT is $33,289,664.

 

20



 

Transtrend Class DT (2)

 

March 31, 2013

 

 

 

Average

 

% of Average

 

Highest Value

 

Lowest Value

 

Market Sector 

 

Value at Risk

 

Capitalization

 

At Risk

 

At Risk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agricultural Commodities

 

$

41,597

 

0.18

%

$

43,537

 

$

40,351

 

Energy

 

48,283

 

0.21

%

50,535

 

46,837

 

Interest Rates

 

2,298,027

 

9.99

%

2,405,210

 

2,229,214

 

Metals

 

267,251

 

1.16

%

279,716

 

259,248

 

Stock Indices

 

109,723

 

0.48

%

114,841

 

106,438

 

Currencies

 

4,579

 

0.02

%

4,793

 

4,442

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL

 

$

2,769,460

 

12.04

%

$

2,898,632

 

$

2,686,530

 

 


(2) Average capitalization of Transtrend Class DT is $23,189,736.

 

Transtrend Class DT (2)

 

March 31, 2012

 

 

 

Average

 

% of Average

 

Highest Value

 

Lowest Value

 

Market Sector 

 

Value at Risk

 

Capitalization

 

At Risk

 

At Risk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agricultural Commodities

 

$

728,508

 

2.19

%

$

789,322

 

$

660,669

 

Energy

 

1,544,631

 

4.64

%

1,673,573

 

1,400,794

 

Interest Rates

 

197,954

 

0.59

%

214,479

 

179,521

 

Metals

 

295,307

 

0.89

%

319,958

 

267,808

 

Stock Indices

 

477,406

 

1.43

%

517,259

 

432,950

 

Currencies

 

447,057

 

1.34

%

484,376

 

405,427

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL

 

$

3,690,863

 

11.08

%

$

3,998,967

 

$

3,347,169

 

 


(2) Average capitalization of Transtrend Class DT is $33,289,811.

 

21



 

Man AHL LLC Class DT (5)

 

March 31, 2013

 

 

 

Average

 

% of Average

 

Highest Value

 

Lowest Value

 

Market Sector 

 

Value at Risk

 

Capitalization

 

At Risk

 

At Risk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agricultural Commodities

 

$

93,177

 

0.40

%

$

98,267

 

$

84,568

 

Energy

 

83,682

 

0.36

%

88,254

 

75,950

 

Interest Rates

 

1,732,633

 

7.51

%

1,827,285

 

1,572,543

 

Metals

 

91,966

 

0.40

%

96,990

 

83,468

 

Stock Indices

 

16,931

 

0.07

%

17,856

 

15,367

 

Currencies

 

337,100

 

1.46

%

355,516

 

305,953

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL

 

$

2,355,489

 

10.20

%

$

2,484,168

 

$

2,137,849

 

 


(5) Average capitalization of Man AHL LLC Class DT is $23,058,202.

 

Man AHL LLC Class DT (5)

 

March 31, 2012

 

 

 

Average

 

% of Average

 

Highest Value

 

Lowest Value

 

 Market Sector 

 

Value at Risk

 

Capitalization

 

At Risk

 

At Risk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agricultural Commodities

 

$

200,083

 

0.60

%

$

250,154

 

$

172,315

 

Energy

 

299,546

 

0.90

%

374,506

 

257,974

 

Interest Rates

 

317,951

 

0.96

%

397,518

 

273,825

 

Metals

 

17,361

 

0.05

%

21,705

 

14,952

 

Stock Indices

 

365,806

 

1.10

%

457,347

 

315,038

 

Currencies

 

1,142,936

 

3.44

%

1,428,952

 

984,316

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL

 

$

2,343,683

 

7.05

%

$

2,930,182

 

$

2,018,420

 

 


(5) Average capitalization of Man AHL LLC Class DT is $33,269,594.

 

22



 

Winton Class DT (5)

 

March 31, 2013

 

 

 

Average

 

% of Average

 

Highest Value

 

Lowest Value

 

Market Sector 

 

Value at Risk

 

Capitalization

 

At Risk

 

At Risk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agricultural Commodities

 

$

283,491

 

1.23

%

$

305,599

 

$

263,317

 

Energy

 

118,308

 

0.51

%

127,534

 

109,889

 

Interest Rates

 

512,904

 

2.22

%

552,903

 

476,404

 

Metals

 

14,654

 

0.06

%

15,797

 

13,611

 

Stock Indices

 

100,526

 

0.44

%

108,365

 

93,372

 

Currencies

 

429,092

 

1.86

%

462,555

 

398,557

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL

 

$

1,458,975

 

6.32

%

$

1,572,753

 

$

1,355,150

 

 


(5) Average capitalization of Winton Class DT is $23,310,925.

 

Winton Class DT (5)

 

March 31, 2012

 

 

 

Average

 

% of Average

 

Highest Value

 

Lowest Value

 

Market Sector 

 

Value at Risk

 

Capitalization

 

At Risk

 

At Risk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agricultural Commodities

 

$

266,132

 

0.80

%

$

284,893

 

$

252,571

 

Energy

 

271,625

 

0.82

%

290,773

 

257,784

 

Interest Rates

 

99,981

 

0.30

%

107,029

 

94,886

 

Metals

 

329,981

 

0.99

%

353,243

 

313,167

 

Stock Indices

 

570,646

 

1.71

%

610,874

 

541,568

 

Currencies

 

570,035

 

1.71

%

610,220

 

540,989

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL

 

$

2,108,400

 

6.33

%

$

2,257,032

 

$

2,000,965

 

 


(5) Average capitalization of Winton Class DT is $33,289,795.

 

23



 

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

 

The face value of the market sector instruments held by the Portfolio Funds are 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 Portfolio Funds.  The magnitude of the Portfolio Funds’ 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 Portfolio Funds to incur severe losses over a short period of time.   Even comparatively minor losses could cause MLAI to further deleverage or terminate the Partnership’s and the Portfolio Funds’ trading. The foregoing Value at Risk table — as well as the past performance of the Partnership and the Portfolio Funds — gives no indication of this “risk of ruin.”

 

Non-Trading Risk

 

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

 

The Portfolio Funds have non-trading market risk on its foreign cash balances not needed for margin. These balances (as well as the market risk they represent) are generally immaterial.

 

The Portfolio Funds also have non-trading market risk on the approximately 90-95% of its assets which are held in cash at MLPF&S and MLIB.  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.

 

Qualitative Disclosures Regarding Primary Trading Risk Exposures

 

The following qualitative disclosures regarding the Partnership’s market risk exposures through the Portfolio Funds after the change in structure— except for (i) those disclosures that are statements of historical fact and (ii) the descriptions of how the Partnership 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 Partnership’s primary market risk exposures as well as the strategies used and to be used by MLAI and the trading advisors of the Portfolio Funds for managing such exposures are subject to numerous uncertainties, contingencies and risks, any one of which could cause the actual results of the risk controls for the Partnership and for the trading conducted through Portfolio Funds 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 Partnership.  There can be no assurance that the Partnership’s 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 Partnership.

 

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 they will, in fact, succeed in doing so.  While MLAI does not intervene in the markets to hedge or diversify the Partnership’s market exposure; MLAI may urge the Portfolio Funds to reallocate positions in an attempt to avoid over-concentrations.  However, such interventions are unusual.  Except in cases in which it appears that the Portfolio Funds has begun to deviate from past practice and trading policies or to be trading erratically, MLAI basic risk control procedures consist simply of the ongoing process of monitoring the Portfolio Funds with the market risk controls being applied by the Portfolio Funds.

 

24



 

Risk Management

 

Portfolio Funds attempt to control risk in all aspects of the investment process — from confirmation of a trend to determining the optimal exposure in a given market, and to money management issues such as the startup or upgrade of investor accounts.  Portfolio Funds double check the accuracy of market data, and will not trade a market without multiple price sources for analytical input.  In constructing a portfolio, Portfolio Funds seek to control overall risk as well as the risk of any one position, and Portfolio Funds trade only markets that have been identified as having positive performance characteristics.  Trading discipline requires plans for the exit of a market as well as for entry.  Portfolio Funds factor the point of exit into the decision to enter (stop loss).  The size of Portfolio Fund’s positions in a particular market is not a matter of how large a return can be generated but of how much risk it is willing to take relative to that expected return.

 

To attempt to reduce the risk of volatility while maintaining the potential for excellent performance, proprietary research is conducted on an ongoing basis to refine the Portfolio Funds investment strategies.  Research may suggest substitution of alternative investment methodologies with respect to particular contracts; this may occur, for example, when the testing of a new methodology has indicated that its use might have resulted in different historical performance.  In addition, risk management research and analysis may suggest modifications regarding the relative weighting among various contracts, the addition or deletion of particular contracts for a program, or a change in position size in relation to account equity.  The weighting of capital committed to various markets in the investment programs is dynamic, and Portfolio Funds may vary the weighting at its discretion as market conditions, liquidity, position limit considerations and other factors warrant.

 

Portfolio Funds may determine that risks arise when markets are illiquid or erratic, which may occur cyclically during holiday seasons, or on the basis of irregularly occurring market events.  In such cases, Portfolio Funds at its sole discretion may override computer-generated signals and may at times use discretion in the application of its quantitative models, which may affect performance positively or negatively.

 

Adjustments in position size in relation to account equity have been and continue to be an integral part of Portfolio Fund’s investment strategy.  At its discretion, Portfolio Funds may adjust the size of a position in relation to equity in certain markets or entire programs.  Such adjustments may be made at certain times for some programs but not for others.  Factors which may affect the decision to adjust the size of a position in relation to account equity include ongoing research, program volatility, assessments of current market volatility and risk exposure, subjective judgment, and evaluation of these and other general market conditions.

 

Non-Trading Risk

 

The Partnership and the Portfolio Funds control 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 Partnership and the Portfolio Funds have 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 Partnership in order to facilitate margin payments and pay expenses and redemptions.  MLAI does not take any steps to limit the cash flow risk on the cash held on deposit at MLPF&S.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

MLAI, the General Partner of the Partnership with the participation of MLAI’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has 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 of 1934) with respect to the Partnership as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report. Based on this evaluation,

 

25



 

the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that these disclosure controls and procedures are effective.  No change in internal control over financial reporting (in connection with the evaluation required by paragraph (d) of Rule 13a-15 or Rule 15d-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) occurred during the quarter ended  March 31, 2013 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Partnership’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 report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 27, 2013.

 

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(2) of the Securities Act and Rule 506 thereunder.  The selling agent of the Units was MLPF&S.

 

 

 

Subscription

 

 

 

 

 

Amount

 

Units

 

NAV (1)

 

Jan-13

 

$

 

 

168.5217

 

Feb-13

 

 

 

171.6601

 

Mar-13

 

37,000

 

220

 

168.4627

 

Apr-13

 

 

 

171.8005

 

 


(1) Beginning of the month Net Asset Value

 

(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.

 

26



 

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 Partnership’s quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three month period ended March 31, 2013 formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Statements of Financial Condition (ii) Statements of Operations (iii) Statements of  Changes in Partners’ Capital (iv) Financial Data Highlights and (v) Notes to Financial Statements, tagged as blocks of text. (1)

 


(1)  These interactive data files shall not be deemed filed for purposes of Section 11 or 12 of the Securities Act as amended, or Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to liability under those sections.

 

27



 

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.

 

 

 

ML TREND-FOLLOWING FUTURES FUND L.P.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

MERRILL LYNCH ALTERNATIVE

 

 

INVESTMENTS LLC

 

 

(General Partner)

 

 

 

 

Date: May 15, 2013

By:

/s/ DEANN MORGAN

 

 

Deann Morgan

 

 

Chief Executive Officer and President

 

 

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

 

 

Date: May 15, 2013

By:

/s/ BARBRA E. KOCSIS

 

 

Barbra E. Kocsis

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

(Principal Financial Officer)

 

28