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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, 2014

 

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 0-50269

 

ML SELECT FUTURES I L.P.

(Exact Name of Registrant as

specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

13-3879393

(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)

 

609-274-5838

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

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

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate 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, 2014, 189,512 units of limited partnership interest were outstanding.

 

 

 



 

ML SELECT FUTURES I L.P.

 

QUARTERLY REPORT FOR MARCH 31, 2014 ON FORM 10-Q

 

Table of Contents

 

 

 

PAGE

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

Financial Statements

1

 

 

 

Item 2.

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

13

 

 

 

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

18

 

 

 

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

22

 

 

 

PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

23

 

 

 

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

23

 

 

 

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

23

 

 

 

Item 3.

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

23

 

 

 

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures

23

 

 

 

Item 5.

Other Information

23

 

 

 

Item 6.

Exhibits

23

 



 

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.   Financial Statements

 

ML SELECT FUTURES I L.P.

(a Delaware Limited Partnership)

 

STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

(unaudited)

 

 

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity in commodity futures trading accounts:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash (includes restricted cash of $4,526,967 for 2014 and $4,742,530 for 2013)

 

$

42,471,467

 

$

51,145,161

 

Net unrealized profit on open futures contracts

 

506,083

 

1,806,882

 

Net unrealized profit on open forwards contracts

 

2,200

 

30,892

 

Cash

 

398,088

 

466,144

 

Accrued interest receivable

 

1,928

 

3,146

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL ASSETS

 

$

43,379,766

 

$

53,452,225

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS’ CAPITAL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net unrealized loss on open futures contracts

 

$

281,674

 

$

152,829

 

Net unrealized loss on open forward contracts

 

39,467

 

30,968

 

Redemptions payable

 

359,800

 

5,654,679

 

Wrap fee payable

 

206,322

 

255,245

 

Other liabilities

 

35

 

21

 

Total liabilities

 

887,298

 

6,093,742

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PARTNERS’ CAPITAL:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General Partner (2,991 Units and 2,991 Units)

 

660,216

 

699,838

 

Limited Partners (189,512 Units and 199,410 Units)

 

41,832,252

 

46,658,645

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total partners’ capital

 

42,492,468

 

47,358,483

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS’ CAPITAL

 

$

43,379,766

 

$

53,452,225

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET ASSET VALUE PER UNIT

 

 

 

 

 

(Based on 192,503 and 202,401 Units outstanding; unlimited Units authorized)

 

$

220.7362

 

$

233.9835

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

1



 

ML SELECT FUTURES I L.P.

(a Delaware Limited Partnership)

 

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(unaudited)

 

 

 

 

For the three

 

For the three

 

 

 

months ended

 

months ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

TRADING PROFIT (LOSS):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Realized, net

 

$

(580,998

)

$

1,500,547

 

Change in unrealized, net

 

(1,466,835

)

(510,424

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total trading profit (loss), net

 

(2,047,833

)

990,123

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INVESTMENT INCOME (LOSS)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest, net

 

6,071

 

14,872

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXPENSES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wrap fee

 

632,753

 

959,880

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total expenses

 

632,753

 

959,880

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INVESTMENT INCOME (LOSS)

 

(626,682

)

(945,008

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCOME (LOSS)

 

$

(2,674,515

)

$

45,115

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCOME (LOSS) PER UNIT:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of General Partner and Limited Partner Units outstanding

 

197,798

 

301,438

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

$

(13.52

)

$

0.15

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

2



 

ML SELECT FUTURES I L.P.

(a Delaware Limited Partnership)

 

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN PARTNERS’ CAPITAL

FOR THE THREE  MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2014 AND 2013

(unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

General

 

Limited

 

 

 

 

 

Units

 

Partner

 

Partners

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PARTNERS’ CAPITAL, December 31, 2012

 

307,292

 

$

1,318,046

 

$

66,186,205

 

$

67,504,251

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subscriptions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

 

347

 

44,768

 

45,115

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Redemptions

 

(20,852

)

(505,251

)

(4,093,669

)

(4,598,920

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PARTNERS’ CAPITAL, March 31, 2013

 

286,440

 

$

813,142

 

$

62,137,304

 

$

62,950,446

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PARTNERS’ CAPITAL, December 31, 2013

 

202,401

 

$

699,838

 

$

46,658,645

 

$

47,358,483

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subscriptions

 

72

 

 

16,000

 

16,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

 

(39,622

)

(2,634,893

)

(2,674,515

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Redemptions

 

(9,970

)

 

(2,207,500

)

(2,207,500

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PARTNERS’ CAPITAL, March 31, 2014

 

192,503

 

$

660,216

 

$

41,832,252

 

$

42,492,468

 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

3



 

ML SELECT FUTURES I L.P.

(A Delaware Limited Partnership)

 

FINANCIAL DATA HIGHLIGHTS

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2014 AND 2013 (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, 2014

 

March 31, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Per Unit Operating Performance:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

 

$

233.9835

 

$

219.6744

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Realized trading profit (loss)

 

(2.8621

)

5.0504

 

Change in unrealized, net

 

(7.2168

)

(1.8225

)

Interest income, net

 

0.0307

 

0.0494

 

Expenses (1)

 

(3.1991

)

(3.1836

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

 

$

220.7362

 

$

219.7681

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Return:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total return (2) 

 

-5.66

%

0.04

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Partners’ Capital (1):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses (2)

 

1.43

%

1.44

%

Net investment loss

 

-1.42

%

-1.42

%

 


(1) Includes the impact of brokerage commission expenses.

(2) Includes the impact of Performance fees of 0.0%, and 0.0%, respectively.

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

4



 

ML SELECT FUTURES I L.P.

(a Delaware Limited Partnership)

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

 

1.              SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

ML Select Futures I L.P. (the “Partnership”), which is an Investment Company as defined by Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) guidance, was organized under the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act in August 1995 and commenced trading activities on April 16, 1996. The Partnership engages in the speculative trading of futures and forward contracts on a wide range of commodities. Sunrise Capital Partners, LLC (“Sunrise” or “Trading Advisor”) is the trading advisor of the Partnership. The Trading Advisor utilizes its Expanded Diversified Program (the “Trading Program”) for the Partnership.

 

Merrill Lynch Alternative Investments LLC (“MLAI” or the “Sponsor” or the “General Partner”), is the general partner and sponsor of the Partnership. 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 currently the exclusive clearing broker for the Partnership. The General Partner may select other parties as clearing broker(s). Merrill Lynch International (“MLI”) is the primary foreign exchange (“F/X”) forward prime broker for the Partnership. The General Partner may select other parties as F/X or other over-the counter (“OTC”) prime brokers. MLPF&S and MLI are BAC affiliates. MLAI has agreed to maintain a general partner’s interest of at least 1% of the total capital accounts in the Partnership.  MLAI and each Limited Partner share in the profits and losses of the Partnership in proportion to their respective interests in it.

 

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, 2014 and December 31, 2013 and the results of its operations for the three month periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2013.  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 thereto included in the Partnership’s report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the year ended December 31, 2013.

 

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.

 

5


 


 

2.              CONDENSED SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS

 

The Partnership’s investments, defined as net unrealized profit (loss) on open contracts on the Statements of Financial Condition, as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, are as follows:

 

March 31, 2014

 

 

 

Long Positions

 

Short Positions

 

Net Unrealized

 

 

 

 

 

Commodity Industry

 

Number of

 

Unrealized

 

Percent of

 

Number of

 

Unrealized

 

Percent of

 

Profit (Loss)

 

Percent of

 

 

 

Sector

 

Contracts / Notional*

 

Profit (Loss)

 

Partners’ Capital

 

Contracts / Notional*

 

Profit (Loss)

 

Partners’ Capital

 

on Open Positions

 

Partners’ Capital

 

Maturity Dates

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agriculture

 

144

 

$

91,325

 

0.21

%

(31

)

$

(11,563

)

-0.03

%

$

79,762

 

0.18

%

May 2014 - August 2014

 

Currencies - Futures

 

209

 

782

 

0.00

%

(10

)

10,519

 

0.02

%

11,301

 

0.02

%

June 2014

 

Currencies - Forwards*

 

14,989,035

 

2,200

 

0.01

%

(17,593,023

)

(39,467

)

-0.09

%

(37,267

)

-0.08

%

June 2014

 

Energy

 

11

 

(3,310

)

-0.01

%

 

 

0.00

%

(3,310

)

-0.01

%

April 2014

 

Interest rates

 

152

 

(24,878

)

-0.06

%

 

 

0.00

%

(24,878

)

-0.06

%

June 2014

 

Metals

 

298

 

187,448

 

0.44

%

(300

)

(419,034

)

-0.99

%

(231,586

)

-0.55

%

April 2014 - July 2014

 

Stock indices

 

453

 

519,893

 

1.22

%

(157

)

(126,773

)

-0.30

%

393,120

 

0.92

%

April 2014 - June 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total, net

 

 

 

$

773,460

 

1.81

%

 

 

$

(586,318

)

-1.39

%

$

187,142

 

0.42

%

 

 

 

December 31, 2013

 

 

 

Long Positions

 

Short Positions

 

Net Unrealized

 

 

 

 

 

Commodity Industry

 

Number of

 

Unrealized

 

Percent of

 

Number of

 

Unrealized

 

Percent of

 

Profit (Loss)

 

Percent of

 

 

 

Sector

 

Contracts / Notional*

 

Profit (Loss)

 

Partners’ Capital

 

Contracts / Notional*

 

Profit (Loss)

 

Partners’ Capital

 

on Open Positions

 

Partners’ Capital

 

Maturity Dates

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agriculture

 

22

 

$

(20,900

)

-0.04

%

(262

)

$

173,687

 

0.37

%

$

152,787

 

0.33

%

February 2014 - March 2014

 

Currencies - Futures

 

113

 

162,150

 

0.34

%

(68

)

163,250

 

0.34

%

325,400

 

0.68

%

March 2014

 

Currencies - Forwards*

 

19,098,996

 

(30,968

)

-0.07

%

(23,577,795

)

30,892

 

0.07

%

(76

)

0.00

%

March 2014

 

Interest rates

 

64

 

4,174

 

0.01

%

(182

)

6,789

 

0.01

%

10,963

 

0.02

%

March 2014 - June 2014

 

Energy

 

102

 

(184,290

)

-0.39

%

 

 

 

0.00

%

(184,290

)

-0.39

%

January 2014 - May 2014

 

Metals

 

289

 

(144,060

)

-0.30

%

(489

)

(62,515

)

-0.13

%

(206,575

)

-0.43

%

January 2014 - April 2014

 

Stock indices

 

565

 

1,555,768

 

3.29

%

 

 

 

0.00

%

1,555,768

 

3.29

%

January 2014 - March 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

 

$

1,341,874

 

2.84

%

 

 

$

312,103

 

0.66

%

$

1,653,977

 

3.50

%

 

 

 


*Currencies-Forwards are stated in notional amounts. Note that the amounts presented for Currency-Forwards are presented as a mixture of underlying currencies in which the Fund trades.

No individual contract’s unrealized profit or loss comprised greater than 5% of Partners’ Capital as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013. With respect to each commodity industry sector listed in the above chart, the net unrealized profit (loss) on open positions is the sum of the unrealized profits (loss) of long positions and short positions of the open contracts, netting unrealized losses against unrealized profits as applicable.  Net unrealized profit and loss provides an approximate measure of the exposure of the Partnership to the various sectors as of the date listed, although such exposure can change at any time.

 

6


 


 

3.              FAIR VALUE OF INVESTMENTS

 

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

 

The fair value measurement guidance established by U.S. GAAP is a 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.

 

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

 

7



 

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

 

The independent pricing sources obtain market quotations and actual transaction prices for investments that have quoted prices in active markets. Each source has its own proprietary method for determining the fair value of investments that are not actively traded. In general, these methods involve the use of “matrix pricing” in which the independent pricing source uses observable market inputs including, but not limited to, investment yields, credit risks and spreads, benchmarking of like investments, broker-dealer quotes, reported trades and sector groupings to determine a reasonable fair market value.

 

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

 

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

 

The Partnership’s net unrealized profit (loss) on open forwards and futures contracts, by the above fair value hierarchy levels, as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 are as follows:

 

Net unrealized profit (loss)
on open contracts

 

Total

 

Level I

 

Level II

 

Level III

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Futures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long

 

$

771,260

 

$

610,277

 

$

160,983

 

$

 

Short

 

(546,851

)

(198,340

)

(348,511

)

 

 

 

$

224,409

 

$

411,937

 

$

(187,528

)

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forwards

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long

 

$

2,200

 

$

 

$

2,200

 

$

 

Short

 

(39,467

)

 

(39,467

)

 

 

 

$

(37,267

)

$

 

$

(37,267

)

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2014

 

$

187,142

 

$

411,937

 

$

(224,795

)

$

 

 

8



 

Net unrealized profit (loss)
on open contracts

 

Total

 

Level I

 

Level II

 

Level III

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Futures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long

 

$

1,372,842

 

$

1,516,902

 

$

(144,060

)

$

 

Short

 

281,211

 

402,869

 

(121,658

)

 

 

 

$

1,654,053

 

$

1,919,771

 

$

(265,718

)

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forwards

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long

 

$

(30,968

)

$

 

$

(30,968

)

$

 

Short

 

30,892

 

 

30,892

 

 

 

 

$

(76

)

$

 

$

(76

)

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2013

 

$

1,653,977

 

$

1,919,771

 

$

(265,794

)

$

 

 

The Partnership’s volume of trading forwards and futures as of the three month period ended March 31, 2014 and year ended December 31, 2013 are representative of the activity throughout these periods. There were no transfers to or from any level during the three month period ended March 31, 2014 or the year ended December 31, 2013.

 

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

 

The Partnership presents its futures and forwards contract amounts gross on the Statements of Financial Condition. The Partnership maintains margin deposits and cash collateral with its futures and forwards brokers, respectively, based on the greater of exchange margin or amounts determined by the respective broker. At March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the initial margin deposits (cash) are used to satisfy the margin requirements to establish the futures or forward contracts and are presented on the Statements of Financial Condition in Cash in the Equity in commodity trading accounts. The variation margin on open contracts is presented on the Statements of Financial Condition in unrealized gain or loss on futures or forwards contracts.

 

9



 

The following table indicates the trading profits and losses, before brokerage commissions, by type/commodity industry sector, on derivative instruments for each of the three month periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2013:

 

 

 

For the three months ended

 

For the three months ended

 

 

 

March 31, 2014

 

March 31, 2013

 

Commodity Industry Sector

 

Profit (loss) from trading, net

 

Profit (loss) from trading, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agriculture

 

$

101,007

 

$

365,889

 

Currencies

 

(839,490

)

(320,924

)

Energy

 

347,334

 

(840,367

)

Interest rates

 

(248,761

)

(989,566

)

Metals

 

(507,945

)

(86,768

)

Stock indices

 

(899,978

)

2,861,859

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total, net

 

$

(2,047,833

)

$

990,123

 

 

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

 

4.              MARKET AND CREDIT RISKS

 

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

 

Market Risk

 

Derivative instruments involve varying degrees of market risk.  Changes in the level or volatility of interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates or the market values of the financial instruments or commodities underlying such derivative instruments frequently result in changes in the Partnership’s Net unrealized profit (loss) on open contracts on such derivative instruments as reflected in the Statements 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 Partnership 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.

 

10



 

MLAI has procedures in place intended to control market risk exposure, although there can be no assurance that it will, in fact, succeed in doing so.  These procedures focus primarily on monitoring the trading of Sunrise, calculating the Net Asset Value of the Partnership 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 Partnership’s market exposure, MLAI may urge Sunrise 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 Trading Advisor monitoring, with the market risk controls being applied by Sunrise.

 

Credit Risk

 

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

 

The credit risk associated with these instruments from counterparty nonperformance is the Net unrealized profit (loss) on open contracts, if any, included in the Statements of Financial Condition.  MLAI, as sponsor of the Partnership, has a general policy of maintaining clearing and prime brokerage arrangements with BAC affiliates, such as MLPF&S and MLI, although MLAI may engage non-BAC affiliated service providers as clearing brokers or prime brokers for the Partnership.

 

The Partnership, in its normal course of business, enters into various contracts, with MLPF&S acting as its futures clearing broker.

 

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 certain parties, including BAC affiliates. No claims have actually been made with respect to such indemnities and any quantification would involve hypothetical claims that have not been made. Based on the 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 entered into a transfer agency and investor services agreement with Financial Data Services, Inc. (the “Transfer Agent”) a wholly-owned subsidiary of BAC and affiliate of MLAI. The Transfer Agent provides registrar, distribution disbursing agent, transfer agent and certain other services related to the issuance, redemption, exchange and transfer of Units. The fees charged by the Transfer Agent for its services are based on the aggregate net assets of funds managed or sponsored by MLAI.  The fee rate ranges from 0.016% to 0.02% per year of the aggregate net assets. The fee is payable monthly in arrears.  MLAI allocates the Transfer Agent fees to each of the managed or sponsored funds, including the Partnership, on a monthly basis based on each fund’s net assets. The Transfer Agent fee, which was 0.02% of aggregate asset level, allocated to the Partnership for the three months ended March 31, 2014, and 2013, are paid on behalf of the Partnership by the Sponsor. These fees are included in the wrap fees. The

 

11



 

Partnership’s brokerage commission and administrative fee constitute a “wrap fee” which covers all of BAC’s costs and expenses, other than bid-ask spreads, certain trading fees and extraordinary expenses.

 

Wrap fees and Interest as presented on the Statements of Operations are all received from or paid to related parties. Equity in commodity trading accounts, including cash and net unrealized profit/loss, as presented on the Statements of Financial Condition are held with a related party.

 

6.              SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

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

 

12


 


 

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

 

MLAI believes that the Net Asset Value used to calculate subscription and redemption value and to report performance to investors is a useful performance measure for the investors of the 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 close of business on the last business day of each calendar month and such other dates as MLAI may determine in its discretion. The Partnership’s “Net Asset Value” will generally equal the value of the Partnership’s account under the management of its Trading Advisor as of such date, plus any other assets held by the Partnership, minus accrued brokerage commission, administrative fee, profit share and other liabilities of the Partnership.  MLAI is authorized to make all net asset value determinations.

 

MONTH-END NET ASSET VALUE PER UNIT

 

 

 

 

MONTH-END NET ASSET VALUE PER INITIAL UNIT

 

 

 

 

 

Jan.

 

Feb.

 

Mar.

 

 

 

2013

 

$

227.3940

 

$

214.0573

 

$

219.7681

 

 

 

2014

 

$

220.9897

 

$

222.6933

 

$

220.7362

 

 

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

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

 

Substantially all of the Partnership’s assets are held in cash. The Net Asset Value of the Partnership’s cash is not affected by inflation. However, changes in interest rates could cause periods of strong up or down price trends, during which the Partnership’s profit potential might increase. Inflation in commodity prices could also generate price movements, which the strategies might successfully follow.

 

The Partnership should be able to close out its open trading positions and liquidate its holdings relatively quickly and at market prices, except in unusual circumstances. This typically permits the Partnership to limit losses as well as reduce market exposure on short notice should its strategies indicate doing so.

 

Investors in the Partnership may redeem any or all of their Units at Net Asset Value, in whole or fractional Units, effective as of last day of any calendar month, upon providing notice at least 10 calendar days prior to month-end. Partial redemptions are permitted, provided that the Net Asset Value of an investor’s Units following such redemption is not less than $10,000.  Units redeemed at or prior to the twelfth full month following the purchase date will be assessed a redemption charge of 4% as of the date of redemption, paid to the General Partner. Investors will remain exposed to fluctuations in Net Asset Value during the period between submission of their redemption request and the applicable redemption date.

 

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

 

13



 

For the three month periods ended March 31, 2014, Partnership capital decreased 10.27% from $47,358,483 to $42,492,468.  This decrease was attributable to the net loss from operations of $2,674,515 coupled with the redemption of 9,970 Redeemable Units of Interest resulting in an outflow of $2,207,500.  The cash outflow was offset with cash inflow of $16,000 due to subscriptions of 72 Units.  Future redemptions could impact the amount of funds available for investment in commodity contract positions in subsequent months.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

Statement of Cash Flows

 

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

 

Investments

 

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

 

Fair Value Measurements

 

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

 

Futures Contracts

 

The Partnership trades exchange listed futures contracts.  A listed futures contract is a firm commitment to buy or sell a standardized quantity of an underlying asset over a specified duration.  The Partnership buys and sells contracts based on indices of financial assets such as stocks, domestic and global stock indices, as well as contracts on various physical commodities. Prices paid or received on these contracts are determined by the ask or bid provided by the exchanges on which they are traded.   Contracts may be settled in physical form or cash settled depending upon the contract.  Upon the execution of a trade, margin requirements determine the amount of cash that must be on deposit to secure the transaction.  These amounts are considered restricted cash on the Partnership’s Statements of Financial Condition.  Contracts are priced daily by the Partnership and the profit or loss based on the daily mark to market are recorded as unrealized profits.  When the contract is closed, the Partnership records a realized profit or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed.  Because transactions in futures contracts require participants to make both initial margin deposits of cash or other assets and variation margin deposits, through the futures broker, directly with the exchange on which the contracts are traded, credit exposure is limited.  Realized profits (losses), net and changes in unrealized profits (losses), net on futures contracts are included in the Statements of Operations.  The Partnership also trades futures contracts on the London Metals Exchange (LME).  The valuation pricing for LME contracts is based on action of a committee that incorporates prices from the most liquid trading sessions of the day and can also rely on other inputs such as supply and demand factors and bids and asks from open outcry sessions.

 

14



 

Forward Foreign Currency Contracts

 

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

 

Interest Rates and Income

 

The Partnership receives an interest rate based on the 90 day T-bill rate on U.S. dollar deposits.  Other rates exist for non-U.S. dollar deposits, however most of the Partnership’s cash is held in U.S. dollars.  The current short term interest rates have remained extremely low when compared with historical rates and thus has contributed negligible amounts to overall Partnership performance.

 

Income Taxes

 

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

 

The Partnership follows ASC guidance on 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.  A prospective investor should be aware that, among other things, income taxes could have a material adverse effect on the periodic calculations of the net asset value of the Partnership, including reducing the net asset value of the Partnership to reflect reserves for income taxes, such as foreign withholding taxes, that may be payable by the Partnership. This could cause benefits or detriments to certain investors, depending upon the timing of their entry and exit from the Partnership. MLAI 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 — 2010.

 

Reform Act

 

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

 

15



 

Results of Operations

 

January 1, 2014 to March 31, 2014

 

January 1, 2014 to March 31, 2014

 

The Partnership experienced a net trading loss of $2,047,833 before brokerage commissions and related fees for the first quarter of 2014. Profits were primarily attributable to the Partnership trading in the energy and agriculture sectors posting profits. The interest rate, metals, currency and stock indices sectors posted losses.

 

The energy sector posted profits to the Partnership. Profits were posted to the Partnership at the beginning of the first quarter as the Partnership captured the price move of natural gas triggered by winter weather across the U.S.  Small  losses  in  the Partnership’s long  crude  oil  positions were  insufficient to  offset  the  strong performance in natural gas. Profits were posted to the Partnership in the middle of the quarter due to the Partnership’s long positions in natural gas, crude oil and rbob gasoline. Losses were posted to the Partnership at the end of the quarter as the energy sector calmed significantly in March. As a result, the Partnership was flat for March.

 

The agriculture sector posted profits to the Partnership. Profits were posted to the Partnership at the beginning of the first quarter due to the Partnership’s trading program buying cattle and soy meal and selling sugar, wheat and rubber. Gains in these markets were sufficient to outweigh January  losses in coffee and corn where the  Partnership’s short positions were not profitable. Profits were posted to the Partnership in the middle of the quarter due to the Partnership’s long positions in coffee, cattle, the soy complex and rubber. Losses were posted to the Partnership at the end of the quarter. The agricultural markets offered a mixed bag that ultimately resulted in a small loss for the Partnership. The Partnership’s long  positions in soy beans and soy meal generated profits which was offset by losses on both sides of a choppy wheat market and long positions in the cotton market.

 

The interest rate sector posted losses to the Partnership. Losses were posted to the Partnership at the beginning of the first quarter. The bond sector was a disappointment in January. The Partnership’s directional basket of global positions failed to gain profits, even with the U.S. Federal Reserve’s reaffirmation of its plans to taper its easing policy. Overall, small gains in the U.S. and Japanese bond markets were insufficient to offset losses selling European markets such as the bund and gilt. Profits were posted to the Partnership in the middle of the quarter. There were profits from the Partnership’s long positions in the U.S. 5 and 10 year treasury note markets as well as in Japanese, Canadian and British bonds that slightly outweighed losses long U.S. treasury bonds and German bunds. Profits were posted to the Partnership at the end of the quarter. The Partnership’s long positions in the German, British and longer-term U.S. treasuries generated profits that were sufficient to outweigh losses on the long side of Japanese bonds and shorter-term U.S. treasuries.

 

The metals sector posted losses to the Partnership. Losses were posted to the Partnership at the beginning of the first quarter. The Partnership’s profits in copper  was not enough to offset losses from selling precious metals such as platinum, gold, silver and nickel. Losses were posted to the Partnership in the middle of the quarter. While the Partnership generated profits in shorter term long position gold trades, those profits were outweighed by losses incurred shorting silver, nickel and copper. Losses were posted to the Partnership at the end of the quarter when gold, platinum and zinc prices failed to follow through on upward moves seized upon by the Partnership’s trading program during March.

 

16



 

The currency sector posted losses to the Partnership. Losses were posted to the Partnership at the beginning of the first quarter due to the sharp upward move in the Japanese yen that bucked 2013’s downward trend and the Partnership’s carryover short position from 2013. Adding to the losses were downward moves in the Swiss franc and euro that went against the Partnership’s long positions. These outcomes could not be overcome by winning short trades against the Australian dollar and South African rand. . Losses were posted to the Partnership in the middle of the quarter. as profits were outweighed by losses incurred shorting the Japanese yen, Australian dollar, and the South African rand. Losses were posted to the Partnership at the end of the quarter due to the Partnership’s long positions in the British pound and on both sides of the euro market.

 

The stock indices sector posted losses to the Partnership. Losses were posted to the Partnership at the beginning of the first quarter. The global stock markets generally had strong market corrections  in January and as a result, the Partnership’s long positions lost money across the board. Profits were posted to the Partnership in the middle of the quarter due to the Partnership’s long positions stock indices in Sweden, Italy, Taiwan and the Netherlands. Profits were posted to the Partnership at the end of the quarter due to the Partnership’s long positions in the Scandinavian OMX, the Italian FTSE MIB, Taiwan, and the S&P 500.

 

January 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013

 

January 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013

 

The Partnership experienced a net trading profit of $990,123 before brokerage commissions and related fees in the first quarter of 2013. The Partnership’s profits were primarily attributable to the stock indices and the agriculture sectors posting profits. The metals, currencies, energy and interest rates sectors posted losses.

 

The stock indices posted profits to the Partnership. Profits were posted to the Partnership at the beginning of the quarter as investor confidence drove prices up across numerous markets traded. Leading the charge for the Trading Program were Japanese equities which continued their late 2012 run in the wake of continued efforts by the new government to stimulate its economy by weakening the Japanese yen. Losses were posted to the Partnership in the middle of the quarter. Trading in the U.S. markets generated small profits that were offset by losses in international equities in the face of Italian politics and other perceived indicators of global economic weakness. As a result, the Trading Program continued profitable trading of U.S. stock indices and trending S&P sub-sectors was outweighed by losses in both Europe and Asia for the month. Profits were posted to the Partnership at the end of the quarter due to the surging U.S. stock markets. Large gains in the S&P, NASDAQ, Dow Jones and various U.S. equity sub-sectors generated the bulk of equity profits.

 

The agriculture sector posted profits to the Partnership. Profits were posted to the Partnership at the beginning of the quarter in which sugar prices spiraled downward in support of the Trading Program’s short position. Profits were posted to the Partnership in the middle of through the end of the quarter due to the Trading Program’s short positions in sugar and coffee.

 

The metals sector posted losses to the Partnership. Losses were posted to the Partnership at the beginning of the quarter as gold and copper pushed upward against the Trading Program’s short positions. Also challenging was the zinc market, wherein the Trading Program entered into a long position only to sharply reverse resulting in losses posted to the Partnership. Losses were posted to the Partnership in the middle of the quarter with zinc losses offsetting gains in gold and copper. Profits were posted to the Partnership at the end of the quarter as the Trading Program’s short copper and gold positions continued to track ongoing reversals in each of those markets and offset a small loss incurred on a long zinc trade.

 

The currency sector posted losses to the Partnership. Profits were posted to the Partnership at the beginning of the quarter. The sharp downward move in the Japanese yen that began late 2012 accelerated in January

 

17



 

and led to profit taking by the Trading Program. Complementing the Japanese yen’s productive move was a solid upward surge in the euro and European minor currencies. Profits were also found shorting the South African rand which continued a downward trend and further bolstered the Trading Program’s January performance in currency. These trading gains were more-than-sufficient to offset losses suffered when the Swiss franc and Australian dollar moved against the Trading Program’s long positions and the British pound spiked upward against the Trading Program’s short position. Losses in the euro, Swiss franc, Australian dollar and a range of minor European currencies outweighed gains in the British pound, Japanese yen, and South African rand resulting in losses posted to the Partnership in the middle of the quarter. Profits were posted to the Partnership at the end of the quarter. March began with the Trading Program’s short euro trade that caused a loss, which was offset by winning short positions in the Japanese yen, Swiss franc and South African rand.

 

The energy sector posted losses to the Partnership. Profits were posted to the Partnership at the beginning of the quarter. Most notably, crude oil spiked sharply yielding profits for the Trading Program. Supplementing these profits were favorable trades in heating oil, and various gasoline markets. Losses were posted to the Partnership in the middle of the quarter. Strong upward trends and seemingly orderly pullbacks were disrupted by unpredicted price turmoil when an unidentified investor sold large quantities of crude oil futures within a very short time window toward the end of the month of February.  This occurrence reduced prices below the Trading Program’s risk tolerances and forced the Trading Program out of trading positions that otherwise appeared on track to produce positive returns. The Trading Program also generated losses in unleaded gas, gas oil, heating oil and Brent crude. Profits were posted to the Partnership at the end of the quarter as the Trading Program’s long natural gas trade toward the end of the month of March generated gains to offset losses realized by shorting the same market in early March.

 

The interest rate sector posted losses to the Partnership. Losses were posted to the Partnership at the beginning of the quarter. In particular, the U.S. and European interest rates moved downward against the Trading Program’s short bond positions. Losses were posted to the Partnership in the middle of the quarter due to small losses in European interest rates. Profits were posted to the Partnership at the end of the quarter due to the Trading Program’s long bond/short interest rate positions across Europe and in Japan and long T- note/short rate positions in the U.S.

 

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

 

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

 

The Partnership, under the direction of Sunrise, rapidly acquires and liquidates both long and short positions in a wide range of different markets.  Consequently, it is not possible to predict how a particular

 

18



 

future market scenario will affect performance, and the Partnership’s past performance is not necessarily indicative of its future results.

 

Value at Risk is a measure of the maximum amount which the Partnership could reasonably be expected to lose in a given market sector. However, the inherent uncertainty of the Partnership’s speculative trading and the recurrence in the markets traded by the Partnership 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 experience to date (i.e., “risk of ruin”). In light of the foregoing, as well as the risks and uncertainties intrinsic to all future projections, the quantifications included in this section should not be considered to constitute any assurance or representation that the Partnership’s losses in any market sector will be limited to Value at Risk or by the Partnership’s 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 Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (set forth in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act 1934 (“Securities Exchange Act”)).  All quantitative disclosures in this section are deemed to be forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor, except for statements of historical fact.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Partnership’s Trading Value at Risk in Different Market Sectors

 

19



 

The following table indicates the average, highest and lowest trading Value at Risk associated with the Partnership’s open positions by market category for the fiscal period.  For the three month period ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, the Partnership’s average capitalization was approximately $44,142,816 and $65,567,092, respectively.

 

March 31, 2014

 

 

 

Average

 

% of Average

 

Highest Value

 

Lowest Value

 

Market Sector 

 

Value at Risk

 

Capitalization

 

At Risk

 

At Risk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Currencies

 

$

153,209

 

0.35

%

$

198,686

 

$

114,944

 

Metals

 

1,366,444

 

3.10

%

1,772,040

 

1,025,161

 

Stock Indices

 

2,319,554

 

5.25

%

3,008,059

 

1,740,223

 

Interest Rates

 

146,789

 

0.33

%

190,360

 

110,127

 

Energy

 

19,530

 

0.04

%

25,327

 

14,652

 

Agricultural Commodities

 

470,626

 

1.07

%

610,319

 

353,082

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL

 

$

4,476,152

 

10.14

%

$

5,804,791

 

$

3,358,189

 

 

March 31, 2013

 

 

 

Average

 

% of Average

 

Highest Value

 

Lowest Value

 

Market Sector 

 

Value at Risk

 

Capitalization

 

At Risk

 

At Risk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Currencies

 

$

2,245,551

 

3.42

%

$

2,586,952

 

$

1,823,562

 

Metals

 

743,030

 

1.13

%

855,996

 

603,398

 

Stock Indices

 

622,203

 

0.95

%

716,800

 

505,278

 

Interest Rates

 

701,946

 

1.07

%

808,666

 

570,035

 

Energy

 

68,373

 

0.10

%

78,768

 

55,524

 

Agricultural Commodities

 

267,121

 

0.41

%

307,733

 

216,923

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL

 

$

4,648,224

 

7.08

%

$

5,354,915

 

$

3,774,720

 

 

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

 

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

 

Non-Trading Risk.

 

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

 

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

 

20



 

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

 

Qualitative Disclosures Regarding Primary Trading Risk Exposures

 

The following qualitative disclosures regarding the Partnership’s market risk exposures — 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 Sunrise for managing such exposures are subject to numerous uncertainties, contingencies and risks, any one of which could cause the actual results of the Partnership’s risk controls to differ materially from the objectives of such strategies. Government interventions, defaults and expropriations, illiquid markets, the emergence of dominant fundamental factors, political upheavals, changes in historical price relationships, an influx of new market participants, increased regulation and many other factors could result in material losses as well as in material changes to the risk exposures and the risk management strategies of the Partnership. There can be no assurance that the Partnership’s current market exposure and/or risk management strategies will not change materially or that any such strategies will be effective in either the short- or long-term. Investors must be prepared to lose all or substantially all of the value of their investment in the Partnership.

 

The following were the primary trading risk exposures of the Partnership as of March 31, 2014 by market sector.

 

Interest Rates

 

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

 

Currencies

 

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

 

Stock Indices

 

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

 

21



 

Metals

 

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

 

Agricultural Commodities

 

The Partnership’s primary agricultural commodities exposure is to agricultural price movements which are often directly affected by severe or unexpected weather conditions. Soybeans, grains, cotton and sugar accounted for the substantial bulk of the Partnership’s agricultural commodities exposure as of March 31, 2014. However, it is anticipated that Sunrise will maintain an emphasis on cotton, grains and sugar, in which the Partnership has historically taken its largest positions.

 

Energy

 

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

 

Qualitative Disclosures Regarding Non-Trading Risk Exposure

 

The following were the primary non-trading risk exposures of the Partnership as of March 31, 2014

 

Foreign Currency Balances

 

The Partnership’s primary foreign currency balances are in Japanese yen, Australian dollar, Swiss franc and Euros.

 

U.S. Dollar Cash Balance

 

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

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

MLAI’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer on behalf of the Partnership have evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) or Rule 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act) with respect to the Partnership as of and for the quarter which ended March 31, 2014, and, based on their evaluation, have concluded that these disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

 

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

No change in internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) or Rule 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act) occurred during the quarter ended March 31, 2014 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

22



 

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 Partnership’s report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 25, 2014.

 

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

 

Jan-14

 

$

 

 

$

233.9835

 

Feb-14

 

16,000

 

72

 

220.9897

 

Mar-14

 

 

 

222.6933

 

Apr-14

 

 

 

220.7362

 

 


(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.

 

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

 

23



 

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, 2014 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 Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933 or Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to liability under those sections.

 

24



 

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 SELECT FUTURES I L.P.

 

 

 

 

 

By

MERRILL LYNCH ALTERNATIVE

 

 

INVESTMENTS LLC

 

 

(General Partner)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date: May 15, 2014

By:

/s/ KEITH GLENFIELD

 

 

Keith Glenfield

 

 

Chief Executive Officer and President

 

 

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date: May 15, 2014

By:

/s/ BARBRA E. KOCSIS

 

 

Barbra E. Kocsis

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

(Principal Financial Officer)

 

25