UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
x | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the Quarterly Period Ended: March 31, 2011
¨ | 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: 0-50316
Grant Park Futures Fund
Limited Partnership
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Illinois | 36-3596839 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
c/o Dearborn Capital Management, L.L.C.
626 West Jackson Boulevard, Suite 600
Chicago, Illinois 60661
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (312) 756-4450
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 ¨
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 ¨ No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer and smaller reporting company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer | ¨ | Accelerated filer | ¨ | |||
Non-accelerated filer | x | Smaller reporting company | ¨ |
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Yes ¨ No x
GRANT PARK FUTURES FUND LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
QUARTER ENDED March 31, 2011
INDEX
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. | Financial Statements |
Grant Park Futures Fund Limited Partnership
Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition
March 31, 2011 | December 31, 2010 | |||||||
Assets |
||||||||
Equity in brokers trading accounts: |
||||||||
Securities owned, at fair value (cost $76,922,872 and $98,314,299, respectively) |
$ | 76,955,583 | $ | 98,441,357 | ||||
Cash |
116,020,490 | 6,757,371 | ||||||
Unrealized gain on open contracts, net |
24,793,689 | 35,956,214 | ||||||
Total equity in brokers trading accounts |
217,769,762 | 141,154,942 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
396,652,591 | 338,154,495 | ||||||
Securities owned, at fair value (cost $348,899,522 and $446,933,117, respectively) |
349,719,833 | 447,426,370 | ||||||
Interest and dividends receivable |
59,519 | 82,357 | ||||||
Total assets |
$ | 964,201,705 | $ | 926,818,164 | ||||
Liabilities and Partners Capital (Net Asset Value) |
||||||||
Liabilities |
||||||||
Securities sold short, at fair value (proceeds $31,115,107 and $0, respectively) |
$ | 30,565,833 | $ | | ||||
Dividends payable on securities sold short |
25,587 | | ||||||
Brokerage commission payable |
5,398,040 | 5,622,480 | ||||||
Accrued incentive fees |
1,631,110 | 9,372,262 | ||||||
Organization and offering costs payable |
216,826 | 217,123 | ||||||
Accrued operating expenses |
189,558 | 140,163 | ||||||
Pending partner additions |
19,580,163 | 12,218,587 | ||||||
Redemptions payable |
9,208,427 | 7,334,779 | ||||||
Total liabilities |
66,815,544 | 34,905,394 | ||||||
Partners Capital (Net Asset Value) |
||||||||
General Partner |
||||||||
Class A (3,008.66 units outstanding at both March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010) |
4,442,988 | 4,478,872 | ||||||
Class B (427.01 units outstanding at both March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010) |
537,456 | 542,672 | ||||||
Legacy 1 Class (1,025.00 units outstanding at both March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010) |
1,048,061 | 1,050,542 | ||||||
Legacy 2 Class (1,000.00 units outstanding at both March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010) |
1,016,584 | 1,019,793 | ||||||
Global 1 Class (1,044.66 units outstanding at both March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010) |
1,021,776 | 1,028,338 | ||||||
Global 2 Class (1,354.32 and 1,181.06 units outstanding at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively) |
1,315,283 | 1,155,098 | ||||||
Global 3 Class (500.00 units outstanding at both March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010) |
467,355 | 473,009 | ||||||
Limited Partners |
||||||||
Class A (39,830.56 and 40,362.54 units outstanding at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively) |
58,819,172 | 60,086,201 | ||||||
Class B (485,287.76 and 498,484.71 units outstanding at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively) |
610,804,977 | 633,504,348 | ||||||
Legacy 1 Class (5,541.96 and 5,908.00 units outstanding at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively) |
5,666,646 | 6,055,220 | ||||||
Legacy 2 Class (8,312.85 and 6,361.06 units outstanding at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively) |
8,450,711 | 6,486,967 | ||||||
Global 1 Class (11,272.35 and 10,133.38 units outstanding at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively) |
11,025,423 | 9,975,048 | ||||||
Global 2 Class (20,207.86 and 18,631.40 units outstanding at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively) |
19,625,297 | 18,221,772 | ||||||
Global 3 Class (185,238.94 and 156,270.73 units outstanding at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively) |
173,144,432 | 147,834,890 | ||||||
Total partners capital (net asset value) |
897,386,161 | 891,912,770 | ||||||
Total liabilities and partners capital (net asset value) |
$ | 964,201,705 | $ | 926,818,164 | ||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
1
Grant Park Futures Fund Limited Partnership
Consolidated Condensed Schedule of Investments
March 31, 2011
(Unaudited)
Futures, Forwards, and Options on Futures Contracts
Unrealized gain/(loss) on open long contracts |
Percent of Partners Capital (net asset value) |
Unrealized gain/(loss) on open short contracts |
Percent of Partners Capital (net asset value) |
Net unrealized gain/(loss) on open contracts |
Percent of Partners Capital (net asset value) |
|||||||||||||||||||
Futures Contracts * |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. Futures Positions: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Currencies |
$ | 7,465,950 | 0.8 | % | $ | 210,572 | ** | % | $ | 7,676,522 | 0.9 | % | ||||||||||||
Energy |
$ | 7,537,424 | 0.8 | % | $ | (4,011,618 | ) | (0.4 | )% | $ | 3,525,806 | 0.4 | % | |||||||||||
Grains |
$ | 1,395,854 | 0.2 | % | $ | (885,169 | ) | (0.1 | )% | $ | 510,685 | 0.1 | % | |||||||||||
Interest rates |
$ | (1,205,476 | ) | (0.1 | )% | $ | 94,536 | ** | $ | (1,110,940 | ) | (0.1 | )% | |||||||||||
Meats |
$ | 1,184,895 | 0.1 | % | $ | (170,914 | ) | ** | $ | 1,013,981 | 0.1 | % | ||||||||||||
Metals |
$ | 3,186,591 | 0.4 | % | $ | (287,812 | ) | ** | $ | 2,898,779 | 0.3 | % | ||||||||||||
Soft commodities |
$ | 1,029,852 | 0.1 | % | $ | (9,788 | ) | ** | $ | 1,020,064 | 0.1 | % | ||||||||||||
Stock indices and single stock futures |
$ | 5,074,405 | 0.6 | % | $ | (680,252 | ) | (0.1 | )% | $ | 4,394,153 | 0.5 | % | |||||||||||
Total U.S. Futures Positions |
$ | 25,669,495 | $ | (5,740,445 | ) | $ | 19,929,050 | |||||||||||||||||
Foreign Futures Positions: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Energy |
$ | 2,041,230 | 0.2 | % | $ | (18,780 | ) | ** | $ | 2,022,450 | 0.2 | % | ||||||||||||
Grains |
$ | 422 | ** | $ | | ** | $ | 422 | ** | |||||||||||||||
Interest rates |
$ | (1,091,620 | ) | (0.1 | )% | $ | 3,043,616 | 0.3 | % | $ | 1,951,996 | 0.2 | % | |||||||||||
Metals |
$ | 2,268,552 | 0.3 | % | $ | (3,583,681 | ) | (0.4 | )% | $ | (1,315,129 | ) | (0.1 | )% | ||||||||||
Soft commodities |
$ | 1,914 | ** | $ | 54,567 | ** | $ | 56,481 | ** | |||||||||||||||
Stock indices |
$ | 2,222,001 | 0.2 | % | $ | (2,088,544 | ) | (0.2 | )% | $ | 133,457 | ** | ||||||||||||
Total Foreign Futures Positions |
$ | 5,442,499 | $ | (2,592,822 | ) | $ | 2,849,677 | |||||||||||||||||
Total Futures Contracts |
$ | 31,111,994 | 3.4 | % | $ | (8,333,267 | ) | (0.9 | )% | $ | 22,778,727 | 2.5 | % | |||||||||||
Forward Contracts * |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Currencies |
$ | 10,531,861 | 1.2 | % | $ | (8,514,909 | ) | (0.9 | )% | $ | 2,016,952 | 0.3 | % | |||||||||||
Options on Futures Contracts * |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. stock indices |
$ | 1,529 | ** | $ | (3,519 | ) | ** | $ | (1,990 | ) | ** | |||||||||||||
Total Futures, Forward and Options on Futures Contracts |
$ | 41,645,384 | 4.6 | % | $ | (16,851,695 | ) | (1.8 | )% | $ | 24,793,689 | 2.8 | % | |||||||||||
* | No individual futures, forward, and options on futures contract position constituted greater than 1 percent of partners capital. Accordingly, the number of contracts and expiration dates are not presented. |
** | Represents less than 0.1% of partners capital. |
U.S. Government securities in brokers trading accounts*** | ||||||||||||||
Face Value |
Maturity Date |
Description |
Fair Value | Percent of Partners Capital (net asset value) |
||||||||||
$ | 77,050,000 | 4/7/2011-2/9/2012 | U.S. Treasury Bills, 0.0%-0.3% (cost $76,922,872) | $ | 76,955,583 | 8.6 | % | |||||||
*** | Pledged as collateral for the trading of futures, forward and options on futures contracts. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
2
Grant Park Futures Fund Limited Partnership
Consolidated Condensed Schedule of Investments (continued)
March 31, 2011
(Unaudited)
Securities Owned
U.S. equities* | ||||||||
Fair Value | Percent of Partners Capital (net asset value) |
|||||||
Consumer Discretionary |
$ | 1,030,448 | 0.1 | % | ||||
Consumer Staples |
$ | 848,106 | 0.1 | % | ||||
Energy |
$ | 990,712 | 0.1 | % | ||||
Financials |
$ | 818,526 | 0.1 | % | ||||
Health Care |
$ | 748,712 | 0.1 | % | ||||
Industrials |
$ | 542,987 | 0.1 | % | ||||
Information Technology |
$ | 1,321,440 | 0.1 | % | ||||
Materials |
$ | 634,785 | 0.1 | % | ||||
Telecommunication Services |
$ | 128,217 | ** | |||||
Utilities |
$ | 468,545 | ** | |||||
Total U.S. equity securities (cost $7,638,211) |
$ | 7,532,478 | 0.8 | % | ||||
Exchange-traded funds* | ||||||||
Fair Value | Percent of Partners Capital (net asset value) |
|||||||
Consumer Discretionary |
$ | 31,240 | ** | % | ||||
Consumer Staples |
$ | 101,728 | ** | |||||
Energy |
$ | 164,360 | ** | |||||
Financials |
$ | 2,898,273 | 0.3 | % | ||||
Health Care |
$ | 321,167 | ** | |||||
Industrials |
$ | 207,158 | ** | |||||
Information Technology |
$ | 294,015 | ** | |||||
Materials |
$ | 196,098 | ** | |||||
Total Exchange-traded funds (cost $4,009,770) |
$ | 4,214,039 | 0.5 | % | ||||
U.S. equity options purchased* | ||||||||
Fair Value | Percent of Partners Capital (net asset value) |
|||||||
Consumer Discretionary |
$ | 28,834 | ** | % | ||||
Consumer Staples |
$ | 219,665 | ** | |||||
Energy |
$ | 16,760 | ** | |||||
Financials |
$ | 63,876 | ** | |||||
Health Care |
$ | 126,464 | ** | |||||
Industrials |
$ | 66,372 | ** | |||||
Information Technology |
$ | 83,342 | ** | |||||
Materials |
$ | 52,500 | ** | |||||
Telecommunication Services |
$ | 49,453 | ** | |||||
Utilities |
$ | 85,560 | ** | |||||
Total U.S. equity options purchased (premiums paid $978,472) |
$ | 792,826 | 0.1 | % | ||||
* | No individual equity, exchange-traded fund and equity options securities constituted greater than 1 percent of partners capital. Accordingly, the number of securities and expiration dates are not presented. |
** | Represents less than 0.1% of partners capital. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
3
Grant Park Futures Fund Limited Partnership
Consolidated Condensed Schedule of Investments (continued)
March 31, 2011
(Unaudited)
Bank deposits | ||||||||||||||
Face Value |
Maturity Date |
Description |
Fair Value | Percent of Partners Capital (net asset value) |
||||||||||
$ | 20,000,000 | 4/29/2011 | Bank of Nova Scotia, 0.3 % (cost $20,000,000) | $ | 20,022,784 | 2.2 | % | |||||||
U.S. Commercial paper | ||||||||||||||
Face Value |
Maturity Date |
Description |
Fair Value | Percent of Partners Capital (net asset value) |
||||||||||
$ | 10,000,000 | 5/13/2011 | Volkswagen America, 0.4% (cost $9,989,444) | $ | 9,995,333 | 1.1 | % | |||||||
$ | 20,000,000 | 5/24/2011 | Bank of America Corp., 0.3% (cost $19,986,350) | $ | 19,992,050 | 2.2 | % | |||||||
$ | 5,000,000 | 5/27/2011 | American Electric Power Corp., 0.4% (cost $4,993,132) | $ | 4,996,656 | 0.6 | % | |||||||
Total U.S. Commercial paper (cost $34,968,926) | $ | 34,984,039 | 3.9 | % | ||||||||||
U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises | ||||||||||||||
Face Value |
Maturity Date |
Description |
Fair Value | Percent of Partners Capital (net asset value) |
||||||||||
$ | 147,750,000 | 9/9/2013-1/14/2014 | Federal Home Loan Bank, 1.0-1.6% | $ | 148,214,769 | 16.5 | % | |||||||
$ | 45,000,000 | 4/27/2012-5/25/2012 | Federal National Mortgage Association, 1.3-1.4% | $ | 45,238,048 | 5.0 | % | |||||||
$ | 63,605,000 | 6/14/2012-3/10/2014 | Federal Farm Credit Bank, 1.0-1.6% | $ | 63,712,764 | 7.1 | % | |||||||
$ | 15,000,000 | 8/23/2013 | Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corp., 1.3% | $ | 15,019,792 | 1.7 | % | |||||||
$ | 10,000,000 | 7/8/2011 | Federal Home Loan Discount Note, 0.4% | $ | 9,988,294 | 1.1 | % | |||||||
Total U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises (cost $281,304,143) | $ | 282,173,667 | 31.4 | % | ||||||||||
Fair Value | Percent of Partners Capital (net asset value) |
|||||||||||||
|
Total Securities owned |
$ | 349,719,833 | 38.9 | % | |||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
4
Grant Park Futures Fund Limited Partnership
Consolidated Condensed Schedule of Investments (continued)
March 31, 2011
(Unaudited)
Securities sold short
U.S. equities sold short* | ||||||||
Fair Value | Percent of Partners Capital (net asset value) |
|||||||
Consumer Discretionary |
$ | (1,550,398 | ) | (0.2 | )% | |||
Consumer Staples |
$ | (3,253,643 | ) | (0.4 | )% | |||
Energy |
$ | (2,033,417 | ) | (0.2 | )% | |||
Financials |
$ | (931,098 | ) | (0.1 | )% | |||
Health Care |
$ | (3,142,905 | ) | (0.3 | )% | |||
Industrials |
$ | (1,672,256 | ) | (0.2 | )% | |||
Information Technology |
$ | (3,085,039 | ) | (0.3 | )% | |||
Materials |
$ | (926,415 | ) | (0.1 | )% | |||
Telecommunication Services |
$ | (593,967 | ) | (0.1 | )% | |||
Utilities |
$ | (1,086,305 | ) | (0.1 | )% | |||
Total U.S. equities (proceeds $17,996,589) |
$ | (18,275,443 | ) | (2.0 | )% | |||
Exchange-traded funds sold short* | ||||||||
Fair Value | Percent of Partners Capital (net asset value) |
|||||||
Energy |
$ | (31,900 | ) | ** | ||||
Financials |
$ | (8,434,932 | ) | (0.9 | )% | |||
Information Technology |
$ | (52,125 | ) | ** | ||||
Utilities |
$ | (133,854 | ) | ** | ||||
Total Exchange-traded funds sold short (proceeds $8,590,163) |
$ | (8,652,811 | ) | (1.0 | )% | |||
U.S. equity options written* | ||||||||
Fair Value | Percent of Partners Capital (net asset value) |
|||||||
Consumer Discretionary |
$ | (617,141 | ) | (0.1 | )% | |||
Consumer Staples |
$ | (110,294 | ) | ** | ||||
Energy |
$ | (610,342 | ) | (0.1 | )% | |||
Financials |
$ | (143,351 | ) | ** | ||||
Health Care |
$ | (203,553 | ) | ** | ||||
Industrials |
$ | (311,017 | ) | ** | ||||
Information Technology |
$ | (1,388,652 | ) | (0.1 | )% | |||
Materials |
$ | (238,299 | ) | ** | ||||
Telecommunication Services |
$ | (4,462 | ) | ** | ||||
Utilities |
$ | (10,468 | ) | ** | ||||
Total U.S. equity options written (premiums received $4,528,355) |
$ | (3,637,579 | ) | (0.4 | )% | |||
Fair Value | Percent of Partners Capital (net asset value) |
|||||||
Total Securities sold short |
$ | (30,565,833 | ) | (3.4 | )% | |||
* | No individual equity, exchange-traded fund and equity options securities constituted greater than 1 percent of partners capital. Accordingly, the number of securities and expiration dates are not presented |
** | Represents less than 0.1% of partners capital. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
5
Grant Park Futures Fund Limited Partnership
Consolidated Condensed Schedule of Investments
December 31, 2010
Futures, Forwards and Options on Futures Contracts
Expiration Dates |
No. of Contracts |
Unrealized on open long contracts |
Percent of Partners Capital (net asset value) |
Unrealized gain/(loss) on open short contracts |
Percent of Partners Capital (net asset value) |
Net unrealized gain/(loss) on open contracts |
Percent of Partners Capital (net asset value) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Long |
Short | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Futures Contracts * |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. Futures Positions: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Agriculturals |
$ | 6,663,696 | 0.7 | % | $ | (377,927 | ) | ** | $ | 6,285,769 | 0.7 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Currencies |
$ | 9,558,662 | 1.1 | % | $ | 2,283,505 | 0.2 | % | $ | 11,842,167 | 1.3 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Energy |
$ | 2,655,082 | 0.3 | % | $ | (1,303,695 | ) | (0.1 | )% | $ | 1,351,387 | 0.2 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest rates |
$ | 277,176 | ** | $ | (418,671 | ) | ** | $ | (141,495 | ) | ** | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Meats |
$ | 787,250 | 0.1 | % | $ | (20,500 | ) | ** | $ | 766,750 | 0.1 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Metals |
$ | 4,039,143 | 0.5 | % | $ | (616,704 | ) | (0.1 | )% | $ | 3,422,439 | 0.4 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Soft commodities |
$ | 2,720,770 | 0.3 | % | $ | (216,592 | ) | ** | $ | 2,504,178 | 0.3 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock indices and single stock futures |
$ | 928,568 | 0.1 | % | $ | 71,857 | ** | $ | 1,000,425 | 0.1 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total U.S. Futures Positions |
$ | 27,630,347 | $ | (598,727 | ) | $ | 27,031,620 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign Futures Positions: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Agriculturals |
$ | 24,719 | ** | $ | | ** | $ | 24,719 | ** | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Energy |
$ | 509,737 | 0.1 | % | $ | (17,165 | ) | ** | $ | 492,572 | 0.1 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest rates |
$ | 2,243,690 | 0.2 | % | $ | (983,344 | ) | (0.1 | )% | $ | 1,260,346 | 0.1 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Metals |
$ | (11,958,488 | ) | (1.4 | )% | $ | 4,056,349 | 0.4 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Copper |
|
1/19/2011- 6/15/2011 |
|
386 | 208 | $ | 8,937,572 | 1.0 | % | $ | (4,285,970 | ) | (0.5 | )% | $ | 4,651,602 | 0.5 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Other Metals |
$ | 7,077,265 | 0.8 | % | $ | (7,672,518 | ) | (0.9 | )% | $ | (595,253 | ) | (0.1 | )% | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Soft commodities |
$ | 27,959 | ** | $ | | ** | $ | 27,959 | ** | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock indices |
$ | (120,097 | ) | ** | $ | 148,949 | ** | $ | 28,852 | ** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Foreign Futures Positions |
$ | 18,700,845 | $ | (12,810,048 | ) | $ | 5,890,797 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Futures Contracts |
$ | 46,331,192 | 5.2 | % | $ | (13,408,775 | ) | (1.5 | )% | $ | 32,922,417 | 3.7 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Forward Contracts * |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Currencies |
$ | 3,078,051 | 0.3 | % | $ | (39,629 | ) | ** | $ | 3,038,422 | 0.3 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Options on Futures Contracts* |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. stock indices |
$ | 4,840 | ** | $ | (9,465 | ) | ** | $ | (4,625 | ) | ** | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Futures, Forward and Options on Futures Contracts |
$ | 49,414,083 | 5.5 | % | $ | (13,457,869 | ) | (1.5 | )% | $ | 35,956,214 | 4.0 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
* | No individual futures, forward, or options on futures contract position constituted greater than 1 percent of partners capital. Accordingly, the number of contracts and expiration dates are not presented. |
** | Represents less than 0.1% of partners capital. |
U.S. Government securities in brokers trading accounts***
Face Value |
Maturity Dates | Description |
Fair Value | Percent of Partners Capital (net asset value) |
||||||||
$98,450,000 | 1/6/2011-3/31/2011 | U.S. Treasury Bills, 0.1%-0.3% (cost $98,314,299) | $ | 98,441,357 | 11.0 | % | ||||||
*** | Pledged as collateral for the trading of futures, forward and options on futures contracts. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
6
Grant Park Futures Fund Limited Partnership
Consolidated Condensed Schedule of Investments (continued)
December 31, 2010
Securities owned
|
Bank deposits |
| ||||||||||||
Face Value |
Maturity Date | Description |
Fair Value | Percent of Partners Capital (net asset value) |
||||||||||
$ | 20,000,000 | 4/29/2011 | Bank of Nova Scotia, 0.3 % (cost $20,000,000) | $ | 20,009,468 | 2.2 | % | |||||||
U.S. Commercial paper | ||||||||||||||
Face Value |
Maturity Date | Description |
Fair Value | Percent of Partners Capital (net asset value) |
||||||||||
$ | 15,000,000 | 2/2/2011 | Citigroup Funding, 0.3% (cost $14,988,158) | $ | 14,996,133 | 1.7 | % | |||||||
U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises | ||||||||||||||
Face Value |
Maturity Dates | Description |
Fair Value | Percent of Partners Capital (net asset value) |
||||||||||
$ | 130,500,000 | 9/9/2013-12/30/2013 | Federal Home Loan Bank, 1.0-1.6% | $ | 130,677,841 | 14.6 | % | |||||||
$ | 61,575,000 | 2/14/2011-12/16/2013 | Federal Farm Credit Bank, 0.2-1.4% | $ | 61,636,684 | 6.9 | % | |||||||
$ | 45,000,000 | 4/27/2012-5/25/2012 | Federal National Mortgage Association, 1.3-1.4% | $ | 45,087,111 | 5.1 | % | |||||||
$ | 30,075,000 | 2/1/2011-1/25/2012 | Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., 0.1-1.3% | $ | 30,109,748 | 3.4 | % | |||||||
$ | 15,000,000 | 8/23/2013 | Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corp., 1.3% | $ | 15,066,667 | 1.7 | % | |||||||
$ | 10,000,000 | 7/8/2011 | Federal Home Loan Discount Note, 0.4% | $ | 9,977,544 | 1.1 | % | |||||||
Total U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises (cost $292,091,597) | $ | 292,555,595 | 32.8 | % | ||||||||||
U.S. Government securities | ||||||||||||||
Face Value |
Maturity Dates | Description |
Fair Value | Percent of Partners Capital (net asset value) |
||||||||||
$ | 120,000,000 | 3/31/2011-11/17/2011 | U.S. Treasury Bills, 0.1%-0.3% (cost $119,853,362) | $ | 119,865,174 | 13.3 | % | |||||||
Fair Value | Percent of Partners Capital (net asset value) |
|||||||||||||
|
Total Securities owned |
$ | 447,426,370 | 50.1 | % | |||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
7
Grant Park Futures Fund Limited Partnership
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Three Months
Ended March 31, |
||||||||
2011 | 2010 | |||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||||
Net trading gains (losses) |
||||||||
Net gain (loss) from futures and forward trading |
||||||||
Realized |
$ | 21,313,660 | $ | (32,327,231 | ) | |||
Change in unrealized |
(11,162,525 | ) | 16,382,285 | |||||
Commissions |
(3,316,550 | ) | (3,010,777 | ) | ||||
Net gains (losses) from futures and forward trading |
6,834,585 | (18,955,723 | ) | |||||
Net gain (loss) from equities, equity options and exchange-traded funds |
||||||||
Realized |
(454,595 | ) | | |||||
Change in unrealized |
462,163 | | ||||||
Commissions |
(113,022 | ) | | |||||
Net gains (losses) from equities, equity options and exchange-traded funds |
(105,454 | ) | | |||||
Total trading gains (losses) |
6,729,131 | (18,955,723 | ) | |||||
Net investment income (loss) |
||||||||
Income |
||||||||
Dividend income |
33,962 | | ||||||
Interest income |
939,118 | 1,131,218 | ||||||
Total income |
973,080 | 1,131,218 | ||||||
Expenses from operations |
||||||||
Dividend expense |
40,063 | | ||||||
Brokerage commission |
13,659,601 | 12,453,806 | ||||||
Incentive fees |
1,655,846 | 241,052 | ||||||
Organizational and offering costs |
653,463 | 568,250 | ||||||
Operating expenses |
571,595 | 501,796 | ||||||
Total expenses |
16,580,568 | 13,764,904 | ||||||
Net investment loss |
(15,607,488 | ) | (12,633,686 | ) | ||||
Net loss |
$ | (8,878,357 | ) | $ | (31,589,409 | ) | ||
Net loss per unit from operations (based on weighted average number of units outstanding during the period) and decrease in net asset value per unit for the period: |
||||||||
General Partner & Limited Partner Class A Units |
$ | (11.92 | ) | $ | (51.12 | ) | ||
General Partner & Limited Partner Class B Units |
$ | (12.21 | ) | $ | (45.84 | ) | ||
General Partner & Limited Partner Legacy 1 Class Units |
$ | (2.42 | ) | $ | (30.46 | ) | ||
General Partner & Limited Partner Legacy 2 Class Units |
$ | (3.21 | ) | $ | (30.98 | ) | ||
General Partner & Limited Partner Global 1 Class Units |
$ | (6.28 | ) | $ | (35.84 | ) | ||
General Partner & Limited Partner Global 2 Class Units |
$ | (6.84 | ) | $ | (36.93 | ) | ||
General Partner & Limited Partner Global 3 Class Units |
$ | (11.31 | ) | $ | (40.43 | ) | ||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
8
Grant Park Futures Fund Limited Partnership
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Partners Capital (Net Asset Value)
Three Months Ended March 31, 2011
(Unaudited)
Class A | Class B | Legacy 1 Class | Legacy 2 Class | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
General Partner | Limited Partners | General Partner | Limited Partners | General Partner | Limited Partners | General Partner | Limited Partners | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of Units |
Amount | Number of Units |
Amount | Number of Units |
Amount | Number of Units |
Amount | Number of Units |
Amount | Number of Units |
Amount | Number of Units |
Amount | Number of Units |
Amount | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Partners capital, (net asset value) December 31, 2010 |
3,008.66 | $ | 4,478,872 | 40,362.54 | $ | 60,086,201 | 427.01 | $ | 542,672 | 498,484.71 | $ | 633,504,348 | 1,025.00 | $ | 1,050,542 | 5,908.00 | $ | 6,055,220 | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,019,793 | 6,361.06 | $ | 6,486,967 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Contributions |
| | | | | | | | | | 124.08 | 128,000 | | | 2,015.11 | 2,066,519 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Redemptions |
| | (531.98 | ) | (795,590 | ) | | | (13,196.95 | ) | (16,764,389 | ) | | | (490.12 | ) | (504,278 | ) | | | (63.32 | ) | (65,224 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss |
| (35,884 | ) | | (471,439 | ) | | (5,216 | ) | | (5,934,982 | ) | | (2,481 | ) | | (12,296 | ) | | (3,209 | ) | | (37,551 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Partners capital, (net asset value) March 31, 2011 |
3,008.66 | $ | 4,442,988 | 39,830.56 | $ | 58,819,172 | 427.01 | $ | 537,456 | 485,287.76 | $ | 610,804,977 | 1,025.00 | $ | 1,048,061 | 5,541.96 | $ | 5,666,646 | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,016,584 | 8,312.85 | $ | 8,450,711 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value per unit at December 31, 2010 |
$ | 1,488.66 | $ | 1,270.86 | $ | 1,024.92 | $ | 1,019.79 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value per unit at March 31, 2011 |
$ | 1,476.74 | $ | 1,258.65 | $ | 1,022.50 | $ | 1,016.58 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Global 1 Class | Global 2 Class | Global 3 Class | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
General Partner | Limited Partners | General Partner | Limited Partners | General Partner | Limited Partners | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of Units |
Amount | Number of Units |
Amount | Number of Units |
Amount | Number of Units |
Amount | Number of Units |
Amount | Number of Units |
Amount | Total Amount |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Partners capital, (net asset value) December 31, 2010 |
1,044.66 | $ | 1,028,338 | 10,133.38 | $ | 9,975,048 | 1,181.06 | $ | 1,155,098 | 18,631.40 | $ | 18,221,772 | 500.00 | $ | 473,009 | 156,270.73 | $ | 147,834,890 | $ | 891,912,770 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Contributions |
| | 1,463.83 | 1,441,940 | 173.26 | 170,000 | 2,195.28 | 2,151,424 | | | 32,966.67 | 31,201,996 | 37,159,879 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Redemptions |
| | (324.86 | ) | (318,172 | ) | | | (618.82 | ) | (606,770 | ) | | | (3,998.46 | ) | (3,753,708 | ) | (22,808,131 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss |
| (6,562 | ) | | (73,393 | ) | | (9,815 | ) | | (141,129 | ) | | (5,654 | ) | | (2,138,746 | ) | (8,878,357 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Partners capital, (net asset value) March 31, 2011 |
1,044.66 | $ | 1,021,776 | 11,272.35 | $ | 11,025,423 | 1,354.32 | $ | 1,315,283 | 20,207.86 | $ | 19,625,297 | 500.00 | $ | 467,355 | 185,238.94 | $ | 173,144,432 | 897,386,161 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value per unit at December 31, 2010 |
$ | 984.38 | $ | 978.01 | $ | 946.02 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value per unit at March 31, 2011 |
$ | 978.10 | $ | 971.17 | $ | 934.71 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
9
Grant Park Futures Fund Limited Partnership
Statements of Changes in Partners Capital (Net Asset Value) (continued)
Three Months Ended March 31, 2010
(Unaudited)
Class A | Class B | Legacy 1 Class | Legacy 2 Class | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
General Partner | Limited Partners | General Partner | Limited Partners | General Partner | Limited Partners | General Partner | Limited Partners | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of Units |
Amount | Number of Units |
Amount | Number of Units |
Amount | Number of Units |
Amount | Number of Units |
Amount | Number of Units |
Amount | Number of Units |
Amount | Number of Units |
Amount | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Partners capital, (net asset value) December 31, 2009 |
3,008.66 | $ | 4,287,922 | 48,356.59 | $ | 68,917,549 | 427.01 | $ | 522,813 | 570,593.04 | $ | 698,607,417 | 1,025.00 | $ | 990,276 | 3,851.25 | $ | 3,720,780 | 1,000.00 | $ | 964,540 | 3,122.95 | $ | 3,012,215 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Contributions |
| | | | | | | | | | 838.89 | 785,100 | | | 1,036.46 | 957,729 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Redemptions |
| | (3,658.62 | ) | (4,910,974 | ) | | | (19,877.15 | ) | (22,847,643 | ) | | | (18.29 | ) | (16,299 | ) | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss |
| (153,797 | ) | | (2,588,119 | ) | | (19,574 | ) | | (26,735,190 | ) | | (31,229 | ) | | (118,335 | ) | | (30,985 | ) | | (86,904 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Partners capital, (net asset value) March 31, 2010 |
3,008.66 | $ | 4,134,125 | 44,697.97 | $ | 61,418,456 | 427.01 | $ | 503,239 | 550,715.89 | $ | 649,024,584 | 1,025.00 | $ | 959,047 | 4,671.85 | $ | 4,371,246 | 1,000.00 | $ | 933,555 | 4,159.41 | $ | 3,883,040 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value per unit at December 31, 2009 |
$ | 1,425.20 | $ | 1,224.35 | $ | 966.12 | $ | 964.54 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value per unit at March 31, 2010 |
$ | 1,374.08 | $ | 1,178.51 | $ | 935.66 | $ | 933.56 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Global 1 Class | Global 2 Class | Global 3 Class | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
General Partner | Limited Partners | General Partner | Limited Partners | General Partner | Limited Partners | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of Units |
Amount | Number of Units |
Amount | Number of Units |
Amount | Number of Units |
Amount | Number of Units |
Amount | Number of Units |
Amount | Total Amount |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Partners capital, (net asset value) December 31, 2009 |
1,044.66 | $ | 999,554 | 3,358.60 | $ | 3,213,581 | 708.97 | $ | 676,076 | 7,333.83 | $ | 6,993,517 | 500.00 | $ | 469,821 | 40,328.60 | $ | 37,894,437 | $ | 831,270,498 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Contributions |
| | 2,107.30 | 1,904,292 | 206.69 | 190,000 | 5,646.98 | 5,166,504 | | | 35,642.50 | 31,807,215 | 40,810,840 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Redemptions |
| | (24.39 | ) | (21,903 | ) | | | (179.62 | ) | (164,654 | ) | | | (310.84 | ) | (271,987 | ) | (28,233,460 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss |
| (37,445 | ) | | (84,449 | ) | | (26,717 | ) | | (260,875 | ) | | (20,218 | ) | | (1,395,572 | ) | (31,589,409 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Partners capital, (net asset value) March 31, 2010 |
1,044.66 | $ | 962,109 | 5,441.51 | $ | 5,011,521 | 915.66 | $ | 839,359 | 12,801.19 | $ | 11,734,492 | 500.00 | $ | 449,603 | 75,660.26 | $ | 68,034,093 | $ | 812,258,469 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value per unit at December 31, 2009 |
$ | 956.82 | $ | 953.60 | $ | 939.64 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value per unit at March 31, 2010 |
$ | 920.98 | $ | 916.67 | $ | 899.21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
10
Grant Park Futures Fund Limited Partnership
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
Note 1. Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies
Nature of business: Grant Park Futures Fund Limited Partnership (the Partnership) was organized as a limited partnership under Illinois law in August 1988 and will continue until December 31, 2027, unless sooner terminated as provided for in its Limited Partnership Agreement. As a commodity investment pool, the Partnership is subject to the regulations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), an agency of the United States (U.S.) government which regulates most aspects of the commodity futures industry; rules of the National Futures Association, an industry self-regulatory organization; and the requirements of the various commodity exchanges where the Partnership executes transactions. Additionally, the Partnership is subject to the requirements of futures commission merchants (FCMs) and interbank and other market makers through which the Partnership trades. The Partnership is a registrant with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and, accordingly is subject to the regulatory requirements under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
The Partnership engages in the speculative trading of futures and forward contracts for commodities, financial instruments or currencies, any rights pertaining thereto and any options thereon, or on physical commodities, equities, listed options, and broad based exchange-traded funds. The Partnership may also engage in hedge, arbitrage and cash trading of commodities and futures.
The Partnership is a multi-advisor pool that carries out its purpose through trading by independent professional commodity trading advisors retained by Dearborn Capital Management, L.L.C. (the General Partner), the Partnership and, effective April 1, 2009, the Partnerships subsidiary limited liability trading companies (each, a Trading Company and collectively, the Trading Companies). The Trading Companies were set up to, among other things, segregate risk by commodity trading advisor. Effectively, this structure isolates one trading advisor from another and any losses from one Trading Company will not carry over to the other Trading Companies. The following is a list of the Trading Companies, for which the Partnership is the sole member and all of which were organized as Delaware limited liability companies:
GP 1, LLC (GP 1) | GP 7, LLC (GP 7) | GP 12, LLC (GP 12) | ||||
GP 3, LLC (GP 3) | GP 8, LLC (GP 8) | GP 14, LLC (GP 14) | ||||
GP 4, LLC (GP 4) | GP 9, LLC (GP 9) | GP 15, LLC (GP 15) | ||||
GP 5, LLC (GP 5) | GP 10, LLC (GP 10) | GP 16, LLC (GP 16) | ||||
GP 6, LLC (GP 6) | GP 11, LLC (GP 11) |
Assets of the Partnership were invested in GP 15 and GP 16 effective February 1, 2011. There were no assets allocated to GP 6 and GP 11 as of March 31, 2011.
Additionally, GP Cash Management, LLC was created as a Delaware limited liability company to collectively manage and invest excess cash not required to be held at clearing brokers. The members of GP Cash Management, LLC are the Trading Companies.
Classes of interests: The Partnership has seven classes of limited partner interests (each, a Class and collectively, the Interests), Class A, Class B, Legacy 1 Class, Legacy 2 Class, Global Alternative Markets 1 (Global 1) Class, Global Alternative Markets 2 (Global 2) Class and Global Alternative Markets 3 (Global 3) Class units.
The Class A and Class B units are outstanding but are no longer offered by the Partnership. Both Class A and Class B units are traded pursuant to identical trading programs and differ only in respect to the brokerage commission payable to the General Partner.
The Legacy 1 Class and Legacy 2 Class units are traded pursuant to trading programs pursuing a technical trend trading philosophy, which is the same trading philosophy used for the Class A and Class B units. The Legacy 1 Class and Legacy 2 Class units differ in respect to the General Partners brokerage commission and organization and offering and costs. The Legacy 1 Class and Legacy 2 Class units are offered only to investors who are represented by approved selling agents who are directly compensated by the investor for services rendered in connection with an investment in the Partnership (such arrangements commonly referred to as wrap-accounts).
The Global 1 Class, Global 2 Class and Global 3 Class units are traded pursuant to trading programs pursuing technical trend trading philosophies, as well as pattern recognition philosophies, focused on relatively shorter timeframes than the Legacy 1 Class and Legacy 2 Class units. The Global 1 Class, Global 2 Class and Global 3 Class units differ in respect to the General Partners brokerage commission. The Global 1 Class and Global 2 Class units are offered only to investors in wrap-accounts.
11
Grant Park Futures Fund Limited Partnership
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
The Partnerships significant accounting policies are as follows:
Consolidation: The Partnership is the sole member of each of the Trading Companies. The Trading Companies, in turn, are the only members of GP Cash Management, LLC. The Partnership presents consolidated financial statements for the Partnership, which include the accounts of the Trading Companies and GP Cash Management, LLC. All material inter-company accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation. Recent Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) guidance under FASB ASC 810 establishes accounting and reporting requirements for noncontrolling interests, which the Partnership previously referred to as minority interests. This guidance requires noncontrolling interests to be reported as a component of partners capital on the consolidated statement of financial condition and the amount of net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests to be identified on the consolidated statement of operations.
Use of estimates: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash and cash equivalents: Cash and cash equivalents may include cash, overnight investments, commercial paper, U.S. treasury bills and short-term investments in interest-bearing demand deposits with banks and cash managers with maturities of three months or less at the date of acquisition. The Partnership maintains deposits with high quality financial institutions in amounts that are in excess of federally insured limits; however, the Partnership does not believe it is exposed to any significant credit risk.
Revenue recognition: Futures, options on futures, forward contracts, investments in equity securities, exchange traded funds and equity options are recorded on a trade date basis and realized gains or losses are recognized when contracts or securities are liquidated. Unrealized gains or losses on open contracts (the difference between contract trade price and market price) or securities are reported in the consolidated statement of financial condition as a net unrealized gain or loss, as there exists a right of offset of unrealized gains or losses in accordance with FASB ASC 210-20, Balance Sheet, Offsetting. Any change in net unrealized gain or loss from the preceding period is reported in the consolidated statement of operations.
Redemptions payable: Pursuant to the provisions of FASB ASC 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, redemptions approved by the General Partner prior to month end with a fixed effective date and fixed amount are recorded as redemptions payable as of month end.
Income taxes: No provision for income taxes has been made in these consolidated financial statements as each partner is individually responsible for reporting income or loss based on its respective share of the Partnerships income and expenses as reported for income tax purposes.
The Partnership follows the provisions of ASC 740, Income Taxes. The Partnership is not generally subject to examination by U.S. federal or state taxing authorities for tax years before 2007. As of March 31, 2011, the Partnership has no material uncertain income tax positions and, accordingly, has not recorded a liability for the payment of interest or penalties.
Organization and offering costs: All expenses incurred in connection with the organization and the ongoing public offering of partnership interests are paid by the General Partner and are reimbursed to the General Partner by the Partnership. This reimbursement is made monthly. Class A units bear organization and offering expenses at an annual rate of 10 basis points (0.10 percent) of the adjusted net assets of the Class A units, calculated and payable monthly on the basis of month-end adjusted net assets. Legacy 1 Class, Legacy 2 Class, Global 1 Class, Global 2 Class, Global 3 Class and Class B units bear these expenses at an annual rate of 30 basis points (0.30 percent) of the adjusted net assets of the Legacy 1 Class, Legacy 2 Class, Global 1 Class, Global 2 Class, Global 3 Class and Class B units, respectively, calculated and payable monthly on the basis of month-end adjusted net assets. Adjusted net assets is defined as the month-end net assets of the particular class before accruals for fees and expenses and redemptions. In its discretion, the General Partner may require the Partnership to reimburse the General Partner in any subsequent calendar year for amounts that exceed these limits in any calendar year, provided that the maximum amount reimbursed by the Partnership will not exceed the overall limit. Amounts reimbursed by the Partnership with respect to ongoing public offering expenses are charged to expense from operations at the time of reimbursement or accrual. Any amounts reimbursed by the Partnership with respect to organizational expenses are expensed at the time the reimbursement is incurred or accrued. If the Partnership terminates prior to completion of payment of the calculated amounts to the General Partner, the General Partner will not be entitled to any additional payments, and the Partnership will have no further obligation to the General Partner. At March 31, 2011, all organization and offering costs incurred by the General Partner have been reimbursed.
12
Grant Park Futures Fund Limited Partnership
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
Foreign currency transactions: The Partnerships functional currency is the U.S. dollar;however, it transacts business in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars at the rates in effect at the date of the consolidated statement of financial condition. Income and expense items denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars at the rates in effect during the period. Gains and losses resulting from the translation to U.S. dollars are reported in income currently.
The Partnership does not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations are included with the net realized or unrealized gain or loss from investments.
Reclassification: Certain amounts in the 2010 financial statements have been reclassified to conform with the 2011 presentation.
Statement of Cash Flows: The Partnership has elected not to provide statements of cash flows as permitted by FASB ASC 230, Statement of Cash Flows. The Partnership noted that as of and for the periods ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 substantially all investments were highly liquid, all investments are carried at fair value, the Partnership carried no debt, and the statements of changes in partners capital (net asset value) were presented.
Note 2. Fair Value Measurements
The Partnership follows the provisions of FASB ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures. FASB ASC 820 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurement and also emphasizes that fair value is a market-based measurement, not an entity-specific measurement. FASB ASC 820 defines fair value 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 and sets out a fair value hierarchy. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). Inputs are broadly defined under FASB ASC 820 as assumptions market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy under FASB ASC 820 are described below:
Level 1. Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity has the ability to access at the measurement date.
Level 2. Inputs other than quoted prices within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. A significant adjustment to a Level 2 input could result in the Level 2 measurement becoming a Level 3 measurement.
Level 3. Inputs are unobservable for the asset or liability.
The following section describes the valuation techniques used by the Partnership to measure different financial instruments at fair value and includes the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the financial instrument is categorized.
Fair value of exchange-traded futures contracts and options on futures contracts are based upon exchange settlement prices. Equity securities, equity options and exchange-traded funds are recorded at fair value based on quoted market prices, which is generally the exchange settlement price. U.S. Government securities, U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises and commercial paper are stated at cost plus accrued interest, which approximates fair value based on quoted market prices in an active market. These financial instruments are classified in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.
The Partnership values bank deposits, which consist of certificates of deposit, at face value plus accrued interest, which approximates fair value, and these financial instruments are classified in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. The Partnership values forward contracts based on third-party quoted dealer values on the Interbank market, and forward contracts are classified in Level 2.
The following table presents the Partnerships fair value hierarchy for those assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2011:
13
Grant Park Futures Fund Limited Partnership
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
Assets | ||||||||||||||||
Equity in brokers trading accounts |
||||||||||||||||
Government securities |
$ | 76,955,583 | $ | | $ | | $ | 76,955,583 | ||||||||
Futures contracts |
22,778,727 | | | 22,778,727 | ||||||||||||
Forward contracts |
| 2,016,952 | | 2,016,952 | ||||||||||||
Options on futures contracts |
(1,990 | ) | | | (1,990 | ) | ||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
||||||||||||||||
Bank deposits |
| 18,076,782 | | 18,076,782 | ||||||||||||
Commercial paper |
359,169,118 | | | 359,169,118 | ||||||||||||
Securities owned |
||||||||||||||||
Equities |
7,532,478 | | 7,532,478 | |||||||||||||
Exchange-traded funds |
4,214,039 | 4,214,039 | ||||||||||||||
Equity options purchased |
792,826 | | 792,826 | |||||||||||||
Bank deposits |
| 20,022,784 | | 20,022,784 | ||||||||||||
Government-sponsored enterprises |
282,173,667 | | | 282,173,667 | ||||||||||||
Commercial paper |
34,984,039 | | | 34,984,039 | ||||||||||||
Liabilities | ||||||||||||||||
Securities sold short |
||||||||||||||||
Equities |
18,275,443 | | | 18,275,443 | ||||||||||||
Exchange-traded funds |
8,652,811 | | | 8,652,811 | ||||||||||||
Equity options written |
3,637,579 | | | 3,637,579 |
The following table presents the Partnerships fair value hierarchy for those assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2010:
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
Assets | ||||||||||||||||
Equity in brokers trading accounts |
||||||||||||||||
Government securities |
$ | 98,441,357 | $ | | $ | | $ | 98,441,357 | ||||||||
Futures contracts |
32,922,417 | | | 32,922,417 | ||||||||||||
Forward contracts |
| 3,038,422 | 3,038,422 | |||||||||||||
Options on futures contracts |
(4,625 | ) | | (4,625 | ) | |||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
||||||||||||||||
Bank deposits |
| 28,202,983 | | 28,202,983 | ||||||||||||
Commercial paper |
297,810,795 | | | 297,810,795 | ||||||||||||
Securities owned |
||||||||||||||||
Bank deposits |
| 20,009,468 | | 20,009,468 | ||||||||||||
Commercial paper |
14,996,133 | | | 14,996,133 | ||||||||||||
Government-sponsored enterprises |
292,555,595 | | | 292,555,595 | ||||||||||||
Government securities |
119,865,174 | | | 119,865,174 |
Note 3. Deposits with Brokers
The Partnership, through the Trading Companies, deposits assets with brokers subject to CFTC regulations and various exchange and broker requirements. Margin requirements are satisfied by the deposit of U.S. Treasury bills, Government-sponsored enterprises and cash with such brokers. The Partnership earns interest income on its assets deposited with the brokers.
Note 4. Commodity Trading Advisors
The Partnership, through the Trading Companies, allocates assets to the commodity trading advisors. Each Trading Company has entered into an advisory contract with its own Advisor. The commodity trading advisors are Rabar Market Research, Inc., EMC Capital Management, Inc., Eckhardt Trading Co., Winton Capital Management Limited, Welton Investment Corporation, Global Advisors Jersey Limited, Transtrend B.V., Quantitative Investment Management LLC, Sunrise Capital Partners, LLC, Amplitude Capital International Limited, Alder Capital Limited (Alder) and Denali Asset Management, LLLP (Denali) (collectively, the Advisors). The Advisors are paid a quarterly management fee ranging from 0 percent to 3 percent per annum of the Partnerships month-end allocated net assets and a quarterly incentive fee ranging from 20 percent to 26 percent of the new trading profits on the allocated net assets of the Advisor. On January 31, 2011 Graham Capital Management, L.P. and Revolution Capital
14
Grant Park Futures Fund Limited Partnership
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
Management, LLC were terminated as trading advisors for the Partnership and their assets were reallocated to Alder and Denali, and the remaining Advisors.
Note 5. General Partner and Related Party Transactions
The General Partner shall at all times, so long as it remains a general partner of the Partnership, own Units in the Partnership: (i) in an amount sufficient, in the opinion of counsel for the Partnership, for the Partnership to be taxed as a partnership rather than as an association taxable as a corporation; and (ii) during such time as the Units are registered for sale to the public, in an amount at least equal to the greater of: (a) 1 percent of all capital contributions of all Partners to the Partnership; or (b) $25,000; or such other amount satisfying the requirements then imposed by the North American Securities Administrators Association, Inc. (NASAA) Guidelines. Further, during such time as the Units are registered for sale to the public, the General Partner shall, so long as it remains a general partner of the Partnership, maintain a net worth (as such term may be defined in the NASAA Guidelines) at least equal to the greater of: (i) 5 percent of the total capital contributions of all partners and all limited partnerships to which it is a general partner (including the Partnership) plus 5 percent of the Units being offered for sale in the Partnership; or (ii) $50,000; or such other amount satisfying the requirements then imposed by the NASAA Guidelines. In no event, however, shall the General Partner be required to maintain a net worth in excess of $1,000,000 or such other maximum amount satisfying the requirements then imposed by the NASAA Guidelines.
Ten percent of the General Partner limited partnership interest in the Grant Park Futures Fund Limited Partnership is characterized as a general partnership interest. Notwithstanding, the general partnership interest will continue to pay all fees associated with a limited partnership interest.
The Partnership pays the General Partner a monthly brokerage commission equal to one twelfth of 7.50 percent (7.50 percent annualized) of month-end net assets for Class A units, one twelfth of 7.95 percent (7.95 percent annualized) of month-end net assets for Class B units, one twelfth of 5.00 percent (5.00 percent annualized) of month-end net assets for Legacy 1 Class units, one twelfth of 5.25 (5.25 percent annualized) of month-end net assets for Legacy 2 Class units, one twelfth of 4.45 percent (4.45 percent annualized) of month-end net assets for Global 1 Class units, one twelfth of 4.70 percent (4.70 percent annualized) of month-end net assets for Global 2 Class units, and one twelfth of 6.45 percent (6.45 percent annualized) of month-end net assets for Global 3 Class units. Included in the total brokerage commission are amounts paid to the clearing brokers for execution and clearing costs which are reflected in the commissions line of the consolidated statements of operations, and the remaining amounts are management fees paid to the Advisors, compensation to the selling agents and an amount to the General Partner for management services rendered which are reflected in the brokerage commission line on the consolidated statements of operations.
Note 6. Operating Expenses
Operating expenses of the Partnership are paid for by the General Partner and reimbursed by the Partnership. Operating expenses of the Partnership are limited to 0.25 percent per year of the average month-end net assets of the Partnership.
Note 7. Redemptions
Class A and Class B Limited Partners have the right to redeem units as of any month-end upon ten (10) days prior written notice to the Partnership. The General Partner, however, may permit earlier redemptions in its discretion. There are no redemption fees applicable to Class A Limited Partners or to Class B Limited Partners who redeem their units on or after the one-year anniversary of their subscription. Legacy 1 Class, Legacy 2 Class, Global 1 Class, Global 2 Class and Global 3 Class Limited Partners are prohibited from redeeming such units for the three months following the subscription for units. There are no redemption fees applicable to Legacy 1 Class, Legacy 2 Class, Global 1 Class, Global 2 Class Limited Partners or to Global 3 Class Limited Partners who redeem their units on or after the one-year anniversary of their subscription. Global 3 Class Limited Partners who redeem their units after the three-month lock-up, but prior to the one-year anniversary of their subscriptions for the redeemed units will pay the applicable early redemption fee. Redemptions will be made on the last day of the month for an amount equal to the net asset value per unit, as defined, represented by the units to be redeemed. The right to obtain redemption is also contingent upon the Partnerships having property sufficient to discharge its liabilities on the redemption date and may be delayed if the General Partner determines that earlier liquidation of commodity interest positions to meet redemption payments would be detrimental to the Partnership or nonredeeming Limited Partners.
In addition, the General Partner may at any time cause the redemption of all or a portion of any Limited Partners units upon fifteen (15) days written notice. The General Partner may also immediately redeem any Limited Partners units without notice if the General Partner believes that (i) the redemption is necessary to avoid having the assets of the Partnership deemed Plan Assets under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA), (ii) the Limited Partner made a misrepresentation in
15
Grant Park Futures Fund Limited Partnership
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
connection with its subscription for the units, or (iii) the redemption is necessary to avoid a violation of law by the Partnership or any Partner.
Note 8. Financial Highlights
The following financial highlights reflect activity related to the Partnership. Total return is based on the change in value during the period of a theoretical investment made at the beginning of each calendar month during the period and is not annualized. Individual partners ratios may vary from these ratios based on various factors, including but not limited to, the timing of capital transactions.
Three Months Ended March 31, |
||||||||
2011 | 2010 | |||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||||
Total return Class A Units |
(0.80 | )% | (3.59 | )% | ||||
Total return Class B Units |
(0.96 | )% | (3.74 | )% | ||||
Total return-Legacy 1 Class Units |
(0.24 | )% | (3.15 | )% | ||||
Total return-Legacy 2 Class Units |
(0.31 | )% | (3.21 | )% | ||||
Total return-Global 1 Class Units |
(0.64 | )% | (3.75 | )% | ||||
Total return-Global 2 Class Units |
(0.70 | )% | (3.87 | )% | ||||
Total return-Global 3 Class Units |
(1.20 | )% | (4.30 | )% | ||||
Ratios as a percentage of average net assets: |
||||||||
Expenses prior to incentive fees (1) |
6.64 | % | 6.77 | % | ||||
Incentive fees (2) |
0.18 | % | 0.03 | % | ||||
Total expenses |
6.82 | % | 6.80 | % | ||||
Net investment loss (1) (3) |
(6.21 | )% | (6.20 | )% | ||||
(1) | Annualized. |
(2) | Not annualized. |
(3) | Excludes incentive fee. |
The expense ratios above are computed based upon the weighted average net assets of the Partnership for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 (annualized).
The following per unit performance calculations reflect activity related to the Partnership for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010.
Class A Units | Three Months Ended March 31, |
|||||||
2011 | 2010 | |||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||||
Per Unit Performance (for unit outstanding throughout the entire period): |
||||||||
Net asset value per unit at beginning of period |
$ | 1,488.66 | $ | 1,425.20 | ||||
Income (loss) from operations: |
||||||||
Net realized and change in unrealized gain (loss) from trading* |
13.37 | (31.42 | ) | |||||
Expenses net of interest and dividend income* |
(25.29 | ) | (19.70 | ) | ||||
Total income (loss) from operations |
(11.92 | ) | (51.12 | ) | ||||
Net asset value per unit at end of period |
$ | 1,476.74 | $ | 1,374.08 | ||||
16
Grant Park Futures Fund Limited Partnership
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
Class B Units | Three Months Ended March 31, |
|||||||
2011 | 2010 | |||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||||
Per Unit Performance (for unit outstanding throughout the entire period): |
||||||||
Net asset value per unit at beginning of period |
$ | 1,270.86 | $ | 1,224.35 | ||||
Income (loss) from operations: |
||||||||
Net realized and change in unrealized gain (loss) from trading* |
11.49 | (27.17 | ) | |||||
Expenses net of interest and dividend income* |
(23.70 | ) | (18.67 | ) | ||||
Total income (loss) from operations |
(12.21 | ) | (45.84 | ) | ||||
Net asset value per unit at end of period |
$ | 1,258.65 | $ | 1,178.51 | ||||
Legacy 1 Class Units | Three Months Ended March 31, |
|||||||
2011 | 2010 | |||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||||
Per Unit Performance (for unit outstanding throughout the entire period): |
||||||||
Net asset value per unit at beginning of period |
$ | 1,024.92 | $ | 966.12 | ||||
Income (loss) from operations: |
||||||||
Net realized and change in unrealized gain (loss) from trading * |
9.35 | (20.96 | ) | |||||
Expenses net of interest and dividend income* |
(11.77 | ) | (9.50 | ) | ||||
Total income (loss) from operations |
(2.42 | ) | (30.46 | ) | ||||
Net asset value per unit at end of period |
$ | 1,022.50 | $ | 935.66 | ||||
Legacy 2 Class Units | Three Months Ended March 31, |
|||||||
2011 | 2010 | |||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||||
Per Unit Performance (for unit outstanding throughout the entire period): |
||||||||
Net asset value per unit at beginning of period |
$ | 1,019.79 | $ | 964.54 | ||||
Income (loss) from operations: |
||||||||
Net realized and change in unrealized gain (loss) from trading* |
9.25 | (20.80 | ) | |||||
Expenses net of interest and dividend income* |
(12.46 | ) | (10.18 | ) | ||||
Total income (loss) from operations |
(3.21 | ) | (30.98 | ) | ||||
Net asset value per unit at end of period |
$ | 1,016.58 | $ | 933.56 | ||||
Global 1 Class Units | Three Months Ended March 31, |
|||||||
2011 | 2010 | |||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||||
Per Unit Performance (for unit outstanding throughout the entire period): |
||||||||
Net asset value per unit at beginning of period |
$ | 984.38 | $ | 956.82 | ||||
Income (loss) from operations: |
||||||||
Net realized and change in unrealized gain (loss) from trading* |
2.47 | (26.70 | ) | |||||
Expenses net of interest and dividend income* |
(8.75 | ) | (9.14 | ) | ||||
Total income (loss) from operations |
(6.28 | ) | (35.84 | ) | ||||
Net asset value per unit at end of period |
$ | 978.10 | $ | 920.98 | ||||
17
Grant Park Futures Fund Limited Partnership
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
Global 2 Class Units | Three Months Ended March 31, |
|||||||
2011 | 2010 | |||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||||
Per Unit Performance (for unit outstanding throughout the entire period): |
||||||||
Net asset value per unit at beginning of period |
$ | 978.01 | $ | 953.60 | ||||
Income (loss) from operations: |
||||||||
Net realized and change in unrealized gain (loss) from trading* |
2.47 | (26.13 | ) | |||||
Expenses net of interest and dividend income* |
(9.31 | ) | (10.80 | ) | ||||
Total income (loss) from operations |
(6.84 | ) | (36.93 | ) | ||||
Net asset value per unit at end of period |
$ | 971.17 | $ | 916.67 | ||||
Global 3 Class Units | Three Months Ended March 31, |
|||||||
2011 | 2010 | |||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||||
Per Unit Performance (for unit outstanding throughout the entire period): |
||||||||
Net asset value per unit at beginning of period |
$ | 946.02 | $ | 939.64 | ||||
Income (loss) from operations: |
||||||||
Net realized and change in unrealized gain (loss) from trading* |
2.52 | (25.25 | ) | |||||
Expenses net of interest and dividend income* |
(13.83 | ) | (15.18 | ) | ||||
Total income (loss) from operations |
(11.31 | ) | (40.43 | ) | ||||
Net asset value per unit at end of period |
$ | 934.71 | $ | 899.21 | ||||
* | Expenses net of interest and dividend income per unit and organization and offering costs per unit are calculated by dividing the expenses net of interest and dividend income and organization and offering costs by the average number of units outstanding during the period. The net realized and change in unrealized gain from trading is a balancing amount necessary to reconcile the change in net asset value per unit with the other per unit information. |
Note 9. Trading Activities and Related Risks
The Partnership, through its Advisors, engages in the speculative trading of a variety of instruments, including U.S. and foreign futures contracts, options on U.S. and foreign futures contracts, forward contracts, and equity options (collectively, derivatives; see Note 11). These derivatives include both financial and nonfinancial contracts held as part of a diversified trading strategy. Additionally, the Partnerships speculative trading includes equities and exchange-traded funds. The Partnership is exposed to both market risk, the risk arising from changes in the market value of the contracts, and credit risk, the risk of failure by another party to perform according to the terms of a contract.
The purchase and sale of futures and options on futures contracts require margin deposits with FCMs. Additional deposits may be necessary for any loss on contract value. The Commodity Exchange Act requires an FCM to segregate all customer transactions and assets from the FCMs proprietary activities. A customers cash and other property (for example, U.S. Treasury bills) deposited with an FCM are considered commingled with all other customer funds subject to the FCMs segregation requirements. In the event of an FCMs insolvency, recovery may be limited to a pro rata share of segregated funds available. It is possible that the recovered amount could be less than the total of cash and other property deposited.
The amount of required margin and good faith deposits with the FCMs and interbank market makers usually ranges from 5% to 35% of the Partnerships net asset value. The fair value of securities held to satisfy such requirements at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 was $76,955,583 and $98,441,357, respectively, which was 8.6% and 11.0% of the net asset value, respectively. The cash deposited with interbank market makers at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 was $23,267,509 and $7,931,341, respectively, which was 2.6% and 0.9% of the net asset value, respectively.
18
Grant Park Futures Fund Limited Partnership
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
For derivatives, risks arise from changes in the fair value of the contracts. Theoretically, the Partnership is exposed to a market risk equal to the value of futures and forward contracts purchased and unlimited liability on such contracts sold short. As both a buyer and seller of options, the Partnership pays or receives a premium at the outset and then bears the risk of unfavorable changes in the price of the contract underlying the option. Written options expose the Partnership to potentially unlimited liability; for purchased options the risk of loss is limited to the premiums paid.
In addition to market risk, in entering into commodity interest contracts there is a credit risk that a counterparty will not be able to meet its obligations to the Partnership. The counterparty for futures and options on futures contracts traded in the United States and on most non-U.S. futures exchanges is the clearinghouse associated with such exchange. In general, clearinghouses are backed by the corporate members of the clearinghouse who are required to share any financial burden resulting from the nonperformance by one of their members and, as such, should significantly reduce this credit risk. In cases where the clearinghouse is not backed by the clearing members, like some non-U.S. exchanges, it is normally backed by a consortium of banks or other financial institutions.
In the case of forward contracts, over-the-counter options contracts or swap contracts, which are traded on the interbank or other institutional market rather than on exchanges, the counterparty is generally a single bank or other financial institution, rather than a clearinghouse backed by a group of financial institutions; thus, there likely will be greater counterparty credit risk. The Partnership trades only with those counterparties that it believes to be creditworthy. All positions of the Partnership are valued each day on a mark-to-market basis. There can be no assurance that any clearing member, clearinghouse or other counterparty will be able to meet its obligations to the Partnership.
Securities sold short represent obligations of the Partnership to deliver specific securities and thereby create a liability to purchase these instruments in the open market at prevailing prices. These transactions may result in market risk not reflected in the consolidated statement of financial condition as the Partnerships ultimate obligation to satisfy its obligation for trading liabilities may exceed the amount reflected in the consolidated statement of financial condition.
The General Partner has established procedures to actively monitor and minimize market and credit risks. The limited partners bear the risk of loss only to the extent of the fair value of their respective investments and, in certain specific circumstances, distributions and redemptions received.
Note 10. Indemnifications
In the normal course of business, the Partnership enters into contracts and agreements that contain a variety of representations and warranties and which provide general indemnifications. The Partnerships maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Partnership that have not yet occurred. The Partnership expects the risk of any future obligation under these indemnifications to be remote.
Note 11. Derivative Instruments
The Partnership follows the provisions of FASB ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging. FASB ASC 815 is intended to improve transparency in financial reporting by requiring enhanced disclosures of an entitys derivative instruments and hedging activities and their effects on the entitys financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. FASB ASC 815 applies to all derivative instruments within the scope of FASB ASC 815-10-05. It also applies to non-derivative hedging instruments and all hedged items designated and qualifying as hedges under FASB ASC 815-10-05. FASB ASC 815 amends the current qualitative and quantitative disclosure requirements for derivative instruments and hedging activities set forth in FASB ASC 815-10-05 and generally increases the level of disaggregation that will be required in an entitys financial statements. FASB ASC 815 requires qualitative disclosures about objectives and strategies for using derivatives, quantitative disclosures about fair value amounts of gains and losses on derivative instruments, and disclosures about credit-risk related contingent features in derivative agreements.
The Partnerships business is speculative trading. The Partnership intends to close out all futures, options on futures and forward contracts prior to their expiration. The Partnership trades in futures and other commodity interest contracts and is therefore a party to financial instruments with elements of off-balance sheet market and credit risk. In entering into these contracts, the Partnership faces the market risk that these contracts may be significantly influenced by market conditions, such as interest rate volatility, resulting in such contracts being less valuable. The Partnership minimizes market risk through real-time monitoring of open positions, diversification of the portfolio and maintenance of a margin-to-equity ratio that rarely exceeds 25%.
In addition to market risk, in entering into commodity interest contracts there is a credit risk that a counterparty will not be able to meet its obligations to the Partnership. In general, clearing organizations are backed by the corporate members of the clearing
19
Grant Park Futures Fund Limited Partnership
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
organization who are required to share any financial burden resulting from the non-performance by one of their members and, as such, should significantly reduce this credit risk. In cases where the clearing organization is not backed by the clearing members, like some non-U.S. exchanges, it is normally backed by a consortium of banks or other financial institutions.
In the case of forward contracts, over-the-counter options contracts or swap contracts, which are traded on the interbank or other institutional market rather than on exchanges, the counterparty is generally a single bank or other financial institution, rather than a central clearing organization backed by a group of financial institutions. As a result, there will likely be greater counterparty credit risk in these transactions. The Partnership trades only with those counterparties that it believes to be creditworthy. Nonetheless, the clearing member, clearing organization or other counterparty to these transactions may not be able to meet its obligations to the Partnership, in which case the Partnership could suffer significant losses on these contracts.
The Partnership does not designate any derivative instruments as hedging instruments under FASB ASC 815-10-05. For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 the monthly average futures contracts, forward contracts, options on futures contracts and equity options bought and sold was approximately 8,273 and 7,898, respectively. The following tables summarize the quantitative information required by FASB ASC 815:
Fair Values of Derivative Instruments
Asset Derivatives* 03/31/2011 |
Liability Derivatives* 03/31/2011 |
Fair Value | ||||||||||
Agricultural contracts |
$ | 2,479,082 | $ | (1,967,975 | ) | $ | 511,107 | |||||
Currencies contracts |
25,952,878 | (16,259,404 | ) | 9,693,474 | ||||||||
Energy contracts |
10,033,547 | (4,485,291 | ) | 5,548,256 | ||||||||
Interest rates contracts |
4,673,406 | (3,832,350 | ) | 841,056 | ||||||||
Meats contracts |
1,525,748 | (511,767 | ) | 1,013,981 | ||||||||
Metals contracts |
16,752,893 | (15,169,243 | ) | 1,583,650 | ||||||||
Soft commodities contracts |
2,014,012 | (937,467 | ) | 1,076,545 | ||||||||
Stock indices and equity options contracts |
8,315,796 | (6,634,929 | ) | 1,680,867 | ||||||||
$ | 71,747,362 | $ | (49,798,426 | ) | $ | 21,948,936 | ||||||
* | The fair values of all asset and liability derivatives, including currencies, energy, agriculturals, interest rates, meats, metals, soft commodities and stock indices contracts are included in equity in broker trading accounts in the Partnerships consolidated statements of financial condition. The fair value of equity options contracts are included in securities owned, at fair value, or securities sold short, at fair value, in the Partnerships consolidated statements of financial condition. |
20
Grant Park Futures Fund Limited Partnership
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
Fair Values of Derivative Instruments
Asset Derivatives* 12/31/2010 |
Liability Derivatives* 12/31/2010 |
Fair Value | ||||||||||
Agricultural contracts |
$ | 6,741,957 | $ | (431,469 | ) | $ | 6,310,488 | |||||
Currencies contracts |
20,057,183 | (5,176,594 | ) | 14,880,589 | ||||||||
Energy contracts |
3,684,943 | (1,840,984 | ) | 1,843,959 | ||||||||
Interest rates contracts |
2,945,795 | (1,826,944 | ) | 1,118,851 | ||||||||
Meats contracts |
846,430 | (79,680 | ) | 766,750 | ||||||||
Metals contracts |
20,402,750 | (12,923,962 | ) | 7,478,788 | ||||||||
Soft commodities contracts |
3,241,903 | (709,766 | ) | 2,532,137 | ||||||||
Stock indices contracts |
2,674,715 | (1,650,063 | ) | 1,024,652 | ||||||||
$ | 60,595,676 | $ | (24,639,462 | ) | $ | 35,956,214 | ||||||
* | The fair values of all asset and liability derivatives, including currencies, energy, agriculturals, interest rates, meats, metals, soft commodities and stock indices contracts, are included in equity in broker trading accounts in the consolidated statement of financial condition. |
The Effect of Derivative Instruments on the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the Three Months Ended
March 31, 2011 and 2010
Type of Contract |
Three Months Ended March 31, 2011* |
Three Months Ended March 31, 2010* |
||||||
Currencies contracts |
$ | 2,000,811 | $ | 1,522,346 | ||||
Energy contracts |
18,742,824 | (6,572,897 | ) | |||||
Grains contracts |
(1,985,095 | ) | (4,089,678 | ) | ||||
Interest rates contracts |
(11,398,041 | ) | 881,797 | |||||
Meats contracts |
3,001,101 | 1,790,423 | ||||||
Metals contracts |
117,373 | (1,769,114 | ) | |||||
Soft commodities contracts |
3,832,359 | (1,900,048 | ) | |||||
Stock indices and equity options contracts |
(3,180,181 | ) | (5,807,775 | ) | ||||
$ | 11,131,151 | $ | (15,944,946 | ) | ||||
* | The gains or losses on derivatives, including currencies, energy, agriculturals, interest rates, meats, metals, soft commodities and stock indices contracts are included in the realized and change in unrealized gains (loss) from futures and forward trading in the consolidated statement of operations. The gains or losses on derivatives for equity options contracts are included in the realized and unrealized gains (loss) from equities, equity options and exchange-traded funds in the Partnerships consolidated statements of operations. |
21
Grant Park Futures Fund Limited Partnership
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
Line Item in Consolidated Statement of Operations |
Three Months Ended March 31, 2011 |
Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 |
||||||
Net gain (loss) from futures and forward trading |
||||||||
Realized |
$ | 21,313,660 | $ | (32,327,231 | ) | |||
Change in unrealized |
(11,162,525 | ) | 16,382,285 | |||||
Total realized and changed in unrealized net gain (loss) from futures and forward trading |
$ | 10,151,135 | $ | (15,944,946 | ) | |||
Net gain (loss) from equity options |
||||||||
Realized |
$ | 274,887 | $ | | ||||
Change in unrealized |
705,129 | | ||||||
Total realized and changed in unrealized net gain (loss) from equity options trading |
$ | 980,016 | $ | | ||||
Total realized and changed in unrealized net gain (loss) from futures, forward and equity options trading |
$ | 11,131,151 | $ | (15,944,946 | ) | |||
Note 12. Subsequent Events
Subsequent to March 31, 2011, there were contributions and redemptions totaling approximately $35,390,000 and $40,000 respectively.
22
Item 2. | Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
Introduction
Grant Park is a multi-advisor commodity pool organized to pool assets of its investors for purpose of trading in the U.S. and international spot and derivatives markets for currencies, interest rates, stock indices, agricultural and energy products, precious and base metals and other commodities and underliers. The Partnership also engages in equity securities, listed options, broad based exchange traded funds, hedge, arbitrage and cash trading of commodities and futures. Grant Park has been in continuous operation since it commenced trading on January 1, 1989. Grant Parks general partner, commodity pool operator and sponsor is Dearborn Capital Management, L.L.C., an Illinois limited liability company. The managing member of Dearborn Capital Management, L.L.C. is Dearborn Capital Management, Ltd., an Illinois corporation whose majority shareholder is David M. Kavanagh.
Organization of Grant Park
Grant Park invests through different commodity trading advisors retained by the general partner. However, instead of each trading advisor maintaining a separate account in the name of Grant Park, the assets of Grant Park are invested in various trading companies, each of which is organized as a limited liability company. Each trading company allocates those assets to one of the commodity trading advisors retained by the general partner.
The following is a list of the Trading Companies, for which Grant Park is the sole member and all of which were organized as Delaware limited liability companies:
GP 1, LLC (GP 1) | GP 7, LLC (GP 7) | GP 12, LLC (GP 12) | ||||
GP 3, LLC (GP 3) | GP 8, LLC (GP 8) | GP 14, LLC (GP 14) | ||||
GP 4, LLC (GP 4) | GP 9, LLC (GP 9) | GP 15, LLC (GP 15) | ||||
GP 5, LLC (GP 5) | GP 10, LLC (GP 10) | GP 16, LLC (GP 16) | ||||
GP 6, LLC (GP 6) | GP 11, LLC (GP 11) |
Assets of Grant Park were invested in GP 15 and GP 16 effective February 1, 2011. None of the assets of Grant Park were invested in GP 6 and GP 11 as of March 31, 2011.
Grant Park invests through the Trading Companies with independent professional commodity trading advisors retained by the general partner. Rabar Market Research, Inc. (Rabar), EMC Capital Management, Inc. (EMC), Eckhardt Trading Co. (ETC), Winton Capital Management (Winton), Welton Investment Corporation (Welton), Global Advisors Jersey Limited (Global Advisors), Transtrend B.V. (Transtrend), Quantitative Investment Management LLC (QIM), Sunrise Capital Partners, LLC (Sunrise), Amplitude Capital International Limited (Amplitude), Alder Capital Limited (Alder) and Denali Asset Management, LLLP (Denali) serve as Grant Parks commodity trading advisors. Each of the trading advisors is registered as a commodity trading advisor under the Commodity Exchange Act and is a member of the NFA. On January 31, 2011, Graham Capital Management, L.P. (Graham) and Revolution Capital Management, LLC (RCM) were terminated as trading advisors for Grant Park and the assets allocated Graham and RCM were reallocated to Alder and Denali and the remaining trading advisors. As of March 31, 2011, the general partner allocated Grant Parks net assets through the respective Trading Companies among its core trading advisors EMC, ETC, QIM, Winton and Welton and non-core trading advisors Rabar, Global Advisors, Transtrend, Sunrise, Amplitude, Alder and Denali. No more than twenty percent of Grant Parks assets are allocated to any one Trading Company and, in turn, any one trading advisor. The general partner may terminate or replace the trading advisors or retain additional trading advisors in its sole discretion.
The table below illustrates the trading advisors for each class of Grant Parks outstanding limited partnership units as of March 31, 2011:
Alder | Amplitude | Denali | EMC | ETC | Global Advisors |
QIM | Rabar | Sunrise | Transtrend | Welton | Winton | |||||||||||||
Class A |
X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||
Class B |
X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||
Legacy 1 |
X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||
Legacy 2 |
X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||
Global 1 |
X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||
Global 2 |
X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||
Global 3 |
X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
The trading advisors for the Legacy 1 Class and Legacy 2 Class units pursue a technical trend trading philosophy, which is the same trading philosophy the trading advisors have historically used for the Class A and Class B units. The trading advisors for the Global 1 Class, Global 2 Class and Global 3 Class units pursue technical trend trading philosophies, as well as pattern recognition philosophies focused on relatively shorter timeframes than the Legacy 1 Class and Legacy 2 Class units.
23
The general partner may, in its sole discretion, reallocate assets among the trading advisors upon termination of a trading advisor or retention of any new trading advisors, or at the commencement of any month.
Critical Accounting Policies
Grant Parks most significant accounting policy is the valuation of its assets invested in other commodity investment pools and in U.S. and international futures and forward contracts, options contracts, other interests in commodities, and fixed income products. The majority of these investments are exchange-traded contracts, valued based upon exchange settlement prices. The remainder of its investments are non-exchange-traded contracts with valuation of those investments based on third-party quoted dealer values on the Interbank market and fixed income products including U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises and commercial paper, which are stated at cost plus accrued interest, which approximates fair value based on quoted market prices in an active market. With the valuation of the investments easily obtained, there is little or no judgment or uncertainty involved in the valuation of investments, and accordingly, it is unlikely that materially different amounts would be reported under different conditions using different but reasonably plausible assumptions.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Grant Parks significant accounting policies are described in detail in Note 1 of the consolidated financial statements.
Grant Park is the sole member of each of the Trading Companies. The Trading Companies, in turn, are the only members of GP Cash Management, LLC. Grant Park presents consolidated financial statements which include the accounts of the Trading Companies and GP Cash Management, LLC. All material inter-company accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation. Recent FASB guidance under FASB ASC 810 establishes accounting and reporting requirements for noncontrolling interests, which Grant Park previously referred to as minority interests. This guidance requires noncontrolling interests to be reported as a component of partners capital on the consolidated statement of financial condition and the amount of net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests to be identified on the consolidated statement of operations.
Valuation of Financial Instruments
Grant Park follows the provisions of FASB ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures. FASB ASC 820 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurement and also emphasizes that fair value is a market-based measurement, not an entity-specific measurement. Grant Park records all investments at fair value in the financial statements. Changes in fair value are recorded as unrealized gain or losses and are reported in the consolidated statement of operations. Fair value of exchange-traded futures contracts and options on futures contracts are based upon exchange settlement prices. Equity securities, equity options and exchange-traded funds are recorded at fair value based on quoted market prices, which is generally the exchange settlement price. U.S. Government securities, U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises and commercial paper are stated at cost plus accrued interest, which approximates fair value based on quoted market prices in an active market. The Partnership values bank deposits at face value plus accrued interest, which approximates fair value.
Results of Operations
Grant Parks returns, which are Grant Parks trading gains plus interest income less brokerage fees, performance fees, operating costs and offering costs borne by Grant Park, for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, are set forth in the table below:
24
Three Months Ended March 31, |
||||||||
2011 | 2010 | |||||||
Total return Class A units |
(0.80 | )% | (3.6 | )% | ||||
Total return Class B units |
(0.96 | )% | (3.7 | )% | ||||
Total return Legacy 1 Class units |
(0.24 | )% | (3.2 | )% | ||||
Total return Legacy 2 Class units |
(0.31 | )% | (3.2 | )% | ||||
Total return Global 1 Class units |
(0.64 | )% | (3.8 | )% | ||||
Total return Global 2 Class units |
(0.70 | )% | (3.9 | )% | ||||
Total return Global 3 Class units |
(1.20 | )% | (4.3 | )% |
Grant Parks net asset value at March 31, 2011 was approximately $897.4 million, at December 31, 2010 was approximately $891.9 million and at March 31, 2010 was approximately $812.3 million.
The table below sets forth Grant Parks trading gains or losses by sector for the three month periods ended March 31, 2011 and 2010.
% Gain (Loss) Three Months Ended March 31, |
||||||||
Sector |
2011 | 2010 | ||||||
Agriculturals |
| % | | % | ||||
Currencies |
(0.1 | ) | 0.2 | |||||
Energy |
1.8 | (0.8 | ) | |||||
Interest rates |
(1.2 | ) | 0.1 | |||||
Meats |
0.3 | | ||||||
Metals |
0.1 | (0.2 | ) | |||||
Softs |
0.5 | (0.5 | ) | |||||
Stock indices, equities, equity options and exchange traded funds |
(0.3 | ) | (0.6 | ) | ||||
Total |
1.1 | % | (1.8 | )% | ||||
Three months ended March 31, 2011 compared to three months ended March 31, 2010
For the three months ended March 31, 2011, Grant Park had a negative return of approximately 0.8% for the Class A units, 1.0% for the Class B units, 0.2% for the Legacy 1 Class units, 0.3% for the Legacy 2 Class units, 0.6% for the Global 1 Class units, 0.7% for the Global 2 Class units and 1.2% for the Global 3 Class units. On a combined basis prior to expenses, Grant Park had trading gains of approximately 1.1% which were further increased by gains of approximately 0.1% from interest income. These trading gains were offset by approximately 2.2% in combined brokerage fees, performance fees and operating and offering costs borne by Grant Park. For the same period in 2010, Grant Park had a negative return of approximately 3.6% for the Class A units, 3.7% for the Class B units, 3.2% for the Legacy 1 Class units, 3.2% for the Legacy 2 Class units, 3.8% for the Global 1 Class units, 3.9% for the Global 2 Class units and 4.3% for the Global 3 Class units. On a combined basis prior to expenses, Grant Park had trading losses of approximately 1.8% which were offset by approximately 0.1% from interest income. These losses were further increased by approximately 2.1% in combined brokerage fees, performance fees and operating and offering costs borne by Grant Park.
Three months ended March 31, 2011
Grains prices rallied in excess of 10% due to concerns regarding global supply constraints. Supply concerns were driven by USDA reports forecasting weak supplies in the U.S. and severe flooding in key Australian farming regions. In the livestock markets, lean hogs prices underwent a sharp rally because of an increase in Chinese pork demand.
The Japanese yen posted strong gains in the early part of the first quarter because of safe-haven buying caused by unrest in Libya. The yens rally continued into the second half of the quarter as Japanese investors repatriated capital in order to fund
25
rebuilding efforts after last months catastrophic earthquake. Breaking recent downtrends, the euro strengthened against counterparts due to better-than-expected debt auctions throughout the Eurozone.
Crude oil prices rose nearly 17%, driven higher by supply constraints stemming from turmoil in the Middle East. Also supporting the crude oil markets was the temporary shutdown of an 800-mile Alaskan pipeline. Prices in the natural gas markets moved generally lower due to temperate climates in the U.S.
The Japanese equity markets declined due to ongoing uncertainty surrounding the impact of March 2011s earthquake on the nations growth prospects. Also weighing down the Japanese markets were concerns stemming from the ongoing crisis at key Japanese nuclear power facilities. North American equities moved steadily higher throughout the quarter, supported by positive economic data and increased investor risk appetite. In Europe, easing concerns surrounding the financial stability of several smaller European nations drove share prices higher.
U.S. Treasury markets declined because of liquidations prompted by decreased risk-aversion. Positive economic indicators, including strong U.S. industrial production and employment data, supported an optimistic outlook for the global economy causing investors to exit debt positions.
Precious metals markets rallied due to safe-haven buying amidst tensions in Libya and ongoing inflation concerns. Silver markets underwent an especially large move, moving nearly 23% higher during the first quarter. Base metals markets produced mixed results in the first quarter due to conflicting global influences. Copper prices predominantly fell due to productions disruptions in Japan and interest rate hikes in China. Other base metals, including aluminum and tin, moved higher for the quarter as strong economic data and rallies in the equity markets supported buying.
Key trading developments for Grant Park during the first three months of 2011 included the following:
Grant Park recorded losses in the month of January. Class A units were down 0.52%, Class B units were down 0.58%, Legacy 1 Class units were down 0.35%, Legacy 2 Class units were down 0.37%, Global 1 Class units were down 0.74%, Global 2 Class units were down 0.76% and Global 3 Class units were down 0.91%. Grains prices predominantly moved higher in January due to supply concerns stemming from severe flooding in Australia and by poor weather conditions in South America. In the commodities markets, sugar prices also rose, driven by U.S. dollar weakness. Successful debt auctions in several smaller European nations were received as a sign that economic stability in the Eurozone may be improving and strengthened the euro against major counterparts. Adding to the euro rally was speculation European leaders were close to formalizing a plan for creating emergency financing for ailing European nations. Renewed optimism for the Eurozone weighed on the U.S. dollar and moved it lower against other major currencies. The British pound strengthened against counterparts as speculators believed recent inflation data might cause the Bank of England to raise interest rates sooner than previously expected. Speculators drove crude oil markets higher as supply concerns were raised by the closure of an 800-mile Alaskan pipeline. The political events in Egypt raised additional concerns about oil production in the region and also played a role in moving crude oil price higher. Natural gas markets also rose as abnormally cold temperatures served as a bullish influence on demand. An improved economic outlook for Europe boded well for the global equity markets in January. North American, European, and Asian equity markets moved higher as optimism spurred investor risk appetite. Positive earnings reports and strong economic data from the U.S. and the Eurozone also drove markets higher. Global fixed-income markets endured setbacks due to decreased investor risk-aversion. Investors shifted their focus towards riskier assets and liquidated positions in the U.S. Treasury markets, which pushed prices sharply lower. In Europe, Bund prices fell as improving sentiment strengthened demand for European sovereign debt. The metals sector performed similarly to the fixed income markets as investor desire to pursue additional risk put heavy pressure on metal prices. A better economic outlook for Europe allowed investors to liquidate euro-hedging gold positions and caused a near 6% price decline. Base metals profited from strength in the global equity markets. Strong U.S. manufacturing data and better-than-expected earnings reports by manufacturing firms served as indicators that industrial demand may be on the rise, further supporting base metals prices.
Grant Park recorded gains in February. Class A units were up 2.26%, Class B units were up 2.20%, Legacy 1 Class units were up 2.37%, Legacy 2 Class units were up 2.33%, Global 1 Class units were up 2.00%, Global 2 Class units were up 1.99% and Global 3 Class units were up 1.76%. Corn markets underwent a sharp rally after the United States Department of Agriculture issued a report which forecasted tight U.S. supplies. Soybean prices declined due to expectations of bullish supply and slowing international demand. In the livestock markets, prices for lean hogs moved higher following the largest increase in pork demand by China since the early 1980s. Safe-haven currencies including the Japanese yen and Swiss franc strengthened amidst growing instability in the Middle East. Optimistic comments by the Reserve Bank of Australia provided bullish support to the Australian dollar, moving the currency higher against foreign counterparts. Crude oil markets rose in excess of 6% in February as speculators perceived escalating violence in the Middle East as a threat to crude oil production in the region. Warm weather forecasts in the U.S. put substantial pressure on the natural gas markets, moving prices sharply lower. Global equity markets generally moved higher in February as declines in U.S. jobless estimates fueled investor sentiment. The Japanese Nikkei 225 rallied due to strong earnings reports from several key Japanese firms. Hong Kongs Hang Seng index, however, moved lower due to uncertainty surrounding the impact of rising Chinese interest rates on the nations economy. U.S. Treasury Bonds finished higher in February, following a late-month rally caused by instability in
26
the Middle East. Unsure of the overall effects of recent upheaval in Libya, many investors shifted their focus to safe-haven fixed-income products. Precious metals markets benefitted from increased risk-aversion. Safe-haven buying resulted in a 6% and 20% respective price increase in the gold and silver markets. Base metal prices finished slightly higher due to bullish industrial demand forecasts early in the month.
Grant Park recorded losses in March. Class A units were down 2.48%, Class B units were down 2.53%, Legacy 1 Class units were down 2.21%, Legacy 2 Class units were down 2.22%, Global 1 Class units were down 1.85%, Global 2 Class units were down 1.89% and Global 3 Class units were down 2.01%. Corn and wheat prices generally fell after the United States Department of Agriculture reported upcoming harvests may produce near-record supplies. Adding to the decline in grains prices was weak demand from China for U.S crops. In the livestock markets, strong U.S. meat export data led to rallies in the live cattle and lean hogs markets. The Swiss franc posted gains as ongoing tension in Libya and the Japanese earthquake increased demand for safe-haven currencies. Comments made by the European Central Bank alluding to a potential interest rate hike in the Eurozone caused the euro to strengthen over major counterparts. Crude oil markets rallied, predominantly led higher by global turmoil. Supply concerns caused by unrest in Libya, strong economic data, and optimistic recovery forecasts for Japan combined to move crude oil prices higher. Natural gas finished nearly 9% higher for the month on speculation that Japanese demand for alternative fuels would increase due to ongoing turmoil at some of the nations key nuclear power plants. The Japanese Nikkei 225 fell in excess of 10% amidst concerns regarding the economic outlook for the nation following the recent earthquake and threats of a radiation leak at a key nuclear power plant. European equity markets also finished lower on renewed fears surrounding the financial stability of Spain and Portugal which weighed on investor sentiment. U.S. fixed-income markets predominantly declined because of liquidations prompted by optimistic employment and U.S. growth data. Intra-month gains in the U.S. equity markets also played a role in moving debt prices lower. Precious metals markets experienced gains as ongoing tension in Libya buoyed demand for safe-haven assets. The base metals markets moved generally lower as production disruptions in Japan and reports showing a Chinese trade deficit weighed on prices.
Three months ended March 31, 2010
A combination of elevated inventories and weaker demand pushed grains prices sharply downward in the first quarter of 2010. Mild weather in the Midwest, which allowed optimal planting conditions, drove corn and wheat prices lower. Sugar reversed from its recent uptrend as supply forecasts from India and Brazil improved. Heavy liquidations and weak demand due to elevated prices also weighed on sugar prices.
A more optimistic outlook for the future of the U.S. economy spurred gains in the U.S. dollar. Better-than-expected U.S. unemployment and industrial production data were the main drivers behind the dollars moves. In Europe, questions surrounding the financial stability of several smaller European nations put pressure on the euro, moving it lower against its peers. The Australian and New Zealand dollars posted strong gains in the first quarter, as improved economic indicators from Australasia drove investors into higher-yielding currencies.
Crude oil prices increased on bullish demand forecasts stemming from reports from the Energy Information Agency supported prices. Improved industrial production data also benefited prices. Natural gas continued its downtrend into the first quarter of 2010 as elevated supplies and unseasonably warm weather in the U.S. caused speculators to liquidate positions.
Positive economic data in the U.S. boded well for the North American equity markets. In Europe, concerns over the financial stability of several smaller EU nations led to declines in several key benchmark equity indices. The Hong Kong Hang Seng dropped in excess of 3% for the quarter as uncertainty regarding changing Chinese lending policies put pressure on investor risk appetite.
U.S. fixed-income markets moved higher in the first quarter as an unexpected rise in jobless claims boosted demand for safer debt instruments. Decreased demand for European sovereign debt caused by the ailing financial situation in Greece and other smaller European nations also drove the U.S. debt markets up.
Ongoing uncertainty regarding the European economy and short-term dips in the U.S. dollar moved precious metals prices higher. In the base metals markets, copper moved steadily higher as gains in the global equity markets supported higher demand forecasts. Nickel prices showed a sharp increase as production disruptions in Canada and Australia fostered supply concerns.
Key trading developments for Grant Park during the first three months of 2010 included the following:
Grant Park recorded losses in the month of January. Class A units were down 7.95%, Class B units were down 8.00%, Legacy 1 Class units were down 7.77%, Legacy 2 Class units were down 7.79%, Global 1 Class units were down 7.80%, Global 2 Class units were down 7.82% and Global 3 Class units were down 7.95%. Grains markets predominantly fell as turmoil in the financial markets and record U.S. grains supplies weighed on prices. In the softs markets, sugar continued its recent uptrend due to weak supply forecasts from Brazil and ongoing strong demand from Southeast Asia. The Japanese yen posted solid gains for January following short-term weakness in the U.S. dollar. Despite intra-month volatility, the U.S. dollar finished the month higher as several changes in Chinese banking regulations increased investor risk aversion. Crude oil markets declined due to weak industrial demand
27
forecasts resulting from poor economic data and depressed crude production estimates from U.S. refiners. In the natural gas markets, prices increased slightly as a cold front in the U.S. supported demand. Share price declines in several large European financial firms sent most benchmark indices sharply lower. The Eurostoxx 50 and the German Dax indices, which both declined in excess of 5%, were among the most affected. In the U.S., concerns over changes to Chinese lending policies spurred liquidations in the U.S. equity markets, moving prices lower. U.S. Treasury prices rallied in January as a number of weaker-than-expected economic indicators, including unemployment estimates and U.S. retail sales in December, supported demand for more risk-averse U.S. debt instruments. German Bunds also moved higher due to decreased demand for sovereign debt following financial trouble in Greece and other smaller EU nations. Gold and silver prices underwent several intra-month price swings to finish nearly unchanged for January. The flat performance in the precious metals markets was due to the effects of short-term dollar weakness being offset by lower-than-expected Consumer Price Index data and weak demand forecasts. Industrial metals generally declined as a result of bearish Chinese demand and elevated global base metals inventories.
Grant Park recorded gains in February. Class A units were up 0.63%, Class B units were up 0.57%, Legacy 1 Class units were up 0.82%, Legacy 2 Class units were up 0.80%, Global 1 Class units were up 0.71%, Global 2 Class units were up 0.69% and Global 3 Class units were up 0.54%. Grains markets rallied as strong sales data and downward revisions to inventory estimates bolstered prices. Moving contrary to its recent uptrend, sugar prices declined following liquidations from large commodity funds. In the livestock markets, prices rose as gains in the equity markets supported bullish demand forecasts. Ongoing concerns over several smaller EU nations led to a decline in major currencies across Europe. The Swiss franc, euro, and British pound all declined against the U.S. dollar as investors sought safer assets. Strong Australian unemployment data led to gains in the Australian dollar over most major currencies. Bullish demand forecasts from the Energy Information Administration and positive U.S. industrial production data led to gains in the crude oil markets. Elevated U.S. natural gas inventories put substantial pressure on the natural gas markets, moving prices nearly 7% lower for the month. Optimistic economic data in the U.S. propelled North American equity markets higher in February. Ailing economies in several European nations drove European equity markets down. Ongoing fears in Asia regarding changes to Chinese lending polices resulted in declines in Hong Kongs Hang Seng Index. Weak demand for European sovereign debt resulted in strong gains in the U.S. Treasury markets. An unexpected jump in U.S. jobless claims added to the rally in the U.S. debt markets. In Europe, short-term gains in the European equity markets put pressure on the Bund market. Concern over the economic state of the European Union and short-term U.S. dollar weakness propelled the gold markets higher in February. In the base metals markets, bullish demand forecasts spurred by strong economic data led to gains in a number of industrial metals, including copper, aluminum, and tin.
Grant Park recorded gains in March. Class A units were up 4.08%, Class B units were up 4.03%, Legacy 1 Class units were up 4.15%, Legacy 2 Class units were up 4.13%, Global 1 Class units were up 3.65%, Global 2 Class units were up 3.56% and Global 3 Class units were up 3.40%. Sugar prices fell nearly 30% in March as elevated supply forecasts from India and Brazil weighed on prices. Higher prices also reduced demand, causing prices to fall further. In the grains markets, corn and wheat prices declined as a result of mild weather conditions in the Midwest and on the strength in the U.S. dollar. Improving economic indicators, including better-than-expected payroll estimates and U.S. industrial production, led to gains in the U.S. dollar. The euro fell as concerns regarding the economic stability of Greece and Portugal caused investors to liquidate European holdings. The New Zealand dollar moved higher against its counterparts due to speculation about a narrowing interest rate gap between New Zealand and Australia. Natural gas prices fell sharply in March because of elevated U.S. inventories. Unusually warm weather also put pressure on the natural gas markets. Crude oil markets moved lower due to ongoing weak demand forecasts and uncertainty following the pace of the economic recovery in the U.S. Equity markets rallied as improving economic indicators fostered optimism in the global economy. Bullish forecasts for Japanese exports, caused by weakness in the Japanese yen, drove the Nikkei 225 index higher. Eurozone equity markets rallied following strong German consumer sentiment data. Decreased demand for safe-haven debt instruments led to a decline in the U.S. fixed-income markets. Increased demand for riskier assets led to price declines in the U.S. debt markets, as evidenced by poor results in recent Treasury auctions. In the Eurozone, concerns regarding sovereign debt of several ailing European nations weighed on the debt markets. Gold markets declined in March under pressure from a stronger U.S. dollar. Base metals generally rose following reports that industrial production in the U.S. had improved during February. Nickel made especially big gains as production disruptions in Canada and Australia prompted supply concerns.
Capital Resources
Grant Park plans to raise additional capital only through the sale of units pursuant to the continuous offering and does not intend to raise any capital through borrowing. Due to the nature of Grant Parks business, it does not make any capital expenditures and does not have any capital assets that are not operating capital or assets.
Grant Park maintains 65% to 95% of its net asset value in cash, cash equivalents or other liquid positions over and above that needed to post as collateral for trading. These funds are available to meet redemptions each month.
28
Liquidity
Most U.S. futures exchanges limit fluctuations in some futures and options contract prices during a single day by regulations referred to as daily price fluctuation limits or daily limits. During a single trading day, no trades may be executed at prices beyond the daily limit. Once the price of a contract has reached the daily limit for that day, positions in that contract can neither be taken nor liquidated. Futures prices have occasionally moved to the daily limit for several consecutive days with little or no trading. Similar occurrences could prevent Grant Park from promptly liquidating unfavorable positions and subject Grant Park to substantial losses that could exceed the margin initially committed to those trades. In addition, even if futures or options prices do not move to the daily limit, Grant Park may not be able to execute trades at favorable prices, if little trading in the contracts is taking place. Other than these limitations on liquidity, which are inherent in Grant Parks futures and options trading operations, Grant Parks assets are expected to be highly liquid.
A portion of each Trading Companys assets is used as margin to support its trading. Margin requirements are satisfied by the deposit of U.S. Treasury bills, obligations of Government-sponsored enterprises and cash with brokers subject to CFTC regulations and various exchange and broker requirements.
Grant Park maintains a portion of its assets at its clearing brokers as well as at Lake Forest Bank & Trust Company. These assets, which may range from 5% to 35% of Grant Parks value, are held in U.S. Treasury securities, commercial paper and/or Government-sponsored enterprises. The balance of Grant Parks assets, which range from 65% to 95%, are invested in investment grade money market instruments purchased and managed at Middleton Dickinson Capital Management, LLC which are held in a separate, segregated account at State Street Bank and Trust Company. Violent fluctuations in prevailing interest rates or changes in other economic conditions could cause mark-to-market losses on Grant Parks cash management income.
Off-Balance Sheet Risk
Off-balance sheet risk refers to an unrecorded potential liability that, even though it does not appear on the balance sheet, may result in future obligation or loss. Grant Park trades in futures and other commodity interest contracts and is therefore a party to financial instruments with elements of off-balance sheet market and credit risk. In entering into these contracts, Grant Park faces the market risk that these contracts may be significantly influenced by market conditions, such as interest rate volatility, resulting in such contracts being less valuable. If the markets should move against all of the commodity interest positions of Grant Park at the same time, and if Grant Park were unable to offset positions, Grant Park could lose all of its assets and the limited partners would realize a 100% loss. Grant Park minimizes market risk through real-time monitoring of open positions, diversification of the portfolio and maintenance of a margin-to-equity ratio that rarely exceeds 25%. All positions of Grant Park are valued each day on a mark-to-market basis.
In addition to market risk, when entering into commodity interest contracts there is a credit risk that a counterparty will not be able to meet its obligations to Grant Park. The counterparty for futures and options on futures contracts traded in the United States and on most non-U.S. futures exchanges is the clearing organization associated with such exchange. In general, clearing organizations are backed by the corporate members of the clearing organization who are required to share any financial burden resulting from the non-performance by one of their members and, as such, should significantly reduce this credit risk.
In cases where the clearing organization is not backed by the clearing members, like some non-U.S. exchanges, it is normally backed by a consortium of banks or other financial institutions.
In the case of forward contracts, over-the-counter options contracts or swap contracts, which are traded on the interbank or other institutional market rather than on exchanges, the counterparty is generally a single bank or other financial institution, rather than a central clearing organization backed by a group of financial institutions. As a result, there likely will be greater counterparty credit risk in these transactions. Grant Park trades only with those counterparties that it believes to be creditworthy. Nonetheless, the clearing member, clearing organization or other counterparty to these transactions may not be able to meet its obligations to Grant Park, in which case Grant Park could suffer significant losses on these contracts.
In the normal course of business, Grant Park enters into contracts and agreements that contain a variety of representations and warranties and which provide general indemnifications. Grant Parks maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against Grant Park that have not yet occurred. Grant Park expects the risk of any future obligation under these indemnifications to be remote.
29
Item 3. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk |
Introduction
Grant Park is a speculative commodity pool. The market sensitive instruments held by it are acquired for speculative trading purposes, and all or a substantial amount of Grant Parks assets are subject to the risk of trading loss. Unlike an operating company, the risk of market sensitive instruments is integral, not incidental, to Grant Parks business.
Market movements result in frequent changes in the fair market value of Grant Parks open positions and, consequently, in its earnings and cash flow. Grant Parks market risk is influenced by a wide variety of factors, including the level and volatility of exchange rates, interest rates, equity price levels, the market value of financial instruments and contracts, market prices for base and precious metals, energy complexes and other commodities, the diversification effects among Grant Parks open positions and the liquidity of the markets in which it trades.
Grant Park rapidly acquires and liquidates both long and short positions in a wide range of different markets. Consequently, it is not possible to predict how a particular future market scenario will affect performance. Erratic, choppy, sideways trading markets and sharp reversals in movements can materially and adversely affect Grant Parks results. Grant Parks past performance is not necessarily indicative of its future results.
Materiality, as used in this section, is based on an assessment of reasonably possible market movements and the potential losses caused by such movements, taking into account the leverage, and multiplier features of Grant Parks market sensitive instruments.
The following quantitative and qualitative disclosures regarding Grant Parks 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 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). All quantitative and qualitative disclosures in this section are deemed to be forward-looking statements, except for statements of historical fact and descriptions of how Grant Park manages its risk exposure. Grant Parks primary market risk exposures, as well as the strategies used and to be used by its trading advisors for managing such exposures, are subject to numerous uncertainties, contingencies and risks, any one of which could cause the actual results of Grant Parks 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 Grant Park. Grant Parks current market exposure and/or risk management strategies may not be effective in either the short-or long-term and may change materially.
Quantitative Market Risk
Grant Parks approximate risk exposure in the various market sectors traded by its trading advisors is quantified below in terms of Value at Risk (VaR). Due to Grant Parks mark-to-market accounting, any loss in the fair value of Grant Parks open positions is directly reflected in Grant Parks earnings, realized or unrealized.
Grant Park has reevaluated the methodology used to calculate VaR. As of March 31, 2011, Grant Park uses an Aggregate Returns Volatility method to calculate VaR for the portfolio. The method consists of creating historical price time series for each instrument or its proxy instrument for the past 200 days, and then measures the standard deviation of that return history. Then, using a normal distribution (normal distribution curve has a mean of zero and a standard deviation of one), the standard deviation measurement is scaled up in order to achieve a result in line with the 95% degree of confidence, which corresponds to a scaling factor of approximately 1.645 times of standard deviations.
The VaR for each market sector represents the one day risk of loss for the aggregate exposures associated with that sector. The current methodology used to calculate VaR represents the VaR of Grant Parks open positions across all market sectors and is less than the sum of the VaR of the individual market sectors due to the diversification benefit across all market sectors combined. The current VaR methodology is not used to calculate VaR on the equities, equity options and exchange traded funds. Equities, equity options and exchange traded funds commenced trading in the first quarter of 2011 and as of March 31, 2011 represented approximately a 5% allocation of Grant Parks net assets.
Grant Parks VaR methodology and computation is based on the underlying risk of each contract or instrument in the portfolio and does not distinguish between exchange and non-exchange traded contracts. It is also not based on exchange maintenance margin requirements. VaR does not typically represent the worst case outcome.
VaR is a measure of the maximum amount that Grant Park could reasonably be expected to lose in a given market sector in a given day. However, the inherent uncertainty of Grant Parks speculative trading and the recurrence in the markets traded by Grant Park of market movements far exceeding expectations could result in actual trading or non-trading losses far beyond the indicated VaR or Grant Parks experience to date. This risk is often referred to as the risk of ruin. In light of the preceding information, as well as the risks and uncertainties intrinsic to all future projections, the inclusion of the quantification included in this section should
30
not be considered to constitute any assurance or representation that Grant Parks losses in any market sector will be limited to value at risk or by Grant Parks attempts to manage its market risk. VaR models, including Grant Parks, are continually evolving as trading portfolios become more diverse and modeling systems and techniques continue to evolve. Moreover, value at risk may be defined differently as used by other commodity pools or in other contexts.
The composition of Grant Parks trading portfolio, based on the nature of its business of speculative trading of futures, forwards and options, can change significantly, over any period of time, including a single day of trading. These changes can positively or negatively have a material impact on the market risk as measured by VaR.
Value at Risk by Market Sectors
The following tables indicate the trading value at risk associated with Grant Parks open positions by market category as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 and the trading gains/losses by market category for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and the year ended December 31, 2010. All open position trading risk exposures of Grant Park have been included in calculating the figures set forth below. As of March 31, 2011, Grant Parks net asset value was approximately $897.4 million. As of December 31, 2010, Grant Parks net asset value was approximately $891.9 million.
March 31, 2011 | ||||||||
Market Sector |
Value at Risk* | Trading Gain/(Loss) |
||||||
Currencies |
0.8 | % | (0.1 | )% | ||||
Stock indices |
0.3 | (0.3 | ) | |||||
Energy |
0.3 | 1.8 | ||||||
Interest rates |
0.3 | (1.2 | ) | |||||
Metals |
0.3 | 0.1 | ||||||
Agriculturals/softs/meats |
0.2 | 0.8 | ||||||
Aggregate/Total |
1.6 | % | 1.1 | % | ||||
* | The VaR for a market sector represents the one day risk of loss for the aggregate exposure for that particular sector. The aggregate VaR represents the VaR of Grant Parks open positions across all market sectors and is less than the sum of the VaR of the individual market sectors due to the diversification benefit across all market sectors combined. |
December 31, 2010 | ||||||||
Market Sector |
Value at Risk* | Trading Gain/(Loss) |
||||||
Agriculturals/softs/meats |
0.4 | % | 4.3 | % | ||||
Currencies |
0.4 | 3.0 | ||||||
Energy |
0.3 | (2.5 | ) | |||||
Stock indices |
0.3 | (1.9 | ) | |||||
Metals |
0.3 | 2.5 | ||||||
Interest rates |
0.1 | 8.0 | ||||||
Aggregate/Total |
1.3 | % | 13.4 | % | ||||
* | The VaR for a market sector represents the one day risk of loss for the aggregate exposure for that particular sector. The aggregate VaR represents the VaR of Grant Parks open positions across all market sectors and is less than the sum of the VaR of the individual market sectors due to the diversification benefit across all market sectors combined. |
Material Limitations of Value at Risk as an Assessment of Market Risk
Past market risk factors will not always result in an accurate prediction of future distributions and correlations of future market movements. Changes in the portfolio value of cause by market movements may differ from those measured by the VaR model. The VaR model reflects past trading positions while future risk depends on future trading positions. VaR using a one day time horizon does not fully capture the market risk of positions that cannot be liquidated within one day. The historical market risk data for the VaR model may provide only limited insight into the losses that could be incurred under unusual market movements. The magnitude of Grant Parks open positions creates a risk of ruin not typically found in most other investment vehicles. Because of the size of its positions, certain market conditionsunusual, but historically recurring from time to timecould cause Grant Park to incur severe losses over a short period of time. The value at risk table above, as well as the past performance of Grant Park, gives no indication of this risk of ruin.
31
Non-Trading Risk
Grant Park has non-trading market risk on its foreign cash balances not needed for margin. However, these balances, as well as the market risk they represent, are immaterial. Grant Park also has non-trading market risk as a result of investing a substantial portion of its available assets in U.S. Treasury bills and Treasury repurchase agreements. The market risk represented by these investments is also immaterial.
Qualitative Market Risk
Trading Risk
The following were the primary trading risk exposures of Grant Park as of March 31, 2011, by market sector.
Currencies
Exchange rate risk is a significant market exposure of Grant Park. Grant Parks currency exposure is due to exchange rate fluctuations, primarily fluctuations that disrupt the historical pricing relationships between different currencies and currency pairs. These fluctuations are influenced by interest rate changes as well as political and general economic conditions. Grant Park trades in a large number of currencies, including cross-rates, which are positions between two currencies other than the U.S. dollar. The general partner anticipates that the currency sector will remain one of the primary market exposures for Grant Park for the foreseeable future. As of March 31, 2011, Grant Park was short the U.S. dollar against various major currencies including the Australian dollar, Canadian dollar, Mexican peso, Japanese yen, British pound, euro, Swiss franc, and New Zealand dollar. In general, a weaker U.S. dollar against most major currencies would benefit Grant Park.
Stock Indices
Grant Parks primary equity exposure is due to equity price risk in the G-7 countries as well as other jurisdictions including Hong Kong, Taiwan, South, Africa, India, Singapore, South Korea, and Australia. The stock index futures contracts currently traded by Grant Park are generally futures on broadly based indices, although Grant Park also trades narrow-based stock index or single-stock futures contracts. As of March 31, 2011, Grant Park was predominantly long indices in the U.S., Eurozone, U.K. Hong Kong, South Korea, Australia, China, Taiwan, South Africa, India, Canada, Mexico and Singapore. The portfolio has short positions in the Japanese equity markets. Grant Park is primarily exposed to the risk of adverse price trends or static markets in the major North American, European, and Asian indices. Static markets would not cause major market changes but would make it difficult for Grant Park to avoid being whipsawed into numerous small losses.
Energy
Grant Parks primary energy market exposure is due to gas and oil price movements, often resulting from political developments in the Middle East, Nigeria, Russia, and South America. As of March 31, 2011, the energy market exposure of Grant Park was predominantly long in the brent crude oil, crude oil, gas oil, unleaded gasoline, heating oil, and kerosene markets, and short natural gas. Oil and gas prices can be volatile and substantial profits and losses have been and are expected to continue to be experienced in this market.
Interest Rates
Interest rate risk is a principal market exposure of Grant Park. Interest rate movements directly affect the price of the futures positions held by Grant Park 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 materially impact Grant Parks profitability. Grant Parks primary interest rate exposure is due to interest rate fluctuations in the United States and the other G-7 countries. Grant Park also takes futures positions on the government debt of smaller nations, such as Australia, New Zealand, and Mexico. The general partner anticipates that G-7 interest rates will remain the primary market exposure of Grant Park for the foreseeable future. As of March 31, 2011, Grant Park was predominantly long interest rate instruments in the U.S., Australia, U.K., Canada, Japan, and New Zealand. The portfolio had short positions in the Mexican and Eurozone markets.
Metals
Grant Parks metals market exposure is due to fluctuations in the price of both precious metals, including gold and silver, as well as base metals including aluminum, lead, copper, tin, nickel and zinc. As of March 31, 2011, in the precious metals sector Grant Park had long positions in gold, silver, and platinum and short positions in palladium. In the base metals markets, Grant Park was long aluminum, lead, nickel, copper, and tin and short zinc.
32
Agricultural/Meat/Softs
Grant Parks primary commodities exposure is due to agricultural price movements, which are often directly affected by severe or unexpected weather conditions as well as other factors. As of March 31, 2011, in the grains markets, Grant Park had long positions in the corn, soybeans, soybean oil, soybean meal, canola, and oats markets, and short positions in rice and wheat. In the livestock markets, Grant Park was long feeder cattle, live cattle, and lean hogs. In the foods/industrials markets Grant Park was long sugar, coffee, cotton, lumber, and rubber and short cocoa and orange juice.
Managing Risk Exposure
The general partner monitors and controls Grant Parks risk exposure on a daily basis through financial, credit and risk management monitoring systems and, accordingly, believes that it has effective procedures for evaluating and limiting the credit and market risks to which Grant Park is subject.
The general partner monitors Grant Parks performance and the concentration of its open positions and consults with the trading advisors concerning Grant Parks overall risk profile. If the general partner felt it necessary to do so, the general partner could require the trading advisors to close out individual positions as well as enter positions traded on behalf of Grant Park. However, any intervention would be a highly unusual event. The general partner primarily relies on the trading advisors own risk control policies while maintaining a general supervisory overview of Grant Parks market risk exposures. The trading advisors apply their own risk management policies to their trading. The trading advisors often follow diversification guidelines, margin limits and stop loss points to exit a position. The trading advisors research of risk management often suggests ongoing modifications to their trading programs.
As part of the general partners risk management, the general partner periodically meets with the trading advisors to discuss their risk management and to look for any material changes to the trading advisors portfolio balance and trading techniques. The trading advisors are required to notify the general partner of any material changes to their programs.
General
From time to time, certain regulatory or self-regulatory organizations have proposed increased margin requirements on futures contracts. Because Grant Park generally will use a small percentage of assets as margin, Grant Park does not believe that any increase in margin requirements, as proposed, will have a material effect on Grant Parks operations.
Item 4. | Controls and Procedures |
As of the end of the period covered by this report, the general partner carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the general partners management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of Grant Parks disclosure controls and procedures as contemplated by Rule 13a-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Based on, and as of the date of that evaluation, the general partners principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that Grant Parks disclosure controls and procedures are effective, in all material respects, in timely alerting them to material information relating to Grant Park required to be included in the reports required to be filed or submitted by Grant Park with the SEC under the Exchange Act.
There was no change in Grant Parks internal control over financial reporting in the quarter ended March 31, 2011 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, Grant Parks internal control over financial reporting.
Item 1A. | Risk Factors |
There have been no material changes to the risk factors relating to Grant Park from those previously disclosed in Grant Parks Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, in response to Item 1A to Part 1 of Form 10-K.
Item 2. | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds |
(a) | None. |
(b) | None. |
33
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
(c) The following table provides information regarding the total Class A, Class B, Legacy 1 Class, Legacy 2 Class, Global 1 Class, Global 2 Class and Global 3 Class units redeemed by Grant Park during the three months ended March 31, 2011.
Period | Total of Class A |
Weighted Average |
Total of Class B |
Weighted Average |
Total of Legacy |
Weighted Average |
Total of Legacy |
Weighted Average |
Total of Global |
Weighted Average Paid |
Total of Global |
Weighted Average Paid |
Total of Global |
Weighted Average Paid |
Total Number of Units Redeemed as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs(1) |
Maximum Number of Units that May Yet Be Redeemed Under the Plans/ Program(1) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
01/01/11 through 01/31/11 |
13.23 | $ | 1,480.88 | 3,704.12 | $ | 1,263.54 | 212.00 | $ | 1,021.37 | 25.81 | $ | 1,016.06 | 200.50 | $ | 977.06 | 86.37 | $ | 970.54 | 1,562.28 | $ | 937.45 | 5,804.31 | (2 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
02/01/11 through 02/28/11 |
264.55 | $ | 1,514.32 | 4,134.76 | $ | 1,291.38 | 145.86 | $ | 1,045.59 | 37.51 | $ | 1,039.71 | 34.40 | $ | 996.57 | 313.21 | $ | 989.84 | 640.55 | $ | 953.90 | 5,570.84 | (2 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
03/01/11 through 03/31/11 |
254.20 | $ | 1,476.74 | 5,358.07 | $ | 1,258.65 | 132.26 | $ | 1,022.50 | | $ | 1,016.58 | 89.96 | $ | 978.10 | 219.24 | $ | 971.17 | 1,795.63 | $ | 934.71 | 7,849.36 | (2 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total |
531.98 | $ | 1,495.53 | 13,196.95 | $ | 1,270.27 | 490.12 | $ | 1,028.88 | 63.32 | $ | 1,030.07 | 324.86 | $ | 979.41 | 618.82 | $ | 980.53 | 3,998.46 | $ | 938.85 | 19,224.51 | (2 | ) |
(1) | As previously disclosed, pursuant to the Partnership Agreement, investors in Grant Park may redeem their units for an amount equal to the net asset value per unit at the close of business on the last business day of any calendar month if at least 10 days prior to the redemption date, or at an earlier date if required by the investors selling agent, the general partner receives a written request for redemption from the investor. Generally, redemptions are paid in the month subsequent to the month requested. The general partner may permit earlier redemptions in its discretion. |
(2) | Not determinable. |
34
Item 6. | Exhibits |
(a) | Exhibits |
31.1 | Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 | |
31.2 | Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 | |
32.1 | Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
35
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.
GRANT PARK FUTURES FUND LIMITED PARTNERSHIP | ||||||
Date: May 16, 2011 | by: | Dearborn Capital Management, L.L.C. | ||||
its general partner | ||||||
By: | /s/ David M. Kavanagh | |||||
David M. Kavanagh | ||||||
President | ||||||
(principal executive officer) | ||||||
By: | /s/ Maureen ORourke | |||||
Maureen ORourke | ||||||
Chief Financial Officer | ||||||
(principal financial and accounting officer) |
36
CERTIFICATION
I, David M. Kavanagh, certify that:
1. | I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Grant Park Futures Fund Limited Partnership; |
2. | Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; |
3. | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; |
4. | The registrants other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have: |
a) | Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared; |
b) | Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; |
c) | Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrants disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and |
d) | Disclosed in this report any change in the registrants internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrants most recent fiscal quarter (the registrants fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrants internal control over financial reporting; and |
5. | The registrants other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrants auditors and the audit committee of registrants board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): |
a) | All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrants ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and |
b) | Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrants internal control over financial reporting. |
Date: May 16, 2011 | ||||
/s/ DAVID M. KAVANAGH | ||||
David M. Kavanagh | ||||
President | ||||
(principal executive officer) | ||||
Dearborn Capital Management, L.L.C. | ||||
General Partner |
37
Exhibit 31.2
CERTIFICATION
I, Maureen ORourke, certify that:
1. | I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Grant Park Futures Fund Limited Partnership; |
2. | Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; |
3. | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; |
4. | The registrants other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have: |
a) | Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared; |
b) | Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; |
c) | Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrants disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and |
d) | Disclosed in this report any change in the registrants internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrants most recent fiscal quarter (the registrants fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrants internal control over financial reporting; and |
5. | The registrants other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrants auditors and the audit committee of registrants board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): |
a) | All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrants ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and |
b) | Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrants internal control over financial reporting. |
Date: May 16, 2011 | ||||
/s/ MAUREEN OROURKE | ||||
Maureen ORourke | ||||
Chief Financial Officer | ||||
Dearborn Capital Management, L.L.C. | ||||
General Partner |
38
Exhibit 32.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as created by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, each of the undersigned principal executive officer of Dearborn Capital Management, L.L.C., the general partner (the General Partner) of Grant Park Futures Fund Limited Partnership (Grant Park), and principal financial officer of the General Partner hereby certifies that:
(1) | the accompanying Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Grant Park for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2011 (the Report) fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d), as applicable, of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and |
(2) | the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of Grant Park. |
Dated: May 16, 2011 | /s/ David M. Kavanagh | |||
David M. Kavanagh | ||||
President | ||||
(principal executive officer) | ||||
Dearborn Capital Management, L.L.C. | ||||
General Partner | ||||
/s/ Maureen ORourke | ||||
Maureen ORourke | ||||
Chief Financial Officer | ||||
Dearborn Capital Management, L.L.C. | ||||
General Partner |
This certification accompanies this Report pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and shall not be deemed filed by Grant Park for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
39