N-CSRS 1 d603495dncsrs.htm BLACKSTONE ALTERNATIVE ALPHA FUND BLACKSTONE ALTERNATIVE ALPHA FUND

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 

 

FORM N-CSR

 

 

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED

MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act file number 811-22634

 

 

Blackstone Alternative Alpha Fund

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

 

345 Park Avenue,

28th Floor

New York, NY 10154

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

 

Peter Koffler, Esq.

c/o Blackstone Alternative Asset Management L.P.

345 Park Avenue

28th Floor

New York, NY 10154

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

 

With a copy to:

James E. Thomas, Esq.

Ropes & Gray LLP

Prudential Tower

800 Boylston Street

Boston, MA 02199-3600

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 583-5000

 

 

Date of fiscal year end: March 31, 2014

Date of reporting period: September 30, 2013

 

 

 


Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.

The Report to Shareholders is attached hereto.


Blackstone

 

 

 

Blackstone Alternative Alpha Fund

 

 

Semi-Annual Report (Unaudited)

For the Period Ended September 30, 2013


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Blackstone Alternative Alpha Fund

  

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

     1   

Schedule of Investments

     2   

Statement of Operations

     3   

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

     4   

Statement of Cash Flows

     5   

Financial Highlights

     6   

Notes to Financial Statements

     7   

Supplemental Information

     13   

Blackstone Alternative Alpha Master Fund and Subsidiary

  

Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities

     14   

Consolidated Schedule of Investments

     15   

Consolidated Statement of Operations

     17   

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Net Assets

     18   

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

     19   

Consolidated Financial Highlights

     20   

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

     21   

Supplemental Information

     29   


Blackstone Alternative Alpha Fund

Statement of Assets and Liabilities (Unaudited)

As of September 30, 2013

 

Assets:

 

Investment in Blackstone Alternative Alpha Master Fund ("Master Fund"), at fair value (Cost $337,809,575)

  $ 358,951,816   

Cash

    3,780,043   

Investment subscription paid in advance to Master Fund

    19,200,000   

Prepaid expenses

    109,973   

Interest receivable

    783   
 

 

 

 

Total assets

    382,042,615   
 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

Shareholder subscriptions received in advance

  $ 17,441,000   

Shareholder redemptions payable

    1,979,238   

Payable to Investment Manager

    461,595   

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

    922,014   
 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    20,803,847   
 

 

 

 

Net assets

  $ 361,238,768   
 

 

 

 

Components of net assets:

 

Paid-in capital

  $ 341,771,562   

Accumulated net investment loss

    (1,957,702

Accumulated net realized gain

    282,667   

Net unrealized appreciation on investments

    21,142,241   
 

 

 

 

Net assets

  $ 361,238,768   
 

 

 

 

Net asset value:

 

Net assets

  $ 361,238,768   

Shares of beneficial interests outstanding, no par value, unlimited shares authorized

    327,686   
 

 

 

 

Net asset value per share

  $ 1,102.39   
 

 

 

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

1


Blackstone Alternative Alpha Fund

Schedule of Investments (Unaudited)

September 30, 2013

 

    Shares     Cost     Fair Value     Percentage of
Total Net Assets
 

Blackstone Alternative Alpha Master Fund (“Master Fund”)

    324,249      $ 337,809,575      $ 358,951,816        99.37

Other assets, less liabilities

        2,286,952        0.63
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Net Assets

      $ 361,238,768        100.00
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

2


Blackstone Alternative Alpha Fund

Statement of Operations (Unaudited)

For the Six Months Ended September 30, 2013

 

Fund income:

 

Interest

  $ 3,573   
 

 

 

 

Fund expenses:

 

Distribution

    880,418   

Shareholder service

    366,841   

Legal

    175,434   

Administration

    81,457   

Insurance

    66,808   

Printing

    60,000   

Professional

    29,390   

Trustees

    21,756   

Custody

    2,312   

Other

    39,929   
 

 

 

 

Total Fund expenses

    1,724,345   
 

 

 

 

Less expenses reimbursed by Investment Manager*

    (542,135
 

 

 

 

Net Fund expenses

    1,182,210   
 

 

 

 

Net investment loss

    (1,178,637
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets from investments:

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation from investment in Master Fund

    7,545,305   
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets from investments

    7,545,305   
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets from operations

  $ 6,366,668   
 

 

 

 

 

* The reimbursement includes expenses incurred by the Fund and Master Fund. See Note 6.

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

3


Blackstone Alternative Alpha Fund

Statements of Changes in Net Assets (Unaudited)

 

    For the
Six Months Ended
September 30, 2013
    For the
Year Ended
March 31, 2013
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

   

Operations:

   

Net investment loss

  $ (1,178,637   $ (204,336

Realized gain distribution from Master Fund

           282,667   

Net change in unrealized appreciation from investment in Master Fund

    7,545,305        13,596,936   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets from operations

    6,366,668        13,675,267   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Distribution of net investment income to shareholders

           (834,428
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Capital Transactions:

   

Shareholder subscriptions

    161,196,155        183,216,960   

Reinvestment of dividends

           764,896   

Shareholder redemptions

    (2,760,199     (496,321

Early withdrawal fee

    7,438        2,332   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from capital transactions

    158,443,394        183,487,867   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Assets:

   

Total increase in net assets

    164,810,062        196,328,706   

Beginning of period

    196,428,706        100,000   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

  $ 361,238,768      $ 196,428,706   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Accumulated net investment loss

  $ (1,957,702   $ (779,065
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Share Transactions:

   

Beginning of period

    182,267        100   

Shares issued

    147,931        181,881   

Shares reinvested

           749   

Shares redeemed

    (2,512     (463
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

    327,686        182,267   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

4


Blackstone Alternative Alpha Fund

Statement of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

For the Six Months Ended September 30, 2013

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

  $ 6,366,668   

Adjustments to reconcile net increase in net assets resulting from operations to net cash used in operating activities:

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation from investment in Master Fund

    (7,545,305

Purchase of investment in Master Fund and subscription paid in advance to Master Fund

    (153,058,135

Increase in interest receivable

    (597

Increase in prepaid expenses

    (83,606

Increase in payable to Investment Manager

    321,895   

Decrease in trustee fees payable

    (10,250

Increase in accrued expenses and other liabilities

    398,284   
 

 

 

 

Net cash used in operating activities

    (153,611,046
 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

Proceeds from shareholder subscriptions and subscriptions received in advance

    156,971,728   

Payments for shareholder redemptions of shares

    (1,221,763
 

 

 

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

    155,749,965   
 

 

 

 

Net change in cash

    2,138,919   

Cash, beginning of period

    1,641,124   
 

 

 

 

Cash, end of period

  $ 3,780,043   
 

 

 

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

5


Blackstone Alternative Alpha Fund

Financial Highlights (Unaudited)

 

    For the
Six Months Ended
September 30, 2013
    For the
Year Ended
March 31, 2013
 

Per share operating performance:

   

Net asset value, beginning of period

  $ 1,077.70      $ 1,000.00   

Income from investment operations:

   

Net investment loss1

    (4.40     (1.84

Net realized and unrealized gain from investments

    29.06        85.33   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income from investment operations

    24.66        83.49   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Distribution of net investment income to shareholders

           (5.81
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Early withdrawal fee

    0.03        0.02   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

  $ 1,102.39      $ 1,077.70   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Financial Ratios:2

   

Service fees

    0.85     0.85

Other expenses to average net assets for the Fund before reimbursement from Investment Manager

    0.32     1.16

Reimbursement from Investment Manager3

    (0.37 )%      (1.83 )% 
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses to average net assets for the Fund after reimbursement from Investment Manager4

    0.80     0.18
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment loss to average net assets for the Fund

    (0.80 )%      (0.18 )% 
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Portfolio turnover5

    2.80     9.01
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total return6

    2.29     8.38
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net assets, end of period (000s)

  $ 361,239      $ 196,429   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

1 

Calculated using average shares outstanding during the period.

2 

Financial ratios have been annualized.

3 

The reimbursement includes expenses incurred by the Fund and the Master Fund. See Note 6.

4 

In accordance with the Expense Limitation and Reimbursement Agreement, Specified Expenses of the Master Fund are included in the limitation of the Expense Cap. See Note 6. The expenses of the Master Fund represent 1.63% and 2.27% of average net assets for the Fund for the periods ended September 30, 2013 and March 31, 2013, respectively. The net expense ratio for the Fund, including the applicable Master Fund expenses, is 2.43% and 2.45% for the periods ended September 30, 2013 and March 31, 2013, respectively.

5 

The Fund is invested solely in the Master Fund, therefore this ratio reflects the portfolio turnover of the Master Fund.

6 

Total return has not been annualized.

 

     The financial ratios represent the expenses and net investment loss to average monthly net assets for the period. The computation of such ratios do not reflect the Fund’s share of the income and expenses of the underlying Investee Funds held by the Master Fund. The individual shareholder’s total return may vary from this total return based on the timing of capital transactions.

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

6


Blackstone Alternative Alpha Fund

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)

September 30, 2013

 

1. Organization

Blackstone Alternative Alpha Fund (the “Fund”), a Massachusetts business trust registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as a continuously offered, non-diversified, closed-end management investment company, commenced operations on April 1, 2012. The Fund’s investment objective is to seek to earn long-term risk-adjusted returns that are attractive as compared to those of traditional public equity and fixed income markets. The Fund pursues its objective by investing substantially all of its assets in Blackstone Alternative Alpha Master Fund (the “Master Fund”), a Massachusetts business trust registered under the 1940 Act as a continuously offered, closed-end management investment company with the same investment objective and substantially the same investment policies as the Fund.

The Master Fund’s consolidated financial statements and notes to consolidated financial statements, included elsewhere within this report, are an integral part of the Fund’s financial statements and should be read in conjunction with these financial statements. As of September 30, 2013, the Fund held a 99.94% ownership interest in the Master Fund.

The investment manager of the Fund and the Master Fund is Blackstone Alternative Asset Management L.P. (“BAAM” or the “Investment Manager”), a registered investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. Each of the Fund and the Master Fund is a commodity pool subject to regulation by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”). BAAM, the commodity pool operator of the Fund and the Master Fund, is registered as such with the CFTC, but has claimed relief under Rule 4.12(c)(3) of the Commodity Exchange Act from certain disclosure, reporting and recordkeeping requirements otherwise applicable to commodity pools. The Board of Trustees (the “Board” and each member a “Trustee”) of the Fund and the Master Fund supervises the conduct of the Fund’s and the Master Fund’s affairs and, pursuant to their investment management agreements, has engaged BAAM to manage the Fund’s and the Master Fund’s day-to-day investment activities.

Capitalized terms used, but not defined herein, shall have the meaning assigned to them in the Prospectus of the Fund.

2. Basis of Presentation

The Fund’s financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and are stated in U.S. dollars.

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates and these differences could be material.

3. Significant Accounting Policies

Fair Value Measurements

Investment in the Master Fund

The Fund’s investment in the Master Fund is recorded at fair value and is based upon the Fund’s percentage ownership of the net assets of the Master Fund. The performance of the Fund is directly affected by the performance of the Master Fund.

 

7


Blackstone Alternative Alpha Fund

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued) (Unaudited)

September 30, 2013

 

See Note 3 to the Master Fund’s consolidated financial statements for the determination of fair value of the Master Fund’s investments.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income and Expense

Investment transactions are accounted for on a trade date basis. Income and expense, including interest, are recorded on an accrual basis.

Cash

At September 30, 2013, the Fund had $3,780,043 of cash held at a major U.S. bank.

Contingencies

Under the Fund’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust (“Declaration of Trust”), the Fund’s officers and each Trustee are indemnified against certain liabilities that may arise out of the performance of their duties to the Fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations and indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Fund has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these contracts and expects the risk of loss to be remote.

Income Taxes

The Fund’s policy is to qualify each year as a “regulated investment company” under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code and to distribute substantially all of its investment company taxable income and net long-term capital gains to its shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is expected to be required. The Fund files U.S. federal and various state and local tax returns.

Management of the Fund has evaluated the tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the course of preparing the Fund’s tax return for the current open tax year ending October 31, 2013, and has concluded, as of September 30, 2013, that no provision for income tax would be required in the Fund’s financial statements. The Fund’s federal and state income and federal excise tax returns are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state taxing authorities.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders

Dividends from net investment income and distributions of capital gains, if any, are declared and paid annually. Dividends and capital gain distributions paid by the Fund will be reinvested in additional Shares (defined below) of the Fund unless a shareholder elects not to reinvest in Shares or is otherwise ineligible. Shares purchased by reinvestment will be issued at their net asset value on the ex-dividend date.

4. Fair Value Hierarchy

Current fair value guidance defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. The Fund may, as a practical expedient, estimate the fair value of the investment in the Master Fund based on the reported net asset value per share or its equivalent if the reported net asset value of the investment in the Master Fund is calculated in a manner consistent with the measurement principles applied to investment companies. The hierarchy established under the fair value guidance gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3).

 

8


Blackstone Alternative Alpha Fund

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued) (Unaudited)

September 30, 2013

 

Investments measured and reported at fair value are classified and disclosed in one of the following levels within the fair value hierarchy based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement or based on liquidity, as indicated by the redemption terms:

Level 1 – Quoted prices are available in active markets for identical investments as of the measurement date. The Fund does not adjust the quoted price for these investments.

Level 2 – Quoted prices are available in markets that are not active or model inputs are based on inputs that are either directly or indirectly observable as of the measurement date.

The Fund’s investment in the Master Fund shall be categorized within Level 2 if the Fund has the ability to redeem its investment in the Master Fund at the reported net asset value per share (or its equivalent) at the measurement date or within 90 days thereof, upon no greater than 90 days prior written notice.

Level 3 – Pricing inputs are unobservable for the investment and include instances where there is little, if any, market activity for the investment.

The Fund has categorized within Level 3, its investment in the Master Fund that is subject to a minimum holding period or lockup greater than 90 days from the measurement date, are in liquidation, cannot be redeemed within 90 days of the measurement date, are subject to redemption notice periods in excess of 90 days, have limited the individual amount of shareholder redemptions and/or aggregate amount of shareholder redemptions, or have suspended redemptions.

The classification of investment in the Master Fund in the table below is indicative of the Fund’s classification of its investment in the Master Fund. It is not meant to be indicative of the classification of investments in Investee Funds of the Master Fund within the fair value hierarchy.

The following is a summary categorization, as of September 30, 2013, of the Fund’s investment based on the level of inputs utilized in determining the value of such investments:

 

Investments   Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  

Investment in the Master Fund

  $      $      $ 358,951,816      $ 358,951,816   
    $      $      $ 358,951,816      $ 358,951,816   

 

9


Blackstone Alternative Alpha Fund

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued) (Unaudited)

September 30, 2013

 

The changes in investments measured at fair value for which the Fund used Level 3 inputs to determine fair value are as follows:

 

   
 
Investment in
Master Fund
  
  
 

 

 

 

Beginning Balance March 31, 2013

  $ 196,348,376   

Transfers into Level 3

      

Transfers out of Level 3

      

Net realized gain

      

Net change in unrealized appreciation

    7,545,305   

Reinvestment of realized gains

      

Purchases

    155,058,135   

Sales

      
 

 

 

 

Ending Balance September 30, 2013

  $ 358,951,816   
 

 

 

 

Change in unrealized appreciation related to investments still held as of September 30, 2013

  $ 7,545,305   
 

 

 

 

The Fund recognizes transfers within the fair value hierarchy as of the beginning of the period. There were no transfers between Levels 1, 2, or 3 for the period ended September 30, 2013.

5. Fund Terms

Issuance of Shares

The Fund will issue shares of beneficial interest (“Shares”) to eligible investors as of the first business day of the month or at such other times as determined by the Board upon receipt of an initial or additional application for Shares.

The Fund reserves the right to reject, in whole or in part, any applications for subscriptions of Shares. The Shares are subject to restrictions on transferability and resale and may not be transferred or resold except as permitted under the Fund’s Declaration of Trust.

Repurchase of Shares

The Fund from time to time may offer to repurchase a portion of its outstanding Shares pursuant to written tenders by shareholders. Repurchases will be made only at such times and on such terms as may be determined by the Board, in its complete and exclusive discretion. Shareholders who tender Shares in a repurchase offer that has a Tender Valuation Date within the 12 month period following the original issue date of such Shares will be subject to an early withdrawal fee of 2% of the aggregate net asset value of the Shares repurchased by the Fund. In determining whether the Fund should repurchase Shares from shareholders pursuant to written tenders, the Fund’s Board will consider the Investment Manager’s recommendations. The Investment Manager expects to recommend quarterly repurchases. Since the Fund’s assets consist primarily of its investment in the Master Fund, the ability of the Fund to have its Shares in the Master Fund be repurchased would be subject to the Master Fund’s repurchase policy.

6. Related Party Transactions

Management Fee

The Investment Manager will not charge the Fund an advisory fee as long as substantially all of the assets of the Fund are invested in the Master Fund. The Master Fund pays the Investment Manager a management fee

 

10


Blackstone Alternative Alpha Fund

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued) (Unaudited)

September 30, 2013

 

(the “Management Fee”) quarterly in arrears (accrued on a monthly basis), equal to 1.25% (annualized) of the Master Fund’s net asset value. The Management Fee for any period less than a full quarter is prorated.

Expense Limitation and Reimbursement

The Investment Manager has entered into an Expense Limitation and Reimbursement Agreement (the “Agreement”) with the Fund to limit the amount of the Fund’s Specified Expenses (as defined below) not to exceed 0.35% per annum of the Fund’s net assets (the “Expense Cap”). Specified Expenses includes all expenses incurred in the business of the Fund or the Master Fund with the exception of: (i) the Management Fee, (ii) the Distribution and Service Fee (as defined below), (iii) fees and expenses of the limited partnerships and investment funds (“Investee Funds”) in which the Master Fund invests, (iv) brokerage costs, (v) interest payments (including any interest expenses, commitment fees, or other expenses related to any line of credit of the Fund or the Master Fund), (vi) taxes, and (vii) extraordinary expenses (as determined in the sole discretion of BAAM). To the extent that Specified Expenses for the Fund (including the Fund’s pro rata share of the Master Fund’s Specified Expenses) for any month exceeds the Expense Cap, the Investment Manager will waive its fees and/or reimburse the Fund for expenses to the extent necessary to eliminate such excess. The Investment Manager may discontinue its obligations under the Agreement at any time in its sole discretion after March 31, 2015. The Fund has agreed to repay the amounts borne by the Investment Manager under the Agreement within the three year period after the Investment Manager bears the expense, when and if requested by the Investment Manager, to the extent the Specified Expenses of the Fund (including the Fund’s pro rata share of the Master Fund’s Specified Expenses) are less than the lower of the Expense Cap and any expense limitation agreement then in effect with respect to the Specified Expenses. The repayment may not raise the level of Specified Expenses of the Fund (including the Fund’s pro rata share of the Master Fund’s Specified Expenses) in the month of repayment to exceed the Expense Cap. As of September 30, 2013, the repayments that potentially may be made by the Fund to the Investment Manager total $2,880,339, of which $2,338,204 expires March 31, 2016 and $542,135 expires March 31, 2017.

Distribution and Servicing Agreement

Blackstone Advisory Partners L.P., an affiliate of the Investment Manager, acts as the distributor of the Shares of the Fund (the “Distributor”). The Fund pays the Distributor a fee (the “Distribution and Service Fee”) equal to 0.85% (annualized) of the average net assets of the Fund.

Expense Payments

The Investment Manager pays expenses on behalf of the Fund and is subsequently reimbursed for such payments. Subject to the Expense Limitation and Reimbursement Agreement, the Fund was allocated $184,000 of the repayment amounts which reduced the amount payable by the Fund to the Investment Manager for reimbursement of such expenses. As of September 30, 2013, the Fund had $461,595 in reimbursements payable to the Investment Manager recorded in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

7. Financial Instruments and Off-Balance Sheet Risk

In the normal course of business, the Investee Funds held by the Master Fund may enter into certain financial instrument transactions which may result in off-balance sheet market risk and credit risk. The Investee Funds held by the Master Fund invest in these instruments for trading and hedging purposes. The Fund is indirectly subject to certain risks arising from investments made by the Investee Funds held by the Master Fund.

 

11


Blackstone Alternative Alpha Fund

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued) (Unaudited)

September 30, 2013

 

Market Risk

The Fund, through its investments in Investee Funds held by the Master Fund, has exposure to financial instrument transactions which may have off-balance sheet market risk. Off-balance sheet market risk is the risk of potential adverse changes to the value of financial instruments and derivatives because of changes in market conditions such as interest and currency rate movements. See notes to the Consolidated Master Fund’s financial statements.

Credit Risk

The Fund is subject to certain inherent credit risks arising from transactions involving derivative financial instruments by exposure through the Master Fund’s investments. Credit risk is the amount of accounting loss that the Fund would incur if a counterparty failed to perform its obligations under contractual terms. See notes to the Consolidated Master Fund’s financial statements.

8. Subsequent Events

On September 26, 2013, the Fund commenced an offer to purchase (“Offer”) up to 45,995 Shares at a price equal to the Shares’ net asset value effective as of December 31, 2013. As of October 25, 2013, the expiration date of the Offer, approximately 2,668 Shares were tendered for repurchase and such tendered Shares have been accepted by the Fund.

The Fund has evaluated the impact of subsequent events through the date of financial statement issuance and determined there were no subsequent events outside the normal course of business requiring adjustment to or disclosure in the financial statements.

 

12


Blackstone Alternative Alpha Fund

Supplemental Information (Unaudited)

September 30, 2013

 

Management of the Fund

The Fund’s operations are managed by the Investment Manager under the direction and oversight of the Board of Trustees. A majority of the Trustees are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund (the “Independent Trustees”). The Fund’s Trustees and officers are subject to removal or replacement in accordance with Massachusetts law and the Fund’s Declaration of Trust. The Trustees serving on the Board of Trustees were elected by the initial shareholder of the Fund. The Fund’s Board of Trustees also serves as the board of trustees of the Master Fund and the board of trustees of the Blackstone Alternative Alpha Fund II (“BAAF II”), an affiliate of the Fund that also invests substantially all of its assets in the Master Fund. The Fund, Master Fund and BAAF II will be referred to together herein as the “Master-Feeder Funds.”

Compensation for Trustees

The Master-Feeder Funds pay no compensation to any of their officers or to the Trustees who are not Independent Trustees. Each Independent Trustee is paid by the Master-Feeder Funds $20,000 per fiscal year in aggregate for his or her services to the Master-Feeder Funds, and the Chair of the Audit Committee receives an additional $2,000 per fiscal year. The Trustees are reimbursed by the Master-Feeder Funds for their travel expenses related to Board meetings.

Allocation of Investments

The Fund invests substantially all of its assets in the Master Fund. See the Consolidated Master Fund’s supplemental information for the allocation of investments among asset classes.

Form N-Q Filings

The Fund files a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. The Fund’s Form N-Q is available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov within 60 days after the Fund’s first and third fiscal quarters. The Fund’s Form N-Q may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC, and information regarding the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.

Proxy Voting Policies

The Fund and the Master Fund have delegated proxy voting responsibilities to the Investment Manager, subject to the Board’s general oversight. A description of the policies and procedures used to vote proxies related to the Fund’s and the Master Fund’s portfolio securities, and information regarding how the Fund and the Master Fund voted proxies relating to their portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30, 2013, is available (1) without charge, upon request, by calling toll free, 1-888-386-9490 and (2) on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

Additional Information

The Fund’s registration statement includes additional information about the Trustees of the Fund. The registration statement is available, without charge, upon request by calling 1-888-386-9490.

 

13


Blackstone Alternative Alpha Master Fund and Subsidiary

Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities (Unaudited)

As of September 30, 2013

 

Assets:

 

Investments in Investee Funds, at fair value (Cost $331,209,796)

  $ 358,366,968   

Cash

    5,377,015   

Investment subscriptions paid in advance to Investee Funds

    16,000,000   

Prepaid expenses

    115,151   

Receivable from investments sold

    5,348   

Interest receivable

    420   
 

 

 

 

Total assets

    379,864,902   
 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

Shareholder subscriptions received in advance

    19,200,000   

Management fees payable

    1,040,079   

Payable to Investment Manager

    249,752   

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

    220,684   
 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    20,710,515   
 

 

 

 

Net assets

  $ 359,154,387   
 

 

 

 

Components of Net Assets:

 

Paid-in capital

  $ 337,952,360   

Accumulated net investment loss

    (4,929,710

Accumulated net realized loss

    (1,025,435

Net unrealized appreciation on investments

    27,157,172   
 

 

 

 

Net assets

  $ 359,154,387   
 

 

 

 

Net Asset Value:

 

Net assets

  $ 359,154,387   

Shares of beneficial interests outstanding, no par value, unlimited shares authorized

    324,432   
 

 

 

 

Net asset value per share

  $ 1,107.02   
 

 

 

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

14


Blackstone Alternative Alpha Master Fund and Subsidiary

Consolidated Schedule of Investments (Unaudited)

September 30, 2013

 

    

Shares

   

Cost

   

Fair Value

 

Percentage
of Total
Net Assets

   

Redemptions
Permitted(1)

 

Redemption
Notification
Period(1)

Investments in Investee Funds:

  

       

Equity(a)

           

Samlyn Offshore Ltd.(2)

    28,942      $ 29,000,000      $29,372,497     8.18%      Semi-annually   45 Days

Turiya Fund, L.P.

      24,080,000      29,185,979     8.13%      Quarterly   45 Days

Bay Pond Partners, L.P.(3)

      26,700,000      29,084,868     8.10%      Semi-annually   45 Days

Southpoint Qualified Fund, L.P.

      26,300,000      28,356,366     7.90%      Quarterly   60 Days

Glenview Institutional Partners, L.P.

      20,400,000      27,080,909     7.54%      Quarterly   45 Days

Hoplite Partners, L.P.

      25,600,000      26,755,632     7.45%      Quarterly   45 Days

Pershing Square, L.P.

      20,100,000      20,255,537     5.64%      Quarterly   65 Days

Viking Global Equities III Ltd.(2)

    6,279        12,400,000      14,996,366     4.18%      Annually   45 Days

AKO Partners, L.P.(2)

      12,706,864      13,840,666     3.85%      Quarterly   90 Days

Visium Balanced Offshore Fund Ltd.(2)

    4,683        9,230,000      10,826,037     3.01%      Quarterly   60 Days

Merchants’ Gate Offshore Fund Ltd.(2)

    8,000        8,000,000      8,393,748     2.34%      Semi-annually   60 Days

Soroban Cayman Fund Ltd.(2)

    1,308        1,738,000      2,372,264     0.65%      Quarterly   60 Days
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     

Total

      216,254,864     

240,520,869

    66.97%       
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     

Event-Driven(b)

           

Corvex Partners, L.P.

      34,800,000      36,802,271     10.25%      Quarterly   60 Days
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     

Global Macro(c)

           

Tudor BVI Global Fund Ltd.(2)

    161        19,080,000      19,413,770     5.40%      Quarterly   60 Days

BlueCrest Capital International Ltd.(2)

    54,669        16,500,000      16,260,290     4.53%      Quarterly   90 Days
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     

Total

      35,580,000      35,674,060     9.93%       
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     

Credit-Driven(d)

           

Magnetar Constellation Fund Ltd.(2)

    20,800        20,800,000      22,265,789     6.20%      Quarterly   90 Days
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     

Multi-Category(e)

           

HBK Offshore Fund II, L.P.(2)

      12,237,012      12,693,154     3.53%      Quarterly   90 Days

Elliott International
Ltd.(2)

    354        287,920      340,195     0.10%      Quarterly – Semi-annually   60 Days
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     

Total

      12,524,932      13,033,349     3.63%       
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

15


Blackstone Alternative Alpha Master Fund and Subsidiary

Consolidated Schedule of Investments (Continued) (Unaudited)

September 30, 2013

 

    

Shares

   

Cost

   

Fair Value

 

Percentage
of Total
Net Assets

   

Redemptions
Permitted(1)

 

Redemption
Notification
Period(1)

Managed Futures(f)

           

BlueTrend Fund Ltd.(2)

    39,500      $ 11,250,000      $ 10,070,630     2.80%      Monthly   30 Days
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     

Total Investments in

Investee Funds(4)(5)

    $  331,209,796      $358,366,968     99.78%       
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     

Other assets, less liabilities

     

787,419

    0.22%       
     

 

 

 

 

     

Total Net Assets

      $359,154,387     100.00%       
     

 

 

 

 

     

Percentage represents each respective investment in Investee Fund at fair value as compared to total net assets.

The Consolidated Master Fund is not able to obtain information about certain specific investments held by the Investee Funds due to lack of available data.

Investee Funds are organized in the United States, unless otherwise noted.

Investee Funds are non-income producing securities.

 

(1) Reflects general redemption terms for each Investee Fund. See Note 4 for Fair Value Hierarchy disclosure.
(2) Investee Fund is organized in a non-U.S. offshore jurisdiction.
(3) Investee Fund is held by Blackstone Alternative Alpha Sub Fund I Ltd., which is wholly-owned by the Master Fund.
(4) The total cost of Investee Funds organized in the United States is $177,980,000, with a fair value of $197,521,562.
(5) The total cost of Investee Funds organized in non-U.S. offshore jurisdictions is $153,229,796, with a fair value of $160,845,406.
(a) The Equity strategy generally includes equity-focused Investee Funds with a bottom-up analysis that do not actively trade exposures, with trading strategies focusing on shorter-term dynamics and appreciation for market technicals, top-down thematic/macro views, and technically driven statistical arbitrage with fundamental quantitative long/short strategies.
(b) The Event-Driven strategy generally includes Investee Funds that are generally event-driven-focused and seek returns by investing in strategies including catalyst events, share class arbitrage, share buybacks, post re-organization equity, recapitalizations, spin-offs and stub trades.
(c) The Global Macro strategy generally includes global macro-focused Investee Funds with discretionary, directional, and inter-country exposure to commodities, equity, interest rates and currencies.
(d) The Credit-Driven strategy generally includes credit-driven focused Investee Funds with a focus on fundamental hedged products or otherwise low net exposure, positional concentration and opportunistic directional exposures, mortgages, and non-mortgage asset-backed securities.
(e) The Multi-Category strategy generally includes Investee Funds that invest across multiple strategies.
(f) The Managed Futures strategy generally includes managed futures-focused Investee Funds that invest in systematic futures and foreign exchange forward trading strategies.

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

16


Blackstone Alternative Alpha Master Fund and Subsidiary

Consolidated Statement of Operations (Unaudited)

For the Six Months Ended September 30, 2013

 

Net Investment Loss:

 

Income:

 

Interest

  $ 2,633   
 

 

 

 

Total investment income

    2,633   
 

 

 

 

Expenses:

 

Management fees

    1,822,987   

Legal

    155,006   

Professional

    106,616   

Risk monitoring

    68,047   

Insurance

    66,813   

Administration

    65,318   

Printing

    47,500   

Trustee

    31,387   

Custody

    28,186   

Other

    9,714   
 

 

 

 

Total expenses

    2,401,574   
 

 

 

 

Net investment loss

    (2,398,941 ) 
 

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets from Investments:

 

Net realized loss from investments in Investee Funds

    (530,271

Net change in unrealized appreciation from investments in Investee Funds

    10,477,499   
 

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets from Investments

    9,947,228   
 

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets from Operations

  $ 7,548,287   
 

 

 

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

17


 

Blackstone Alternative Alpha Master Fund and Subsidiary

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Net Assets (Unaudited)

 

 

    For the Six
Months Ended
September 30, 2013
    For the Year
Ended
March 31, 2013
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

   

Operations:

   

Net investment loss

  $ (2,398,941   $ (2,587,573

Net realized loss from investments in Investee Funds

    (530,271     (212,497

Net change in unrealized appreciation from investments in Investee Funds

    10,477,499        16,679,673   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets from operations

    7,548,287        13,879,603   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Distributions of realized gains to shareholders

           (282,667 ) 
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Capital Transactions:

   

Shareholder subscriptions

    155,257,724        182,368,773   

Reinvestment of dividends

           282,667   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from capital transactions

    155,257,724        182,651,440   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Assets:

   

Total increase in net assets

    162,806,011        196,248,376   

Beginning of period

    196,348,376        100,000   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

  $ 359,154,387      $ 196,348,376   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Accumulated net investment loss

  $ (4,929,710   $ (2,530,769
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Share Transactions:

   

Beginning of period

    182,177        100   

Shares issued

    142,255        181,800   

Shares reinvested

           277   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

    324,432        182,177   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

18


Blackstone Alternative Alpha Master Fund and Subsidiary

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

For the Six Months Ended September 30, 2013

 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

  $ 7,548,287   

Adjustments to reconcile net increase in net assets resulting from operations to net cash used in operating activities:

 

Net realized loss from investments in Investee Funds

    530,271   

Net change in unrealized appreciation from investments in Investee Funds

    (10,477,499

Purchases of investments in Investee Funds and subscriptions paid in advance to Investee Funds

    (156,930,000

Proceeds from redemptions of investments in Investee Funds

    9,246,816   

Increase in interest receivable

    (169

Increase in prepaid expenses

    (13,080

Increase in management fees payable

    481,454   

Decrease in trustee fees payable

    (10,250

Increase in payable to Investment Manager

    185,883   

Increase in accrued expenses and other liabilities

    57,901   
 

 

 

 

Net cash used in operating activities

    (149,380,386
 

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:

 

Proceeds from shareholder subscriptions and subscriptions received in advance

    153,257,724   
 

 

 

 

Cash provided by financing activities

    153,257,724   
 

 

 

 

Net change in cash

    3,877,338   

Cash, beginning of period

    1,499,677   
 

 

 

 

Cash, end of period

  $ 5,377,015   
 

 

 

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

19


Blackstone Alternative Alpha Master Fund and Subsidiary

Consolidated Financial Highlights (Unaudited)

 

    For the
Six Months Ended
September 30, 2013
    For the
Year Ended
March 31, 2013
 

Per Share Operating Performance:

   

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

  $ 1,077.79      $ 1,000.00   

Income from Investment Operations:

   

Net investment loss1

    (9.03     (23.23

Net realized and unrealized gain from investments

    38.26        102.99   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income from investment operations

    29.23        79.76   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Distributions of realized gains to shareholders

           (1.97
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

  $ 1,107.02      $ 1,077.79   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Financial Ratios:2

   

Expenses to average net assets

    1.64     2.28
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment loss to average net assets

    (1.64 )%      (2.27 )% 
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Portfolio turnover

    2.80     9.01
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total return3

    2.71     7.99
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net assets, end of period (000s)

  $ 359,154      $ 196,348   
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

1 

Calculated using average shares outstanding during the period.

2 

Financial ratios have been annualized.

3 

Total return has not been annualized.

The financial ratios represent the expenses and net investment loss to average monthly net assets for the period. The ratios do not reflect the Consolidated Master Fund’s share of the income and expenses of the underlying Investee Funds.

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

20


Blackstone Alternative Alpha Master Fund and Subsidiary

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

September 30, 2013

 

1. Organization

Blackstone Alternative Alpha Master Fund (the “Master Fund”), a Massachusetts business trust registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as a continuously offered, non-diversified, closed-end management investment company, commenced operations on April 1, 2012. Blackstone Alternative Alpha Fund and Blackstone Alternative Alpha Fund II (the “Feeder Funds”) invest substantially all of their assets in the Master Fund. The Master Fund’s investment objective is to seek to earn long-term risk-adjusted returns that are attractive as compared to those of traditional public-equity and fixed income markets.

The Master Fund owns 100% of the shareholder interest of Blackstone Alternative Alpha Sub Fund I Ltd. (the “Intermediate Fund”), an exempted company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands on March 14, 2012 for the purpose of facilitating the implementation of the Master Fund’s investment objectives. The Consolidated Financial Statements include the financial statements of the Master Fund and the Intermediate Fund (collectively, the “Consolidated Master Fund”).

The investment manager of the Consolidated Master Fund and the Feeder Funds is Blackstone Alternative Asset Management L.P. (“BAAM” or the “Investment Manager”), a registered investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. Each of the Master Fund and the Feeder Funds is a commodity pool subject to regulation by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”). BAAM, the commodity pool operator of the Master Fund and the Feeder Funds, is registered as such with the CFTC, but has claimed relief under Rule 4.12(c)(3) of the Commodity Exchange Act from certain disclosure, reporting and recordkeeping requirements otherwise applicable to commodity pools. The Board of Trustees (the “Board” and each member a “Trustee”) of the Master Fund supervises the conduct of the Consolidated Master Fund’s and the Feeder Fund’s affairs and, pursuant to their investment management agreements, has engaged BAAM to manage the Consolidated Master Fund’s and Feeder Funds’ day-to-day investment activities.

Capitalized terms used, but not defined herein, shall have the meaning assigned to them in the Prospectus of the Master Fund.

2. Basis of Presentation

The Consolidated Master Fund’s financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and are stated in U.S. dollars. All inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates and these differences could be material.

3. Significant Accounting Policies

Fair Value Measurements

Valuation Process

The valuation of the Consolidated Master Fund’s investments is reviewed monthly by the valuation committee (“Valuation Committee”). The Valuation Committee is delegated by the Board with the administration and oversight of the Consolidated Master Fund’s valuation policies and procedures. The

 

21


Blackstone Alternative Alpha Master Fund and Subsidiary

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued) (Unaudited)

September 30, 2013

 

Valuation Committee determines the fair value of investments in accordance with the current fair value guidance and as described below. In the event the Valuation Committee determines, in its discretion and based on its own due diligence and investment monitoring procedures, that the valuation of any investment determined, as set forth below, does not represent fair value, the Valuation Committee will value such investments at fair value in accordance with procedures adopted in good faith and approved by the Board, as may be amended from time to time.

Investments in Investee Funds

The fair value of investments in limited partnerships and investment funds (“Investee Fund(s)”) is generally determined using the reported net asset value per share of the Investee Fund, or its equivalent, as a practical expedient for fair value.

The Consolidated Master Fund may, as a practical expedient, estimate the fair value of an Investee Fund based on the reported net asset value per share or its equivalent (“NAV”) if the reported NAV of the Investee Fund is calculated in a manner consistent with the measurement principles applied to investment companies, in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 946, Financial Services-Investment Companies (“ASC 946”). In order to use the practical expedient, the Investment Manager has internal processes to independently evaluate the fair value measurement process utilized by the underlying Investee Fund to calculate the Investee Fund’s NAV in accordance with ASC 946. Such internal processes include the evaluation of the Investee Fund’s process and related internal controls in place to estimate the fair value of its underlying investments that are included in the NAV calculation, performing ongoing operational due diligence, review of the Investee Fund’s audited financial statements, and ongoing monitoring of other relevant qualitative and quantitative factors.

The fair value of investments in Investee Funds is reported net of management fees and incentive allocations/fees. The Investee Funds’ management fees and incentive allocations/fees are reflected in the net increase in net assets from investments in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Due to the inherent uncertainty of these estimates, these values may differ from the values that would have been used had a ready market for these investments existed and the differences could be material.

The investments in Investee Funds may involve varying degrees of interest rate risk, credit risk, foreign exchange risk, and market, industry or geographic concentration risk. While the Investment Manager monitors and attempts to manage these risks, the varying degrees of transparency into, and potential illiquidity of, the financial instruments held by the Investee Funds may hinder the Investment Manager’s ability to effectively manage and mitigate these risks.

The fair value of the Consolidated Master Fund’s assets and liabilities, which qualify as Financial Instruments under the existing accounting guidance for Financial Instruments, approximates the carrying amounts presented in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities due to their short term nature.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income and Expense

Investment transactions are accounted for on a trade date basis. Income and expenses, including interest, are recorded on an accrual basis.

The net realized gains or losses from investments in Investee Funds are recorded when the Consolidated Master Fund redeems or partially redeems its interest in the Investee Funds or receives distributions in excess of return of capital. Realized gains and losses from redemptions of investments are calculated using the first-in, first-out cost basis methodology.

 

22


Blackstone Alternative Alpha Master Fund and Subsidiary

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued) (Unaudited)

September 30, 2013

 

Cash

At September 30, 2013, the Consolidated Master Fund had $5,377,015 of cash held at a major U.S. bank.

Contingencies

Under the Master Fund’s Declaration of Trust, the Master Fund’s officers and each Trustee are indemnified against certain liabilities that may arise out of the performance of their duties to the Master Fund.

Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Consolidated Master Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations and indemnifications. The Consolidated Master Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Consolidated Master Fund has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these contracts and expects the risk of loss to be remote.

Income Taxes

The Consolidated Master Fund’s policy is to qualify each year as a “regulated investment company” under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code and to distribute substantially all of its investment company taxable income and net long-term capital gains to its shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is expected to be required. The Consolidated Master Fund files U.S. federal and various state and local tax returns.

Management of the Master Fund has evaluated the tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the course of preparing the Master Fund’s tax return for the current open tax year ending October 31, 2013, and has concluded, as of September 30, 2013, no provision for income tax would be required in the Consolidated Master Fund’s financial statements. The Master Fund’s federal and state income and federal excise tax returns are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state taxing authorities.

The Intermediate Fund is a controlled foreign corporation (“CFC”) for U.S. income tax purposes, and is not expected to be subject to U.S. income tax. However, as a wholly-owned CFC, the Intermediate Fund’s net income and capital gains, to the extent of its earnings and profits, are consolidated into the Master Fund’s investment company taxable income.

For the current open tax year and for all major jurisdictions, management of the Intermediate Fund has concluded that there are no significant uncertain tax positions that would require recognition in the financial statements. Management is not aware of any tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of uncertain unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change in the next twelve months.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders

Dividends from net investment income and distributions of capital gains, if any, are declared and paid annually. Dividends and capital gain distributions paid by the Master Fund will be reinvested in additional Shares (defined below) of the Master Fund unless a shareholder elects not to reinvest in Shares or is otherwise ineligible. Shares purchased by reinvestment will be issued at their net asset value on the ex-dividend date.

4. Fair Value Hierarchy

Current fair value guidance defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. The Consolidated Master Fund may, as a practical expedient, estimate the fair value of an Investee Fund based on the reported net asset value per share or its equivalent if the reported net asset value of the Investee Fund is calculated in a manner consistent with the measurement

 

23


Blackstone Alternative Alpha Master Fund and Subsidiary

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued) (Unaudited)

September 30, 2013

 

principles applied to investment companies. The hierarchy established under the fair value guidance gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3).

Investments measured and reported at fair value are classified and disclosed in one of the following levels within the fair value hierarchy based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement or based on liquidity, as indicated by the redemption terms:

Level 1 – Quoted prices are available in active markets for identical investments as of the measurement date. The Consolidated Master Fund does not adjust the quoted price for these investments.

Level 2 – Quoted prices are available in markets that are not active or model inputs are based on inputs that are either directly or indirectly observable as of the measurement date.

The Consolidated Master Fund’s investment in an Investee Fund shall be categorized within Level 2 if the Consolidated Master Fund has the ability to redeem its investment in the Investee Fund at the reported net asset value per share (or its equivalent) at the measurement date or within 90 days thereof, upon no greater than 90 days prior written notice.

Level 3 – Pricing inputs are unobservable for the investment and include instances where there is little, if any, market activity for the investment.

The Consolidated Master Fund has categorized within Level 3, investments in Investee Funds that are subject to a minimum holding period or lockup greater than 90 days from the measurement date, are in liquidation, cannot be redeemed within 90 days of the measurement date, are subject to redemption notice periods in excess of 90 days, have limited the individual amount of shareholder redemptions and/or aggregate amount of shareholder redemptions, or have suspended redemptions.

Investee Funds, as set forth in their governing legal agreements, may offer various liquidity terms for differing classes of investors. The Consolidated Master Fund’s investment in a particular Investee Fund may be comprised of investments with differing liquidity terms or investments that were made at different points in time resulting in differences in the effective minimum holding period or lockup or participation in side pocket investments. As such, the classification of investments in Investee Funds may not be indicative of the actual liquidity available to the Consolidated Master Fund associated with each investment at September 30, 2013.

The classification of investments in Investee Funds included in the table below is meant to be indicative of the Consolidated Master Fund’s classification of its investments in Investee Funds. It is not meant to be indicative of the classification of investments in the underlying portfolios of the Investee Funds within the fair value hierarchy.

The following is a summary categorization, as of September 30, 2013, of the Consolidated Master Fund’s investments based on the level of inputs utilized in determining the value of such investments:

 

Investments in Investee Funds by Strategy   Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  

Equity

  $      $ 76,056,110      $ 164,464,759      $ 240,520,869   

Event-Driven

                  36,802,271        36,802,271   

Global Macro

           24,838,624        10,835,436        35,674,060   

Credit-Driven

                  22,265,789        22,265,789   

Multi-Category

                  13,033,349        13,033,349   

Managed Futures

           10,070,630               10,070,630   
    $      $ 110,965,364      $ 247,401,604      $ 358,366,968   

 

24


Blackstone Alternative Alpha Master Fund and Subsidiary

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued) (Unaudited)

September 30, 2013

 

 

The changes in investments measured at fair value for which the Consolidated Master Fund used Level 3 inputs to determine fair value are as follows:

 

    Investments in Investee Funds by Strategy  
    Equity     Event-
Driven
    Global
Macro
    Credit-
Driven
    Multi-
Category
    Total  

Beginning Balance March 31, 2013

  $ 121,171,459      $ 12,979,656      $ 6,558,335      $ 14,256,794      $ 4,792,331      $ 159,758,575   

Transfers into Level 3

    2,700,501                                    2,700,501   

Transfers out of Level 3

    (44,343,891            (5,538,694                   (49,882,585

Net realized gain (loss)

    (530,271                                 (530,271

Net change in unrealized appreciation

    6,736,690        1,822,615        (184,205     508,995        241,018        9,125,113   

Purchases

    86,400,000        22,000,000        10,000,000        7,500,000        8,000,000        133,900,000   

Sales

    (7,669,729                                 (7,669,729
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ending Balance September 30, 2013

  $ 164,464,759      $ 36,802,271      $ 10,835,436      $ 22,265,789      $ 13,033,349      $ 247,401,604   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) related to investments still held as of September 30, 2013

  $ 6,618,238      $ 1,822,615      $ (184,205   $ 508,995      $ 241,018      $ 9,006,661   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The Consolidated Master Fund recognizes transfers within the fair value hierarchy as of the beginning of the period. Transfers into and out of Level 3 are primarily due to updated liquidity terms, transfers between different strategies, or upon expiration of liquidity restrictions.

 

25


Blackstone Alternative Alpha Master Fund and Subsidiary

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued) (Unaudited)

September 30, 2013

 

The following table summarizes investments in Investee Funds, by investment strategy and the amount of the investments in Investee Funds that cannot be redeemed because of redemption restrictions put in place by the Investee Funds. In instances where redemptions were restricted, the maximum remaining redemption restriction period is disclosed. Where the remaining redemption restriction period is not known, the date the redemption restriction commenced is disclosed.

 

         
Investments in
Investee Funds
by Strategy
 

Unfunded
Commitment

$

  Category (A)   Category (B)     
   

Amount

$

  Maximum
Remaining
Redemption
Restriction
Period
 

Amount

$

  Redemption
Restriction
Commencement
Date
 

Total

$

(A) + (B)

             
Equity     164,464,759   24 months     N/A   164,464,759
             
Event-Driven     36,802,271   12 months     N/A   36,802,271
             
Global Macro     10,835,436   12 months     N/A   10,835,436
             
Credit-Driven     22,265,789   24 months     N/A   22,265,789
             
Multi-Category   558,576   13,033,349   24 months     N/A   13,033,349

Category (A) Investments in Investee Funds cannot be redeemed and the maximum remaining redemption restriction period is disclosed. The maximum remaining redemption restriction period is based on the restriction period for Investee Funds as defined in each respective Investee Fund’s governing legal agreements without consideration of the length of time elapsed from the date of the investment in the Investee Fund. The Consolidated Master Fund’s investment in a particular Investee Fund classified within the strategies above may be comprised of investments with differing liquidity terms or investments that were made at differing points in time.

Category (B) Investments in Investee Funds cannot be redeemed and the remaining redemption restriction period is not known. The date the redemption restriction commenced is disclosed.

Purchases and sales of investments for the period ended September 30, 2013 were $165,930,000 and $7,669,729, respectively.

5. Fund Terms

Issuance of Shares

The Master Fund is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest (“Shares”). The Master Fund will issue Shares as of the first business day of the month or at such other times as determined by the Board upon receipt of an initial or additional application for Shares. The Shares are subject to restrictions on transferability and resale and may not be transferred or resold except as permitted under the Master Fund’s Declaration of Trust.

Repurchase of Shares

Repurchases will be made only at such times and on such terms as may be determined by the Board, in its sole discretion.

 

26


Blackstone Alternative Alpha Master Fund and Subsidiary

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued) (Unaudited)

September 30, 2013

 

6. Related Party Transactions

Management Fee

The Master Fund pays the Investment Manager a management fee (the “Management Fee”) quarterly in arrears (accrued on a monthly basis), equal to 1.25% (annualized) of the Master Fund’s net asset value. The Management Fee for any period less than a full quarter is pro-rated.

Expense Payments

The Investment Manager pays expenses on behalf of the Consolidated Master Fund and is subsequently reimbursed for such payments. For the period ended September 30, 2013, Blackstone Alternative Alpha Fund allocated to the Consolidated Master Fund, through investments in the Master Fund, $358,135 of the repayment amounts under the Feeder Fund’s Expense Limitation and Reimbursement Agreements. This allocation reduced the amount payable by the Consolidated Master Fund to the Investment Manager. As of September 30, 2013, the Consolidated Master Fund had $249,752 payable to the Investment Manager recorded in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

7. Financial Instruments and Off-Balance Sheet Risk

In the normal course of business, the Investee Funds may enter into certain financial instrument transactions which may result in off-balance sheet market risk and credit risk. The Investee Funds invest in these instruments for trading and hedging purposes. The Consolidated Master Fund is indirectly subject to certain risks arising from investments made by the Investee Funds.

Market Risk

Market risk is the risk of potential adverse changes to the value of financial instruments because of changes in market conditions such as interest and currency rate movements. The Consolidated Master Fund is exposed to market risk indirectly as a result of the types of investments that the Investee Funds make. The Consolidated Master Fund actively monitors its exposure to market risk.

Investee Funds may invest in entities that trade or may invest directly in interest rate swaps, credit default swaps, exchange-traded and over-the-counter options, futures transactions, forward transactions, and securities sold, not yet purchased.

Credit Risk

Credit risk arises from the potential inability of counterparties to perform their obligations under the terms of a contract. The Consolidated Master Fund is indirectly exposed to credit risk related to the amount of accounting loss that the Investee Funds would incur if a counterparty failed to perform its obligations under contractual terms and if the Investee Funds fail to perform under their respective agreements.

 

27


Blackstone Alternative Alpha Master Fund and Subsidiary

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued) (Unaudited)

September 30, 2013

 

8. Income Taxes

The primary difference between book and tax appreciation/depreciation of Investee Funds is attributable to adjustments to the tax basis of Investee Funds based on allocation of income and distributions from Investee Funds and the realization for tax purposes of financial statement unrealized gain/loss. In addition, the cost of Investee Funds for federal income tax purposes is adjusted for items of taxable income allocated to the Master Fund from the Investee Funds. As of September 30, 2013, the aggregate cost of Investee Funds and the composition of unrealized appreciation and depreciation on Investee Funds for federal income tax purposes are noted below.

 

Federal tax cost of investments in Investee Funds

  $ 332,221,059   
 

 

 

 

Gross unrealized appreciation

  $ 27,564,989   

Gross unrealized depreciation

    (1,419,080
 

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation

  $ 26,145,909   
 

 

 

 

9. Subsequent Events

On September 26, 2013, the Master Fund commenced an offer to purchase (“Offer”) up to 45,430 Shares at a price equal to the Shares’ net asset value effective as of December 31, 2013. The Offer expires on December 20, 2013.

The Consolidated Master Fund has evaluated the impact of subsequent events through the date of financial statement issuance and determined there were no subsequent events outside of the normal course of business requiring adjustment to or disclosure in the financial statements.

 

28


Blackstone Alternative Alpha Master Fund and Subsidiary

Supplemental Information (Unaudited)

September 30, 2013

 

Management of the Fund

The Consolidated Master Fund’s operations are managed by the Investment Manager under the direction and oversight of the Board of Trustees. A majority of the Trustees are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Consolidated Master Fund (the “Independent Trustees”). The Consolidated Master Fund’s Trustees and officers are subject to removal or replacement in accordance with Massachusetts law and the Master Fund’s Declaration of Trust. The Trustees serving on the Board of Trustees were elected by the initial shareholder of the Master Fund. The Consolidated Master Fund’s Board of Trustees also serves as the board of trustees of the Feeder Funds. The Master Fund and the Feeder Funds will be referred to together herein as the “Master-Feeder Funds.”

Compensation for Trustees

The Master-Feeder Funds pay no compensation to any of their officers or to the Trustees who are not Independent Trustees. Each Independent Trustee is paid by the Master-Feeder Funds $20,000 per fiscal year in aggregate for his or her services to the Master-Feeder Funds, and the Chair of the Audit Committee receives an additional $2,000 per fiscal year. The Trustees are reimbursed by the Master-Feeder Funds for their travel expenses related to Board meetings.

Allocation of Investments

The following chart indicates the allocation of investments among the asset classes in the Consolidated Master Fund as of September 30, 2013.

 

Asset Class(1)

 

Fair Value

   

%

 

Equity

  $ 240,520,869        67.12

Event-Driven

    36,802,271        10.27

Global Macro

    35,674,060        9.95

Credit-Driven

    22,265,789        6.21

Managed Futures

    13,033,349        3.64

Multi-Category

    10,070,630        2.81
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Investments

  $ 358,366,968        100.00 % 
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) 

The complete list of investments included in the listed asset class categories is included in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments of the Consolidated Master Fund.

Form N-Q Filings

The Consolidated Master Fund files a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. The Consolidated Master Fund’s Form N-Q is available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov within 60 days after the Consolidated Master Fund’s first and third fiscal quarters. The Consolidated Master Fund’s Form N-Q may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC, and information regarding the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330. Holdings and allocations shown on any Form N-Q are as of the date indicated in the filing and may not be representative of future investments. Holdings and allocations should not be considered research or investment advice and should not be relied upon in making investment decisions.

Proxy Voting Policies

The Master Fund and the Feeder Funds have delegated proxy voting responsibilities to the Investment Manager, subject to the Board’s general oversight. A description of the policies and procedures used to vote proxies related to the Master Fund’s and the Feeder Funds’ portfolio securities, and information regarding

 

29


Blackstone Alternative Alpha Master Fund and Subsidiary

Supplemental Information (Continued) (Unaudited)

September 30, 2013

 

how the Master Fund and the Feeder Funds voted proxies relating to their portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30, 2013, is available (1) without charge, upon request, by calling toll free, 1-888-386-9490 and (2) on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

Additional Information

The Master Fund’s registration statement includes additional information about the Trustees of the Fund. The registration statement is available, without charge, upon request by calling 1-888-386-9490.

 

30


Blackstone Alternative Alpha Fund

Blackstone Alternative Alpha Master Fund

 

Trustees

John M. Brown, Chairman

Frank J. Coates

Paul J. Lawler

Kristen M. Leopold

Peter Koffler

Investment Manager

Blackstone Alternative Asset Management L.P.

345 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10154

Administrator, Custodian, Fund

Accounting Agent and Transfer Agent

Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc.

3435 Stelzer Road

Columbus, Ohio 43219

Officers

Brian F. Gavin, President and Principal Executive Officer

Arthur Liao, Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer

Peter Koffler, Chief Compliance Officer

Scott Sherman, Chief Legal Officer

Stephen Buehler, Secretary

Independent Registered Public

Accounting Firm

Deloitte & Touche LLP

Two World Financial Center

New York, New York 10281

Legal Counsel

Ropes & Gray LLP

Prudential Tower

800 Boylston Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02199-3600

 

 

This report, including the financial information herein, is transmitted to the shareholders of Blackstone Alternative Alpha Fund for their information. It is not a prospectus or representation intended for use in the purchase of shares of the Fund or any securities mentioned in this report.

You can find the Fund’s prospectus and other information about the Fund, including the Fund’s statement of additional information, on the Fund’s website at www.blackstone.com/blackstone-alternative-alpha-funds. You can also get this information at no cost by calling the Fund at 1-888-386-9490.


Item 2. Code of Ethics.

Not applicable to this semi-annual report.

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.

Not applicable to this semi-annual report.

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

Not applicable to this semi-annual report.

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

Not applicable.

Item 6. Investments.

 

(a)

The registrant’s Schedule of Investments as of the close of the reporting period is included in the Report to Shareholders filed under item 1 of this Form.

(b)

Not applicable.

Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

Not applicable to this semi-annual report.

Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

 

(a)

Not applicable to this semi-annual report.

(b)

As of the date of this filing, there have been no changes in any of the portfolio managers identified in the most recent annual report on Form N-CSR.

Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.

Not applicable.


Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

There have been no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant’s Board of Trustees.

Item 11. Controls and Procedures.

 

(a)

The registrant’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, have concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) are effective as of the date within 90 days of the filing date of this report based on the evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act and Rules 13a-15(b) or 15d-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

(b)

There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Item 12. Exhibits.

 

(a)(1)

 

Not applicable to this semi-annual report.

(a)(2)

 

Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) are attached hereto.

(a)(3)

 

Not applicable.

(a)(4)

 

Not applicable to this semi-annual report.

(b)

 

Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(b) are attached hereto.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

(Registrant)  Blackstone Alternative Alpha Fund                                                                                       

 

By (Signature and Title)  

    /s/ Brian F. Gavin

 
      Brian F. Gavin, President (Principal Executive Officer)

 

Date:  

December 5, 2013

  

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

By (Signature and Title)  

    /s/ Brian F. Gavin

 
      Brian F. Gavin, President (Principal Executive Officer)
Date:  

December 5, 2013

  

 

By (Signature and Title)  

    /s/ Arthur Liao

 
      Arthur Liao, Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

Date:  

December 5, 2013