PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
iShares
®
Diversified Alternatives Trust
Statements of Financial Condition
At September 30, 2012 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2011
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|
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|
|
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September 30,
2012
|
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December 31,
2011
|
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Assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current Assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
2,188,342
|
|
|
$
|
3,686,978
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents held at brokers (restricted)
|
|
|
1,909,668
|
|
|
|
1,401,234
|
|
Foreign currencies held at brokers (restricted)
(a)
|
|
|
3,908,886
|
|
|
|
7,504,546
|
|
Short-term investments
|
|
|
56,871,479
|
|
|
|
74,597,056
|
|
Interest receivable
|
|
|
751
|
|
|
|
2,333
|
|
Unrealized appreciation on forward currency contracts (Note 9)
|
|
|
1,897,069
|
|
|
|
3,723,647
|
|
Net unrealized depreciation on futures contracts (Note 9)
|
|
|
(494,648
|
)
|
|
|
(152,172
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Assets
|
|
$
|
66,281,547
|
|
|
$
|
90,763,622
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
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Liabilities and Shareholders Capital
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current Liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sponsors fees payable
|
|
$
|
48,497
|
|
|
$
|
74,427
|
|
Due to brokers
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
100,000
|
|
Unrealized depreciation on forward currency contracts (Note 9)
|
|
|
1,544,683
|
|
|
|
2,695,336
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Liabilities
|
|
|
1,593,180
|
|
|
|
2,869,763
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
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Commitments and Contingent Liabilities (Note 7)
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Shareholders Capital
|
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|
|
|
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Redeemable capital Shares, no par value, unlimited amount authorized (at redemption value) 1,300,000 issued and
outstanding at September 30, 2012 and 1,800,000 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2011
|
|
|
64,671,167
|
|
|
|
87,879,459
|
|
Additional paid-in capital
|
|
|
17,200
|
|
|
|
14,400
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Shareholders Capital
|
|
|
64,688,367
|
|
|
|
87,893,859
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Liabilities and Shareholders Capital
|
|
$
|
66,281,547
|
|
|
$
|
90,763,622
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
Cost of foreign currencies at September 30, 2012 and December 31,
2011: $3,842,885 and $7,615,973, respectively.
|
See notes to financial statements.
1
iShares
®
Diversified Alternatives Trust
Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011
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Three Months Ended
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Nine Months Ended
|
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September 30,
|
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|
September 30,
|
|
|
|
2012
|
|
|
2011
|
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|
2012
|
|
|
2011
|
|
Investment Income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
|
|
$
|
20,801
|
|
|
$
|
21,296
|
|
|
$
|
52,703
|
|
|
$
|
107,511
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total investment income
|
|
|
20,801
|
|
|
|
21,296
|
|
|
|
52,703
|
|
|
|
107,511
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
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|
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Expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sponsors fees
|
|
|
146,026
|
|
|
|
308,239
|
|
|
|
477,466
|
|
|
|
878,411
|
|
Brokerage commissions and fees
|
|
|
13,918
|
|
|
|
25,338
|
|
|
|
48,536
|
|
|
|
60,795
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total expenses
|
|
|
159,944
|
|
|
|
333,577
|
|
|
|
526,002
|
|
|
|
939,206
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment loss
|
|
|
(139,143
|
)
|
|
|
(312,281
|
)
|
|
|
(473,299
|
)
|
|
|
(831,695
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net realized gain (loss) on:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Short-term investments
|
|
|
159
|
|
|
|
8,766
|
|
|
|
(121
|
)
|
|
|
11,528
|
|
Forward currency contracts
|
|
|
1,112,056
|
|
|
|
(1,282,950
|
)
|
|
|
1,741,826
|
|
|
|
18,063
|
|
Futures contracts
|
|
|
676,514
|
|
|
|
(4,083,480
|
)
|
|
|
692,892
|
|
|
|
(4,516,838
|
)
|
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Foreign currency translations
|
|
|
15,481
|
|
|
|
(147,110
|
)
|
|
|
177,428
|
|
|
|
(157,065
|
)
|
Forward currency contracts
|
|
|
(475,208
|
)
|
|
|
(2,143,611
|
)
|
|
|
(675,925
|
)
|
|
|
(2,914,469
|
)
|
Futures contracts
|
|
|
196,788
|
|
|
|
806,983
|
|
|
|
(342,476
|
)
|
|
|
4,195,891
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
|
|
|
1,525,790
|
|
|
|
(6,841,402
|
)
|
|
|
1,593,624
|
|
|
|
(3,362,890
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net gain (loss)
|
|
$
|
1,386,647
|
|
|
$
|
(7,153,683
|
)
|
|
$
|
1,120,325
|
|
|
$
|
(4,194,585
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net gain (loss) per Share
|
|
$
|
1.14
|
|
|
$
|
(2.77
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.83
|
|
|
$
|
(1.72
|
)
|
Weighted-average Shares outstanding
|
|
|
1,218,478
|
|
|
|
2,578,348
|
|
|
|
1,356,934
|
|
|
|
2,435,897
|
|
See notes to financial statements.
2
iShares
®
Diversified Alternatives Trust
Statements of Changes in Shareholders Capital
For the nine months ended September 30, 2012 (Unaudited)
and the year ended December 31, 2011
|
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|
|
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|
|
Nine Months
Ended
September 30, 2012
|
|
|
Year Ended
December 31, 2011
|
|
Shareholders Capital, Beginning of Period
|
|
$
|
87,893,859
|
|
|
$
|
110,938,681
|
|
Contributions
|
|
|
4,963,285
|
|
|
|
40,581,012
|
|
Redemptions
|
|
|
(29,289,102
|
)
|
|
|
(59,383,876
|
)
|
Net investment loss
|
|
|
(473,299
|
)
|
|
|
(1,108,231
|
)
|
Net realized gain (loss) on:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Short-term investments
|
|
|
(121
|
)
|
|
|
13,430
|
|
Forward currency contracts
|
|
|
1,741,826
|
|
|
|
(3,234,749
|
)
|
Futures contracts
|
|
|
692,892
|
|
|
|
(2,748,162
|
)
|
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Foreign currency translations
|
|
|
177,428
|
|
|
|
(207,584
|
)
|
Forward currency contracts
|
|
|
(675,925
|
)
|
|
|
1,152,214
|
|
Futures contracts
|
|
|
(342,476
|
)
|
|
|
1,891,124
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shareholders Capital, End of Period
|
|
$
|
64,688,367
|
|
|
$
|
87,893,859
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Asset Value per Share, End of Period
|
|
$
|
49.76
|
|
|
$
|
48.83
|
|
See notes to financial statements.
3
iShares
®
Diversified Alternatives Trust
Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
For the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nine Months Ended
September
30,
|
|
|
|
2012
|
|
|
2011
|
|
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net gain (loss)
|
|
$
|
1,120,325
|
|
|
$
|
(4,194,585
|
)
|
Adjustments to reconcile net gain (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchases of short-term investments
|
|
|
(116,031,748
|
)
|
|
|
(333,600,170
|
)
|
Sales/maturities of short-term investments
|
|
|
133,798,665
|
|
|
|
325,678,403
|
|
Accretion of discount
|
|
|
(41,461
|
)
|
|
|
(91,687
|
)
|
Net realized (gain) loss on short-term investments
|
|
|
121
|
|
|
|
(11,528
|
)
|
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents held at brokers (restricted)
|
|
|
(508,434
|
)
|
|
|
(3,337,031
|
)
|
Foreign currencies held at brokers, at cost (restricted)
|
|
|
3,773,088
|
|
|
|
(23,800
|
)
|
Interest receivable
|
|
|
1,582
|
|
|
|
(1,084
|
)
|
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts
|
|
|
375,521
|
|
|
|
(4,234,595
|
)
|
Sponsors fees payable
|
|
|
(25,930
|
)
|
|
|
8,894
|
|
Due to brokers
|
|
|
(100,000
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
|
|
|
22,361,729
|
|
|
|
(19,807,183
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contributions
|
|
|
4,963,285
|
|
|
|
35,684,786
|
|
Redemptions
|
|
|
(29,289,102
|
)
|
|
|
(15,188,945
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
|
|
|
(24,325,817
|
)
|
|
|
20,495,841
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
|
|
|
465,452
|
|
|
|
3,110,238
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
|
|
|
(1,498,636
|
)
|
|
|
3,798,896
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and Cash Equivalents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beginning of period
|
|
|
3,686,978
|
|
|
|
3,309,973
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
End of period
|
|
$
|
2,188,342
|
|
|
$
|
7,108,869
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See notes to financial statements.
4
iShares
®
Diversified Alternatives Trust
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited)
At September 30, 2012
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Face Amount
|
|
|
Security Description
|
|
Fair Value
|
|
|
|
|
|
United States Treasury bills:
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
800,000
|
|
|
0.01% due 1/10/13
|
|
$
|
799,698
|
|
|
800,000
|
|
|
0.01% due 1/24/13
|
|
|
799,700
|
|
|
30,600,000
|
|
|
0.00%
(a)
- 0.01% due 2/07/13
|
|
|
30,585,427
|
|
|
4,000,000
|
|
|
0.01% due 2/14/13
|
|
|
3,998,053
|
|
|
15,600,000
|
|
|
0.00%
(a)
due 2/28/13
|
|
|
15,591,550
|
|
|
4,600,000
|
|
|
0.00%
(a)
due 3/14/13
|
|
|
4,597,381
|
|
|
500,000
|
|
|
0.00%
(a)
due 3/21/13
|
|
|
499,670
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total United States Treasury bills -
87.92%
(b)
|
|
$
|
56,871,479
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
Rounds to less than 0.01%.
|
(b)
|
Percentage is based on shareholders capital.
|
As of September 30, 2012, open forward currency contracts held by the Trust were as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Settlement Date
|
|
Currency to be
Delivered
|
|
Amount to be
Delivered
|
|
Currency to be
Received
|
|
Amount to be
Received
|
|
|
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
|
|
10/5/2012
|
|
AUD
|
|
729,000
|
|
USD
|
|
|
759,852
|
|
|
$
|
1,899
|
|
10/5/2012
|
|
CAD
|
|
312,332
|
|
USD
|
|
|
322,361
|
|
|
|
4,961
|
|
10/5/2012
|
|
CHF
|
|
2,112,228
|
|
USD
|
|
|
2,273,208
|
|
|
|
25,564
|
|
10/5/2012
|
|
EUR
|
|
1,125,901
|
|
USD
|
|
|
1,480,460
|
|
|
|
31,946
|
|
10/5/2012
|
|
GBP
|
|
1,372,000
|
|
USD
|
|
|
2,225,635
|
|
|
|
10,150
|
|
10/5/2012
|
|
NOK
|
|
7,274,000
|
|
USD
|
|
|
1,275,676
|
|
|
|
5,203
|
|
10/5/2012
|
|
SEK
|
|
39,256,000
|
|
USD
|
|
|
6,035,830
|
|
|
|
49,106
|
|
10/5/2012
|
|
USD
|
|
3,609,505
|
|
AUD
|
|
|
3,546,333
|
|
|
|
77,673
|
|
10/5/2012
|
|
USD
|
|
2,011,797
|
|
CAD
|
|
|
2,007,000
|
|
|
|
27,769
|
|
10/5/2012
|
|
USD
|
|
2,289,974
|
|
CHF
|
|
|
2,181,000
|
|
|
|
30,852
|
|
10/5/2012
|
|
USD
|
|
369,734
|
|
EUR
|
|
|
293,000
|
|
|
|
7,222
|
|
10/5/2012
|
|
USD
|
|
12,421,883
|
|
GBP
|
|
|
7,892,033
|
|
|
|
322,051
|
|
10/5/2012
|
|
USD
|
|
4,018,498
|
|
JPY
|
|
|
319,974,296
|
|
|
|
94,384
|
|
10/5/2012
|
|
USD
|
|
7,209,189
|
|
NOK
|
|
|
42,701,122
|
|
|
|
248,964
|
|
10/5/2012
|
|
USD
|
|
17,424,305
|
|
SEK
|
|
|
120,544,689
|
|
|
|
959,325
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,897,069
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10/5/2012
|
|
AUD
|
|
2,340,000
|
|
USD
|
|
|
2,375,978
|
|
|
|
(56,957
|
)
|
10/5/2012
|
|
CAD
|
|
7,384,989
|
|
USD
|
|
|
7,252,949
|
|
|
|
(251,872
|
)
|
10/5/2012
|
|
CHF
|
|
18,466,740
|
|
USD
|
|
|
19,381,977
|
|
|
|
(268,684
|
)
|
10/5/2012
|
|
EUR
|
|
14,534,813
|
|
USD
|
|
|
18,328,149
|
|
|
|
(371,430
|
)
|
10/5/2012
|
|
GBP
|
|
1,658,000
|
|
USD
|
|
|
2,618,213
|
|
|
|
(59,099
|
)
|
10/5/2012
|
|
JPY
|
|
669,610,142
|
|
USD
|
|
|
8,499,195
|
|
|
|
(107,831
|
)
|
10/5/2012
|
|
NOK
|
|
25,479,000
|
|
USD
|
|
|
4,224,218
|
|
|
|
(225,929
|
)
|
10/5/2012
|
|
SEK
|
|
6,904,000
|
|
USD
|
|
|
1,049,339
|
|
|
|
(3,553
|
)
|
10/5/2012
|
|
USD
|
|
259,450
|
|
AUD
|
|
|
247,777
|
|
|
|
(1,832
|
)
|
10/5/2012
|
|
USD
|
|
2,063,854
|
|
CAD
|
|
|
2,015,000
|
|
|
|
(16,158
|
)
|
10/5/2012
|
|
USD
|
|
5,081,409
|
|
CHF
|
|
|
4,711,000
|
|
|
|
(68,383
|
)
|
10/5/2012
|
|
USD
|
|
7,761,847
|
|
EUR
|
|
|
5,953,000
|
|
|
|
(103,091
|
)
|
10/5/2012
|
|
USD
|
|
843,913
|
|
GBP
|
|
|
519,502
|
|
|
|
(5,029
|
)
|
10/5/2012
|
|
USD
|
|
252,937
|
|
NOK
|
|
|
1,435,176
|
|
|
|
(2,270
|
)
|
10/5/2012
|
|
USD
|
|
1,446,793
|
|
SEK
|
|
|
9,470,057
|
|
|
|
(2,565
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1,544,683
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Unrealized Appreciation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
352,386
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5
As of September 30, 2012, open futures contracts held by the Trust were as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contract Type
|
|
Number of
Contracts
|
|
|
Expiration
Date
|
|
|
Notional
Amount
|
|
|
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
|
|
Equity Contracts
|
|
AEX Index
|
|
|
(9
|
)
|
|
|
10/19/2012
|
|
|
$
|
(750,750
|
)
|
|
$
|
23,389
|
|
CAC 40 10-Year Euro
|
|
|
109
|
|
|
|
10/19/2012
|
|
|
|
4,701,860
|
|
|
|
(206,136
|
)
|
OMX 30 Index
|
|
|
(57
|
)
|
|
|
10/19/2012
|
|
|
|
(934,554
|
)
|
|
|
25,211
|
|
Hang Seng Index
|
|
|
(28
|
)
|
|
|
10/30/2012
|
|
|
|
(3,769,387
|
)
|
|
|
(25,280
|
)
|
MSCI Taiwan Index
|
|
|
(93
|
)
|
|
|
10/30/2012
|
|
|
|
(2,561,220
|
)
|
|
|
4,650
|
|
TOPIX Index
|
|
|
(18
|
)
|
|
|
12/14/2012
|
|
|
|
(1,700,514
|
)
|
|
|
43,882
|
|
S&P/TSX 60 Index
|
|
|
(48
|
)
|
|
|
12/20/2012
|
|
|
|
(6,836,445
|
)
|
|
|
83,395
|
|
SPI 200 Index
|
|
|
47
|
|
|
|
12/20/2012
|
|
|
|
5,356,732
|
|
|
|
(24,438
|
)
|
DAX Index
|
|
|
23
|
|
|
|
12/21/2012
|
|
|
|
5,354,588
|
|
|
|
(110,591
|
)
|
FTSE 100 Index
|
|
|
30
|
|
|
|
12/21/2012
|
|
|
|
2,767,605
|
|
|
|
(55,226
|
)
|
S&P 500 E-mini Index
|
|
|
(30
|
)
|
|
|
12/21/2012
|
|
|
|
(2,151,300
|
)
|
|
|
27,975
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(213,169
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest Rate Contracts
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Euro Bund
|
|
|
56
|
|
|
|
12/6/2012
|
|
|
|
10,213,675
|
|
|
|
17,394
|
|
10-Year Mini JGB
|
|
|
(5
|
)
|
|
|
12/10/2012
|
|
|
|
(926,992
|
)
|
|
|
(3,985
|
)
|
Japan 10-Year Bond
|
|
|
(3
|
)
|
|
|
12/11/2012
|
|
|
|
(5,560,026
|
)
|
|
|
(9,640
|
)
|
Australian 10-Year Bond
|
|
|
(92
|
)
|
|
|
12/17/2012
|
|
|
|
(12,139,891
|
)
|
|
|
(236,557
|
)
|
Canada 10-Year Bond
|
|
|
(83
|
)
|
|
|
12/18/2012
|
|
|
|
(11,580,101
|
)
|
|
|
(106,682
|
)
|
US 10-Year Note
|
|
|
84
|
|
|
|
12/19/2012
|
|
|
|
11,212,688
|
|
|
|
49,336
|
|
Long Gilt
|
|
|
44
|
|
|
|
12/27/2012
|
|
|
|
8,570,192
|
|
|
|
8,655
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(281,479
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Unrealized Depreciation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
(494,648
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See notes to financial statements.
6
iShares
®
Diversified Alternatives Trust
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)
September 30, 2012
1 - Organization
The iShares
®
Diversified Alternatives Trust, (the Trust) is a Delaware statutory trust organized under the laws of the State of Delaware on July 30, 2009 and
commenced operations on October 6, 2009. iShares
®
Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC is the sponsor of the Trust
(the Sponsor). The sole member and manager of the Sponsor is BlackRock Asset Management International Inc., a Delaware corporation. BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A. is the Trustee of the Trust. The Trust holds long
and/or short positions in foreign currency forward contracts and exchange-traded futures contracts involving assets such as currencies, interest rates and certain eligible stock and/or bond indices. Investments for the Trusts portfolio are
selected by BlackRock Fund Advisors (the Advisor), following investment strategies that utilize quantitative methodologies to identify potentially profitable discrepancies in the relative values or market prices of one or more assets.
The Trust is a commodity pool, as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act (the CEA) and the applicable regulations of the Commodity
Futures Trading Commission (the CFTC), and is operated by the Sponsor, a commodity pool operator registered with the CFTC. The Sponsor is an indirect subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc. The Advisor, an indirect subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc.,
serves as the commodity trading advisor of the Trust and is registered under the CEA.
The Trust is not an investment company registered under
the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
The accompanying unaudited financial statements were prepared in accordance with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP) for interim financial information and with the instructions for Form 10-Q and the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the
SEC). In the opinion of management, all material adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, considered necessary for a fair statement of the interim period financial statements have been made. Interim period results
are not necessarily indicative of results for a full-year period. These financial statements and the notes thereto should be read in conjunction with the Trusts financial statements included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2011 as filed with the SEC on March 14, 2012.
2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
The following is a
summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Trust in the preparation of its financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to
make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures 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 and these differences could be material.
Certain amounts in the
financial statements for the prior year have been reclassified to conform to the current financial statement presentation.
B.
|
Investment in Forward and Futures Contracts
|
A forward contract is an agreement between two parties, one of whom undertakes to purchase from or sell to the other, on a specified future date, a specified quantity of a specified asset at a specified
location in exchange for a specified purchase price. The types of assets involved may vary from foreign currencies to physical commodities and financial assets such as bonds or interest rates. Unlike futures contracts, forward contracts are usually
the subject of negotiation between the parties involved. As a result, forward contracts may have a variety of maturities and involve different amounts of the specified asset.
Futures contracts are standardized forward contracts traded on an exchange. As such, futures contracts and the parties to a futures contract are subject to the regulations of the exchange where the
contracts trade. Each exchange may impose certain margin requirements, setting forth the minimum amount of funds that must be deposited by a futures trader with the futures commission merchant in order to initiate futures trading or to maintain an
open position in futures contracts.
7
Forward and futures contracts are derivative instruments and are valued at fair value. The Trusts
derivatives are not designated as hedges, and all changes in the fair value are reflected in the Statements of Operations. The current market value of all open futures contracts, whether traded on a United States exchange or a non-United States
exchange, is determined by State Street Bank and Trust Company (the Trust Administrator). Such current market value is based upon the settlement price for that particular futures contract traded on the applicable exchange on the date
with respect to which net asset value is being determined; provided that if a futures contract could not be liquidated on such day, due to the operation of daily limits (if applicable) or other rules, procedures or actions of the exchange upon which
that position is traded or otherwise, the settlement price on the most recent day on which the position could have been liquidated is the primary basis for determining the market value of such position for such day.
The current market value of all open forward contracts is based upon the prices determined by the Trust Administrator utilizing data from an
internationally recognized valuation service for assets of that nature. The Trustee periodically assesses the appropriateness of the methodologies used by the valuation service provider in determining the price of forward contracts.
The Trustee may in its discretion (and, under extraordinary circumstances, will) value any asset of the Trust pursuant to other principles that it deems
fair and equitable. In this context, extraordinary circumstances includes, for example, periods during which a valuation price for a forward contract or a settlement price of a futures contract is not available due to events such as
systems failure, natural or man-made disaster, act of God, armed conflict, act of terrorism, riot or labor disruption or any similar intervening circumstance or due to a trading or other restriction imposed by a relevant futures exchange.
The investment objective of the Trust is to maximize absolute returns from its investments in certain futures and/or forward contracts
selected by the Advisor following strategies that utilize quantitative methodologies to identify potentially profitable discrepancies in the relative values or market prices of one or more commodities, currencies, interest rates or certain eligible
stock or bond indices, and seek to reduce the risks and volatility inherent in these investments by taking long and short positions in historically correlated assets. In pursuing its investment objectives, the Trust is subject to equity price risk,
interest rate risk and foreign currency exchange rate risk. The return on assets in the Trust, if any, is not intended to track the performance of any index or other benchmark.
For futures contracts, counterparty credit risk is minimized because futures contracts are exchange-traded and the exchanges clearing house acts as a central counterparty to all exchange-traded
futures contracts (although customers continue to have credit exposure to the clearing member who holds their account). Forward contracts are not exchange-traded, and are therefore subject to counterparty credit risk of The Royal Bank of Scotland
plc, the prime broker of the Trust.
Please refer to Note 9 for additional disclosures regarding the Trusts investments in forward and
futures contracts.
C.
|
Cash and Cash Equivalents
|
The Trust
defines cash and cash equivalents to be highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.
As of September 30,
2012 and December 31, 2011, the Trust had cash and cash equivalents held at brokers of $1,909,668 and $1,401,234, respectively, which were restricted and held as collateral against margin obligations for open forward and/or futures contracts.
The Trust may hold
foreign currencies as collateral for futures contracts traded on exchanges located outside the United States. Foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the prevailing spot exchange rate. Net realized gain or loss on foreign currencies,
if any, arises from the sale of such foreign currencies and is presented on the Statements of Operations. Net change in unrealized gain or loss on foreign currency translation on the Statements of Operations arises from changes in foreign currency
values resulting from changes in exchange rates during the period.
The Trust does not isolate the effect of fluctuations in foreign exchange
rates from the effect of fluctuations in the market prices of securities. Such fluctuations are reflected by the Trust as a component of realized and unrealized gains and losses from investments for financial reporting purposes.
As of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Trust had foreign currencies held at brokers of $3,908,886 and $7,504,546, respectively,
which were restricted and held as collateral against margin obligations for open futures contracts.
8
E
.
|
Short-Term Investments
|
Short-term
investments on the Statements of Financial Condition consist principally of short-term fixed income securities with original maturities of one year or less. These investments are valued at fair value.
F.
|
Securities Transactions, Income and Expense Recognition
|
Securities transactions are accounted for on the trade date. Realized gains and losses on investment transactions are determined using the specific identification method. Other income and expenses are
recognized on the accrual basis.
The Trust is not an
association taxable as a corporation and is treated as a partnership for federal, state and local income tax purposes.
No provision for
federal, state, and local income taxes has been made in the accompanying financial statements because the Trust is not subject to income taxes. Shareholders are individually responsible for their own tax payments on their proportionate share of
income, gain, loss, deduction, expense and credit.
H.
|
Calculation of Net Asset Value
|
On each
business day on which NYSE Arca, Inc. (NYSE Arca) is open for regular trading, as soon as practicable after the close of regular trading of the Shares on NYSE Arca (normally 4:00 p.m., New York time), the Trustee determines the net asset
value of the Trust. Net asset value of the Trust means the total assets of the Trust including all cash and cash equivalents or other debt securities less total liabilities of the Trust, each determined on the basis of U.S. GAAP, consistently
applied under the accrual method of accounting. In particular, net asset value of the Trust includes any unrealized profit or loss on open forward contracts and futures contracts, and any other credit or debit accruing to the Trust but unpaid or not
received by the Trust.
I.
|
Recent Accounting Standard
|
In December
2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued guidance to enhance current disclosure requirements on offsetting of certain assets and liabilities and enable financial statement users to compare financial statements
prepared under U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The new disclosures are required for investments and derivative financial instruments subject to master netting agreements or similar agreements and require an entity
to disclose both gross and net information about such investments and transactions eligible for offset in the statement of assets and liabilities. In addition, the standard requires disclosure of collateral received and posted in connection with
master netting agreements or similar agreements. The guidance is effective for financial statements for fiscal years beginning after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact of this
guidance on the Trusts financial statements and disclosures.
3 - Offering of the Shares
The Trust offers Shares on a continuous basis. The Trust issues and redeems Shares only in one or more blocks of 100,000 Shares
(Baskets) for consideration in cash equal to the net asset value per Basket announced by the Trust on the first business day after the purchase or redemption order is received by the Trust. These transactions take place only with certain
broker-dealers with whom the Trust has entered into written arrangements regarding the issuance and redemption of Shares (such authorized broker-dealers are the Authorized Participants). Only institutions that enter into an agreement
with the Trust to become Authorized Participants may purchase or redeem Baskets. The Trust will not redeem individual Shares or Baskets held by parties who are not Authorized Participants.
Redemptions of Shares in exchange for a consideration in cash are treated as sales for financial statement purposes.
4 - Trust Expenses
The Trust incurs all brokerage commissions and other transaction related fees and expenses in connection with the trading activities of
the Trust. These expenses are recorded as brokerage commissions and fees in the Statements of Operations as incurred.
9
The Sponsor pays the amounts that would otherwise be considered the ordinary operating expenses, if any, of
the Trust. In return, the Sponsor receives an allocation from the Trust that accrues daily at an annualized rate equal to 0.95% of the adjusted net asset value of the Trust.
The Sponsor is obligated under the trust agreement to pay the following administrative, operational and marketing expenses: (1) the fees of the Trustee, the Advisor, Wilmington Trust Company (the
Delaware Trustee), the Trust Administrator and SEI Investments Distribution Co., (2) NYSE Arca listing fees, (3) printing and mailing costs, (4) audit fees, (5) fees for registration of the Shares with the SEC,
(6) tax reporting costs and (7) legal expenses up to $100,000 annually.
5 - Related Parties
iShares
®
Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC, is the Sponsor of the Trust, and BlackRock Fund Advisors is the Advisor of the Trust. The Sponsor and the Advisor are considered to be
related parties to the Trust.
6 - Indemnification
The trust agreement provides that the Sponsor and its shareholders, directors, officers, employees, affiliates (as such term is defined
under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended) and subsidiaries shall be indemnified from the Trust and held harmless against any loss, liability, cost, expense or judgment arising out of or in connection with the performance of their
obligations under the trust agreement or any actions taken in accordance with the provisions of the trust agreement incurred without their (1) negligence, bad faith, willful misconduct or willful malfeasance or (2) reckless disregard of
their obligations and duties under the trust agreement.
7 - Commitments and Contingent Liabilities
In the normal course of business, the Trust may enter into contracts with service providers that contain general indemnification
clauses. The Trusts maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.
8 - Financial Highlights
The Trust is presenting the following financial highlights related to investment performance and operations for the period from
January 1, 2012 through September 30, 2012. The net investment income (loss) and total expense ratios are calculated using average net assets. The net asset value presentation is calculated using daily Shares outstanding. The net
investment income (loss) and expense ratios have been annualized. The total return is based on the change in the net asset value of a Share during the period.
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset value per Share, beginning of period
|
|
$
|
48.83
|
|
Net investment loss
|
|
|
(0.35
|
)
|
Net realized and unrealized gain
|
|
|
1.28
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net increase in net assets from operations
|
|
|
0.93
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset value per Share, end of period
|
|
$
|
49.76
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio to average net assets:
|
|
Net investment loss
(a)
|
|
|
(0.94
|
)%
|
Expenses
(a)
|
|
|
1.05
|
%
|
|
|
Total return
(b)
|
|
|
1.90
|
%
|
(a)
|
Percentage is annualized.
|
(b)
|
Percentage is not annualized.
|
10
9 - Investing in Forward and Futures Contracts
Substantially all of the Trusts assets are invested in forward and/or futures contracts. The return on assets in the portfolio,
if any, is not intended to track the performance of any index or other benchmark. There is no assurance the Trust will achieve its investment objectives.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and the year ended December 31, 2011, the average month-end notional amounts of open forward currency contracts were $162,468,669 and $244,031,041,
respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and the year ended December 31, 2011, the average month-end notional amounts of open futures contracts were $126,723,918 and $602,423,480, respectively.
The following table shows the fair values of the open forward currency and futures contracts, by risk exposure category, on the Statements of Financial
Condition as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
September 30, 2012
|
|
Asset Derivatives
|
|
Fair Value
|
|
|
Liability Derivatives
|
|
Fair Value
|
|
Foreign exchange contracts
|
|
Unrealized appreciation on forward currency contracts
|
|
$
|
1,897,069
|
|
|
Unrealized depreciation on forward currency contracts
|
|
$
|
1,544,683
|
|
Equity contracts
|
|
Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts
|
|
|
208,502
|
|
|
Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts
|
|
|
421,671
|
|
Interest rate contracts
|
|
Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts
|
|
|
75,385
|
|
|
Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts
|
|
|
356,864
|
|
|
December 31, 2011
|
|
Foreign exchange contracts
|
|
Unrealized appreciation on forward currency contracts
|
|
$
|
3,723,647
|
|
|
Unrealized depreciation on forward currency contracts
|
|
$
|
2,695,336
|
|
Equity contracts
|
|
Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts
|
|
|
427,647
|
|
|
Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts
|
|
|
937,238
|
|
Interest rate contracts
|
|
Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts
|
|
|
777,713
|
|
|
Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts
|
|
|
420,294
|
|
The following table shows the effect of the forward currency and futures contracts, by risk exposure category, on the
Statements of Operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Statements of
Operations Location
|
|
Realized
Gain (Loss)
|
|
|
Change in Unrealized
Appreciation/
Depreciation
|
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
|
|
Foreign exchange contracts
|
|
Net realized gain (loss) on forward currency contracts
|
|
$
|
1,741,826
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on forward currency contracts
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(675,925
|
)
|
Equity contracts
|
|
Net realized gain (loss) on
futures contracts
|
|
|
(216,165
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net change in unrealized
appreciation/depreciation on
futures contracts
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
296,422
|
|
Interest rate contracts
|
|
Net realized gain (loss) on
futures contracts
|
|
|
909,057
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net change in unrealized
appreciation/depreciation on
futures contracts
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(638,898
|
)
|
11
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nine Months Ended September 31, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Foreign exchange contracts
|
|
Net realized gain (loss) on
forward currency contracts
|
|
$
|
18,063
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on
forward currency contracts
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,914,469
|
)
|
Equity contracts
|
|
Net realized gain (loss) on
futures contracts
|
|
|
(1,518,367
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on
futures contracts
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,766,151
|
|
Interest rate contracts
|
|
Net realized gain (loss) on
futures contracts
|
|
|
(2,998,471
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on
futures contracts
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,429,740
|
|
10 - Investment Valuation
FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 820,
Fair Value Measurements and Disclosure
defines fair value as the price the
Trust would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The Trusts policy is to value its investments at fair value.
U.S. Treasury bills are valued at the last available bid price received from independent pricing services. In determining the value of a fixed income
investment, pricing services may use certain information with respect to transactions in such investments, quotations from dealers, pricing matrixes, market transactions in comparable investments, various relationships observed in the market between
investments and calculated yield measures.
Forward currency contracts are valued using the London close forward rate.
Futures contracts are valued using the last reported settlement price for the particular futures contract traded on the applicable exchange.
Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of financial instruments. Inputs may be based on independent market data (observable
inputs) or they may be internally developed (unobservable inputs). These inputs are categorized into a disclosure hierarchy consisting of three broad levels for financial reporting purposes. The level of a value determined for a
financial instrument within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
Level 1
|
|
|
|
Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;
|
|
|
|
Level 2
|
|
|
|
Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability either directly or indirectly, including quoted prices for similar assets
or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not considered to be active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, and inputs that are
derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means; and
|
|
|
|
Level 3
|
|
|
|
Unobservable inputs that are unobservable for the asset or liability, including the Trusts assumptions used in determining the fair value of investments.
|
12
The following table summarizes the valuation of the Trusts investments by the fair value hierarchy
levels as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
September 30, 2012
|
|
Level 1
|
|
|
Level 2
|
|
|
Level 3
|
|
|
Total
|
|
U.S. Treasury bills
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
56,871,479
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
56,871,479
|
|
Forward currency contracts
(a)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
352,386
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
352,386
|
|
Futures contracts
(a)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity contracts
|
|
|
(213,169
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(213,169
|
)
|
Interest rate contracts
|
|
|
(281,479
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(281,479
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total futures contracts
|
|
|
(494,648
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(494,648
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
U.S. Treasury bills
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
74,597,056
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
74,597,056
|
|
Forward currency contracts
(a)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,028,311
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,028,311
|
|
Futures contracts
(a)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity contracts
|
|
|
(509,591
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(509,591
|
)
|
Interest rate contracts
|
|
|
357,419
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
357,419
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total futures contracts
|
|
|
(152,172
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(152,172
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
Futures contracts and forward currency contracts are valued at unrealized appreciation (depreciation).
|
11 - Subsequent Events
In connection with the preparation of the financial statements of the Trust as of and for the period ended September 30, 2012,
management has evaluated the impact of all subsequent events on the Trust through the date the financial statements were issued and has determined that there were no subsequent events requiring adjustment or disclosure in the financial statements.
13
Item 2.
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations
This information should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes to financial
statements included in Item 1 of Part I of this Form 10-Q. The discussion and analysis that follows may contain statements that relate to future events or future performance. In some cases, such forward-looking statements can be identified by
terminology such as may, should, expect, plan, anticipate, believe, estimate, predict, potential or the negative of these terms or other
comparable terminology. None of the Trust, the Sponsor, the Trustee or the Delaware Trustee assumes responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any forward-looking statements. None of the Trust, the Sponsor, the Trustee or the Delaware
Trustee is under a duty to update any of the forward-looking statements to conform such statements to actual results or to a change in expectations or predictions.
Introduction
The iShares
®
Diversified Alternatives Trust (the Trust) is a Delaware statutory trust that issues units of beneficial
interest (Shares) representing fractional undivided beneficial interests in its net assets. The Trust holds long and/or short positions in foreign currency forward contracts and exchange-traded futures contracts involving assets such as
commodities, currencies, interest rates and certain eligible stock and/or bond indices. Investments for the Trusts portfolio are selected by BlackRock Fund Advisors (the Advisor) following investment strategies that utilize
quantitative methodologies to identify potentially profitable discrepancies in the relative values or market prices of one or more assets.
iShares
®
Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company, is the Sponsor of the Trust. BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A. is the Trustee of the Trust. The Trust is a commodity pool, as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act (the CEA) and the applicable
regulations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the CFTC), and is operated by the Sponsor, a commodity pool operator registered with the CFTC. The Advisor serves as the commodity trading advisor of the Trust and is registered
under the CEA. The Trust has delegated some of the administration of the Trust to State Street Bank and Trust Company (the Trust Administrator). Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware banking corporation, serves as the Delaware
Trustee of the Trust.
The Trust offers Shares on a continuous basis. The Trust issues and redeems Shares only in one or more blocks of
100,000 Shares (Baskets). These transactions take place only with certain broker-dealers with whom the Trust has entered into written arrangements regarding the issuance and redemption of Shares (we refer to these broker-dealers as
Authorized Participants), in each case in exchange for a consideration per Share equal to the net asset value per Share announced by the Trust on the first Business Day after the purchase or redemption order is received by the Trust. A
Business Day is defined as any day other than: (a) a Saturday or a Sunday; or (b) a day on which NYSE Arca, Inc. (NYSE Arca) is closed for regular trading. Only institutions that enter into an agreement with the
Trust to become Authorized Participants may purchase or redeem Baskets. The Trust has delegated the processing of creation and redemption orders of Baskets to SEI Investments Distribution Co.
The Trust is a passive investor in the cash or U.S. Treasury securities and other short-term securities (Short-Term Securities) posted as margin to collateralize the portfolio of futures
and/or forward contracts, cash and other investments held by the Trust (the Portfolio). The Trust does not engage in any activities designed to obtain a profit from, or to ameliorate losses caused by, changes in the value of Short-Term
Securities posted as margin.
Shares of the Trust trade on NYSE Arca under the symbol ALT.
Computation of Trusts Net Asset Value
On each Business Day, as soon as practicable after the close of regular trading of the Shares on NYSE Arca (normally 4:00 p.m., New York time), the Trustee determines the net asset value of the Trust, the
NAV and the amount equal to the product of the NAV and the number of shares constituting a Basket (Basket Amount) as of that date. The NAV is the net asset value of the Trust divided by the number of outstanding Shares.
Net asset value of the Trust means the total assets of the Trust, including all cash and cash equivalents or other debt
securities less total liabilities of the Trust, each determined on the basis of accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP), consistently applied under the accrual method of accounting. In
particular, net asset value of the Trust includes any unrealized profit or loss on open forward contracts and futures contracts, and any other credit or debit accruing to the Trust but unpaid or not received by the Trust.
14
On each day on which the Trustee must determine the net asset value of the Trust and the NAV, the Trust
Administrator must value all futures and forward trading positions and other Short-Term Securities and non-cash assets in the Portfolio and communicate such valuation to the Trustee for use by the Trustee in the determination of the Trusts net
asset value.
The current market value of all open futures contracts, whether traded on a United States exchange or a non-United States
exchange, is determined by the Trust Administrator based upon the settlement price for that particular futures contract traded on the applicable exchange on the date with respect to which net asset value is being determined; provided, that if a
futures contract could not be liquidated on such day due to the operation of daily limits (if applicable) or other rules, procedures or actions of the exchange upon which that position is traded or otherwise, the settlement price on the most recent
day on which the position could have been liquidated may be the basis for determining the market value of the position for that day.
The
current market value of all open forward contracts is based upon the prices determined by the Trust Administrator utilizing data from an internationally recognized valuation service for those types of assets.
The Trustee may in its discretion (and, under extraordinary circumstances, will) value any asset of the Trust pursuant to other principles that it deems
fair and equitable. In this context, extraordinary circumstances include, for example, periods during which a valuation price for a forward contract or a settlement price of a futures contract is not available due to events such as
systems failure, natural or man-made disaster, act of God, armed conflict, act of terrorism, riot or labor disruption or any similar intervening circumstance or due to a trading or other restriction imposed by a relevant futures exchange.
On each Business Day, the Trustee subtracts the Trusts accrued fees (other than fees computed by reference to the value of the Trust or
its assets), expenses and other liabilities on that day from the value of the Trusts assets as of the close of trading on that day. The difference is the Trusts Adjusted Net Asset Value. Fees computed by reference to the
value of the Trust or its assets are calculated based on the Adjusted Net Asset Value. The Trustee subtracts the fees of the Trust calculated on an Adjusted Net Asset Value basis to determine the Trusts net asset value.
The Trust Administrator may be replaced if, in the judgment of the Trustee, it ceases to provide regular or accurate valuations.
Overall Performance
For the nine-month
period ended September 30, 2012 (the reporting period), the Trusts total return, net of expenses, was 1.90%. This performance was the result of a positive return on the Trusts currency and long-term fixed income
investments, partially offset by the losses in equity investments.
Market Environment/Background
During the reporting period, the Trusts investments resulted in exposure to the following geographical areas: Europe, North America, Australia, and
Asia.
The following table presents certain macro-economic indicators for certain countries in each of the areas referred to above at the
dates and for the periods indicated:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10-Year Yield
|
|
|
Nominal GDP Year Over
Year Change
|
|
|
Unemployment Rate
|
|
|
Exchange Rate
(3)
|
|
|
|
December 31,
2011
|
|
|
September 30,
2012
|
|
|
Quarter Ended
December 31,
2011
|
|
|
Quarter Ended
June
30,
2012
|
|
|
Month Ended
December 31,
2011
|
|
|
Month Ended
September
30,
2012
|
|
|
December 31,
2011
|
|
|
September 30,
2012
|
|
Germany
|
|
|
1.83%
|
|
|
|
1.44%
|
|
|
|
2.2%
|
(1)
(
4
)
|
|
|
1.7%
|
(1)
|
|
|
6.8%
|
(2)
(
4
)
|
|
|
6.8%
|
(2)
|
|
|
0.7714
|
|
|
|
0.7777
|
|
Sweden
|
|
|
1.62%
|
|
|
|
1.48%
|
|
|
|
1.2%
|
(1)
|
|
|
3.3%
|
(1)
|
|
|
7.1%
|
(1)
|
|
|
7.8%
|
(1)
|
|
Kr
|
6.8872
|
|
|
Kr
|
6.5650
|
|
U.S.A.
|
|
|
1.88%
|
|
|
|
1.63%
|
|
|
|
4.0%
|
(2)
|
|
|
3.9%
|
(2)
|
|
|
8.5%
|
(2)
|
|
|
7.8%
|
(2)
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
Australia
|
|
|
3.68%
|
|
|
|
3.00%
|
|
|
|
5.5%
|
(2)
(
4
)
|
|
|
3.2%
|
(2)
|
|
|
5.2%
|
(2)
|
|
|
5.4%
|
(2)
|
|
AUD
|
0.9796
|
|
|
AUD
|
0.9635
|
|
Japan
|
|
|
0.99%
|
|
|
|
0.78%
|
|
|
|
(2.4
|
)%
(1)
|
|
|
2.2%
|
(1)
|
|
|
4.5%
|
(2)
|
|
|
4.2%
|
(2)
|
|
¥
|
76.91
|
|
|
¥
|
77.96
|
|
(1)
|
Not seasonally adjusted
|
(3)
|
Currency units per $1
|
Source:
Bloomberg
15
Portfolio Update
The global markets continued to experience heightened uncertainty as a result of the euro zone debt crisis and the anemic growth in the U.S. To manage this unsustainable situation, both the European
Central Bank and the Federal Reserve took some drastic measures in August and September 2012. In light of the immense intervention/liquidity injection by the Federal Reserve and European Central Bank, a massive shift in the sentiment was observed.
To manage the risk of the portfolio effectively and maintain it within the stated range of 6% to 8% in effect at the time, the Trusts target risk was resized in September.
The Trust continued to remain out of the short-term bond strategy in the third quarter of 2012. This action will continue until market conditions significantly improve. This decision was based on the
mismatch between market expectations on short-term interest rates and what the strategy suggested based on momentum.
Trusts
Strategies Performance
The Trusts investments in currency markets generated a net return of 1.80% during the reporting period
(see figure 1). The Trusts performance was driven by long positions in Swedish krona and British pound as well as the short position in euro. Short positions in Swiss franc and Canadian dollar contributed negatively to the performance of this
asset class.
The Trusts investments in futures on long-term bonds (bonds with maturities of more than one year) generated a net return
of 0.15% for the reporting period (see figure 1). The Trusts performance in this asset class was primarily driven by the long positions in the U.S. and United Kingdom bond markets. Short positions in the bond markets of Australia and Canada
contributed negatively to the performance and offset some of the gains.
The Trusts investments in futures on the equity markets
generated a net return of (0.05)% for the reporting period (see figure 1). The Trusts performance in the equity markets was driven by long positions in the Australian, German, French, and United Kingdom equity markets. Short equity positions
in countries such as Canada, Sweden and Taiwan contributed negatively to the performance of this asset class.
The Trust exploited three
strategies (relative value, momentum, and yield curve arbitrage or carry) across three different asset classes during the reporting period. Of these three strategies, the relative value and yield curve arbitrage strategies delivered a positive
performance of 2.71% and 0.55%, respectively. On the other hand, the momentum strategy returned (1.36)%. See figure 2 for the performance of each strategy during the reporting period.
The Trusts annualized portfolio return volatility was 4.8% for this reporting period, based on the daily performance of the Trust. This low number was the result of negative correlations across the
strategies, which helped to manage the overall Trusts risk effectively. The Trust experienced a low volatile regime in the first quarter of 2012 and as the uncertainty in the global markets heighted, the Trust experienced greater volatility in
the second and third quarters of 2012. This increase was primarily driven by the more volatile markets which were influenced heavily by the large uncertainty over the European debt crisis, the anemic U.S. recovery and their effects on the global
recovery. The proprietary risk model uses about 20 years of historical return data to calculate the expected annualized portfolio return volatility.
The realized Sharpe ratio of the portfolio for the period from inception through the end of the reporting period was (0.05). This ratio is primarily the result of poor performance of the Trust and
relatively high volatility in the third quarter of 2011 as well as underperformance of the Trust in the reporting period. The Trust continues to target a long-term Sharpe ratio between 0.50 and 0.75.
16
Figure 1: Asset class total return during the nine months ended September 30, 2012
Figure 2: Strategy total return during the nine months ended September 30, 2012
17
Results of Operations
The Trust invested in three broad asset classes: currency, equity, and fixed income through investments in forward and futures contracts and Short-Term Securities posted as margin to collateralize the
Trusts portfolio of futures and/or forward contracts. The fixed income asset class includes bond futures with duration greater than one year. See below for a discussion on the performance of the Trust for the quarter and nine months ended
September 30, 2012.
The Quarter Ended September 30, 2012
The Trusts net asset value increased from $58,340,835 at June 30, 2012 to $64,688,367 at September 30, 2012. The increase in the Trusts net asset value resulted primarily from an
increase in outstanding Shares, which rose from 1,200,000 at June 30, 2012 to 1,300,000 at September 30, 2012, due to 100,000 Shares (1 Basket) being created and zero Shares being redeemed during the quarter.
Net gain for the quarter was $1,386,647, resulting from a net investment loss of $139,143 and a net realized and unrealized gain of $1,525,790. For the
quarter ended September 30, 2012, the Trust had a net gain of $159 on short-term investments, a net realized and unrealized gain of $636,848 from forward currency contracts, a net realized and unrealized gain of $429,521 from equity index
futures, a net realized and unrealized gain of $443,781 from fixed income futures, and a net unrealized gain of $15,481 from foreign currency translations. Other than the Sponsors fees of $146,026 and brokerage commissions and fees of $13,918,
the Trust had no expenses during the quarter.
The decrease of $173,633 in total expenses from $333,577 for the quarter ended
September 30, 2011 to $159,944 for the quarter ended September 30, 2012, was primarily due to a decrease in the Sponsors fee. The Sponsors fee decreased due to a decrease in the Trusts net assets.
The Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
The Trusts net asset value decreased from $87,893,859 at December 31, 2011 to $64,688,367 at September 30, 2012. The decrease in the Trusts net asset value resulted primarily from a
decrease in outstanding Shares, which fell from 1,800,000 at December 31, 2011 to 1,300,000 at September 30, 2012, due to 100,000 Shares (1 Basket) being created and 600,000 Shares (6 Baskets) being redeemed during the period.
Net gain for the period was $1,120,325, resulting from a net investment loss of $473,299 and a net realized and unrealized gain of $1,593,624. For the
nine months ended September 30, 2012, the Trust had a net loss of $121 on short-term investments, a net realized and unrealized gain of $1,065,901 from forward currency contracts, a net realized and unrealized gain of $80,257 from equity index
futures, a net realized and unrealized gain of $270,159 from fixed income futures, and a net unrealized gain of $177,428 from foreign currency translations. Other than the Sponsors fees of $477,466 and brokerage commissions and fees of
$48,536, the Trust had no expenses during the period.
The decrease of $413,204 in total expenses from $939,206 for the nine months ended
September 30, 2011 to $526,002 for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, was primarily due to a decrease in the Sponsors fee. The Sponsors fee decreased due to a decrease in the Trusts net assets.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
A
significant portion of the assets of the Trust are held in cash, U.S. Treasury bills and other Short-Term Securities which are used, as needed, to secure the Trusts trading obligations in respect of a portfolio of futures and/or forward
contracts as described elsewhere in this report. The percentage that cash, U.S. Treasury bills and Short-Term Securities given as collateral bears to the total assets of the Trust varies from day to day, depending on the changes in the market values
of the contracts held in the Portfolio.
The Trusts liquidity needs arise in connection with payment of (1) mark-to-market and
termination costs of futures and forward contracts with respect to which the Trust is out of the money, (2) redemption of Baskets, (3) the Sponsors fee, (4) trading fees and commissions, and (5) any expenses not
assumed by the Sponsor. The Sponsor is not aware of any trends, demands, conditions or events that are reasonably likely to result in material changes to the Trusts liquidity needs.
The Trust is expected to generate liquidity from (1) mark-to-market and termination payments received with respect to futures and forward contracts with respect to which the Trust is in the
money, (2) the sale of Baskets, (3) any interest on its cash and other instruments (including, when and to the extent they become available to the Trust, securities held as collateral for the Trusts trading obligations), and
(4) the disposition of its assets. Pursuant to the trust agreement, the Trust is prohibited from incurring any indebtedness for borrowed money.
The Trusts futures contracts may from time to time be subject to periods of illiquidity due to market conditions, regulatory limits or other reasons. Futures exchanges limit the fluctuations during
a single day of prices of the contracts traded on such exchanges by
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regulations known as daily limits. Once the price of a futures contract has increased or decreased by an amount equal to the daily limit, positions in that contract can not be taken
or liquidated unless the parties are willing to affect the trade at a price equal to or within the daily limit.
The Trusts Portfolio or
one or more of its futures or forward contract positions may prove to be illiquid. Such illiquidity could cause or exacerbate losses to the Trust.
Because the Portfolio may include a variety of trading positions, the Trusts capital is at risk due to changes in the value of such positions or other assets (market risk) or the inability of
counterparties to perform (credit risk).
Market Risk
The Portfolio consists of positions in certain futures and/or forward contracts and cash and financial instruments which may be used, as needed, to secure the Trusts trading obligations with respect
to those trading positions. Depending upon the level of diversification of the Portfolio at any given time, fluctuations in the value of one or more trading positions of the Trust may have a significant impact on the value of the Shares. The value
of any futures and/or forward contracts in the Portfolio at any time is expected to reflect the market value of the underlying asset, although this correlation may not be exact. The market risk associated with the trading positions in the Portfolio
may, potentially, be the entire Portfolio. The Trusts exposure to market risk is also influenced by a number of factors, including the liquidity of the assets in the Portfolio, market conditions in U.S. and non-U.S. markets, market volatility
and activities of other market participants.
Credit Risk
In respect of each trading position in the Portfolio, the Trust is exposed to the credit risk of a default by the counterparties
to over-the-counter trades and, with respect to exchange-traded contracts, of a default by relevant brokers or the clearing institutions or exchanges through which such trades settle. In the case of such
a default, the Trust could be unable to recover amounts due to it on its trading positions and assets posted as margin. The Portfolio is also exposed to the credit risk of the obligors of any Short-Term Securities posted as margin.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations
The Trust does not use and is not expected to use special purpose entities to facilitate off-balance sheet financing arrangements. The Trust does not have and is not expected to have loan guarantee
arrangements or other off-balance sheet arrangements of any kind other than agreements entered into in the normal course of business, which may include indemnification provisions related to certain risks service providers undertake in performing
services that are in the interest of the Trust. While the Trusts exposure under such indemnification provisions cannot be estimated, these general business indemnifications are not expected to have a material impact on the Trusts
financial position. The Trust is contractually obligated to maintain margin with its clearing futures commission merchant and its prime broker. Under extreme circumstances, such contractual obligations could demand substantially all of the assets of
the Trust.
Critical Accounting Policies
The financial statements of the Trust and accompanying notes are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements relies on estimates and assumptions that impact the
Trusts financial positions and results of operations. These estimates and assumptions affect the Trusts application of accounting policies. Please refer to Note 2 to the financial statements of the Trust for a further discussion of the
Trusts accounting policies.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Quantitative Disclosure
Please refer to the Schedule of Investments in the financial statements for quantitative disclosure for open forward currency contracts and open futures
contracts held by the Trust as of September 30, 2012.
Qualitative Disclosure
The investment objective of the Trust is to maximize absolute returns from a portfolio of foreign currency forward contracts and exchange-traded futures
contracts that may involve commodities, currencies, interest rates and certain eligible stock or bond indices
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while seeking to reduce the risks and volatility inherent in those investments by taking long and short positions in historically correlated assets. As a result, at any time the Trust may have
substantial exposure to interest rate risk, foreign currency exchange rate risk, commodity price risk and equity price risk.
Part I,
Item 1A. Risk Factors of the registrants Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 14, 2012 discussed these risks in detail.
Specifically, please refer to Risks Relating to U.S. Government and Sovereign Debt Markets and Risks Relating to Interest Rate Derivatives Markets for further discussion of interest rate risk, Risks Relating to Currency
Markets for further discussion of foreign currency exchange rate risk, Risks Relating to Commodities Markets for further discussion of commodity price risk and Risks Relating to Security Index Futures Markets for
further discussion of equity price risk.
In addition, the Advisor utilizes a portfolio construction process in which each potential strategy
and underlying asset is ranked in terms of expected return, volatility and trading cost. This portfolio construction process is quantitative and relies on the use of computer models developed by affiliates of the Advisor for the computation of
expected return, volatility and trading cost and the determination of optimal positions and consequent leverage in accordance with the risk and return targets of the Portfolio. These risk and return targets take into account certain financial
measurements known as annualized portfolio return volatility and Sharpe ratio. Annualized portfolio return volatility is a quantitative measure used to assess a portfolios deviation above or below its average returns over a one year period.
Since the inception of the Trust, the Portfolios construction has targeted an allocation of annualized portfolio return volatility of 6-8%, which has been allocated equally across the investment strategies of the Trust. On
September 28, 2012, the Advisor announced that the maximum portfolio return volatility will be increased to 10% per annum and that the equal
allocation among strategies may be discontinued in the future.
The Advisor expects a Sharpe ratio of 0.50 to 0.75 for the Portfolio. A Sharpe
ratio is a quantitative measure of the excess return per unit of risk in an investment asset or a trading strategy. The Advisor measures excess returns as the realized portfolio return minus a one-month Treasury bill benchmark return for the same
period being measured. The Advisor measures risk as the annualized portfolio return volatility described above. For example, a 0.50 Sharpe ratio indicates that for each one percent of excess return, an investor may expect 2% of annualized portfolio
return volatility (0.50 = 1%/2%). Also, a 0.75 Sharpe ratio indicates that for each one percent of excess return, an investor may expect approximately 1.33% of annualized portfolio return volatility (0.75 = 1%/1.33%). Some or all of the
Advisors expectations or targets may not be realized by the Trust.
The principals of the Advisor determine the asset allocation for the
Portfolio which seeks to achieve a target excess return at a targeted risk level. The Advisor expects to allocate Trust investments periodically among yield and futures curve arbitrage strategies, technical strategies and fundamental relative value
strategies such as those listed above using a mean variance optimization. Mean variance optimization is a method used to determine portfolio allocations by considering risk and return metrics. The goal of mean variance optimization is to
diversify risk based on quantitative analysis of historical relationships without reducing expected return. There is no guarantee that the Advisor will be able to achieve this goal for the Trust.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
The duly authorized officers of the Sponsor performing functions equivalent to those a principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the Trust would perform if the Trust had any officers,
and with the participation of the Trustee, have evaluated the effectiveness of the Trusts disclosure controls and procedures, and have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures of the Trust were effective as of the end of the
period covered by this report to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in the reports that the Trust files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and
reported, within the time periods specified in the applicable rules and forms, and that it is accumulated and communicated to the duly authorized officers of the Sponsor performing functions equivalent to those a principal executive officer and
principal financial officer of the Trust would perform if the Trust had any officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
There are inherent limitations to the effectiveness of any system of disclosure controls and procedures, including the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of the controls and
procedures.
There were no changes in the Trusts internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by
this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Trusts internal control over financial reporting.
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