As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 6, 2009
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Delaware | 6770 | 20-5576760 | ||
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) |
(Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
United States Commodity Funds LLC 1320 Harbor Bay Parkway, Suite 145 Alameda, California 94502 510.522.3336 |
Nicholas D. Gerber 1320 Harbor Bay Parkway, Suite 145 Alameda, California 94502 510.522.3336 |
|
(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrants Principal Executive Offices) |
(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service) |
Copies to:
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after this registration statement becomes effective.
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box. x
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o
If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434, please check the following box. o
Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered |
Amount to be Registered |
Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit(1) |
Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price(1) |
Amount of Registration Fee(2) |
||||||||||||
Units of United States Natural Gas Fund, LP | 1,000,000,000 | $ | 13.72 | $ | 13,720,000,000 | $ | 765,576 |
(1) | Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(d) under the Securities Act of 1933. The price per unit reflects the closing price on NYSE Arca on May 27, 2009. |
(2) | Previously paid. |
This prospectus contains a combined prospectus under Rule 429 of the Securities Act of 1933, which relates to File No. 333-158157. Accordingly, upon effectiveness, this registration statement shall act as a post-effective amendment to File No. 333-158157.
The Registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this Prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the SEC is effective. This Prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS | SUBJECT TO COMPLETION |
United States Natural Gas Fund, LP, a Delaware limited partnership, is a commodity pool that issues units that may be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca. United States Natural Gas Fund, LP is referred to as USNG throughout this document. The investment objective of USNG is to have the changes in percentage terms of the units net asset value reflect the changes in percentage terms of the price of natural gas delivered at the Henry Hub, Louisiana, as measured by the changes in the price of the futures contract on natural gas traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange that is the near month contract to expire, except when the near month contract is within two weeks of expiration, in which case it will be measured by the futures contract that is the next month contract to expire, less USNGs expenses. This is a best efforts offering. USNG will continuously offer creation baskets consisting of 100,000 units to authorized purchasers through ALPS Distributors, Inc., which is the marketing agent. A list of USNGs current authorized purchasers is available from the marketing agent. Authorized purchasers will pay a transaction fee of $1,000 for each order placed to create one or more baskets. This is a continuous offering and will not terminate until all of the registered units have been sold. Our units are listed on the NYSE Arca under the symbol UNG.
| Authorized purchasers may purchase creation baskets of 100,000 units. The per unit price of units on a particular day will be the total net asset value of USNG calculated shortly after the close of the core trading session of the NYSE Arca on that day divided by the number of issued and outstanding units. |
| Authorized purchasers are the only persons that may place orders to create and redeem baskets. An authorized purchaser is under no obligation to create or redeem baskets, and an authorized purchaser is under no obligation to offer to the public units of any baskets it does create. Authorized purchasers that do offer to the public units from the baskets they create will do so at per-unit offering prices that are expected to reflect, among other factors, the trading price of the units on the NYSE Arca, the net asset value of USNG at the time the authorized purchaser purchased the creation basket and the net asset value of the units at the time of the offer of the units to the public, the supply of and demand for units at the time of sale, and the liquidity of the natural gas futures contract market and the market for other natural gas-related investments. The prices of units offered by authorized purchasers are expected to fall between USNGs net asset value and the trading price of the units on the NYSE Arca at the time of sale. The difference between the price paid by authorized purchasers as underwriters and the price paid to such authorized purchasers by investors will be deemed underwriting compensation. Units initially comprising the same basket but offered by authorized purchasers to the public at different times may have different offering prices. Units trade in the secondary market on the NYSE Arca. Units may trade in the secondary market at prices that are lower or higher relative to their net asset value per unit. The amount of the discount or premium in the trading price relative to the net asset value per unit may be influenced by various factors, including the number of investors who seek to purchase or sell units in the secondary market and the liquidity of the natural gas futures contract market and the market for other natural gas-related investments. Authorized purchasers are not be required to sell any specific number or dollar amount of units. |
USNG is not a mutual fund registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and is not subject to regulation under such Act.
Some of the risks of investing in USNG include:
| Investing in natural gas interests subjects USNG to the risks of the natural gas industry which could result in large fluctuations in the price of USNGs units. |
| If certain correlations do not exist, then investors may not be able to use USNG as a cost-effective way to invest indirectly in natural gas or as a hedge against the risk of loss in natural gas-related transactions. |
| USNG does not expect to make cash distributions. |
| USNG and its general partner may have conflicts of interest, which may permit them to favor their own interests to your detriment. |
Investing in USNG involves other significant risks. See What Are the Risk Factors Involved with an Investment in USNG? beginning on page 12.
NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (SEC) NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THE SECURITIES OFFERED IN THIS PROSPECTUS, OR DETERMINED IF THIS PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
THE COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION (CFTC) HAS NOT PASSED UPON THE MERITS OF PARTICIPATING IN THIS POOL NOR HAS IT PASSED ON THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT.
This prospectus is in two parts: a disclosure document and a statement of additional information. These parts are bound together, and both contain important information.
Per Unit | Per Basket | |||||||
Price of the units* | $ | 13.80 | $ | 1,380,000 |
* | Based on closing net asset value on June 30, 2009. The price may vary based on net asset value in effect on a particular day. |
YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER WHETHER YOUR FINANCIAL CONDITION PERMITS YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN A COMMODITY POOL. IN SO DOING, YOU SHOULD BE AWARE THAT FUTURES AND OPTIONS TRADING CAN QUICKLY LEAD TO LARGE LOSSES AS WELL AS GAINS. SUCH TRADING LOSSES CAN SHARPLY REDUCE THE NET ASSET VALUE OF THE POOL AND CONSEQUENTLY THE VALUE OF YOUR INTEREST IN THE POOL. IN ADDITION, RESTRICTIONS ON REDEMPTIONS MAY AFFECT YOUR ABILITY TO WITHDRAW YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE POOL.
FURTHER, COMMODITY POOLS MAY BE SUBJECT TO SUBSTANTIAL CHARGES FOR MANAGEMENT, ADVISORY AND BROKERAGE FEES. IT MAY BE NECESSARY FOR THOSE POOLS THAT ARE SUBJECT TO THESE CHARGES TO MAKE SUBSTANTIAL TRADING PROFITS TO AVOID DEPLETION OR EXHAUSTION OF THEIR ASSETS. THIS DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT CONTAINS A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF EACH EXPENSE TO BE CHARGED THIS POOL BEGINNING ON PAGE 58 AND A STATEMENT OF THE PERCENTAGE RETURN NECESSARY TO BREAK EVEN, THAT IS, TO RECOVER THE AMOUNT OF YOUR INITIAL INVESTMENT, ON PAGE 6.
THIS BRIEF STATEMENT CANNOT DISCLOSE ALL THE RISKS AND OTHER FACTORS NECESSARY TO EVALUATE YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THIS COMMODITY POOL. THEREFORE, BEFORE YOU DECIDE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS COMMODITY POOL, YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY STUDY THIS DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT, INCLUDING THE DESCRIPTION OF THE PRINCIPAL RISK FACTORS OF THIS INVESTMENT, BEGINNING ON PAGE 12.
YOU SHOULD ALSO BE AWARE THAT THIS COMMODITY POOL MAY TRADE FOREIGN FUTURES OR OPTIONS CONTRACTS. TRANSACTIONS ON MARKETS LOCATED OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING MARKETS FORMALLY LINKED TO A UNITED STATES MARKET, MAY BE SUBJECT TO REGULATIONS WHICH OFFER DIFFERENT OR DIMINISHED PROTECTION TO THE POOL AND ITS PARTICIPANTS. FURTHER, UNITED STATES REGULATORY AUTHORITIES MAY BE UNABLE TO COMPEL THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE RULES OF REGULATORY AUTHORITIES OR MARKETS IN NON-UNITED STATES JURISDICTIONS WHERE TRANSACTIONS FOR THE POOL MAY BE EFFECTED.
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Until [ ], 2009 (25 days after the date of this prospectus), all dealers effecting transactions in the offered units, whether or not participating in this distribution, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This requirement is in addition to the obligations of dealers to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to unsold allotments or subscriptions.
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This prospectus includes forward-looking statements which generally relate to future events or future performance. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as may, will, should, expect, plan, anticipate, believe, estimate, predict, potential or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. All statements (other than statements of historical fact) included in this prospectus and movements in the commodities markets and indexes that track such movements, USNGs operations, the General Partners plans and references to USNGs future success and other similar matters, are forward-looking statements. These statements are only predictions. Actual events or results may differ materially. These statements are based upon certain assumptions and analyses the General Partner has made based on its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors appropriate in the circumstances. Whether or not actual results and developments will conform to the General Partners expectations and predictions, however, is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including the special considerations discussed in this prospectus, general economic, market and business conditions, changes in laws or regulations, including those concerning taxes, made by governmental authorities or regulatory bodies, and other world economic and political developments. See What Are the Risk Factors Involved with an Investment in USNG? Consequently, all the forward-looking statements made in this prospectus are qualified by these cautionary statements, and there can be no assurance that the events or developments that will or may occur in the future, including such matters as changes in inflation in the United States movements in the stock market, movements in the U.S. and foreign currencies, actual results or developments the General Partner anticipates will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will result in the expected consequences to, or have the expected effects on, USNGs operations or the value of the units.
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This is only a summary of the prospectus and, while it contains material information about USNG and its units, it does not contain or summarize all of the information about USNG and the units contained in this prospectus that is material and/or which may be important to you. You should read this entire prospectus, including What Are the Risk Factors Involved with an Investment in USNG? beginning on page 12, before making an investment decision about the units.
United States Natural Gas Fund, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (USNG or Us or We), is a commodity pool that issues units that may be purchased and sold on the NYSE Arca. Prior to November 25, 2008, USNGs units were traded on the American Stock Exchange. USNG was organized as a limited partnership under Delaware law on September 11, 2006. USNG is operated pursuant to the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership dated December 4, 2007 (LP Agreement). It is managed and controlled by its general partner, United States Commodity Funds LLC (formerly known as Victoria Bay Asset Management, LLC) (General Partner). The General Partner is a single member limited liability company formed in Delaware on May 10, 2005 that is registered as a commodity pool operator (CPO) with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and is a member of the National Futures Association (NFA).
The net assets of USNG consist primarily of investments in futures contracts for natural gas, crude oil, heating oil, gasoline, and other petroleum-based fuels that are traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange (the NYMEX), ICE Futures (formerly, the International Petroleum Exchange) or other U.S. and foreign exchanges (collectively, Futures Contracts) and other natural gas-related investments such as cash-settled options on Futures Contracts, forward contracts for natural gas, and over-the-counter transactions that are based on the price of natural gas, crude oil and other petroleum-based fuels, Futures Contracts and indices based on the foregoing (collectively, Other Natural Gas-Related Investments). For convenience and unless otherwise specified, Futures Contracts and Other Natural Gas-Related Investments collectively are referred to as Natural Gas Interests in this prospectus. The General Partner is authorized by USNG in its sole judgment to employ, establish the terms of employment for, and terminate commodity trading advisors or futures commission merchants.
USNG invests in Natural Gas Interests to the fullest extent possible without being leveraged or unable to satisfy its current or potential margin or collateral obligations with respect to its investments in Futures Contracts and Other Natural Gas-Related Investments. The primary focus of the General Partner is the investment in Futures Contracts and the management of USNGs investments in short-term obligations of the United States of two years or less (Treasuries), cash and cash equivalents for margining purposes and as collateral.
The investment objective of USNG is to have the changes in percentage terms of its units net asset value (NAV) reflect the changes in percentage terms of the spot price of natural gas delivered at the Henry Hub, Louisiana, as measured by the changes in the price of the futures contract on natural gas traded on the NYMEX (the Benchmark Futures Contract) that is the near month contract to expire, except when the near month contract is within two weeks of expiration, in which case it will be measured by the futures contract that is the next month contract to expire, less USNGs expenses. It is not the intent of USNG to be operated in a fashion such that its NAV will equal, in dollar terms, the spot price of natural gas or any particular futures contract based on natural gas. USNG may invest in interests other than the Benchmark Futures Contract to comply with accountability levels and position limits. For a detailed discussion of accountability levels and position limits, see What are Futures Contracts?
As a specific benchmark, the General Partner endeavors to place USNGs trades in Futures Contracts and Other Natural Gas-Related Investments and otherwise manage USNGs investments so that A will be within plus/minus 10 percent of B, where:
| A is the average daily change in USNGs NAV for any period of 30 successive valuation days, i.e., any NYSE Arca trading day as of which USNG calculates its NAV, and |
| B is the average daily change in the price of the Benchmark Futures Contract over the same period. |
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The General Partner believes that market arbitrage opportunities will cause USNGs unit price on the NYSE Arca to closely track daily changes in USNGs NAV per unit. The General Partner further believes that the prices of the Benchmark Futures Contract have historically closely tracked the spot prices of natural gas. The General Partner believes that the net effect of these two expected relationships and the expected relationship described above between USNGs NAV and the Benchmark Futures Contract, will be that changes in the price of USNGs units on the NYSE Arca will closely track, in percentage terms, the changes in the spot price of natural gas, less USNGs expenses.
An investment in the units will allow both retail and institutional investors to easily gain exposure to the natural gas market in a cost-effective manner. The units are also expected to provide additional means for diversifying an investors investments or hedging exposure to changes in natural gas prices.
The General Partner employs a neutral investment strategy intended to track the changes in the price of the Benchmark Futures Contract regardless of whether the price goes up or goes down. USNGs neutral investment strategy is designed to permit investors generally to purchase and sell USNGs units for the purpose of investing indirectly in natural gas in a cost-effective manner, and/or to permit participants in the natural gas or other industries to hedge the risk of losses in their natural gas-related transactions. Accordingly, depending on the investment objective of an individual investor, the risks generally associated with investing in natural gas and/or the risks involved in hedging may exist. In addition, an investment in USNG involves the risk that the changes in the price of USNGs units will not accurately track the changes in the price of the Benchmark Futures Contract. For example, USNG also invests in Treasuries and holds cash and cash equivalents to be used to meet its current or potential margin or collateral requirements with respect to its investments in Futures Contracts and Other Natural Gas-Related Investments. USNG does not expect there to be any meaningful correlation between the performance of USNGs investments in Treasuries/cash/cash equivalents and the changes in the price of natural gas. While the level of interest earned on or the market price of these investments may in some respect correlate to changes in the price of natural gas, this correlation is not anticipated as part of USNGs efforts to meet its objectives. This and certain risk factors discussed in this prospectus may cause a lack of correlation between the changes in USNGs NAV and the changes in the price of natural gas.
Each month, the Benchmark Futures Contract will change starting at the end of the day on the date two weeks prior to expiration of the near month contract for that month. During the first three days of the period, the applicable value of the Benchmark Futures Contract will be based on a combination of the near month contract and the next month contract as follows: (1) day 1 will consist of 75% of the then near month contracts total return for the day, plus 25% of the total return for the day of the next month contract, (2) day 2 will consist of 50% of the then near month contracts total return for the day, plus 50% of the total return for the day of the next month contract, and (3) day 3 will consist of 25% of the then near month contracts total return for the day, plus 75% of the total return for the day of the next month contract. On day 4, the Benchmark Futures Contract will be the next month contract to expire at that time and that contract will remain the Benchmark Futures Contract until the beginning of the following months change in the Benchmark Futures Contract over a four-day period.
On each day during the four-day period, the General Partner anticipates it will roll USNGs positions in natural gas investments by closing, or selling, a percentage of USNGs positions in natural gas interests and reinvesting the proceeds from closing those positions in new natural gas interests that reflect the change in the Benchmark Futures Contract.
The anticipated dates that the monthly four-day roll period will commence for 2009 will be posted on USNGs website at www.unitedstatesnaturalgasfund.com, and are subject to change without notice.
USNG creates and redeems units only in blocks of 100,000 units called Creation Baskets and Redemption Baskets, respectively. Only Authorized Purchasers may purchase or redeem Creation Baskets or Redemption Baskets. An Authorized Purchaser is under no obligation to create or redeem baskets, and an Authorized Purchaser is under no obligation to offer to the public units of any baskets it does create. Baskets are generally created when there is sufficient demand for units that the market price per unit is at a premium to the NAV per unit. Authorized Purchasers will then sell such units, which will be listed on the NYSE Arca, to the public at per-unit offering prices that are expected to reflect, among other factors, the trading price of
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the units on the NYSE Arca, the NAV of USNG at the time the Authorized Purchaser purchased the Creation Baskets and the NAV at the time of the offer of the units to the public, the supply of and demand for units at the time of sale, and the liquidity of the Futures Contracts market and the market for Other Natural Gas-Related Investments. The prices of units offered by Authorized Purchasers are expected to fall between USNGs NAV and the trading price of the units on the NYSE Arca at the time of sale. Similarly, baskets are generally redeemed when the market price per unit is at a discount to the NAV per unit. Retail investors seeking to purchase or sell units on any day are expected to effect such transactions in the secondary market, on the NYSE Arca, at the market price per unit, rather than in connection with the creation or redemption of baskets.
All proceeds from the sale of Creation Baskets are invested as quickly as possible in the investments described in this prospectus. Investments are held through USNGs custodian, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (Custodian), or through accounts with USNGs commodity futures brokers. There is no stated maximum time period for USNGs operations and the fund will continue until all units are redeemed or the fund is liquidated pursuant to the terms of the LP Agreement.
There is no specified limit on the maximum amount of Creation Baskets that can be sold. At some point, accountability levels and position limits on certain of the Futures Contracts in which USNG intends to invest may practically limit the maximum amount of Creation Baskets that will be sold if the General Partner determines that the other investment alternatives available to USNG at that time will not enable it to meet its stated investment objective. In this regard, the General Partner is in the process of registering the units of another exchange traded commodity pool, the United States 12 Month Natural Gas Fund, LP (US12NG). US12NG will invest in the near month contract to expire and the contracts for the following eleven months, for a total of 12 consecutive months contracts for natural gas primarily traded on the NYMEX. Any Benchmark Futures Contracts held by US12NG will be aggregated with the ones held by USNG in determining NYMEX accountability levels and position limits.
Units may also be purchased and sold by individuals and entities that are not Authorized Purchasers in smaller increments than Creation Baskets on the NYSE Arca. However, these transactions are effected at bid and ask prices established by specialist firm(s). Like any listed security, units of USNG can be purchased and sold at any time a secondary market is open.
In managing USNGs assets, the General Partner does not use a technical trading system that issues buy and sell orders. The General Partner instead employs quantitative methodologies whereby each time one or more baskets are purchased or redeemed, the General Partner will purchase or sell Futures Contracts and Other Natural Gas-Related Investments with an aggregate market value that approximates the amount of Treasuries and/or cash received or paid upon the purchase or redemption of the basket(s).
Note to Secondary Market Investors: The units can be directly purchased from or redeemed by USNG only in Creation Baskets or Redemption Baskets, respectively, and only by Authorized Purchasers. Each Creation Basket and Redemption Basket consists of 100,000 units and is expected to be worth millions of dollars. Individual investors, therefore, are not able to directly purchase units from or redeem units with USNG. Some of the information contained in this prospectus, including information about buying and redeeming units directly from and to USNG is only relevant to Authorized Purchasers. Units are listed and traded on the NYSE Arca under the ticker symbol UNG and may be purchased and sold as individual units. Individuals interested in purchasing units in the secondary market should contact their broker. Units purchased or sold through a broker may be subject to commissions.
Except when aggregated in Redemption Baskets, units are not redeemable securities. There is no guarantee that units will trade at or near the per-unit NAV.
The units are registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (1933 Act) and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act) and do not provide dividend rights or conversion rights and there will not be sinking funds. The units may only be redeemed when aggregated in Redemption Baskets as discussed under Creation and Redemption of Units and limited partners have limited voting rights as discussed under Who is the General Partner? Cumulative voting is neither permitted nor required and there are no preemptive
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rights. As discussed in the LP Agreement, upon liquidation of USNG, its assets will be distributed pro rata to limited partners based upon the number of units held. Each limited partner will receive its share of the assets in cash or in kind, and the proportion of such share that is received in cash may vary from partner to partner, as the General Partner in its sole discretion may decide.
This is a continuous offering under Rule 415 of the 1933 Act and it will terminate when all of the registered units have been sold. It is anticipated that when all registered units have been sold pursuant to this registration statement, additional units will be registered in subsequent registration statements. As discussed above, the minimum purchase requirement for Authorized Purchasers is a Creation Basket, which consists of 100,000 units. Under the plan of distribution, USNG does not require a minimum purchase amount for investors who purchase units from Authorized Purchasers. There are no arrangements to place funds in an escrow, trust, or similar account.
A brief description of the principal types of Natural Gas Interests in which USNG may invest is set forth below.
| A futures contract is a standardized contract traded on a futures exchange that calls for the future delivery of a specified quantity of a commodity at a specified time and place. |
| A forward contract is a supply contract between principals, not traded on an exchange, to buy or sell a specified quantity of a commodity at or before a specified date at a specified price. |
| A spot contract is a cash market transaction in which the buyer and seller agree to the immediate purchase and sale of a commodity, usually with a two-day settlement. Spot contracts are not uniform and are not exchange-traded. |
| An option on a futures contract, forward contract or a commodity on the spot market gives the buyer of the option the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell a futures contract, forward contract or a commodity as applicable, at a specified price on or before a specified date. Options on futures contracts are standardized contracts traded on an exchange, while options on forward contracts and commodities on the spot market, referred to collectively in this prospectus as over-the-counter options, generally are individually negotiated, principal-to-principal contracts not traded on an exchange. |
| Over-the-counter contracts (such as swap contracts) generally involve an exchange of a stream of payments between the contracting parties. Over-the-counter contracts generally are not uniform and not exchange-traded. |
A more detailed description of natural gas interests and other aspects of the natural gas and natural gas interest markets can be found later in this prospectus.
As noted, USNG invests primarily in Futures Contracts, including those traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange. USNG expressly disclaims any association with such Exchange or endorsement of USNG by such Exchange and acknowledges that NYMEX and New York Mercantile Exchange are registered trademarks of such Exchange.
An investment in USNG involves a degree of risk. Some of the risks you may face are summarized below. A more extensive discussion of these risks appears beginning on page 12.
| Unlike mutual funds, commodity pools or other investment pools that actively manage their investments in an attempt to realize income and gains from their investing activities and distribute such income and gains to their investors, USNG generally does not distribute cash to limited partners or other unitholders. You should not invest in USNG if you will need cash distributions from USNG to pay taxes on your share of income and gains of USNG, if any, or for any other reason. |
| There is the risk that the changes in the price of USNGs units on the NYSE Arca will not closely track the changes in the price of natural gas. This could happen if the price of units traded on the NYSE Arca does not correlate closely with USNGs NAV; the changes in USNGs NAV do not |
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closely correlate with the changes in the price of the Benchmark Futures Contract; or the changes in the price of the Benchmark Futures Contract do not closely correlate with the changes in the cash or spot price of natural gas. This is a risk because if these correlations do not exist, then investors may not be able to use USNG as a cost-effective way to invest indirectly in natural gas or as a hedge against the risk of loss in natural gas-related transactions. |
| USNG seeks to have the changes in its units NAV in percentage terms track changes in the price of natural gas in percentage terms rather than profit from speculative trading of Natural Gas Interests. The General Partner therefore endeavors to manage USNGs positions in Natural Gas Interests so that USNGs assets are, unlike those of other commodity pools, not leveraged (i.e., so that the aggregate value of USNGs unrealized losses from its investments in such Natural Gas Interests at any time will not exceed the value of USNGs assets). There is no assurance that the General Partner will successfully implement this investment strategy. If the General Partner permits USNG to become leveraged, you could lose all or substantially all of your investment if USNGs trading positions suddenly turn unprofitable. These movements in price may be the result of factors outside of the General Partners control and may not be anticipated by the General Partner. |
| The price relationship between the near month contract to expire and the next month contract to expire that compose the Benchmark Futures Contract will vary and may impact both the total return over time of USNGs NAV, as well as the degree to which its total return tracks other natural gas price indices total returns. In cases in which the near month contracts price is lower than the next month contracts price (a situation known as contango in the futures markets), then absent the impact of the overall movement in natural gas prices the value of the benchmark contract would tend to decline as it approaches expiration. In cases in which the near month contracts price is higher than the next month contracts price (a situation known as backwardation in the futures markets), then absent the impact of the overall movement in natural gas prices the value of the benchmark contract would tend to rise as it approaches expiration. |
| Investors may choose to use USNG as a means of investing indirectly in natural gas and there are risks involved in such investments. The risks and hazards that are inherent in the natural gas industry may cause the price of natural gas to widely fluctuate. The exploration for, and production of, natural gas is an uncertain process with many risks. The cost of drilling, completing and operating wells for natural gas is often uncertain, and a number of factors can delay or prevent drilling operations or production. |
| Investors, including those who directly participate in the natural gas industry, may choose to use USNG as a vehicle to hedge against the risk of loss and there are risks involved in hedging activities. While hedging can provide protection against an adverse movement in market prices, it can also preclude a hedgers opportunity to benefit from a favorable market movement. |
| USNG invests primarily in Futures Contracts, and particularly in Futures Contracts traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange. |
| USNG invests primarily in Futures Contracts that are traded in the United States. However, a portion of USNGs trades may take place in markets and on exchanges outside the United States. Some non-U.S. markets present risks because they are not subject to the same degree of regulation as their U.S. counterparts. In some of these non-U.S. markets, the performance on a contract is the responsibility of the counterparty and is not backed by an exchange or clearing corporation and therefore exposes USNG to credit risk. Trading in non-U.S. markets also leaves USNG susceptible to fluctuations in the value of the local currency against the U.S. dollar. |
| USNG may also invest in Other Natural Gas-Related Investments, many of which are negotiated contracts that are not as liquid as Futures Contracts and expose USNG to credit risk that its counterparty may not be able to satisfy its obligations to USNG. |
| USNG pays fees and expenses that are incurred regardless of whether it is profitable. |
| You will have no rights to participate in the management of USNG and will have to rely on the duties and judgment of the General Partner to manage USNG. |
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| The structure and operation of USNG may involve conflicts of interest. For example, a conflict may arise because the General Partner and its principals and affiliates may trade for themselves. In addition, the General Partner has sole current authority to manage the investments and operations, which may create a conflict with the unitholders best interests. The General Partner may also have a conflict to the extent that its trading decisions may be influenced by the effect they would have on the United States Oil Fund, LP (USOF), the United States 12 Month Oil Fund, LP (US12OF), the United States Gasoline Fund, LP (UGA), or the United States Heating Oil Fund, LP (USHO), the other commodity pools that it manages, or any other commodity pool the General Partner may form and manage in the future. USOF, US12OF, UGA and USHO are referred to herein as the Related Public Funds. |
For additional risks, see What Are the Risk Factors Involved with an Investment in USNG?
USNGs principal office is located at 1320 Harbor Bay Parkway, Suite 145, Alameda, California 94502. The telephone number is 510.522.3336. The General Partners principal office is also located at 1320 Harbor Bay Parkway, Suite 145, Alameda, California 94502.
USNGs NAV is calculated shortly after the close of the core trading session on the NYSE Arca.
For a glossary of defined terms, see Appendix A.
The breakeven analysis below indicates the approximate dollar returns and percentage required for the redemption value of a hypothetical $50.00 initial investment in a single unit to equal the amount invested twelve months after the investment was made. This breakeven analysis refers to the redemption of baskets by Authorized Purchasers and is not related to any gains an individual investor would have to achieve in order to break even. The breakeven analysis is an approximation only.
Assumed initial selling price per unit | $ | 50.00 | ||
Management Fee (0.60%)(1) | $ | 0.30 | ||
Creation Basket Fee(2) | $ | (0.01 | ) | |
Estimated Brokerage Fee (0.21%)(3) | $ | 0.11 | ||
Interest Income (0.15%)(4) | $ | (0.08 | ) | |
Registration Fees(5) | $ | 0.08 | ||
Legal, Printing, and Accounting Expenses(6) | $ | 0.01 | ||
New York Mercantile Exchange Licensing Fee(7) | $ | 0.02 | ||
Independent Directors and Officers Fee(8) | $ | 0.01 | ||
Fees and expenses associated with tax accounting and reporting(9) | $ | 0.07 | ||
Amount of trading income (loss) required for the redemption value at the end of one year to equal the initial selling price of the unit | $ | 0.51 | ||
Percentage of initial selling price per unit | 1.02 | % |
(1) | USNG is contractually obligated to pay the General Partner a management fee based on daily net assets and paid monthly of 0.60% per annum on average net assets of $1,000,000,000 or less. For purposes of this example we assumed that the average net assets are $1,000,000,000 or less. If the average net assets were greater than $1,000,000,000 then the management fee would be 0.50% on the incremental net assets and the breakeven amount would be lower. |
(2) | Authorized Purchasers are required to pay a Creation Basket fee of $1,000 for each order they place to create one or more baskets. An order must be at least one basket, which is 100,000 units. This breakeven analysis assumes a hypothetical investment in a single unit so the Creation Basket fee is $0.01 (1,000/100,000). |
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(3) | The number in the break-even table represents USNG's historical portfolio brokerage commissions presented as an annualized percentage of average net assets, annualized through May 31, 2009. |
(4) | USNG earns interest on funds it deposits with the futures commission merchant and the Custodian and it estimates that the interest rate is 0.15% based on the current interest rate on three-month Treasury Bills as of May 28, 2009. The actual rate may vary. |
(5) | The fee to register 1,000,000,000 units with the SEC and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) is $841,076 (the SECs fee is $765,576 and FINRAs fee is $75,500). An order must be at least one basket which is 100,000 units. The number in the breakeven table assumes USNG has $500 million in assets. |
(6) | USNG estimates that the legal, printing, and accounting costs will be approximately $65,000. The number in the breakeven table assumes USNG has $500 million in assets. |
(7) | Assuming the aggregate assets of USNG and the Related Public Funds are $1,000,000,000 or less, the New York Mercantile Exchange licensing fee is 0.04%. For more information see Fees of USNG. |
(8) | For 2008, USNG accrued $27,880. The number in the breakeven table assumes USNG has $500 million in assets. |
(9) | For 2008, USNG incurred $680,773 in expenses attributable to tax accounting and reporting. The number in the break-even table assumes USNG has $500 million in assets. |
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Offering: |
USNG is offering Creation Baskets consisting of 100,000 units through ALPS Distributors, Inc. (Marketing Agent) as marketing agent to Authorized Purchasers. Authorized Purchasers may purchase Creation Baskets consisting of 100,000 units at USNGs NAV. |
Use of Proceeds: |
The General Partner applies substantially all of USNGs assets toward trading in Futures Contracts and other Natural Gas-Related Investments and investing in Treasuries, cash and/or cash equivalents. The General Partner will deposit a portion of USNGs net assets with the futures commission merchant, UBS Securities LLC, or other custodian to be used to meet its current or potential margin or collateral requirements in connection with its investment in Futures Contracts and Other Natural Gas- Related Investments. USNG uses only Treasuries, cash and/or cash equivalents to satisfy these requirements. The General Partner expects that all entities that will hold or trade USNG assets will be based in the United States and will be subject to United States regulations. Approximately 5% to 10% of USNGs assets are normally committed as margin for commodity futures contracts. However, from time to time, the percentage of assets committed as margin may be substantially more, or less, than such range. The remaining portion of USNGs assets, of which the General Partner expects to be the vast majority, are held in Treasuries, cash and/or cash equivalents by its custodian, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (Custodian) or posted as collateral to support USNGs investments in Natural Gas Interests. All interest income earned on these investments is retained for USNGs benefit. |
NYSE Arca Symbol: |
UNG |
Creation and Redemption: |
Authorized Purchasers pay a $1,000 fee for each order to create or redeem one or more Creation Baskets or Redemption Baskets. Authorized Purchasers are not required to sell any specific number or dollar amount of units. The per unit price of units offered in Creation Baskets on any particular day is the total NAV of USNG calculated shortly after the close of the core trading session on the NYSE Arca on that day divided by the number of issued and outstanding units. |
Withdrawal: |
As discussed in the LP Agreement, if the General Partner gives at least fifteen (15) days written notice to a limited partner, then the General Partner may for any reason, in its sole discretion, require any such limited partner to withdraw entirely from the partnership or to withdraw a portion of its partner capital account. If the General Partner does not give at least fifteen (15) days written notice to a limited partner, then it may only require withdrawal of all or any portion of the capital account of any limited partner in the following circumstances: |
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(i) the unitholder made a misrepresentation to the General Partner in connection with its purchase of units; or |
(ii) the limited partners ownership of units would result in the violation of any law or regulation applicable to the partnership or a partner. |
Registration Clearance and Settlement: |
Individual certificates will not be issued for the units. Instead, units will be represented by one or more global certificates, which will be deposited by the Custodian with the Depository Trust Company (DTC) and registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC. The global certificates evidence all of the units outstanding at any time. Unitholders are limited to (1) participants in DTC such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies (DTC Participants), (2) those who maintain, either directly or indirectly, a custodial relationship with a DTC Participant (Indirect Participants), and (3) those banks, brokers, dealers, trust companies and others who hold interests in the units through DTC Participants or Indirect Participants, in each case who satisfy the requirements for transfers of units. DTC Participants acting on behalf of investors holding units through such participants accounts in DTC will follow the delivery practice applicable to securities eligible for DTCs Same-Day Funds Settlement System. Units will be credited to DTC Participants securities accounts following confirmation of receipt of payment. |
The administrator, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (Administrator) has been appointed registrar and transfer agent for the purpose of registering and transferring units. The General Partner will recognize transfer of units only if such transfer is done in accordance with the LP Agreement, including the delivery of a transfer application. |
Net Asset Value: |
The NAV is calculated by taking the current market value of USNGs total assets and subtracting any liabilities. Under USNGs current operational procedures, the Administrator calculates the NAV of USNGs units once each NYSE Arca trading day. The NAV for a particular trading day is released after 4:00 p.m. New York time. Trading during the core trading session of the NYSE Arca typically closes at 4:00 p.m. New York time. The Administrator uses the NYMEX closing price (determined at the earlier of the close of the NYMEX or 2:30 p.m. New York time) for the contracts held on the NYMEX, but calculates or determines the value of all other USNG investments as of the earlier of the close of the New York Stock Exchange or 4:00 p.m. New York time. The NYSE Arca currently calculates an approximate net asset value every 15 seconds throughout each day USNGs units are traded on the NYSE Arca for as long as the New York Mercantile Exchanges main pricing mechanism is open. |
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Fund Expenses: |
USNG pays the General Partner a management fee of 0.60% of NAV on the first $1,000,000,000 of assets and 0.50% of NAV after the first $1,000,000,000 of assets. Brokerage fees for Treasuries, Futures Contracts, and Other Natural Gas-Related Investments were 0.21% of average net assets on an annualized basis through May 31, 2009 and will be paid to unaffiliated brokers. USNG also pays any licensing fees for the use of intellectual property, registration fees with the SEC, FINRA, or other regulatory agency in connection with this and subsequent offers and sales of the units and the legal, printing, accounting and other expenses associated with such registrations. The licensing fee paid to the NYMEX is 0.04% of NAV for the first $1,000,000,000 of assets and 0.02% of NAV after the first $1,000,000,000 of assets. The assets of USNG are aggregated with those of the other funds managed by the General Partner for the purpose of calculating the NYMEX licensing fee. USNG also is responsible for the fees and expenses, which may include directors and officers liability insurance, of the independent directors of the General Partner in connection with their activities with respect to USNG. These director fees and expenses may be shared with other funds managed by the General Partner. These fees and expenses in total amounted to $282,000 for 2008, and USNGs portion amounted to $130,371, though this amount may change in future years. The General Partner, and not USNG, is responsible for payment of the fees of USNGs Marketing Agent, Administrator and Custodian. USNG and/or the General Partner may be required to indemnify the Marketing Agent, Administrator or Custodian under certain circumstances. USNG also pays the fees and expenses associated with its tax accounting and reporting requirements with the exception of certain initial implementation services fees and base services fees which were paid by the General Partner. These fees and expenses amounted to approximately $680,773 in 2008, though this amount may change in future years. |
Termination Events: |
USNG shall continue in effect from the date of its formation in perpetuity, unless sooner terminated upon the occurrence of any one or more of the following events: the death, adjudication of incompetence, bankruptcy, dissolution, withdrawal, or removal of a General Partner who is the sole remaining General Partner, unless a majority in interest of limited partners within ninety (90) days after such event elects to continue the partnership and appoints a successor general partner or the affirmative vote of a majority in interest of the limited partners subject to certain conditions. Upon termination of the partnership, the affairs of the partnership shall be wound up and all of its debts and liabilities discharged or otherwise provided for in the order of priority as provided by law. The fair market value of the remaining assets of the |
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partnership shall then be determined by the General Partner. Thereupon, the assets of the partnership shall be distributed pro rata to the partners in accordance with their units. |
Authorized Purchasers: |
USNG has entered into agreements with several Authorized Purchasers. A current list of Authorized Purchasers is available from the Marketing Agent. Authorized Purchasers purchase or redeem Creation Baskets or Redemption Baskets, respectively, from or to USNG. Authorized Purchasers must be (1) registered broker-dealers or other securities market participants, such as banks and other financial institutions, that are not required to register as broker-dealers to engage in securities transactions, and (2) DTC Participants. To become an Authorized Purchaser, a person must enter into an Authorized Purchaser Agreement with the General Partner. |
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You should consider carefully the risks described below before making an investment decision. You should also refer to the other information included in this prospectus, as well as information found in our periodic reports, which include USNGs financial statements and the related notes, that are incorporated by reference. See Incorporation By Reference of Certain Information.
USNG is subject to the risks and hazards of the natural gas industry because it invests in Natural Gas Interests. The risks and hazards that are inherent in the natural gas industry may cause the price of natural gas to widely fluctuate. If the changes in percentage terms of USNGs units accurately track the percentage changes in the Benchmark Futures Contract or the spot price of natural gas, then the price of its units may also fluctuate. The exploration for, and production of, natural gas is an uncertain process with many risks. The cost of drilling, completing and operating wells for natural gas is often uncertain, and a number of factors can delay or prevent drilling operations or production, including:
| unexpected drilling conditions; |
| pressure or irregularities in formations; |
| equipment failures or repairs; |
| fires or other accidents; |
| adverse weather conditions; |
| pipeline ruptures or spills; and |
| shortages or delays in the availability of drilling rigs and the delivery of equipment. |
There are a variety of hazards inherent in natural gas transmission, distribution, gathering, and processing, such as leaks, explosions, pollution, release of toxic substances, adverse weather conditions (such as hurricanes and flooding), pipeline failure, abnormal pressures, uncontrollable flows of natural gas, scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, physical damage to the gathering or transportation system, and other hazards which could affect the price of natural gas. To the extent these hazards limit the supply or delivery of natural gas, natural gas prices will increase.
Natural gas prices fluctuate seasonally. For example, in some parts of the United States and other markets, the natural gas demand for power peaks during the cold winter months, with market prices peaking at that time. As a result, in the future, the overall price of natural gas may fluctuate substantially on a seasonal and quarterly basis and thus make consecutive period to period comparisons less relevant.
Natural gas transmission and storage operations in North America are subject to regulation and oversight by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, various state regulatory agencies, and Canadian regulatory authorities. These regulatory bodies have the authority to effect rate settlements on natural gas storage, transmission and distribution services. As a consequence, the price of natural gas may be affected by a change in the rate settlements effected by one or more of these regulatory bodies.
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While it is expected that the trading prices of the units will fluctuate in accordance with the changes in USNGs NAV, the prices of units may also be influenced by other factors, including the short-term supply and demand for natural gas and the units. There is no guarantee that the units will not trade at appreciable discounts from, and/or premiums to, USNGs NAV. This could cause the changes in the price of the units to substantially vary from the changes in the price of natural gas. This may be harmful to you because if changes in the price of units vary substantially from changes in the Benchmark Futures Contract or the spot price of natural gas, then you may not be able to effectively use USNG as a way to hedge the risk of losses in your natural gas-related transactions or as a way to indirectly invest in natural gas.
The General Partner endeavors to invest USNGs assets as fully as possible in short-term Futures Contracts and Other Natural Gas-Related Investments so that the changes in percentage terms in the NAV closely correlate with the changes in percentage terms in the price of the Benchmark Futures Contract. However, changes in USNGs NAV may not correlate with the changes in the price of the Benchmark Futures Contract for several reasons as set forth below:
| USNG (i) may not be able to buy/sell the exact amount of Futures Contracts and Other Natural Gas-Related Investments to have a perfect correlation with NAV; (ii) may not always be able to buy and sell Futures Contracts or Other Natural Gas-Related Investments at the market price; (iii) may not experience a perfect correlation between the spot price of natural gas and the underlying investments in Futures Contracts, Other Natural Gas-Related Investments and Treasuries, cash and cash equivalents; and (iv) is required to pay fees, including the brokerage fees and the management fee, which will have an effect on the correlation. |
| Short-term supply and demand for natural gas may cause the changes in the market price of the Benchmark Futures Contract to vary from the changes in USNGs NAV if USNG has fully invested in Futures Contracts that do not reflect such supply and demand and it is unable to replace such contracts with Futures Contracts that do reflect such supply and demand. In addition, there are also technical differences between the two markets, e.g., one is a physical market while the other is a futures market traded on exchanges, that may cause variations between the spot price of natural gas and the prices of related futures contracts. |
| USNG plans to buy only as many Futures Contracts and Other Natural Gas-Related Investments that it can to get the changes in percentage terms of the NAV as close as possible to the changes in percentage terms in the price of the Benchmark Futures Contract. The remainder of its assets will be invested in Treasuries, cash and/or cash equivalents and will be used to satisfy initial margin and additional margin requirements, if any, and to otherwise support its investments in Natural Gas Interests. Investments in Treasuries, cash and/or cash equivalents, both directly and as margin, will provide rates of return that will vary from changes in the value of the spot price of natural gas and the price of the Benchmark Futures Contract. |
| In addition, because USNG will incur certain expenses in connection with its investment activities, and will hold most of its assets in cash and/or more liquid short-term securities for margin and other liquidity purposes and for redemptions that may be necessary on an ongoing basis, the General Partner will not be able to fully invest USNGs assets in Futures Contracts or Other Natural Gas-Related Investments and there cannot be perfect correlation between changes in USNGs NAV and changes in the price of the Benchmark Futures Contract. |
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| As USNG grows, there may be more or less correlation. For example, if USNG only has enough money to buy three Benchmark Futures Contracts and it needs to buy four contracts to track the price of natural gas then the correlation will be lower, but if it buys 20,000 Benchmark Futures Contracts and it needs to buy 20,001 contracts then the correlation will be higher. At certain asset levels, USNG may be limited in its ability to purchase the Benchmark Futures Contract or other Futures Contracts due to accountability levels imposed by the relevant exchanges. To the extent that USNG invests in these other Futures Contracts or Other Natural Gas-Related Investments, the correlation with the Benchmark Futures Contract may be lower. If USNG is required to invest in other Futures Contracts and Other Natural Gas-Related Investments that are less correlated with the Benchmark Futures Contract, USNG would likely invest in over-the-counter contracts to increase the level of correlation of USNGs assets. Over-the-counter contracts entail certain risks described below under Over-the-Counter Contract Risk. |
| USNG may not be able to buy the exact number of Futures Contracts and Other Natural Gas-Related Investments to have a perfect correlation with the Benchmark Futures Contract if the purchase price of Futures Contracts required to be fully invested in such contracts is higher than the proceeds received for the sale of a Creation Basket on the day the basket was sold. In such case, USNG could not invest the entire proceeds from the purchase of the Creation Basket in such Futures Contracts (for example, assume USNG receives $4,000,000 for the sale of a Creation Basket and assume that the price of a Futures Contract for natural gas is $59,950, then USNG could only invest in only 66 Futures Contracts with an aggregate value of $3,956,700), USNG would be required to invest a percentage of the proceeds in cash, Treasuries or other liquid securities to be deposited as margin with the futures commission merchant through which the contract was purchased. The remainder of the purchase price for the Creation Basket would remain invested in Treasuries, cash and/or cash equivalents or other liquid securities as determined by the General Partner from time to time based on factors such as potential calls for margin or anticipated redemptions. If the trading market for Futures Contracts is suspended or closed, USNG may not be able to purchase these investments at the last reported price for such investments. |
If changes in USNGs NAV do not correlate with changes in the price of the Benchmark Futures Contract, then investing in USNG may not be an effective way to hedge against natural gas-related losses or indirectly invest in natural gas.
When using the Benchmark Futures Contract as a strategy to track the spot price of natural gas, at best the correlation between changes in prices of such Natural Gas Interests and the spot price of natural gas can be only approximate. The degree of imperfection of correlation depends upon circumstances such as variations in the speculative natural gas market, supply of and demand for such Natural Gas Interests and technical influences in futures trading. If there is a weak correlation between the Natural Gas Interests and the spot price of natural gas, then the price of units may not accurately track the spot price of natural gas and you may not be able to effectively use USNG as a way to hedge the risk of losses in your natural gas-related transactions or as a way to indirectly invest in natural gas.
The value of Treasuries generally moves inversely with movements in interest rates. If USNG is required to sell Treasuries at a price lower than the price at which they were acquired, USNG will experience a loss. This loss may adversely impact the price of the units and may decrease the correlation between the price of the units, the price of USNGs Futures Contracts and Other Natural Gas-Related Investments, and the spot price of natural gas.
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USNG may not always be able to liquidate its positions in its investments at the desired price. It is difficult to execute a trade at a specific price when there is a relatively small volume of buy and sell orders in a market. A market disruption, such as a foreign government taking political actions that disrupt the market in its currency, its natural gas production or exports, or in another major export, can also make it difficult to liquidate a position. Alternatively, limits imposed by futures exchanges or other regulatory organizations, such as accountability levels, position limits and price fluctuation limits, may contribute to a lack of liquidity with respect to some commodity interests.
Unexpected market illiquidity may cause major losses to investors at any time or from time to time. In addition, USNG does not intend at this time to establish a credit facility, which would provide an additional source of liquidity and instead will rely only on the Treasuries, cash and/or cash equivalents that it holds. The anticipated large value of the positions in Futures Contracts that the General Partner will acquire or enter into for USNG increases the risk of illiquidity. Other Natural Gas-Related Investments that USNG invests in, such as negotiated over-the-counter contracts, may have a greater likelihood of being illiquid since they are contracts between two parties that take into account not only market risk, but also the relative credit, tax, and settlement risks under such contracts. Such contracts also have limited transferability that results from such risks and from the contracts express limitations.
Because both Futures Contracts and Other Natural Gas-Related Investments may be illiquid, USNGs Natural Gas Interests may be more difficult to liquidate at favorable prices in periods of illiquid markets and losses may be incurred during the period in which positions are being liquidated.
The changing nature of the hedgers and speculators in the natural gas market will influence whether futures prices are above or below the expected future spot price. In order to induce speculators to take the corresponding long side of the same futures contract, natural gas producers must generally be willing to sell futures contracts at prices that are below expected future spot prices. Conversely, if the predominant hedgers in the futures market are the purchasers of the natural gas who purchase futures contracts to hedge against a rise in prices, then speculators will only take the short side of the futures contract if the futures price is greater than the expected future spot price of natural gas. This can have significant implications for USNG when it is time to reinvest the proceeds from a maturing Futures Contract into a new Futures Contract.
While it is not the current intention of USNG to take physical delivery of natural gas under its Futures Contracts, futures contracts are not required to be cash-settled and it is possible to take delivery under some of these contracts. Storage costs associated with purchasing natural gas could result in costs and other liabilities that could impact the value of Futures Contracts or Other Natural Gas-Related Investments. Storage costs include the time value of money invested in natural gas as a physical commodity plus the actual costs of storing the natural gas less any benefits from ownership of natural gas that are not obtained by the holder of a futures contract. In general, Futures Contracts have a one-month delay for contract delivery and the back month (the back month is any future delivery month other than the spot month) includes storage costs. To the extent that these storage costs change for natural gas while USNG holds Futures Contracts or Other Natural Gas-Related Investments, the value of the Futures Contracts or Other Natural Gas-Related Investments, and therefore USNGs NAV, may change as well.
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The design of USNGs Benchmark Futures Contract is such that every month it begins by using the near month contract to expire until the near month contract is within two weeks of expiration, when over a four-day period, it transitions to the next month contract to expire as its benchmark contract and keeps that contract as its benchmark until it becomes the near month contract and close to expiration. In the event of a natural gas futures market where near month contracts trade at a higher price than next month to expire contracts, a situation described as backwardation in the futures market, then absent the impact of the overall movement in natural gas prices the value of the benchmark contract would tend to rise as it approaches expiration. As a result the total return of the Benchmark Futures Contract would tend to track higher. Conversely, in the event of a natural gas futures market where near month contracts trade at a lower price than next to near month contracts, a situation described as contango in the futures market, then absent the impact of the overall movement in natural gas prices the value of the benchmark contract would tend to decline as it approaches expiration. As a result the total return of the Benchmark Futures Contract would tend to track lower. When compared to total return of other price indices, such as the spot price of natural gas, the impact of backwardation and contango may lead the total return of USNGs NAV to vary significantly. In the event of a prolonged period of contango, and absent the impact of rising or falling natural gas prices, this could have a significant negative impact on USNGs NAV and total return.
The futures markets are subject to comprehensive statutes, regulations, and margin requirements. In addition, the CFTC and the exchanges are authorized to take extraordinary actions in the event of a market emergency, including, for example, the retroactive implementation of speculative position limits or higher margin requirements, the establishment of daily price limits and the suspension of trading. The regulation of futures transactions in the United States is a rapidly changing area of law and is subject to modification by government and judicial action.
The regulation of commodity interest transactions in the United States is a rapidly changing area of law and is subject to ongoing modification by governmental and judicial action. Considerable regulatory attention has been focused on non-traditional investment pools which are publicly distributed in the United States. There is a possibility of future regulatory changes altering, perhaps to a material extent, the nature of an investment in USNG or the ability of USNG to continue to implement its investment strategy. In addition, various national governments have expressed concern regarding the disruptive effects of speculative trading in the energy markets and the need to regulate the derivatives markets in general. The effect of any future regulatory change on USNG is impossible to predict, but could be substantial and adverse.
Participants in the natural gas or in other industries may use USNG as a vehicle to hedge the risk of losses in their natural gas-related transactions. There are several risks in connection with using USNG as a hedging device. While hedging can provide protection against an adverse movement in market prices, it can also preclude a hedgers opportunity to benefit from a favorable market movement. In a hedging transaction, the hedger may be concerned that the hedged item will increase in price, but must recognize the risk that the price may instead decline and if this happens he will have lost his opportunity to profit from the change in price because the hedging transaction will result in a loss rather than a gain. Thus, the hedger foregoes the opportunity to profit from favorable price movements.
In addition, if the hedge is not a perfect one, the hedger can lose on the hedging transaction and not realize an offsetting gain in the value of the underlying item being hedged.
When using futures contracts as a hedging technique, at best, the correlation between changes in prices of futures contracts and of the items being hedged can be only approximate. The degree of imperfection of correlation depends upon circumstances such as: variations in speculative markets, demand for futures and for
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natural gas products, technical influences in futures trading, and differences between anticipated energy costs being hedged and the instruments underlying the standard futures contracts available for trading. Even a well-conceived hedge may be unsuccessful to some degree because of unexpected market behavior as well as the expenses associated with creating the hedge.
In addition, using an investment in USNG as a hedge for changes in energy costs (e.g., for crude oil, gasoline, or other fuels, or electricity) may not correlate because changes in the price of natural gas futures contracts may vary from changes in energy costs because changes in the price of natural gas may not be at the same rate as changes in the price of other energy products and, in any case, the spot price of natural gas may not reflect the same refining, transportation, and other costs that may impact the hedgers energy costs.
Historically, Futures Contracts and Other Natural Gas-Related Investments have generally been non-correlated to the performance of other asset classes such as stocks and bonds. Non-correlation means that there is a low statistically valid relationship between the performance of futures and other commodity interest transactions, on the one hand, and stocks or bonds, on the other hand. However, there can be no assurance that such non-correlation will continue during future periods. If, contrary to historic patterns, USNGs performance were to move in the same general direction as the financial markets, you will obtain little or no diversification benefits from an investment in the units. In such a case, USNG may have no gains to offset your losses from other investments, and you may suffer losses on your investment in USNG at the same time you incur losses with respect to other investments.
Variables such as drought, floods, weather, embargoes, tariffs and other political events may have a larger impact on natural gas prices and natural gas-linked instruments, including Futures Contracts and Other Natural Gas-Related Investments, than on traditional securities. These additional variables may create additional investment risks that subject USNGs investments to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities.
Non-correlation should not be confused with negative correlation, where the performance of two asset classes would be opposite of each other. There is no historic evidence that the spot price of natural gas and prices of other financial assets, such as stocks and bonds, are negatively correlated. In the absence of negative correlation, USNG cannot be expected to be automatically profitable during unfavorable periods for the stock market, or vice versa.
USNG is not an investment company subject to the Investment Company Act of 1940. Accordingly, you do not have the protections afforded by that statute which, for example, requires investment companies to have a majority of disinterested directors and regulates the relationship between the investment company and its investment manager.
In managing and directing the day-to-day activities and affairs of USNG, the General Partner relies heavily on Mr. Nicholas Gerber, Mr. John Love and Mr. John Hyland. If Mr. Gerber, Mr. Love, or Mr. Hyland were to leave or be unable to carry out their present responsibilities, it may have an adverse effect on the management of USNG. Furthermore, Mr. Gerber, Mr. Love and Mr. Hyland are currently involved in the management of the Related Public Funds, and the General Partner has filed a registration statement for two other exchange traded security funds, United States 12 Month Natural Gas Fund, LP (US12NG) and United States Short Oil Fund, LP (USSO). Mr. Gerber is also employed by Ameristock Corporation, a registered investment adviser that manages a public mutual fund. It is estimated that Mr. Gerber will spend approximately 50% of his time on USNG and Related Public Fund matters. Mr. Love will spend approximately 100%
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of his time on USNG and Related Public Fund matters and Mr. Hyland will spend approximately 85% of his time on USNG and Related Public Fund matters. To the extent that the General Partner establishes additional funds, even greater demands will be placed on Mr. Gerber, Mr. Love and Mr. Hyland, as well as the other officers of the General Partner, including Mr. Howard Mah, the Chief Financial Officer, and its Board of Directors.
U.S. designated contract markets such as the NYMEX have established accountability levels and position limits on the maximum net long or net short futures contracts in commodity interests that any person or group of persons under common trading control (other than as a hedge, which an investment by USNG is not) may hold, own or control. For example, the current accountability level for investments at any one time in natural gas futures contracts (including investments in the Benchmark Futures Contract) is 12,000. While this is not a fixed ceiling, it is a threshold above which the NYMEX may exercise greater scrutiny and control over an investor, including limiting an investor to holding no more than 12,000 natural gas futures contracts. With regard to position limits, the NYMEX limits an investor from holding more than 1,000 net futures in the last 3 days of trading in the near month contract to expire.
In addition to accountability levels and position limits, the NYMEX also sets daily price fluctuation limits on futures contracts. The daily price fluctuation limit establishes the maximum amount that the price of futures contracts may vary either up or down from the previous days settlement price. Once the daily price fluctuation limit has been reached in a particular futures contract, no trades may be made at a price beyond that limit.
For example, the NYMEX imposes a $3.00 per mmBtu ($30,000 per contract) price fluctuation limit for natural gas futures contracts. This limit is initially based off of the previous NYMEX trading days settlement price. If any natural gas futures contract is traded, bid, or offered at the limit for five minutes, trading is halted for five minutes. When trading resumes it begins at the point where the limit was imposed and the limit is reset to be $3.00 per mmBtu in either direction of that point. If another halt were triggered, the market would continue to be expanded by $3.00 per mmBtu in either direction after each successive five-minute trading halt. There is no maximum price fluctuation limit during any one trading session.
All of these limits may potentially cause a tracking error between the price of the units and the price of the Benchmark Futures Contract. This may in turn prevent you from being able to effectively use USNG as a way to hedge against natural gas-related losses or as a way to indirectly invest in natural gas.
USNG is not limiting the size of the offering and is committed to utilizing substantially all of its proceeds to purchase Futures Contracts and Other Natural Gas-Related Investments. If USNG encounters accountability levels, position limits, or price fluctuation limits for natural gas contracts on the NYMEX, it may then, if permitted under applicable regulatory requirements, purchase Futures Contracts on the ICE Futures or other exchanges that trade listed natural gas futures. The Futures Contracts available on the ICE Futures are comparable to the contracts on the NYMEX, but they may have different underlying commodities, sizes, deliveries, and prices. In addition, the natural gas contracts available on the ICE Futures may be subject to accountability levels and position limits.
The General Partners trading system is quantitative in nature and it is possible that the General Partner might make a mathematical error. In addition, it is also possible that a computer or software program may malfunction and cause an error in computation.
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Spreads combine simultaneous long and short positions in related futures contracts that differ by commodity (e.g., long crude oil and short gasoline), by market (long WTI crude futures, short Brent crude futures), or by delivery month (long December, short November). Spreads gain or lose value as a result of relative changes in price between the long and short positions. Spreads often reduce risk to investors, because the contracts tend to move up or down together. However, both legs of the spread could move against an investor simultaneously, in which case the spread would lose value. Certain types of spreads may face unlimited risk, e.g., because the price of a futures contract underlying a short position can increase by an unlimited amount and the investor would have to take delivery or offset at that price.
A commodity straddle takes both long and short option positions in the same commodity in the same market and delivery month simultaneously. The buyer of a straddle profits if either the long or the short leg of the straddle moves further than the combined cost of both options. The seller of a straddle profits if both the long and short positions do not trade beyond a range equal to the combined premium for selling both options.
If the General Partner were to utilize a spread or straddle position and the spread performed differently than expected, the results could impact USNGs tracking error. This could affect USNGs investment objective of having its NAV closely track the changes in the Benchmark Futures Contract. Additionally, a loss on a spread position would negatively impact USNGs absolute return.
USNG and the General Partner may have inherent conflicts to the extent the General Partner attempts to maintain USNGs asset size in order to preserve its fee income and this may not always be consistent with USNGs objective of having the value of its units NAV track changes in the Benchmark Futures Contract. The General Partners officers, directors and employees do not devote their time exclusively to USNG. These persons are directors, officers or employees of other entities that may compete with USNG for their services. They could have a conflict between their responsibilities to USNG and to those other entities.
In addition, the General Partners principals, officers, directors or employees may trade futures and related contracts for their own account. A conflict of interest may exist if their trades are in the same markets and at the same time as USNG trades using the clearing broker to be used by USNG. A potential conflict also may occur if the General Partners principals, officers, directors or employees trade their accounts more aggressively or take positions in their accounts which are opposite, or ahead of, the positions taken by USNG.
The General Partner has sole current authority to manage the investments and operations of USNG, and this may allow it to act in a way that furthers its own interests which may create a conflict with your best interests. Limited partners have limited voting control, which will limit the ability to influence matters such as amendment of the LP Agreement, change in USNGs basic investment policy, dissolution of this fund, or the sale or distribution of USNGs assets.
The General Partner serves as the general partner to each of USNG and the Related Public Funds and will serve as the general partner for USSO and US12NG, if such other funds offer their securities to the public or begin operations. The General Partner may have a conflict to the extent that its trading decisions for USNG may be influenced by the effect they would have on the other funds it manages. These trading decisions may be influenced since the General Partner also serves as the general partner for all of the funds and is required to meet all of the funds investment objectives as well as USNGs. If the General Partner believes that a trading decision it made on behalf of USNG might (i) impede its other funds from reaching their investment objectives, or (ii) improve the likelihood of meeting its other funds objectives, then the General Partner may choose to change its trading decision for USNG, which could either impede or improve the opportunity for USNG to meet its investment objective. In addition, the General Partner is required to indemnify the officers and directors of its other funds if the need for indemnification arises. This potential indemnification will cause the General Partners assets to decrease. If the General Partners other sources of income are not sufficient to compensate for the indemnification, then the General Partner may terminate and you could lose your investment.
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Unitholders that have not applied to become limited partners have no voting rights, other than to remove the General Partner. Limited partners will have limited voting rights with respect to USNGs affairs. Unitholders may remove the General Partner only if 66 2/3% of the unitholders elect to do so. Unitholders and limited partners will not be permitted to participate in the management or control of USNG or the conduct of its business. Unitholders and limited partners must therefore rely upon the duties and judgment of the General Partner to manage USNGs affairs.
Increases in assets under management may affect trading decisions. In general, the General Partner does not intend to limit the amount of assets of USNG that it may manage. The more assets the General Partner manages, the more difficult it may be for it to trade profitably because of the difficulty of trading larger positions without adversely affecting prices and performance and of managing risk associated with larger positions.
USNG may terminate at any time, regardless of whether USNG has incurred losses, subject to the terms of the LP Agreement. In particular, unforeseen circumstances, including the death, adjudication of incompetence, bankruptcy, dissolution, withdrawal, or removal of the General Partner could cause USNG to terminate unless a majority in interest of the limited partners within 90 days of the event elects to continue the partnership and appoints a successor general partner or the affirmative vote of a majority interest of the limited partners subject to certain conditions. However, no level of losses will require the General Partner to terminate USNG. USNGs termination would cause the liquidation and potential loss of your investment. Termination could also negatively affect the overall maturity and timing of your investment portfolio.
Under Delaware law, a limited partner might be held liable for our obligations as if it were a General Partner if the limited partner participates in the control of the partnerships business and the persons who transact business with the partnership think the limited partner is the General Partner.
A limited partner will not be liable for assessments in addition to its initial capital investment in any of our capital securities representing limited partnership interests. However, a limited partner may be required to repay to us any amounts wrongfully returned or distributed to it under some circumstances. Under Delaware law, we may not make a distribution to limited partners if the distribution causes our liabilities (other than liabilities to partners on account of their partnership interests and nonrecourse liabilities) to exceed the fair value of our assets. Delaware law provides that a limited partner who receives such a distribution and knew at the time of the distribution that the distribution violated the law will be liable to the limited partnership for the amount of the distribution for three years from the date of the distribution.
If the General Partner gives at least fifteen (15) days written notice to a limited partner, then the General Partner may for any reason, in its sole discretion, require any such limited partner to withdraw entirely from the partnership or to withdraw a portion of its partner capital account. The General Partner may require withdrawal even in situations where the limited partner has complied completely with the provisions of the LP Agreement.
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No transfer of any unit or interest therein may be made if such transfer would (a) violate the then applicable federal or state securities laws or rules and regulations of the SEC, any state securities commission, the CFTC or any other governmental authority with jurisdiction over such transfer, or (b) cause USNG to be taxable as a corporation or affect USNGs existence or qualification as a limited partnership. In addition, investors may only become limited partners if they transfer their units to purchasers that meet certain conditions outlined in the LP Agreement, which provides that each record holder or limited partner or unitholder applying to become a limited partner (each a record holder) may be required by the General Partner to furnish certain information, including that holders nationality, citizenship or other related status. A transferee who is not a U.S. resident may not be eligible to become a record holder or a limited partner if its ownership would subject USNG to the risk of cancellation or forfeiture of any of its assets under any federal, state or local law or regulation. All purchasers of USNGs units, who wish to become limited partners or record holders, and receive cash distributions, if any, or have certain other rights, must deliver an executed transfer application in which the purchaser or transferee must certify that, among other things, he, she or it agrees to be bound by USNGs LP Agreement and is eligible to purchase USNGs securities. Any transfer of units will not be recorded by the transfer agent or recognized by us unless a completed transfer application is delivered to the General Partner or the Administrator. A person purchasing USNGs existing units, who does not execute a transfer application and certify that the purchaser is eligible to purchase those securities acquires no rights in those securities other than the right to resell those securities. Whether or not a transfer application is received or the consent of the General Partner obtained, our units will be securities and will be transferable according to the laws governing transfers of securities. See Transfer of Units.
The General Partner has not previously made any cash distributions and intends to re-invest any realized gains in Natural Gas Interests rather than distributing cash to limited partners. Therefore, unlike mutual funds, commodity pools or other investment pools that actively manage their investments in an attempt to realize income and gains from their investing activities and distribute such income and gains to their investors, USNG generally does not expect to distribute cash to limited partners. You should not invest in USNG if you will need cash distributions from USNG to pay taxes on your share of income and gains of USNG, if any, or for any other reason. Although USNG does not intend to make cash distributions, the income earned from its investments held directly or posted as margin may reach levels that merit distribution, e.g., at levels where such income is not necessary to support its underlying investments in Natural Gas Interests and investors adversely react to being taxed on such income without receiving distributions that could be used to pay such tax. If this income becomes significant then cash distributions may be made.
USNG pays brokerage charges of approximately 0.21% (based on futures commission merchant fees of $3.50 per buy or sell), management fees of 0.60% of NAV on the first $1,000,000,000 of assets and 0.50% of NAV after the first $1,000,000,000 of assets, and over-the-counter spreads and extraordinary expenses (e.g., subsequent offering expenses, other expenses not in the ordinary course of business, including the indemnification of any person against liabilities and obligations to the extent permitted by law and required under the LP Agreement and under agreements entered into by the General Partner on USNGs behalf and the bringing and defending of actions at law or in equity and otherwise engaging in the conduct of litigation and the incurring of legal expenses and the settlement of claims and litigation) that can not be quantified. These fees and expenses must be paid in all cases regardless of whether USNGs activities are profitable. Accordingly, USNG must earn trading gains sufficient to compensate for these fees and expenses before it can earn any profit.
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Prior to the offering of units that commenced on April 17, 2007, all of USNGs expenses were funded by the General Partner and its affiliates. These payments by the General Partner and its affiliates were designed to allow USNG the ability to commence the public offering of its units. USNG now directly pays certain of these fees and expenses. The General Partner will continue to pay other fees and expenses, as set forth in the LP Agreement. If the General Partner and USNG are unable to raise sufficient funds to cover their expenses or locate any other source of funding, USNG may be forced to terminate and investors may lose all or part of their investment.
The clearing arrangements between the clearing brokers and USNG generally are terminable by the clearing brokers once the clearing broker has given USNG notice. Upon termination, the General Partner may be required to renegotiate or make other arrangements for obtaining similar services if USNG intends to continue trading in Futures Contracts or Other Natural Gas-Related Investments at its present level of capacity. The services of any clearing broker may not be available, or even if available, these services may not be available on the terms as favorable as those of the expired or terminated clearing arrangements.
The General Partner does not employ trading advisors for USNG; however, it reserves the right to employ them in the future. The only advisor to USNG is the General Partner. A lack of independent trading advisors may be disadvantageous to USNG because it will not receive the benefit of a trading advisors expertise.
If a substantial number of requests for redemption of Redemption Baskets are received by USNG during a relatively short period of time, USNG may not be able to satisfy the requests from USNGs assets not committed to trading. As a consequence, it could be necessary to liquidate positions in USNGs trading positions before the time that the trading strategies would otherwise dictate liquidation.
Currently and throughout 2008, the financial markets have experienced very difficult conditions and volatility as well as significant adverse trends. The deteriorating conditions in these markets have resulted in a decrease in availability of corporate credit and liquidity and have led indirectly to the insolvency, closure or acquisition of a number of major financial institutions and have contributed to further consolidation within the financial services industry. A continued recession or a depression could adversely affect the financial condition and results of operations of USNGs service providers and Authorized Purchasers which would impact the ability of the General Partner to achieve USNGs investment objective.
Under CFTC regulations, a clearing broker maintains customers assets in a bulk segregated account. If a clearing broker fails to do so, or is unable to satisfy a substantial deficit in a customer account, its other customers may be subject to risk of a substantial loss of their funds in the event of that clearing brokers bankruptcy. In that event, the clearing brokers customers, such as USNG, are entitled to recover, even in respect of property specifically traceable to them, only a proportional share of all property available for distribution to all of that clearing brokers customers. The bankruptcy of a clearing broker could result in the
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complete loss of USNGs assets posted with the clearing broker; though, the vast majority of USNGs assets are held in Treasuries, cash and/or cash equivalents with USNGs custodian and would not be impacted by the bankruptcy of a clearing broker. USNG also may be subject to the risk of the failure of, or delay in performance by, any exchanges and markets and their clearing organizations, if any, on which commodity interest contracts are traded.
From time to time, the clearing brokers may be subject to legal or regulatory proceedings in the ordinary course of their business. A clearing brokers involvement in costly or time-consuming legal proceedings may divert financial resources or personnel away from the clearing brokers trading operations, which could impair the clearing brokers ability to successfully execute and clear USNGs trades.
As noted above, the vast majority of USNGs assets are held in Treasuries, cash and/or cash equivalents with USNGs custodian. The insolvency of the custodian could result in a complete loss of USNGs assets held by that custodian, which, at any given time, would likely comprise a substantial portion of USNG's total assets.
Third parties may utilize USNGs intellectual property or technology, including the use of its business methods, trademarks and trading program software, without permission. The General Partner has a patent pending for USNGs business method and it is registering its trademarks. USNG does not currently have any proprietary software. However, if it obtains proprietary software in the future, then any unauthorized use of USNGs proprietary software and other technology could also adversely affect its competitive advantage. USNG may have difficulty monitoring unauthorized uses of its patents, trademarks, proprietary software and other technology. Also, third parties may independently develop business methods, trademarks or proprietary software and other technology similar to that of the General Partner or claim that the General Partner has violated their intellectual property rights, including their copyrights, trademark rights, trade names, trade secrets and patent rights. As a result, the General Partner may have to litigate in the future to protect its trade secrets, determine the validity and scope of other parties proprietary rights, defend itself against claims that it has infringed or otherwise violated other parties rights, or defend itself against claims that its rights are invalid. Any litigation of this type, even if the General Partner is successful and regardless of the merits, may result in significant costs, divert its resources from USNG, or require it to change its proprietary software and other technology or enter into royalty or licensing agreements.
The General Partner uses mathematical formulas built into a generally available spreadsheet program to decide whether it should buy or sell Natural Gas Interests each day. Specifically, the General Partner uses the spreadsheet to make mathematical calculations and to monitor positions in Natural Gas Interests and Treasuries and correlations to the Benchmark Futures Contract. The General Partner must accurately process the spreadsheets outputs and execute the transactions called for by the formulas. In addition, USNG relies on the General Partner to properly operate and maintain its computer and communications systems. Execution of the formulas and operation of the systems are subject to human error. Any failure, inaccuracy or delay in implementing any of the formulas or systems and executing USNGs transactions could impair its ability to achieve USNGs investment objective. It could also result in decisions to undertake transactions based on inaccurate or incomplete information. This could cause substantial losses on transactions.
USNGs trading activities, including its risk management, depend on the integrity and performance of the computer and communications systems supporting them. Extraordinary transaction volume, hardware or software failure, power or telecommunications failure, a natural disaster or other catastrophe could cause the
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computer systems to operate at an unacceptably slow speed or even fail. Any significant degradation or failure of the systems that the General Partner uses to gather and analyze information, enter orders, process data, monitor risk levels and otherwise engage in trading activities may result in substantial losses on transactions, liability to other parties, lost profit opportunities, damages to the General Partners and USNGs reputations, increased operational expenses and diversion of technical resources.
The development of complex computer and communications systems and new technologies may render the existing computer and communications systems supporting USNGs trading activities obsolete. In addition, these computer and communications systems must be compatible with those of third parties, such as the systems of exchanges, clearing brokers and the executing brokers. As a result, if these third parties upgrade their systems, the General Partner will need to make corresponding upgrades to continue effectively its trading activities. USNGs future success will depend on USNGs ability to respond to changing technologies on a timely and cost-effective basis.
USNG depends on the proper and timely function of complex computer and communications systems maintained and operated by the futures exchanges, brokers and other data providers that the General Partner uses to conduct trading activities. Failure or inadequate performance of any of these systems could adversely affect the General Partners ability to complete transactions, including its ability to close out positions, and result in lost profit opportunities and significant losses on commodity interest transactions. This could have a material adverse effect on revenues and materially reduce USNGs available capital. For example, unavailability of price quotations from third parties may make it difficult or impossible for the General Partner to use its proprietary software that it relies upon to conduct its trading activities. Unavailability of records from brokerage firms may make it difficult or impossible for the General Partner to accurately determine which transactions have been executed or the details, including price and time, of any transaction executed. This unavailability of information also may make it difficult or impossible for the General Partner to reconcile its records of transactions with those of another party or to accomplish settlement of executed transactions.
The operations of USNG, the exchanges, brokers and counterparties with which USNG does business, and the markets in which USNG does business could be severely disrupted in the event of a major terrorist attack or the outbreak, continuation or expansion of war or other hostilities. The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and the war in Iraq, global anti-terrorism initiatives and political unrest in the Middle East and Southeast Asia continue to fuel this concern.
Commodity pools trading positions in futures contracts or other commodity interests are typically required to be secured by the deposit of margin funds that represent only a small percentage of a futures contracts (or other commodity interests) entire market value. This feature permits commodity pools to leverage their assets by purchasing or selling futures contracts (or other commodity interests) with an aggregate value in excess of the commodity pools assets. While this leverage can increase the pools profits, relatively small adverse movements in the price of the pools futures contracts can cause significant losses to the pool. While the General Partner has not and does not intend to leverage USNGs assets, it is not prohibited from doing so under the LP Agreement or otherwise.
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Movements in the price of natural gas may be the result of factors outside of the General Partners control and may not be anticipated by the General Partner. Among the factors that can cause volatility in the price of natural gas are:
| worldwide or regional demand for energy, which is affected by economic conditions; |
| the domestic and foreign supply and inventories of oil and gas; |
| weather conditions, including abnormally mild winter or summer weather, and abnormally harsh winter or summer weather; |
| availability and adequacy of pipeline and other transportation facilities; |
| domestic and foreign governmental regulations and taxes; |
| political conditions in gas or oil producing regions; |
| the ability of members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to agree upon and maintain oil prices and production levels; |
| the price and availability of alternative fuels; and |
| the impact of energy conservation efforts. |
Since USNGs commencement of operations on April 18, 2007, there has been tremendous volatility in the price of the Benchmark Futures Contract. For example, the price of the NYMEX futures contract on natural gas rose to a high of $13.69 on July 3, 2008 and dropped to a low of $3.25 on April 27, 2009. The General Partner anticipates that there will be continued volatility in the price of the NYMEX futures contract for natural gas and futures contracts for other petroleum-based commodities. Consequently, investors should know that this volatility can lead to a loss of all or substantially all of their investment in USNG.
Environmental and other governmental laws and regulations have increased the costs to plan, design, drill, install, operate and abandon natural gas and oil wells. Other laws have prevented exploration and drilling of natural gas in certain environmentally sensitive federal lands and waters. Several environmental laws that have a direct or an indirect impact on the price of natural gas include, but are not limited to, the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980.
Natural gas is primarily transported and stored throughout the United States by way of pipeline and underground storage facilities. These systems may not be adequate to meet demand, especially in times of peak demand or in areas of the United States where gas service is already limited due to minimal pipeline and storage infrastructure. As a result of the limited method for transporting and storing natural gas, the price of natural gas may increase.
A portion of USNGs assets may be used to trade over-the-counter natural gas interest contracts, such as forward contracts or swap or spot contracts. Over-the-counter contracts are typically traded on a principal-to-principal basis through dealer markets that are dominated by major money center and investment banks and other institutions and are essentially unregulated by the CFTC. You therefore do not receive the protection of CFTC regulation or the statutory scheme of the Commodity Exchange Act in connection with this trading activity by USNG. The markets for over-the-counter contracts rely upon the integrity of market participants in lieu of the additional regulation imposed by the CFTC on participants in the futures markets. The lack of regulation in these markets could expose USNG in certain circumstances to significant losses in the event of trading abuses or financial failure by participants.
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USNG also faces the risk of non-performance by the counterparties to the over-the-counter contracts. Unlike in futures contracts, the counterparty to these contracts is generally a single bank or other financial institution, rather than a clearing organization backed by a group of financial institutions. As a result, there will be greater counterparty credit risk in these transactions. A counterparty may not be able to meet its obligations to USNG, in which case USNG could suffer significant losses on these contracts.
If a counterparty becomes bankrupt or otherwise fails to perform its obligations due to financial difficulties, USNG may experience significant delays in obtaining any recovery in a bankruptcy or other reorganization proceeding. USNG may obtain only limited recovery or may obtain no recovery in such circumstances.
Over-the-counter contracts may have terms that make them less marketable than Futures Contracts. Over-the-counter contracts are less marketable because they are not traded on an exchange, do not have uniform terms and conditions, and are entered into based upon the creditworthiness of the parties and the availability of credit support, such as collateral, and in general, they are not transferable without the consent of the counterparty. These conditions diminish the ability to realize the full value of such contracts.
The General Partner invests primarily in Futures Contracts, a significant portion of which will be on United States exchanges including the NYMEX. However, a portion of USNGs trades may take place on markets and exchanges outside the United States. Some non-U.S. markets present risks because they are not subject to the same degree of regulation as their U.S. counterparts. None of the CFTC, NFA, or any domestic exchange regulates activities of any foreign boards of trade or exchanges, including the execution, delivery and clearing of transactions, nor has the power to compel enforcement of the rules of a foreign board of trade or exchange or of any applicable non-U.S. laws. Similarly, the rights of market participants, such as USNG, in the event of the insolvency or bankruptcy of a non-U.S. market or broker are also likely to be more limited than in the case of U.S. markets or brokers. As a result, in these markets, USNG has less legal and regulatory protection than it does when it trades domestically.
In some of these non-U.S. markets, the performance on a contract is the responsibility of the counterparty and is not backed by an exchange or clearing corporation and therefore exposes USNG to credit risk. Trading in non-U.S. markets also leaves USNG susceptible to swings in the value of the local currency against the U.S. dollar. Additionally, trading on non-U.S. exchanges is subject to the risks presented by exchange controls, expropriation, increased tax burdens and exposure to local economic declines and political instability. An adverse development with respect to any of these variables could reduce the profit or increase the loss earned on trades in the affected international markets.
The price of any non-U.S. Futures Contract, option on any non-U.S. Futures Contract or other non- U.S. Natural Gas-Related Investment, and, therefore, the potential profit and loss on such contract, may be affected by any variance in the foreign exchange rate between the time the order is placed and the time it is liquidated, offset or exercised. As a result, changes in the value of the local currency relative to the U.S. dollar may cause losses to USNG even if the contract traded is profitable.
Some non-U.S. exchanges also may be in a more developmental stage so that prior price histories may not be indicative of current price dynamics. In addition, USNG may not have the same access to certain positions on foreign trading exchanges as do local traders, and the historical market data on which the General Partner bases its strategies may not be as reliable or accessible as it is for U.S. exchanges.
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Please refer to U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations for information regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of units.
Cash or property will be distributed at the sole discretion of the General Partner. The General Partner has not and does not intend to make cash or other distributions with respect to units. You will be required to pay U.S. federal income tax and, in some cases, state, local, or foreign income tax, on your allocable share of USNGs taxable income, without regard to whether you receive distributions or the amount of any distributions. Therefore, your tax liability with respect to your units may exceed the amount of cash or value of property (if any) distributed.
Due to the application of the assumptions and conventions applied by USNG in making allocations for tax purposes and other factors, your allocable share of USNGs income, gain, deduction or loss may be different than your economic profit or loss from your units for a taxable year. This difference could be temporary or permanent and, if permanent, could result in your being taxed on amounts in excess of your economic income.
The U.S. tax rules pertaining to partnerships are complex and their application to large, publicly traded partnerships such as USNG is in many respects uncertain. USNG will apply certain assumptions and conventions in an attempt to comply with the intent of the applicable rules and to report taxable income, gains, deductions, losses and credits in a manner that properly reflects unitholders economic gains and losses. These assumptions and conventions may not fully comply with all aspects of the Internal Revenue Code (Code) and applicable Treasury Regulations, however, and it is possible that the U.S. Internal Revenue Service will successfully challenge our allocation methods and require us to reallocate items of income, gain, deduction, loss or credit in a manner that adversely affects you. If this occurs, you may be required to file an amended tax return and to pay additional taxes plus deficiency interest.
USNG has received an opinion of counsel that, under current U.S. federal income tax laws, USNG will be treated as a partnership that is not taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, provided that (i) at least 90 percent of USNGs annual gross income consists of qualifying income as defined in the Code, (ii) USNG is organized and operated in accordance with its governing agreements and applicable law and (iii) USNG does not elect to be taxed as a corporation for federal income tax purposes. Although the General Partner anticipates that USNG has satisfied and will continue to satisfy the qualifying income requirement for all of its taxable years, that result cannot be assured. USNG has not requested and will not request any ruling from the IRS with respect to its classification as a partnership not taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes. If the IRS were to successfully assert that USNG is taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes in any taxable year, rather than passing through its income, gains, losses and deductions proportionately to unitholders, USNG would be subject to tax on its net income for the year at corporate tax rates. In addition, although the General Partner does not currently intend to make distributions with respect to units, any distributions would be taxable to unitholders as dividend income. Taxation of USNG as a corporation could materially reduce the after-tax return on an investment in units and could substantially reduce the value of your units.
PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS ARE STRONGLY URGED TO CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE POSSIBLE TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF AN INVESTMENT IN UNITS; SUCH TAX CONSEQUENCES MAY DIFFER IN RESPECT OF DIFFERENT INVESTORS.
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USNG is a Delaware limited partnership organized on September 11, 2006. USNG maintains its main business office at 1320 Harbor Bay Parkway, Suite 145, Alameda, California 94502. USNG is a commodity pool. It operates pursuant to the terms of the LP Agreement, which grants full management control to the General Partner. USNG is a publicly traded limited partnership which seeks to have the changes in percentage terms of its units NAV track the changes in percentage terms of the price of natural gas delivered at the Henry Hub, Louisiana, as measured by the changes in the futures contract for natural gas traded on the NYMEX, less USNGs expenses. USNG invests in a mixture of listed natural gas futures contracts, other non-listed natural gas related investments, Treasuries, cash and cash equivalents. USNG began trading on the American Stock Exchange on April 18, 2007. As of May 31, 2009, USNG had total net assets of $2,300,035,833 and had outstanding units of 159 million.
Our sole General Partner is United States Commodity Funds LLC, a single member limited liability company that was formed in the state of Delaware on May 10, 2005. Prior to June 13, 2008, the General Partner was known as Victoria Bay Asset Management, LLC. It maintains its main business office at 1320 Harbor Bay Parkway, Suite 145, Alameda, California 94502. The General Partner is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wainwright Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (Wainwright). Mr. Nicholas Gerber (discussed below) controls Wainwright by virtue of his ownership of Wainwrights shares. Wainwright is a holding company that also owns an insurance company organized under Bermuda law (currently being liquidated) and a registered investment adviser firm named Ameristock Corporation. The General Partner is a member of the NFA and is registered with the CFTC as of December 1, 2005. The General Partners registration as a CPO with the NFA was approved on December 1, 2005.
The General Partner also manages the Related Public Funds. USOF is a commodity pool and issues units traded on the NYSE Arca. The investment objective of USOF is for the changes in percentage terms of its units NAV to reflect the changes in percentage terms in the spot price of light, sweet crude oil delivered to Cushing, Oklahoma, as measured by the changes in the futures contract for light, sweet crude oil traded on the NYMEX. USOF may invest in a mixture of listed crude oil futures contracts, other non-listed oil related investments, Treasuries, cash and cash equivalents. USOF began trading on April 10, 2006. As of May 31, 2009, USOF had total net assets of $2,723,137,412 and had outstanding units of 75 million. USOF employs an investment strategy in its operations that is similar to the investment strategy of USNG, except that its benchmark is the near month contract for light, sweet crude oil delivered to Cushing, Oklahoma.
US12OF is a commodity pool and issues units traded on the NYSE Arca. The investment objective of US12OF is for the changes in percentage terms of its units NAV to reflect the changes in percentage terms of the price of light, sweet crude oil delivered to Cushing, Oklahoma, as measured by the changes in the average of the prices of 12 futures contracts on light, sweet crude oil traded on the NYMEX less US12OFs expenses. US12OF began trading on December 6, 2007. As of May 31, 2009, US12OF had total net assets of $195,023,652 and had outstanding units of 5.4 million. US12OF employs an investment strategy in its operations that is similar to the investment strategy of USNG, except that its benchmark is the average of the prices of the near month contract to expire and the following eleven months contracts for light, sweet crude oil delivered to Cushing, Oklahoma.
UGA is a commodity pool and issues units traded on the NYSE Arca. The investment objective of UGA is for the changes in percentage terms of its units NAV to reflect the changes in percentage terms of the price of unleaded gasoline delivered to the New York harbor, as measured by the changes in the price of the futures contract on gasoline traded on the NYMEX, less UGAs expenses. UGA invests in a mixture of listed gasoline futures contracts, other non-listed gasoline related investments, Treasuries, cash and cash equivalents. UGA began trading on February 26, 2008. As of May 31, 2009, UGA had total net assets of $90,047,798 and had outstanding units of 2.8 million. UGA employs an investment strategy in its operations that is similar to the investment strategy of USNG, except that its benchmark is the near month contract for unleaded gasoline delivered at the New York harbor.
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USHO is a commodity pool and issues units traded on the NYSE Arca. The investment objective of USHO is for the changes in percentage terms of its units NAV to reflect the changes in percentage terms of the price of heating oil (also known as No. 2 fuel oil) delivered to the New York harbor, as measured by the changes in the price of the futures contract on heating oil traded on the NYMEX, less USHOs expenses. USHO invests in a mixture of listed heating oil futures contracts, other non-listed heating oil-related investments, Treasuries, cash and cash equivalents. USHO began trading on April 9, 2008. As of May 31, 2009, USHO had total net assets of $7,378,489 and had outstanding units of 300,000. USHO employs an investment strategy in its operations that is similar to the investment strategy of USNG, except that its benchmark is the near month contract for heating oil delivered to the New York harbor.
The General Partner is currently in the process of registering the units of two other exchange traded commodity pools, US12NG and USSO. USSO will be a publicly traded limited partnership which seeks to have the changes in percentage terms of its units NAV inversely reflect the changes in percentage terms of the spot price of light, sweet, crude oil delivered to Cushing, Oklahoma, as measured by the changes in the price of the futures contract on light, sweet crude oil traded on the NYMEX, less USSOs expenses. US12NG will be a publicly traded limited partnership which will seek to have the changes in percentage terms of its units NAV track the changes in percentage terms of the price of natural gas delivered at the Henry Hub, Louisiana, as measured by the changes in the average of the prices of 12 futures contracts on natural gas traded on the NYMEX, less US12NGs expenses. US12NG will invest in a mixture of listed natural gas futures contracts, other non-listed natural gas-related investments, Treasuries, cash and cash equivalents. US12NG will employ an investment strategy in its operations that is similar to the investment strategy of USNG, except that its benchmark is average of the prices of the near month contract to expire and the following eleven months contracts for natural gas delivered at the Henry Hub, Louisiana. USSO and US12NG have not offered securities to the public or commenced operations.
The General Partner is required to evaluate the credit risk of USNG to the futures commission merchant, oversee the purchase and sale of USNGs units by certain Authorized Purchasers, review daily positions and margin requirements of USNG, and manage USNGs investments. The General Partner also pays the fees of the Marketing Agent, the Administrator, and the Custodian.
Limited partners have no right to elect the General Partner on an annual or any other continuing basis. If the General Partner voluntarily withdraws, however, the holders of a majority of USNGs outstanding units (excluding for purposes of such determination units owned, if any, by the withdrawing General Partner and its affiliates) may elect its successor. The General Partner may not be removed as general partner except upon approval by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3 percent of USNGs outstanding units (excluding units owned, if any, by the General Partner and its affiliates), subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions set forth in the LP Agreement.
The business and affairs of our General Partner are managed by a board of directors, which is comprised of four management directors some of whom are also its executive officers (the Management Directors) and three independent directors who meet the independent director requirements established by the NYSE Arca and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Management Directors have the authority to manage the General Partner pursuant to its Limited Liability Company Agreement. Through its Management Directors, the General Partner manages the day-to-day operations of USNG. The board of directors has an audit committee which is made up of the three independent directors (Peter M. Robinson, Gordon L. Ellis, and Malcolm R. Fobes III). The audit committee is governed by an audit committee charter that is posted on USNGs website. Gordon L. Ellis and Malcolm R. Fobes III meet the financial sophistication requirements of the NYSE Arca and the audit committee charter.
Mr. Nicholas Gerber and Mr. Howard Mah serve as executive officers of the General Partner. USNG has no executive officers. Its affairs are generally managed by the General Partner. The following individuals serve as Management Directors of the General Partner.
Nicholas Gerber has been the President and CEO of the General Partner since June 9, 2005 and a Management Director of the General Partner since May 10, 2005. He maintains his main business office at 1320 Harbor Bay Parkway, Suite 145, Alameda, California 94502. Mr. Gerber has acted as a portfolio manager for USNG and the Related Public Funds since April 2006. Mr. Gerber will act as a portfolio manager for
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USSO and US12NG. He has been listed with the CFTC as a Principal of the General Partner since November 29, 2005 and Branch Manager of the General Partner since May 15, 2009, and registered with the CFTC as an Associated Person of the General Partner on December 1, 2005. Currently, Mr. Gerber manages USNG and the Related Public Funds. He will also manage USSO and US12NG. Mr. Gerber has also served as Vice President/Chief Investment Officer of Lyons Gate Reinsurance Company, Ltd. since June of 2003. Mr. Gerber has an extensive background in securities portfolio management and in developing investment funds that make use of indexing and futures contracts. He is also the founder of Ameristock Corporation, a California-based investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, that has been sponsoring and providing portfolio management services to mutual funds since March 1995. Since August 1995, Mr. Gerber has been the portfolio manager of the Ameristock Mutual Fund, Inc. a mutual fund registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, focused on large cap U.S. equities that as of May 31, 2009, had approximately $182 million in assets. He has also been a Trustee for the Ameristock ETF Trust since June 2006, and served as a portfolio manager for the Ameristock/Ryan 1 Year, 2 Year, 5 Year, 10 Year and 20 Year Treasury ETF from June 2007 to June 2008 when such funds were liquidated. In these roles, Mr. Gerber has gained extensive experience in evaluating and retaining third-party service providers, including custodians, accountants, transfer agents, and distributors. Mr. Gerber has passed the Series 3 examination for associated persons. He holds an MBA in finance from the University of San Francisco and a BA from Skidmore College. Mr. Gerber is 46 years old.
Howard Mah has been a Management Director of the General Partner since May 10, 2005, Secretary of the General Partner since June 9, 2005, and Chief Financial Officer of the General Partner since May 23, 2006. He has been listed with the CFTC as a Principal of the General Partner since November 29, 2005. In these roles, Mr. Mah is currently involved in the management of USNG and the Related Public Funds and will be involved in the management of USSO and US12NG. Mr. Mah also serves as the General Partners Chief Compliance Officer. He received a Bachelor of Education from the University of Alberta, in 1986 and an MBA from the University of San Francisco in 1988. He has been Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer of the Ameristock ETF Trust since February 2007, Chief Compliance Officer of Ameristock Corporation since January 2001; a tax & finance consultant in private practice since January 1995, Secretary of Ameristock Mutual Fund since June 1995 and Ameristock Focused Value Fund from December 2000 to January 2005; Chief Compliance Officer of Ameristock Mutual Fund since August 2004 and the Co-Portfolio Manager of the Ameristock Focused Value Fund from December 2000 to January 2005. Mr. Mah is 44 years old.
Andrew F. Ngim has been a Management Director of the General Partner since May 10, 2005 and Treasurer of the General Partner since June 9, 2005. He has been listed with the CFTC as a Principal of the General Partner since November 29, 2005. As Treasurer of the General Partner, Mr. Ngim is currently involved in the management of USNG and the Related Public Funds and will be involved in the management of USSO and US12NG. He received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California at Berkeley in 1983. Mr. Ngim has been Ameristock Corporations Managing Director since January 1999 and co-portfolio manager of Ameristock Corporation since January 2000, Trustee of the Ameristock ETF Trust since February 2007, and served as a portfolio manager for the Ameristock/Ryan 1 Year, 2 Year, 5 Year, 10 Year and 20 Year Treasury ETF from June 2007 to June 2008 when such funds were liquidated. Mr. Ngim is 48 years old.
Robert L. Nguyen has been a Management Director of the General Partner since May 10, 2005. He has been listed with the CFTC as a Principal of the General Partner since November 29, 2005 and registered with the CFTC as an Associated Person since November 9, 2007. As a Management Director of the General Partner, Mr. Nguyen is currently involved in the management of USNG and the Related Public Funds and will be involved in the management of USSO and US12NG. He received a Bachelor of Science from California State University Sacramento in 1981. Mr. Nguyen has been the Managing Principal of Ameristock Corporation since January 2000. Mr. Nguyen is 49 years old.
The following individuals provide significant services to USNG but are employed by the entities noted below.
John P. Love has acted as the Portfolio Operations Manager for USNG and the Related Public Funds since January 2006. Mr. Love is also employed by the General Partner. He has been listed with the CFTC as a Principal of the General Partner since January 17, 2006. Mr. Love has served as the operations manager of
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Ameristock Corporation from October 2002 to January 2007, where he was responsible for back office and marketing activities for the Ameristock Mutual Fund and Ameristock Focused Value Fund and for the firm in general. Mr. Love holds a Series 3 license and was registered with the CFTC as an Associated Person of the General Partner from December 1, 2005 through April 16, 2009. He holds a BFA in cinema-television from the University of Southern California. Mr. Love is 37 years old.
John T. Hyland, CFA acts as a Portfolio Manager and as the Chief Investment Officer for the General Partner. Mr. Hyland is employed by the General Partner. He registered with the CFTC as an Associated Person of the General Partner on December 1, 2005, and has been listed as a Principal of the General Partner since January 17, 2006. Mr. Hyland became the Portfolio Manager for USOF, USNG, US12OF, UGA and USHO in April 2006, April 2007, December 2007, February 2008 and April 2008, respectively, and as Chief Investment Officer of the General Partner since January 2008, acts in such capacity on behalf of USNG and the Related Public Funds. He is also expected to become the Portfolio Manager for USSO and US12NG. As part of his responsibilities for USNG and the Related Public Funds, Mr. Hyland handles day-to-day trading, helps set investment policies, and oversees USNG and the Related Public Funds activities with their futures commission brokers, custodian-administrator, and marketing agent. Mr. Hyland has an extensive background in portfolio management and research with both equity and fixed income securities, as well as in the development of new types of complex investment funds. In July 2001, Mr. Hyland founded Towerhouse Capital Management, LLC, a firm that provides portfolio management and new fund development expertise to non-U.S. institutional investors. Mr. Hyland has been, and remains, a Principal and Portfolio Manager for Towerhouse. Mr. Hyland received his Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation in 1994. Mr. Hyland is a member of the CFA Institute (formerly AIMR). He is also a member of the National Association of Petroleum Investment Analysts, a not-for-profit organization of investment professionals focused on the oil industry. He serves as an arbitrator for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), as part of their dispute resolution program. He is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley and received a BA in political science/international relations in 1982. Mr. Hyland is 49 years old.
Ray W. Allen acts as a Portfolio Operations Manager for UGA and USHO and is expected to be a Portfolio Operations Manager for USSO and was hired by the General Partner in October 2007 and has been employed by the General Partner since January 14, 2008. He holds a Series 3 license and is registered with the CFTC as an Associated Person of the General Partner on March 25, 2008, and has been listed with the CFTC as a Principal of the General Partner since March 18, 2009. Mr. Allens responsibilities include daily trading and operations for UGA and USHO. In addition, from February 2002 October 2007, Mr. Allen was responsible for analyzing and evaluating the creditworthiness of client companies at Marble Bridge Funding Group Inc., in Walnut Creek, CA. Marble Bridge Funding Group Inc. is a commercial finance company providing capital to entrepreneurial companies. Mr. Allen received a BA in Economics from the University of California at Berkeley in 1980. Mr. Allen is 52 years old.
The following individuals serve as independent directors of the General Partner.
Peter M. Robinson has been an Independent Director of the General Partner since September 30, 2005 and, as such, serves on the board of directors of the General Partner, which acts on behalf of USNG and the Related Public Funds and will serve on behalf of USSO and US12NG, if such funds commence operations. He has been listed with the CFTC as a Principal of the General Partner since December 2005. Mr. Robinson has been employed as a Research Fellow writing about business and politics with the Hoover Institution since April 1993. The Hoover Institution is a public policy think tank located on the campus of Stanford University. Mr. Robinson graduated from Dartmouth College in 1979 and Oxford University in 1982. Mr. Robinson has also written three books and has been published in the New York Times, Red Herring, and Forbes ASAP and he is the editor of Can Congress Be Fixed?: Five Essays on Congressional Reform (Hoover Institution Press, 1995). Mr. Robinson is 51 years old.
Gordon L. Ellis has been an Independent Director of the General Partner since September 30, 2005 and, as such, serves on the board of directors of the General Partner, which acts on behalf of USNG and the Related Public Funds and will serve on behalf of USSO and US12NG, if such funds commence operations. He has been listed with the CFTC as a Principal of the General Partner since November 2005. Mr. Ellis has been Chairman of International Absorbents, Inc., a holding company of Absorption Corp., since July 1988,
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President and Chief Executive Officer since November 1996 and a Class I Director of the company since July 1985. Mr. Ellis is also a director of Absorption Corp., International Absorbents, Inc.s wholly-owned subsidiary which is engaged in developing, manufacturing and marketing a wide range of animal care and industrial absorbent products. Mr. Ellis is a director/trustee of Polymer Solutions, Inc., a former publicly-held company that sold all of its assets effective as of February 3, 2004 and is currently winding down its operations and liquidating following such sale. Polymer Solutions previously developed, manufactured and distributed paints, coatings and adhesives. Mr. Ellis is a Professional Engineer, a Certified Director and holds an MBA in international finance. Mr. Ellis is 62 years old.
Malcolm R. Fobes III has been an Independent Director of the General Partner since September 30, 2005 and, as such, serves on the board of directors of the General Partner, which acts on behalf of USNG and the Related Public Funds and will serve on behalf of USSO and US12NG, if such funds commence operations. He has been listed with the CFTC as a Principal of the General Partner since November 2005. Mr. Fobes is the founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Berkshire Capital Holdings, Inc., a California-based investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, that has been sponsoring and providing portfolio management services to mutual funds since June 1997. Since June 1997, Mr. Fobes has been the Chairman and President of The Berkshire Funds, a mutual fund investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Mr. Fobes also serves as portfolio manager of the Berkshire Focus Fund, a mutual fund registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, which concentrates its investments in the electronic technology industry. From April 2000 to July 2006, Mr. Fobes also served as co-portfolio manager of The Wireless Fund, a mutual fund registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, which concentrates its investments in companies engaged in the development, production, or distribution of wireless-related products or services. In these roles, Mr. Fobes has gained extensive experience in evaluating and retaining third-party service providers, including custodians, accountants, transfer agents, and distributors. Mr. Fobes was also contributing editor of Start a Successful Mutual Fund: The Step-by-Step Reference Guide to Make It Happen (JV Books, 1995). Mr. Fobes holds a B.S. degree in Finance and Economics from San Jose State University in California. Mr. Fobes is 44 years old.
The following are individual Principals, as that term is defined in CFTC Rule 3.1, for the General Partner: Melinda Gerber, The Gerber Family Trust, Howard Mah, Andrew Ngim, Robert Nguyen, Peter Robinson, Gordon Ellis, Malcolm Fobes, John Love, Ray Allen, the Nicholas and Melinda Gerber Living Trust, John Hyland and Wainwright Holdings, Inc (Wainwright). These individuals are principals due to their positions, however, Nicholas Gerber and Melinda Gerber are also principals due to their controlling stake in Wainwright. None of the principals owns or has any other beneficial interest in USNG. Nicholas Gerber and John Hyland make trading and investment decisions for USNG. Nicholas Gerber, John Love, and John Hyland execute trades on behalf of USNG. In addition, Nicholas Gerber, John Hyland, Robert Nguyen, and Ray Allen are registered with the CFTC as Associated Persons of the General Partner and are NFA Associate Members.
The General Partner is currently the General Partner of USNG and the Related Public Funds.
USNGs units began trading on the American Stock Exchange on April 18, 2007 and are offered on a continuous basis. As a result of the acquisition of the American Stock Exchange by NYSE Euronext, USNGs units commenced trading on the NYSE Arca on November 25, 2008. As of May 31, 2009, the total amount of money raised by USNG from its Authorized Purchasers was $6,432,752,016; the total number of Authorized Purchasers was 11; the number of baskets purchased by Authorized Purchasers was 2,621; and the aggregate amount of units purchased was 262,100,000.
Since the offering of USNG units to the public on April 18, 2007 to May 31, 2009, the simple average daily change in the Benchmark Futures Contract was -0.191%, while the simple average daily change in the NAV of USNG over the same time period was -0.187%. The average daily difference was 0.005% (or 0.5 basis points, where 1 basis point equals 1/100 of 1%). As a percentage of the daily movement of the Benchmark Futures Contract, the average error in daily tracking by the NAV was 0.826%, meaning that over this time period USNG's tracking error was within the plus or minus 10% range established as its benchmark tracking goal.
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For more information on the performance of USNG and the Related Public Funds, see the Performance Tables below.
USOFs units began trading on the American Stock Exchange on April 10, 2006 and are offered on a continuous basis. As a result of the acquisition of the American Stock Exchange by NYSE Euronext, USOFs units commenced trading on the NYSE Arca on November 25, 2008. As of May 31, 2009, the total amount of money raised by USOF from its Authorized Purchasers was $22,146,006,436; the total number of Authorized Purchasers was 17; the number of baskets purchased by Authorized Purchasers was 4,156; and the aggregate amount of units purchased was 415,600,000.
Since the offering of USOF units to the public on April 10, 2006 to May 31, 2009, the simple average daily change in the benchmark oil futures contract was -0.047%, while the simple average daily change in the NAV of USOF over the same time period was -0.040%. The average daily difference was 0.007% (or 0.7 basis points, where 1 basis point equals 1/100 of 1%). As a percentage of the daily movement of the benchmark oil futures contract, the average error in daily tracking by the NAV was 2.065%, meaning that over this time period USOF's tracking error was within the plus or minus 10% range established as its benchmark tracking goal.
US12OFs units began trading on the American Stock Exchange on December 6, 2007 and are offered on a continuous basis. As a result of the acquisition of the American Stock Exchange by NYSE Euronext, US12OFs units commenced trading on the NYSE Arca on November 25, 2008. As of May 31, 2009, the total amount of money raised by US12OF from its Authorized Purchasers was $189,487,379; the total number of Authorized Purchasers was 3; the number of baskets purchased by Authorized Purchasers was 64; and the aggregate amount of units purchased was 6,400,000.
Since the offering of US12OF units to the public on December 6, 2007 to May 31, 2009, the simple average daily change in the benchmark oil futures contracts was -0.044%, while the simple average daily change in the NAV of US12OF over the same time period was -0.041%. The average daily difference was 0.003% (or 0.3 basis points, where 1 basis point equals 1/100 of 1%). As a percentage of the daily movement of the benchmark oil futures contracts, the average error in daily tracking by the NAV was 0.132%, meaning that over this time period US12OF's tracking error was within the plus or minus 10% range established as its benchmark tracking goal.
UGAs units began trading on the American Stock Exchange on February 26, 2008 and are offered on a continuous basis. As a result of the acquisition of the American Stock Exchange by NYSE Euronext, UGAs units commenced trading on the NYSE Arca on November 25, 2008. As of May 31, 2009, the total amount of money raised by UGA from its Authorized Purchasers was $94,517,598; the total number of Authorized Purchasers was 4; the number of baskets purchased by Authorized Purchasers was 33; and the aggregate amount of units purchased was 3,300,000.
Since the offering of UGA units to the public on February 26, 2008 to May 31, 2009, the simple average daily change in the benchmark gasoline futures contract was -0.069%, while the simple average daily change in the NAV of UGA over the same time period was -0.069%. The average daily difference was 0.000% (or 0.0 basis points, where 1 basis point equals 1/100 of 1%). As a percentage of the daily movement of the Benchmark Futures Contract, the average error in daily tracking by the NAV was -1.337%, meaning that over this time period UGA's tracking error was within the plus or minus 10% range established as its benchmark tracking goal.
USHOs units began trading on the American Stock Exchange on April 9, 2008 and are offered on a continuous basis. As a result of the acquisition of the American Stock Exchange by NYSE Euronext, USHOs units commenced trading on the NYSE Arca on November 25, 2008. As of May 31, 2009, the total amount of money raised by USHO from its Authorized Purchasers was $19,744,061; the total number of Authorized Purchasers was 4; the number of baskets purchased by Authorized Purchasers was 5; and the aggregate amount of units purchased was 500,000.
Since the offering of USHO units to the public on April 9, 2008 to May 31, 2009, the simple average daily change in the benchmark heating oil futures contract was -0.195% while the simple average daily change in the NAV of USHO over the same time period was -0.194%. The average daily difference was 0.002% (or 0.2 basis points, where 1 basis point equals 1/100 of 1%). As a percentage of the daily movement of the benchmark heating oil futures contract, the average error in daily tracking by the NAV was -0.211% meaning that over this time period USHOs tracking error was within the plus or minus 10% range established as its benchmark tracking goal.
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Dollar Amount Offered in USNG Offering* | $ | 7,631,500,000 | ||
Dollar Amount Raised in USNG Offering | $ | 6,432,752,016 | ||
Organizational and Offering Expenses in USNG Offering:** |
||||
SEC registration fee | $ | 1,361,084 | ||
FINRA registration fee | $ | 377,500 | ||
Listing fee | $ | 5,000 | ||
Auditors fees and expenses | $ | 266,850 | ||
Legal fees and expenses | $ | 736,065 | ||
Printing expenses | $ | 64,825 | ||
Length of USNG offering | Continuous |
* | Reflects the offering price per unit set forth on the cover page of the registration statement registering such units filed with the SEC. |
** | Amounts are for organizational and offering expenses incurred in connection with offerings from April 18, 2007 through May 31, 2009. Through April 18, 2007, these expenses were paid for by the General Partner. Following April 18, 2007, USNG has borne the expenses related to the offering of its units. |
Expense | Amount in Dollar Terms |
|||
Amount Paid to General Partner in USNG Offering | $ | 7,875,178 | ||
Amount Paid in Portfolio Brokerage Commissions in USNG Offering | $ | 2,813,129 | ||
Other Amounts Paid in USNG Offering | $ | 3,298,674 | ||
Total Expenses Paid in USNG Offering | $ | 13,986,981 |
Expenses in USNG Offering | Amount As a Percentage of Average Daily Net Assets |
|||
General Partner | 0.59% annualized | |||
Portfolio Brokerage Commissions | 0.21% annualized | |||
Other Amounts Paid in USNG Offering | 0.37% annualized | |||
Total Expense Ratio | 1.06% annualized | |||
USNG Performance: |
||||
Name of Commodity Pool | USNG | |||
Type of Commodity Pool | Exchange traded security | |||
Inception of Trading | April 18, 2007 | |||
Aggregate Subscriptions (from inception through May 31, 2009) |
$6,432,752,016 | |||
Total Net Assets as of May 31, 2009 | $2,300,035,833 | |||
Initial NAV per Unit as of Inception | $50.00 | |||
NAV per Unit as of May 31, 2009 | $14.47 | |||
Worst Monthly Percentage Draw-down | Jul 08 (32.13)% | |||
Worst Peak-to-Valley Draw-down | Jun 08 Mar 09 (75.69)% |
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Rates of Return | ||||||||||||
Month | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | |||||||||
January | 8.87 | % | (21.49 | )% | ||||||||
February | 15.87 | % | (5.47 | )% | ||||||||
March | 6.90 | % | (11.81 | )% | ||||||||
April | 4.30%* | 6.42 | % | (13.92 | )% | |||||||
May | (0.84 | )% | 6.53 | % | 10.37 | % | ||||||
June | (15.90 | )% | 13.29 | % | ||||||||
July | (9.68 | )% | (32.13 | )% | ||||||||
August | (13.37 | )% | (13.92 | )% | ||||||||
September | 12.28 | % | (9.67 | )% | ||||||||
October | 12.09 | % | (12.34 | )% | ||||||||
November | (16.16 | )% | (6.31 | )% | ||||||||
December | 0.75 | % | (14.32 | )% | ||||||||
Annual Rate of Return | (27.64 | )% | (35.68 | )% | (37.82)%** |
* | Partial from April 18, 2007. |
** | Through May 31, 2009. |
Draw-down: Losses experienced over a specified period. Draw-down is measured on the basis of monthly returns only and does not reflect intra-month figures.
Worst Monthly Percentage Draw-down: The largest single month loss sustained since inception of trading.
Worst Peak-to-Valley Draw-down: The largest percentage decline in the NAV per unit over the history of the fund. This need not be a continuous decline, but can be a series of positive and negative returns where the negative returns are larger than the positive returns. Worst Peak-to-Valley Draw-down represents the greatest percentage decline from any month-end NAV per unit that occurs without such month-end NAV per unit being equaled or exceeded as of a subsequent month-end. For example, if the NAV per unit declined by $1 in each of January and February, increased by $1 in March and declined again by $2 in April, a peak-to-valley drawdown analysis conducted as of the end of April would consider that drawdown to be still continuing and to be $3 in amount, whereas if the NAV per unit had increased by $2 in March, the January-February drawdown would have ended as of the end of February at the $2 level.
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Dollar Amount Offered in USOF Offering* | $ | 32,567,630,000 | ||
Dollar Amount Raised in USOF Offering | $ | 22,146,006,436 | ||
Organizational and Offering Expenses in USOF Offering:** |
||||
SEC registration fee | $ | 2,480,174 | ||
FINRA registration fee | $ | 603,500 | ||
Listing fee | $ | 5,000 | ||
Auditors fees and expenses | $ | 328,350 | ||
Legal fees and expenses | $ | 1,855,257 | ||
Printing expenses | $ | 278,680 | ||
Length of USOF offering | Continuous |
* | Reflects the offering price per unit set forth on the cover page of the registration statement registering such units filed with the SEC. |
** | Through December 31, 2006, these expenses were paid for by an affiliate of the General Partner in connection with the initial public offering. Following December 31, 2006, USOF has recorded these expenses. |
Expense | Amount in Dollar Terms |
|||
Amount Paid to General Partner in USOF Offering | $ | 14,891,235 | ||
Amount Paid in Portfolio Brokerage Commissions in USOF Offering | $ | 5,904,870 | ||
Other Amounts Paid in USOF Offering | $ | 6,119,381 | ||
Total Expenses Paid in USOF Offering | $ | 26,915,486 |
Expenses in USOF Offering | Amount As a Percentage of Average Daily Net Assets |
|||
General Partner | 0.47% annualized | |||
Portfolio Brokerage Commissions | 0.18% annualized | |||
Other Amounts Paid in USOF Offering | 0.19% annualized | |||
Total Expenses Paid in USOF Offering | 0.84% annualized | |||
USOF Performance: |
||||
Name of Commodity Pool | USOF | |||
Type of Commodity Pool | Exchange traded security | |||
Inception of Trading | April 10, 2006 | |||
Aggregate Subscriptions (from inception through May 31, 2009) | $ | 22,146,006,436 | ||
Total Net Assets as of May 31, 2009 | $ | 2,723,137,412 | ||
Initial NAV per Unit as of Inception | $ | 67.39 | ||
NAV per Unit as of May 31, 2009 | $ | 36.31 | ||
Worst Monthly Percentage Draw-down | Oct 2008 (31.57)% | |||
Worst Peak-to-Valley Draw-down | Jun 08 Feb 09 (75.84)% |
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Rates of Return | ||||||||||||||||
Month | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | ||||||||||||
January | (6.55 | )% | (3.98 | )% | (14.60 | )% | ||||||||||
February | 5.63 | % | 11.03 | % | (6.55 | )% | ||||||||||
March | 4.61 | % | 0.63 | % | 7.23 | % | ||||||||||
April | 3.47%* | (4.26 | )% | 12.38 | % | (2.38 | )% | |||||||||
May | (2.91 | )% | (4.91 | )% | 12.80 | % | 26.69 | % | ||||||||
June | 3.16 | % | 9.06 | % | 9.90 | % | ||||||||||
July | (0.50 | )% | 10.55 | % | (11.72 | )% | ||||||||||
August | (6.97 | )% | (4.93 | )% | (6.75 | )% | ||||||||||
September | (11.71 | )% | 12.11 | % | (12.97 | )% | ||||||||||
October | (8.46 | )% | 16.98 | % | (31.57 | )% | ||||||||||
November | 4.73 | % | (4.82 | )% | (20.65 | )% | ||||||||||
December | (5.21 | )% | 8.66 | % | (22.16 | )% | ||||||||||
Annual Rate of Return | (23.03 | )% | 46.15 | % | (54.75 | )% | (5.83)%** |
* | Partial from April 10, 2006. |
** | Through May 31, 2009. |
For a definition of draw-down, please see text below Composite Performance Data for USNG.
Dollar Amount Offered in US12OF Offering* | $ | 3,718,000,000 | ||
Dollar Amount Raised in US12OF Offering | $ | 189,487,379 | ||
Organizational and Offering Expenses**: |
||||
SEC registration fee | $ | 129,248 | ||
FINRA registration fee | $ | 151,000 | ||
Listing fee | $ | 5,000 | ||
Auditors fees and expenses | $ | 60,700 | ||
Legal fees and expenses | $ | 260,590 | ||
Printing expenses: | $ | 43,019 | ||
Length of US12OF offering | Continuous |
* | Reflects the offering price per unit set forth on the cover page of the registration statement registering such units filed with the SEC. |
** | Amounts are for organizational and offering expenses incurred in connection with the offerings from December 6, 2007 through March 31, 2009. Through March 31, 2009, these expenses were paid for by an affiliate of the General Partner in connection with the initial public offering. Following March 31, 2009, US12OF will bear the expenses related to the offering of its units. |
Expense | Amount in Dollar Terms |
|||
Amount Paid to General Partner in US12OF Offering | $ | 325,169 | ||
Amount Paid in Portfolio Brokerage Commissions in US12OF Offering | $ | 39,412 | ||
Other Amounts Paid in US12OF Offering | $ | 141,966 | ||
Total Expenses Paid in US12OF Offering | $ | 506,547 |
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Expenses in US12OF Offering | Amount As a Percentage of Average Daily Net Assets |
|||
General Partner | 0.60% annualized | |||
Portfolio Brokerage Commissions | 0.07% annualized | |||
Other Amounts Paid in US12OF Offering | 0.26% annualized | |||
Total Expense Ratio | 0.93% annualized | |||
US12OF Performance: |
||||
Name of Commodity Pool | US12OF | |||
Type of Commodity Pool | Exchange traded security | |||
Inception of Trading | December 6, 2007 | |||
Aggregate Subscriptions (from inception through May 31, 2009) |
$189,487,379 | |||
Total Net Assets as of May 31, 2009 | $195,023,652 | |||
Initial NAV per Unit as of Inception | $50.00 | |||
NAV per Unit as of May 31, 2009 | $36.12 | |||
Worst Monthly Percentage Draw-down | Oct 2008 (29.59)% | |||
Worst Peak-to-Valley Draw-down | Jun 08 Feb 09 (66.97)% |
Rates of Return | ||||||||||||
Month | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | |||||||||
January | (2.01 | )% | (7.11 | )% | ||||||||
February | 10.48 | % | (4.34 | )% | ||||||||
March | (0.66 | )% | 9.22 | % | ||||||||
April | 11.87 | % | (1.06 | )% | ||||||||
May | 15.47 | % | 20.40 | % | ||||||||
June | 11.59 | % | ||||||||||
July | (11.39 | )% | ||||||||||
August | (6.35 | )% | ||||||||||
September | (13.12 | )% | ||||||||||
October | (29.59 | )% | ||||||||||
November | (16.17 | )% | ||||||||||
December | 8.44%* | (12.66 | )% | |||||||||
Annual Rate of Return | 8.44 | % | (42.39 | )% | (15.62)%** |
* | Partial from December 6, 2007. |
** | Through May 31, 2009. |
For a definition of draw-down, please see text below Composite Performance Data for USNG.
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Dollar Amount Offered in UGA Offering* | $ | 1,500,000,000 | ||||||
Dollar Amount Raised in UGA Offering | $ | 116,076,878 | ||||||
Organizational and Offering Expenses in UGA Offering:** |
||||||||
SEC registration fee | $ | 58,520 | ||||||
FINRA registration fee | $ | 75,500 | ||||||
Listing fee | $ | 5,000 | ||||||
Auditors fees and expenses | $ | 27,500 | ||||||
Legal fees and expenses | $ | 117,891 | ||||||
Printing expenses | $ | 31,867 | ||||||
Length of UGA offering | Continuous |
* | Reflects the offering price per unit set forth on the cover page of the registration statement registering such units filed with the SEC. |
** | These expenses were paid for by the General Partner. |
Expense | Amount in Dollar Terms |
|||
Amount Paid to General Partner in UGA Offering | $ | 220,038 | ||
Amount Paid in Portfolio Brokerage Commissions in UGA Offering | $ | 47,532 | ||
Other Amounts Paid in UGA Offering | $ | 68,758 | ||
Total Expenses Paid in UGA Offering | $ | 336,328 |
Expenses in UGA Offering | Amount As a Percentage of Average Daily Net Assets |
|||
General Partner | 0.60% annualized | |||
Portfolio Brokerage Commissions | 0.13% annualized | |||
Other Amounts Paid in UGA Offering | 0.19% annualized | |||
Total Expense Ratio | 0.92% annualized | |||
UGA Performance: |
||||
Name of Commodity Pool | UGA | |||
Type of Commodity Pool | Exchange traded security | |||
Inception of Trading | February 26, 2008 | |||
Aggregate Subscriptions (from inception through May 31, 2009) |
$116,073,878 | |||
Total Net Assets as of May 31, 2009 | $90,047,798 | |||
Initial NAV per Unit as of Inception | $50.00 | |||
NAV per Unit as of May 31, 2009 | $32.16 | |||
Worst Monthly Percentage Draw-down | Oct 2008 (38.48)% | |||
Worst Peak-to-Valley Draw-down | Jun 08 Dec 08 (69.02)% |
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Rates of Return | ||||||||
Month | 2008 | 2009 | ||||||
January | 16.23 | % | ||||||
February | (0.56)%* | 0.26 | % | |||||
March | (2.39 | )% | 2.59 | % | ||||
April | 10.94 | % | 2.07 | % | ||||
May | 15.60 | % | 30.41 | % | ||||
June | 4.79 | % | ||||||
July | (12.79 | )% | ||||||
August | (3.88 | )% | ||||||
September | (9.36 | )% | ||||||
October | (38.48 | )% | ||||||
November | (21.35 | )% | ||||||
December | (15.72 | )% | ||||||
Annual Rate of Return | (59.58 | )% | 59.13%** |
* | Partial from February 26, 2008. |
** | Through May 31, 2009. |
For a definition of draw-down, please see text below Composite Performance Data for USNG.
Dollar Amount Offered in USHO Offering* | $ | 500,000,000 | ||||||
Dollar Amount Raised in USHO Offering | $ | 19,744,061 | ||||||
Organizational and Offering Expenses in USHO Offering:** |
||||||||
SEC registration fee | $ | 19,220 | ||||||
FINRA registration fee | $ | 50,500 | ||||||
Listing fee | $ | 5,000 | ||||||
Auditors fees and expenses | $ | 27,500 | ||||||
Legal fees and expenses | $ | 126,859 | ||||||
Printing expenses | $ | 21,255 | ||||||
Length of USHO offering | Continuous |
* | Reflects the offering price per unit set forth on the cover page of the registration statement registering such units filed with the SEC. |
** | These expenses were paid for by the General Partner. |
Expense | Amount in Dollar Terms |
|||
Amount Paid to General Partner in USHO Offering | $ | 65,462 | ||
Amount Paid in Portfolio Brokerage Commissions in USHO Offering | $ | 10,802 | ||
Other Amounts Paid in USHO Offering | $ | 21,160 | ||
Total Expenses Paid in USHO Offering | $ | 97,424 |
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Expenses in USHO Offering | Amount As a Percentage of Average Daily Net Assets |
|||
General Partner | 0.60% annualized | |||
Portfolio Brokerage Commissions | 0.10% annualized | |||
Other Amounts Paid in USHO Offering | 0.27% annualized | |||
Total Expense Ratio | 0.97% annualized | |||
USHO Performance: |
||||
Name of Commodity Pool | USHO | |||
Type of Commodity Pool | Exchange traded security | |||
Inception of Trading | April 9, 2008 | |||
Aggregate Subscriptions (from inception through May 31, 2009) |
$19,744,061 | |||
Total Net Assets as of May 31, 2009 | $7,378,489 | |||
Initial NAV per Unit as of Inception | $50.00 | |||
NAV per Unit as of May 31, 2009 | $24.59 | |||
Worst Monthly Percentage Draw-down | Oct 08 (28.63)% | |||
Worst Peak-to-Valley Draw-down | Jun 08 Feb 09 (69.17)% |
Rates of Return | ||||||||
Month | 2008 | 2009 | ||||||
January | 0.05 | % | ||||||
February | (11.34 | )% | ||||||
March | 6.73 | % | ||||||
April | 2.84%* | (3.85 | )% | |||||
May | 15.93 | % | 23.13 | % | ||||
June | 5.91 | % | ||||||
July | (12.18 | )% | ||||||
August | (8.41 | )% | ||||||
September | (9.77 | )% | ||||||
October | (28.63 | )% | ||||||
November | (18.38 | )% | ||||||
December | (17.80 | )% | ||||||
Annual Rate of Return | (56.12 | )% | (12.08)%** |
* | Partial from April 9, 2008. |
** | Through May 31, 2009. |
For a definition of draw-down, please see text below Composite Performance Data for USNG.
Ameristock Corporation is an affiliate of the General Partner and it is a California-based registered investment advisor registered under the Investment Advisors Act of 1940 that has been sponsoring and providing portfolio management services to mutual funds since 1995. Ameristock Corporation is the investment adviser to the Ameristock Mutual Fund, Inc., a mutual fund registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 that focuses on large cap U.S. equities that, as of May 31, 2009, had approximately $182 million in assets. Ameristock Corporation is also the investment advisor to the Ameristock ETF Trust, an open-end management investment company registered under the 1940 Act that seeks investment results that correspond to the performance of U.S. Treasury indices owned and compiled by Ryan Holdings LLC and Ryan ALM, Inc.
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The net assets of USNG will consist primarily of investments in futures contracts for natural gas, but may also consist of crude oil, heating oil, gasoline, and other petroleum-based fuels that are traded on the NYMEX, ICE Futures or other U.S. and foreign exchanges (collectively, Futures Contracts). USNG may also invest in other natural gas-related investments such as cash-settled options on Futures Contracts, forward contracts for natural gas, and over-the-counter transactions that are based on the price of natural gas, oil and other petroleum-based fuels, Futures Contracts and indices based on the foregoing (collectively, Other Natural Gas-Related Investments). For convenience and unless otherwise specified, Futures Contracts and Other Natural Gas-Related Investments collectively are referred to as Natural Gas Interests in this prospectus.
USNG invests in Natural Gas Interests to the fullest extent possible without being leveraged or unable to satisfy its current or potential margin or collateral obligations with respect to its investments in Futures Contracts and Other Natural Gas-Related Investments. In pursuing this objective, the primary focus of the General Partner is the investment in Futures Contracts and the management of USNGs investments in short-term obligations of the United States of two years or less (Treasuries), cash and/or cash equivalents for margining purposes and as collateral.
The investment objective of USNG is to have the changes in percentage terms of the units NAV reflect the changes in percentage terms of the spot price of natural gas delivered at the Henry Hub, Louisiana as measured by the changes in the Futures Contract on natural gas traded on the NYMEX that is the near month contract to expire, except when the near month contract is within two weeks of expiration, in which case the futures contract will be the next month contract to expire, less USNGs expenses. It is not the intent of USNG to be operated in a fashion such that its NAV will equal, in dollar terms, the spot price of spot natural gas or any particular futures contract based on natural gas.
USNG seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in a mix of Futures Contracts and Natural Gas Interests such that the changes in USNGs NAV will closely track the changes in the price of the Benchmark Futures Contract. The General Partner believes changes in the price of the Benchmark Futures Contract historically exhibited a close correlation with the changes in the spot price of natural gas. On any valuation day (a valuation day is any NYSE Arca trading day as of which USNG calculates its NAV, as described herein), the Benchmark Futures Contract is the near month contract for natural gas traded on the NYMEX unless the near month contract will expire within two weeks of the valuation day, in which case the Benchmark Futures Contract is the next month contract for natural gas on the NYMEX.
As a specific benchmark, the General Partner endeavors to place USNGs trades in Futures Contracts and Other Natural Gas-Related Investments and otherwise manage USNGs investments so that A will be within plus/minus 10 percent of B, where:
| A is the average daily change in USNGs NAV for any period of 30 successive valuation days; i.e., any NYSE Arca trading day as of which USNG calculates its NAV, and |
| B is the average daily change in the price of the Benchmark Futures Contract over the same period. |
The General Partner believes that market arbitrage opportunities cause daily changes in USNGs unit price on the NYSE Arca to closely track daily changes in USNGs NAV. The General Partner further believes that the daily changes in prices of the Benchmark Futures Contract have historically closely tracked the daily changes in the spot price of natural gas. The General Partner believes that the net effect of these two relationships and the expected relationship described above between USNGs NAV and the Benchmark Futures Contract will be that the daily changes in the price of USNGs units on the NYSE Arca will continue to closely track the daily changes in the spot price of 10,000 million British thermal units (mmBtu) of natural gas, less USNGs expenses. The following two graphs demonstrate the correlation between the daily changes in the NAV of USNG and the daily changes in the Benchmark Futures Contract both since the initial public offering of USNGs units on April 18, 2007 through March 31, 2009 and during the last thirty valuation days ended March 31, 2009.
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An investment in the units provides a means for diversifying an investors portfolio or hedging exposure to changes in natural gas prices. An investment in the units allows both retail and institutional investors to easily gain this exposure to the natural gas market in a transparent, cost-effective manner.
The expected correlation of the price of USNGs units, USNGs NAV and the price of the Benchmark Futures Contract is illustrated in the following diagram:
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The General Partner employs a neutral investment strategy intended to track changes in the price of the Benchmark Futures Contract regardless of whether the price goes up or goes down. USNGs neutral investment strategy is designed to permit investors generally to purchase and sell USNGs units for the purpose of investing indirectly in natural gas in a cost-effective manner, and/or to permit participants in the natural gas or other industries to hedge the risk of losses in their natural gas-related transactions. Accordingly, depending on the investment objective of an individual investor, the risks generally associated with investing in natural gas and/or the risks involved in hedging may exist. In addition, an investment in USNG involves the risk that the changes in the price of USNGs units will not accurately track the changes in the Benchmark Futures Contract.
The Benchmark Oil Futures Contract will be changed from the near month contract to the next month contract over a four-day period. Each month, the Benchmark Futures Contract will change starting at the end of the day on the date two weeks prior to expiration of the near month contract for that month. During the first three days of the period, the applicable value of the Benchmark Futures Contract will be based on a combination of the near month contract and the next month contract as follows: (1) day 1 will consist of 75% of the then near month contracts total return for the day, plus 25% of the total return for the day of the next month contract, (2) day 2 will consist of 50% of the then near month contracts total return for the day, plus 50% of the total return for the day of the next month contract, and (3) day 3 will consist of 25% of the then near month contracts total return for the day, plus 75% of the total return for the day of the next month contract. On day 4, the Benchmark Futures Contract will be the next month contract to expire at that time and that contract will remain the Benchmark Futures Contract until the beginning of the following months change in the Benchmark Futures Contract over a four-day period.
On each day during the four-day period, United States Commodity Funds LLC, the General Partner of USNG, anticipates it will roll USNGs positions in natural gas investments by closing, or selling, a percentage of USNGs positions in natural gas interests and reinvesting the proceeds from closing those positions in new natural gas interests that reflect the change in the Benchmark Futures Contract.
The anticipated dates that the monthly four-day roll period will commence for 2009 will be posted on USNGs website at www.unitedstatesnaturalgasfund.com, and are subject to change without notice.
USNGs total portfolio composition is disclosed on its website each day that the NYSE Arca is open for trading. The website disclosure of portfolio holdings is made daily and includes, as applicable, the name and
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value of each Natural Gas Interest, the specific types of Other Natural Gas-Related Investments and characteristics of such Other Natural Gas-Related Investments, Treasuries, and amount of cash and/or cash equivalents held in USNGs portfolio. USNGs website is publicly accessible at no charge. USNGs assets are held in segregated accounts pursuant to the Commodity Exchange Act and CFTC regulations.
The units issued by USNG may only be purchased by Authorized Purchasers and only in blocks of 100,000 units called Creation Baskets. The amount of the purchase payment for a Creation Basket is equal to the aggregate NAV of units in the Creation Basket. Similarly, only Authorized Purchasers may redeem units and only in blocks of 100,000 units called Redemption Baskets. The amount of the redemption proceeds for a Redemption Basket is equal to the aggregate NAV of units in the Redemption Basket. The purchase price for Creation Baskets, and the redemption price for Redemption Baskets is the actual NAV of the units purchased or redeemed calculated at the end of the business day when notice for a purchase or redemption is received by USNG. The NYSE Arca publishes an approximate NAV intra-day based on the prior days NAV and the current price of Benchmark Futures Contract, but the basket price is determined based on the actual NAV at the end of the day.
While USNG issues units only in Creation Baskets, units may also be purchased and sold in much smaller increments on the NYSE Arca. These transactions, however, are effected at the bid and ask prices established by specialist firm(s). Like any listed security, units can be purchased and sold at any time a secondary market is open.
In managing USNGs assets the General Partner does not use a technical trading system that issues buy and sell orders. The General Partner instead employs a quantitative methodology whereby each time a Creation Basket is sold, the General Partner purchases Natural Gas Interests, such as the Benchmark Futures Contract, that have an aggregate market value that approximates the amount of Treasuries and/or cash received upon the issuance of the Creation Basket.
As an example, assume that a Creation Basket is sold by USNG, and that USNGs closing NAV per unit is $50.00. In that case, USNG would receive $5,000,000 in proceeds from the sale of the Creation Basket ($50 NAV per unit multiplied by 100,000 units, and ignoring the Creation Basket fee of $1,000). If one were to assume further that the General Partner wants to invest the entire proceeds from the Creation Basket in the Benchmark Futures Contract and that the market value of the Benchmark Futures Contract is $59,950, USNG would be unable to buy the exact number of Benchmark Futures Contracts with an aggregate market value equal to $5,000,000. Instead, USNG would be able to purchase 83 Benchmark Futures Contracts with an aggregate market value of $4,975,850. Assuming a margin requirement equal to 10% of the value of the Benchmark Futures Contract, USNG would be required to deposit $497,585 in Treasuries and cash with the futures commission merchant through which the Benchmark Futures Contracts were purchased. The remainder of the proceeds from the sale of the Creation Basket would remain invested in cash, cash equivalents, and Treasuries as determined by the General Partner from time to time based on factors such as potential calls for margin or anticipated redemptions.
The specific Futures Contracts purchased depends on various factors, including a judgment by the General Partner as to the appropriate diversification of USNGs investments in futures contracts with respect to the month of expiration, and the prevailing price volatility of particular contracts. While the General Partner has made significant investments in NYMEX Futures Contracts, as USNG reaches certain accountability levels or position limits on the NYMEX, or for other reasons, it has also and may continue to invest in Futures Contracts traded on other exchanges or invest in Other Natural Gas-Related Investments such as contracts in the over-the-counter market.
The General Partner does not anticipate letting its Futures Contracts expire and taking delivery of the underlying commodity. Instead, the General Partner closes existing positions, e.g., when it changes the Benchmark Futures Contract or it otherwise determines it would be appropriate to do so and reinvests the proceeds in new Futures Contracts. Positions may also be closed out to meet orders for Redemption Baskets and in such case proceeds for such baskets will not be reinvested.
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By remaining invested as fully as possible in Futures Contracts or Other Natural Gas-Related Investments, the General Partner believes that the changes in percentage terms of USNGs NAV will continue to closely track the changes in percentage terms in the prices of the Futures Contracts in which USNG invests. The General Partner believes that certain arbitrage opportunities result in the price of the units traded on the NYSE Arca closely tracking the NAV of USNG. Additionally, as discussed above, the General Partner has conducted research that indicates that the natural gas futures contracts traded on the NYMEX have closely tracked the spot price of the underlying natural gas. Based on these expected interrelationships, the General Partner believes that the changes in the price of USNGs units as traded on the NYSE Arca will continue to closely track the changes in natural gas.
Futures contracts are agreements between two parties. One party agrees to buy a commodity such as natural gas from the other party at a later date at a price and quantity agreed upon when the contract is made. Futures contracts are traded on futures exchanges, including the NYMEX. For example, natural gas Futures contracts traded on the NYMEX trade in units of 10,000 million British Thermal Units (mmBtu). The natural gas Futures Contracts traded on the NYMEX are priced by floor brokers and other exchange members both through an open outcry of offers to purchase or sell the contracts and through an electronic, screen-based system that determines the price by matching electronically offers to purchase and sell.
Certain typical and significant characteristics of Futures Contracts are discussed below. Additional risks of investing in Futures Contracts are included in What are the Risk Factors Involved with an Investment in USNG?
Impact of Accountability Levels, Position Limits and Price Fluctuation Limits. Futures contracts include typical and significant characteristics. Most significantly, the CFTC and U.S. designated contract markets such as the NYMEX have established accountability levels and position limits on the maximum net long or net short futures contracts in commodity interests that any person or group of persons under common trading control (other than as a hedge, which an investment by USNG is not) may hold, own or control. The net position is the difference between an individual or firms open long contracts and open short contracts in any one commodity. In addition, most U.S. futures exchanges, such as the NYMEX, limit the daily price fluctuation for futures contracts. Currently, the ICE Futures imposes any position and accountability limits that are similar to those imposed by the NYMEX but does not limit the maximum daily price fluctuation.
The accountability levels for the Benchmark Futures Contract and other Futures Contracts traded on the NYMEX are not a fixed ceiling, but rather a threshold above which the NYMEX may exercise greater scrutiny and control over an investors positions. The current accountability level for any one month in the Benchmark Futures Contract) is 12,000 contracts. In addition, the NYMEX imposes an accountability level for all months of 12,000 net futures contracts in natural gas. If USNG and the Related Public Funds exceed these accountability levels for investments in the futures contract for natural gas, the NYMEX will monitor USNGs and the Related Public Funds exposure and ask for further information on their activities, including the total size of all positions, investment and trading strategy, and the extent of liquidity resources of USNG and the Related Public Funds. If deemed necessary by the NYMEX, it could also order USNG to reduce its position back to the accountability level. As of March 31, 2009, USNG and the Related Public Funds held 21,700 Benchmark Futures Contracts, all of which were traded on the NYMEX. As of March 31, 2009, USNG held no natural gas contracts traded on the ICE Futures.
If the NYMEX or the ICE Futures orders USNG to reduce its position back to the accountability level, or to an accountability level that the NYMEX or the ICE Futures deems appropriate for USNG, such an accountability level may impact the mix of investments in Natural Gas Interests made by USNG. To illustrate, assume that the price of the Benchmark Futures Contract and the unit price of USNG are each $10, and that the NYMEX has determined that USNG may not own more than 10,000 contracts in natural gas Futures Contracts. In such case, USNG could invest up to $1 billion of its daily net assets in the Benchmark Futures Contract (i.e., $10 per contract multiplied by 10,000 (a Benchmark Futures Contract is a contract for 10,000 million British Thermal Units) multiplied by 10,000 contracts) before reaching the accountability level imposed by the NYMEX. Once the daily net assets of the portfolio exceed $1.2 billion in the Benchmark Futures Contract, the portfolio may not be able to make any further investments in the Benchmark Futures
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Contract, depending on whether the NYMEX imposes limits. If the NYMEX does impose limits at the $1 billion level (or another level), USNG anticipates that it will invest the majority of its assets above that level in a mix of other Futures Contracts or Other Natural Gas-Related Investments.
In addition to accountability levels, the NYMEX and the ICE Futures impose position limits on contracts held in the last few days of trading in the near month contract to expire. It is unlikely that USNG will run up against such position limits because USNGs investment strategy is to close out its positions and roll from the near month contract to expire to the next month contract during a four-day period beginning two weeks from expiration of the contract.
U.S. futures exchanges, including the NYMEX, also limit the amount of price fluctuation for futures contracts. For example, the NYMEX imposes a $3.00 per mmBtu ($30,000 per contract) price fluctuation limit for natural gas Futures Contracts. This limit is initially based off the previous trading days settlement price. If any natural gas Futures Contract is traded, bid, or offered at the limit for five minutes, trading is halted for five minutes. When trading resumes it begins at the point where the limit was imposed and the limit is reset to be $3.00 per mmBtu in either direction of that point. If another halt were triggered, the market would continue to be expanded by $3.00 per mmBtu in either direction after each successive five-minute trading halt. There is no maximum price fluctuation limit during any one trading session.
USNG anticipates that to the extent it invests in Futures Contracts other than natural gas contracts (such as futures contracts for light, sweet crude oil, heating oil, and gasoline) and Other Natural Gas-Related Investments, it will enter into various non-exchange-traded derivative contracts to hedge the short-term price movements of such natural gas Futures Contracts and Other Natural Gas-Related Investments against the current Benchmark Futures Contract.
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Examples of the position and price limits imposed are as follows:
Futures Contract | Position Accountability Levels and Limits |
Maximum Daily Price Fluctuation |
||
NYMEX Natural Gas (physically settled) |
Any one month: 6,000 net futures / all months: 12,000 net futures, but not to exceed 1,000 contracts in the last three days of trading in the spot month. | $3.00 per mmBtu ($30,000 per contract) for all months. If any contract is traded, bid, or offered at the limit for five minutes, trading is halted for five minutes. When trading resumes, the limit is expanded by $3.00 per mmBtu in either direction. If another halt were triggered, the market would continue to be expanded by $3.00 per mmBtu in either direction after each successive five-minute trading halt. There will be no maximum price fluctuation limits during any one trading session. | ||
NYMEX Light, Sweet Crude Oil (physically settled) |
Any one month: 10,000 net futures / all months: 20,000 net futures, but not to exceed 3,000 contracts in the last three days of trading in the spot month. | $10.00 per barrel ($10,000 per contract) for all months. If any contract is traded, bid, or offered at the limit for five minutes, trading is halted for five minutes. When trading resumes, the limit is expanded by $10.00 per barrel in either direction. If another halt were triggered, the market would continue to be expanded by $10.00 per barrel in either direction after each successive five-minute trading halt. There will be no maximum price fluctuation limits during any one trading session. | ||
NYMEX Light, Sweet Crude Oil (financially settled) |
Any one month: 20,000 net futures / all months: 20,000 net futures, but not to exceed 2,000 contracts in the last three days of trading in the spot month. | There is no maximum daily price fluctuation limit. | ||
ICE West Texas Intermediate (WTI) Crude Futures (financially settled) |
Any one month: 10,000 net futures / all months: 20,000 net futures, but not to exceed 3,000 contracts in the last three days of trading in the spot month. | There is no maximum daily price fluctuation. | ||
ICE Brent Crude Futures (physically settled) |
There are no position limits. | There is no maximum daily price fluctuation limit. | ||
NYMEX Heating Oil (physically settled) |
Any one month: 5,000 net futures / all months: 7,000 net futures, but not to exceed 1,000 contracts in the last three days of trading in the spot month | $0.25 per gallon ($10,500 per contract) for all months. If any contract is traded, bid, or offered at the limit for five minutes, trading is halted for five minutes. When trading resumes, the limit is expanded by $0.25 per gallon in either direction. If another halt were triggered, the market would continue to be expanded by $0.25 per gallon in either direction after each successive five-minute trading halt. There will be no maximum price fluctuation limits during any one trading session. | ||
NYMEX Gasoline (physically settled) |
Any one month: 5,000 net futures / all months: 7,000 net futures, but not to exceed 1,000 contracts in the last three days of trading in the spot month. | $0.25 per gallon ($10,500 per contract) for all months. If any contract is traded, bid, or offered at the limit for five minutes, trading is halted for five minutes. When trading resumes, the limit is expanded by $0.25 per gallon in either direction. If another halt were triggered, the market would continue to be expanded by $0.25 per gallon in either direction after each successive five-minute trading halt. There will be no maximum price fluctuation limits during any one trading session. |
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Price Volatility. Despite daily price limits, the price volatility of Futures Contracts generally has been historically greater than that for traditional securities such as stocks and bonds. Price volatility often is greater day-to-day as opposed to intra-day. Futures Contracts tend to be more volatile than stocks and bonds because price movements of natural gas and other energy products are more currently and directly influenced by economic factors for which current data is available and are traded by futures traders throughout the day. These economic factors include changes in interest rates; governmental, agricultural, trade, fiscal, monetary and exchange control programs and policies; weather and climate conditions; changing supply and demand relationships; changes in balances of payments and trade; U.S. and international rates of inflation; currency devaluations and revaluations; U.S. and international political and economic events; and changes in philosophies and emotions of market participants. Because USNG invests a significant portion of its assets in Futures Contracts, the assets of USNG, and therefore the prices of USNG units, may be subject to greater volatility than traditional securities.
Several factors determine the total return from investing in a futures contract position. One factor that impacts the total return that will result in investing in near month futures contracts and rolling those contracts forward each month is the price relationship between the current near month contract and the next month contract. If, for example, the price of the near month contract is higher than the next month contract (a situation referred to as backwardation in the futures market), then absent any other change there is a tendency for the price of a next month contract to rise in value as it becomes the near month contract and approaches expiration. Conversely, if the price of a near month contract is lower than the next month contract (a situation referred to as contango in the futures market), then absent any other change there is a tendency for the price of a next month contract to decline in value as it becomes the near month contract and approaches expiration.
As an example, assume that the price of natural gas for immediate delivery (the spot price), was $7 per 10,000 mmBtu, and the value of a position in the near month futures contract was also $7. Over time, the price of 10,000 mmBtu of natural gas will fluctuate based on a number of market factors, including demand for natural gas relative to its supply. The value of the near month contract will likewise fluctuate in reaction to a number of market factors. If investors seek to maintain their holding in a near month contract position and not take delivery of the natural gas, every month they must sell their current near month contract as it approaches expiration and invest in the next month contract.
If the futures market is in backwardation, e.g., when the expected price of natural gas in the future would be less, the investor would be buying next month contracts for a lower price than the current near month contract. Hypothetically, and assuming no other changes to either prevailing natural gas prices or the price relationship between the spot price, the near month contract and the next month contract (and ignoring the impact of commission costs and the interest earned on Treasuries, cash and/or cash equivalents), the value of the next month contract would rise as it approaches expiration and becomes the new near month contract. In this example, the value of the $7 investment would tend to rise faster than the spot price of natural gas, or fall slower. As a result, it would be possible in this hypothetical example for the price of spot natural gas to have risen to $9 after some period of time, while the value of the investment in the futures contract would have risen to $10, assuming backwardation is large enough or enough time has elapsed. Similarly, the spot price of natural gas could have fallen to $5 while the value of an investment in the futures contract could have fallen to only $6. Over time, if backwardation remained constant, the difference would continue to increase.
If the futures market is in contango, the investor would be buying next month contracts for a higher price than the current near month contract. Hypothetically, and assuming no other changes to either prevailing natural gas prices or the price relationship between the spot price, the near month contract and the next month contract (and ignoring the impact of commission costs and the interest earned on cash), the value of the next month contract would fall as it approaches expiration and becomes the new near month contract. In this example, it would mean that the value of the $7 investment would tend to rise slower than the spot price of natural gas, or fall faster. As a result, it would be possible in this hypothetical example for the spot price of natural gas to have risen to $9 after some period of time, while the value of the investment in the futures
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contract would have risen to only $8, assuming contango is large enough or enough time has elapsed. Similarly, the spot price of natural gas could have fallen to $6 while the value of an investment in the futures contract could have fallen to $7. Over time, if contango remained constant, the difference would continue to increase.
The chart below compares the price of the near month contract to the price of the second month contract over the last 10 years (1999-2008). When the price of the near month contract is higher than the price of the second contract, the market would be described as being in backwardation. When the price of the near month contract is lower than the price of the second month contract, the market would be described as being in contango. Although the prices of the near month contract and the price of the second month contract do tend to move up or down together, it can be seen that at times the near month prices are clearly higher than the price of the second month contract (backwardation), and other times they are below the price of the second month contract (contango). In addition, investors can observe that natural gas prices, both front month and second month, often display a seasonal pattern in which the price of natural gas tends to rise in the early winter months and decline in the summer months. This mirrors the physical demand for natural gas, which typically peaks in the winter.
Another way to view backwardation and contango data over time is to subtract the dollar price of the near month natural gas Futures Contract from the dollar price of the second month natural gas Futures Contract. If the resulting number is a positive number, then the near month price is higher than the price of the second month and the market could be described as being in backwardation. If the resulting number is a negative number, than the near month price is lower than the price of the second month and the market could be described as being in contango. The chart below shows the results from subtracting the near month price from the price of the second month contract for the 10 year period between 1999 and 2008. Investors will note that the natural gas market spent time in both backwardation and contango. Investors will further note that the markets display a seasonal pattern that corresponds to the seasonal demand patterns for natural gas above. That is, in many, but not all, cases the price of the second month is higher than the front month during the approach to the winter months as the price of natural gas for delivery in those winter months rises on expectations of demand. At the same time, the price of the front month, when that month is just before the onset of winter, does not rise as far or as fast as the price of a second month contract whose delivery falls during the winter season.
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Historically, the natural gas futures markets have experienced periods of contango and backwardation. Because natural gas demand is seasonal, it is possible for the price of Futures Contracts for delivery within one or two months to rapidly move from backwardation into contango and back again within a relatively short period of time of less than one year. While the investment objective of USNG is not to have the market price of its units match, dollar for dollar, changes in the spot price of natural gas, contango has impacted the total return on an investment in USNG units during the year ended December 31, 2008 relative to a hypothetical direct investment in natural gas. For example, an investment in USNG units made on December 31, 2007 and held to December 31, 2008 decreased, based upon the changes in the NAV for USNG units on those days, by approximately 41%, while the spot price of natural gas for immediate delivery during the same period decreased by approximately 25% (note: this comparison ignores the potential costs associated with physically owning and storing natural gas, which could be substantial). By comparison, during the period from April 18, 2007 to December 31, 2007, contango has impacted the total return on an investment in USNG units relative to a hypothetical direct investment in natural gas. For example, an investment in USNG units made on April 18, 2007 and held to December 31, 2007 decreased, based upon the changes in the NAV for USNG units on those days, by approximately 28%, while the spot price of natural gas for immediate delivery during the same period decreased by approximately 1% (note: this comparison ignores the potential costs associated with physically owning and storing natural gas, which could be substantial).
Periods of contango or backwardation do not materially impact USNGs investment objective of having percentage changes in its per unit NAV track percentage changes in the price of the Benchmark Futures Contract since the impact of backwardation and contango tended to equally impact the percentage changes in price of both USNGs units and the Benchmark Futures Contract. It is impossible to predict with any degree of certainty whether backwardation or contango will occur in the future. It is likely that both conditions will occur during different periods and, because of the seasonal nature of natural gas demand, both may occur within a single years time.
Marking-to-Market Futures Positions. Futures Contracts are marked to market at the end of each trading day and the margin required with respect to such contracts is adjusted accordingly. This process of marking-to-market is designed to prevent losses from accumulating in any futures account. Therefore, if USNGs futures positions have declined in value, USNG may be required to post additional variation margin to cover this decline. Alternatively, if USNG futures positions have increased in value, this increase will be credited to USNGs account.
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Natural Gas. Natural gas accounts for almost a quarter of U.S. energy consumption. The price of natural gas is established by the supply and demand conditions in the North American market, and more particularly, in the main refining center of the U.S. Gulf Coast. The natural gas market essentially constitutes an auction, where the highest bidder wins the supply. When markets are strong (i.e., when demand is high and/or supply is low), the bidder must be willing to pay a higher premium to capture the supply. When markets are weak (i.e., when demand is low and/or supply is high), a bidder may choose not to outbid competitors, waiting instead for later, possibly lower priced, supplies. Demand for natural gas by consumers, as well as agricultural, manufacturing and transportation industries, determines overall demand for natural gas. Since the precursors of product demand are linked to economic activity, natural gas demand will tend to reflect economic conditions. However, other factors such as weather significantly influence natural gas demand.
The NYMEX is the worlds largest physical commodity futures exchange and the dominant market for the trading of energy and precious metals. The Benchmark Futures Contract trades in units of 10,000 mmBtu and is based on delivery at the Henry Hub in Louisiana, the nexus of 16 intra- and interstate natural gas pipeline systems that draw supplies from the regions prolific gas deposits. The pipelines serve markets throughout the U.S. East Coast, the Gulf Coast, the Midwest, and up to the Canadian border. Because of the volatility of natural gas prices, a vigorous basis market has developed in the pricing relationships between the Henry Hub and other important natural gas market centers in the continental United States and Canada. The NYMEX makes available for trading a series of basis swap futures contracts that are quoted as price differentials between approximately 30 natural gas pricing points and the Henry Hub. The basis contracts trade in units of 2,500 mmBtu on the NYMEX ClearPort® trading platform. The NYMEX ClearPort® is an electronic trading platform through which a slate of energy futures contracts are available for competitive trading. Transactions can also be consummated off-NYMEX and submitted to the NYMEX for clearing via the NYMEX ClearPort® clearing website as an exchange of futures for physicals or an exchange of futures for swaps transactions.
Light, Sweet Crude Oil. Crude oil is the worlds most actively traded commodity. The futures contracts for light, sweet crude oil that are traded on the NYMEX are the worlds most liquid forum for crude oil trading, as well as the worlds largest volume futures contract trading on a physical commodity. Due to the liquidity and price transparency of oil futures contracts, they are used as a principal international pricing benchmark. The oil Futures Contracts for light, sweet crude oil trade on the NYMEX in units of 1,000 U.S. barrels (42,000 gallons) and, if not closed out before maturity, will result in delivery of oil to Cushing, Oklahoma, which is also accessible to the international spot markets by two major interstate petroleum pipeline systems.
Demand for petroleum products by consumers, as well as agricultural, manufacturing and transportation industries, determines demand for crude oil by refiners. Since the precursors of product demand are linked to economic activity, crude oil demand will tend to reflect economic conditions. However, other factors such as weather also influence product and crude oil demand.
Crude oil supply is determined by both economic and political factors. Oil prices (along with drilling costs, availability of attractive prospects for drilling, taxes and technology, among other factors) determine exploration and development spending, which influence output capacity with a lag. In the short run, production decisions by OPEC also affect supply and prices. Oil export embargoes and the current conflict in Iraq represent other routes through which political developments move the market. It is not possible to predict the aggregate effect of all or any combination of these factors.
In Europe, Brent crude oil is the standard for futures contracts traded on the ICE Futures, an electronic marketplace for energy trading and price discovery. Brent crude oil is the price reference for two-thirds of the worlds traded oil.
Heating Oil. Heating oil, also known as No. 2 fuel oil, accounts for 25% of the yield of a barrel of crude oil, the second largest cut from oil after gasoline. The heating oil futures contract, listed and traded on the NYMEX, trades in units of 42,000 gallons (1,000 barrels) and is based on delivery in the New York harbor, the principal cash market center. The price of heating oil has historically been volatile.
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Gasoline. Gasoline is the largest single volume refined product sold in the U.S. and accounts for almost half of national oil consumption. The gasoline futures contract, listed and traded on the NYMEX, trades in units of 42,000 gallons (1,000 barrels) and is based on delivery at petroleum products terminals in the New York harbor, the major East Coast trading center for imports and domestic shipments from refineries in the New York harbor area or from the Gulf Coast refining centers. The price of gasoline is volatile.
The chart below illustrates the historical correlation between the Benchmark Futures Contracts and certain other fuel-based commodity futures contracts in which USNG may invest. These correlations are relevant because the General Partner endeavors to invest USNGs assets in Futures Contracts and Other Natural Gas Interests so that daily changes in USNGs NAV correlate as closely as possible with daily changes in the price of the Benchmark Futures Contracts. If certain other fuel-based commodity futures contracts do not closely correlate with the Futures Contracts then their use could lead to greater tracking error. As noted, the General Partner also believes that the changes in the price of the Benchmark Futures Contracts will closely correlate with changes in the spot price of natural gas. Assuming that the units value tracks the Benchmark Futures Contracts as intended, the stated objective of USNG for the units NAV to reflect the performance of the spot price of natural gas would be met if the trend reflected over the past ten years were to continue. However, there is no guarantee that such trend will continue. The degree of correlation varies both among the different commodities and also varies over time. As such, the use of any energy related commodity to hedge a different energy commodity can only produce, at best, an imperfect hedge. The following price graph is scaled so all contracts start at the same level at year end 1995, except for the current gasoline futures contract, whose price series began in 2005. To obtain the monthly average prices presented below, USNG added the closing prices for every day in each month then divided that number by the total number of days in that month.
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USNGs investment objective is to have the changes in percentage terms of its units NAV reflect the changes in percentage terms of the Benchmark Futures Contract, less USNGs expenses. USNG invests primarily in Futures Contracts. USNG seeks to have its aggregate NAV approximate at all times the aggregate market value of the Futures Contracts and Other Natural Gas-Related Investments it holds.
Other than investing in Futures Contracts and Other Natural Gas-Related Investments, USNG only invests in assets to support these investments in Natural Gas Interests. At any given time, most of USNGs investments are in Treasuries, cash and/or cash equivalents that serve as segregated assets supporting USNGs positions in Futures Contracts and Other Natural Gas-Related Investments. For example, the purchase of a Futures Contract with a stated value of $10 million would not require USNG to pay $10 million upon entering into the contract; rather, only a margin deposit, generally of 5% to 10% of the stated value of the Futures Contract, would be required. To secure its Futures Contract obligations, USNG would deposit the required margin with the futures commission merchant and would separately hold, through its Custodian, Treasuries, cash and/or cash equivalents in an amount equal to the balance of the current market value of the contract, which at the contracts inception would be $10 million minus the amount of the margin deposit, or $9.5 million (assuming a 5% margin).
As a result of the foregoing, typically between 5% and 10% of USNGs assets are held as margin in segregated accounts with a futures commission merchant. In addition to the Treasuries and cash it posts with the futures commission merchant for the Futures Contracts it owns, USNG holds, through the Custodian, Treasuries, cash and/or cash equivalents that can be posted as additional margin or as collateral to support its over-the-counter contracts. USNG earns interest income from the Treasuries and/or cash equivalents that it purchases, and on the cash it holds through the Custodian. USNG anticipates that the earned interest income will increase the NAV and limited partners capital contribution accounts. USNG reinvests the earned interest income, holds it in cash, or uses it to pay its expenses. If USNG reinvests the earned interest income, it makes investments that are consistent with its investment objectives.
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USNG invests only in Futures Contracts and Other Natural Gas-Related Investments that are traded in sufficient volume to permit, in the opinion of the General Partner, ease of taking and liquidating positions in these financial interests.
While the natural gas futures contracts traded on the NYMEX can be physically settled, USNG does not intend to take or make physical delivery. USNG may from time to time trade in Other Natural Gas-Related Investments, including contracts based on the spot price of natural gas.
The General Partner endeavors to have the value of USNGs Treasuries, cash and cash equivalents, whether held by USNG or posted as margin or collateral, at all times approximate the aggregate market value of USNGs obligations under its Futures Contracts and Other Natural Gas-Related Investments.
Borrowings are not used by USNG, unless USNG is required to borrow money in the event of physical delivery, if USNG trades in cash commodities, or for short-term needs created by unexpected redemptions. USNG expects to have the value of its Treasuries, cash and/or cash equivalents whether held by USNG or posted as margin or collateral, at all times approximate the aggregate market value of its obligations under its Futures Contracts and Other Natural Gas-Related Investments. USNG has not established and does not plan to establish credit lines.
In addition to Futures Contracts, there are also a number of listed options on the Futures Contracts on the principal futures exchanges. These contracts offer investors and hedgers another set of financial vehicles to use in managing exposure to the natural gas market. Consequently, USNG may purchase options on natural gas Futures Contracts on these exchanges in pursuing its investment objective.
In addition to the Futures Contracts and options on the Futures Contracts, there also exists an active non-exchange-traded market in derivatives tied to natural gas. These derivatives transactions (also known as over-the-counter contracts) are usually entered into between two parties. Unlike most of the exchange-traded Futures Contracts or exchange-traded options on the Futures Contracts, each party to such contract bears the credit risk that the other party may not be able to perform its obligations under its contract.
Some natural gas-based derivatives transactions contain fairly generic terms and conditions and are available from a wide range of participants. Other natural gas-based derivatives have highly customized terms and conditions and are not as widely available. Many of these over-the-counter contracts are cash-settled forwards for the future delivery of natural gas- or petroleum-based fuels that have terms similar to the Futures Contracts. Others take the form of swaps in which the two parties exchange cash flows based on pre-determined formulas tied to the natural gas spot price, forward natural gas price, the Benchmark Futures Contract price, or other natural gas futures contract price. For example, USNG may enter into over-the-counter derivative contracts whose value will be tied to changes in the difference between the natural gas spot price, the Benchmark Futures Contract price, or some other futures contract price traded on the NYMEX or the ICE Futures and the price of other Futures Contracts that may be invested in by USNG.
To protect itself from the credit risk that arises in connection with such contracts, USNG may enter into agreements with each counterparty that provide for the netting of its overall exposure to its counterparty, such as the agreements published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. USNG also may require that the counterparty be highly rated and/or provide collateral or other credit support to address USNGs exposure to the counterparty.
The creditworthiness of each potential counterparty is assessed by the General Partner. The General Partner assesses or reviews, as appropriate, the creditworthiness of each potential or existing counterparty to
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an over-the-counter contract pursuant to guidelines approved by the General Partners Board of Directors. Furthermore, the General Partner on behalf of USNG only enters into over-the-counter contracts with counterparties who are, or affiliates of, (a) banks regulated by a United States federal bank regulator, (b) broker-dealers regulated by the SEC, (c) insurance companies domiciled in the United States, and (d) producers, users or traders of energy, whether or not regulated by the CFTC. Any entity acting as a counterparty shall be regulated in either the United States or the United Kingdom unless otherwise approved by the General Partners Board of Directors after consultation with its legal counsel. Existing counterparties are also reviewed periodically by the General Partner.
The use of Other Natural Gas-Related Investments together with its investments in Futures Contracts produce price and total return results that closely track the investment goals of USNG.
USNG may employ spreads or straddles in its trading to mitigate the differences in its investment portfolio and its goal of tracking the price of the Benchmark Futures Contract. USNG would use a spread when it chooses to take simultaneous long and short positions in futures written on the same underlying asset, but with different delivery months. The effect of holding such combined positions is to adjust the sensitivity of USNG to changes in the price relationship between futures contracts which will expire sooner and those that will expire later. USNG would use such a spread if the General Partner feels that taking such long and short positions, when combined with the rest of its holdings, would more closely track the investment goals of USNG, or if the General Partner felt it would lead to an overall lower cost of trading to achieve a given level of economic exposure to movements in natural gas prices. USNG would enter into a straddle when it chooses to take an option position consisting of a long (or short) position in both a call option and put option. The economic effect of holding certain combinations of put options and call options can be very similar to that of owning the underlying futures contracts. USNG would make use of such a straddle approach if, in the opinion of the General Partner, the resulting combination would more closely track the investment goals of USNG or if it would lead to an overall lower cost of trading to achieve a given level of economic exposure to movements in natural gas prices.
USNG has not employed any hedging methods since all of its investments have been made over an exchange. Therefore, USNG has not been exposed to counterparty risk.
USNG does not and will not employ the technique, commonly known as pyramiding, in which the speculator uses unrealized profits on existing positions as variation margin for the purchase or sale of additional positions in the same or another commodity interest.
Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. is the registrar and transfer agent for the units. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. is also the Custodian for USNG. In this capacity, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. holds USNGs Treasuries, cash and/or cash equivalents pursuant to a custodial agreement. In addition, in its capacity as Administrator for USNG, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. performs certain administrative and accounting services for USNG and prepares certain SEC and CFTC reports on behalf of USNG. The General Partner pays Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.s fees for these services. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.s principal business address is 50 Milk Street, Boston, MA 02109-3661. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., a private bank founded in 1818, is not a publicly held company nor is it insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. is authorized to conduct a commercial banking business in accordance with the provisions of Article IV of the New York State Banking Law, New York Banking Law §160181, and is subject to regulation, supervision, and examination by the New York State Banking Department. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. is also licensed to conduct a commercial banking business by the Commonwealths of Massachusetts and Pennsylvania and is subject to supervision and examination by the banking supervisors of those states.
USNG also employs ALPS Distributors, Inc. as a Marketing Agent, which is further discussed under What is the Plan of Distribution? The General Partner pays ALPS Distributors, Inc.s fees. In no event may the aggregate compensation paid to the Marketing Agent and any affiliate of the General Partner for distribution-related services in connection with the offering of units exceed ten percent (10%) of the gross proceeds of the offering.
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ALPSs principal business address is 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, CO 80203. ALPS is the marketing agent for USNG. ALPS is a registered broker-dealer with FINRA and a member of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation.
USNG and the futures commission merchant, UBS Securities LLC (UBS Securities) have entered into an Institutional Futures Client Account Agreement. This Agreement requires UBS Securities to provide services to USNG in connection with the purchase and sale of natural gas interests that may be purchased or sold by or through UBS Securities for USNGs account. USNG pays UBS Securities commissions for executing and clearing trades on behalf of USNG.
UBS Securities is not affiliated with USNG or the General Partner. Therefore, USNG does not believe that USNG has any conflicts of interest with them or their trading principals arising from their acting as USNGs futures commission merchant.
UBS Securities principal business address is 677 Washington Blvd, Stamford, CT 06901. UBS Securities is a futures clearing broker for the USNG. UBS Securities is registered in the US with FINRA as a Broker- Dealer and with the CFTC as a Futures Commission Merchant. UBS Securities is a member of various US futures and securities exchanges.
UBS Securities is the defendant in two purported securities class actions pending in District Court of the Northern District of Alabama, brought by holders of stocks and bonds of HealthSouth, captioned In re HealthSouth Corporation Stockholder, No. CV-03-BE-1501-S and In re HealthSouth Corporation Bondholder Litigation, No. CV-03-BE-1502-S. Both complaints assert liability under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
UBS Securities has been responding to investigations by the SEC and the United States Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of New York regarding UBSs valuation of U.S. mortgage-backed securities and derivatives, and compliance with public disclosure rules. These investigations are ongoing.
On June 27, 2007, the Securities Division of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (Massachusetts Securities Division) filed an administrative complaint (the Complaint) and notice of adjudicatory proceeding against UBS Securities LLC, captioned In The Matter of UBS Securities, LLC, Docket No. E-2007-0049, which alleges, in sum and substance, that UBS Securities has been violating the Massachusetts Uniform Securities Act (the Act) and related regulations by providing the advisers for certain hedge funds with gifts and gratuities in the form of below market office rents, personal loans with below market interest rates, event tickets, and other perks, in order to induce those hedge fund advisers to increase or retain their level of prime brokerage fees paid to UBS Securities. The Complaint seeks a cease and desist order from conduct that violates the Act and regulations, to censure UBS Securities, to require UBS Securities to pay an administrative fine of an unspecified amount, and to find as fact the allegations of the Complaint.
On June 26, 2008, the Massachusetts Securities Division filed an administrative complaint and notice of adjudicatory proceeding against UBS Securities and UBS Financial Services, Inc. (UBS Financial), captioned In the Matter of UBS Securities, LLC and UBS Financial Services, Inc., Docket No. 2008-0045, which alleged that UBS Securities and UBS Financial violated the Act in connection with the marketing and sale of auction rate securities.
On July 22, 2008, the Texas State Securities board filed an administrative proceeding against UBS Securities and UBS Financial captioned the Matter of the Dealer Registrations of UBS Financial Services, Inc. and UBS Securities LLC, SOAH Docket No. 312-08-3918, SSB Docket No. 08-IC04, alleging violations of the anti-fraud provision of the Texas Securities Act in connection with the marketing and sale of auction rate securities.
On July 24, 2008 the New York Attorney General (NYAG) filed a complaint in Supreme Court of the State of New York against UBS Securities and UBS Financial captioned State of New York v. UBS Securities LLC and UBS Financial Services, Inc., No. 650262/2008, in connection with UBSs marketing and sale of auction rate securities. The complaint alleges violations of the anti-fraud provisions of New York state statutes and seeks a judgment ordering that the firm buy back auction rate securities from investors at par, disgorgement, restitution and other remedies.
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On August 8, 2008, UBS Securities and UBS Financial reached agreements in principle with the SEC, the NYAG, the Massachusetts Securities Division and other state regulatory agencies represented by the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) to restore liquidity to all remaining clients holdings of auction rate securities by June 30, 2012. On August 20, 2008, the Texas proceeding was dismissed and withdrawn. On October 2, 2008, UBS Securities and UBS Financial entered into a final consent agreement with the Massachusetts Securities Division settling all allegations in the Massachusetts Securities Divisions administrative proceeding against UBS Securities and UBS Financial with regards to the auction rate securities matter. On December 11, 2008, UBS Securities and UBS Financial executed an Assurance of Discontinuance in the auction rate securities settlement with the NYAG. On the same day, UBS Securities and UBS Financial finalized settlements with the SEC.
On August 14, 2008 the New Hampshire Bureau of Securities Regulation filed an administrative action against UBS Securities relating to a student loan issuer, the New Hampshire Higher Education Loan Corp. (NHHELCO). The complaint alleges fraudulent and unethical conduct in violation of New Hampshire state statues. The complaint seeks an administrative fine, a cease and desist order, and restitution to NHHELCO. The claim does not impact the global settlement with the SEC, NYAG and NASAA relating to the marketing and sale of ARS to investors.
Further, UBS Securities, like most full service investment banks and broker-dealers, receives inquiries and is sometimes involved in investigations by the SEC, FINRA, NYSE and various other regulatory organizations, exchanges and government agencies. UBS Securities fully cooperates with the authorities in all such requests. UBS Securities regularly discloses to the FINRA arbitration awards, disciplinary action and regulatory events. These disclosures are publicly available on the FINRAs website at www.finra.org. Actions with respect to UBS Securities futures commission merchant business are publicly available on the website of the National Futures Association (http://www.nfa.futures.org/).
UBS Securities will act only as clearing broker for USNG and as such will be paid commissions for executing and clearing trades on behalf of USNG. UBS Securities has not passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. UBS Securities neither will act in any supervisory capacity with respect to the General Partner nor participate in the management of USNG.
Currently, the General Partner does not employ commodity trading advisors. If, in the future, the General Partner does employ commodity trading advisors, it will choose each advisor based on arms-length negotiations and will consider the advisors experience, fees, and reputation.
Service Provider | Compensation Paid by the General Partner | |
Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., Custodian and Administrator | Minimum amount of $75,000 annually* for its custody, fund accounting and fund administration services rendered to all funds, as well as a $20,000 annual fee for its transfer agency services. In addition, an asset-based charge of (a) 0.06% for the first $500 million of USNG and the Related Public Funds combined net assets, (b) 0.0465% for USNG and the Related Public Funds combined net assets greater than $500 million but less than $1 billion, and (c) 0.035% once USNG and the Related Public Funds combined net assets exceed $1 billion.** | |
ALPS Distributors, Inc., Marketing Agent |
0.06% on assets up to $3 billion; 0.04% on assets in excess of $3 billion.** |
* | The annual minimum amount will not apply if the asset-based charge for all accounts in the aggregate exceeds $125,000. The General Partner also will pay transaction charge fees to Brown Brothers, ranging from $7.00 to $15.00 per transaction for the funds. |
** | The General Partner pays this compensation. |
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Assets | Management Fee | |||
First $1,000,000,000 | 0.60% of NAV | |||
After the first $1,000,000,000 | 0.50% of NAV |
Service Provider | Compensation Paid by USNG | |
Non-Affiliated Brokers | Approximately 0.21% of assets (including futures commission merchant fees of approximately $3.50 per buy or sell) |
** | USNG pays this compensation. |
Assets | Management Fee | |||
First $1,000,000,000 | 0.04% of NAV | |||
After the first $1,000,000,000 | 0.02% of NAV |
Assets of USNG are aggregated with those of the Related Public Funds. USNG pays its pro rata share of this fee.
Fees are calculated on a daily basis (accrued at 1/365 of the applicable percentage of NAV on that day) and paid on a monthly basis.
Expenses: | Amount in Dollar Terms | |||
Amount Paid to General Partner: | $ | 5,613,585 | ||
Amount Paid in Portfolio Brokerage Commissions: | $ | 1,218,485 | ||
Other Amounts Paid or Accrued: | $ | 2,242,063 | ||
Total Expenses Paid or Accrued: | $ | 9,074,133 |
Expenses: | Amount as a Percentage of Average Daily Net Assets |
|||
General Partner: | 0.60% annualized | |||
Portfolio Brokerage Commissions: | 0.21% annualized | |||
Other Amounts Paid or Accrued: | 0.23% annualized | |||
Total Expense Ratio: | 0.97% annualized |
USNG also pays the fees and expenses associated with its tax accounting and reporting requirements with the exception of certain initial implementation services fees and base services fees which were paid by the General Partner. These fees were approximately $1,150,000 in 2008. In addition, USNG is responsible for the fees and expenses, which may include directors and officers liability insurance, of the independent directors of the General Partner in connection with their activities with respect to USNG. These director fees and expenses may be shared with other funds managed by the General Partner. These fees and expenses for 2008 were $282,000, and USNGs portion of such fees was $130,371.
Registered Form. Units are issued in registered form in accordance with the LP Agreement. The Administrator has been appointed registrar and transfer agent for the purpose of transferring units in certificated form. The Administrator keeps a record of all limited partners and holders of the units in certificated form in the registry (Register). The General Partner recognizes transfers of units in certificated form
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only if done in accordance with the LP Agreement. The beneficial interests in such units are held in book-entry form through participants and/or accountholders in DTC.
Book-Entry. Individual certificates are not issued for the units. Instead, units are represented by one or more global certificates, which are deposited by the Administrator with DTC and registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC. The global certificates evidence all of the units outstanding at any time. Unitholders are limited to (1) participants in DTC such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies (DTC Participants), (2) those who maintain, either directly or indirectly, a custodial relationship with a DTC Participant (Indirect Participants), and (3) those banks, brokers, dealers, trust companies and others who hold interests in the units through DTC Participants or Indirect Participants, in each case who satisfy the requirements for transfers of units. DTC Participants acting on behalf of investors holding units through such Participants accounts in DTC will follow the delivery practice applicable to securities eligible for DTCs Same-Day Funds Settlement System. Units are credited to DTC Participants securities accounts following confirmation of receipt of payment.
DTC. DTC is a limited purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State of New York and is a member of the Federal Reserve System, a clearing corporation within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a clearing agency registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC holds securities for DTC Participants and facilitates the clearance and settlement of transactions between DTC Participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of DTC Participants.
Transfers of Units Only Through DTC. The units are only transferable through the book-entry system of DTC. Limited partners who are not DTC Participants may transfer their units through DTC by instructing the DTC Participant holding their units (or by instructing the Indirect Participant or other entity through which their units are held) to transfer the units. Transfers are made in accordance with standard securities industry practice.
Transfers of interests in units with DTC are made in accordance with the usual rules and operating procedures of DTC and the nature of the transfer. DTC has established procedures to facilitate transfers among the participants and/or accountholders of DTC. Because DTC can only act on behalf of DTC Participants, who in turn act on behalf of Indirect Participants, the ability of a person or entity having an interest in a global certificate to pledge such interest to persons or entities that do not participate in DTC, or otherwise take actions in respect of such interest, may be affected by the lack of a definitive security in respect of such interest.
DTC has advised us that it will take any action permitted to be taken by a unitholder (including, without limitation, the presentation of a global certificate for exchange) only at the direction of one or more DTC Participants in whose account with DTC interests in global certificates are credited and only in respect of such portion of the aggregate principal amount of the global certificate as to which such DTC Participant or Participants has or have given such direction.
Transfer/Application Requirements. All purchasers of USNGs units, and potentially any purchasers of units in the future, who wish to become limited partners or other record holders and receive cash distributions, if any, or have certain other rights, must deliver an executed transfer application in which the purchaser or transferee must certify that, among other things, he, she or it agrees to be bound by USNGs LP Agreement and is eligible to purchase USNGs securities. Each purchaser of units offered by this prospectus must execute a transfer application and certification. The obligation to provide the form of transfer application is imposed on the seller of units or, if a purchase of units is made through an exchange, the form may be obtained directly through USNG. Further, the General Partner may request each record holder to furnish certain information, including that record holders nationality, citizenship or other related status. A record holder is a unitholder that is, or has applied to be, a limited partner. An investor who is not a U.S. resident may not be eligible to become a record holder or one of USNGs limited partners if that investors ownership would subject USNG to the risk of cancellation or forfeiture of any of USNGs assets under any federal, state or local law or regulation. If the record holder fails to furnish the information or if the General Partner determines, on the basis of the information furnished by the holder in response to the request, that such holder is
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not qualified to become one of USNGs limited partners, the General Partner may be substituted as a holder for the record holder, who will then be treated as a non-citizen assignee, and USNG will have the right to redeem those securities held by the record holder.
A transferees broker, agent or nominee may complete, execute and deliver a transfer application and certification. USNG may, at its discretion, treat the nominee holder of a unit as the absolute owner. In that case, the beneficial holders rights are limited solely to those that it has against the nominee holder as a result of any agreement between the beneficial owner and the nominee holder.
A person purchasing USNGs existing units, who does not execute a transfer application and certify that the purchaser is eligible to purchase those securities acquires no rights in those securities other than the right to resell those securities. Whether or not a transfer application is received or the consent of the General Partner obtained, our units are securities and are transferable according to the laws governing transfers of securities.
Any transfer of units will not be recorded by the transfer agent or recognized by the General Partner unless a completed transfer application is delivered to the General Partner or the Administrator. When acquiring units, the transferee of such units that completes a transfer application will:
| be an assignee until admitted as a substituted limited partner upon the consent and sole discretion of the General Partner and the recording of the assignment on the books and records of the partnership; |
| automatically request admission as a substituted limited partner; |
| agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of, and execute, our LP Agreement; |
| represent that such transferee has the capacity and authority to enter into our LP Agreement; |
| grant powers of attorney to our General Partner and any liquidator of us; and |
| make the consents and waivers contained in our LP Agreement. |
An assignee will become a limited partner in respect of the transferred units upon the consent of our General Partner and the recordation of the name of the assignee on our books and records. Such consent may be withheld in the sole discretion of our General Partner.
If consent of the General Partner is withheld such transferee shall be an assignee. An assignee shall have an interest in the partnership equivalent to that of a limited partner with respect to allocations and distributions, including, without limitation, liquidating distributions, of the partnership. With respect to voting rights attributable to units that are held by assignees, the General Partner shall be deemed to be the limited partner with respect thereto and shall, in exercising the voting rights in respect of such units on any matter, vote such units at the written direction of the assignee who is the recordholder of such units. If no such written direction is received, such units will not be voted. An assignee shall have no other rights of a limited partner.
Until a unit has been transferred on our books, we and the transfer agent may treat the record holder of the unit as the absolute owner for all purposes, except as otherwise required by law or stock exchange regulations.
As discussed in the LP Agreement, if the General Partner gives at least fifteen (15) days written notice to a limited partner, then the General Partner may for any reason, in its sole discretion, require any such limited partner to withdraw entirely from the partnership or to withdraw a portion of its partner capital account. If the General Partner does not give at least fifteen (15) days written notice to a limited partner, then it may only require withdrawal of all or any portion of the capital account of any limited partner in the following circumstances: (i) the unitholder made a misrepresentation to the General Partner in connection with its purchase of units; or (ii) the limited partners ownership of units would result in the violation of any law or regulations applicable to the partnership or a partner. In these circumstances, the General Partner without notice may require the withdrawal at any time, or retroactively. The limited partner thus designated shall withdraw from the partnership or withdraw that portion of its partner capital account specified, as the case may be, as of the close of business on such date as determined by the General Partner. The limited partner
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thus designated shall be deemed to have withdrawn from the partnership or to have made a partial withdrawal from its partner capital account, as the case may be, without further action on the part of the limited partner and the provisions of the LP Agreement shall apply.
Most investors buy and sell units of USNG in secondary market transactions through brokers. Units trade on the NYSE Arca under the ticker symbol UNG. Units are bought and sold throughout the trading day like other publicly traded securities. When buying or selling units through a broker, most investors incur customary brokerage commissions and charges. Investors are encouraged to review the terms of their brokerage account for details on applicable charges.
The offering of USNGs units is a best efforts offering. USNG is continuously offering Creation Baskets consisting of 100,000 units through the Marketing Agent, to Authorized Purchasers. Merrill Lynch Professional Clearing Corp. was the initial Authorized Purchaser. The initial Authorized Purchaser purchased the initial Creation Basket of 100,000 units at USNGs NAV on April 17, 2007. Authorized Purchasers pay a $1,000 fee for each order to create one or more Creation Baskets. The Marketing Agent receives, for its services as marketing agent to USNG, a marketing fee of 0.06% on USNGs assets up to $3 billion and 0.04% on USNGs assets in excess of $3 billion; provided, however, that in no event may the aggregate compensation paid to the Marketing Agent and any affiliate of the General Partner for distribution-related services in connection with this offering of units exceed ten percent (10%) of the gross proceeds of this offering.
The offering of baskets is being made in compliance with Conduct Rule 2810 of FINRA. Accordingly, Authorized Purchasers will not make any sales to any account over which they have discretionary authority without the prior written approval of a purchaser of units.
The per unit price of units offered in Creation Baskets on any day will be the total NAV of USNG calculated shortly after the close of the NYSE Arca on that day divided by the number of issued and outstanding units. An Authorized Purchaser is not required to sell any specific number or dollar amount of units.
By executing an Authorized Purchaser Agreement, an Authorized Purchaser becomes part of the group of parties eligible to purchase baskets from, and put baskets for redemption to, USNG. An Authorized Purchaser is under no obligation to create or redeem baskets, and an Authorized Purchaser is under no obligation to offer to the public units of any baskets it does create.
A list of Authorized Purchasers is available from the Marketing Agent. Because new units can be created and issued on an ongoing basis, at any point during the life of USNG, a distribution, as such term is used in the 1933 Act, will be occurring. Authorized Purchasers, other broker-dealers and other persons are cautioned that some of their activities may result in their being deemed participants in a distribution in a manner that would render them statutory underwriters and subject them to the prospectus-delivery and liability provisions of the 1933 Act. Authorized Purchasers comply with the prospectus-delivery requirements in connection with the sale of units to customers. For example, an Authorized Purchaser, other broker-dealer firm or its client will be deemed a statutory underwriter if it purchases a basket from USNG, breaks the basket down into the constituent units and sells the units to its customers; or if it chooses to couple the creation of a supply of new units with an active selling effort involving solicitation of secondary market demand for the units. Authorized Purchasers may also engage in secondary market transactions in units that would not be deemed underwriting. For example, an Authorized Purchaser may act in the capacity of a broker or dealer with respect to units that were previously distributed by other Authorized Purchasers. A determination of whether a particular market participant is an underwriter must take into account all the facts and circumstances pertaining to the activities of the broker-dealer or its client in the particular case, and the examples mentioned above should not be considered a complete description of all the activities that would lead to designation as an underwriter and subject them to the prospectus-delivery and liability provisions of the 1933 Act.
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Dealers who are neither Authorized Purchasers nor underwriters but are nonetheless participating in a distribution (as contrasted to ordinary secondary trading transactions), and thus dealing with units that are part of an unsold allotment within the meaning of Section 4(3)(C) of the 1933 Act, would be unable to take advantage of the prospectus-delivery exemption provided by Section 4(3) of the 1933 Act.
The General Partner may qualify the units in states selected by the General Partner and intends that sales be made through broker-dealers who are members of FINRA. Investors intending to create or redeem baskets through Authorized Purchasers in transactions not involving a broker-dealer registered in such investors state of domicile or residence should consult their legal advisor regarding applicable broker-dealer or securities regulatory requirements under the state securities laws prior to such creation or redemption.
While the Authorized Purchasers may be indemnified by the General Partner, they are not entitled to receive a discount or commission from USNG for their purchases of Creation Baskets. The difference between the price paid by Authorized Purchasers as underwriters and the price paid to such Authorized Purchasers by investors is deemed underwriting compensation.
| Taking the current market value of its total assets; and |
| Subtracting any liabilities |
The Administrator calculates the NAV of USNG once each NYSE Arca trading day. The NAV for a particular trading day is released after 4:00 p.m. New York time. Trading during the core trading session on the NYSE Arca typically closes at 4:00 p.m. New York time. The Administrator uses the NYMEX closing price (determined at the earlier of the close of the NYMEX or 2:30 p.m. New York time) for the contracts traded on the NYMEX, but calculates or determines the value of all other USNG investments as of the earlier of the close of the New York Stock Exchange or 4:00 p.m. New York time in accordance with the current Administrative Agency Agreement among Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., USNG and the General Partner.
In addition, in order to provide updated information relating to USNG for use by investors and market professionals, the NYSE Arca calculates and disseminates throughout the core trading session on each trading day an updated indicative fund value. The indicative fund value is calculated by using the prior days closing NAV per unit of USNG as a base and updating that value throughout the trading day to reflect changes in the most recently reported trade price for the active natural gas Futures Contracts on the NYMEX. The prices reported for those Futures Contract months are adjusted based on the prior days spread differential between settlement values for the relevant contract and the spot month contract. In the event that the spot month contract is also the Benchmark Futures Contract, the last sale price for that contract is not adjusted. The indicative fund value unit basis disseminated during NYSE Arca core trading session hours should not be viewed as an actual real time update of the NAV, because the NAV is calculated only once at the end of each trading day based upon the relevant end of day values of USNGs investments.
The indicative fund value is disseminated on a per unit basis every 15 seconds during regular NYSE Arca core trading session hours of 9:30 a.m. New York time to 4:00 p.m. New York time. The normal trading hours of the NYMEX are 10:00 a.m. New York time to 2:30 p.m. New York time. This means that there is a gap in time at the beginning and the end of each day during which USNGs units are traded on the NYSE Arca, but real-time NYMEX trading prices for futures contracts traded on the NYMEX are not available. As a result, during those gaps there will be no update to the indicative fund value.
The NYSE Arca disseminates the indicative fund value through the facilities of CTA/CQ High Speed Lines. In addition, the indicative fund value is published on the NYSE Arcas website and is available through on-line information services such as Bloomberg and Reuters.
Dissemination of the indicative fund value provides additional information that is not otherwise available to the public and is useful to investors and market professionals in connection with the trading of USNG units on the NYSE Arca. Investors and market professionals are able throughout the trading day to compare the market price of USNG and the indicative fund value. If the market price of USNG units diverges significantly from the indicative fund value, market professionals will have an incentive to execute arbitrage trades. For
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example, if USNG appears to be trading at a discount compared to the indicative fund value, a market professional could buy USNG units on the NYSE Arca and sell short futures contracts. Such arbitrage trades can tighten the tracking between the market price of USNG and the indicative fund value and thus can be beneficial to all market participants.
In addition, other Futures Contracts, Other Natural Gas-Related Investments and Treasuries held by USNG are valued by the Administrator, using rates and points received from client-approved third party vendors (such as Reuters and WM Company) and advisor quotes. These investments are not included in the indicative value. The indicative fund value is based on the prior days NAV and moves up and down solely according to changes in the Benchmark Futures Contracts for natural gas traded on the NYMEX.
USNG creates and redeems units from time to time, but only in one or more Creation Baskets or Redemption Baskets. The creation and redemption of baskets are only made in exchange for delivery to USNG or the distribution by USNG of the amount of Treasuries and any cash represented by the baskets being created or redeemed, the amount of which is based on the combined NAV of the number of units included in the baskets being created or redeemed determined after 4:00 p.m. New York time on the day the order to create or redeem baskets is properly received.
Authorized Purchasers are the only persons that may place orders to create and redeem baskets. Authorized Purchasers must be (1) registered broker-dealers or other securities market participants, such as banks and other financial institutions, that are not required to register as broker-dealers to engage in securities transactions as described below, and (2) DTC Participants. To become an Authorized Purchaser, a person must enter into an Authorized Purchaser Agreement with the General Partner. The Authorized Purchaser Agreement provides the procedures for the creation and redemption of baskets and for the delivery of the Treasuries and any cash required for such creations and redemptions. The Authorized Purchaser Agreement and the related procedures attached thereto may be amended by USNG, without the consent of any limited partner or unitholder or Authorized Purchaser. Authorized Purchasers pay a transaction fee of $1,000 to USNG for each order they place to create or redeem one or more baskets. Authorized Purchasers who make deposits with USNG in exchange for baskets receive no fees, commissions or other form of compensation or inducement of any kind from either USNG or the General Partner, and no such person will have any obligation or responsibility to the General Partner or USNG to effect any sale or resale of units.
Certain Authorized Purchasers are expected to have the facility to participate directly in the physical natural gas market and the natural gas futures market. In some cases, an Authorized Purchaser or its affiliates may from time to time acquire natural gas or sell natural gas and may profit in these instances. The General Partner believes that the size and operation of the natural gas market make it unlikely that an Authorized Purchasers direct activities in the natural gas or securities markets will impact the price of natural gas, Futures Contracts, or the price of the units.
Each Authorized Purchaser is required to be registered as a broker-dealer under the Exchange Act and is a member in good standing with FINRA, or exempt from being or otherwise not required to be licensed as a broker-dealer or a member of FINRA, and qualified to act as a broker or dealer in the states or other jurisdictions where the nature of its business so requires. Certain Authorized Purchasers may also be regulated under federal and state banking laws and regulations. Each Authorized Purchaser has its own set of rules and procedures, internal controls and information barriers as it determines is appropriate in light of its own regulatory regime.
Under the Authorized Purchaser Agreement, the General Partner has agreed to indemnify the Authorized Purchasers against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the 1933 Act, and to contribute to the payments the Authorized Purchasers may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.
The following description of the procedures for the creation and redemption of baskets is only a summary and an investor should refer to the relevant provisions of the LP Agreement and the form of Authorized Purchaser Agreement for more detail, each of which is attached as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. See Where You Can Find More Information for information about where you can obtain the registration statement.
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On any business day, an Authorized Purchaser may place an order with the Marketing Agent to create one or more baskets. For purposes of processing purchase and redemption orders, a business day means any day other than a day when any of the NYSE Arca, the NYMEX, or the New York Stock Exchange is closed for regular trading. Purchase orders must be placed by 12:00 p.m. New York time or the close of regular trading on the NYSE Arca, whichever is earlier. The day on which the Marketing Agent receives a valid purchase order is the purchase order date.
By placing a purchase order, an Authorized Purchaser agrees to deposit Treasuries, cash, or a combination of Treasuries and cash, with USNG as described below. Prior to the delivery of baskets for a purchase order, the Authorized Purchaser must also have wired to the Custodian the non-refundable transaction fee due for the purchase order. Authorized Purchasers may not withdraw a creation request.
The total deposit required to create each basket (Creation Basket Deposit) is the amount of Treasuries and/or cash that is in the same proportion to the total assets of USNG (net of estimated accrued but unpaid fees, expenses and other liabilities) on the date the order to purchase is accepted as the number of units to be created under the purchase order is in proportion to the total number of units outstanding on the date the order is received. The General Partner determines, directly in its sole discretion or in consultation with the Administrator, the requirements for Treasuries and the amount of cash, including the maximum permitted remaining maturity of a Treasury and proportions of Treasury and cash that may be included in deposits to create baskets. The Marketing Agent will publish such requirements at the beginning of each business day. The amount of cash deposit required is the difference between the aggregate market value of the Treasuries required to be included in a Creation Basket Deposit as of 4:00 p.m. New York time on the date the order to purchase is properly received and the total required deposit.
An Authorized Purchaser who places a purchase order is responsible for transferring to USNGs account with the Custodian the required amount of Treasuries and/or cash by the end of the third business day following the purchase order date. Upon receipt of the deposit amount, the Administrator directs DTC to credit the number of baskets ordered to the Authorized Purchasers DTC account on the third business day following the purchase order date. The expense and risk of delivery and ownership of Treasuries until such Treasuries have been received by the Custodian on behalf of USNG is borne solely by the Authorized Purchaser.
Because orders to purchase baskets must be placed by 12:00 p.m., New York time, but the total payment required to create a basket during the continuous offering period will not be determined until after 4:00 p.m., New York time, on the date the purchase order is received, Authorized Purchasers will not know the total amount of the payment required to create a basket at the time they submit an irrevocable purchase order for the basket. USNGs NAV and the total amount of the payment required to create a basket could rise or fall substantially between the time an irrevocable purchase order is submitted and the time the amount of the purchase price in respect thereof is determined.
The General Partner acting by itself or through the Marketing Agent may reject a purchase order or a Creation Basket Deposit if:
| it determines that the investment alternative available to USNG at that time will not enable it to meet its investment objective; |
| it determines that the purchase order or the Creation Basket Deposit is not in proper form; |
| it believes that the purchase order or the Creation Basket Deposit would have adverse tax consequences to USNG or its unitholders; |
| the acceptance or receipt of the Creation Basket Deposit would, in the opinion of counsel to the General Partner, be unlawful; or |
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| circumstances outside the control of the General Partner, Marketing Agent or Custodian make it, for all practical purposes, not feasible to process creations of baskets. |
None of the General Partner, Marketing Agent or Custodian will be liable for the rejection of any purchase order or Creation Basket Deposit.
The procedures by which an Authorized Purchaser can redeem one or more baskets mirror the procedures for the creation of baskets. On any business day, an Authorized Purchaser may place an order with the Marketing Agent to redeem one or more baskets. Redemption orders must be placed by 12:00 p.m. New York time or the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange, whichever is earlier. A redemption order so received will be effective on the date it is received in satisfactory form by the Marketing Agent. The redemption procedures allow Authorized Purchasers to redeem baskets and do not entitle an individual unitholder to redeem any units in an amount less than a Redemption Basket, or to redeem baskets other than through an Authorized Purchaser. By placing a redemption order, an Authorized Purchaser agrees to deliver the baskets to be redeemed through DTCs book-entry system to USNG not later than 3:00 p.m. New York time on the third business day following the effective date of the redemption order. Prior to the delivery of the redemption distribution for a redemption order, the Authorized Purchaser must also have wired to USNGs account at the Custodian the non-refundable transaction fee due for the redemption order. Authorized Purchasers may not withdraw a redemption request.
The redemption distribution from USNG consists of a transfer to the redeeming Authorized Purchaser of an amount of Treasuries and cash that is in the same proportion to the total assets of USNG (net of estimated accrued but unpaid fees, expenses and other liabilities) on the date the order to redeem is properly received as the number of units to be redeemed under the redemption order is in proportion to the total number of units outstanding on the date the order is received. The General Partner, directly or in consultation with the Administrator, determines the requirements for Treasuries and the amounts of cash, including the maximum permitted remaining maturity of a Treasury, and the proportions of Treasuries and cash that may be included in distributions to redeem baskets. The Marketing Agent will publish such requirements as of 4:00 p.m. New York time on the redemption order date.
The redemption distribution due from USNG will be delivered to the Authorized Purchaser by 3:00 p.m. New York time on the third business day following the redemption order date if, by 3:00 p.m. New York time on such third business day, USNGs DTC account has been credited with the baskets to be redeemed. If USNGs DTC account has not been credited with all of the baskets to be redeemed by such time, the redemption distribution will be delivered to the extent of whole baskets received. Any remainder of the redemption distribution will be delivered on the next business day to the extent of remaining whole baskets received if USNG receives the fee applicable to the extension of the redemption distribution date which the General Partner may, from time to time, determine and the remaining baskets to be redeemed are credited to USNGs DTC account by 3:00 p.m. New York time on such next business day. Any further outstanding amount of the redemption order shall be cancelled. Pursuant to information from the General Partner, the Custodian will also be authorized to deliver the redemption distribution notwithstanding that the baskets to be redeemed are not credited to USNGs DTC account by 3:00 p.m. New York time on the third business day following the redemption order date if the Authorized Purchaser has collateralized its obligation to deliver the baskets through DTCs book entry-system on such terms as the General Partner may from time to time determine.
The General Partner may, in its discretion, suspend the right of redemption, or postpone the redemption settlement date, (1) for any period during which the NYSE Arca or the NYMEX is closed other than customary weekend or holiday closings, or trading on the NYSE Arca or the NYMEX is suspended or restricted, (2) for any period during which an emergency exists as a result of which delivery, disposal or evaluation of Treasuries is not reasonably practicable, or (3) for such other period as the General Partner determines to be
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necessary for the protection of the limited partners. For example, the General Partner may determine that it is necessary to suspend redemptions to allow for the orderly liquidation of USNGs assets at an appropriate value to fund a redemption. If the General Partner has difficulty liquidating its positions, e.g., because of a market disruption event in the futures markets, a suspension of trading by the exchange where the futures contracts are listed or an unanticipated delay in the liquidation of a position in an over the counter contract, it may be appropriate to suspend redemptions until such time as such circumstances are rectified. None of the General Partner, the Marketing Agent, the Administrator, or the Custodian will be liable to any person or in any way for any loss or damages that may result from any such suspension or postponement.
Redemption orders must be made in whole baskets. The General Partner will reject a redemption order if the order is not in proper form as described in the Authorized Purchaser Agreement or if the fulfillment of the order, in the opinion of its counsel, might be unlawful. The General Partner may also reject a redemption order if the number of units being redeemed would reduce the remaining outstanding units to 100,000 units (i.e., one basket) or less, unless the General Partner has reason to believe that the placer of the redemption order does in fact possess all the outstanding units and can deliver them.
To compensate USNG for its expenses in connection with the creation and redemption of baskets, an Authorized Purchaser is required to pay a transaction fee to USNG of $1,000 per order to create or redeem baskets. An order may include multiple baskets. The transaction fee may be reduced, increased or otherwise changed by the General Partner. The General Partner shall notify DTC of any change in the transaction fee and will not implement any increase in the fee for the redemption of baskets until 30 days after the date of the notice.
Authorized Purchasers are responsible for any transfer tax, sales or use tax, stamp tax, recording tax, value added tax or similar tax or governmental charge applicable to the creation or redemption of baskets, regardless of whether or not such tax or charge is imposed directly on the Authorized Purchaser, and agree to indemnify the General Partner and USNG if they are required by law to pay any such tax, together with any applicable penalties, additions to tax or interest thereon.
As noted, USNG creates and redeems units from time to time, but only in one or more Creation Baskets or Redemption Baskets. The creation and redemption of baskets are only made in exchange for delivery to USNG or the distribution by USNG of the amount of Treasuries and cash represented by the baskets being created or redeemed, the amount of which will be based on the aggregate NAV of the number of units included in the baskets being created or redeemed determined on the day the order to create or redeem baskets is properly received.
As discussed above, Authorized Purchasers are the only persons that may place orders to create and redeem baskets. Authorized Purchasers must be registered broker-dealers or other securities market participants, such as banks and other financial institutions that are not required to register as broker-dealers to engage in securities transactions. An Authorized Purchaser is under no obligation to create or redeem baskets, and an Authorized Purchaser is under no obligation to offer to the public units of any baskets it does create. Authorized Purchasers that do offer to the public units from the baskets they create will do so at per-unit offering prices that are expected to reflect, among other factors, the trading price of the units on the NYSE Arca, the NAV of USNG at the time the Authorized Purchaser purchased the Creation Baskets and the NAV of the units at the time of the offer of the units to the public, the supply of and demand for units at the time of sale, and the liquidity of the Futures Contract market and the market for Other Natural Gas-Related Investments. The prices of units offered by Authorized Purchasers are expected to fall between USNGs NAV and the trading price of the units on the NYSE Arca at the time of sale. Units initially comprising the same basket but offered by Authorized Purchasers to the public at different times may have different offering prices. An order for one or more baskets may be placed by an Authorized Purchaser on behalf of multiple clients. Authorized Purchasers who make deposits with USNG in exchange for baskets receive no fees, commissions or other form of compensation or inducement of any kind from either USNG or the General Partner, and no such
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person has any obligation or responsibility to the General Partner or USNG to effect any sale or resale of units. Units trade in the secondary market on the NYSE Arca. Units may trade in the secondary market at prices that are lower or higher relative to their NAV per unit. The amount of the discount or premium in the trading price relative to the NAV per unit may be influenced by various factors, including the number of investors who seek to purchase or sell units in the secondary market and the liquidity of the Futures Contracts market and the market for Other Natural Gas-Related Investments. While the units trade during the core trading session on the NYSE Arca until 4:00 p.m. New York time, liquidity in the market for Futures Contracts and Other Natural Gas-Related Investments may be reduced after the close of the NYMEX at 2:30 p.m. New York time. As a result, during this time, trading spreads, and the resulting premium or discount, on the units may widen.
The General Partner applies substantially all of USNGs assets toward trading in Futures Contracts and other Natural Gas-Related Investments and investing in Treasuries, cash and/or cash equivalents. The General Partner has sole authority to determine the percentage of assets that are:
| held on deposit with the futures commission merchant or other custodian, |
| used for other investments, and |
| held in bank accounts to pay current obligations and as reserves. |
The General Partner deposits substantially all of USNGs net assets with the Custodian or other custodian. When USNG purchases a Futures Contract and certain exchange traded Other Natural Gas-Related Investments, USNG is also required to deposit with the futures commission merchant on behalf of the exchange a portion of the value of the contract or other interest as security to ensure payment for the obligation under natural gas interests at maturity. This deposit is known as margin. USNG invests the remainder of its assets equal to the difference between the margin deposited and the market value of the futures contract in Treasuries, cash and/or cash equivalents.
USNGs assets are held in segregated accounts pursuant to the CEA and CFTC regulations. The General Partner believes that all entities that hold or trade USNGs assets are based in the United States and are subject to United States regulations.
Approximately 5% to 10% of USNGs assets are normally committed as margin for commodity futures contracts. However, from time to time, the percentage of assets committed as margin may be substantially more, or less, than such range. The General Partner invests the balance of USNGs assets not invested in natural gas interests or held in margin as reserves to be available for changes in margin. All interest income is used for USNGs benefit.
The futures commission merchant, a government agency or a commodity exchange could increase margins applicable to USNG to hold trading positions at any time. Moreover, margin is merely a security deposit and has no bearing on the profit or loss potential for any positions taken.
USNGs assets are held in segregated accounts pursuant to the Commodity Exchange Act and CFTC regulations.
The following paragraphs are a summary of certain provisions of our LP Agreement. The following discussion is qualified in its entirety by reference to our LP Agreement.
Our General Partner is generally authorized to perform all acts deemed necessary to carry out the purposes of the limited partnership and to conduct our business. Our partnership existence will continue into perpetuity, until terminated in accordance with our LP Agreement. Our General Partner has a power of attorney to take certain actions, including the execution and filing of documents, on our behalf and with respect to our LP Agreement. However, our partnership agreement limits the authority of our General Partner as follows:
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| Other than in connection with the issuance or redemption of units, or upon termination of the partnership as contemplated by the LP Agreement, the General Partner may not sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the partnerships assets in a single transaction or a series of related transactions (including by way of merger, consolidation or other combination with any other person) or approve on behalf of the partnership, the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of all of the partnership, taken as a whole, without the approval of at least a majority of the limited partners; provided, however, that this provision shall not preclude or limit the General Partners ability to mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or grant a security interest in all or substantially all of the partnerships assets and shall not apply to any forced sale of any or all of the partnerships assets pursuant to the foreclosure of, or other realization upon, any such encumbrance. |
| The General Partner is not authorized to institute or initiate on behalf of, or otherwise cause, the partnership to (a) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; (b) file a voluntary bankruptcy petition; or (c) file a petition seeking for the partnership a reorganization, arrangement, composition, readjustment liquidation, dissolution or similar relief under any law. |
| The General Partner may not, without written approval of the specific act by all of the limited partners or by other written instrument executed and delivered by all of the limited partners subsequent to the date of the LP Agreement, take any action in contravention of the LP Agreement, including, without limitation, (i) any act that would make it impossible to carry on the ordinary business of the partnership, except as otherwise provided in the LP Agreement; (ii) possess partnership property, or assign any rights in specific partnership property, for other than a partnership purpose; (iii) admit a person as a partner, except as otherwise provided in the LP Agreement; (iv) amend the LP Agreement in any manner, except as otherwise provided in the LP Agreement or applicable law; or (v) transfer its interest as General Partner of the partnership, except as otherwise provided in the LP Agreement. |
| In general, unless approved by a majority of the limited partners, our General Partner shall not take any action, or refuse to take any reasonable action, the effect of which would be to cause us, to the extent it would materially and adversely affect limited partners, to be taxable as a corporation or to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes. |
The General Partner shall be deemed to have withdrawn from the partnership upon the occurrence of any one of the following events:
| the General Partner voluntarily withdraws from the partnership by giving written notice to the other partners; |
| the General Partner transfers all of its rights as General Partner; |
| the General Partner is removed; |
| the General Partner (A) makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; (B) files a voluntary bankruptcy petition; (C) files a petition or answer seeking for itself a reorganization, arrangement, composition, readjustment liquidation, dissolution or similar relief under any law; (D) files an answer or other pleading admitting or failing to contest the material allegations of a petition filed against the General Partner in a proceeding of the type described in clauses (A) (C) of this sentence; or (E) seeks, consents to or acquiesces in the appointment of a trustee, receiver or liquidator of the General Partner or of all or any substantial part of its properties; |
| a final and non-appealable judgment is entered by a court with appropriate jurisdiction ruling that the General Partner is bankrupt or insolvent or a final and non-appealable order for relief is entered by a court with appropriate jurisdiction against the General Partner, in each case under any federal or state bankruptcy or insolvency laws as now or hereafter in effect; or |
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| a certificate of dissolution or its equivalent is filed for the General Partner, or 90 days expire after the date of notice to the General Partner of revocation of its charter without a reinstatement of its charter, under the laws of its state of incorporation. |
The General Partner may be removed with or without cause if such removal is approved by the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding units (excluding for this purpose units held by the General Partner and its affiliates).
All acts of the limited partners should be done in accordance with the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act (DRULPA). Upon the written request of 20% or more in interest of the limited partners, the General Partner may, but is not required to, call a meeting of the limited partners. Notice of such meeting shall be given within 30 days after, and the meeting shall be held within 60 days after, receipt of such request. The General Partner may also call a meeting not less than 20 and not more than 60 days prior to the meeting. Any such notice shall state briefly the purpose of the meeting, which shall be held at a reasonable time and place. Any limited partner may obtain a list of names, addresses, and interests of the limited partners upon written request to the General Partner.
Assuming that a limited partner does not take part in the control of our business, and that he otherwise acts in conformity with the provisions of our LP Agreement, his liability under Delaware law will be limited, subject to certain possible exceptions, generally to the amount of capital he is obligated to contribute to us in respect of his units or other limited partner interests plus his share of any of our undistributed profits and assets. In light of the fact that a limited partners liability may extend beyond his capital contributions, a limited partner may lose more money than he contributed.
Under Delaware law, a limited partner might be held liable for USNGs obligations as if it were a General Partner if the limited partner participates in the control of the partnerships business and the persons who transact business with the partnership think the limited partner is the General Partner.
Under the LP Agreement, a limited partner is not liable for assessments in addition to its initial capital investment in any of USNGs capital securities representing limited partnership interests. However, a limited partner still may be required to repay to USNG any amounts wrongfully returned or distributed to it under some circumstances. Under Delaware law, USNG may not make a distribution to limited partners if the distribution causes USNGs liabilities (other than liabilities to partners on account of their partnership interests and nonrecourse liabilities) to exceed the fair value of USNGs assets. Delaware law provides that a limited partner who receives such a distribution and knew at the time of the distribution that the distribution violated the law will be liable to the limited partnership for the amount of the distribution for three years from the date of the distribution.
There are present and potential future conflicts of interest in USNGs structure and operation you should consider before you purchase units. The General Partner will use this notice of conflicts as a defense against any claim or other proceeding made.
The General Partners officers, directors and employees, do not devote their time exclusively to USNG. These persons are directors, officers or employees of other entities which may compete with USNG for their services. They could have a conflict between their responsibilities to USNG and to those other entities. The General Partner believes that it has sufficient personnel, time, and working capital to discharge its responsibilities in a fair manner and that these persons conflicts should not impair their ability to provide services to USNG.
The General Partners principals, officers, directors and employees may trade futures and related contracts for their own account. Limited partners and other unitholders are not permitted to inspect the trading records of the principals. A conflict of interest may exist if their trades are in the same markets and at the same time as USNG trades using the clearing broker to be used by USNG. A potential conflict also may occur when the
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General Partners principals trade their accounts more aggressively or take positions in their accounts which are opposite, or ahead of, the positions taken by USNG. The General Partner has adopted a Code of Ethics to ensure that the officers, directors, and employees of the General Partner and its affiliates do not engage in trades that will harm the fund or the unitholders. The Code of Ethics may be found on USNGs website at www.unitedstatesnaturalgasfund.com
The General Partner has sole current authority to manage the investments and operations of USNG, and this may allow it to act in a way that furthers its own interests which may create a conflict with your best interests. Limited partners have limited voting control, which limits their ability to influence matters such as amendment of the LP Agreement, change in USNGs basic investment policy, dissolution of this fund, or the sale or distribution of USNGs assets.
The General Partner serves as the general partner to each of USNG and the Related Public Funds. In addition, the General Partner will serve as the general partner for USSO and US12NG, if such funds offer their securities to the public or begin operations. The General Partner may have a conflict to the extent that its trading decisions for USNG may be influenced by the effect they would have on the other funds it manages. For example, if, as a result of reaching position limits imposed by the NYMEX, USNG purchased gasoline futures contracts, this decision could impact UGAs ability to purchase additional gasoline futures contracts if the number of contracts held by funds managed by the General Partner reached the maximum allowed by NYMEX. Similar situations could adversely affect the ability of any fund to track its Benchmark Futures Contract. In addition, the General Partner is required to indemnify the officers and directors of the other funds, if the need for indemnification arises. This potential indemnification will cause the General Partners assets to decrease. If the General Partners other sources of income are not sufficient to compensate for the indemnification, then the General Partner may terminate and you could lose your investment.
Whenever a conflict of interest exists or arises between the General Partner on the one hand, and the partnership or any limited partner, on the other hand, any resolution or course of action by the General Partner in respect of such conflict of interest shall be permitted and deemed approved by all partners and shall not constitute a breach of the LP Agreement or of any agreement contemplated hereby or of a duty stated or implied by law or equity, if the resolution or course of action is, or by operation of the LP Agreement is deemed to be, fair and reasonable to the partnership. If a dispute arises, under the LP Agreement it will be resolved either through negotiations with the General Partner or by courts located in the State of Delaware.
Under the LP Agreement, any resolution is deemed to be fair and reasonable to the partnership if the resolution is:
| approved by the audit committee, although no party is obligated to seek approval and the General Partner may adopt a resolution or course of action that has not received approval; |
| on terms no less favorable to the limited partners than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated third parties; or |
| fair to the limited partners, taking into account the totality of the relationships of the parties involved including other transactions that may be particularly favorable or advantageous to the limited partners. |
The previous risk factors and conflicts of interest are complete as of the date of this prospectus; however, additional risks and conflicts may occur which are not presently foreseen by the General Partner. You may not construe this prospectus as legal or tax advice. Before making an investment in this fund, you should read this entire prospectus, including the LP Agreement. You should also consult with your personal legal, tax, and other professional advisors.
The General Partner has employed Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP to prepare this prospectus. Neither the law firm nor any other expert hired by USNG to give advice on the preparation of this offering document
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have been hired on a contingent fee basis. Nor do any of them have any present or future expectation of interest in the General Partner, Marketing Agent, Authorized Purchasers, Custodian, Administrator or other service providers to USNG.
Pursuant to the DRULPA, parties may contractually modify or even eliminate fiduciary duties in a partnership agreement to the limited partnership itself, or to another partner or person otherwise bound by the partnership agreement. Parties may not, however, eliminate the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. Where parties unambiguously provide for fiduciary duties in a partnership agreement, those expressed duties become the standard courts will use to determine whether such duties were breached. For this reason, USNGs limited partnership agreement does not explicitly provide for any fiduciary duties so that common law fiduciary duty principles will apply to measure the General Partners conduct.
A prospective investor should be aware that the General Partner has a responsibility to limited partners of USNG to exercise good faith and fairness in all dealings. The fiduciary responsibility of a general partner to limited partners is a developing and changing area of the law and limited partners who have questions concerning the duties of the General Partner should consult with their counsel. In the event that a limited partner of USNG believes that the General Partner has violated its fiduciary duty to the limited partners, he may seek legal relief individually or on behalf of USNG under applicable laws, including under DRULPA and under commodities laws, to recover damages from or require an accounting by the General Partner. Limited partners may also have the right, subject to applicable procedural and jurisdictional requirements, to bring class actions in federal court to enforce their rights under the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by the SEC. Limited partners who have suffered losses in connection with the purchase or sale of the units may be able to recover such losses from the General Partner where the losses result from a violation by the General Partner of the federal securities laws. State securities laws may also provide certain remedies to limited partners. Limited partners should be aware that performance by the General Partner of its fiduciary duty is measured by the terms of the LP Agreement as well as applicable law. Limited partners are afforded certain rights to institute reparations proceedings under the Commodity Exchange Act for violations of the Commodity Exchange Act or of any rule, regulation or order of the CFTC by the General Partner.
Under the LP Agreement, neither a General Partner nor any employee or other agent of USNG nor any officer, director, stockholder, partner, employee or agent of a General Partner (a Protected Person) shall be liable to any partner or USNG for any mistake of judgment or for any action or inaction taken, nor for any losses due to any mistake of judgment or to any action or inaction or to the negligence, dishonesty or bad faith of any officer, director, stockholder, partner, employee, agent of USNG or any officer, director, stockholder, partner, employee or agent of such General Partner, provided that such officer, director, stockholder, partner, employee, or agent of the partner or officer, director, stockholder, partner, employee or agent of such General Partner was selected, engaged or retained by such General Partner with reasonable care, except with respect to any matter as to which such General Partner shall have been finally adjudicated in any action, suit or other proceeding not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that such Protected Persons action was in the best interests of USNG and except that no Protected Person shall be relieved of any liability to which such Protected Person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the Protected Persons office.
USNG shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, but only out of USNG assets, indemnify and hold harmless a General Partner and each officer, director, stockholder, partner, employee or agent thereof (including persons who serve at USNGs request as directors, officers or trustees of another organization in which USNG has an interest as a unitholder, creditor or otherwise) and their respective Legal Representatives and successors (hereinafter referred to as a Covered Person against all liabilities and expenses, including but not limited to amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines and penalties, and counsel fees reasonably incurred by any Covered Person in connection with the defense or disposition of any action, suit or other proceedings, whether civil or criminal, before any court or administrative or legislative body, in which such Covered Person may be or may have been involved as a party or otherwise or with which such person may be or may have been threatened, while in office or thereafter, by reason of an alleged act or omission as
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a General Partner or director or officer thereof, or by reason of its being or having been such a General Partner, director or officer, except with respect to any matter as to which such Covered Person shall have been finally adjudicated in any such action, suit or other proceeding not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that such Covered Persons action was in the best interest of USNG, and except that no Covered Person shall be indemnified against any liability to USNG or limited partners to which such Covered Person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such Covered Persons office. Expenses, including counsel fees so incurred by any such Covered Person, may be paid from time to time by USNG in advance of the final disposition of any such action, suit or proceeding on the condition that the amounts so paid shall be repaid to USNG if it is ultimately determined that the indemnification of such expenses is not authorized hereunder.
According to applicable law, indemnification of the General Partner is payable only if the General Partner determined, in good faith, that the act, omission or conduct that gave rise to the claim for indemnification was in the best interest of USNG and the act, omission or activity that was the basis for such loss, liability, damage, cost or expense was not the result of negligence or misconduct and such liability or loss was not the result of negligence or misconduct by the General Partner, and such indemnification or agreement to hold harmless is recoverable only out of the assets of USNG and not from the members, individually.
This offering is made pursuant to federal and state securities laws. If any indemnification of the General Partner arises out of an alleged violation of such laws, it is subject to certain legal conditions.
Those conditions require that no indemnification may be made in respect of any losses, liabilities or expenses arising from or out of an alleged violation of federal or state securities laws unless: there has been a successful adjudication on the merits of each count involving alleged securities law violations as to the General Partner or other particular indemnitee, or such claim has been dismissed with prejudice on the merits by a court of competent jurisdiction as to the General Partner or other particular indemnitee, or a court of competent jurisdiction approves a settlement of the claims against the General Partner or other agent of USNG and finds that indemnification of the settlement and related costs should be made, provided, before seeking such approval, the General Partner or other indemnitee must apprise the court of the position held by regulatory agencies against such indemnification. These agencies are the SEC and the securities administrator of the State or States in which the plaintiffs claim they were offered or sold membership interests.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the 1933 Act may be permitted to the General Partner or its directors, officers, or persons controlling USNG, USNG has been informed that SEC and the various State administrators believe that such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and the North American Securities Administrators Association, Inc. (NASAA) commodity pool guidelines and is therefore unenforceable.
USNG keeps its books of record and account at its office located at 1320 Harbor Bay Parkway, Suite 145, Alameda, California 94502 or at the offices of the Administrator at its office located at 40 Water Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02109, or such office, including of an administrative agent, as it may subsequently designate upon notice. These books and records are open to inspection by any person who establishes to USNGs satisfaction that such person is a limited partner upon reasonable advance notice at all reasonable times during the usual business hours of USNG.
USNG keeps a copy of USNGs LP Agreement on file in its office which will be available for inspection on reasonable advance notice at all reasonable times during its usual business hours by any limited partner.
USNGs critical accounting policies are set forth in the financial statements which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, which require the use of certain accounting policies that affect the amounts reported
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in these financial statements, including the following: USNG trades are accounted for on a trade-date basis and marked to market on a daily basis. The difference between their cost and market value is recorded as change in unrealized profit/loss for open (unrealized) contracts, and recorded as realized profit/loss when open positions are closed out; the sum of these amounts constitutes USNGs trading revenues. Earned interest income revenue, as well as management fee, and brokerage fee expenses of USNG are recorded on an accrual basis. The General Partner believes that all relevant accounting assumptions and policies have been considered.
At the end of each fiscal year, USNG will furnish to DTC Participants for distribution to each person who is a unitholder at the end of the fiscal year an annual report containing USNGs audited financial statements and other information about USNG. The General Partner is responsible for the registration and qualification of the units under the federal securities laws and federal commodities laws and any other securities and blue sky laws of the United States or any other jurisdiction as the General Partner may select. The General Partner is responsible for preparing all reports required by the SEC and the CFTC, but has entered into an agreement with the Administrator to prepare these reports as required by the SEC, CFTC and the NYSE Arca on USNGs behalf.
The financial statements of USNG are audited, as required by law and as may be directed by the General Partner, by an independent registered public accounting firm designated from time to time by the General Partner. The accountants report will be furnished by USNG to unitholders upon request. USNG makes such elections, file such tax returns, and prepare, disseminate and file such tax reports, as it is advised by its counsel or accountants are from time to time required by any applicable statute, rule or regulation.
In addition to periodic reports filed with the SEC, including annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, all of which can be accessed on the SECs website at www.sec.gov or on USNGs website at www.unitedstatesnaturalgasfund.com, USNG, pursuant to the LP Agreement, will provide the following reports to limited partners in the manner prescribed below:
Annual Reports. Within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year, the General Partner shall cause to be delivered to each limited partner who was a limited partner at any time during the fiscal year, an annual report containing the following:
(i) | financial statements of the partnership, including, without limitation, a balance sheet as of the end of the partnerships fiscal year and statements of income, partners equity and changes in financial position, for such fiscal year, which shall be prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America consistently applied and shall be audited by a firm of independent certified public accountants registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, |
(ii) | a general description of the activities of the partnership during the period covered by the report, and |
(iii) | a report of any material transactions between the partnership and the General Partner or any of its affiliates, including fees or compensation paid by the partnership and the services performed by the General Partner or any such affiliate for such fees or compensation. |
Quarterly Reports. Within 45 days after the end of each quarter of each fiscal year, the General Partner shall cause to be delivered to each limited partner who was a limited partner at any time during the quarter then ended, a quarterly report containing a balance sheet and statement of income for the period covered by the report, each of which may be unaudited but shall be certified by the General Partner as fairly presenting the financial position and results of operations of the partnership during the period covered by the report. The report shall also contain a description of any material event regarding the business of the partnership during the period covered by the report.
Monthly Reports. Within 30 days after the after the end of each month, the General Partner shall cause to be posted on its website and upon request, to be delivered to each limited partner who was a limited partner at any time during the month then ended, a monthly report containing an account statement, which will
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include a statement of income (loss) and a statement of changes in NAV, for the prescribed period. In addition, the account statement will disclose any material business dealings between the partnership, General Partner, commodity trading advisor (if any), futures commission merchant, or the principals thereof that previously have not been disclosed in the prospectus or any amendment thereto, other account statements or annual reports.
USNG provides information to its unitholders to the extent required by applicable SEC, CFTC, and NYSE Arca requirements. An issuer, such as USNG, of exchange-traded securities may not always readily know the identities of the investors who own those securities. USNG posts the same information that would otherwise be provided in USNGs reports to limited partners described above including its monthly account statements, which include, without limitation, USNGs NAV, on USNGs website www.unitedstatesnaturalgasfund.com.
The fiscal year of USNG is the calendar year. The General Partner may select an alternate fiscal year at a later date.
The rights of the General Partner, USNG, DTC (as registered owner of USNGs global certificate for units) and the unitholders, are governed by the laws of the State of Delaware. The General Partner, USNG and DTC and, by accepting units, each DTC Participant and each unitholder, consent to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware and any federal courts located in Delaware. Such consent is not required for any person to assert a claim of Delaware jurisdiction over the General Partner or USNG.
Within the past 5 years of the date of this prospectus, there have been no material administrative, civil or criminal actions against the General Partner, underwriter, or any principal or affiliate of either of them. This includes any actions pending, on appeal, concluded, threatened, or otherwise known to them.
Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP is counsel to advise USNG and the General Partner with respect to the units being offered hereby and has passed upon the validity of the units being issued hereunder. Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP has also provided the General Partner with its opinion with respect to federal income tax matters addressed herein.
Spicer Jeffries LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, has audited the financial statements of United States Natural Gas Fund, LP, at December 31, 2006, December 31, 2007, and December 31, 2008 that appear in the annual report on Form 10-K that is incorporated by reference. The financial statements in the 10-K were included in reliance upon the report of Spicer Jeffries LLP, given on its authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
USNG and the General Partner collect certain nonpublic personal information about investors from the information provided by them in certain documents, as well as in the course of processing transaction requests. None of this information is disclosed except as necessary in the course of processing creations and redemptions and otherwise administering USNG and then only subject to customary undertakings of confidentiality. USNG and the General Partner do not disclose nonpublic personal information about investors to anyone, except as required by law or as described in its Privacy Policy. In general, USNG and the General Partner restrict access to the nonpublic personal information they collect from investors to those of its and its affiliates employees and service providers who need access to this information to provide products and services to investors. USNG and the General Partner each maintain physical, electronic and procedural controls
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to safeguard this information. These standards are reasonably designed to (1) ensure the security and confidentiality of investors records and information, (2) protect against any anticipated threats or hazards to the security or integrity of investors records and information, and (3) protect against unauthorized access to or use of investors records or information that could result in substantial harm or inconvenience to any investor. A copy of the current Privacy Policy can be provided on request and is provided to investors annually.
The following discussion summarizes the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of units in USNG, and the U.S. federal income tax treatment of USNG, as of the date hereof. This discussion is applicable to a beneficial owner of units who purchases units in the offering to which this prospectus relates, including a beneficial owner who purchases units from an Authorized Purchaser. Except where noted otherwise, it deals only with units held as capital assets and does not deal with special situations, such as those of dealers in securities or currencies, financial institutions, tax-exempt entities, insurance companies, persons holding units as a part of a position in a straddle or as part of a hedging, conversion or other integrated transaction for federal income tax purposes, traders in securities or commodities that elect to use a mark-to-market method of accounting, or holders of units whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar. Furthermore, the discussion below is based upon the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), and regulations (Treasury Regulations), rulings and judicial decisions thereunder as of the date hereof, and such authorities may be repealed, revoked or modified so as to result in U.S. federal income tax consequences different from those discussed below.
Persons considering the purchase, ownership or disposition of units should consult their own tax advisors concerning the United States federal income tax consequences in light of their particular situations as well as any consequences arising under the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction. As used herein, a U.S. unitholder of a unit means a beneficial owner of a unit that is, for United States federal income tax purposes, (i) a citizen or resident of the United States, (ii) a corporation or partnership created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any political subdivision thereof, (iii) an estate the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source or (iv) a trust (X) that is subject to the supervision of a court within the United States and the control of one or more United States persons as described in section 7701(a)(30) of the Code or (Y) that has a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury Regulations to be treated as a United States person. A Non-U.S. unitholder is a holder that is not a U.S. unitholder. If a partnership holds our units, the tax treatment of a partner will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. If you are a partner of a partnership holding our units, you should consult your own tax advisor regarding the tax consequences.
The General Partner of USNG has received the opinion of Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP, counsel to USNG, that the material U.S. federal income tax consequences to USNG and to U.S. unitholders and Non-U.S. unitholders will be as described below. In rendering its opinion, Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP has relied on the facts described in this prospectus as well as certain factual representations made by USNG and the General Partner. The opinion of Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP is not binding on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and as a result, the IRS may not agree with the tax positions taken by USNG. If challenged by the IRS, USNGs tax positions might not be sustained by the courts. No ruling has been requested from the IRS with respect to any matter affecting USNG or prospective investors.
EACH PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR IS ADVISED TO CONSULT ITS OWN TAX ADVISOR AS TO HOW THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF AN INVESTMENT IN USNG APPLY TO YOU AND AS TO HOW THE APPLICABLE STATE, LOCAL OR FOREIGN TAXES APPLY TO YOU.
USNG is organized and operated as a limited partnership in accordance with the provisions of the LP Agreement and applicable state law. Under the Code, an entity classified as a partnership that is deemed to be a publicly traded partnership is generally taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes. The Code provides an exception to this general rule for a publicly traded partnership whose gross income for each taxable year of its existence consists of at least 90% qualifying income (qualifying income exception). For this purpose, section 7704 defines qualifying income as including, in pertinent part, interest (other than from a financial business), dividends and gains from the sale or disposition of capital assets held for the
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production of interest or dividends. In addition, in the case of a partnership a principal activity of which is the buying and selling of commodities (other than as inventory) or of futures, forwards and options with respect to commodities, qualifying income includes income and gains from such commodities and futures, forwards and options with respect to commodities. USNG and the General Partner have represented the following to Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP:
| At least 90% of USNGs gross income for each taxable year will constitute qualifying income within the meaning of Code section 7704 (as described above); |
| USNG is organized and operated in accordance with its governing agreements and applicable law; |
| USNG has not elected, and will not elect, to be classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. |
Based in part on these representations, Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP is of the opinion that USNG classifies as a partnership for federal income tax purposes and that it is not taxable as a corporation for such purposes.
If USNG failed to satisfy the qualifying income exception in any year, other than a failure that is determined by the IRS to be inadvertent and that is cured within a reasonable time after discovery, USNG would be taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes and would pay federal income tax on its income at regular corporate rates. In that event, unitholders would not report their share of USNGs income or loss on their returns. In addition, distributions to unitholders would be treated as dividends to the extent of USNGs current and accumulated earnings and profits. To the extent a distribution exceeded USNGs earnings and profits, the distribution would be treated as a return of capital to the extent of a unitholders basis in its units, and thereafter as gain from the sale of units. Accordingly, if USNG were to be taxable as a corporation, it would likely have a material adverse effect on the economic return from an investment in USNG and on the value of the units.
The remainder of this summary assumes that USNG is classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes and that it is not taxable as a corporation.
Taxation of USNGs Income. No U.S. federal income tax is paid by USNG on its income. Instead, USNG files annual information returns, and each U.S. unitholder is required to report on its U.S. federal income tax return its allocable share of the income, gain, loss and deduction of USNG. For example, unitholders must take into account their share of ordinary income realized by USNG from accruals of interest on Treasuries and other investments, and their share of gain from Futures Contracts and Other Natural Gas-Related Investments. These items must be reported without regard to the amount (if any) of cash or property the unitholder receives as a distribution from USNG during the taxable year. Consequently, a unitholder may be allocated income or gain by USNG but receive no cash distribution with which to pay its tax liability resulting from the allocation, or may receive a distribution that is insufficient to pay such liability. Because the General Partner currently does not intend to make distributions, it is likely that in any year USNG realizes net income and/or gain that a U.S. unitholder will be required to pay taxes on its allocable share of such income or gain from sources other than USNG distributions.
Allocations of USNGs Profit and Loss. Under Code section 704, the determination of a partners distributive share of any item of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit is governed by the applicable organizational document unless the allocation provided by such document lacks substantial economic effect. An allocation that lacks substantial economic effect nonetheless will be respected if it is in accordance with the partners interests in the partnership, determined by taking into account all facts and circumstances relating to the economic arrangements among the partners.
In general, USNG applies a monthly closing-of-the-books convention in determining allocations of economic profit or loss to unitholders. Income, gain, loss and deduction are determined on a monthly mark-to-market basis, taking into account our accrued income and deductions and realized and unrealized gains and losses for the month. These items are allocated among the holders of units in proportion to the
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number of units owned by them as of the close of business on the last business day of the month. Items of taxable income, deduction, gain, loss and credit recognized by USNG for federal income tax purposes for any taxable year are allocated among holders in a manner that equitably reflects the allocation of economic profit or loss. USNG has made the election permitted by section 754 of the Code, which election is irrevocable without the consent of the Service. The effect of this election is that when a secondary market sale of our units occur, we adjust the purchasers proportionate share of the tax basis of our assets to fair market value, as reflected in the price paid for the units, as if the purchaser had directly acquired an interest in our assets. The section 754 election is intended to eliminate disparities between a partners basis in its partnership interest and its share of the tax bases of the partnerships assets, so that the partners allocable share of taxable gain or loss on a disposition of an asset will correspond to its share of the appreciation or depreciation in the value of the asset since it acquired its interest. Depending on the price paid for units and the tax bases of USNGs assets at the time of the purchase, the effect of the section 754 election on a purchaser of units may be favorable or unfavorable.
USNG applies certain assumptions and conventions in determining and allocating items for tax purposes in order to reduce the complexity and costs of administration. The General Partner believes that application of these assumptions and conventions is consistent with the intent of the partnership provisions of the Code, and that the resulting allocations have substantial economic effect or otherwise are respected as being in accordance with unitholders interests in USNG for federal income tax purposes. However, the Code and Treasury Regulations do not expressly permit adoption of these assumptions and conventions, and Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP is therefore unable to opine on the validity of our allocation method. It is possible that the IRS could successfully challenge this method and require a unitholder to report a greater or lesser share of items of income, gain, loss, deduction, or credit than if our method were respected. The General Partner is authorized to revise our allocation method to conform to any method permitted under future Treasury Regulations.
The assumptions and conventions used in making tax allocations may cause a unitholder to be allocated more or less income or loss for federal income tax purposes than its proportionate share of the economic income or loss realized by USNG during the period it held its units. This mismatch between taxable and economic income or loss in some cases may be temporary, reversing itself in a later year when the units are sold, but could be permanent. For example, a unitholder could be allocated income accruing before it purchased its units, resulting in an increase in the basis of the units (see Tax Basis of Units, below). On a subsequent disposition of the units, the additional basis might produce a capital loss the deduction of which may be limited (see Limitations on Deductibility of Losses and Certain Expenses, below).
Mark to Market of Certain Exchange-Traded Contracts. For federal income tax purposes, USNG generally is required to use a mark-to-market method of accounting under which unrealized gains and losses on instruments constituting section 1256 contracts are recognized currently. A section 1256 contract is defined as: (1) a futures contract that is traded on or subject to the rules of a national securities exchange which is registered with the SEC, a domestic board of trade designated as a contract market by the CFTC, or any other board of trade or exchange designated by the Secretary of the Treasury, and with respect to which the amount required to be deposited and the amount that may be withdrawn depends on a system of marking to market; (2) a forward contract on exchange-traded foreign currencies, where the contracts are traded in the interbank market; (3) a non-equity option traded on or subject to the rules of a qualified board or exchange; (4) a dealer equity option; or (5) a dealer securities futures contract.
Under these rules, section 1256 contracts held by USNG at the end of each taxable year, including for example Futures Contracts and options on Futures Contracts traded on a U.S. exchange or board of trade or certain foreign exchanges, are treated as if they were sold by USNG for their fair market value on the last business day of the taxable year. A unitholders distributive share of USNGs net gain or loss with respect to each section 1256 contract generally is treated as long-term capital gain or loss to the extent of 60 percent thereof, and as short-term capital gain or loss to the extent of 40 percent thereof, without regard to the actual holding period.
Limitations on Deductibility of Losses and Certain Expenses. A number of different provisions of the Code may defer or disallow the deduction of losses or expenses allocated to you by USNG, including but not limited to those described below.
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A unitholders deduction of its allocable share of any loss of USNG will be limited to the lesser of (1) the tax basis in its units or (2) in the case of a unitholder that is an individual or a closely held corporation, the amount which the unitholder is considered to have at risk with respect to our activities. In general, the amount at risk will be your invested capital plus your share of any recourse debt of USNG for which you are liable. Losses in excess of the amount at risk must be deferred until years in which USNG generates additional taxable income against which to offset such carryover losses or until additional capital is placed at risk.
Noncorporate taxpayers are permitted to deduct capital losses only to the extent of their capital gains for the taxable year plus $3,000 of other income. Unused capital losses can be carried forward and used to offset capital gains in future years. In addition, a noncorporate taxpayer may elect to carry back net losses on section 1256 contracts to each of the three preceding years and use them to offset section 1256 contract gains in those years, subject to certain limitations. Corporate taxpayers generally may deduct capital losses only to the extent of capital gains, subject to special carryback and carryforward rules.
Otherwise deductible expenses incurred by noncorporate taxpayers constituting miscellaneous itemized deductions, generally including investment-related expenses (other than interest and certain other specified expenses), are deductible only to the extent they exceed 2 percent of the taxpayers adjusted gross income for the year. Although the matter is not free from doubt, we believe management fees we pay to the General Partner and other expenses we incur constitute investment-related expenses subject to the miscellaneous itemized deduction limitation, rather than expenses incurred in connection with a trade or business.
Noncorporate unitholders generally may deduct investment interest expense only to the extent of their net investment income. Investment interest expense of a unitholder will generally include any interest accrued by USNG and any interest paid or accrued on direct borrowings by a unitholder to purchase or carry its units, such as interest with respect to a margin account. Net investment income generally includes gross income from property held for investment (including portfolio income under the passive loss rules but not, absent an election, long-term capital gains or certain qualifying dividend income) less deductible expenses other than interest directly connected with the production of investment income.
To the extent that we allocate losses or expenses to you that must be deferred or disallowed as a result of these or other limitations in the Code, you may be taxed on income in excess of your economic income or distributions (if any) on your units. As one example, you could be allocated and required to pay tax on your share of interest income accrued by USNG for a particular taxable year, and in the same year allocated a share of a capital loss that you cannot deduct currently because you have insufficient capital gains against which to offset the loss. As another example, you could be allocated and required to pay tax on your share of interest income and capital gain for a year, but be unable to deduct some or all of your share of management fees and/or margin account interest incurred by you with respect to your units. Unitholders are urged to consult their own professional tax advisors regarding the effect of limitations under the Code on your ability to deduct your allocable share of USNGs losses and expenses.
A unitholders tax basis in its units is important in determining (1) the amount of taxable gain it will realize on the sale or other disposition of its units, (2) the amount of non-taxable distributions that it may receive from USNG and (3) its ability to utilize its distributive share of any losses of USNG on its tax return. A unitholders initial tax basis of its units will equal its cost for the units plus its share of USNGs liabilities (if any) at the time of purchase. In general, a unitholders share of those liabilities will equal the sum of (i) the entire amount of any otherwise nonrecourse liability of USNG as to which the unitholder or an affiliate is the creditor (a partner nonrecourse liability) and (ii) a pro rata share of any nonrecourse liabilities of USNG that are not partner nonrecourse liabilities as to any unitholder.
A unitholders tax basis in its units generally will be (1) increased by (a) its allocable share of USNGs taxable income and gain and (b) any additional contributions by the unitholder to USNG and (2) decreased (but not below zero) by (a) its allocable share of USNGs tax deductions and losses and (b) any distributions by USNG to the unitholder. For this purpose, an increase in a unitholders share of USNGs liabilities will be treated as a contribution of cash by the unitholder to USNG and a decrease in that share will be treated as a distribution of cash by USNG to the unitholder. Pursuant to certain IRS rulings, a unitholder will be required
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to maintain a single, unified basis in all units that it owns. As a result, when a unitholder that acquired its units at different prices sells less than all of its units, such unitholder will not be entitled to specify particular units (e.g., those with a higher basis) as having been sold. Rather, it must determine its gain or loss on the sale by using an equitable apportionment method to allocate a portion of its unified basis in its units to the units sold.
Treatment of Fund Distributions. If USNG makes non-liquidating distributions to unitholders, such distributions generally will not be taxable to the unitholders for federal income tax purposes except to the extent that the sum of (i) the amount of cash and (ii) the fair market value of marketable securities distributed exceeds the unitholders adjusted basis of its interest in USNG immediately before the distribution. Any cash distributions in excess of a unitholders tax basis generally will be treated as gain from the sale or exchange of units.
Constructive Termination of the Partnership. We will be considered to have been terminated for tax purposes if there is a sale or exchange of 50 percent or more of the total interests in our units within a 12-month period. A termination would result in the closing of our taxable year for all unitholders. In the case of a unitholder reporting on a taxable year other than a fiscal year ending December 31, the closing of our taxable year may result in more than 12 months of our taxable income or loss being includable in its taxable income for the year of termination. We would be required to make new tax elections after a termination. A termination could result in tax penalties if we were unable to determine that the termination had occurred. Moreover, a termination might either accelerate the application of, or subject us to, any tax legislation enacted before the termination.
If a unitholder sells its units, it will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized and its adjusted tax basis fo