UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10-Q
x
|
Quarterly
report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 for the quarterly period ended September
30,
2008.
|
OR
¨ |
Transition
report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 for the transition
period from
to
.
|
Commission
file number: 001-34016
United
States Heating Oil Fund, LP
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
|
|
20-8837345
|
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
|
|
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
|
1320 Harbor Bay
Parkway, Suite 145
Alameda,
California 94502
(Address
of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
(510)
522-3336
(Registrant’s
telephone number, including area code)
N/A
(Former
name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to
be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant
was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days.
x
Yes ¨
No
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company.
See
the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller
reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
|
Accelerated
filer o
|
|
|
|
Smaller
reporting company o
|
(Do
not check if a smaller reporting
company)
|
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule
12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
¨
Yes x
No
UNITED
STATES HEATING OIL FUND, LP
Table
of Contents
|
|
Page
|
Part
I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
|
|
|
Item
1. Condensed Financial Statements.
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
Item
2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations.
|
|
14
|
|
|
|
Item
3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market
Risk.
|
|
26
|
|
|
|
Item
4. Controls and Procedures.
|
|
27
|
|
|
|
Part
II. OTHER INFORMATION
|
|
|
Item
1. Legal Proceedings.
|
|
28
|
|
|
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Item
1A. Risk Factors.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Item
2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of
Proceeds.
|
|
|
|
|
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Item
3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Item
4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
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|
|
|
|
|
Item
5. Other Information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Item
6. Exhibits.
|
|
|
Part
I. FINANCIAL
INFORMATION
Item
1. Condensed Financial Statements.
Index
to Condensed Financial Statements
|
|
Page
|
|
Documents
|
|
|
|
Condensed
Statements of Financial Condition at September 30, 2008 (Unaudited)
and
December 31, 2007
|
|
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Condensed
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) at September 30, 2008
|
|
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Condensed
Statements of Operations (Unaudited) for the three months ended September
30, 2008 and the period from April 9, 2008 (commencement of operations)
to
September 30, 2008
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Condensed
Statement of Changes in Partners’ Capital (Unaudited) for the period from
April 9, 2008 (commencement of operations) to September 30,
2008
|
|
|
5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Condensed
Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) for the period from April 9,
2008
(commencement of operations) to September 30, 2008 and the period
from
April 13, 2007 (inception) through December 31, 2007.
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Notes
to Condensed Financial Statements for the period from April 9, 2008
(commencement of operations) to September 30, 2008
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
7
|
|
United
States Heating Oil Fund, LP
Condensed
Statements of Financial Condition
At
September 30, 2008 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2007
|
|
September 30, 2008
|
|
December 31, 2007
|
|
Assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
7,773,773
|
|
$
|
1,000
|
|
Equity
in UBS Securities LLC trading accounts:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
|
|
|
894,386
|
|
|
-
|
|
Unrealized
gain on open commodity futures contracts
|
|
|
504,118
|
|
|
-
|
|
Interest
receivable
|
|
|
12,667
|
|
|
-
|
|
Receivable
from general partner
|
|
|
190,237
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
assets
|
|
$
|
9,375,181
|
|
$
|
1,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities
and Partners' Capital
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
General
Partner management fees (Note 3)
|
|
$
|
4,958
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
Brokerage
commissions payable
|
|
|
485
|
|
|
-
|
|
Other
liabilities
|
|
|
206,551
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
liabilities
|
|
|
211,994
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commitments
and Contingencies (Notes 3, 4 and 5)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Partners'
Capital
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
General
Partner
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
20
|
|
Limited
Partners
|
|
|
9,163,187
|
|
|
980
|
|
Total
Partners' Capital
|
|
|
9,163,187
|
|
|
1,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
liabilities and partners' capital
|
|
$
|
9,375,181
|
|
$
|
1,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Limited
Partners' units outstanding
|
|
|
200,000
|
|
|
|
|
Net
asset value per unit
|
|
$
|
45.82
|
|
|
|
|
Market
value per unit
|
|
$
|
46.07
|
|
|
|
|
See
accompanying notes to condensed financial statements.
United
States Heating Oil Fund, LP
Condensed
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited)
At
September 30, 2008
Open
Futures Contracts
|
|
Number
of
Contracts
|
|
Gain
on
Open
Commodity
Contracts
|
|
%
of
Partners'
Capital
|
|
United
States Contracts
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Heating
Oil Futures contracts, expire November 2008
|
|
|
75
|
|
$
|
504,118
|
|
|
5.50
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
Equivalents
|
|
|
Cost
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
United
States - Money Market Funds
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Goldman
Sachs Financial Square Funds - Government Fund
|
|
$
|
4,069,845
|
|
$
|
4,069,845
|
|
|
44.42
|
|
Goldman
Sachs Financial Square Funds - Treasury Instruments Fund
|
|
|
2,003,172
|
|
|
2,003,172
|
|
|
21.86
|
|
|
|
$
|
6,073,017
|
|
$
|
6,073,017
|
|
|
66.28
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,700,756
|
|
|
18.56
|
|
Total
Cash and Cash Equivalents
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,773,773
|
|
|
84.84
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
on deposit with broker
|
|
|
|
|
|
894,386
|
|
|
9.76
|
|
Liabilities,
less receivables
|
|
|
|
|
|
(9,090
|
)
|
|
(0.10
|
)
|
Total
Partners' Capital
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
9,163,187
|
|
|
100.00
|
|
See
accompanying notes to condensed financial statements.
United
States Heating Oil Fund, LP
Condensed
Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
For
the three months ended September 30, 2008 and the period from April 9,
2008
(commencement
of operations) to September 30, 2008
|
|
|
|
Period from
|
|
|
|
Three months ended
|
|
April 9, 2008 to
|
|
|
|
September 30, 2008
|
|
September 30, 2008
|
|
Income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gains
(losses) on trading of commodity futures contracts:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Realized
losses on closed positions
|
|
$
|
(5,160,725
|
)
|
$
|
(1,815,446
|
)
|
Change
in unrealized gains on open positions
|
|
|
247,645
|
|
|
504,118
|
|
Interest
income
|
|
|
70,272
|
|
|
136,595
|
|
Other
income
|
|
|
1,000
|
|
|
3,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
loss
|
|
|
(4,841,808
|
)
|
|
(1,171,733
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
General
Partner management fees (Note 3)
|
|
|
22,202
|
|
|
44,904
|
|
Brokerage
commissions
|
|
|
2,423
|
|
|
5,914
|
|
Other
expenses
|
|
|
108,756
|
|
|
208,567
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
expenses
|
|
|
133,381
|
|
|
259,385
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
K-1
tax expense waiver
|
|
|
(75,565
|
)
|
|
(144,900
|
)
|
Audit
fees waiver
|
|
|
(23,972
|
)
|
|
(45,337
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
expenses
|
|
|
33,844
|
|
|
69,148
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
loss
|
|
$
|
(4,875,652
|
)
|
$
|
(1,240,881
|
)
|
Net
loss per limited partnership unit
|
|
$
|
(17.31
|
)
|
$
|
(4.18
|
)
|
Net
loss per weighted average limited partnership
unit
|
|
$
|
(18.01
|
)
|
$
|
(4.47
|
)
|
Weighted
average limited partnership units outstanding
|
|
|
270,652
|
|
|
277,714
|
|
See
accompanying notes to condensed financial statements.
United
States Heating Oil Fund, LP
Condensed
Statement of Changes in Partners' Capital (Unaudited)
For
the period from April 9, 2008 (commencement of operations) to September 30,
2008
|
|
General Partner
|
|
Limited Partners
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balances,
at April 9, 2008
|
|
$
|
20
|
|
$
|
980
|
|
$
|
1,000
|
|
Addition
of 300,000 partnership units
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
15,303,202
|
|
|
15,303,202
|
|
Redemption
of 100,000 partnership units
|
|
|
(20
|
)
|
|
(4,900,114
|
)
|
|
(4,900,134
|
)
|
Net
loss
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
(1,240,881
|
)
|
|
(1,240,881
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balances,
at September 30, 2008
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
9,163,187
|
|
$
|
9,163,187
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
Asset Value Per Unit
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At
April 9, 2008 (commencement of operations)
|
|
$
|
50.00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At
September 30, 2008
|
|
$
|
45.82
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See
accompanying notes to condensed financial statements.
United
States Heating Oil Fund, LP
Condensed
Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
For
the period from April 9, 2008 (commencement of operations) to September 30,
2008
and
the period from April 13, 2007 (inception) to September 30,
2007
|
|
Period from
|
|
Period from
|
|
|
|
April 9, 2008 to
|
|
April 13, 2007 to
|
|
|
|
September 30, 2008
|
|
September 30, 2007
|
|
Cash
Flows from Operating Activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
loss
|
|
$
|
(1,240,881
|
)
|
$
|
-
|
|
Adjustments
to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating
activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Increase
in commodity futures trading account - cash
|
|
|
(894,386
|
)
|
|
-
|
|
Unrealized
gains on futures contracts
|
|
|
(504,118
|
)
|
|
-
|
|
Increase
in interest receivable and other assets
|
|
|
(202,904
|
)
|
|
-
|
|
Increase
in management fees payable
|
|
|
4,958
|
|
|
-
|
|
Increase
in commissions payable
|
|
|
485
|
|
|
-
|
|
Increase
in other liabilities
|
|
|
206,551
|
|
|
-
|
|
Net
cash used in operating activities
|
|
|
(2,630,295
|
)
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
Flows from Financing Activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subscription
of partnership units
|
|
|
15,303,202
|
|
|
1,000
|
|
Redemption
of partnership units
|
|
|
(4,900,134
|
)
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
cash provided by financing activities
|
|
|
10,403,068
|
|
|
1,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents
|
|
|
7,772,773
|
|
|
1,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period
|
|
|
1,000
|
|
|
-
|
|
Cash
and Cash Equivalents, end of period
|
|
$
|
7,773,773
|
|
$
|
1,000
|
|
See
accompanying notes to condensed financial statements.
United
States Heating Oil Fund, LP
Notes
to Condensed Financial Statements
For
the period from April 9, 2008 (commencement of operations) to September 30,
2008
(Unaudited)
NOTE
1 - ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS
The
United States Heating Oil Fund, LP (“USHO”) was organized as a limited
partnership under the laws of the state of Delaware on April 13, 2007. USHO
is a
commodity pool that issues units that may be purchased and sold on the
American Stock Exchange (the “AMEX”). USHO will continue in perpetuity, unless
terminated sooner upon the occurrence of one or more events as described in
its Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership dated as of March
7, 2008 (the “LP Agreement”). The investment objective of USHO is for the
changes in percentage terms of its net asset value to reflect the changes in
percentage terms of the price of heating oil (also known as No. 2 fuel oil)
for
delivery to the New York harbor as measured by the changes in the price of
the
futures contract on heating oil as traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange
(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 USHO’s expenses. USHO
accomplishes its objective through investments in futures contracts for heating
oil, crude oil, gasoline, natural gas and other petroleum-based fuels that
are
traded on the NYMEX, ICE Futures or other U.S. and foreign exchanges
(collectively, “Futures Contracts”) and other heating oil-related investments
such as cash-settled options on Futures Contracts, forward contracts for heating
oil and over-the-counter transactions that are based on the price of heating
oil, crude oil and other petroleum-based fuels, Futures Contracts and indices
based on the foregoing (collectively, “Other Heating Oil-Related Investments”).
As of September 30, 2008, USHO held 75 Futures Contracts traded on the
NYMEX.
USHO
commenced investment operations on April 9, 2008 and has a fiscal year ending
on
December 31. United States Commodity Funds LLC (formerly known as Victoria
Bay
Asset Management, LLC) (the “General Partner”) is responsible for the
management of USHO. The General Partner is a member of the National Futures
Association (the “NFA”) and became a commodity pool operator with the
Commodity Futures Trading Commission effective December 1, 2005. The General
Partner is also the general partner of the United States Oil Fund, LP
(“USOF”), the United States Natural Gas Fund, LP (“USNG”), the United States 12
Month Oil Fund, LP (“US12OF”) and the United States Gasoline Fund, LP (“USG”),
which listed their limited partnership units on the AMEX under the ticker
symbols “USO” on April 10, 2006, “UNG” on April 18, 2007, “USL” on December
6, 2007 and “UGA” on February 26, 2008, respectively.
The
accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements have been prepared in
accordance with Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and, therefore, do not include
all information and footnote disclosure required under accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America. The financial
information included herein is unaudited, however, such financial
information reflects all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management,
necessary for the fair presentation of the condensed financial statements for
the interim period.
USHO issues
limited partnership interests (“units”) to certain authorized purchasers
(“Authorized Purchasers”) by offering baskets consisting of 100,000 units
(“Creation Baskets”) through ALPS Distributors, Inc. (the “Marketing Agent”).
The purchase price for a Creation Basket is based upon the net asset value
of
a unit determined as of the earlier of the close of the New York Stock
Exchange (the “NYSE”) or 4:00 p.m. New York time on the day the order to create
the basket is properly received. In addition, Authorized
Purchasers pay USHO a $1,000 fee for each order to create one or
more Creation Baskets. Units may be purchased or sold on a nationally
recognized securities exchange in smaller increments than a Creation Basket.
Units purchased or sold on a nationally recognized securities exchange are
not
purchased or sold at the net asset value of USHO but rather at market prices
quoted on such exchange.
In
April
2008, USHO initially registered 10,000,000 units on Form S-1 with the SEC.
On
April 9, 2008, USHO listed its units on the AMEX under the ticker symbol “UHN”.
On that day, USHO established its initial net asset value by setting the price
at $50.00 per unit and issued 200,000 units in exchange for $10,001,000. USHO
also commenced investment operations on April 9, 2008 by purchasing Futures
Contracts traded on the NYMEX based on heating oil. As of September 30, 2008,
USHO had registered a total of 10,000,000 units.
NOTE
2 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Revenue
Recognition
Commodity
futures contracts, forward contracts, physical commodities, and related options
are recorded on the trade date. All such transactions are recorded on the
identified cost basis and marked to market daily. Unrealized gains or losses
on
open contracts are reflected in the condensed statement of financial
condition and in the difference between the original contract amount and the
market value (as determined by exchange settlement prices for futures contracts
and related options and cash dealer prices at a predetermined time for forward
contracts, physical commodities, and their related options) as of the last
business day of the year or as of the last date of the condensed financial
statements. Changes in the unrealized gains or losses between periods are
reflected in the condensed statement of operations. USHO earns interest on
its assets denominated in U.S. dollars on deposit with the futures commission
merchant at the 90-day Treasury bill rate. In addition, USHO earns interest
on funds held at the custodian at prevailing market rates earned on such
investments.
Brokerage
Commissions
Brokerage
commissions on all open commodity futures contracts are accrued on a full-turn
basis.
Income
Taxes
USHO
is
not subject to federal income taxes; each partner reports its allocable share
of
income, gain, loss deductions or credits on its own income tax
return.
Creations
and Redemptions
Authorized
Purchasers may purchase units (“Creation Baskets”) or redeem units (“Redemption
Baskets”) only in blocks of 100,000 units equal to the net asset value of the
units determined as of the earlier of the close of the NYSE or 4:00 p.m. New
York time on the day the order is placed.
USHO
records units sold or redeemed one business day after the trade date of the
purchase or redemption. The amounts due from Authorized Purchasers are
reflected in USHO’s condensed statement of financial condition as
receivable for units sold, and amounts payable to Authorized Purchasers upon
redemption are reflected as payable for units redeemed.
Partnership
Capital and Allocation of Partnership Income and Losses
Profit
or
loss is allocated among the partners of USHO in proportion to the number of
units each partner holds as of the close of each month. The General Partner
may
revise, alter or otherwise modify this method of allocation as described in
the
LP Agreement.
Calculation
of Net Asset Value
USHO calculates
its net asset value on each trading day by taking the current market value
of
its total assets, subtracting any liabilities and dividing the amount by the
total number of units issued and outstanding. USHO uses the closing price for
the contracts on the relevant exchange on that day to determine the value of
contracts held on such exchange.
Net
Income (Loss) per Unit
Net
income (loss) per unit is the difference between the net asset value per
unit at the beginning of each period and at the end of each period. The
weighted average number of units outstanding was computed for purposes of
disclosing net income (loss) per weighted average unit. The weighted average
units are equal to the number of units outstanding at the end of the period,
adjusted proportionately for units redeemed based on the amount of time the
units were outstanding during such period. There were no units held by the
General Partner at September 30, 2008.
Offering
Costs
Offering
costs incurred in connection with the registration of additional units after
the
initial registration of units are borne by USHO. These costs include
registration fees paid to regulatory agencies and all legal, accounting,
printing and other expenses associated therewith. These costs will be accounted
for as a deferred charge and thereafter amortized to expense over twelve months
on a straight-line basis or a shorter period if warranted.
Cash
Equivalents
Cash
and
cash equivalents include money market funds and overnight deposits or time
deposits with original maturity dates of three months or less.
Use
of Estimates
The
preparation of condensed financial statements in conformity with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires USHO’s
management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount
of
assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities
at
the date of the condensed financial statements, and the reported amounts of
the revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could
differ from those estimates and assumptions.
NOTE 3
- FEES PAID BY USHO AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
General
Partner Management Fee
Under
the LP Agreement, the General Partner is responsible for investing the
assets of USHO in accordance with the objectives and policies of USHO. In
addition, the General Partner has arranged for one or more third parties to
provide administrative, custody, accounting, transfer agency and other necessary
services to USHO. For these services, USHO is contractually obligated to pay
the
General Partner a fee, which is paid monthly and based on average daily net
assets, that is equal to 0.60% per annum on average daily net assets.
Ongoing
Registration Fees and Other Offering Expenses
USHO
pays
all costs and expenses associated with the ongoing registration
of units subsequent to the initial offering. These costs include
registration or other fees paid to regulatory agencies in connection with the
offer and sale of units, and all legal, accounting, printing and other expenses
associated with such offer and sale. For the period from April 9, 2008 to
September 30, 2008, USHO did not incur registration fees or other offering
expenses.
Directors’
Fees
USHO
is
responsible for paying the fees and expenses, including directors’ and officers’
liability insurance, of the independent directors of the General Partner who
are
also audit committee members. USHO shares these fees with USOF, USNG,
US12OF and USG based on the relative assets of each fund, computed on a daily
basis. These fees for the calendar year 2008 are estimated to be a total of
$286,000 for all five funds.
Licensing
Fees
As
discussed in Note 4, USHO entered into a licensing agreement with the NYMEX
on May 30, 2007. The agreement has an effective date of April 10, 2006. Pursuant
to the agreement, USHO and the affiliated funds managed by the General Partner
pay a licensing fee that is equal to 0.04% for the first $1,000,000,000 of
combined assets of the funds and 0.02% for combined assets above $1,000,000,000.
During the period from April 9, 2008 to September 30, 2008, USHO incurred $2,366
under this arrangement.
Investor
Tax Reporting Cost
The
fees
and expenses associated with USHO’s tax accounting and reporting requirements,
with the exception of certain initial implementation service fees and base
service fees which were borne by the General Partner, are paid by
USHO.
Other
Expenses and Fees and Expense Waivers
In
addition to the fees described above, USHO pays all brokerage fees, taxes
and
other expenses in connection with the operation of USHO, excluding costs
and
expenses paid by the General Partner as outlined in Note 4. In
addition, the General Partner, though under no obligation to do so, has agreed
to pay certain expenses normally borne by USHO to the extent that such expenses
exceed 0.15% (15 basis points) of its NAV, on an annualized basis, until
December 31, 2008. The General Partner has no obligation to continue such
payment into subsequent years.
These
costs are estimated to be $99,730 for the year ending December 31, 2008.
For the
period from April 9, 2008 to September 30, 2008, management’s estimated portion
of these expenses would be $84,992 under this arrangement.
NOTE
4 - CONTRACTS AND AGREEMENTS
USHO
is
party to a marketing agent agreement, dated as of March 10, 2008,
with the Marketing Agent, whereby the Marketing Agent provides certain
marketing services for USHO as outlined in the agreement. The fee of the
Marketing Agent, which is borne by the General Partner, is equal to 0.06% on
USHO’s assets up to $3 billion; and 0.04% on USHO’s assets in excess of $3
billion.
The
above
fee does not include the following expenses, which are also borne by the General
Partner: the cost of placing advertisements in various periodicals; web
construction and development; or the printing and production of various
marketing materials.
USHO
is
also party to a custodian agreement, dated March 13, 2008, with Brown Brothers
Harriman & Co. (“BBH&Co.”), whereby BBH&Co. holds investments on
behalf of USHO. The General Partner pays the fees of the custodian, which
are determined by the parties from time to time. In addition, USHO is party
to
an administrative agency agreement, dated February 7, 2008, with the General
Partner and BBH&Co., whereby BBH&Co. acts as the administrative agent,
transfer agent and registrar for USHO. The General Partner also pays the
fees of BBH&Co. for its services under this agreement and such fees are
determined by the parties from time to time.
Currently,
the General Partner pays BBH&Co. for its services, in the foregoing
capacities, the greater of a minimum of $125,000 annually or an asset-based
charge of (a) 0.06% for the first $500 million of USHO’s, USOF’s, USNG’s,
US12OF’s and USG’s combined net assets, (b) 0.0465% for USHO’s, USOF’s, USNG’s,
US12OF’s and USG’s combined net assets greater than $500 million but less than
$1 billion, and (c) 0.035% for USHO’s, USOF’s, USNG’s, US12OF’s and USG’s
combined net assets in excess of $1 billion. The General Partner also pays
a
$25,000 annual fee for the transfer agency services and transaction fees
ranging from $7.00 to $15.00 per transaction.
USHO
has
entered into a brokerage agreement with UBS Securities LLC (“UBS Securities”).
The agreement requires UBS Securities to provide services to USHO in connection
with the purchase and sale of Futures Contracts and Other Heating
Oil-Related Investments that may be purchased and sold by or through UBS
Securities for USHO’s account. The agreement provides that UBS Securities charge
USHO commissions of approximately $7 per round-turn trade, plus applicable
exchange and NFA fees for Futures Contracts and options on Futures
Contracts.
USHO
invests primarily in Futures Contracts traded on the NYMEX. On May 30, 2007,
USHO and the NYMEX entered into a license agreement whereby USHO was granted
a
non-exclusive license to use certain of the NYMEX’s settlement prices and
service marks. The agreement has an effective date of April 10, 2006. Under
the license agreement, USHO and the affiliated funds managed by the General
Partner pay the NYMEX an asset-based fee for the license, the terms of which
are
described in Note 3.
USHO
expressly disclaims any association with the NYMEX or endorsement of USHO by
the
NYMEX and acknowledges that “NYMEX” and “New York Mercantile Exchange” are
registered trademarks of the NYMEX.
NOTE
5 - FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS, OFF-BALANCE SHEET RISKS AND
CONTINGENCIES
USHO engages
in the speculative trading of futures contracts and options on futures contracts
(collectively, “derivatives”). USHO is exposed to both market risk, which is the
risk arising from changes in the market value of the contracts, and credit
risk,
which is the risk of failure by another party to perform according to the terms
of a contract.
All
of
the contracts currently traded by USHO are exchange-traded. The risks associated
with exchange-traded contracts are generally perceived to be less than those
associated with over-the-counter transactions since, in over-the-counter
transactions, USHO must rely solely on the credit of its respective individual
counterparties. However, in the future, if USHO were to enter into
non-exchange traded contracts, it would be subject to the credit risk associated
with counterparty non-performance. The credit risk from counterparty
non-performance associated with such instruments is the net unrealized gain,
if
any. USHO also has credit risk since the sole counterparty to all domestic
and
foreign futures contracts is the exchange on which the relevant contracts
are traded. In addition, USHO bears the risk of financial failure by the
clearing broker.
The
purchase and sale of futures and options on futures contracts require margin
deposits with a futures commission merchant. Additional deposits may be
necessary for any loss on contract value. The Commodity Exchange Act requires
a
futures commission merchant to segregate all customer transactions and assets
from the futures commission merchant’s proprietary activities.
USHO’s
cash and other property, such as U.S. Treasuries, deposited with a futures
commission merchant are considered commingled with all other customer funds
subject to the futures commission merchant’s segregation requirements. In the
event of a futures commission merchant’s insolvency, recovery may be limited to
a pro rata share of segregated funds available. It is possible that the
recovered amount could be less than the total of cash and other property
deposited. The insolvency of a futures commission merchant could result in
the
complete loss of USHO’s assets posted with that futures commission merchant;
however, the vast majority of USHO’s assets are held in Treasuries, cash and/or
cash equivalents with USHO’s custodian and would not be impacted by the
insolvency of a futures commission merchant. Also, the failure or insolvency
of
USHO’s custodian could result in a substantial loss of USHO’s
assets.
USHO invests
its cash in money market funds that seek to maintain a stable net asset value.
USHO is exposed to any risk of loss associated with an investment in these
money
market funds. As of September 30, 2008, USHO had deposits in domestic and
foreign financial institutions,
including
cash investments in money market funds, in the amount of $8,668,159. This amount
is subject to loss should these institutions cease operations.
For
derivatives, risks arise from changes in the market value of the contracts.
Theoretically, USHO is exposed to a market risk equal to the value of
futures contracts purchased and unlimited liability on such contracts sold
short. As both a buyer and a seller of options, USHO pays or receives a
premium at the outset and then bears the risk of unfavorable changes in the
price of the contract underlying the option.
USHO’s
policy is to continuously monitor its exposure to market and counterparty risk
through the use of a variety of financial, position and credit exposure
reporting controls and procedures. In addition, USHO has a policy of
requiring review of the credit standing of each broker or counterparty with
which it conducts business.
The
financial instruments held by USHO are reported in its condensed
statement of financial condition at market or fair value, or at carrying amounts
that approximate fair value, because of their highly liquid nature and
short-term maturity.
NOTE 6
- FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The
following table presents per unit performance data and other supplemental
financial data for the period from April 9, 2008 to September 30, 2008 for
the
limited partners. This information has been derived from information presented
in the condensed financial statements.
|
|
For the period from
|
|
|
|
April 9, 2008
|
|
|
|
(commencement of operations)
|
|
|
|
to September 30, 2008
|
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
Per
Unit Operating Performance:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
asset value, beginning of period
|
|
$
|
50.00
|
|
Total
loss
|
|
|
(3.93
|
)
|
Net
expenses
|
|
|
(0.25
|
)
|
Net
decrease in net asset value
|
|
|
(4.18
|
)
|
Net
asset value, end of period
|
|
$
|
45.82
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Return
|
|
|
(8.36
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ratios
to Average Net Assets
|
|
|
|
|
Total
loss
|
|
|
(7.49
|
)%
|
Expenses
excluding management fees*
|
|
|
(0.32
|
)%
|
Management
fees*
|
|
|
(0.60
|
)%
|
Net
loss
|
|
|
(7.93
|
)%
|
*Annualized
Total
returns are calculated based on the change in value during the period. An
individual limited partner’s total return and ratio may vary from the above
total returns and ratios based on the timing of contributions to and withdrawals
from USHO.
NOTE 7 –
RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
Fair
Value of Financial Instruments
Effective
January 1, 2008, USHO adopted FAS 157 – Fair Value
Measurements (“FAS 157” or the “Statement”). FAS 157 defines fair value,
establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted
accounting principles (“GAAP”), and expands disclosures about fair value
measurement. The changes to current practice resulting from the application
of
the Statement relate to the definition of fair value, the methods used to
measure fair value, and the expanded disclosures about fair value measurement.
The Statement establishes a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between
(1)
market participant assumptions developed based on market data obtained from
sources independent of USHO (observable inputs) and (2) USHO’s own assumptions
about market participant assumptions developed based on the best information
available under the circumstances (unobservable inputs). The three levels
defined by the FAS 157 hierarchy are as follows:
Level
I – Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for
identical
assets
or liabilities that the reporting entity has the ability to access at the
measurement date.
Level
II – Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level
1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.
Level II assets include the following: quoted prices for similar
assets
or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets
or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices
that are observable for the asset or liability, and inputs that are derived
principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or
other means (market-corroborated inputs).
Level
III – Unobservable pricing input at the measurement date
for the asset or liability. Unobservable inputs shall be used to measure fair
value to the extent that observable inputs are not available.
In
some
instances, the inputs used to measure fair value might fall in different levels
of the fair value hierarchy. The level in the fair value hierarchy within which
the fair value measurement in its entirety falls shall be determined based
on
the lowest input level that is significant to the fair value measurement in
its
entirety.
The
following table summarizes the valuation of USHO’s securities at September 30,
2008 using the fair value hierarchy:
At September
30, 2008
|
|
Total
|
|
Level I
|
|
Level II
|
|
Level III
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investments
|
|
$
|
6,073,017
|
|
$
|
6,073,017
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
Derivative
assets
|
|
|
504,118
|
|
|
504,118
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
NOTE 8 –
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
On
September 18, 2008, USHO announced that it would transfer the listing of its
limited partnership units that are listed on the AMEX to the NYSE Arca, Inc.
in
connection with NYSE Euronext’s acquisition of the AMEX. USHO expects
that the listing transfer will occur sometime during the fourth quarter of
2008.
The
following discussion should be read in conjunction with the condensed financial
statements and the notes thereto of the United States Heating Oil Fund, LP
(“USHO”) included elsewhere in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q.
Forward-Looking
Information
This
quarterly report on Form 10-Q, including this “Management’s Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” contains
forward-looking statements regarding the plans and objectives of management
for
future operations. This information may involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors that may cause USHO’s actual results,
performance or achievements to be materially different from future results,
performance or achievements expressed or implied by any forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements, which involve assumptions and
describe USHO’s future plans, strategies and expectations, are generally
identifiable by use of the words “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,”
“anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” “intend” or “project,” the negative of
these words, other variations on these words or comparable terminology. These
forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that may be incorrect,
and
USHO cannot assure investors that the projections included in these
forward-looking statements will come to pass. USHO’s actual results could
differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking
statements as a result of various factors.
USHO
has
based the forward-looking statements included in this quarterly report on Form
10-Q on information available to it on the date of this quarterly report on
Form 10-Q, and USHO assumes no obligation to update any such
forward-looking statements. Although USHO undertakes no obligation to revise
or
update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise, investors are advised to consult any additional
disclosures that USHO may make directly to them or through reports that
USHO in the future files with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
(the “SEC”), including annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form
10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K.
Introduction
USHO,
a
Delaware limited partnership, is a commodity pool that issues units that
may be purchased and sold on the American Stock Exchange (the “AMEX”).
On
September 18, 2008, USHO announced that it would transfer the listing of its
limited partnership units that are listed on the AMEX to the NYSE Arca, Inc.
in
connection with NYSE Euronext’s acquisition of the AMEX. USHO expects that the
listing transfer will occur sometime during the fourth quarter of 2008. The
investment objective of USHO is for changes in percentage terms of its units’
net asset value (“NAV”) on a daily basis to reflect the changes in percentage
terms in the price of heating oil, also known as No. 2 fuel oil, for delivery
to
the New York harbor, also on a daily basis, as measured by the changes in the
price of the futures contract on heating oil as traded on the New York
Mercantile Exchange (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 USHO’s
expenses.
USHO
seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in a combination of
heating oil futures contracts and other heating oil-related investments such
that changes in its NAV, measured in percentage terms, will closely track
the changes in the price of a specified heating oil futures contract (the
“Benchmark Futures Contract”), also measured in percentage terms. USHO’s
general partner believes the Benchmark Futures Contract historically has
exhibited a close correlation with the spot price of heating oil. It is not
the
intent of USHO to be operated in a fashion such that the NAV will equal, in
dollar terms, the spot price of heating oil or any particular futures contract
based on heating oil. Management believes that it is not practical to manage
the
portfolio to achieve such an investment goal when investing in listed heating
oil futures contracts.
On
any
valuation day, the Benchmark Futures Contract is the near
month futures contract for heating oil 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
heating oil traded on the NYMEX. “Near month contract” means the next contract
traded on the NYMEX due to expire. “Next month contract” means the first
contract traded on the NYMEX due to expire after the near month
contract.
USHO
may
also invest in futures contracts for heating oil, crude oil, gasoline, natural
gas and other petroleum-based fuels that are traded on the NYMEX, ICE Futures
or
other U.S. and foreign exchanges (collectively, “Futures Contracts”) and other
heating oil-related investments such as cash-settled options on Futures
Contracts, forward contracts for heating oil and over-the-counter transactions
that are based on the price of heating oil, crude oil and other petroleum-based
fuels, Futures Contracts and indices based on the foregoing (collectively,
“Other Heating Oil-Related Investments”). For convenience and unless otherwise
specified, Futures Contracts and Other Heating Oil-Related Investments
collectively are referred to as “Heating Oil Interests” in this quarterly report
on Form 10-Q.
The
general partner of USHO, United States Commodity Funds LLC (formerly, Victoria
Bay Asset Management, LLC) (the “General Partner”), which is registered as
a commodity pool operator (“CPO”) with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading
Commission (the “CFTC”), is authorized by the Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership of USHO (the “LP Agreement”) to manage USHO.
The General Partner is authorized by USHO in its sole judgment to employ and
establish the terms of employment for, and termination of, commodity trading
advisors or futures commission merchants.
Valuation
of Futures Contracts and the Computation of the NAV
The
NAV
of USHO units is calculated once each trading day as of the earlier of the
close
of the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) or 4:00 p.m. New
York time. The NAV for a particular trading day is released after 4:15 p.m.
New York time. Trading on the NYSE typically closes at 4:00 p.m. New
York time. USHO 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 USHO investments,
including ICE Futures contracts or other futures contracts, as of the
earlier of the close of the NYSE or 4:00 p.m. New York time.
Management’s
Discussion of Results of Operations and the Heating Oil
Market
Results
of Operations. On
April
9, 2008, USHO listed its units on the AMEX under the ticker symbol “UHN.” On
that day, USHO established its initial offering price at $50.00 per unit and
issued 200,000 units to the initial authorized purchaser Merrill Lynch, in
exchange for $10,001,000 in cash. As of September 30, 2008, USHO had issued
300,000 units, 200,000 of which were outstanding. As of September 30, 2008,
there were 9,700,000 units registered but not yet issued.
More
units may have been issued by USHO than are outstanding due to the redemption
of
units. Unlike funds that are registered under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended, units that have been redeemed by USHO cannot be resold by
USHO. As a result, USHO contemplates that additional offerings of its units
will
be registered with the SEC in the future in anticipation of additional
issuances and redemptions.
As
of
September 30, 2008, the total unrealized gain on heating oil Futures Contracts
owned or held on that day was $504,118 and USHO established cash deposits,
including cash investments in money market funds, that were equal to $8,668,159.
The majority of cash assets were held in overnight deposits at USHO’s custodian
bank, while 10.32% of the cash balance was held with the futures commission
merchant as margin deposits for the Futures Contracts purchased. The ending
per
unit NAV on September 30, 2008 was $45.82.
Portfolio
Expenses.
USHO’s
expenses consist of investment management fees, brokerage
fees and commissions, certain offering costs, licensing fees and the fees
and expenses of the independent directors of the General Partner. The management
fee that USHO pays to the General Partner is calculated as a percentage of
the
total net assets of USHO. USHO pays the General Partner a management fee of
0.60% of net assets. The fee is accrued daily.
During
the period from April 9, 2008 to September 30, 2008, the daily average total
net
assets of USHO were $15,652,343. During the period from April 9, 2008
to September 30, 2008, the management fee paid by USHO amounted to $44,904,
and
was accrued daily. Management fees as a percentage of average net assets
averaged 0.60% over the course of this period.
USHO pays
for all brokerage fees, taxes and other expenses, including certain tax
reporting costs, licensing fees for the use of intellectual property, ongoing
registration or other fees paid to the SEC, the Financial Industry
Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) and any other regulatory agency in
connection with offers and sales of its units subsequent to the initial offering
and all legal, accounting, printing and other expenses associated
therewith. For the period from April 9, 2008 to September 30, 2008, USHO
did not incur any ongoing registration fees or other offering expenses. In
addition, the General Partner, though under no obligation to do so, has agreed
to pay certain costs for tax reporting and audit expenses normally borne by
USHO
to the extent that such expenses exceed 0.15% (15 basis points) of its NAV,
on
an annualized basis, until December 31, 2008. The General Partner has no
obligation to continue such payment into subsequent years. USHO
is responsible for paying the fees and expenses, including directors’ and
officers’ liability insurance, of the independent directors of the General
Partner who are also audit committee members. USHO shares these fees
with USOF, USNG, US12OF and USG based on the relative assets of each fund
computed on a daily basis. These fees for calendar year 2008 are estimated
to be
a total of $286,000 for all five funds.
USHO
also
incurs commissions to brokers for the purchase and sale of Futures Contracts,
Other Heating Oil-Related Investments or short-term obligations of the
United States of two years or less (“Treasuries”). During the period from April
9, 2008 to September 30, 2008, total commissions paid to brokers amounted to
$5,914. Prior to the initial offering of its units, USHO had estimated that
its
annual level of such commissions was expected to be 0.09% of total net
assets. As an annualized percentage of average net assets, the figure for
the period from April 9, 2008 to September 30, 2008 represented approximately
0.08% of average net assets. However, there can be no assurance that commission
costs and portfolio turnover will not cause commission expenses to rise in
future quarters.
Interest
Income.
USHO
seeks to invest its assets such that it holds Futures Contracts and Other
Heating Oil-Related Investments in an amount equal to the total net assets
of
the portfolio. Typically, such investments do not require USHO to pay the full
amount of the contract value at the time of purchase, but rather require USHO
to
post an amount as a margin deposit against the eventual settlement of the
contract. As a result, USHO retains an amount that is approximately equal to
its
total net assets, which USHO invests in Treasuries, cash and/or cash
equivalents. This includes both the amount on deposit with the futures
commission merchant as margin, as well as unrestricted cash held with USHO’s
custodian bank. The Treasuries, cash and/or cash equivalents earn
interest that accrues on a daily basis. For the period from April 9, 2008 to
September 30, 2008, USHO earned $136,595 in interest income on such cash
holdings. Based on USHO’s average daily total net assets during this time
period, this is equivalent to an annualized yield of 1.82%.
Tracking
USHO’s Benchmark.
USHO
seeks to manage its portfolio such that changes in its average daily NAV, on
a
percentage basis, closely track changes in the average of the daily price of
the
Benchmark Futures Contract, also on a percentage basis. Specifically, USHO
seeks to manage the portfolio such that over any rolling period of 30 valuation
days, the average daily change in the NAV is within a range of 90% to 110%
(0.9
to 1.1) of the average daily change of the Benchmark Futures Contract. As
an example, if the average daily movement of the Benchmark Futures Contract
for
a particular 30-day time period was 0.5% per day, USHO’s management would
attempt to manage the portfolio such that the average daily movement of the
NAV
during that same time period fell between 0.45% and 0.55% (i.e.,
between 0.9 and 1.1 of the benchmark’s results). USHO’s portfolio management
goals do not include trying to make the nominal price of USHO’s NAV equal to the
nominal price of the current Benchmark Futures Contract or the spot price
for heating oil. Management believes that it is not practical to manage the
portfolio to achieve such an investment goal when investing in listed heating
oil Futures Contracts.
For
the
30 valuation days ended September
30,
2008,
the simple average daily change in the Benchmark Futures Contract was (0.217)%,
while the simple average daily change in the NAV of USHO over the same time
period was (0.215)%. The average daily difference was 0.001 (or 0.1 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 0.221%, meaning that over this time period USHO’s tracking error
was within the plus or minus 10% range established as its benchmark tracking
goal.
Since
the
offering of USHO units to the public on April 9, 2008 to September 30,
2008, the simple average daily change in the Benchmark Futures Contract was
(0.045)%, while the simple average daily change in the NAV of USHO over the
same
time period was (0.042)%. 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 Futures Contract, the average error in daily
tracking by the NAV was 0.468%, meaning that over this time period USHO’s
tracking error was within the plus or minus 10% range established as its
benchmark tracking goal.
*PAST
PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE
RESULTS
*PAST
PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE
RESULTS
An
alternative tracking measurement of the return performance of USHO versus the
return of its Benchmark Futures Contract can be calculated by comparing the
actual return of USHO, measured by changes in its NAV, versus the
expected
changes
in its NAV under the assumption that USHO’s returns had been exactly the same as
the daily changes in its Benchmark Futures Contract.
For
the
period from April 9, 2008 to September 30, 2008, the actual total return of
USHO
as measured by changes in its NAV was (8.36)%. This is based on an initial
NAV of $50.00 on April 9, 2008 and an ending NAV as of September 30,
2008 of $45.82. During this time period, USHO made no distributions to its
unitholders. However, if USHO’s daily changes in its NAV had instead exactly
tracked the changes in the daily return of the Benchmark Futures Contract,
USHO
would have ended the third quarter of 2008 with an estimated NAV of $45.63,
for a total return over the relevant time period of (8.74)%. The difference
between the actual NAV total return of USHO of (8.36)% and the expected total
return based on the Benchmark Futures Contract of (8.74)% was an error over
the
time period of 0.38%, which is to say that USHO’s actual total return exceeded
the benchmark result by that percentage. Management believes that a portion
of
the difference between the actual return and the expected benchmark return
can
be attributed to the impact of the interest that USHO collects on its cash
and
cash equivalent holdings. In addition, during the period from April 9, 2008
to
September 30, 2008, USHO also collected fees from brokerage firms creating
or
redeeming baskets of units. This income also contributed to USHO’s actual return
exceeding the benchmark results. However, if the total assets of USHO continue
to increase, management believes that the impact on total returns of these
fees
from creations and redemptions will diminish as a percentage of the total
return.
There
are
currently three factors that have impacted, during the latest period, or
are most likely to impact, USHO’s ability to accurately track its
Benchmark Futures Contract.
First,
USHO may buy or sell its holdings in the then current Benchmark Futures Contract
at a price other than the closing settlement price of that contract on the
day
in which USHO executes the trade. In that case, USHO may get a price that is
higher, or lower, than that of the Benchmark Futures Contract,
which could cause the changes in the daily NAV of USHO to either be too
high or too low relative to the changes in the daily benchmark. During the
period from April 9, 2008 to September 30, 2008, management attempted to
minimize the effect of these transactions by seeking to execute its purchases
or
sales of the Benchmark Futures Contracts at, or as close as possible to,
the end of the day settlement price. However, it may not always be possible
for
USHO to obtain the closing settlement price and there is no assurance that
failure to obtain the closing settlement price in the future will not adversely
impact USHO’s attempt to track its benchmark over time.
Second,
USHO earns interest on its cash, cash equivalents and Treasury holdings.
USHO is not required to distribute any portion of its income to its unitholders
and did not make any distributions to unitholders during the period from April
9, 2008 to September 30, 2008. Interest payments, and any other income, were
retained within the portfolio and added to USHO’s NAV. When this income exceeds
the level of USHO’s expenses for its management fee, brokerage commissions and
other expenses (including ongoing registration fees, licensing fees and
the fees and expenses of the independent directors of the General Partner),
USHO will realize a net yield that will tend to cause daily changes in the
NAV of USHO to track slightly higher than daily changes in the
Benchmark Futures Contract. During the period from April 9, 2008 to
September 30, 2008, USHO earned, on an annualized basis, approximately 1.82%
on
its cash holdings. It also incurred cash expenses on an annualized basis of
0.60% for management fees and approximately 0.08% in brokerage commission costs
related to the purchase and sale of futures contracts, and 0.24% for other
expenses. The foregoing fees and expenses resulted in a net yield on an
annualized basis of approximately 0.90% and affected USHO’s ability to track its
benchmark. If short-term interest rates rise above the current levels, the
level
of deviation created by the yield would increase. Conversely, if short-term
interest rates were to decline, the amount of error created by the yield would
decrease. If short-term yields drop to a level lower than the combined expenses
of the management fee and the brokerage commissions, then the tracking error
would become a negative number and would tend to cause the daily returns of
the
NAV to underperform the daily returns of the Benchmark Futures
Contract.
Third,
USHO may hold Other Heating Oil-Related Investments in its portfolio that
may fail to closely track the Benchmark Futures Contract’s total return
movements. In that case, the error in tracking the benchmark could result in
daily changes in the NAV of USHO that are either too high, or too low, relative
to the daily changes in the benchmark. During the period from April 9, 2008
to
September 30, 2008, USHO did not hold any Other Heating Oil-Related Investments.
However, there can be no assurance that in future quarters USHO will not make
use of such Other Heating Oil-Related Investments.
During
the period from April 9, 2008 to September 30, 2008, the prices of front month
Benchmark Futures Contracts fell from near the $3.1102 per gallon level to
approximately the $2.8947 level. The
prices of front month contracts were also lower than the prices of second month
contracts during the early part of this time period, a condition in the futures
markets referred to as “contango.” In the middle part of the time period, the
prices of front month contracts were higher than the prices of the second month,
a condition in the futures market referred to as “backwardation.” The heating
oil futures market finished the third quarter of 2008 in a contango market.
The
relationship between the prices of different months of the same futures
contracts, the “term structure of futures prices,” can have a major impact on
the total return of owning such futures contracts over time.
Term
Structure of Heating Oil Futures Prices and the Impact on Total Returns.
Several
factors determine the total return from investing in a futures contract
position. One factor that impacts the total return that will result from
investing in near month heating oil futures contracts and “rolling” those
contracts forward each month is the price relationship between the current
near
month contract and the later month contracts. For example, if 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 heating oil for immediate delivery (the “spot”
price), was $2.00 per gallon, and the value of a position in the near month
futures contract was also $2.00. Over time, the price of a gallon of heating
oil
will fluctuate based on a number of market factors, including demand for
heating oil 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 position in a near month contract and not take delivery
of the heating oil, 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 heating oil in the future would be less, the investor
would be buying a next month contract for a lower price than the current near
month contract. Hypothetically, and assuming no other changes to either
prevailing heating oil 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 $2.00 investment would tend to rise faster than the spot price of heating
oil, or fall slower. As a result, it would be possible in this hypothetical
example for the price of spot heating oil to have risen to $2.50 after some
period of time, while the value of the investment in the futures contract would
have risen to $2.60, assuming backwardation is large enough or enough time
has
elapsed. Similarly, the spot price of heating oil could have fallen to $1.50
while the value of an investment in the futures contract could have fallen
to
only $1.60. Over time, if backwardation remained constant, the difference would
continue to increase.
If
the
futures market is in contango, the investor would be buying a next month
contract for a higher price than the current near month contract.
Hypothetically, and assuming no other changes to either prevailing heating
oil
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 $2.00 investment would tend to rise slower
than the spot price of heating oil, or fall faster. As a result, it would be
possible in this hypothetical example for the spot price of heating oil to
have risen to $2.50 after some period of time, while the value of the investment
in the futures contract will have risen to only $2.40, assuming contango is
large enough or enough time has elapsed. Similarly, the spot price of heating
oil could have fallen to $1.50 while the value of an investment in the futures
contract could have fallen to $1.40. Over time, if contango remained constant,
the difference would continue to increase.
Periods
of contango or backwardation do not meaningfully impact USHO’s 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 USHO’s 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.
Heating
Oil Market.
During
the period of approximately six months starting from the commencement of
operations, April 9, 2008, and ended September 30, 2008, the price of heating
oil in the United States, as measured by changes in the price of the futures
contract traded on the NYMEX that was closest to expiration, fell 10.5% from
approximately $3.23 a gallon to $2.89 a gallon. However, during the quarter
ended September 30, 2008, prices fluctuated and reached a high of $4.10 a gallon
and a low of $2.71 a gallon (investors are cautioned that these represent prices
for heating oil on a wholesale basis and should not be directly compared to
retail prices).
During
the period of approximately six months starting from the commencement of
operations, April 9, 2008, and ended September 30, 2008, the price of crude
oil,
the raw material from which heating oil is refined, fell 8.6% from approximately
$110.19 to $100.64. The price of crude oil was influenced by several factors,
including ongoing strong demand for crude oil globally, modest increases in
the
production levels of crude oil, a weakening U.S. dollar which tends to make
crude oil more expensive in U.S. dollar terms, and continuing political
uncertainty in certain key oil producing countries. Crude oil peaked in price
in
mid-July of 2008, having reached a price of over $145.00 a barrel. However,
sharply declining U.S. demand for crude oil as well as a slow-down in demand
outside of the U.S. contributed to a very large drop in the price of crude
oil.
Management
believes that over both the medium-term and the long-term, changes in the price
of crude oil will exert the greatest influence on the price of refined petroleum
products such as heating oil. At the same time, there can be other factors
that,
particularly in the short term, cause the price of heating oil to rise (or
fall), more (or less) than the price of crude oil. For example, warmer weather
during the high demand period of the winter season could cause American
consumers to reduce their heating oil consumption. Furthermore, heating oil
prices are impacted by the availability of refining capacity. As a result,
it is
possible that changes in heating oil prices may not match the changes in crude
oil prices.
Heating
Oil Price Movements in Comparison to other Energy Commodities and Investment
Categories.
The
General Partner believes that investors frequently measure the degree to which
prices or total returns of one investment or asset class move up or down in
value in concert with another investment or asset class. Statistically, such
a
measure is usually done by measuring the correlation of the price movements
of
the two different investments or asset classes over some period of time. The
correlation is scaled between 1 and -1, where 1 indicates that the two
investment options move up or down in price or value together, known as
“positive correlation,” and -1 indicating that they move in completely opposite
directions, known as “negative correlation.” A correlation of 0 would mean that
the movements of the two are neither positively or negatively correlated, known
as “non-correlation.” That is, the investment options sometimes move up and down
together and other times move in opposite directions.
For
the
ten year time period between 1997 and 2007, the chart below compares the
monthly
movements of heating oil versus the monthly movements of several other energy
commodities, natural gas, crude oil, and unleaded gasoline, as well as several
major non-commodity investment asset classes such as large cap U.S. equities,
U.S. government bonds and global equities. It can be seen that over this
particular time period, the movement of heating oil on a monthly basis was
NOT
strongly correlated, positively or negatively, with the movements of large
cap
U.S. equities, U.S. government bonds or global equities. However, movements
in
heating oil had a strong positive correlation to movements in crude oil and
unleaded gasoline. Finally, heating oil had a positive, but weaker, correlation
with natural gas.
10
Year Correlation Matrix 1997-2007
|
|
Large
Cap U.S. Equities (S&P 500)
|
|
U.S.
Govt. Bonds (EFFAS U.S. Government Bond Index)
|
|
Global
Equities (FTSE World Index)
|
|
Unleaded
Gasoline
|
|
Natural
Gas
|
|
Crude
Oil
|
|
Heating
Oil
|
Large
Cap U.S. Equities (S&P 500)
|
|
1
|
|
-0.237
|
|
0.949
|
|
-0.087
|
|
-0.008
|
|
-0.037
|
|
-0.065
|
US
Govt. Bonds (EFFAS U.S. Government Bond Index)
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
-0.259
|
|
-0.175
|
|
0.197
|
|
0.033
|
|
0.065
|
Global
Equities (FTSE World Index)
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
0.124
|
|
0.029
|
|
0.040
|
|
-0.003
|
Unleaded
Gasoline
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
0.267
|
|
0.634
|
|
0.663
|
Natural
Gas
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
0.344
|
|
0.480
|
Crude
Oil
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
0.802
|
Heating
Oil
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
source:
Bloomberg, NYMEX
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PAST
PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY
INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS
Investors
are cautioned that the historical price relationships between heating oil
and
various other energy commodities, as well as other investment asset classes,
as
measured by correlation may not be reliable predictors of future price movements
and correlation results. The results pictured above would have been different
if
a different range of dates had been selected. The General Partner believes
that
heating oil has historically not demonstrated a strong correlation with equities
or bonds over long periods of time. However, the General Partner also believes
that in the future it is possible that heating oil could have long term
correlation results that indicate prices of heating oil more closely track
the
movements of equities or bonds. In addition, the General Partner believes
that,
when measured over time periods shorter than ten years, there will always
be
some periods where the correlation of heating oil to equities and bonds will
be
either more strongly positively correlated or more strongly negatively
correlated than the long term historical results suggest.
The
chart
below covers a more recent, but much shorter, range of dates than the above
chart. Over the nine months ended September 30, 2008, heating oil continued
to
have a strong positive correlation with crude oil and unleaded gasoline.
During
this period it also had a stronger correlation with the movements of natural
gas
than it had displayed over the prior ten year period. Notably, the correlation
between heating oil and both large cap U.S. equities and global equities,
which
had been essentially non-correlated over the prior ten years, displayed results
that indicated that they had a weak but positive correlation over this shorter
time period, particularly due to the recent downturn in the U.S. economy.
Finally, the results showed that crude oil and U.S. government bonds, which
had
essentially been non-correlated for the prior ten year period, were weakly
negatively correlated over this more recent time period.
Correlation
Matrix 2008 YTD (9 months)
|
|
Large
Cap U.S. Equities (S&P 500)
|
|
U.S.
Govt. Bonds (EFFAS U.S. Government Bond Index)
|
|
Global
Equities (FTSE World Index)
|
|
Unleaded
Gasoline
|
|
Natural
Gas
|
|
Crude
Oil
|
|
Heating
Oil
|
Large
Cap U.S. Equities (S&P 500)
|
|
1
|
|
-0.641
|
|
0.920
|
|
0.565
|
|
-0.152
|
|
0.289
|
|
0.214
|
US
Govt. Bonds (EFFAS U.S. Government Bond Index)
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
-0.682
|
|
-0.581
|
|
-0.045
|
|
-0.507
|
|
-0.414
|
Global
Equities (FTSE World Index)
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
0.760
|
|
0.108
|
|
0.575
|
|
0.496
|
Unleaded
Gasoline
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
0.650
|
|
0.923
|
|
0.900
|
Natural
Gas
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
0.771
|
|
0.805
|
Crude
Oil
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
0.914
|
Heating
Oil
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
source:
Bloomberg, NYMEX
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PAST
PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE
RESULTS
Critical
Accounting Policies
Preparation
of the condensed financial statements and related disclosures in compliance
with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America
requires the application of appropriate accounting rules and guidance, as well
as the use of estimates. USHO’s application of these policies involves judgments
and actual results may differ from the estimates used.
The
General Partner has evaluated the nature and types of estimates that
it makes in preparing USHO’s condensed financial statements and related
disclosures and has determined that the valuation of its investments which
are not traded on a United States or internationally recognized futures exchange
(such as forward contracts and over-the-counter contracts) involves a critical
accounting policy. The values which are used by USHO for its forward contracts
are provided by its commodity broker who uses market prices when available,
while over-the-counter contracts are valued based on the present value of
estimated future cash flows that would be received from or paid to a third
party
in settlement of these derivative contracts prior to their delivery date and
valued on a daily basis. In addition, USHO estimates interest income on a daily
basis using prevailing interest rates earned on its cash and cash equivalents.
These estimates are adjusted to the actual amount received on a monthly basis
and the difference, if any, is not considered material.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
USHO
has
not made, and does not anticipate making, use of borrowings or other lines
of
credit to meet its obligations. USHO has met, and it is anticipated that USHO
will continue to meet, its liquidity needs in the normal course of business
from
the proceeds of the sale of its investments or from the Treasuries, cash and/or
cash equivalents that it intends to hold at all times. USHO’s liquidity needs
include: redeeming units, providing margin deposits for its existing Futures
Contracts or the purchase of additional Futures Contracts and posting collateral
for its over-the-counter contracts and, except as noted below, payment of its
expenses, summarized below under “Contractual Obligations.”
USHO currently
generates cash primarily from (i) the sale of Creation Baskets and (ii) interest
earned on Treasuries, cash and/or cash equivalents. USHO has allocated
substantially all of its net assets to trading in Heating Oil Interests. USHO
invests in Heating Oil 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
Heating Oil-Related Investments. A significant portion of the NAV is held in
cash and cash equivalents that are used as margin and as collateral for
USHO’s trading in Heating Oil Interests. The percentage that
Treasuries will bear to the total net assets will vary from period to
period as the market values of the Heating Oil Interests change. The balance
of
the net assets is held in USHO’s Futures Contracts and Other Heating
Oil-Related Investments trading account. Interest earned on USHO’s
interest-bearing funds is paid to USHO.
USHO’s
investment in Heating Oil Interests may be subject to periods of illiquidity
because of market conditions, regulatory considerations and other reasons.
For
example, most commodity exchanges limit the fluctuations in Futures
Contracts prices during a single day by regulations referred to as “daily
limits.” During a single day, no trades may be executed at prices beyond the
daily limit. Once the price of a Futures Contract has increased or
decreased by an amount equal to the daily limit, positions in the contracts
can
neither be taken nor liquidated unless the traders are willing to effect trades
at or within the specified daily limit. Such market conditions could prevent
USHO from promptly liquidating its positions in Futures Contracts. During
the period from April 9, 2008 to September 30, 2008, USHO was not forced to
purchase or liquidate any of its positions while daily limits were in effect;
however, USHO cannot predict whether such an event may occur in the
future.
To
date,
all of USHO’s expenses, including its organizational and offering expenses
related to the initial offering of its units, have been paid by the General
Partner. Fees and expenses associated with the registration of units with the
SEC subsequent to the initial offering will be borne by USHO. In addition,
fees
and expenses (including directors’ and officers’ liability insurance)
of the independent directors of the General Partner, the management fee paid
to
the General Partner, certain tax reporting fees, brokerage fees and
licensing fees will be paid directly by USHO. In
addition, the General Partner, though under no obligation to do so, has agreed
to pay certain costs for tax reporting and audit expenses normally borne by
USHO
to the extent that such expenses exceed 0.15% (15 basis points) of its NAV,
on
an annualized basis, until December 31, 2008. The General Partner has no
obligation to continue such payment into subsequent years.
If the
General Partner and USHO are unsuccessful in raising sufficient funds to cover
USHO’s expenses or in locating any other source of funding, USHO will terminate
and investors may lose all or part of their investment.
Market
Risk
Trading
in Futures Contracts and Other Heating Oil-Related Investments, such as
forwards, involves USHO entering into contractual commitments to purchase
or sell heating oil at a specified date in the future. The gross or face amount
of the contracts will significantly exceed USHO’s future cash requirements
since USHO intends to close out its open positions prior to settlement. As
a
result, USHO is generally only subject to the risk of loss
arising from the change in value of the contracts. USHO considers the “fair
value” of its derivative instruments to be the unrealized gain or loss on the
contracts. The market risk associated with USHO’s commitments to purchase
heating oil is limited to the gross face amount of the contracts held. However,
should USHO enter into a contractual commitment to sell heating oil, it would
be
required to make delivery of the heating oil at the contract price, repurchase
the contract at prevailing prices or settle in cash. Since there are no limits
on the future price of heating oil, the market risk to USHO could be unlimited.
USHO’s
exposure to market risk depends on a number of factors, including the
markets for heating oil, the volatility of interest rates and foreign exchange
rates, the liquidity of the Futures Contracts and Other Heating Oil-Related
Investments markets and the relationships among the contracts held by USHO.
The
limited experience that USHO has had in utilizing its model to trade in
Heating Oil Interests in a manner intended to track the changes in the spot
price of heating oil, as well as drastic market occurrences, could ultimately
lead to the loss of all or substantially all of an investor’s
capital.
Credit
Risk
When
USHO
enters into Futures Contracts and Other Heating Oil-Related Investments, it
is exposed to the credit risk that the counterparty will not be able to meet
its
obligations. The counterparty for the Futures Contracts traded on the NYMEX
and on most other foreign futures exchanges is the clearinghouse associated
with the particular exchange. In general, clearinghouses are backed by their
members who may be required to share in the financial burden resulting from
the
nonperformance of one of their members and, therefore, this additional member
support should significantly reduce credit risk. Some foreign exchanges are
not
backed by their clearinghouse members but may be backed by a consortium of
banks
or other financial institutions. There can be no assurance that any
counterparty, clearinghouse, or their members or their financial backers will
satisfy their obligations to USHO in such circumstances.
The
General Partner attempts to manage the credit risk of USHO by following
various trading limitations and policies. In particular, USHO generally posts
margin and/or holds liquid assets that are approximately equal to the face
amount of its obligations to counterparties under the Futures Contracts and
Other Heating Oil-Related Investments it holds. The General Partner has
implemented procedures that include, but are not limited to, executing and
clearing trades only with creditworthy parties and/or requiring the posting
of
collateral or margin by such parties for the benefit of USHO to limit its credit
exposure. UBS Securities LLC, USHO’s commodity broker, or any other broker that
may be retained by USHO in the future, when acting as USHO’s futures commission
merchant in accepting orders to purchase or sell Futures Contracts on United
States exchanges, is required by CFTC regulations to separately
account for and segregate as belonging to USHO, all assets of USHO relating
to
domestic Futures Contracts trading. These futures commission merchants are
not
allowed to commingle USHO’s assets with its other assets. In addition, the CFTC
requires commodity brokers to hold in a secure account the USHO assets related
to foreign Futures Contracts trading.
As
of
September 30, 2008, USHO had deposits in domestic and foreign financial
institutions,
including
cash investments in money market funds, in the amount of $8,668,159. This amount
is subject to loss should these institutions cease operations.
Off
Balance Sheet Financing
As
of
September 30, 2008, USHO has no loan guarantee, credit support or other
off-balance sheet arrangements of any kind other than agreements entered into
in
the normal course of business, which may include indemnification provisions
relating to certain risks that service providers undertake in performing
services which are in the best interests of USHO. While USHO’s exposure under
these indemnification provisions cannot be estimated, they are not expected
to
have a material impact on USHO’s financial position.
Redemption
Basket Obligation
In
order
to meet its investment objective and pay its contractual obligations described
below, USHO requires liquidity to redeem units, which redemptions must be
in blocks of 100,000 units called “Redemption Baskets”. USHO has to date
satisfied this obligation by paying from the cash or cash equivalents it holds
or through the sale of its Treasuries in an amount proportionate to the number
of units being redeemed.
Contractual
Obligations
USHO’s
primary contractual obligations are with the General Partner. In return for
its
services, the General Partner is entitled to a management fee calculated as
a
fixed percentage of USHO’s NAV, currently 0.60% of USHO’s NAV for its average
net assets.
The
General Partner agreed to pay the start-up costs associated with the
formation of USHO, primarily its legal, accounting and other costs in connection
with the General Partner’s registration with the CFTC as a CPO and the
registration and listing of USHO and its units with the SEC, FINRA and the
AMEX, respectively. However, offering costs incurred in connection with
registering and listing additional units of USHO are directly borne on an
ongoing basis by USHO, and not by the General Partner.
The
General Partner pays the fees of USHO’s marketing agent, ALPS Distributors,
Inc., and the fees of the custodian and transfer agent, Brown Brothers Harriman
& Co. (“BBH&Co.”), as well as BBH&Co.’s fees for performing
administrative services, including in connection with the preparation of USHO’s
condensed financial statements and its SEC and CFTC reports. The General Partner
and USHO have also entered into a licensing agreement with the NYMEX
pursuant to which USHO and the affiliated funds managed by the General Partner
pay a licensing fee to the NYMEX. The General Partner also pays any fees
for implementation of services and base service fees charged by the accounting
firm responsible for preparing USHO’s tax reporting forms; however, USHO pays
the fees and expenses associated with its tax accounting and reporting
requirements. In
addition, the General Partner, though under no obligation to do so, has agreed
to pay certain costs for tax reporting and audit expenses normally borne by
USHO
to the
extent that such expenses exceed 0.15% (15 basis points) of its NAV, on an
annualized basis, until December 31, 2008. The General Partner has no obligation
to continue such payment into subsequent years.
In
addition to the General Partner’s management fee, USHO pays its brokerage fees
(including fees to a futures commission merchant), over-the-counter dealer
spreads, any licensing fees for the use of intellectual property, and,
subsequent to the initial offering, registration and other fees paid to the
SEC,
FINRA, or other regulatory agencies in connection with the offer and sale of
units, as well as legal, printing, accounting and other expenses associated
therewith, and extraordinary expenses. The latter are expenses not incurred
in
the ordinary course of USHO’s business, including expenses relating to the
indemnification of any person against liabilities and obligations to the extent
permitted by law and under the LP Agreement, the bringing or defending of
actions in law or in equity or otherwise conducting litigation and incurring
legal expenses and the settlement of claims and litigation. Commission payments
to a futures commission merchant are on a contract-by-contract, or round turn,
basis. USHO also pays a portion of the fees and expenses of the
independent directors of the General Partner. See Note 3 to the Notes
to Condensed Financial Statements (Unaudited).
The
parties cannot anticipate the amount of payments that will be required under
these arrangements for future periods, as USHO’s NAVs and trading levels to meet
its investment objectives will not be known until a future date. These
agreements are effective for a specific term agreed upon by the parties with
an
option to renew, or, in some cases, are in effect for the duration of USHO’s
existence. Either party may terminate these agreements earlier for certain
reasons described in the agreements.
Over-the-Counter
Derivatives (Including Spreads and Straddles)
In
the
future, USHO may purchase over-the-counter contracts. Unlike most of the
exchange-traded Futures Contracts or exchange-traded options on such futures,
each party to an over-the-counter contract bears the credit risk that the other
party may not be able to perform its obligations under its
contract.
Some
heating oil-based derivatives transactions contain fairly generic terms and
conditions and are available from a wide range of participants. Other heating
oil-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 heating oil- 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 spot price of heating oil, forward heating oil prices or heating oil
futures prices. For example, USHO may enter into over-the-counter derivative
contracts whose value will be tied to changes in the difference between
the spot price of heating oil, the price of Futures Contracts traded
on the NYMEX and the prices of other Futures Contracts that may be invested
in by USHO.
To
protect itself from the credit risk that arises in connection with such
contracts, USHO may enter into agreements with each counterparty that provide
for the netting of its overall exposure to such counterparty, such as the
agreements published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association,
Inc. USHO also may require that the counterparty be highly rated and/or
provide collateral or other credit support to address USHO’s exposure to the
counterparty. In addition, it is also possible for USHO and its counterparty
to
agree to clear their agreement through an established futures clearing house
such as those connected to the NYMEX or the ICE Futures. In that event, USHO
would no longer have credit risk of its original counterparty, as the
clearinghouse would now be USHO’s counterparty. USHO would still retain any
price risk associated with its transaction.
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 an
over-the-counter contract pursuant to guidelines approved by the General
Partner’s board of directors. Furthermore, the General Partner on behalf of USHO
only enters into over-the-counter contracts with (a) members of the Federal
Reserve System or foreign banks with branches regulated by the Federal Reserve
Board; (b) primary dealers in U.S. government securities; (c) broker-dealers;
(d) commodity futures merchants; or (e) affiliates of the foregoing. Existing
counterparties are also reviewed periodically by the General
Partner.
USHO
anticipates that the use of Other Heating Oil-Related Investments together
with
its investments in Futures Contracts will produce price and total return results
that closely track the investment goals of USHO.
USHO
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. USHO 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 USHO to changes in the price
relationship between futures contracts which will expire sooner and those that
will expire later. USHO would use such a spread if the General Partner felt
that
taking such long and short positions, when combined with the rest of its
holdings, would more closely track the investment goals of USHO, 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 heating oil prices.
USHO 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.
USHO 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 USHO or if it would lead to an overall lower cost of trading
to achieve a given level of economic exposure to movements in heating oil
prices.
During
the period from April 9, 2008 to September 30, 2008, USHO did not employ any
hedging methods such as those described above since all of its investments
were
made over an exchange. Therefore, USHO was not exposed to counterparty
risk.
Disclosure
Controls and Procedures
USHO
maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that
material information required to be disclosed in USHO’s periodic reports
filed or submitted under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is
recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time period specified
in
the SEC’s rules and forms.
The
duly
appointed officers of the General Partner, including its chief executive
officer and chief financial officer, who perform functions equivalent
to those of a principal executive officer and principal financial officer of
USHO if USHO had any officers, have evaluated the effectiveness of USHO’s
disclosure controls and procedures and have concluded that the disclosure
controls and procedures of USHO have been effective as of the end of the period
covered by this
quarterly report.
Change
in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There
were no changes in USHO’s internal control over financial reporting during
USHO’s last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably
likely to materially affect, USHO’s internal control over financial
reporting.
Part
II. OTHER
INFORMATION
Item
1. Legal Proceedings.
Not
applicable.
Item
1A. Risk Factors.
There
has
not been a material change from the risk factors previously disclosed in USHO’s
Registration Statement on Form S-1, which was declared effective by the SEC
on
April 8, 2008.
Item
2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of
Proceeds.
Not
applicable.
Item
3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.
Not
applicable.
Item
4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
Not
applicable.
Item 5.
Other Information.
Monthly
Account Statements
Pursuant
to the requirement under part 4.22 of the Commodity Exchange Act, each month
USHO publishes an account statement for its unitholders, which includes a
Statement of Income (Loss) and a Statement of Changes in NAV. The account
statement is filed with the SEC on a current report on Form 8-K pursuant to
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and posted each month on USHO’s website
at www.unitedstatesheatingoilfund.com.
Listed
below are the exhibits which are filed or furnished as part of this quarterly
report on Form 10-Q (according to the number assigned to them in Item 601
of Regulation S-K):
Exhibit
|
|
|
Number
|
|
Description
of Document
|
31.1*
|
|
Certification
by Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
31.2*
|
|
Certification
by Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
32.1**
|
|
Certification
by Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350,
as
Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002.
|
32.2**
|
|
Certification
by Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350,
as
Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002.
|
* Filed
herewith
** Furnished
herewith
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant
has
duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto
duly authorized.
United
States Heating Oil Fund, LP (Registrant)
|
By:
|
United States Commodity Funds LLC, its general partner
(formerly known as Victoria Bay Asset Management, LLC)
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Nicholas D. Gerber
|
Nicholas
D. Gerber
|
Chief
Executive Officer
|
|
|
Date:
November 14, 2008
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Howard Mah
|
Howard
Mah
|
Chief
Financial Officer
|
Date: November
14, 2008