424B3 1 r424b3_121708.htm NOVEMBER PERFORMANCE UPDATE DATED DECEMBER 17, 2008 r424b3_121708.htm
 


 Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
File No. 333-119338
 
 
                                            December 17, 2008

SUPPLEMENT DATED DECEMBER 17, 2008 TO PROSPECTUS DATED DECEMBER 3, 2007

Dear Investor(s):

GRANT PARK FUTURES FUND NOVEMBER PERFORMANCE UPDATE

 
FUND
NOVEMBER
2008
YTD
 
 
Total NAV
 
NAV/Unit
Grant Park Futures Fund Class A Units
2.76%
18.63%
 
$85.1M
$1,553.422
Grant Park Futures Fund Class B Units
2.69%
17.70%
 
$536.8M
$1,344.919
ALL PERFORMANCE REPORTED IS NET OF FEES AND EXPENSES

A bearish outlook for the global economy drove profits during the month.  Long fixed income positions gained as volatile equity markets caused investors to see safer investments.  Prices also rose because of speculation Central banks in the U.S. and abroad would cut interest rates in the near future, leading speculative buying throughout the month.

The majority of sector gains in the foreign exchange markets came from positions in emerging currencies.  Among the most profitable were positions in the Argentine peso, South Korean won, and Singapore and Taiwan dollars.  Slowing economic growth across Europe also added to gains as the British pound, euro, and Swiss franc weakened against Grant Park’s long dollar positions.

Grant Park posted profits on its short positions as most major indices fell. News that the U.S. Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) was no longer going to purchase toxic assets from financial institutions sent equity markets reeling mid-month.  However, the announcement of a $300 billion bailout plan for ailing Citibank caused a slight reversal in the equity markets towards month-end, which partially offset Grant Park’s gains.

The portfolio benefited from a sector-wide decline in the energy markets.  Among the best performers were short positions in the crude and Brent crude oil markets, which posted gains from price declines that exceeded 20%.  Although there were a number of bullish fundamental factors impacting the energy markets, including the hijacking of a Saudi oil tanker and further attacks on oil refineries in Nigeria, analysts primarily attribute the downward moves to shifts in the financial markets.

Weak prices in the corn markets were the main driver in sector gains this past month.  Corn prices fell 12.8% for the month due to reduced exports and a failing ethanol industry.  As the price of crude oil continued to decline, many ethanol manufacturers and distributors have been forced to shut down, therefore reducing the demand for corn.

Grant Park posted slight gains in the metals markets as base metal prices moved lower alongside short positions.  Profits were partially offset, however, as short gold positions finished the month slightly negative.  At month-end, bullish speculators using gold as a proxy for the equity markets, bid gold prices up, resulting in minor losses for the portfolio.


Grant Park Futures Fund – Special Notice to Investors

Given the recent emerging news concerning the alleged fraud uncovered at Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities, we want to address a number of questions we believe investors may have concerning whether Grant Park Futures Fund has any assests invested in or managed by Madoff Investment Securities, or whether Grant Park is similar in any way to that firm or its affiliates.

We want our investors to know that neither Grant Park Futures Fund nor Dearborn Capital Management, Grant Park’s general partner, has any assets invested in or managed by Madoff Investment Securities or any of its affiliated entities, or any other type of exposure to or relationship with such firms.

A publicly offered managed futures fund, such as Grant Park, is highly regulated by multiple state, federal, and self-regulatory agencies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), among others.
 
 
 
555 West Jackson      Suite 600      Chicago, IL 60661      312.756.4450      312.756.4452 fax      800.217.7955
Performance Hotline: 866.516.1574 (Toll Free)      www.dearborncapital.com
 

 
 

 

The following are several important facts about Grant Park that differentiate the fund from a firm like Madoff and its affiliates:

·  
Unlike Madoff, the Grant Park Futures Fund is a public fund, subject to the periodic public reporting requirements of the federal securities laws, which require public companies to publish and make publicly available information regarding the management, operations and performance of the fund, including the fund’s annual and quarterly financial statements.

·  
Unlike Madoff, Grant Park, as a public company, is subject to the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act relating to management’s and its independent accountants’ certification of the effectiveness of the fund’s internal control over financial reporting.

·  
Unlike Madoff, Grant Park’s and its General Partner’s financial statements are audited annually by an independent registered public accounting firm, McGladrey & Pullen, LLP, the fifth largest auditing firm in the U.S.

·  
Unlike Madoff, Grant Park employs an industry-recognized, independent calculation agent to establish the value of the fund.

·  
Unlike Madoff, Grant Park maintains the cash portion of the fund in a separate, segregated account and all accounts and trading activity are conducted with internationally recognized clearing firms.

If you have any questions or seek additional clarification, please do not hesitate to call our offices at 866.242.4055 or e-mail us at funds@dearborncapital.com.

 
Sincerely,
 

David Kavanagh
President

Enclosures
PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS
FUTURES TRADING INVOLVES A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK AND IS NOT SUITABLE FOR ALL INVESTORS
THIS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OF ANY SECURITY FOR SALE, OFFERING BY PROSPECTUS ONLY

Daily fund performance is available on our website at www.dearborncapital.com along with weekly commentary.   Weekly performance information is also available on our performance hotline at (312)788-2272 or (866) 516-1574 (toll free)[Missing Graphic Reference]
 
 
 
 
 
555 West Jackson      Suite 600      Chicago, IL 60661      312.756.4450      312.756.4452      fax 800.217.7955
Performance Hotline: 866.516.1574 (Toll Free)      www.dearborncapital.com
 

 
 

 

GRANT PARK FUTURES FUND, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
ACCOUNT STATEMENT
(PREPARED FROM BOOKS WITHOUT AUDIT)
FOR THE MONTH ENDED
NOVEMBER 30, 2008
 
Statement of Income
                                   
   
Month
(A Units)
In US $
   
Year to Date
(A Units)
In US $
   
Month
(B Units)
In US $
   
Year to Date
(B Units)
In US $
   
Month
Total
In US $
   
Year to Date
Total
In US $
 
Trading Income (Loss):
                                   
Realized Trading Income (Loss)
    2,730,463       20,845,118       17,130,117       118,090,859       19,860,580       138,935,977  
Change in Unrealized Income (Loss)
    317,845       691,085       1,994,063       5,461,688       2,311,908       6,152,773  
Brokerage Commissions
    (10,197 )     (174,665 )     (63,974 )     (1,018,917 )     (74,171 )     (1,193,582 )
Exchange, Clearing Fees and NFA charges
    (21,554 )     (277,588 )     (135,220 )     (1,628,755 )     (156,774 )     (1,906,343 )
Other Trading Costs
    (75,502 )     (674,901 )     (473,674 )     (3,968,543 )     (549,176 )     (4,643,444 )
Change in Accrued Commissions
    (1,728 )     13,543       (10,840 )     74,216       (12,568 )     87,759  
                                                 
Net Trading Income (Loss)
    2,939,327       20,422,592       18,440,472       117,010,548       21,379,799       137,433,140  
                                                 
Other Income:
                                               
Interest, U.S. Obligations
    73,881       583,171       463,508       3,442,525       537,389       4,025,696  
Interest, Other
    105,466       1,530,214       661,663       8,873,381       767,129       10,403,595  
US Govt Sec Gain/Loss
    3,550       7,665       22,271       47,779       25,821       55,444  
                                                 
Total Income (Loss)
    3,122,224       22,543,642       19,587,914       129,374,233       22,710,138       151,917,875  
                                                 
Expenses:
                                               
Incentive Fees to Trading Managers
    331,896       4,248,722       2,082,219       24,379,436       2,414,115       28,628,158  
Administrative Fees
    18,163       185,601       113,951       1,090,333       132,114       1,275,934  
O&O Expenses
    14,531       148,481       273,483       2,616,801       288,014       2,765,282  
Brokerage Expenses
    439,553       4,491,554       2,962,737       28,348,680       3,402,290       32,840,234  
Illinois Replacement Tax
                                               
                                                 
Total Expenses
    804,143       9,074,358       5,432,390       56,435,250       6,236,533       65,509,608  
                                                 
Net Income (Loss)
    2,318,081       13,469,284       14,155,524       72,938,983       16,473,605       86,408,267  
                                                 
Statement of Changes in Net Asset Value
                                               
                                                 
Beginning Balance
    82,875,144       72,077,907       514,844,140       383,607,889       597,719,284       455,685,796  
Additions
    1,093,000       17,030,083       11,947,195       117,945,065       13,040,195       134,975,148  
Net Income (Loss)
    2,318,081       13,469,283       14,155,524       72,938,983       16,473,605       86,408,266  
Redemptions
    (1,183,928 )     (17,474,976 )     (4,123,140 )     (37,668,218 )     (5,307,068 )     (55,143,194 )
                                                 
Balance at NOVEMBER 30, 2008
    85,102,297       85,102,297       536,823,719       536,823,719       621,926,016       621,926,016  
Total Units Held at End of The Period
            54,783.74776               399,149.40534                   
Net Asset Value Per Unit
            1,553.422               1,344.919                   
Rate of Return
    2.76 %     18.63 %     2.69 %     17.70 %                
 
To the best of my knowledge and belief the information
        contained herein is accurate and complete.
DAVID KAVANAGH, PRESIDENT
FOR DEARBORN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
GENERAL PARTNER OF GRANT PARK FUTURES FUND LIMITED PARTNERSHIP