UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT
INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number 811-22221
ASGI Mesirow Insight Fund, LLC
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
c/o Alternative Strategies Group, Inc.
401 South Tryon Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
Lloyd Lipsett
Wells Fargo Law Department
JP201-210
200 Berkeley Street
Boston, MA 02116
(Name and address of agent for service)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (866) 440-7460
Date of fiscal year end: March 31
Date of reporting period: March 31, 2013
Form N-CSR is to be used by management investment companies to file reports with the Commission not later than 10 days after the transmission to stockholders of any report that is required to be transmitted to stockholders under Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30e-1). The Commission may use the information provided on Form N-CSR in its regulatory, disclosure review, inspection, and policymaking roles.
A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-CSR, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-CSR unless the Form displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget ("OMB") control number. Please direct comments concerning the accuracy of the information collection burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. § 3507.
Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.
The Report to Shareholders is attached herewith.
ASGI Mesirow Insight Fund, LLC
Financial Statements for the
Year Ended March 31, 2013 with
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
ASGI Mesirow Insight Fund, LLC
Table of Contents
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | 1 |
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Schedule of Investments | 2 |
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Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Assets | 4 |
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Statement of Operations | 5 |
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Statements of Changes in Net Assets | 6 |
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Statement of Cash Flows | 7 |
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Financial Highlights | 8 |
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Notes to Financial Statements | 9 |
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Supplemental Information | 22 |
ASGI Mesirow Insight Fund, LLC Schedule of Investments As of March 31, 2013 |
Strategy | Investments | Cost | | Fair Value |
Credit - 24.0% |
| Axonic Credit Opportunities Overseas Fund, Ltd. | $ | 10,907,000 | | $ | 11,632,856 |
| King Street Europe, Ltd. | | 8,500,000 | | | 8,869,703 |
| LibreMax Offshore Fund, Ltd. | | 11,451,000 | | | 12,567,351 |
| | | | | | 33,069,910 |
Event Driven - 13.4% |
| HFR ED Global Fund | | 7,322,217 | | | 8,860,600 |
| HFR ED Jana Fund | | 7,895,776 | | | 9,702,978 |
| | | | | | 18,563,578 |
Hedged Equity - 28.1% |
| Corvex Offshore Ltd. | | 7,400,000 | | | 7,739,795 |
| dbX-Global Long/Short Equity 7 Fund | | 5,016,637 | | | 5,735,272 |
| dbX-US Long/Short Equity 12 Fund | | 7,635,000 | | | 8,719,059 |
| HFR HE Courage Opportunity Fund | | 4,785,686 | | | 5,211,545 |
| HFR RVA Kayne MLP 1.25x Fund | | 1,972,308 | | | 2,922,784 |
| Southpoint Qualified Offshore Fund, Ltd. | | 8,000,000 | | | 8,481,595 |
| | | | | | 38,810,050 |
Macro and Commodity - 15.2% |
| Balestra Global Ltd. | | 4,165,000 | | | 4,059,129 |
| Beach Horizon Fund Ltd. | | 1,849,315 | | | 1,566,561 |
| dbX-Emerging Markets Macro 3 Fund | | 3,887,215 | | | 4,109,734 |
| MKP Opportunity Offshore, Ltd. | | 4,733,481 | | | 4,985,213 |
| Taylor Woods Fund Ltd. | | 2,479,407 | | | 2,811,500 |
| Winton Futures Fund Ltd. | | 3,377,071 | | | 3,453,836 |
| | | | | | 20,985,973 |
Relative Value - 11.4% |
| dbX-Convertible Arbitrage 13 Fund | | 5,781,915 | | | 5,831,205 |
| HFR CA Lazard Rathmore Fund | | 4,380,055 | | | 6,084,995 |
| HFR RVA Advent Global Opportunity Fund | | 3,329,084 | | | 3,842,972 |
| | | | | | 15,759,172 |
Total Investments* (Cost - $114,868,167**) - 92.1% | | | 127,188,683 |
Other Assets and Liabilities, net - 7.9% | | | 10,947,010 |
Net Assets - 100.0% | | | |
|
| Percentages shown are stated as a percentage of net assets as of March 31, 2013. |
* | Non-income producing securities. |
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|
See Notes to Financial Statements
ASGI Mesirow Insight Fund, LLC Schedule of Investments (continued) As of March 31, 2013 |
** The cost and unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) of investments as of March 31, 2013, as computed for federal tax purposes, were as follows:
|
| Aggregate cost | $ | 116,526,273 | |
| | | | |
| Gross unrealized appreciation | $ | 53,991,247 | |
| Gross unrealized depreciation | | (43,328,837 | ) |
| Net unrealized appreciation | $ | 10,662,410 | |
Investments by Strategy (as a percentage of total investments) |
Hedged Equity | 30.5 | % |
Credit | 26.0 | |
Macro and Commodity | 16.5 | |
Event Driven | 14.6 | |
Relative Value | 12.4 | |
| 100.0 | % |
| | |
Net realized gain/(loss) due to investments in derivatives for the year ended March 31, 2013 were as follows:
Net Realized Gain/(Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in Income | |
Derivatives not accounted for as hedging instruments | | Swaps | |
Equity swaps | | $ | (618,675 | ) |
Net changes in unrealized appreciation/depreciation due to investments in derivatives for the year ended March 31, 2013 were as follows:
Net change in Unrealized Appreciation/Depreciation on Derivatives Recognized in Income | |
Derivatives not accounted for as hedging instruments | | Swaps | |
Equity swaps | | $ | 26,879 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements
ASGI Mesirow Insight Fund, LLC Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Assets As of March 31, 2013 |
| |
| | | | |
Investments in Investment Funds, at fair value (cost - $114,868,167) | | $ | 127,188,683 | |
Cash and cash equivalents | | | 2,812,982 | |
Investments in Investment Funds paid in advance | | | 12,200,000 | |
Receivable for investments in Investment Funds sold | | | 9,569,355 | |
Rebate receivable | | | 44,505 | |
Due from Adviser | | | 2,301 | |
Other prepaid assets | | | 106,622 | |
Total assets | | | 151,924,448 | |
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| | | | |
Repurchases payable | | | 11,939,571 | |
Subscriptions received in advance | | | 1,115,000 | |
Management Fee payable | | | 455,389 | |
Investor Distribution and Servicing Fee payable | | | 6,758 | |
Fund Board fees payable | | | 1,575 | |
Accrued expenses and other liabilities | | | 270,462 | |
Total liabilities | | | 13,788,755 | |
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Total net assets | | $ | 138,135,693 | |
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Paid-in capital | | $ | 128,783,047 | |
Undistributed net investment loss | | | (5,174,439 | ) |
Accumulated net realized gain/(loss) on investments | | | 2,206,569 | |
Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on investments | | | 12,320,516 | |
Retained earnings | | | 9,352,646 | |
Total net assets | | $ | 138,135,693 | |
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ASGI Mesirow Insight Fund, LLC Class I (130,917.042 shares outstanding) | | $ | 1,013.36 | |
ASGI Mesirow Insight Fund, LLC Class A (5,415.104 shares outstanding) | | $ | 1,010.17 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements
ASGI Mesirow Insight Fund, LLC For the Year Ended March 31, 2013 |
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Interest | | $ | 2,713 | |
Rebate | | | 256,412 | |
Total investment income | | | 259,125 | |
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Management fees | | | 2,045,529 | |
Professional fees | | | 796,368 | |
Administrative and custodian fees | | | 276,059 | |
Commitment fees | | | 240,861 | |
Fund Board fees | | | 53,545 | |
Investor Distribution and Servicing Fees | | | 28,681 | |
Interest | | | 25,685 | |
Other operating expenses | | | 164,558 | |
Total expenses | | | 3,631,286 | |
Less: Expense reimbursement | | | (14,984 | ) |
Net expenses | | | 3,616,302 | |
Net investment loss | | | (3,357,177 | ) |
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Net Realized and Unrealized Gain/(Loss) on Investments | |
| | | | |
Net realized gain/(loss) from investments in Investment Funds | | | 3,060,132 | |
Net realized gain/(loss) from swap contracts | | | (618,675 | ) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) from investments in Investment Funds | | | 4,222,763 | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) from swap contracts | | | 26,879 | |
Total net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) from investments | | | 6,691,099 | |
| | | | |
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations | | $ | 3,333,922 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements
ASGI Mesirow Insight Fund, LLC Statements of Changes in Net Assets As of March 31, 2013 |
| For the Year Ended March 31, 2013 | | For the Period from February 1, 2012 to March 31, 2012 | | For the Year Ended January 31, 2012 |
Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets |
Operations |
|
Net investment loss | | $ | (3,357,177 | ) | | $ | (694,619 | ) | | $ | (2,866,126 | ) |
Net realized gain/(loss) from investments in Investment Funds | | | 3,060,132 | | | | (661,239 | ) | | | (1,302,383 | ) |
Net realized gain/(loss) from swap contracts | | | (618,675 | ) | | | – | | | | – | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) from investments in Investment Funds | | | 4,222,763 | | | | 3,078,108 | | | | (14,897,702 | ) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) from swap contracts | | | 26,879 | | | | (26,879 | ) | | | – | |
Net increase/(decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | | | 3,333,922 | | | | 1,695,371 | | | | (19,066,211 | ) |
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|
Distributions to Members |
|
Distribution of ordinary income | | | (2,052,150 | ) | | | – | | | | – | |
Total distributions to Members | | | (2,052,150 | ) | | | – | | | | – | |
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Capital Transactions |
|
Subscriptions of shares | | | 17,974,000 | | | | 178,042,815 | | | | 51,885,884 | |
Reinvestment of distributions | | | 1,566,095 | | | | – | | | | – | |
Shares repurchased | | | (59,423,989 | ) | | | (183,959,710 | ) | | | (32,826,272 | ) |
Increase/(decrease) in net assets derived from capital transactions | | | (39,883,894 | ) | | | (5,916,895 | ) | | | 19,059,612 | |
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Net assets |
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Total decrease in net assets | | | (38,602,122 | ) | | | (4,221,524 | ) | | | (6,599 | ) |
Beginning of period | | | 176,737,815 | | | | 180,959,339 | | | | 180,965,938 | |
End of period | | $ | 138,135,693 | | | $ | 176,737,815 | | | $ | 180,959,339 | |
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Undistributed net investment loss | | $ | (5,174,439 | ) | | $ | – | | | $ | – | |
See Notes to Financial Statements
ASGI Mesirow Insight Fund, LLC As of March 31, 2013 |
Cash Provided by Operating Activities | |
| |
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations | | $ | 3,333,922 | |
Adjustments to reconcile net increase in net assets resulting from operations to net cash provided by operating activities: | | | | |
Purchases of investments in Investment Funds | | | (103,865,000 | ) |
Purchases of swap contracts | | | (3,056,589 | ) |
Sales of investments in Investment Funds | | | 148,544,314 | |
Sales of swap contracts | | | 6,071,914 | |
Decrease in due from Adviser | | | 72,805 | |
Decrease in rebate receivable | | | 74,744 | |
Decrease in receivable for investments in Investment Funds sold | | | 251,631 | |
Increase in investments in Investment Funds paid in advance | | | (9,400,000 | ) |
Decrease in other prepaid assets | | | 59,069 | |
Decrease in Investor Distribution and Servicing Fee payable | | | (7,384 | ) |
Decrease in management fee payable | | | (116,331 | ) |
Increase in Fund Board fees payable | | | 1,575 | |
Decrease in accrued expenses and other liabilities | | | (433,582 | ) |
Net realized (gain)/loss from investments in Investment Funds | | | (3,060,132 | ) |
Net realized (gain)/loss from swap contracts | | | 618,675 | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) from investments | | | (4,222,763 | ) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) from swap contracts | | | (26,879 | ) |
Net cash provided by operating activities | | | 34,839,989 | |
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Cash Used in Financing Activities | |
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Proceeds from subscriptions of shares (net of change in subscriptions received in advance of $(973,000)) | | | 17,001,000 | |
Distributions paid | | | (486,055 | ) |
Payments for repurchases of shares (net of change in repurchases payable of $(4,882,901)) | | | (54,541,088 | ) |
Net cash used in financing activities | | | (38,026,143 | ) |
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Cash and Cash Equivalents | |
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Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents | | | (3,186,154 | ) |
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year | | | 5,999,136 | |
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year | | $ | 2,812,982 | |
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Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information | |
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Cash paid during the year for interest | | $ | 25,685 | |
Reinvestment of distributions | | $ | 1,566,095 | |
See Notes to Financial Statement
ASGI Mesirow Insight Fund, LLC |
| | | | | | |
| | For the Year Ended March 31, 2013 | | | As of the close of business on March 31, 2012(a) | | | For the Year Ended March 31, 2013 | | | As of the close of business on March 31, 2012(a) | |
Per share operating performance: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(For share outstanding throughout the year) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets per share at beginning of year | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,000.00 | |
Gain from investment operations: (b) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment loss | | | (20.15 | ) | | | – | | | | (23.27 | ) | | | – | |
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) from investments | | | 45.95 | | | | – | | | | 45.88 | | | | – | |
Total from investment operations | | | 25.80 | | | | – | | | | 22.61 | | | | – | |
Distribution of ordinary income to members | | | (12.44 | ) | | | – | | | | (12.44 | ) | | | – | |
Net assets per share at end of year | | $ | 1,013.36 | | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,010.17 | | | $ | 1,000.00 | |
Total return | | | 2.62 | % | | | 0.00 | %(a) | | | 2.30 | % | | | 0.00 | %(a) |
| | | | | | | | | |
Ratios to average net assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses gross of waiver(d) (e) | | | 2.20 | % | | | 0.00 | %(a) | | | 2.69 | % | | | 0.00 | %(a) |
Expenses net of waiver(d) (e) | | | 2.20 | % | | | 0.00 | %(a) | | | 2.47 | % | | | 0.00 | %(a) |
Net investment loss(d) (e) | | | (2.05 | %) | | | 0.00 | %(a) | | | (2.31 | %) | | | 0.00 | %(a) |
Net assets, end of year (in thousands) | | $ | 132,666 | | | $ | 166,387 | | | $ | 5,470 | | | $ | 10,351 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Portfolio turnover | | | 68 | % | | | 0 | %(a) | | | 68 | % | | | 0 | %(a) |
| | For the Period from February 1, 2012 to March 31, 2012(f) | | | For the Year Ended January 31, 2012 | | | For the Year Ended January 31, 2011 | | | For the Year Ended January 31, 2010 | | | For the Period from August 1, 2008(g) to January 31, 2009 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total return | | | 0.93 | %(c) | | | (10.06 | %) | | | 8.69 | % | | | 6.51 | % | | | (12.48 | %)(c) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratios to average net assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses(d) (e) | | | 2.50 | % | | | 1.89 | % | | | 1.61 | % | | | 1.82 | % | | | 2.07 | |
Net investment loss(d) (e) | | | (2.24 | %) | | | (1.55 | %) | | | (1.24 | %) | | | (1.48 | %) | | | (1.71 | %) |
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) | | $ | 176,738 | | | $ | 180,959 | | | $ | 180,966 | | | $ | 119,758 | | | $ | 91,511 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Portfolio turnover | | | | 10% | | | 72 | % | | | 73 | % | | | 89 | % | | | 30 | % |
|
(a) | As the fund reorganized its share classes at the close of business on March 31, 2012 both Class I and Class A had yet to experience operations. Thus, their expense ratio, net investment income ratio, portfolio turnover and total return as of the close of business on March 31, 2012 was zero. |
(b) | Based on average shares outstanding. |
(c) | Not Annualized. |
(d) | The expenses and net investment income/(loss) ratios do not include expenses of the Investment Funds in which the Fund invests. |
(e) | Annualized based on number of days during the period. |
(f) | Reorganization date. Reorganization occurred at end of day March 31, 2012. Ratios shown represent shareholder classes/interests prior to the introduction of Class I and Class A. |
(g) | Inception date. |
See Notes to Financial Statements
ASGI Mesirow Insight Fund, LLC Notes to Financial Statements |
1. Organization
ASGI Mesirow Insight Fund, LLC (the “Fund”), a Delaware limited liability company, has been registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) since August 1, 2008. The Fund is a closed-end management investment company and was previously organized under a “master-feeder” structure where an individual feeder fund’s shareholders indirectly invested substantially all of their investible assets in the Fund. Effective as of the close of business on March 31, 2012 (the “Reorganization Date”), each of the feeder funds liquidated and distributed their Fund shares to their investors. Alternative Strategies Group, Inc., a North Carolina corporation (the “Adviser”), is the investment adviser to the Fund. The Adviser has retained Mesirow Advanced Strategies, Inc. (the “Subadviser”), an Illinois corporation, to formulate and implement the Fund’s investment program.
The Fund’s investment objective is to provide attractive risk-adjusted returns with moderate volatility and moderate correlation to the broad equity and debt markets. Generally, the Fund pursues its investment objective principally by allocating its capital among various collective investment vehicles, commonly referred to as “hedge funds” (the “Investment Funds”), selected by the Subadviser in consultation with the Adviser. The Subadviser recommends the Investment Funds in which the Fund invests and the relative allocations to each Investment Fund to the Adviser and the Fund. The Fund may, in addition to investing in Investment Funds, also make investments directly, including, without limitation, for purposes of hedging certain exposures. The Subadviser may cause the Fund to maintain such cash holdings as the Subadviser may from time to time deem to be appropriate, and those holdings may at times comprise a material portion of the Fund’s assets. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s investment objective will be achieved or that the Fund will not incur losses.
The Fund’s Board of Managers (the “Fund Board”) provides broad oversight over the operations and affairs of the Fund, and has overall responsibility to manage and control the business affairs of the Fund, including the complete and exclusive authority to establish policies regarding the management, conduct, and operation of the Fund’s business. The Fund Board exercises the same powers, authority and responsibilities on behalf of the Fund as are customarily exercised by the board of directors of a registered investment company organized as a corporation.
2. Significant Accounting Policies
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund and are in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”).
(a) Valuation of Investments in Investment Funds – The Fund values its investments in Investment Funds at fair value in accordance with procedures established in good faith by the Fund Board. The fair value ordinarily will be the value of an interest in an Investment Fund determined by the investment manager of the Investment Fund in accordance with the policies established by the Investment Fund, absent information indicating that such value does not represent the fair value of the interest. The Fund could reasonably expect to receive this amount from the Investment Fund if the Fund’s interest were redeemed at the time of valuation, based on information reasonably available at the time the valuation is made and that the Fund believes to be reliable. Due to the nature of the investments held by the Investment Funds, changes in market conditions and the economic environment may significantly impact the value of the Investment Funds and the fair value of the Fund’s interests in the Investment Funds. Furthermore, changes to the liquidity provisions of the Investment Funds may significantly impact the fair value of the Fund’s interests in the Investment Funds. Under some circumstances, the Fund or the Adviser and Subadviser may determine, based on other information available to the Fund or the Adviser and Subadviser, that an Investment Fund’s reported valuation does not represent fair value. If it is determined that the Investment Fund’s reported valuation does not represent fair value, the Adviser and Subadviser may choose to make adjustments to reflect the fair value. During the year ended March 31, 2013, no such adjustments were deemed necessary by the Adviser and Subadviser. The Fund Board has also established procedures for the valuation of investment securities other than securities of Investment Funds, if any, held directly by the Fund.
ASGI Mesirow Insight Fund, LLC Notes to Financial Statements (continued) |
Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2009-12 permits a reporting entity to measure the fair value of an investment that does not have a readily determinable fair value, based on the net asset value per share (the “NAV”), or its equivalent, of the investment as a practical expedient, without further adjustment, unless it is probable that the investment will be sold at a value significantly different than the NAV. If the practical expedient NAV is not as of the reporting entity’s measurement date, then the NAV should be adjusted to reflect any significant events that may change the valuation. In using the NAV as a practical expedient, certain attributes of the investment, that may impact the fair value of the investment, are not considered in measuring fair value. Attributes of those investments include the investment strategies of the investees and may also include, but are not limited to, restrictions on the investor’s ability to redeem its investments at the measurement date and any unfunded commitments. The Fund is permitted to invest in alternative investments that do not have a readily determinable fair value, and as such, has elected to use the NAV as calculated on the reporting entity’s measurement date as the fair value of the investment. A description of each investment in the Fund by strategy can be found in the tables within the Schedule of Investments.
(b) Income taxes – The Fund elects to be treated as, and qualifies as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) by distributing substantially all of its investment company taxable income and any net realized capital gains (after reduction for capital loss carryforwards) sufficient to relieve it from all, or substantially all, federal income taxes. Accordingly, no provision for federal income taxes is required.
In accounting for income taxes, the Fund follows the guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 740, as amended by ASU 2009-06, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes. ASC 740 prescribes the minimum recognition threshold a tax position must meet in connection with accounting for uncertainties in income tax positions taken or expected to be taken by an entity before being measured and recognized in the financial statements. There were no uncertain tax positions as of March 31, 2013.
The Fund’s income and federal excise tax returns and all financial records supporting the 2012 tax returns are subject to examination by the federal and Delaware revenue authorities.
At March 31, 2013, the Fund had a short-term carryforward of $1,420,673. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010, the Fund is permitted to carry forward capital losses incurred in taxable years beginning after December 22, 2010 for an unlimited period. Capital losses that are carried forward will retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses.
(c) Security transactions and investment income – The Fund’s transactions are recorded on the effective dates of the transactions. Realized gains and losses on the Fund’s transactions are determined on the average cost basis. Interest income is recognized on the accrual basis. The Fund will indirectly bear a portion of the Investment Funds’ income and expenses, including management fees and incentive fees charged by the Investment Funds. That income and those expenses are recorded in the Fund’s financial statements as unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) and not as income or expense on the Statement of Operations or in the Financial Highlights.
(d) Cash and cash equivalents – The Fund maintains cash in an interest-bearing money market account of a bank, which, at times, may exceed federally insured limits. The Fund has not experienced any losses in such account and does not believe that it has been exposed to any significant credit risk on such bank deposits. All interest income earned will be paid to the Fund.
(e) Rebate income – A portion of the management fees charged by some of the investment managers of the Investment Funds that the Fund invests in is rebated to the Fund and is recognized on the accrual basis.
(f) Distributions – Distributions are paid to members holding shares of the Fund (“Members”) at least annually. Each Member will automatically be a participant under the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan (“DRP”) and have all income distributions and/or capital gains distributions automatically reinvested in shares. Election by a Member not to participate in the DRP and to receive all income distributions and/or capital gain distributions, if any, in cash may be made by
ASGI Mesirow Insight Fund, LLC Notes to Financial Statements (continued) |
providing notice to the Member’s broker or intermediary. Distributions to Members during the year ended March 31, 2013 totaled $2,052,150.
(g) Use of estimates – The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
(h) Fund expenses – The Fund bears all expenses incurred in its business and operations, and records them on an accrual basis. Expenses include, but are not limited to, fund accounting and administrative expenses, extraordinary expenses, legal, tax, audit, escrow and printing expenses. Operating expenses also include, by way of example: (1) investment related expenses, including, but not limited to, brokerage commissions, research fees, and other transactions costs; (2) interest and commitment expense on any borrowings; and (3) all costs and expenses associated with the registration of the Fund under, and compliance with, any applicable federal and state laws.
(i) Expense limitation agreement – The Fund entered into an expense limitation agreement that limits the Fund’s annualized ordinary fund-wide operating expenses to 2.65% through April 1, 2013 (the “Expense Limitation Agreement”). In addition, Class A shares of beneficial interest (“Class A Shares”) are subject to class-specific expenses. Class I shares of beneficial interest (“Class I Shares”) have no class-specific expenses. Members holding Class A Shares will pay (in addition to up to 2.65% in ordinary fund-wide operating expenses) an additional annualized amount of up to 0.75% (the “Investor Distribution and Servicing Fee”), for a total annualized rate of up to 3.40%. The Adviser is authorized to recoup expenses attributable to Class A Shares waived in prior periods, provided that ordinary fund-wide operating expenses are less than the annual limitation rate in place at the time such expenses were borne by the Adviser (or affiliated predecessor) and that any such recoupment is limited to expenses incurred within three years of the end of the fiscal year during which the expenses were waived. Additionally, for the year ended March 31, 2013, the Adviser voluntarily agreed to waive expenses applicable to Class A Shares to the extent necessary to limit ordinary fund-wide operating expenses and the Investor Distribution and Servicing Fee to an annualized rate of 2.65%. Expenses in the amount of $14,984 were waived for the year ended March 31, 2013, and are included in the Statement of Operations.
As of March 31, 2013, amounts subject to recoupment within three years after the end of the fiscal year in which the Adviser reimbursed such expenses were as follows:
| Amount | | Date |
| $ | 134,850 | | January 31, 2014 |
| $ | 188,487 | | January 31, 2015 |
| $ | 31,155 | | March 31, 2015 |
| $ | 14,984 | | March 31, 2016 |
(j) Third party service providers – BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (the “Administrator”) serves as the Administrator to the Fund. For the period from April 1, 2012 through May 31, 2012, under an agreement made between the Administrator and the Fund, the following annual fee was calculated upon the Fund’s beginning of the month’s net assets and paid monthly:
0.075% of the first $200 million of aggregate beginning of month net assets;
0.060% of the next $200 million of aggregate beginning of month net assets; and
0.040% of aggregate beginning of month net assets in excess of $400 million.
Effective June 1, 2012, the following annual fee will be calculated upon the Fund’s beginning of the month’s net assets and paid monthly:
0.085% of the first $200 million of aggregate beginning of month net assets;
0.070% of the next $200 million of aggregate beginning of month net assets; and
0.050% of aggregate beginning of month net assets in excess of $400 million.
ASGI Mesirow Insight Fund, LLC Notes to Financial Statements (continued) |
The Fund also pays the Administrator certain fixed fees for tax preparation and other services.
The Bank of New York Mellon (the “Custodian”) serves as the Custodian to the Fund. Under an agreement made between the Custodian and the Fund, 0.02% per annum is paid to the Custodian based on gross ending assets at the end of each month.
(k) Recent accounting pronouncements – In December 2011, FASB issued ASU No. 2011-11, “Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities,” which requires an entity to make additional disclosures about offsetting assets and liabilities and related arrangements. The new guidance seeks to enhance disclosures by requiring improved information about financial instruments and derivatives instruments that are either (1) offset in according with GAAP or (2) subject to enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement, irrespective of whether they are offset in accordance with GAAP. The objective of this information is to enable users of an entity’s financial statements to evaluate the effect or potential effect of netting arrangements on an entity’s financial position, including the effect or potential effect of rights of netting associated with certain financial instruments and derivative instruments in the scope of the update. The pronouncement is effective January 1, 2013, and must be applied retrospectively. Management has evaluated the implications of adopting this change and determined that it does not materially impact the financial statements.
3. Related Party Transactions
Parties are considered to be related if one party has the ability to control the other party or exercise significant influence over the other party in making financial or operational decisions. Fees incurred with related parties during the year are disclosed in the Statement of Operations unless otherwise noted.
(a) Investor Distribution and Servicing Fee – Under the terms of the wholesaling and placement agent agreement between the Fund and Alternative Strategies Brokerage Services, Inc. (the “Placement Agent”), the Placement Agent is authorized to retain brokers, dealers and certain financial advisors for distribution services and to provide ongoing investor services and account maintenance services to Members purchasing Class A Shares that are their customers. The Fund pays an Investor Distribution and Servicing Fee out of the net assets of Class A Shares at the annual rate of 0.75% of the aggregate net asset value of Class A Shares that have been outstanding for more than twelve (12) months, calculated and accrued as of the last day of each calendar month (before any repurchases of Class A Shares) and paid to the Placement Agent quarterly. The Investor Distribution and Servicing Fee is charged on an aggregate class-wide basis, and Members of Class A Shares will be subject to the Investor Distribution and Servicing Fee regardless of how long they have held their Class A Shares. The Investor Distribution and Servicing Fee is paid to the Placement Agent to reimburse it for payments made to investor service providers and for the Placement Agent’s ongoing investor servicing. Pursuant to the conditions of an exemptive order issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), the Investor Distribution and Servicing Fee is paid pursuant to a plan adopted by the Fund in compliance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act with respect to Class A Shares. Class I Shares are not subject to the Investor Distribution and Servicing Fee.
For the year ended March 31, 2013, the Fund expensed Investor Distribution and Servicing Fees of $28,681. As of March 31, 2013, there were $6,758 of Investor Distribution and Servicing Fees payable to the Placement Agent.
(b) Placement fees – Under the terms of the wholesaling and placement agent agreement between the Fund and the Placement Agent, the Placement Agent and its sub-agents are entitled to receive a placement fee based on the gross amount of Class A Shares purchased by a Member (the “Class A Shares Placement Fee”). In determining the applicable Class A Share Placement Fee at the time of investment in Class A Shares, the amount of a Member’s investment in Class A Shares (whether initial or additional) will be aggregated with the value of (i) the Member’s investments in shares subject to a placement fee of any collective investment vehicle advised by the Adviser and (ii) investments in shares subject to a placement fee of any collective investment vehicle advised by the Adviser held by the Member’s “Immediate Family Members” (as defined in the Fund’s subscription agreement). The Member must indicate in the subscription agreement who such “Immediate Family Members” are and the amounts of their investments.
ASGI Mesirow Insight Fund, LLC Notes to Financial Statements (continued) |
The Class A Share Placement Fee shall be deducted from the initial or optional additional subscriptions provided by the Member and is as follows:
Current Value of Class A Shares | | Placement Fee |
Less than $500,000 | | 2.00% |
$500,000 to less than $1,000,000 | | 1.00% |
$1,000,000 or more | | 0.50% |
| | |
For the year ended March 31, 2013, Class A Share Placement Fees paid by Members upon subscription into the Fund were $14,400.
(c) Investment advisory fees – Amounts payable to the Adviser at March 31, 2013 are disclosed in Note 4.
(d) Fund Board fees – As of March 31, 2013, fees payable to the Fund Board were $1,575. For the year ended March 31, 2013, the Fund incurred Board fees, including out of pocket expenses, of $53,545.
4. Investment Advisory Agreement
The Adviser is registered with the SEC as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (“Advisers Act”). The Adviser also serves as investment adviser to other investment funds, some of which utilize a multi-manager, multi-strategy investment approach. Although the Adviser is registered with the CFTC as a “commodity trading adviser,” it operates the Fund as if it was exempt from registration under CFTC Rule 4.14(a)(8). The Fund is not required to register as a “commodity pool operator” pursuant to CFTC Rule 4.5. It should be noted, however, that amendments adopted to Rule 4.5 alter the criteria required for the Adviser to rely on the exemption from registration as a “commodity pool operator” with respect to the Fund. Certain aspects of the rule are yet to be determined, and such determinations may dictate the appropriate course of action for the Fund with respect to its CFTC compliance obligations. At this time, there is no certainty that the Fund, the Adviser, the Subadviser or other parties will be able to rely on these exclusions and exemptions in the future. Additional CFTC regulation (or a choice to no longer use strategies that trigger additional regulation) may cause the Fund to change its investment strategies or to incur additional expenses.
On November 30, 2012 the CFTC issued relief for fund of fund operators who may otherwise be required to register with the CFTC as commodity pool operators by December 31, 2012 but do not have access to information from the investment funds in which they are invested in order to determine whether registration is required. This relief delays the registration date for such operators until the later of June 30, 2013 or six months from the date the CFTC issues revised guidance on the application of certain thresholds with respect to investments in commodities held by funds of funds. The Fund has filed as required with the CFTC in order to claim this no-action relief, which is effective upon receipt of the filing.
In addition, the CFTC, in conjunction with other federal regulators, also recently proposed stricter margin requirements for certain swap transactions. If adopted, the proposed requirements could increase the amount of margin necessary to conduct many swap transactions, limit the types of assets that can be used as collateral for such transactions, and impose other restrictions. The CFTC amendments and/or the rule proposals may affect the ability of the Fund to use swap agreements as well as futures contracts and options on futures contracts or commodities and may substantially increase regulatory compliance costs for the Adviser and the Fund. As of the date of this report, the ultimate impact of the CFTC amendments and/or the rule proposals on the Fund is uncertain.
Subject to policies adopted by the Fund Board and applicable law, the Adviser is responsible for appointing the Subadviser to manage the Fund’s investments, monitoring the Subadviser’s management of the investments, and implementing the Fund’s compliance program.
Pursuant to an agreement with the Adviser and the Fund, the Subadviser is responsible for the selection and monitoring of Investment Funds as well as direct investments of the Fund, and for day-to-day management of the Fund’s investment activities and holdings.
ASGI Mesirow Insight Fund, LLC Notes to Financial Statements (continued) |
The Fund pays the Adviser each month a fee (“Management Fee”) equal to one-twelfth of 1.25% of the aggregate net asset value of outstanding shares of the Fund determined as of the last business day of that month (before any repurchases of shares). The Management Fee payable to the Adviser at March 31, 2013 was $455,389. For the year ended March 31, 2013, the Fund incurred $2,045,529 in Management Fees. The Adviser pays the Subadviser a portion of the Management Fee as described in the sub-advisory agreement among the Adviser, Subadviser and the Fund.
5. Investment Transactions
Purchases of investments in Investment Funds for the year ended March 31, 2013 were $103,865,000 and proceeds from sales of investments in Investment Funds for the year ended March 31, 2013 were $148,544,314.
6. Investments in Investment Funds
The Adviser and Subadviser monitor the performance of Investment Funds. Such monitoring procedures include, but are not limited to, monitoring market movements in the Investment Funds’ portfolio investments, comparing performance to industry benchmarks, in depth conference calls and/or site visits with Investment Fund investment managers.
The Subadviser actively allocates, and from time to time reallocates, the Fund’s assets among the Investment Funds. While redemptions are permitted as noted in the table below for the Investment Funds, such redemptions may be suspended at any time upon the election of the management of the Investment Funds.
The investment managers of the Investment Funds are not affiliated with the Adviser or the Subadviser.
The following table lists the Fund’s investments in the Investment Funds for the year ended March 31, 2013, none of which was a related party. The Fund indirectly bears fees and expenses as an investor in the Investment Funds. Each Investment Fund will pay the investment manager of the Investment Fund a management fee. The fee rate will vary and is expected to range from 1.00% to 2.60% per annum of the net asset value of that Investment Fund. Additionally, the investment manager of an Investment Fund will generally receive an incentive allocation from each investment ranging from 0% to 20% (subject to any applicable thresholds) of any net new appreciation of that investment as of the end of each performance period for which an incentive allocation is determined.
Information about the underlying investments held by the Investment Funds is not readily available, so it is unknown whether the Investment Funds hold any single investment whereby the Fund’s proportionate share equals 5% of the Fund’s net assets at March 31, 2013.
Investments in Investment Funds | | % of Fund’s Total Fair Value | | | Fair Value | | | Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | | | Realized Gain/ (Loss) | | Redemptions Permitted* | Primary Geographic Location |
LibreMax Offshore Fund, Ltd. | | | 9.9 | | | $ | 12,567,351 | | | $ | 1,116,351 | | | $ | — | | Quarterly | Cayman Islands |
Axonic Credit Opportunities Overseas Fund, Ltd. | | | 9.2 | | | | 11,632,856 | | | | 725,856 | | | | — | | Quarterly | Cayman Islands |
HFR ED Jana Fund | | | 7.6 | | | | 9,702,978 | | | | 1,148,055 | | | | 125,219 | | Weekly | Bermuda |
King Street Europe, Ltd. | | | 7.0 | | | | 8,869,703 | | | | 369,703 | | | | — | | Quarterly | British Virgin Islands |
HFR ED Global Fund | | | 7.0 | | | | 8,860,600 | | | | 635,979 | | | | 178,126 | | Monthly | Bermuda |
dbX-US Long/Short Equity 12 Fund | | | 6.8 | | | | 8,719,059 | | | | 994,971 | | | | — | | Monthly | Channel Islands |
Southpoint Qualified Offshore Fund, Ltd. | | | 6.7 | | | | 8,481,595 | | | | 481,595 | | | | — | | Quarterly | Cayman Islands |
Corvex Offshore Ltd. | | | 6.1 | | | | 7,739,795 | | | | 339,795 | | | | — | | Quarterly | Cayman Islands |
HFR CA Lazard Rathmore Fund | | | 4.8 | | | | 6,084,995 | | | | (537,261 | ) | | | 754,209 | | Weekly | Bermuda |
dbX-Convertible Arbitrage 13 Fund | | | 4.6 | | | | 5,831,205 | | | | 6,241 | | | | 103,949 | | Monthly | Channel Islands |
dbX-Global Long/Short Equity 7 Fund | | | 4.5 | | | | 5,735,272 | | | | 304,069 | | | | 142,985 | | Monthly | Channel Islands |
HFR HE Courage Opportunity Fund | | | 4.1 | | | | 5,211,545 | | | | (257,800 | ) | | | 249,818 | | Monthly | Bermuda |
ASGI Mesirow Insight Fund, LLC Notes to Financial Statements (continued) |
Investments in Investment Funds | | % of Fund’s Total Fair Value | | Fair Value | | Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | | Realized Gain/ (Loss) | | Redemptions Permitted* | Primary Geographic Location |
MKP Opportunity Offshore, Ltd. | | | 3.9 | | $ | 4,985,213 | | $ | 251,732 | | $ | 233,481 | | Monthly | Cayman Islands |
dbX-Emerging Markets Macro 3 Fund | | | 3.2 | | | 4,109,734 | | | (84,361 | ) | | 143,563 | | Weekly | Channel Islands |
Balestra Global Ltd. | | | 3.2 | | | 4,059,129 | | | (105,871 | ) | | — | | Quarterly | Cayman Islands |
HFR RVA Advent Global Opportunity Fund | | | 3.0 | | | 3,842,972 | | | 110,677 | | | 610,754 | | Weekly | Bermuda |
Winton Futures Fund Ltd. | | | 2.7 | | | 3,453,836 | | | 76,765 | | | (242,929 | ) | Monthly | British Virgin Islands |
HFR RVA Kayne MLP 1.25x Fund | | | 2.3 | | | 2,922,784 | | | (219,465 | ) | | 554,067 | | Weekly | Bermuda |
Taylor Woods Fund Ltd. | | | 2.2 | | | 2,811,500 | | | 332,093 | | | 1,407 | | Quarterly | Cayman Islands |
Beach Horizon Fund Ltd. | | | 1.2 | | | 1,566,561 | | | (282,754 | ) | | (560,685 | ) | Monthly | Cayman Islands |
dbX-Global Macro 8 Fund | | | — | | | — | | | (46,415 | ) | | 24,997 | | Monthly | Channel Islands |
dbX-US Long/Short Equity 9 Fund | | | — | | | — | | | (30,736 | ) | | 74,962 | | Weekly | Channel Islands |
HFR RVA Avoca Credit Alpha Fund | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 808,105 | | Weekly | Bermuda |
HFR RVA Feingold O’Keeffe Fund | | | — | | | — | | | 325,513 | | | (1,306,787 | ) | Closed | Bermuda |
HFR ED York Fund | | | — | | | — | | | (559,955 | ) | | 292,736 | | Closed | Bermuda |
dbX-High Yield 2 Fund | | | — | | | — | | | (84,064 | ) | | 579,875 | | Monthly | Channel Islands |
HFR Macro QFS Currency Fund | | | — | | | — | | | 614,819 | | | (741,691 | ) | Weekly | Bermuda |
GEM Realty Securities, Ltd. | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 90,000 | | Quarterly | Cayman Islands |
HFR HE Ajia-Lighthorse China Growth Fund | | | — | | | — | | | 111,951 | | | (257,370 | ) | Closed | Bermuda |
HFR HE Jade Fund | | | — | | | — | | | 8,747 | | | 60,603 | | Closed | Bermuda |
HFR MA Strategic Fund | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 1,071 | | Monthly | Bermuda |
HFR MF Diversified Select Fund | | | — | | | — | | | (156,326 | ) | | 151,836 | | Weekly | Bermuda |
HFR MF Beach Fund | | | — | | | — | | | 541,985 | | | (576,436 | ) | Weekly | Bermuda |
HFR RVA Titan Fund | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 83,237 | | Closed | Bermuda |
HFR RVA Whitebox Fund | | | — | | | — | | | (1,215,102 | ) | | 1,015,161 | | Monthly | Bermuda |
HFR Macro Galtere Commodity Fund | | | — | | | — | | | 252,795 | | | (254,611 | ) | Weekly | Bermuda |
HFR RVA Salient MLP 1.25x Fund | | | — | | | — | | | (913,026 | ) | | 689,517 | | Monthly | Bermuda |
HFR RVA Marathon Asia Fund | | | — | | | — | | | (33,793 | ) | | 30,963 | | Weekly | Bermuda |
Total Investments in Investment Funds | | | 100.0% | | $ | 127,188,683 | | $ | 4,222,763 | | $ | 3,060,132 | | | |
* Subject to the terms of the offering memorandums of the Investment Funds.
While redemptions are permitted as noted in the table above for the Investment Funds, such redemptions may be deferred or suspended at any time upon the election of the investment manager of the Investment Fund. Moreover, certain funds may amend their liquidity provisions or otherwise further restrict the Fund’s ability to make withdrawals from those funds. The Fund had no unfunded commitments as of March 31, 2013.
The following is a summary of the investment strategies of the Investment Funds held in the Fund as of March 31, 2013.
Credit Strategies. Credit strategies commonly invest long and short in debt obligations of public and private companies to provide exposure to credit and/or volatility risks associated with those asset classes. For example, credit funds may invest long and short in debt obligations of companies that are in a period of stress due to, for instance, operational difficulties, financial duress, or bankruptcy proceedings. Long-biased credit funds typically have a net long exposure greater than 50%. Long/short credit funds generally maintain net exposure between 50% short and 50% long. Short-biased credit funds generally maintain a net short exposure greater than 50% net short. Multi-strategy credit funds invest across multiple credit strategies. An Investment Fund may make opportunistic allocations of capital across various structured product assets. Structured product transactions typically involve securities that entitle an Investment Fund to receive payments based primarily on the cash flows or market value of a specified pool of financial assets. Examples of structured product investments include collateralized bond, loan, and debt obligations as well as synthetic positions replicating such
ASGI Mesirow Insight Fund, LLC Notes to Financial Statements (continued) |
obligations, residential mortgage-backed securities, commercial mortgage-backed securities, and other asset-backed securities.
Event Driven Strategies. Event driven strategies generally seek to profit from anticipated outcomes of company-specific or transaction-specific events. Company events that serve as investment catalysts for event managers include mergers, acquisitions, transfers of assets, tender offers, exchange offers, recapitalizations, liquidations, divestitures, spin-offs, equity restructurings, and reorganizations. Event driven strategies rely upon the accurate forecasting of the outcome of particular events in addition to high quality valuation analyses. Investment Funds employing event strategies may invest long, short, or both, and generally do not rely on market direction for results. Examples of event driven strategies include merger arbitrage, in which an Investment Fund will be long the stock of a merger target while shorting the stock of the acquiring company, and event equity, in which an Investment Fund invests in a spin-off, recapitalization, or similar event that (unlike merger arbitrage) does not have a defined time frame or announced target price.
Hedged Equity Strategies. Hedged equity Investment Funds primarily invest in stocks of companies of varying market capitalizations. Such companies are primarily listed in the U.S., European, and developed Asian equities markets, although Investment Funds may invest in equity instruments in other regions, and may also invest a portion of assets in certain non-equity related securities. Hedged equity Investment Funds generally take both long and short positions or utilize other hedged investment approaches designed to control (but not eliminate) market exposure. Hedged equity Investment Funds tend to have a defined, fundamental investment philosophy, much like that of a traditional equity fund, and they generally implement that philosophy on both the long and short sides of the market. The hedged equity strategies to which the Fund may have exposure include opportunistic, loose neutral, long-biased, and short-biased. Opportunistic Investment Funds take both long and short positions in equity securities and derivatives at levels of exposure that vary depending on their investment outlook. Opportunistic strategies are typically expected to profit from stock picking skills, as well as portfolio risk management, and may use fundamental, bottom-up, and top-down sector and macro analysis. Opportunistic Investment Funds may have net short exposure to equity markets at points in time, but typically are expected to have a long bias over a market cycle and many will have net exposures in the 20% to 50% range. Loose neutral strategies generally involve being simultaneously long and short equity portfolios of the same size within a geographic region or sector and are typically intended to profit from market inefficiencies. Loose neutral managers typically maintain net exposure between 20% short and 20% long. Long-biased Investment Funds typically invest both long and short, but have a net long exposure to the equity markets (generally greater than 50% to 70% net long, although the Subadviser may invest with Investment Funds that have 100% long exposure), such that their strategies can be expected to perform better in rising markets. Investment Funds may utilize niche strategies, focusing on growth or value stocks, small or large capitalization companies, particular industries, or a particular geographical region or sector. Short-biased Investment Funds are a sub-set of hedged equity strategies that typically maintain net short exposure to equity markets by taking short positions in companies whose equities they expect to decline in price. The Subadviser generally invests in short-biased managers in order to offer greater diversification of short selling exposure. The Subadviser may utilize short-biased Investment Funds to decrease or hedge long equity exposure resulting from long positioning of other Investment Funds. Short exposure may be taken through the use of short-selling, or through exchange traded or over-the-counter derivative instruments such as futures, options, and swaps.
Macro and Commodity Strategies. Macro and commodity strategies typically engage in an analysis of economic, political, and financial market conditions incorporating a variety of macro and micro considerations including, but not limited to, the business cycle, central bank policy, the regulatory and political environment, demographics, and fiscal policy in an effort to identify investment opportunities across a wide range of investment instruments. The macro and commodity investment approach is wide ranging, attempting to identify potential market opportunities irrespective of market sector, instrument or asset traded, or geography. Investment Funds may use a number of trading strategies in an attempt to achieve their investment objectives including, but not limited to, futures investing, equity long/short strategies, and credit-related strategies. The various techniques that Investment Funds employ may be used as independent profit opportunities, as well as to hedge existing positions. To implement macro and commodity strategies, Investment Funds may trade securities of all kinds, derivative instruments (including, but not limited to, forwards, swaps, swaptions, collars, caps, floors, and other types of over-the-counter derivatives, as well as exchange-traded derivatives, including options, futures, and options on futures) on currencies, interest rates, commodities, and other types of financial and non-financial underlyings, or other transactions with similar substantive or economic effect, and other investments of all types and kinds.
ASGI Mesirow Insight Fund, LLC Notes to Financial Statements (continued) |
Relative Value Strategies. Relative value strategies encompass a wide range of investment techniques that are intended to profit from pricing inefficiencies. Relative value strategies generally involve taking a position in one instrument and simultaneously taking an offsetting position in a related instrument in an attempt to profit from incremental changes in the price differential. Relative value strategies are implemented in a manner intended to substantially limit, if not entirely remove, the impact of market direction on performance. Examples of relative value strategies are (a) convertible bond arbitrage, in which an Investment Fund is long a convertible bond and short the issuer’s common stock in an attempt to profit from the mispricing between the two securities, (b) volatility arbitrage, in which an Investment Fund invests in long and short volatility positions, typically through options, (c) capital structure arbitrage, in which an Investment Fund is long an issuer’s security that is senior or junior to securities elsewhere in the issuer’s capital structure that the Investment Fund takes a short position in, with an expectation that the relative prices of the issuer’s two securities will converge, and (d) strict market neutral, which is typically a quantitative strategy in which long and short positions are taken in equal weight, with the aim of removing market bias.
7. Derivative Instruments
The Fund may enter into transactions involving derivative financial instruments in connection with its investing activities. These instruments derive their value, primarily or partially, from the underlying asset, indices, reference rate, or combination of these factors.
Derivative financial instruments are subject to various risks similar to non-derivative instruments, such as market risk and credit risk. Derivative financial instruments are typically also subject to certain additional risks, such as those resulting from leverage and reduced liquidity. The Subadviser manages these risks on an aggregate basis along with the risks associated with its investing activities as part of its overall risk management policies. The Fund may use derivative financial instruments in the normal course of its business to take speculative investment positions as well as for risk management purposes. The principal type of derivative used by the Fund, as well as the methods in which it is used are as follows:
Total Return Swap Contracts
Total return swap contracts involve the exchange by the Fund and a counterparty of their respective commitments to pay or receive a net amount based on the total return from, or the increase or decrease in the value of, a particular security or index and a specified notional amount. The Fund may enter into total return swap contracts primarily to manage its exposure to the market or certain sectors of the market. For the year ended March 31, 2013, the Fund entered into five fully funded total return swap contracts with Credit Suisse International in order to provide protection against market volatility in the United States and Europe. The average monthly number of swap contracts was less than one, with an average monthly notional value of $708,966. There were no swap contracts outstanding at March 31, 2013.
The Fund’s derivatives are not considered to be hedging instruments under GAAP and therefore, during the term of the swap contracts, changes in value are recognized as unrealized gains or losses by marking the contracts to fair value on the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Assets. Additionally, the Fund records a realized gain/(loss) when a swap contract is terminated and when periodic payments are received or made at the end of each measurement period, but prior to termination. Unrealized appreciation/(depreciation), realized gains/(losses) and periodic payments are reflected in net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on derivative instruments in the Statement of Operations.
The net realized loss on swap contracts for the year ended March 31, 2013 is $618,675 and is included on the Statement of Operations.
ASGI Mesirow Insight Fund, LLC Notes to Financial Statements (continued) |
8. Fair Value Measurements
The Fund measures fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are:
| ● | | Level 1 – Unadjusted quoted prices for identical securities in an active market. Since valuations are based on quoted prices that are readily-accessible at the measurement date, valuation of these securities does not entail a significant degree of judgment. |
| ● | | Level 2 – Quoted prices in non-active markets for which all significant inputs are observable either directly or indirectly. Level 2 inputs may also include pricing models whose inputs are observable or derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data. |
| ● | | Level 3 – Prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value and unobservable. Little if any market activity exists for Level 3 securities. |
When the inputs used to measure fair value fall within different levels of the hierarchy, the level within which the fair value measurement is categorized is based on the lowest level input that is significant to fair value.
The Adviser considers subscription and redemption rights, including any restrictions on the disposition of the interest, in its determination of fair value of investments in Investment Funds. Investments in the Investment Funds are included in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy if the Fund can provide the appropriate redemption notice and can redeem its investment within 90 days of fiscal year end. All other investments in Investment Funds are classified as Level 3.
The Fund recognizes transfers into and out of the levels indicated above at the end of the reporting period. There were no other transfers between any of the levels during the current year.
The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. A summary of the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of March 31, 2013 is as follows:
| |
Description | | Total Fair Value at March 31, 2013 | | | Level 1 Quoted Prices | | | Level 2 Other Significant Observable Inputs | | | Level 3 Significant Unobservable Inputs | |
Credit | | $ | 33,069,910 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 33,069,910 | | | $ | — | |
Event Driven | | | 18,563,578 | | | | — | | | | 18,563,578 | | | | — | |
Hedged Equity | | | 38,810,050 | | | | — | | | | 38,810,050 | | | | — | |
Macro and Commodity | | | 20,985,973 | | | | — | | | | 20,985,973 | | | | — | |
Relative Value | | | 15,759,172 | | | | — | | | | 15,759,172 | | | | — | |
Total Investments | | $ | 127,188,683 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 127,188,683 | | | $ | — | |
ASGI Mesirow Insight Fund, LLC Notes to Financial Statements (continued) |
The following is a reconciliation of Level 3 investments for which significant unobservable inputs were used in determining fair value:
| | Investments in Investment Funds - Hedged Equity | |
Balance, as of April 1, 2012 | | $ | 48,793 | |
Realized gain/(loss) | | | 60,603 | |
Change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) | | | 8,747 | |
Purchases | | | – | |
Sales | | | (118,143) | |
Transfers into Level 3 | | | – | |
Transfers out of Level 3 | | | – | |
Balance, as of March 31, 2013 | | $ | – | |
|
9. Capital Share Transactions
The Fund intends to accept initial and additional subscriptions for shares only once each month, effective as of the opening of business on the first business day in that month at the relevant NAV of the Fund as of the close of business on the last business day of the prior month. All subscriptions of Class A Shares accepted into the Fund are received net of Class A Share Placement Fees. The Fund Board may discontinue accepting subscriptions at any time.
To provide a limited degree of liquidity to Members, the Fund may from time to time offer to repurchase shares pursuant to written tenders by Members. Tender offers will be made at such times, in such amounts and on such terms as may be determined by the Fund Board in its sole discretion.
For the year ended March 31, 2013, transactions in the Fund’s shares were as follows:
| Subscriptions (in Shares) | | Subscriptions | | Reinvestment of Distributions (Shares) | | Reinvestment of Distributions | | Repurchases (in Shares) | | Repurchases |
Class I | 16,555.794 | | $ | 16,349,100 | | 1,531.851 | | $ | 1,501,556 | | (53,557.364) | $ | (52,947,269) |
Class A | 1,634.194 | | | 1,624,900 | | 65.948 | | | 64,539 | | (6,636.094) | | (6,476,720) |
Total | 18,189.988 | | $ | 17,974,000 | | 1,597.799 | | $ | 1,566,095 | | (60,193.458) | $ | (59,423,989) |
10. Contingencies
In the normal course of business, the Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations and warranties and which provide general indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as any such exposure would result from future claims that may be, but have not yet been, made against the Fund based on events that have not yet occurred. However, based on the Adviser’s and Subadviser’s experience, the Fund believes the risk of loss from these arrangements to be remote.
11. Risk Factors
An investment in the Fund involves various risks. The Fund allocates assets to Investment Funds that invest in and actively trade securities and other financial instruments using a variety of strategies and investment techniques with significant risk characteristics, including the risks arising from the volatility of the equity, fixed income, commodity and currency markets, the risks of borrowings and short sales, the risks arising from leverage associated with trading in the equities, currencies and over-the-counter derivatives markets, the illiquidity of derivative instruments and the risk of loss from counterparty defaults. No guarantee or representation is made that the investment program will be successful.
ASGI Mesirow Insight Fund, LLC Notes to Financial Statements (continued) |
12. Line of Credit Arrangements
The Fund maintains a committed, secured line of credit (the “Facility”) with Deutsche Bank AG. For the period from April 1, 2012 through January 27, 2013, the Facility had the following terms: (a) interest rate of applicable London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) rate plus 1.00% per annum, (b) a commitment fee of 0.65% per annum of the maximum principal amount, and (c) a committed amount of $40,000,000. Effective January 28, 2013, the committed amount of the Facility was reduced from $40,000,000 to $20,000,000. No other terms of the facility changed.
For the year ended March 31, 2013, the Fund had weighted average borrowings of $17,522,500. The interest rate on borrowings for the year ended March 31, 2013 was 0.27% plus a spread of 1%. As of March 31, 2013, there was no outstanding balance under the line of credit.
The Fund is required to meet certain financial covenants, such as maintaining a target collateralization rate of 25% as defined in the credit facility, to be the sum of the aggregate principal amount outstanding on the last business day of each month plus the accrued but unpaid interest amounts (as of such date) divided by the gross portfolio values as of the last business day of each month.
13. Federal Income Tax Information
Prior to April 1, 2012, the Fund operated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Effective April 1, 2012, the Fund has elected to be treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, and it further intends to elect to be treated, and expects each year to qualify, as a “regulated investment company” (“RIC”) under Subchapter M of the Code. For each taxable year that the Fund so qualifies, the Fund will not be subject to federal income tax on that part of its taxable income that it distributes to Members. Taxable income consists generally of net investment income and net capital gains. The Fund will distribute substantially all of its net investment income and net capital gains to Members.
Distributions from net investment income and net realized capital gains are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from GAAP. These book-to-tax differences are either temporary or permanent in nature. The following reclassifications were a result of tax differences relating to disallowed expenses, swap gains (losses), and investments in Investment Funds. Net assets were not affected by these reclassifications.
During the year ended March 31, 2013, the Fund increased undistributed net investment loss by $1,817,262 and accumulated realized gain by $1,817,262.
Dividends and distributions on the Fund’s shares are generally subject to federal income tax to the extent they do not exceed the Fund’s earnings and profits. Such distributions are likely to occur in respect of shares purchased at a time when a Fund’s net asset value reflects gains that are either unrealized, or realized but not distributed. Such realized gains may be required to be distributed even when the Fund’s net asset value also reflects unrealized losses. The tax basis of distributable earnings as of March 31, 2013 were as follows:
Undistributed net investment income | | $ | 593,602 | |
Capital loss carryover | | | (1,420,673 | ) |
Unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) | | | 10,662,410 | |
During the year ended March 31, 2013, the tax character of distributions paid by the Fund was $2,052,150 from ordinary income. Distributions from net investment income and short-term capital gains are treated as ordinary income dividends for federal tax purposes.
For the year ended March 31, 2013, the Fund deferred post-October capital losses of $1,050,572 and post-October currency losses of $933,592. Under federal tax law, capital losses and currency losses realized after October 31 may be deferred and treated as occurring on the first day of the following year.
ASGI Mesirow Insight Fund, LLC Notes to Financial Statements (continued) |
14. Subsequent Events
The Adviser has evaluated the impact of all subsequent events on the Fund through the date of the financial statements. No material events were noted.
On April 1, 2013, the Adviser and the Fund extended the current Expense Limitation Agreement through April 1, 2014. Additionally, the additional voluntary expense waiver from the Adviser, which was applicable to Class A Shares to the extent necessary to limit Class A Shares’ ordinary fund-wide operating expenses and the Investor Distribution and Servicing Fee to an annualized rate of 2.65%, expired as of April 1, 2013.
Subsequent to year end, the Fund received subscriptions of $1,935,000.
ASGI Mesirow Insight Fund, LLC Supplemental Information (unaudited) |
Tax Information
For the year ended March 31, 2013, certain dividends paid by the Fund qualify for the corporate dividends received deduction. Of the ordinary income distributions paid during the year, 9.32% qualify for the corporate dividends received deduction.
For the year ended March 31, 2013, certain dividends paid by the Fund are subject to a maximum tax rate of 15% as provided by the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Act of 2003. Of the ordinary income distributions paid during the year, 21.23% qualify for the 15% tax rate. The Fund did not distribute any long term capital gains.
The Board of Managers of the Funds and the Fund
The Fund Board provides broad oversight over the operations and affairs of the Fund, and has overall responsibility to manage and control the business affairs of the Fund, including the complete and exclusive authority to establish policies regarding the management, conduct, and operation of the Fund’s business. The Fund Board exercises the same powers, authority and responsibilities on behalf of the Fund as are customarily exercised by the board of directors of a registered investment company organized as a corporation.
The Managers of the Fund Board (“Managers”) are not required to hold Shares of the Fund. A majority of the Managers are persons who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund (collectively, the “Independent Managers”). The Independent Managers perform the same functions for the Fund as are customarily exercised by the non-interested directors of a registered investment company organized as a corporation or trust.
The identity of the Independent Managers and officers of the Funds and brief biographical information regarding each such person during the past five years is set forth below. Each Independent Manager who is deemed to be an “interested person” of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act (an “Interested Manager”), is indicated by an asterisk. The business address of each person listed below is 401 South Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28202.
ASGI Mesirow Insight Fund, LLC Supplemental Information (unaudited) (continued) |
Name and Age(1) | Position(s) With the Fund | Term of Office and Length(2) of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios In Fund Complex(3) Overseen by Manager | Other Directorships Held by Manager During the Last 5 Years |
Adam Taback* Age: 42 | Manager, President | Since 2011 | President, Alternative Strategies Group, Inc., since 2001; President, Wells Fargo Alternative Asset Management, LLC, since 2011; President, Alternative Strategies Brokerage Services, Inc., since 2010. | 4 | Chairman of the Board of Managers, ASGI Aurora Opportunities Fund, LLC, since 2010; Chairman of the Board of Trustees, ASGI Agility Income Fund, since 2010; Chairman of the Board of Managers, ASGI Corbin Multi-Strategy Fund, LLC, since 2010. |
James Dean Age: 57 | Manager | Since 2011 | Dean, Associate Dean, Kenan-Flagler Business School, UNC Chapel Hill, since 1998. | 4 | Trustee, ASGI Agility Income Fund, since 2010; Member of Board of Managers, ASGI Aurora Opportunities Fund, LLC, since 2010; Member of Board of Managers, ASGI Corbin Multi-Strategy Fund, LLC, since 2010. |
James Dunn Age: 40 | Manager | Since 2011 | Vice President, Chief Investment Officer, Wake Forest University, since 2009; Managing Director, Chief Investment Officer, Wilshire Associates, 2005-2009. | 4 | Trustee, ASGI Agility Income Fund, since 2010; Member of Board of Managers, ASGI Aurora Opportunities Fund, LLC, since 2010; Member of Board of Managers, ASGI Corbin Multi-Strategy Fund, LLC, since 2010. |
Stephen Golding Age: 64 | Manager | Since 2011 | Chief Financial Officer, Vice President Finance and Administration, Ohio University, since 2010. | 4 | Trustee, Washington College, since 2003; Trustee, ASGI Agility Income Fund, since 2010; Member of Board of Managers, ASGI Aurora Opportunities Fund, LLC, since 2010; Member of Board of Managers, ASGI Corbin Multi-Strategy Fund, LLC, since 2010. |
James Hille Age: 51 | Manager | Since 2011 | Chief Investment Officer, Texas Christian University, since 2006; Chief Investment Officer, Texas Teachers, 1995-2006. | 4 | Trustee, Employees Retirement System of Fort Worth, since 2007; Board Member, Texas Comptroller’s Investment Advisory Board, since 2007; Trustee, Trinity Valley School, since 2009; Trustee, ASGI Agility Income Fund, since 2010; Member of Board of Managers, ASGI Aurora Opportunities Fund, LLC, since 2010; Member of Board of Managers, ASGI Corbin Multi-Strategy Fund, LLC, since 2010; Board Member, Investment Advisory Committee of Employee Retirement System of Texas, since 2011; Trustee, Silver Ventures Inc., since 2012. |
Jonathan Hook Age: 55 | Manager | Since 2011 | Vice President, Chief Investment Officer, The Ohio State University, since 2008; Chief Investment Officer, Baylor University, 2001-2008. | 4 | Trustee, ASGI Agility Income Fund, since 2010; Member of Board of Managers, ASGI Aurora Opportunities Fund, LLC, since 2010; Member of Board of Managers, ASGI Corbin Multi-Strategy Fund, LLC, since 2010; Member of the Board of Directors, Research Corporation for Science Advancement (RCSA), since 2011. |
ASGI Mesirow Insight Fund, LLC Supplemental Information (unaudited) (continued) |
Name and Age(1) | Position(s) With the Fund | Term of Office and Length(2) of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Number of Portfolios In Fund Complex(3) Overseen by Manager | Other Directorships Held by Manager During the Last 5 Years |
Dennis Schmal Age: 66 | Manager | Since 2008 | Self-employed; Board Director and Consultant. | 4 | Trustee, ASGI Agility Income Fund, LLC, since 2011; Member of Board of Managers, ASGI Aurora Opportunities Fund, LLC, since 2011; Member of Board of Managers, ASGI Corbin Multi-Strategy Fund, LLC, since 2011; Director of Grail Advisors ETF Trust (5 Funds) 2009-2011; Director of the Genworth Financial GuideMark mutual funds (9 Funds), since 2007; Chairman of the Board of Directors of Pacific Metrics Corporation, since 2005; Director, Sitos Global Inc., since 2012; Director of Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, from 2004 to 2011; Director of Merriman Holdings, Inc., since 2003; Director of North Bay Bancorp from 2006 to 2007. | |
| * | Indicates an Interested Manager. |
| | |
| (1) | As of March 31, 2013. |
| | |
| (2) | Each Manager serves until death, retirement, resignation or removal from the Board. Any Manager may be removed either (a) with or without cause by the vote or written consent of at least two thirds (2/3) of the Managers not subject to the removal vote (but only if there are at least three Managers serving on the Board at the time of such vote or written consent) or (b) with or without cause by, if at a meeting, a vote of the Members holding a majority of the total number of votes present at such meeting or, if by written consent, a vote of Members holding at least two-thirds (2/3) of the total number of votes eligible to be cast by all Members. |
| | |
| (3) | The “Fund Complex” is currently comprised of four closed-end registered investment companies. |
| | |
Principal Officers who are not Managers:
Name and Age(1) | Position(s) With the Fund | Length of Time Served(2) | Principal Occupation During Past Five Years |
Michael Roman Age: 32 | Treasurer | Since 2011 | Treasurer, Wells Fargo Alternative Asset Management, LLC, since 2011; Fund Reporting Manager, Alternative Strategies Group, Inc., since 2007; Senior Analyst, Alternative Strategies Group, Inc., 2006; Senior Financial Analyst, Turbine, Inc; 2003-2006. |
Britta Patterson Age: 38 | Secretary | Since 2011 | Director, Chief Administrative Officer, and Senior Vice President Alternative Strategies Group, Inc., since 2005. |
Lloyd Lipsett Age: 48 | Assistant Secretary | Since 2011 | Vice President, Senior Counsel, Wells Fargo & Company, since 2009; Senior Vice President, Counsel, Wachovia Corporation (predecessor to Wells Fargo & Company), 2004-2009. |
ASGI Mesirow Insight Fund, LLC Supplemental Information (unaudited) (continued) |
Name and Age(1) | Position(s) With the Fund | Length of Time Served(2) | Principal Occupation During Past Five Years |
Jeffrey Minerva Age: 31 | Assistant Treasurer | Since 2013 | Senior Fund Reporting Analyst, Alternative Strategies Group, Inc., since 2011; Audit Senior, Deloitte & Touche, LLP, 2007-2011; Audit Senior Associate, Deloitte & Touche, LLP, 2006-2007; Audit Associate, Deloitte & Touche, LLP, 2005-2006. |
Doretta Dunegan Age: 55 | Chief Compliance Officer | Since 2008 | Chief Compliance Officer of Alternative Strategies Group, Inc., since 2011;Vice President and Compliance Manager, Wells Fargo Wealth Management since 2004; Chief Compliance Officer of Wells Fargo Alternative Asset Management, LLC, from 2005 to 2012; Chief Compliance Officer of Nelson Capital Management, LLC from 2005 to 2009. |
Yukari Nakano Age: 60 | Chief Operating Officer | Since 2011 | Chief Operating Officer, Wells Fargo Alternative Asset Management, LLC, since 2011; Senior Vice President (since 2003) and Chief Operating Officer (since 2010), Alternative Strategies Group, Inc. |
| | |
| (1) | As of March 31, 2013. |
| | |
| (2) | Each officer of the Fund serves for an indefinite term until the date his or her successor is elected and qualified, or until he or she sooner dies, retires, is removed or becomes disqualified. |
ASGI Mesirow Insight Fund, LLC Supplemental Information (unaudited) (continued) |
Form N-Q Filings
The Fund will file its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. The Forms N-Q will be available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and may also be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling (800) SEC-0330.
Proxy Voting Policies
Information on how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the prior twelve month period ending June 30 of each year and a description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities will be available without charge, by request, by calling (415) 371-4000 and on the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov.
Item 2. Code of Ethics.
| (a) | The registrant, as of the end of the period covered by this report, has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the registrant or a third party. |
| | |
| (c) | There have been no amendments, during the period covered by this report, to a provision of the code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the registrant or a third party, and that relates to any element of the code of ethics description. |
| | |
| (d) | The registrant has not granted any waivers, including an implicit waiver, from a provision of the code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the registrant or a third party, that relates to one or more of the items set forth in paragraph (b) of this item’s instructions. |
Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.
As of the end of the period covered by the report, the registrant’s board of managers has determined that Stephen Golding is qualified to serve as an audit committee financial expert serving on its audit committee and that he is “independent,” as defined by Item 3 of Form N-CSR.
Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
Audit Fees
| (a) | The aggregate fees billed for each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for the audit of the registrant's annual financial statements or services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for those fiscal years are $72,250 for |
| | 2012, $35,000 for the period from February 1, 2012 to March 31, 2012, and $54,505 for 2013. |
Audit-Related Fees
| (b) | The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for assurance and related services by the principal accountant that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the registrant's financial statements and are not reported under paragraph (a) of this Item are $0 for 2012, $0 for the period from February 1, 2012 to March 31, 2012, and $0 for 2013. |
Tax Fees
| (c) | The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning are $21,500 for 2012 and $113,875 for 2013. |
| | |
| | The Registrant’s principal accountant provided tax compliance services to the Registrant, including reviewing tax filings and advising the Registrant with respect to various tax-related matters. |
All Other Fees
| (d) | The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for products and services provided by the principal accountant, other than the services reported in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Item are $0 for 2012, $0 for the period from February 1, 2012 to March 31, 2012, and $0 for 2013. |
| | |
| (e)(1) | Disclose the audit committee's pre-approval policies and procedures described in paragraph (c)(7) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X. |
The Audit and Non-Audit Services Pre-Approval Policy with respect to the registrant is set forth below:
Revised as of February 28, 2013
Audit Committee of
ASGI Mesirow Insight Fund, LLC
[Additional Funds]
(the “Funds”)
Audit and Non-Audit Services Pre-Approval Policy (the “Policy”)
I. Statement of Principles
Under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Act”), the Audit Committee of the Board of Managers of the Funds (the “Committee”) is responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm (i.e., an accounting firm that has registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”)) to the Funds (the “Auditor”). As part of this responsibility, the Committee is required to pre-approve the audit and non-audit services performed by the Auditor in order to assure that these services do not impair the Auditor’s independence. In addition, these procedures also require the Committee to pre-approve non-audit services provided by the Auditor to Alternative Strategies Group, Inc. (“ASGI”) (or any entity in a control relationship with ASGI that provides ongoing services to the Funds) where such non-audit services relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Funds as further assurance that such services do not impair the Auditor’s independence.
The Committee charter requires the Committee to pre-approve all audit and non-audit services provided to the Funds by the Auditor, except for de minimis fees (less than 5% of the total fees received by the Auditor in a fiscal year for services provided to the Funds) for non-audit services that were not recognized at the time of the engagement of the Auditor to be non-audit services and which are promptly brought to the attention of the Committee and approved prior to the completion of the audit.
This Policy follows two different approaches to pre-approving services: (1) proposed services may be generally pre-approved (“General Pre-Approval”); or (2) proposed services will require specific pre-approval (“Specific Pre-Approval”). Unless a type of service provided by the Auditor has received General Pre-Approval, it will require Specific Pre-Approval by the Committee.
Exhibit A to this Policy describes the Audit, Audit-Related, Tax and All Other Services subject to General Pre-Approval, which hereby are pre-approved by the Committee. The Committee will annually review these services. It is expected that such review will occur annually at a regularly scheduled Committee meeting.
II. Audit Services
The Funds’ annual audit services engagement scope and terms will be subject to Specific Pre-Approval of the Committee. Audit services performed thereafter during such engagement are subject to General Pre-Approval and include the annual financial statement audit and other procedures required to be performed by the Auditor in order to be able to form an opinion on the Funds’ financial statements. The audit services subject to General Pre-Approval, which hereby are pre-approved, are set forth in Exhibit A.
III. Audit-Related Services
Audit-related services are assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Funds’ financial statements or that are traditionally performed by an independent auditor.
The audit-related services subject to General Pre-Approval, which here are pre-approved, are set forth in Exhibit A.
IV. Tax Services
The Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) has stated generally that an Auditor may provide tax services to an audit client, such as tax compliance, tax planning and tax advice, if such services do not impair the Auditor’s independence. Circumstances where providing certain tax services would impair the Auditor’s independence, such as representing the Funds in tax court or other situations involving public advocacy are not permitted.
The tax services subject to General Pre-Approval, which hereby are pre-approved, are listed in Exhibit A.
V. All Other Services
The Committee believes that other types of non-audit services may also be permitted if such non-audit services: (a) are routine and recurring services; (b) would not impair the independence of the Auditor; and (c) are consistent with the Act and the rules relating thereto. The Committee shall consider such non-audit services as being subject to Specific Pre-Approval, and consider such services on a case-by-case basis.
VI. Prohibited Services
The Auditor is prohibited from providing the following non-audit services to the Funds at any time:
| (1) Bookkeeping or other services related to the Funds’ accounting records or financial statements; |
| (2) Financial information systems design and implementation; |
| (3) Appraisal or valuation services, fairness opinions, or contribution-in-kind reports; |
| (4) Actuarial services; |
| (5) Internal audit outsourcing services; |
| (6) Management functions or human resources; |
| (7) Broker or dealer, investment adviser, or investment banking services; |
| (8) Legal services and expert services unrelated to the audit; and |
| (9) Any other service that the PCAOB determines, by regulation, is impermissible. |
VII. Procedures
At least annually, the Funds’ Chief Financial Officer and the Auditor shall jointly submit to the Committee for approval a revised Exhibit A.
EXHIBIT A
ASGI Mesirow Insight Fund, LLC
[Additional Funds]
(the “Funds”)
Schedule of Audit, Audit-Related, Tax and Other Non-Audit Services
Subject to General Pre-Approval
Revised as of February 28, 2013
Service | Summary of Services |
Audit Services | | |
Audit | Recurring audit of financial statements of the Funds in accordance with U.S. generally accepted auditing standards including, but not limited to: |
| ■ | Annual letter regarding the Funds’ internal control to be included in the annual report to the SEC on Form N-SAR |
| ■ | Review of any post-effective amendment to the Funds’ registration statement on SEC Form N-2, and consent to the incorporation by reference, if any, of the Auditor’s report on the Funds’ financial statements in such SEC filing |
| ■ | Review of the Funds’ respective portfolios in connection with determining whether each Fund qualifies as a regulated investment company |
| ■ | Accounting consultations and tax services required to perform an audit in accordance with U.S. generally accepted auditing standards |
| Other audit and special reports including, but not limited to: |
| | All services relating to any subsequent filings of registration statements (including amendments thereto) for the Funds with the SEC, including issuance of auditor consents |
Audit-Related Services | | |
Consultations regarding accounting, operational or regulatory implications, or regulatory/compliance matters of proposed or actual transactions affecting the operations or financial reporting | Includes consultations relating to new regulatory rules and guidance, unusual or non-recurring transactions and other regulatory or financial reporting matters that are generally non-recurring |
Service | Summary of Services |
Other auditing procedures and issuance of special purpose reports | Auditing procedures and special reports, including those needed for |
| ■ | Separate audit reports in connection with Rule 17f-2 security counts |
| ■ | Various governmental agencies tax authorities and Fund mergers |
Tax Services | | |
Tax services | Recurring tax services including, but not limited to: |
| ■ | Review and sign the Funds’ federal income tax returns (Form 1120-RIC, U.S. Income Tax Return for Regulated Investment Companies) and applicable state and local returns |
| | |
| ■ | Review annual income and excise distribution requirements and review and sign related excise tax returns of the Funds |
Consultations regarding tax consequences of proposes or actual transactions | Consultations on U.S. tax matters, such as fund reorganizations; tax basis earnings and profits computations; evaluating the tax characteristics of certain expenses and income items; advice on accounting methods, timing issues, compliance matters and characterization issues |
(e)(2) | The percentage of services described in each of paragraphs (b) through (d) of this Item that were approved by the audit committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X are as follows: |
| |
| | (b) Not applicable |
| | |
| | (c) 100% |
| | |
| | (d) Not applicable |
| | |
(f) | The percentage of hours expended on the principal accountant's engagement to audit the registrant's financial statements for the most recent fiscal year that were attributed to work performed by persons other than the principal accountant's full-time, permanent employees was less than fifty percent. |
| |
(g) | The aggregate non-audit fees billed by the registrant's accountant for services rendered to the registrant, and rendered to the registrant's investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant for each of the last two fiscal years of the registrant was $21,500 for 2012 and $113,875 for 2013. |
| |
(h) | Not applicable. |
Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.
Not applicable.
Item 6. Investments.
(a) | Schedule of Investments in securities of unaffiliated issuers as of the close of the reporting period is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this form. |
| |
(b) | Not applicable. |
Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Proxy Voting authority has been delegated to the registrant’s subadviser, Mesirow Advanced Strategies, Inc. (“MAS”). The Proxy Voting Policies are set forth below.
MESIROW ADVANCED STRATEGIES, INC.
PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
(Effective May 1, 2013)
Introduction
Rule 206(4)-6 adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, requires that a registered investment adviser that votes client securities:
| (1) | adopt and implement written policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure that proxies, with respect to securities in client accounts where the adviser exercises voting discretion, are voted in the best interest of its clients, which procedures must include how the adviser addresses material conflicts that may arise between the adviser’s interests and those of its clients; |
| | |
| (2) | describe to clients the adviser’s proxy voting policies and procedures and, upon request, furnish a copy of the policies and procedures to the requesting client; and |
| | |
| (3) | disclose to clients how they may obtain information about how the adviser has voted proxies with respect to their securities. |
| | |
It is unclear whether the SEC would regard Rule 206(4)-6 as having applicability outside of proxies solicited by issuers of publicly-traded equity securities, and MAS does not normally make direct investments in publicly-traded equity securities on behalf of the fund of hedge funds and managed accounts under MAS’ control (the “MAS Funds”). However, MAS has determined that in order to closely follow the spirit of Rule 206(4)-6, MAS has adopted, and will disclose to investors in the MAS Funds, the following policies with respect to how MAS votes on matters submitted to its consideration by the third-party hedge fund managers and underlying investment funds (the “Portfolio Funds”) in which MAS invests the MAS Funds. All proxies, voting rights, and consents are referred to in this document as “proxies.” Below are the policies and procedures that MAS has adopted with respect to voting proxies (the “Policies”).
General Policies
Voting Proxies
MAS’ policy is to vote proxies in the best interests of the MAS Funds, after taking into account all relevant facts and circumstances at the time of the vote, and in accordance with MAS’ fiduciary duties and applicable regulations. In evaluating proxies, MAS considers numerous factors, including, but not limited to: how the vote could affect the value of the relevant MAS Fund’s investment; the liquidity of the relevant investment in the overall context of the MAS Fund’s portfolio as well as in comparison to similar investments (including peer Portfolio Funds implementing similar strategies); and other factors that broadly relate to whether the investment continues to fulfill its role in the MAS Fund’s portfolio with the new term or structure changes. MAS does not take into account social, political, or other non-investment-related goals or interests in voting or abstaining from voting a proxy.
Because the MAS Funds generally only invest in Portfolio Funds, almost all proxies that MAS votes relate to changes in the terms or structures governing Portfolio Funds. However, in certain extraordinary circumstances, an MAS Fund may have a direct position in a publicly-traded equity security. For example, an MAS Fund may receive a publicly-traded equity security as an in-kind redemption payment from a Portfolio Fund. In the past, MAS has acted promptly to liquidate those positions, rather than holding them for investment. MAS anticipates acting similarly in the future. Because proxies are normally relevant only to investors who intend to hold the security through the event that is the subject of the proxy vote, a proxy received in respect of a security that is in the process of being liquidated will likely not affect the liquidation value of the security. Therefore, MAS does not currently intend to vote any proxies received in respect of securities that MAS is in the process of liquidating. However, if MAS anticipates that an MAS Fund will hold a publicly-traded security for a significant period of time, and the MAS Fund has been solicited to vote a proxy in respect of that security, MAS will vote that proxy as it deems is in the best interest of that MAS Fund and its investors.
Although MAS has not currently identified any material conflicts of interest that would affect its proxy voting decisions, certain MAS Funds (including those in which MAS principals or affiliates have a material interest) may vote differently on proxies due to differing investment objectives, guidelines, or portfolio constraints. Additionally, certain MAS principals or employees may invest directly in a Portfolio Fund, and may vote differently on proxies due to differing investment objectives or for other reasons. In some instances, differing votes may not adversely impact any MAS Fund involved (for instance, if one MAS Fund elects to accept a payment-in-kind from a Portfolio Fund while another MAS Fund elects to remain invested in the Portfolio Fund). In other instances, one MAS Fund’s vote may prevent a Portfolio Fund from implementing certain changes or taking other actions that another MAS Fund supports, or may permit a Portfolio Fund to implement certain changes or take other actions that another MAS Fund is opposed to. Due to the difficulty of predicting and identifying material conflicts with respect to proxy voting ahead of time, MAS addresses those conflicts as they arise. MAS relies on its employees to identify those conflicts and notify the relevant personnel so that they can determine whether a conflict actually exists and how to address it.
Disclosure to Investors
Within the meaning of Rule 206(4)-6, MAS’ clients are the MAS Funds. Therefore, the Rule only requires that MAS disclose these Policies, as well as information on how MAS has voted proxies, to the MAS Funds. However, MAS believes that the best practice is to make available these Policies, as well as information on how MAS has voted proxies, to all investors in the MAS Funds. MAS includes a summary of these Policies in its Form ADV Part 2A and, upon request, delivers this entire document to any requesting investor. Investors may contact MAS through their normal point of contact to obtain information about how MAS has voted proxies. However, investors must be made aware that with respect to proxies related to Portfolio Fund investments, MAS will be limited in the information that it can disclose because of confidentiality restrictions imposed by Portfolio Funds.
Recordkeeping
SEC Rule 204-2 requires MAS to retain: (1) its proxy voting policies and procedures; (2) proxy statements received by MAS regarding client securities; (3) records of votes MAS casts on behalf of clients; (4) records of client requests for proxy voting information and written responses from MAS to those requests; and (5) any documents prepared by MAS that were material to making a decision on how to vote or that memorialized the basis for the decision.
MAS satisfies requirements (1) – (3) and (5) by retaining these Policies and the Proxy Log (as defined below) for at least seven years from the date of their last use. MAS believes that it is best practice to read requirement (4) broadly to include investors in the MAS Funds. Therefore, MAS satisfies requirement (4) by retaining a copy of each investor’s request for proxy voting information and written responses from MAS to those requests for at least seven years from that request and response.
General Procedures
To summarize MAS’ procedures for evaluating proxies: (1) MAS’ Legal and Compliance Team (“Legal Team”) receives the proxy and forwards to the Operational Due Diligence Team (“ODD Team”); (2) the Legal Team and the ODD Team concurrently review and summarize the proxy; (3) if the ODD Team determines necessary based on its and the Legal Team’s review of the proxy, the ODD Team presents the proxy summary to the Strategy Working Group (the “SWG”) assigned to the particular Portfolio Fund; (4) after consideration of a variety of factors, including those outlined above, the SWG decides how MAS will vote (or if MAS will abstain from voting) the proxy or refers the proxy to MAS’ Investment Committee (the “IC”) to decide how MAS will vote (or if MAS will abstain from voting); and (5) the Legal Team documents the decision of the SWG and/or IC in MAS’ proxy voting log (the “Proxy Log”) and MAS’ Allocations Team (the “Allocations Team”) completes and responds to the proxy in accordance with that decision. Below are the specific steps in MAS’ proxy voting process.
(1) Portfolio Managers send any changes to fund offering memoranda, subscription documents, and governing documents (including articles of incorporation, articles of partnership, limited partnership agreements, limited liability company operating agreements, etc.) as well as any letters summarizing those changes and any consent/approval forms with respect to the changes (collectively, “Updated Documents”) to MASdocupdates@mesirowfinancial.com, the assigned ODD Team analyst (each, an “ODD Analyst”), and/or the relevant fund’s or account’s administrator (the “Administrator”). If Portfolio Managers send Updated Documents to other MAS employees or to mperform@mesirowfinancial.com, the recipient employee or the employee monitoring the mperform inbox, as applicable, will forward to MASdocupdates@mesirowfinancial.com.
(2) The ODD Analyst will request from the Portfolio Manager marked copies of the Updated Documents and a summary of the changes, if not already provided with the Updated Documents.
(3) Certain MAS employees, including certain members of the Legal Team, the ODD Team, the Allocations Team, and MAS’ Portfolio Construction Team (the “PC Team”), have access to MASdocupdates@mesirowfinancial.com. MASdocupdates@mesirowfinancial.com is monitored daily by certain members of the Legal Team and periodically by the ODD Analysts.
(4) When MASdocupdates@mesirowfinancial.com receives Updated Documents that require a response (e.g., consent/proxy forms), MAS will follow the procedures below (timing estimates below will be adjusted depending on response deadline):
(a) INITIAL NOTIFICATION (day of or day after receipt of consent/proxy form): The Legal Team forwards the Updated Documents to the assigned ODD Analyst, copying the Allocations Team, and noting which documents were updated and the deadline for response.
(b) REVIEW (within 1 week of receipt of consent/proxy form): The Legal Team and the ODD Analyst concurrently review changes to the Updated Documents. The Legal Team sends a draft summary of those changes to the ODD Analyst. The ODD Analyst contacts the relevant Portfolio Manager to resolve any questions or issues. The ODD Analyst prepares a final summary of the changes to the Updated Documents, incorporating its own comments and any applicable comments from the Legal Team. The Legal Team updates the Proxy Log.
(c) SWG/IC APPROVAL (where the ODD Analyst deems necessary, within two weeks of receipt of the consent/proxy form): The ODD Analyst presents its final summary of changes to the appropriate SWG for approval. The SWG may determine to defer to the IC for approval.
| a. | At least two days before the response deadline, the ODD Analyst sends the final summary of changes to the ODD Team, the appropriate qualitative analyst (the “Qual Analyst”) and strategy team leader (“STL”), the PM Team, the Allocations Team, and the appropriate Legal Team member (the “Legal Contact”), noting the SWG or the IC, as applicable, decision. |
| b. | The Legal Contact updates the Proxy Log to reflect this decision. |
| c. | The Legal Contact instructs the Allocations Team with respect to completing and returning the consent/proxy form. The Allocations Team completes the consent/proxy form and coordinates delivery to the Portfolio Manager. |
(d) RECORDS: The Legal Team sends the final Updated Documents to a designated member of MAS’ Research Team (the “Research Contact”) and to the Allocations Team (updated subscription documents only). The Research Contact saves the final Updated Documents to MAS’ internal document filing system. The Allocations Team sends the final updated subscription documents to the Administrator.
(5) When MASdocupdates@mesirowfinancial.com receives Updated Documents that do not require a response (e.g., notice of non-adverse changes), MAS will follow the procedures below (timing estimates below may be adjusted):
(a) INITIAL NOTIFICATION (within one week of receipt of the Updated Documents): The Legal Team forwards the Updated Documents to the assigned ODD Analyst, copying the Allocations Team, and noting which documents have been updated.
(b) REVIEW (within two weeks of receipt of the Updated Documents): The Legal Team and the ODD Analyst concurrently review changes to the Updated Documents. The Legal Team sends a draft summary of those changes to the ODD Analyst. The ODD Analyst contacts the relevant Portfolio Manager to resolve any questions or issues. The ODD Analyst prepares a final summary of the changes to the Updated Documents, incorporating its own comments and any applicable comments from the Legal Team. The Legal Team updates the Proxy Log.
(c) FINALIZE: the ODD Analyst sends the final summary of changes to the ODD Team, the Qual Analyst and STL, the PM Team, the Allocations Team, and the Legal Contact.
(d) RECORDS (within three weeks of receipt of the Updated Documents): The Legal Team sends the final Updated Documents to the Research Contact and the Allocations Team (updated subscription documents only). The Research Contact saves the final Updated Documents to MAS’ internal document filing system. The Allocations Team sends the final updated subscription documents to the Administrator.
(6) All MAS teams that participate in the above proxy evaluation procedures will use best efforts basis to complete the review/approval/recording process within four weeks of receipt of the Updated Documents
(subject to acceleration in the case of earlier response deadlines or extension in the case of scheduled vacation or MAS-observed holidays).
(7) The Proxy Log and these Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures are located on MAS’ internal document filing system at: S:\Policies and Procedures\Operations\Operational Due Diligence Procedures. The Proxy Log tracks the following information:
| ● | the Portfolio Manager seeking the changes; |
| ● | the Portfolio Funds affected; |
| ● | the SWG, Qual Analyst, and Analyst assigned; |
| ● | the date that MAS received the Updated Documents; |
| ● | the deadline date for responding to changes in the Updated Documents; |
| ● | the date the changes to the Updated Documents become effective; |
| ● | the final summary of changes to the Updated Documents, as prepared by the ODD Analyst; |
| ● | the dates of the ODD Analyst’s and the Legal Team’s signoff with respect to changes to the Updated Documents; |
| ● | the decision of the SWG and/or IC with respect to a consent/proxy form (if any) and the date of that decision; and |
| ● | the date the SWG and/or IC decision was communicated to the Portfolio Manager (if applicable) and the method by which the decision was communicated. |
(8) The ODD Analyst is responsible for entering any term changes with respect to a Portfolio Fund resulting from the Updated Documents into MOSAIC/PMT and the relevant Manager Due Diligence report.
(9) A designated Legal Contact will monitor the deadline for responding to any consent/proxy requests to ensure any necessary votes have been executed by the deadline.
RIC Policies and Procedures
With respect to any MAS Fund that is a registered investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (a “RIC”), MAS must comply with the proxy voting policies and procedures adopted by that RIC. If MAS serves as the sub-adviser, rather than operating and serving as the investment adviser, to a RIC, the proxy voting policies and procedures of the RIC may be different than MAS’ standard proxy voting policies and procedures. The RIC’s adopted proxy voting policies and procedures control in all instances with respect to that RIC.
ASGI Mesirow Insight Fund, LLC (the “ASGI RIC”)
MAS anticipates that the ASGI RIC will exclusively invest in non-voting securities and, therefore, that it will receive few (if any) proxies with respect to the ASGI RIC. If MAS does receive a proxy with respect to the ASGI RIC, MAS must follow the policies and procedures adopted by the ASGI RIC (available on the shared drive). Those policies and procedures are summarized below.
The President of Alternative Strategies Group, Inc., the ASGI RIC’s investment adviser (“ASGI”), or his/her designee, in consultation with MAS, is responsible for determining how to vote each proxy.
If MAS determines that it has a conflict of interest in voting a proxy on behalf of the ASGI RIC, MAS must promptly notify ASGI.
MAS will promptly send to ASGI a copy of each proxy that it receives with respect to the ASGI RIC, as well as a written recommendation on how to vote that proxy. If ASGI or the ASGI RIC’s administrator or custodian receives a proxy with respect to the ASGI RIC, ASGI will deliver a copy of that proxy to MAS. MAS will promptly respond in writing to ASGI with a recommendation on how to vote that proxy. To determine its
recommended vote for any proxy, MAS will follow the standard proxy voting procedures set forth above under “General Procedures.”
ASGI will notify MAS in writing regarding its decision on how to vote a proxy. MAS is responsible for the actual voting, or directing the ASGI RIC’s custodian or administrator to do the actual voting, of each proxy consistent with ASGI’s voting decision. Upon receipt of an executed proxy, MAS will, or will instruct the ASGI RIC’s administrator to, update the ASGI RIC’s proxy voting record.
MAS will, or will instruct the ASGI RIC’s administrator to, maintain, or have available, (a) written or electronic copies of each proxy statement received and of each proxy decision and (b) records relating to each proxy, including (i) the determination as to whether the proxy was routine or not; (ii) the voting decision with regard to each proxy; and (iii) any documents created by MAS or others that were material to making the voting decision. MAS will maintain those records in its offices for seven years. This is consistent with MAS’ standard proxy voting recordkeeping policy described above under “General Policies – Recordkeeping.”
Not later than August 31 of each year, the ASGI RIC is required to file with the SEC its proxy voting record for the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30. MAS must provide to ASGI whatever proxy voting information is necessary for the ASGI RIC to comply with its proxy voting disclosure and other regulatory requirements.
Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
(a)(1) | Identification of Portfolio Managers or Management Team Members and Description of Role of Portfolio Managers or Management Team Members |
ASGI has retained Mesirow Advanced Strategies, Inc. (“MAS”), an Illinois corporation, to act as subadviser to the registrant.
MAS has an Investment Committee which has ultimate authority for determining whether MAS will recommend to ASGI that the registrant invest in (or withdraw from) an underlying investment. Following are the names and biographical information of the voting members of MAS’ Investment Committee (the “Management Team Members”). There may be additional non-voting members of the Investment Committee who serve in an advisory role providing input, but not voting, on investment decisions:
Martin B. Kaplan, born 1968, has been employed by affiliates of MAS since April 1995. Mr. Kaplan is the Chief Executive Officer of MAS and is a member of its Investment and Executive Committees. Additionally, he is a member of the Executive Committee and board of directors of Mesirow Financial Holdings Inc. (“MFHI”), MAS’ parent company, and held various roles at Mesirow Financial Inc., a broker-dealer affiliated with MAS. Mr. Kaplan is responsible for developing and overseeing the strategic direction of MAS, including structuring and supervising its management structure. Since 1995, Mr. Kaplan has helped coordinate MAS’ management and strategic initiatives. Prior to joining MAS and its affiliates, Mr. Kaplan was an attorney with the law firm of Katten Muchin & Zavis, where he specialized in matters involving securities, mergers and acquisitions, and venture capital. Mr. Kaplan received a B.B.A. in finance and real estate from the University of Texas at Austin and a J.D. from George Washington University — National Law Center. He was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1993.
Stephen C. Vogt, Ph.D., born 1962, has been employed by affiliates of MAS since April 2001 and served as a consultant to MAS from 1999 to March 2001. Dr. Vogt is the Chief Investment Officer and a Senior Managing Director of MAS, and is a member of MAS’ Investment and Executive Committees.
Additionally, he is a member of the Executive Committee and board of directors of MFHI. Dr. Vogt oversees all aspects of research including portfolio management, risk management, manager due diligence, and manager monitoring. Prior to joining MAS and its affiliates, Dr. Vogt was an associate professor of finance at DePaul University for ten years. His research focused on empirical tests of financial theories and has been published in both academic and trade journals. Dr. Vogt received a B.S. in economics and mathematics from Bemidji State University, and an M.A. and a Ph.D. in economics from Washington University-St. Louis.
Thomas Macina, CFA, born 1969, has been employed by affiliates of MAS since December 2003. Mr. Macina is the President of MAS, as well as a Senior Managing Director. Mr. Macina is also a member of MAS’ Investment and Executive Committees. He is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day management of MAS’ business. Mr. Macina led MAS’ manager research and due diligence function from 2006 to 2010, and remains actively involved in assisting those efforts. Prior to joining MAS, he was with a multi-strategy hedge fund, where he was responsible for investments in a variety of sectors. Prior to joining the hedge fund industry, Mr. Macina worked in strategy consulting with Bain & Company and in investment banking with Houlihan, Lokey, Howard and Zukin, Inc. He received a B.S. in finance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an M.B.A. from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. In addition, he is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).
Eric D. Siegel, CPA, CFA, born 1968, has been employed by affiliates of MAS since 2001. Mr. Siegel is the Head of Operational Due Diligence of MAS, as well as a Senior Managing Director. Mr. Siegel is also a member of MAS’ Investment and Executive Committees. Mr. Siegel is responsible for the operational due diligence reviews of managers and participates in portfolio analysis and ongoing manager monitoring. Prior to joining MAS, Mr. Siegel was the Chief Financial Officer of BRI Partners LLC, a prior affiliate of MAS that seeded direct trading hedge funds, from October 2001 to December 2003. Mr. Siegel was also the Chief Financial Officer of two Chicago based hedge fund managers before joining BRI Partners LLC in October 2001. In addition, he worked in the audit department of Ernst & Young LLP from 1990 to 1997 focusing on hedge funds, mutual funds, and derivatives trading companies. Mr. Siegel received a B.S. (cum laude) in accounting from Syracuse University in 1990. In addition, he is a Certified Public Accountant (“CPA”) in Illinois and a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).
Mark C. Kulpins, CFA, born 1974, has been employed by affiliates of MAS since August 2004. Mr. Kulpins is the Director of Manager Research of MAS, as well as a Senior Managing Director. Mr. Kulpins is also a member of MAS’ Investment and Executive Committee. He is responsible for providing leadership and management to the strategy-focused research teams with respect to investment and underlying Portfolio Manager considerations. Mr. Kulpins also shares responsibility with MAS’ Chief Investment Officer for various aspects of portfolio construction, portfolio risk management, and strategy analysis. Prior to joining MAS, Mr. Kulpins worked in the equity research department at William Blair & Company and also previously worked for Brinson Partners, Inc. Mr. Kulpins received a B.S. in finance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an M.B.A. in finance and economics from the University of Chicago’s Graduate School of Business. In addition, he is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).
(a)(2) | Other Accounts Managed by Portfolio Managers or Management Team Members and Potential Conflicts of Interest |
| Other Accounts Managed by Portfolio Managers or Management Team Members |
(As of March 31, 2013)
| Registered Investment Companies | Other Pooled Investment Vehicles | Other Accounts |
Voting Members of MAS’ Investment Committee | Number of Accounts* | Total Assets of Accounts Managed ($) | Number of Accounts** | Total Assets of Accounts Managed ($) | Number of Accounts | Total Assets of Accounts Managed ($) |
Martin B. Kaplan | 0 | 0 | 17 | $8,089 billion | 22 | $5,142 billion |
Stephen C. Vogt | 0 | 0 | 17 | $8,089 billion | 22 | $5,142 billion |
Thomas Macina | 0 | 0 | 17 | $8,089 billion | 22 | $5,142 billion |
Eric D. Siegel | 0 | 0 | 17 | $8,089 billion | 22 | $5,142 billion |
Mark C. Kulpins | 0 | 0 | 17 | $8,089 billion | 22 | $5,142 billion |
| * Not including the Fund. |
| ** Pooled vehicles that are part of the same master-feeder structure are reflected as one account. |
| Potential Conflicts of Interests |
| |
| Real, potential or apparent conflicts of interest may arise because MAS has day-to-day portfolio management responsibilities with respect to more than one investment fund and account. MAS manages other MAS Funds with investment strategies that may be similar to certain investment strategies utilized by the registrant, as well as more concentrated products that invest with a narrow strategy focus. Fees earned by MAS may vary among the MAS Funds, and MAS’ principals and employees may personally invest in the MAS Funds. These factors could create conflicts of interest because MAS’ principals and employees may have incentives to favor certain accounts over others, resulting in other MAS Funds outperforming the registrant. A conflict may also exist if MAS identifies a limited investment opportunity that may be appropriate for more than one account, but the registrant is not able to take full advantage of that opportunity due to the need to allocate that opportunity among multiple MAS Funds. In addition, MAS may execute transactions for another account that may adversely impact the value of securities held by the registrant. However, MAS believes that these risks are mitigated by the fact that the MAS Funds with like investment strategies are generally managed in a similar fashion and MAS has a policy that seeks to allocate opportunities on a fair and equitable basis over time. See ASGI Mesirow Insight Fund, LLC Private Placement Memorandum for additional information on potential conflicts of interest. |
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(a)(3) | Compensation Structure of Portfolio Manager(s) or Management Team Members |
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| Compensation for MAS’ Management Team Members may include a combination of a fixed salary and a discretionary bonus tied in part to profits generated by MAS during the applicable period. In addition, MAS may consider a variety of other factors including, but not limited to, the |
| Management Team Members’ execution of managerial responsibilities. Compensation is generally determined by senior management. The Management Team Members may also participate in a 401(k) plan that enables them to direct a percentage of their pre-tax salary into a tax-qualified retirement plan. |
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(a)(4) | Disclosure of Securities Ownership |
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| None of MAS’ Management Team Members owned any interests in the registrant as of March 31, 2013. |
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(b) | Not applicable. |
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Item 9. | Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers. |
Not applicable.
Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
There have been no material changes to the procedures by which the shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant’s board of directors, where those changes were implemented after the registrant last provided disclosure in response to the requirements of Item 407(c)(2)(iv) of Regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.407) (as required by Item 22(b)(15) of Schedule 14A (17 CFR 240.14a-101)), or this Item.
Item 11. Controls and Procedures.
| (a) | The registrant’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, have concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) (17 CFR 270.30a-3(c))) are effective, as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of the report that includes the disclosure required by this paragraph, based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(b)) and Rules 13a-15(b) or 15d-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (17 CFR 240.13a-15(b) or 240.15d-15(b)). |
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| (b) | There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(d)) that occurred during the registrant’s second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. |
Item 12. Exhibits. |
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| (a)(1) | Code of ethics, or any amendment thereto, that is the subject of disclosure required by Item 2 is attached hereto. |
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| (a)(2) | Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the 1940 Act and Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto. |
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| (a)(3) | Not applicable. |
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| (b) | Not applicable. |
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| (12.other) | Not applicable. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
(Registrant) | ASGI Mesirow Insight Fund, LLC |
| | | | |
By (Signature and Title)* | | /s/ Adam I. Taback |
| | | | Adam I. Taback, President |
| | | | (principal executive officer) |
| | | | |
Date | 6/7/13 | | | |
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By (Signature and Title)* | | /s/ Adam I. Taback |
| | | | Adam I. Taback, President |
| | | | (principal executive officer) |
| | | | |
Date | 6/7/13 | | | |
| | | | |
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By (Signature and Title)* | | /s/ Michael Roman |
| | | | Michael Roman, Treasurer |
| | | | (principal financial officer) |
| | | | |
Date | 6/7/13 | | | |
| | | | |
* Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature.
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