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EX-32.2 - EX-32.2 - CERES ORION L.P.d144215dex322.htm
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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(X) QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2021

OR ( ) TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from             to            

Commission File Number 0-50271

CERES ORION L.P.

 

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

New York

 

  

22-3644546

 

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

  

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

c/o Ceres Managed Futures LLC

522 Fifth Avenue

New York, New York 10036

 

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(855) 672-4468

 

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None.

 

Title of each class

   Trading Symbol(s)    Name of each exchange on which registered

N/A

   N/A    N/A

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes X No _

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).

Yes X No _

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer                 Accelerated filer                                  Non-accelerated filer X

Smaller reporting company         Emerging growth company     

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.     

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes _ No X

As of April 30, 2021, 115,095.8978 Limited Partnership Class A Redeemable Units were outstanding and 3,510.3432 Limited Partnership Class Z Redeemable Units were outstanding.

 


PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements.

Ceres Orion L.P.

Statements of Financial Condition

 

     March 31,
2021
(Unaudited)
     December 31,
2020
 

Assets:

     

Investment in the Funds(1), at fair value

   $     127,390,127      $     136,268,790  

Redemptions receivable from the Funds

     3,400,881        2,439,045  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Equity in trading account:

     

Unrestricted cash

     189,301,254        206,600,821  

Restricted cash

     27,164,011        23,403,438  

Net unrealized appreciation on open futures contracts

     11,838,616        6,233,600  

Options purchased, at fair value (premiums paid $2,547,120 and $2,680,600 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)

     2,176,789        2,470,392  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total equity in trading account

     230,480,670        238,708,251  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Interest receivable

     3,194        13,252  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 361,274,872      $ 377,429,338  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities and Partners’ Capital:

     

Liabilities:

     

Options written, at fair value (premiums received $2,328,170 and $3,631,000 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)

   $ 1,970,422      $ 2,311,171  

Accrued expenses:

     

Ongoing selling agent fees

     219,292        304,105  

Management fees

     251,102        268,910  

General Partner fees

     224,254        234,070  

Incentive fees

     2,568,766        1,837,005  

Professional fees

     279,016        302,374  

Redemptions payable to General Partner

     -          1,400,000  

Redemptions payable to Limited Partners

     6,303,366        11,516,958  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     11,816,218        18,174,593  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Partners’ Capital:

     

General Partner, Class Z, 3,334.2623 and 3,824.2873 Redeemable Units outstanding at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively

     3,987,549        4,337,368  

Limited Partners, Class A, 117,051.7878 and 126,595.8958 Redeemable Units outstanding at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively

     341,209,822        350,633,583  

Limited Partners, Class Z, 3,563.1492 and 3,777.0492 Redeemable Units outstanding at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively

     4,261,283        4,283,794  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total partners’ capital (net asset value)

     349,458,654        359,254,745  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities and partners’ capital

   $ 361,274,872      $ 377,429,338  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net asset value per Redeemable Unit:

     

Class A

   $ 2,915.03      $ 2,769.71  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Class Z

   $ 1,195.93      $ 1,134.16  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

(1) Defined in Note 1.

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

1


Ceres Orion L.P.

Condensed Schedule of Investments

March 31, 2021

(Unaudited)

 

                                                              
     Number of
Contracts
     Fair Value     % of Partners’
Capital
 

Futures Contracts Purchased

       

Currencies

     1,681      $ (481,534     (0.14 )% 

Energy

                 13,826        2,484,695                   0.71  

Grains

     3,130        2,213,302       0.63  

Indices

     813        2,506,651       0.72  

Interest Rates U.S.

     739        (62,172     (0.02

Interest Rates Non-U.S.

     4,439        (463,024     (0.13

Livestock

     353        439,500       0.13  

Metals

     861        1,522,956       0.44  

Softs

     1,950        (1,913,233     (0.55
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total futures contracts purchased

        6,247,141       1.79  
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Futures Contracts Sold

       

Currencies

     800        731,056       0.22  

Energy

     11,050        846,415       0.24  

Grains

     2,192        (1,878,062     (0.54

Indices

     518        (795,654     (0.23

Interest Rates U.S.

     1,109        2,327,932       0.67  

Interest Rates Non-U.S.

     1,502        830,023       0.24  

Livestock

     180        (122,790     (0.04

Metals

     680        2,043,875       0.58  

Softs

     1,745        1,608,680       0.46  
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total futures contracts sold

        5,591,475       1.60  
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation on open futures contracts

      $ 11,838,616       3.39
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Options Purchased

       

Calls

       

Energy

     1,176      $ 1,976,674       0.57

Puts

       

Energy

     1,199        200,115       0.06  
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total options purchased (premiums paid $2,547,120)

      $ 2,176,789       0.63
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Options Written

       

Calls

       

Energy

     1,176      $ (707,876     (0.20 )% 

Puts

       

Energy

     1,437        (1,262,546     (0.36
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total options written (premiums received $2,328,170)

      $ (1,970,422     (0.56 )% 
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investment in the Funds

       

CMF TT II, LLC

      $ 67,066,960       19.19

CMF FORT Contrarian Master Fund LLC

        46,549,268       13.32  

CMF NL Master Fund LLC

        13,773,899       3.94  
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total investment in the Funds

      $         127,390,127       36.45
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

2


Ceres Orion L.P.

Condensed Schedule of Investments

December 31, 2020

 

                                                              
     Number of
Contracts
     Fair Value     % of Partners’
Capital
 

Futures Contracts Purchased

       

Currencies

     1,645      $ 947,605       0.26

Energy

                 14,777        3,242,381                   0.90  

Grains

     2,971        6,008,789       1.67  

Indices

     1,030        1,256,496       0.35  

Interest Rates U.S.

     733        29,578       0.01  

Interest Rates Non-U.S.

     5,422        487,480       0.14  

Livestock

     208        123,572       0.03  

Metals

     585        2,898,137       0.81  

Softs

     1,881        1,746,166       0.49  
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total futures contracts purchased

        16,740,204       4.66  
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Futures Contracts Sold

       

Currencies

     8        (3,856     (0.00 )* 

Energy

     8,877        324,465       0.09  

Grains

     2,462        (6,855,706     (1.91

Indices

     354        50,799       0.01  

Interest Rates U.S.

     501        (70,696     (0.02

Interest Rates Non-U.S.

     760        (101,298     (0.03

Livestock

     191        (225,435     (0.06

Metals

     324        (1,636,565     (0.46

Softs

     1,747        (1,988,312     (0.54
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total futures contracts sold

        (10,506,604     (2.92
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation on open futures contracts

      $ 6,233,600       1.74
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Options Purchased

       

Calls

       

Energy

     1,358      $ 2,221,530       0.62

Puts

       

Energy

     1,214        248,862       0.07  
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total options purchased (premiums paid $2,680,600)

      $ 2,470,392       0.69
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Options Written

       

Calls

       

Energy

     1,878      $ (873,797     (0.24 )% 

Puts

       

Energy

     1,347        (1,437,374     (0.40
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total options written (premiums received $3,631,000)

      $ (2,311,171     (0.64 )% 
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investment in the Funds

       

CMF TT II, LLC

      $ 66,632,519       18.55

CMF FORT Contrarian Master Fund LLC

        57,968,789       16.14  

CMF NL Master Fund LLC

        11,667,482       3.24  
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total investment in the Funds

      $         136,268,790       37.93
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

* Due to rounding.

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

3


Ceres Orion L.P.

Statements of Income and Expenses

(Unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2021     2020  

Investment Income:

    

Interest income

   $ 21,675     $ 392,973  

Interest income allocated from the Funds

     7,105       797,467  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total investment income

     28,780       1,190,440  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Expenses:

    

Expenses allocated from the Funds

     1,733,093       747,109  

Clearing fees related to direct investments

     586,686       1,630,457  

Ongoing selling agent fees

     658,207       1,209,972  

Management fees

     756,934       1,240,559  

General Partner fees

     673,537       901,242  

Incentive fees

     2,568,765       3,310,643  

Professional fees

     238,437       262,730  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses

     7,215,659       9,302,712  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment loss

     (7,186,879     (8,112,272
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Trading Results:

    

Net gains (losses) on trading of commodity interests and investment in the Funds:

    

Net realized gains (losses) on closed contracts

     10,432,023       17,484,357  

Net realized gains (losses) on closed contracts allocated from the Funds

     14,835,965       (26,990,408

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on open contracts

     4,571,635       309,911  

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on open contracts allocated from the Funds

     (4,727,995     10,447,865  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total trading results

     25,111,628       1,251,725  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

   $ 17,924,749     $ (6,860,547
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss) per Redeemable Unit*:

    

Class A

   $ 145.32     $ (40.76
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class Z

   $ 61.77     $ (13.80
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average Redeemable Units outstanding:

    

Class A

     122,441.2871       170,668.7368  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class Z

     7,409.1508       9,765.2385  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

* Represents the change in net asset value per Redeemable Unit during the period.

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

4


Ceres Orion L.P.

Statements of Changes in Partners’ Capital

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 and 2020

(Unaudited)

 

                                                                                                                 
    Class A     Class Z     Total  
    Amount     Redeemable Units     Amount     Redeemable Units     Amount     Redeemable Units  

Partners’ Capital, December 31, 2019

  $   472,470,787       173,135.1328     $   10,800,464       9,765.2385     $   483,271,251       182,900.3713  

Subscriptions - Limited Partners

    1,164,297       425.2450       -         -         1,164,297       425.2450  

Redemptions - Limited Partners

    (31,128,679     (11,448.3980     (151,965     (139.1350     (31,280,644     (11,587.5330

Net income (loss)

    (6,725,820     -         (134,727     -         (6,860,547     -    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Partners’ Capital, March 31, 2020

  $ 435,780,585       162,111.9798     $ 10,513,772       9,626.1035     $ 446,294,357       171,738.0833  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    Class A     Class Z     Total  
    Amount     Redeemable Units     Amount     Redeemable Units     Amount     Redeemable Units  

Partners’ Capital, December 31, 2020

  $ 350,633,583       126,595.8958     $ 8,621,162       7,601.3365     $ 359,254,745       134,197.2323  

Subscriptions - Limited Partners

    2,519,943       890.9890       19,685       17.3570       2,539,628       908.3460  

Redemptions - General Partner

    -         -         (575,000     (490.0250     (575,000     (490.0250

Redemptions - Limited Partners

    (29,412,023     (10,435.0970     (273,445     (231.2570     (29,685,468     (10,666.3540

Net income (loss)

    17,468,319       -         456,430       -         17,924,749       -    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Partners’ Capital, March 31, 2021

  $ 341,209,822       117,051.7878     $ 8,248,832       6,897.4115     $ 349,458,654       123,949.1993  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

5


Ceres Orion L.P.

Notes to Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

1.

Organization:

Ceres Orion L.P. (the “Partnership”) is a limited partnership organized on March 22, 1999, under the partnership laws of the State of New York, to engage, directly or indirectly, in the speculative trading of a diversified portfolio of commodity interests, including futures, option, swap and forward contracts. The sectors traded include currencies, energy, grains, livestock, indices, United States (“U.S.”) and non-U.S. interest rates, softs and metals. The commodity interests that are traded by the Partnership, directly and indirectly through its investment in the Funds (as defined below), are volatile and involve a high degree of market risk. The Partnership commenced trading on June 10, 1999. The Partnership privately and continuously offers redeemable units of limited partnership interest (“Redeemable Units”) to qualified investors. There is no maximum number of Redeemable Units that may be sold by the Partnership. The General Partner (as defined below) may also determine to invest up to all of the Partnership’s assets (directly or indirectly through its investment in the Funds) in U.S. Treasury bills and/or money market mutual funds, including money market mutual funds managed by Morgan Stanley or its affiliates.

Ceres Managed Futures LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, acts as the general partner (the “General Partner”) and commodity pool operator of the Partnership and is the trading manager (the “Trading Manager”) of Transtrend Master (as defined below), FORT Contrarian Master (as defined below) and NL Master (as defined below). The General Partner is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley Domestic Holdings, Inc. (“MSD Holdings”). MSD Holdings is ultimately owned by Morgan Stanley. Morgan Stanley is a publicly held company whose shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Morgan Stanley is engaged in various financial services and other businesses.

As of March 31, 2021, all trading decisions were made for the Partnership by Transtrend B.V. (“Transtrend”), FORT L.P. (“FORT”), John Street Capital Limited (“JSCL”), Northlander Commodity Advisors LLP (“Northlander”), Pan Capital Management L.P. (“Pan”), Greenwave Capital Management LLC (“Greenwave”) and Quantica Capital AG (“Quantica”) (each an “Advisor” and, collectively, the “Advisors”), each of which is a registered commodity trading advisor. On September 30, 2020, the Partnership fully redeemed its investment in CMF Winton Master L.P. (“Winton Master”). Also effective September 30, 2020, Winton Capital Management Limited (“Winton”) ceased to act as a commodity trading advisor to the Partnership. References herein to the “Advisors” may include, as relevant, Winton. Each Advisor is allocated a portion of the Partnership’s assets to manage. The Partnership invests the portion of its assets allocated to each of the Advisors either directly, through a managed account in the Partnership’s name, or indirectly, through its investment in the Funds. In addition, the General Partner may allocate the Partnership’s assets to additional non-major trading advisors (i.e., commodity trading advisors intended to be allocated less than 10% of the Partnership’s assets). Information about advisors allocated less than 10% of the Partnership’s assets may not be disclosed.

Effective October 1, 2020, Greenwave directly trades the Partnership’s assets allocated to it through a managed account in the name of the Partnership pursuant to an enhanced version of Greenwave’s Flagship Plus 2X Program. The General Partner and Greenwave have agreed that Greenwave will trade the Partnership’s assets allocated to Greenwave at a level that is up to 2 times the amount of the assets allocated. The amount of leverage may be increased or decreased in the future.

Effective October 1, 2020, Quantica directly trades the Partnership’s assets allocated to it through a managed account in the name of the Partnership pursuant to the Quantica Managed Futures Program. The General Partner and Quantica have agreed that Quantica will trade the Partnership’s assets allocated to Quantica at a level that is up to 1.75 times the amount of the assets allocated. The amount of leverage may be increased or decreased in the future.

Effective February 1, 2020, Pan directly trades the Partnership’s assets allocated to it through a managed account in the name of the Partnership pursuant to Pan’s Energy Trading Program.

JSCL directly trades the Partnership’s assets allocated to it through a managed account in the name of the Partnership pursuant to the Systematic Strategy Program. The General Partner and JSCL have agreed that JSCL will trade the Partnership’s assets allocated to it at a level that is up to 2 times the amount of assets allocated to it; provided that if the assets allocated to JSCL are $80 million or less, JSCL will trade the Partnership’s assets allocated to it at the level that is up to 1.5 times the amount of assets allocated to it. The amount of leverage may be increased or decreased in the future.

On June 1, 2011, the Partnership began offering “Class A” Redeemable Units and “Class Z” Redeemable Units pursuant to the offering memorandum. All Redeemable Units issued prior to June 1, 2011 were deemed Class A Redeemable Units. The rights, powers, duties and obligations associated with investment in Class A Redeemable Units were not changed. Class A Redeemable Units are available to taxable U.S. individuals and institutions, U.S. tax exempt individuals and institutions and non-U.S. investors. Class Z Redeemable Units were first issued on August 1, 2011. Class Z Redeemable Units are offered to limited partners who receive advisory services from Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (doing business as Morgan Stanley Wealth Management) (“Morgan Stanley Wealth Management”) and certain employees of Morgan Stanley and/or its subsidiaries (and their family members). Class A Redeemable Units and Class Z Redeemable Units will each be referred to as a “Class” and collectively referred to as the “Classes.” The Class of Redeemable Units that a limited partner receives upon a subscription will generally depend upon the status of the limited

 

6


Ceres Orion L.P.

Notes to Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

partner, although the General Partner may determine to offer a particular Class of Redeemable Units to investors at its discretion.

During the reporting periods ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, the Partnership’s/Funds’ commodity broker was Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC (“MS&Co.”), a registered futures commission merchant. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (“JPMorgan”) was also a foreign exchange forward contract counterparty for certain Funds.

The Partnership and CMF TT II, LLC (“Transtrend Master”) have, and prior to the Partnership’s full redemption, Winton Master had, entered into futures brokerage account agreements and foreign exchange brokerage account agreements with MS&Co. CMF FORT Contrarian Master Fund LLC (“FORT Contrarian Master”) and CMF NL Master Fund LLC (“NL Master”) have entered into futures brokerage account agreements with MS&Co. Transtrend Master, FORT Contrarian Master and NL Master are collectively referred to as the “Funds.” References herein to “Funds” may also include, as relevant, Winton Master.

Transtrend Master, and prior to the Partnership’s full redemption, Winton Master, each entered into certain agreements with JPMorgan in connection with trading in forward foreign currency contracts on behalf of the referenced Funds and indirectly, the Partnership. These agreements include a foreign exchange and bullion authorization agreement (“FX Agreement”), an International Swap Dealers Association, Inc. master agreement (“Master Agreement”), a schedule to the Master Agreement, a 2016 credit support annex for variation margin to the schedule and an institutional account agreement. Under each FX Agreement, JPMorgan charges or charged a fee on the aggregate foreign currency transactions entered into on behalf of the respective Fund during a month.

The Partnership has entered into a selling agent agreement with Morgan Stanley Wealth Management (as amended, the “Selling Agreement”). Pursuant to the Selling Agreement, the Partnership pays Morgan Stanley Wealth Management a monthly ongoing selling agent fee at a flat annual rate equal to 0.75% per year of the adjusted net assets of Class A Redeemable Units (computed monthly by multiplying the adjusted net assets of the Class A Redeemable Units by 0.75% and dividing the result thereof by 12). For the period from July 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020, the ongoing selling agent fee for Class A Redeemable Unit holders was paid at a flat annual rate of 1.00% of the adjusted net assets of Class A Redeemable Units. Prior to July 1, 2020, the ongoing selling agent fee was $15.00 each for futures transactions and up to an equivalent amount for swaps and $7.50 each per side for options transactions, with respect to Class A Redeemable Units. The ongoing selling agent fee for Class A Redeemable Unit holders prior to July 1, 2020 was reduced by applicable floor brokerage fees and did not exceed 2.00% of adjusted month-end net assets per year, calculated monthly. Class Z Redeemable Units are not subject to an ongoing selling agent fee. The Partnership may pay an ongoing selling agent fee to other properly licensed and/or registered selling agents who sell Class A Redeemable Units, and such additional selling agents may share all or a substantial portion of such fees with their properly registered or exempted financial advisors who have sold Class A Redeemable Units.

The Partnership has entered into an alternative investment placement agent agreement (the “Harbor Selling Agreement”), by and among the Partnership, the General Partner, Morgan Stanley Distribution Inc. (“MSDI”), and Harbor Investment Advisory, LLC, a Maryland limited liability company (“Harbor”), which supersedes and replaces the alternative investment selling agent agreement, dated January 19, 2018, between the Partnership, the General Partner and Harbor. Pursuant to the Harbor Selling Agreement, MSDI and Harbor have been appointed as a non-exclusive selling agent and sub-selling agent, respectively, of the Partnership for the purpose of finding eligible investors for Redeemable Units through offerings that are exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) thereof and Rule 506 of Regulation D promulgated thereunder and for Harbor to serve as an investment advisor to its customers investing in one or more of the partnerships party to the Harbor Selling Agreement; provided, that, included within such appointment, Harbor will provide certain services to certain holders of Redeemable Units of the Partnership, who had acquired such Redeemable Units prior to such holders becoming clients of Harbor. The Harbor Selling Agreement continues in effect until September 30, 2021 unless terminated in certain circumstances as set forth in the Harbor Selling Agreement, including by any party on thirty days’ prior written notice, after which the General Partner or the Partnership may, in its sole discretion, renew the Harbor Selling Agreement for additional one-year periods. Pursuant to the Harbor Selling Agreement, the Partnership pays Harbor a monthly ongoing selling agent fee at a flat annual rate equal to 0.75% per year of the adjusted net assets of Class A Redeemable Units (computed monthly by multiplying the adjusted net assets of the Class A Redeemable Units by 0.75% and dividing the result thereof by 12). For the period from July 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020, the ongoing selling agent fee for Class A Redeemable Unit holders was paid at a flat annual rate of 1.00% of the adjusted net assets of Class A Redeemable Units. Prior to July 1, 2020, the Partnership paid Harbor an ongoing selling agent fee equal to $15.00 per round turn, swaps by up to an equivalent amount and options transactions by $7.50 each per side, with respect to Class A Redeemable Units held by Harbor clients. The ongoing selling agent fee for Class A Redeemable Unit holders prior to July 1, 2020 was reduced by applicable floor brokerage fees and did not exceed 2.00% of adjusted month-end net assets per year, calculated monthly.

The General Partner fee, management fees, incentive fees and professional fees of the Partnership are allocated proportionally to each Class based on the net asset value of the Class.

 

7


Ceres Orion L.P.

Notes to Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

Effective January 1, 2021, the incentive fee payable to Transtrend by Transtrend Master was reduced to 16% of New Trading Profits, accrued monthly, but payable semi-annually.

The General Partner has delegated certain administrative functions to SS&C Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation, currently doing business as SS&C GlobeOp (the “Administrator”). Pursuant to a master services agreement, the Administrator furnishes certain administrative, accounting, regulatory reporting, tax and other services as agreed from time to time. In addition, the Administrator maintains certain books and records of the Partnership. The cost of retaining the Administrator is allocated among the pools operated by the General Partner, including the Partnership.

 

2.

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies:

The accompanying financial statements and accompanying notes are unaudited but, in the opinion of the General Partner, include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the Partnership’s financial condition at March 31, 2021 and the results of its operations and changes in partners’ capital for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020. These financial statements present the results of interim periods and do not include all disclosures normally provided in annual financial statements. These financial statements should be read together with the financial statements and notes included in the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (the “Form 10-K”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the year ended December 31, 2020. The December 31, 2020 information has been derived from the audited financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2020.

Due to the nature of commodity trading, the results of operations for the interim periods presented should not be considered indicative of the results that may be expected for the entire year.

Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements and accompanying notes in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires the General Partner to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, income and expenses, and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities in the financial statements and accompanying notes. As a result, actual results could differ from these estimates, and those differences could be material.

Profit Allocation. The General Partner and each limited partner of the Partnership share in the profits and losses of the Partnership in proportion to the amount of Partnership interest owned by each, except that no limited partner is liable for obligations of the Partnership in excess of its capital contribution and profits, if any, net of distributions, redemptions and losses, if any.

Statement of Cash Flows. The Partnership has not provided a Statement of Cash Flows, as permitted by Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 230, “Statement of Cash Flows.” The Statements of Changes in Partners’ Capital is included herein, and as of and for the periods ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, the Partnership carried no debt and all of the Partnership’s and the Funds’ investments were carried at fair value and classified as Level 1 and Level 2 measurements.

Partnership’s Investment in the Funds. The Partnership carries its investment in Transtrend Master, FORT Contrarian Master and NL Master based on the Partnership’s (1) net contributions to Transtrend Master, FORT Contrarian Master and NL Master and (2) its allocated share of the undistributed profits and losses, including realized gains (losses) and net change in unrealized gains (losses), of Transtrend Master, FORT Contrarian Master and NL Master. The Partnership carried its investment in Winton Master based on Winton Master’s net asset value per redeemable unit as calculated by Winton Master.

Partnership’s/Funds’ Derivative Investments. All commodity interests held by the Partnership/Funds, including derivative financial instruments and derivative commodity instruments, are held for trading purposes. The commodity interests are recorded on trade date and open contracts are recorded at fair value (as described in Note 5, “Fair Value Measurements”) at the measurement date. Investments in commodity interests denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates prevailing at the measurement date. Gains or losses are realized when contracts are liquidated and are determined using the first-in, first-out method. Unrealized gains or losses on open contracts are included as a component of equity in trading account in the Partnership’s/Funds’ Statements of Financial Condition. Net realized gains or losses and net change in unrealized gains or losses are included in the Partnership’s/Funds’ Statements of Income and Expenses.

The Partnership and the Funds do not isolate the portion of the results of operations arising from the effect of changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from fluctuations due to changes in market prices of investments held. Such fluctuations are included in total trading results in the Partnership’s/Funds’ Statements of Income and Expenses.

Partnership’s Cash. The Partnership’s restricted cash is equal to the cash portion of assets on deposit to meet margin requirements, as determined by the exchange or counterparty, and required by MS&Co. At March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020,

 

8


Ceres Orion L.P.

Notes to Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

the amount of cash held for margin requirements was $27,164,011 and $23,403,438, respectively. Cash that is not classified as restricted cash is therefore classified as unrestricted cash. The Partnership’s restricted and unrestricted cash includes cash denominated in foreign currencies of $(3,754,715) (proceeds of $3,821,053) and $(3,186,405) (proceeds of $3,163,920) at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.

Income Taxes. Income taxes have not been recorded as each partner is individually liable for the taxes, if any, on its share of the Partnership’s income and expenses. The Partnership follows the guidance of ASC 740, “Income Taxes,” which prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the course of preparing the Partnership’s tax returns to determine whether the tax positions are “more-likely-than-not” of being sustained “when challenged” or “when examined” by the applicable tax authority. Tax positions determined not to meet the more-likely-than-not threshold would be recorded as a tax benefit or liability in the Partnership’s Statements of Financial Condition for the current year. If a tax position does not meet the minimum statutory threshold to avoid the incurring of penalties, an expense for the amount of the statutory penalty and interest, if applicable, shall be recognized in the Partnership’s Statements of Income and Expenses in the years in which the position is claimed or expected to be claimed. The General Partner has concluded that there are no significant uncertain tax positions that would require recognition in the financial statements. The Partnership files U.S. federal and various state and local tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The 2017 through 2020 tax years remain subject to examination by U.S. federal and most state tax authorities.

Investment Company Status. The Partnership has been deemed to be an investment company since inception. Accordingly, the Partnership follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of Accounting Standards Update 2013-08Financial Services—Investment Companies (Topic 946): Amendments to the Scope, Measurement and Disclosure Requirements” and reflects its investments at fair value with unrealized gains and losses resulting from changes in fair value reflected in the Statements of Income and Expenses.

Net Income (Loss) Per Redeemable Unit. Net income (loss) per Redeemable Unit is calculated in accordance with ASC 946, “Financial Services - Investment Companies.” See Note 3, “Financial Highlights.”

There have been no material changes with respect to the Partnership’s critical accounting policies as reported in the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.

 

9


Ceres Orion L.P.

Notes to Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

3.

Financial Highlights:

Financial highlights for the limited partner Classes as a whole for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 were as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31, 2021
    Three Months Ended
March 31, 2020
 
         Class A             Class Z             Class A             Class Z      

Per Redeemable Unit Performance (for a unit outstanding throughout the period):*

        

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses)

   $ 202.71     $ 83.41     $ 5.85     $ 2.19  

Net investment loss

     (57.39     (21.64     (46.61     (15.99
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) for the period

     145.32       61.77       (40.76     (13.80

Net asset value per Redeemable Unit, beginning of period

     2,769.71       1,134.16       2,728.91       1,106.01  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value per Redeemable Unit, end of period

   $ 2,915.03     $ 1,195.93     $ 2,688.15     $ 1,092.21  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     Three Months Ended
March 31, 2021
    Three Months Ended
March 31, 2020
 
     Class A     Class Z     Class A     Class Z  

Ratios to Average Limited Partners’ Capital:**

        

Net investment loss***

     (4.9 )%      (4.1 )%      (4.8 )%      (3.8 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating expenses

     3.8     3.0     5.1     4.1

Incentive fees

     1.1     1.1     0.7     0.7
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses

     4.9     4.1     5.8     4.8
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total return:

        

Total return before incentive fees

     6.4     6.6     (0.8 )%      (0.6 )% 

Incentive fees

     (1.2 )%      (1.2 )%      (0.7 )%      (0.6 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total return after incentive fees

     5.2     5.4     (1.5 )%      (1.2 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

*

Net investment loss per Redeemable Unit is calculated by dividing the interest income less total expenses by the average number of Redeemable Units outstanding during the period. The net realized and unrealized gains (losses) per Redeemable Unit is a balancing amount necessary to reconcile the change in net asset value per Redeemable Unit with the other per unit information.

**

Annualized (except for incentive fees).

***

Interest income less total expenses.

The above ratios and total return may vary for individual investors based on the timing of capital transactions during the period. Additionally, these ratios are calculated for the limited partner Classes using the limited partners’ share of income, expenses and average partners’ capital of the Partnership and include the income and expenses allocated from the Funds.

 

10


Ceres Orion L.P.

Notes to Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

4.

Trading Activities:

The Partnership was formed for the purpose of trading contracts in a variety of commodity interests, including derivative financial instruments and derivative commodity instruments. The results of the Partnership’s trading activities are shown in the Partnership’s Statements of Income and Expenses. The Partnership also invests certain of its assets through a “master/feeder” structure. The Partnership’s pro-rata share of the results of the Funds’ trading activities are shown in the Partnership’s Statements of Income and Expenses.

The foreign exchange brokerage account agreements and/or futures brokerage account agreements with MS&Co. or JPMorgan, as applicable, give the Partnership and the Funds, respectively, the legal right to net unrealized gains and losses on open futures and forward contracts in their respective Statements of Financial Condition. The Partnership and the Funds net, for financial reporting purposes, the unrealized gains and losses on open futures and forward contracts in their respective Statements of Financial Condition, as the criteria under ASC 210-20,Balance Sheet,” have been met.

All of the commodity interests owned directly by the Partnership are held for trading purposes. All of the commodity interests owned by the Funds are held for trading purposes. The monthly average number of futures contracts traded directly by the Partnership during the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 was 47,907 and 81,120, respectively. The monthly average number of option contracts traded directly by the Partnership during the three months ended March 31, 2021 and during the period February 1, 2020 through March 31, 2020 was 5,277 and 381, respectively.

Trading and transaction fees are based on the number of trades executed by the Advisors and the Partnership’s percentage ownership of each respective Fund.

All clearing fees paid to MS&Co. for direct trading are borne by the Partnership. In addition, clearing fees are borne by the Funds and are allocated to the Funds’ limited partners/members, including the Partnership.

 

11


Ceres Orion L.P.

Notes to Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

The following tables summarize the gross and net amounts recognized relating to assets and liabilities of the Partnership’s derivatives and their offsetting subject to master netting arrangements or similar agreements as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.

 

March 31, 2021

   Gross
Amounts
Recognized
    Gross Amounts
Offset in the
Statements of
Financial
Condition
    Amounts
Presented in the
Statements of
Financial
Condition
     Gross Amounts Not Offset in the
Statements of Financial Condition
     Net
Amount
 
   Financial
Instruments
     Cash Collateral
Received/
Pledged*
 

Assets

               

Futures

   $ 30,925,488     $ (19,086,872   $ 11,838,616      $ -        $ -        $ 11,838,616  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 30,925,488     $ (19,086,872   $ 11,838,616      $ -        $ -        $ 11,838,616  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities

               

Futures

   $ (19,086,872   $ 19,086,872     $ -        $ -        $ -        $ -    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities

   $ (19,086,872   $ 19,086,872     $ -        $ -        $ -        $ -    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net fair value

                $ 11,838,616
               

 

 

 

December 31, 2020

   Gross
Amounts
Recognized
    Gross Amounts
Offset in the
Statements of
Financial
Condition
    Amounts
Presented in the
Statements of
Financial
Condition
     Gross Amounts Not Offset in the
Statements of Financial Condition
     Net
Amount
 
   Financial
Instruments
     Cash Collateral
Received/
Pledged*
 

Assets

               

Futures

   $ 28,495,595     $ (22,261,995   $ 6,233,600      $ -        $ -        $ 6,233,600  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 28,495,595     $ (22,261,995   $ 6,233,600      $ -        $ -        $ 6,233,600  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities

               

Futures

   $ (22,261,995   $ 22,261,995     $ -        $ -        $ -        $ -    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities

   $ (22,261,995   $ 22,261,995     $ -        $ -        $ -        $ -    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net fair value

                $ 6,233,600
               

 

 

 

 

*

In the event of default by the Partnership, MS&Co., the Partnership’s commodity futures broker and the sole counterparty to the Partnership’s non-exchange-traded contracts, as applicable, has the right to offset the Partnership’s obligation with the Partnership’s cash and/or U.S. Treasury bills held by MS&Co., thereby minimizing MS&Co.’s risk of loss. In certain instances, MS&Co. may not post collateral and as such, in the event of default by MS&Co., the Partnership is exposed to the amount shown in the Statements of Financial Condition. In the case of exchange-traded contracts, the Partnership’s exposure to counterparty risk may be reduced since the exchange’s clearinghouse interposes its credit between buyer and seller and the clearinghouse’s guarantee funds may be available in the event of a default. In some instances, the actual collateral received and/or pledged may be more than the amount shown due to overcollateralization.

 

12


Ceres Orion L.P.

Notes to Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

The following tables indicate the gross fair values of derivative instruments of futures and option contracts held directly by the Partnership as separate assets and liabilities as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.

 

     March 31, 2021  

Assets

  
Futures Contracts   

Currencies

   $ 1,172,342  

Energy

     12,565,367  

Grains

     3,659,845  

Indices

     3,024,194  

Interest Rates U.S.

     2,364,901  

Interest Rates Non-U.S.

     1,026,419  

Livestock

     445,505  

Metals

     4,898,006  

Softs

     1,768,909  
  

 

 

 

Total unrealized appreciation on open futures contracts

     30,925,488  
  

 

 

 

Liabilities

  

Futures Contracts

  

Currencies

     (922,820

Energy

     (9,234,257

Grains

     (3,324,605

Indices

     (1,313,197

Interest Rates U.S.

     (99,141

Interest Rates Non-U.S.

     (659,420

Livestock

     (128,795

Metals

     (1,331,175

Softs

     (2,073,462
  

 

 

 

Total unrealized depreciation on open futures contracts

     (19,086,872
  

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation on open futures contracts

   $ 11,838,616
  

 

 

 

Assets

  

Options Purchased

  

Energy

   $ 2,176,789  
  

 

 

 

Total options purchased

   $ 2,176,789 ** 
  

 

 

 

Liabilities

  

Options Written

  

Energy

   $ (1,970,422
  

 

 

 

Total options written

   $ (1,970,422 )*** 
  

 

 

 

 

*

This amount is in “Net unrealized appreciation on open futures contracts” in the Statements of Financial Condition.

**

This amount is in “Options purchased, at fair value” in the Statements of Financial Condition.

***

This amount is in “Options written, at fair value” in the Statements of Financial Condition.

 

13


Ceres Orion L.P.

Notes to Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

     December 31, 2020  

Assets

  
Futures Contracts   

Currencies

   $ 1,044,103  

Energy

     13,319,139  

Grains

     6,011,789  

Indices

     1,759,777  

Interest Rates U.S.

     103,022  

Interest Rates Non-U.S.

     583,702  

Livestock

     129,327  

Metals

     2,995,699  

Softs

     2,549,037  
  

 

 

 

Total unrealized appreciation on open futures contracts

     28,495,595  
  

 

 

 

Liabilities

  
Futures Contracts   

Currencies

     (100,354

Energy

     (9,752,293

Grains

     (6,858,706

Indices

     (452,482

Interest Rates U.S.

     (144,140

Interest Rates Non-U.S.

     (197,520

Livestock

     (231,190

Metals

     (1,734,127

Softs

     (2,791,183
  

 

 

 

Total unrealized depreciation on open futures contracts

     (22,261,995
  

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation on open futures contracts

   $ 6,233,600
  

 

 

 

Assets

  
Options Purchased   

Energy

   $ 2,470,392  
  

 

 

 

Total options purchased

   $ 2,470,392 ** 
  

 

 

 

Liabilities

  
Options Written   

Energy

   $ (2,311,171
  

 

 

 

Total options written

   $ (2,311,171 )*** 
  

 

 

 

 

*

This amount is in “Net unrealized appreciation on open futures contracts” in the Statements of Financial Condition.

**

This amount is in “Options purchased, at fair value” in the Statements of Financial Condition.

***

This amount is in “Options written, at fair value” in the Statements of Financial Condition.

 

14


Ceres Orion L.P.

Notes to Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

The following table indicates the trading gains and losses, by market sector, on derivative instruments traded directly by the Partnership for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  
Sector    2021     2020  

Currencies

   $ (1,665,750   $ (2,485,209

Energy

     5,254,973       14,418,791  

Grains

     2,394,344       180,970  

Indices

     3,311,199       (3,970,177

Interest Rates U.S.

     4,725,960       (1,382,899

Interest Rates Non-U.S.

     (1,444,502     10,532,332  

Livestock

     583,542       (4,877,916

Metals

     1,553,760       6,440,818  

Softs

     290,132       (1,062,442
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 15,003,658 ****    $ 17,794,268 **** 
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

****

This amount is included in “Total trading results” in the Statements of Income and Expenses.

 

5.

Fair Value Measurements:

Partnership’s and the Funds’ Fair Value Measurements. Fair value is defined as the value 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 under current market conditions. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to fair values derived from unobservable inputs (Level 3). The level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement in its entirety falls shall be determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.

The fair value of exchange-traded futures, option and forward contracts is determined by the various exchanges, and reflects the settlement price for each contract as of the close of business on the last business day of the reporting period. The fair value of foreign currency forward contracts is extrapolated on a forward basis from the spot prices quoted as of approximately 3:00 P.M. (E.T.) on the last business day of the reporting period from various exchanges. The fair value of non-exchange-traded foreign currency option contracts is calculated by applying an industry standard model application for options valuation of foreign currency options, using as inputs the spot prices, interest rates, and option implied volatilities quoted as of approximately 3:00 P.M. (E.T.) on the last business day of the reporting period. U.S. Treasury bills are valued at the last available bid price received from independent pricing services as of the close of the last business day of the reporting period.

The Partnership and the Funds consider prices for commodity futures, swap and option contracts to be based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities (Level 1). The values of U.S. Treasury bills, non-exchange-traded forward, swap and certain option contracts for which market quotations are not readily available are priced by pricing services that derive fair values for those assets and liabilities from observable inputs (Level 2). As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 and for the periods ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, the Partnership and the Funds did not hold any derivative instruments that were priced at fair value using unobservable inputs through the application of the General Partner’s assumptions and internal valuation pricing models (Level 3).

 

15


Ceres Orion L.P.

Notes to Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

                                                                                                   

March 31, 2021

   Total      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3  

Assets

           

Futures

   $ 30,925,488      $ 30,925,488      $ -        $ -    

Options purchased

     2,176,789        2,176,789        -          -    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 33,102,277      $ 33,102,277      $ -        $ -    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities

           

Futures

   $ 19,086,872      $ 19,086,872      $ -        $ -    

Options written

     1,970,422        1,970,422        -          -    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities

   $ 21,057,294      $ 21,057,294      $ -        $ -    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

December 31, 2020

   Total      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3  

Assets

           

Futures

   $ 28,495,595      $ 28,495,595      $ -        $ -    

Options purchased

     2,470,392        2,470,392        -          -    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 30,965,987      $ 30,965,987      $ -        $ -    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities

           

Futures

   $ 22,261,995      $ 22,261,995      $ -        $ -    

Options written

     2,311,171        2,311,171        -          -    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities

   $ 24,573,166      $ 24,573,166      $ -        $ -    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

6.

Investment in the Funds:

On June 1, 2011, the Partnership allocated a portion of its assets to Transtrend Master, a limited liability company organized under the limited liability company laws of the State of Delaware. Transtrend Master permits accounts managed by Transtrend using the Diversified Trend Program-Enhanced Risk Profile (US Dollar), a proprietary, systematic trading system, to invest together in one trading vehicle. Transtrend generally trades its Enhanced Risk Profile (US Dollar) using 1.5 times the leverage employed by the Standard Risk Profile. The General Partner is also the Trading Manager of Transtrend Master. Individual and pooled accounts managed by Transtrend, including the Partnership, are permitted to be members of Transtrend Master. The Trading Manager and Transtrend believe that trading through this structure promotes efficiency and economy in the trading process.

On February 1, 2018, the assets allocated to FORT for trading were invested in FORT Contrarian Master, a limited liability company organized under the limited liability company laws of the State of Delaware. FORT Contrarian Master permits accounts managed by FORT using its Global Contrarian Trading Program, a proprietary, systematic trading system, to invest together in one trading vehicle. The General Partner is also the Trading Manager of FORT Contrarian Master. Individual and pooled accounts currently managed by FORT, including the Partnership, are permitted to be members of FORT Contrarian Master. The Trading Manager and FORT believe that trading through this structure promotes efficiency and economy in the trading process. The Trading Manager and FORT have agreed that FORT will trade the Partnership’s assets allocated to FORT at a level that is up to 1.25 times the amount of the assets allocated. The amount of leverage may be increased or decreased in the future.

On April 1, 2019, the assets allocated to Northlander for trading were invested in NL Master, a limited liability company organized under the limited liability company laws of the State of Delaware. NL Master permits accounts managed by Northlander using the Northlander Commodity Program, a proprietary, discretionary trading system, to invest together in one trading vehicle. The General Partner is also the Trading Manager of NL Master. Individual and pooled accounts currently managed by Northlander, including the Partnership, are permitted to be members of NL Master. The Trading Manager and Northlander believe that trading through this structure promotes efficiency and economy in the trading process.

On November 1, 2004, the assets allocated to Winton for trading were invested in Winton Master, a limited partnership organized under the partnership laws of the State of New York. The Partnership fully redeemed its investment in Winton Master on September 30, 2020.

 

16


Ceres Orion L.P.

Notes to Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

The General Partner is not aware of any material changes to any of the trading programs discussed above or in Note 1, “Organization” during the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2021.

The Funds’ and the Partnership’s trading of futures, forward, swap and option contracts, if applicable, on commodities is done primarily on U.S. and foreign commodity exchanges. The Funds and the Partnership engage in such trading through commodity brokerage accounts maintained with MS&Co.

Generally, a limited partner/member in the Funds withdraws all or part of its capital contribution and undistributed profits, if any, from the Funds as of the end of any month (the “Redemption Date”) after a request has been made to the General Partner/Trading Manager at least three days in advance of the Redemption Date. Such withdrawals are classified as a liability when the limited partner/member elects to redeem and informs the Funds. However, a limited partner/member may request a withdrawal as of the end of any day if such request is received by the General Partner/Trading Manager at least three days in advance of the proposed withdrawal day.

Management fees, ongoing selling agent fees, the General Partner fee and incentive fees are charged at the Partnership level, except for management and incentive fees payable to Transtrend, which are charged at the Transtrend Master level. Clearing fees are borne by the Funds and allocated to the Funds’ limited partners/members, including the Partnership. Clearing fees are also borne by the Partnership directly. Professional fees are borne by the Funds and allocated to the Partnership and are also charged directly at the Partnership level.

As of March 31, 2021, the Partnership owned 100.0% of Transtrend Master, 100.0% of FORT Contrarian Master and approximately 76.4% of NL Master. At December 31, 2020, the Partnership owned 100.0% of Transtrend Master, 100.0% of FORT Contrarian Master and approximately 81.4% of NL Master. It is the Partnership’s intention to continue to invest in the Funds. The performance of the Partnership is directly affected by the performance of the Funds. Expenses to limited partners as a result of investment in the Funds are approximately the same as they would be if the Partnership traded directly and redemption rights are not affected.

Summarized information reflecting the total assets, liabilities and members’ capital of the Funds is shown in the following tables:

 

     March 31, 2021  
     Total Assets      Total Liabilities      Total Capital  

Transtrend Master

   $ 71,786,969      $ 4,720,009      $ 67,066,960  

FORT Contrarian Master

     47,130,750        582,148        46,548,602  

NL Master

     18,096,845        73,161        18,023,684  
     December 31, 2020  
     Total Assets      Total Liabilities      Total Capital  

Transtrend Master

   $ 69,303,466      $ 2,670,947      $ 66,632,519  

FORT Contrarian Master

     59,456,843        1,491,365        57,965,478  

NL Master

     14,423,589        85,616        14,337,973  

 

17


Ceres Orion L.P.

Notes to Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

Summarized information reflecting the net investment income (loss), total trading results and net income (loss) of the Funds is shown in the following tables:

 

     For the three months ended March 31, 2021  
     Net Investment
Income (Loss)
     Total Trading
Results
     Net Income
(Loss)
 

Transtrend Master

   $ (1,657,051    $ 8,955,958      $ 7,298,907  

FORT Contrarian Master

     (39,067      (1,078,566      (1,117,633

NL Master

     (37,646      2,842,858        2,805,212  
     For the three months ended March 31, 2020  
     Net Investment
Income (Loss)
     Total Trading
Results
     Net Income
(Loss)
 

Winton Master

   $ 387,606      $ (23,953,788    $ (23,566,182

Transtrend Master

     (261,094      (3,266,814      (3,527,908

FORT Contrarian Master

     168,677        (5,653,909      (5,485,232

NL Master

     12,428        752,782        765,210  

Summarized information reflecting the Partnership’s investments in and the Partnership’s pro-rata share of the results of operations of the Funds are shown in the following tables:

 

     March 31, 2021      For the three months ended March 31, 2021        

Funds

   % of
Partners’
Capital
    Fair Value      Income
(Loss)
    Expenses      Net Income
(Loss)
    Investment
Objective
     Redemptions
Permitted
 
  Clearing
Fees
     Professional
Fees
     Management
Fees
     Incentive
Fee
 

Transtrend Master

     19.19   $ 67,066,960      $ 8,956,732     $ 108,810      $ 16,584      $ 142,311      $ 1,390,121      $ 7,298,906       Commodity Portfolio        Monthly  

FORT Contrarian Master

     13.32     46,549,268        (1,073,372     29,018        15,242        -          -          (1,117,632     Commodity Portfolio        Monthly  

NL Master

     3.94     13,773,899        2,231,715       19,168        11,839        -          -          2,200,708       Commodity Portfolio        Monthly  
    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

      

Total

     $ 127,390,127      $ 10,115,075     $ 156,996      $ 43,665      $ 142,311      $ 1,390,121      $ 8,381,982       
    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

      
     December 31, 2020      For the three months ended March 31, 2020        

Funds

   % of
Partners’
Capital
    Fair Value      Income
(Loss)
    Expenses      Net Income
(Loss)
    Investment
Objective
     Redemptions
Permitted
 
  Clearing
Fees
     Professional
Fees
     Management
Fees
     Incentive
Fee
 

Winton Master

     -     $ -        $ (8,370,730   $ 42,551      $ 7,687      $ -        $ -        $ (8,420,968     Commodity Portfolio        Monthly  

Transtrend Master

     18.55     66,632,519        (3,033,914     259,821        17,000        217,175        -          (3,527,910     Commodity Portfolio        Monthly  

FORT Contrarian Master

     16.14     57,968,789        (5,002,992     152,428        16,040        -          -          (5,171,460     Commodity Portfolio        Monthly  

NL Master

     3.24     11,667,482        662,560       21,564        12,843        -          -          628,153       Commodity Portfolio        Monthly  
    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

      

Total

     $ 136,268,790      $ (15,745,076   $ 476,364      $ 53,570      $ 217,175      $ -        $ (16,492,185     
    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

18


Ceres Orion L.P.

Notes to Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

7.

Financial Instrument Risks:

In the normal course of business, the Partnership and the Funds are parties to financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risk, including derivative financial instruments and derivative commodity instruments. These financial instruments may include forwards, futures, options, and swaps, whose values are based upon an underlying asset, index, or reference rate, and generally represent future commitments to exchange currencies or cash balances, or to purchase or sell other financial instruments at specific terms at specified future dates, or, in the case of derivative commodity instruments, to have a reasonable possibility to be settled in cash, through physical delivery or with another financial instrument. These instruments may be traded on an exchange, a swap execution facility or over-the-counter (“OTC”). Exchange-traded instruments include futures and certain standardized forward, option and swap contracts. Certain swap contracts may also be traded on a swap execution facility or OTC. OTC contracts are negotiated between contracting parties and also include certain forward and option contracts. Specific market movements of commodities or futures contracts underlying an option cannot accurately be predicted. The purchaser of an option may lose the entire premium paid for the option. The writer or seller of an option has unlimited risk. Each of these instruments is subject to various risks similar to those relating to the underlying financial instruments, including market and credit risk. In general, the risks associated with OTC contracts are greater than those associated with exchange-traded instruments because of the greater risk of default by the counterparty to an OTC contract. The General Partner estimates that at any given time approximately 1.1% to 5.6% of the Partnership’s/Funds’ contracts are traded OTC.

Futures Contracts. The Partnership and the Funds trade futures contracts. A futures contract is a firm commitment to buy or sell a specified quantity of investments, currency or a standardized amount of a deliverable grade commodity, at a specified price on a specified future date, unless the contract is closed before the delivery date or if the delivery quantity is something where physical delivery cannot occur (such as the S&P 500 Index), whereby such contract is settled in cash. Payments (“variation margin”) may be made or received by the Partnership and the Funds each business day, depending on the daily fluctuations in the value of the underlying contracts, and are recorded as unrealized gains or losses by the Partnership and the Funds. When the contract is closed, the Partnership and the Funds record a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed. Transactions in futures contracts require participants to make both initial margin deposits of cash or other assets and variation margin deposits, through the futures broker, with the exchange on which the contracts are traded. Net realized gains (losses) and net change in unrealized gains (losses) on futures contracts are included in the Partnership’s/Funds’ Statements of Income and Expenses.

Forward Foreign Currency Contracts. Forward foreign currency contracts are those contracts where the Partnership and the Funds agree to receive or deliver a fixed quantity of foreign currency for an agreed-upon price on an agreed-upon future date. Forward foreign currency contracts are valued daily, and the Partnership’s and the Funds’ net equity therein, representing unrealized gain or loss on the contracts as measured by the difference between the forward foreign exchange rates at the dates of entry into the contracts and the forward foreign exchange rates at the reporting date, is included in the Partnership’s/Funds’ Statements of Financial Condition. Net realized gains (losses) and net change in unrealized gains (losses) on forward foreign currency contracts are recognized in the period in which the contract is closed or the changes occur, respectively, and are included in the Partnership’s/Funds’ Statements of Income and Expenses.

London Metal Exchange Forward Contracts. Metal contracts traded on the London Metal Exchange (“LME”) represent a firm commitment to buy or sell a specified quantity of aluminum, copper, lead, nickel, tin, zinc or other metals. LME contracts traded by the Partnership and the Funds are cash-settled based on prompt dates published by the LME. Variation margin may be made or received by the Partnership and the Funds each business day, depending on the daily fluctuations in the value of the underlying contracts, and are recorded as unrealized gains or losses by the Partnership and the Funds. A contract is considered offset when all long positions have been matched with a like number of short positions settling on the same prompt date. When the contract is closed at the prompt date, the Partnership and the Funds record a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed. Transactions in LME contracts require participants to make both initial margin deposits of cash or other assets and variation margin deposits, through the broker, with the LME. Net realized gains (losses) and net change in unrealized gains (losses) on metal contracts are included in the Partnership’s/Funds’ Statements of Income and Expenses.

 

19


Ceres Orion L.P.

Notes to Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

Options. The Partnership and the Funds may purchase and write (sell) both exchange-listed and OTC options on commodities or financial instruments. An option is a contract allowing, but not requiring, its holder to buy (call) or sell (put) a specific or standard commodity or financial instrument at a specified price during a specified time period. The option premium is the total price paid or received for the option contract. When the Partnership/Funds write an option, the premium received is recorded as a liability in the Partnership’s/Funds’ Statements of Financial Condition and marked-to-market daily. When the Partnership/Funds purchase an option, the premium paid is recorded as an asset in the Partnership’s/Funds’ Statements of Financial Condition and marked-to-market daily. Net realized gains (losses) and net change in unrealized gains (losses) on option contracts are included in the Partnership’s/Funds’ Statements of Income and Expenses.

As both a buyer and seller of options, the Partnership/Funds pay or receive a premium at the outset and then bear the risk of unfavorable changes in the price of the contract underlying the option. Written options expose the Partnership/Funds to potentially unlimited liability; for purchased options, the risk of loss is limited to the premiums paid. Certain written put options permit cash settlement and do not require the option holder to own the reference asset. The Partnership/Funds do not consider these contracts to be guarantees.

Futures-Style Options. The Partnership/Funds may trade futures-style option contracts. Unlike traditional option contracts, the premiums for futures-style option contracts are not received or paid upon the onset of the trade. The premiums are recognized and received or paid as part of the sales price when the contract is closed. Similar to a futures contract, variation margin for the futures-style option contract may be made or received by the Partnership/Funds each business day, depending on the daily fluctuations in the value of the underlying contracts, and are recorded as unrealized gains or losses by the Partnership/Funds. Transactions in futures-style option contracts require participants to make both initial margin deposits of cash or other assets and variation margin deposits, through the futures broker, directly with the exchange on which the contracts are traded. Futures-style option contracts are presented as part of “Net unrealized appreciation on open futures contracts” or “Net unrealized depreciation on open futures contracts,” as applicable, in the Partnership’s/Funds’ Statements of Financial Condition. Net realized gains (losses) and net change in unrealized gains (losses) on futures-style option contracts are included in the Partnership’s/Funds’ Statements of Income and Expenses.

Market risk is the potential for changes in the value of the financial instruments traded by the Partnership/Funds due to market changes, including interest and foreign exchange rate movements and fluctuations in commodity or security prices. Market risk is directly impacted by the volatility and liquidity in the markets in which the related underlying assets are traded. The Partnership and the Funds are exposed to market risk equal to the value of the futures and forward contracts held and unlimited liability on such contracts sold short.

Credit risk is the possibility that a loss may occur due to the failure of a counterparty to perform according to the terms of a contract. The Partnership’s/Funds’ risk of loss in the event of a counterparty default is typically limited to the amounts recognized in the Partnership’s/Funds’ Statements of Financial Condition and is not represented by the contract or notional amounts of the instruments. The Partnership’s/Funds’ risk of loss is reduced through the use of legally enforceable master netting agreements with counterparties that permit the Partnership/Funds to offset unrealized gains and losses and other assets and liabilities with such counterparties upon the occurrence of certain events. The Partnership/Funds have credit risk and concentration risk as MS&Co. or an MS&Co. affiliate are counterparties or brokers with respect to the Partnership’s and the Funds’ assets. For certain OTC contracts traded by certain Funds, JPMorgan is the counterparty with respect to those assets. Credit risk with respect to exchange-traded instruments is reduced to the extent that, through MS&Co. or an MS&Co. affiliate, the Partnership’s/Funds’ counterparty is an exchange or clearing organization.

The General Partner/Trading Manager monitors and attempts to mitigate the Partnership’s/Funds’ risk exposure on a daily basis through financial, credit and risk management monitoring systems, and accordingly, believes that it has effective procedures for evaluating and limiting the credit and market risks to which the Partnership/Funds may be subject. These monitoring systems generally allow the General Partner/Trading Manager to statistically analyze actual trading results with risk-adjusted performance indicators and correlation statistics. In addition, online monitoring systems provide account analysis of futures, exchange-cleared swaps, forward and option contracts by sector, margin requirements, gain and loss transactions and collateral positions.

The majority of these financial instruments mature within one year of the inception date. However, due to the nature of the Partnership’s/Funds’ business, these instruments may not be held to maturity.

The risk to the limited partners that have purchased Redeemable Units is limited to the amount of their share of the Partnership’s net assets and undistributed profits. This limited liability is a result of the organization of the Partnership as a limited partnership under New York law.

 

20


Ceres Orion L.P.

Notes to Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

In the ordinary course of business, the Partnership/Funds enter into contracts and agreements that contain various representations and warranties and which provide general indemnifications. The Partnership’s/Funds’ maximum exposure under these arrangements cannot be determined, as this could include future claims that have not yet been made against the Partnership/Funds. The General Partner/Trading Manager considers the risk of any future obligation relating to these indemnifications to be remote.

Since its discovery in December 2019, a new strain of coronavirus, which causes the viral disease known as COVID-19, has spread from China to many other countries, including the United States. The outbreak has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization, and the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary has declared a public health emergency in the United States in response to the outbreak.

The outbreak of the novel coronavirus in many countries is having and will likely continue to have an adverse impact on global commercial activity, which has contributed to significant volatility in financial markets. The global impact of the outbreak has been rapidly evolving, and as cases of the virus have been identified in additional countries, many countries have reacted by instituting quarantines and restrictions on travel. These actions are creating disruption in supply chains, and adversely impacting a number of industries, including but not limited to transportation, hospitality, and entertainment.

The impact of COVID-19 on the U.S. and world economies, and the extent of and effectiveness of any responses taken on a national and local level, is uncertain and could result in a world-wide economic downturn and disrupt financial markets that impact trading programs in unanticipated and unintended ways.

The rapid development of this situation precludes any prediction as to the ultimate adverse impact of the novel coronavirus. Nevertheless, the novel coronavirus presents material uncertainty and risk with respect to the Partnership’s/Funds’ investments and operations.

 

8.

Subsequent Events:

The General Partner evaluates events that occur after the balance sheet date but before and up until financial statements are available to be issued. The General Partner has assessed the subsequent events through the date the financial statements were issued and has determined that there were no subsequent events requiring adjustment to or disclosure in the financial statements.

 

21


Item 2.         Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Partnership does not have, nor does it expect to have, any capital assets. The Partnership does not engage in sales of goods or services. Its assets are its (i) investment in the Funds, (ii) redemptions receivable from the Funds, (iii) its equity in trading account, consisting of unrestricted cash, restricted cash, net unrealized appreciation on open futures contracts, net unrealized appreciation on open forward contracts, options purchased at fair value and investment in U.S. Treasury bills at fair value, if applicable and (iv) interest receivable. Because of the low margin deposits normally required in commodity futures trading, relatively small price movements may result in substantial losses to the Partnership, through its investment in the Funds and direct investments. While substantial losses could lead to a material decrease in liquidity, no such illiquidity occurred during the first quarter of 2021.

The Partnership’s/Funds’ investment in futures, forwards and options may, from time to time, be illiquid. Most U.S. futures exchanges limit fluctuations in prices during a single day by regulations referred to as “daily price fluctuation limits” or “daily limits.” Trades may not be executed at prices beyond the daily limit. If the price for a particular futures or option contract has increased or decreased by an amount equal to the daily limit, positions in that futures or option contract can neither be taken nor liquidated unless traders are willing to effect trades at or within the limit. Futures prices have occasionally moved the daily limit for several consecutive days with little or no trading. These market conditions could prevent the Partnership and/or the Funds from promptly liquidating their futures or option contracts and result in restrictions on redemptions.

There is no limitation on daily price movements in trading forward contracts on foreign currencies. The markets for some world currencies have low trading volume and are illiquid, which may prevent the Partnership and/or the Funds from trading in potentially profitable markets or prevent the Partnership and/or the Funds from promptly liquidating unfavorable positions in such markets, subjecting them to substantial losses. Either of these market conditions could result in restrictions on redemptions. For the periods covered by this report, illiquidity has not materially affected the Partnership’s or the Funds’ assets.

Other than the risks inherent in commodity futures, forwards, options, swaps and other derivatives trading and U.S. Treasury bills and money market mutual fund securities, the Partnership and the Funds know of no trends, demands, commitments, events or uncertainties at the present time that are reasonably likely to result in the Partnership’s or the Funds’ liquidity increasing or decreasing in any material way.

The Partnership’s capital consists of the capital contributions of the partners as increased or decreased by realized and/or unrealized gains or losses on trading and by expenses, interest income, subscriptions and redemptions of Redeemable Units and distributions of profits, if any.

For the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Partnership’s capital decreased 2.7% from $359,254,745 to $349,458,654. This decrease was attributable to redemptions of 10,435.0970 Class A limited partner Redeemable Units totaling $29,412,023, redemptions of 490.0250 Class Z General Partner Redeemable Units totaling $575,000 and redemptions of 231.2570 Class Z limited partner Redeemable Units totaling $273,445, which was partially offset by subscriptions of 890.9890 Class A limited partner Redeemable Units totaling $2,519,943, subscriptions of 17.3570 Class Z limited partner Redeemable Units totaling $19,685 and net income of $17,924,749. Future redemptions can impact the amount of funds available for investment in subsequent periods.

Other than as discussed above, there are no known material trends, favorable or unfavorable, that would affect, nor any expected material changes to, the Partnership’s capital resource arrangements at the present time.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations

The Partnership does not have any off-balance sheet arrangements, nor does it have contractual obligations or commercial commitments to make future payments, that would affect its liquidity or capital resources.

Critical Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the General Partner to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expense during the reporting periods. The General Partner believes that the estimates utilized in preparing the financial statements are reasonable. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The Partnership’s significant accounting policies are described in detail in Note 2, “Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” of the Financial Statements.

The Partnership and the Funds record all investments at fair value in their financial statements, with changes in fair value reported as a component of net realized gains (losses) and net change in unrealized gains (losses) in the Statements of Income and Expenses.

 

22


Results of Operations

During the Partnership’s first quarter of 2021, the net asset value per Redeemable Unit for Class A increased 5.2% from $2,769.71 to $2,915.03, as compared to a decrease of 1.5% in the first quarter of 2020. During the Partnership’s first quarter of 2021, the net asset value per Redeemable Unit for Class Z increased 5.4% from $1,134.16 to $1,195.93, as compared to a decrease of 1.2% in the first quarter of 2020. The Partnership experienced a net trading gain before fees and expenses in the first quarter of 2021 of $25,111,628. Gains were primarily attributable to the Partnership’s/Funds’ trading of commodity futures in energy, grains, indices, U.S. interest rates, livestock, metals and softs and were partially offset by losses in currencies and non-U.S. interest rates. The Partnership experienced a net trading gain before fees and expenses in the first quarter of 2020 of $1,251,725. Gains were primarily attributable to the Partnership’s/Funds’ trading of commodity futures in energy, U.S. and non-U.S. interest rates and metals and were partially offset by losses in currencies, grains, livestock, softs and indices.

The most notable gains were achieved within the energy markets during February and March from long positions in European carbon emission futures as prices surged higher on an outlook for growth in global industrial demand. Additional gains in the energies were recorded from long positions in natural gas futures during January. Within the agricultural sector, gains were experienced during February from long futures positions in the grains as prices advanced amid adverse weather in key growing regions in North and South America threatening crop plantings. Smaller gains in the agricultural markets were recorded in livestock trading throughout the quarter. Gains were also recorded within the global stock index markets during all three months of the quarter primarily from long positions in U.S. and Asian equity index futures amid continued strong investor demand for risk assets. Additional gains were achieved within the metals markets during February from long positions in copper futures as prices rallied on optimism that global manufacturing demand would accelerate coming out of the COVID-19 lockdown era. Further gains were recorded during March within the global interest rate sector from short positions in U.S. Treasury bond futures as interest rates moved higher amid growing inflationary concerns. The Partnership’s overall trading gains for the quarter were partially offset by trading losses within the currency sector from long positions in the euro, Australian dollar, Canadian dollar and Japanese yen versus the U.S. dollar as the value of U.S. currency advanced as the pace of the U.S. vaccine rollout accelerated.

Commodity markets are highly volatile. Broad price fluctuations and rapid inflation increase the risks involved in commodity trading, but also increase the possibility for profit. The profitability of the Partnership/Funds depends on the existence of major price trends and the ability of the Advisors to correctly identify those price trends. Price trends are influenced by, among other things, changing supply and demand relationships, weather, public health epidemics, governmental, agricultural, commercial and trade programs and policies, national and international political and economic events and changes in interest rates. To the extent that market trends exist and the Advisors are able to identify them, the Partnership/Funds expect to increase capital through operations.

Interest income is earned on 100% of the average daily equity maintained in cash in the Partnership’s (or the Partnership’s allocable portion of FORT Contrarian Master’s and NL Master’s or, prior to the Partnership’s full redemption, Winton Master’s) brokerage account during each month at the rate equal to the monthly average of the 4-week U.S. Treasury bill discount rate. MS&Co. will pay monthly interest to Transtrend Master on 100% of the average daily equity maintained in cash in Transtrend Master’s brokerage account during each month at the rate equal to the monthly average of the 4-week U.S. Treasury bill discount rate less 0.15% during such month but in no event less than zero. When the effective rate is less than zero, no interest is earned. For the avoidance of doubt, the Partnership/Funds will not receive interest on amounts in the futures brokerage account that are committed to margin. Any interest earned on the Partnership’s and/or each Fund’s cash account in excess of the amounts described above, if any, will be retained by MS&Co. and/or shared with the General Partner. All interest earned on U.S. Treasury bills and money market mutual fund securities will be retained by the Partnership and/or the Funds, as applicable. Any interest income earned on collateral or excess cash deposited by certain of the Funds and held by JPMorgan in its capacity as such Funds’ forward foreign currency counterparty will be retained by such Funds, and the Partnership will receive its allocable portion of such interest from the applicable Fund. Interest income earned by the Partnership for the three months ended March 31, 2021 decreased by $1,161,660 as compared to the corresponding period in 2020. The decrease in interest income was primarily due to lower 4-week U.S. Treasury bill discount rates along with lower average daily equity during the three months ended March 31, 2021 as compared to the corresponding period in 2020. Interest earned by the Partnership will increase the net asset value of the Partnership. The amount of interest income earned by the Partnership depends on (1) the average daily equity maintained in cash in the Partnership’s and/or the Funds’ accounts, (2) the amount of U.S. Treasury bills and/or money market mutual fund securities held by the Partnership and/or the Funds and (3) interest rates over which none of the Partnership, the Funds, MS&Co. or JPMorgan has control.

Certain clearing fees are based on the number of trades executed by the Advisors for the Partnership/Funds. Accordingly, they must be compared in relation to the number of trades executed during the period. Clearing fees related to direct investments for the three months ended March 31, 2021 decreased by $1,043,771 as compared to the corresponding period in 2020. The decrease in these clearing fees was primarily due to a decrease in the number of direct trades made by the Partnership during the three months ended March 31, 2021 as compared to the corresponding period in 2020.

Ongoing selling agent fees are calculated as a percentage of the Partnership’s adjusted net asset value for Class A Redeemable

 

23


Units as of the end of each month and are affected by trading performance, subscriptions and redemptions. Prior to July 1, 2020, ongoing selling agent fees were based on the number of trades executed by the Advisors and the adjusted month-end net assets calculated monthly. Accordingly, ongoing sell agent fees prior to July 1, 2020 must be compared in relation to the number of trades executed during the period as well as the fluctuations in the monthly net asset values. Ongoing selling agent fees for the three months ended March 31, 2021 decreased by $551,765 as compared to the corresponding period in 2020. The decrease in ongoing selling agent fees was primarily due to lower average adjusted net assets during the three months ended March 31, 2021 as compared to the corresponding period in 2020, as well as changes in the calculation and percentage of the ongoing selling agent fee for Class A Redeemable Units as described in Note 1 to the Financial Statements effective July 1, 2020 and January 1, 2021, respectively.

Management fees, except fees payable to Transtrend, are calculated as a percentage of the Partnership’s adjusted net asset value as of the end of each month and are affected by trading performance, subscriptions and redemptions. Accordingly, they must be compared in relation to the fluctuations in the monthly net asset values. Management fees payable to Transtrend are charged at the Transtrend Master level and are affected by trading performance, subscriptions and redemptions of Transtrend Master. Management fees for the three months ended March 31, 2021 decreased by $558,489 as compared to the corresponding period in 2020. The decrease in management fees was due to lower average adjusted net assets during the three months ended March 31, 2021 as compared to the corresponding period in 2020.

Fees are paid to the General Partner for administering the business and affairs of the Partnership including, among other things, (i) selecting, appointing and terminating the Partnership’s commodity trading advisors, (ii) allocating and reallocating the Partnership’s assets among the commodity trading advisors and (iii) monitoring the activities of the commodity trading advisors. These fees are calculated as a percentage of the Partnership’s adjusted net asset value as of the end of each month and are affected by trading performance, subscriptions and redemptions. Accordingly, they must be compared in relation to the fluctuations in the monthly net asset values. The General Partner fees for the three months ended March 31, 2021 decreased by $227,705 as compared to the corresponding period in 2020. The decrease in the General Partner fees was due to lower average adjusted net assets during the three months ended March 31, 2021 as compared to the corresponding period in 2020.

Incentive fees paid by the Partnership are based on the new trading profits, as defined in the respective management agreements among the Partnership, the General Partner/Trading Manager and each Advisor, generated by each Advisor at the end of the quarter, calendar half year or annually, as applicable. Trading performance for the three months ended March 31, 2021 resulted in incentive fees of $3,958,886. Trading performance for the three months ended March 31, 2020 resulted in incentive fees of $3,310,643. To the extent an Advisor incurs a loss for the Partnership, the Advisor will not be paid an incentive fee until such Advisor recovers any net loss incurred by the Advisor and earns additional new trading profits for the Partnership.

In allocating the assets of the Partnership among the Advisors, the General Partner considers, among other factors, each Advisor’s past performance, trading style, volatility of markets traded and fee requirements. The General Partner may modify or terminate the allocation of assets among the Advisors and may allocate assets to additional advisors at any time.

As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Partnership’s assets were allocated among the Advisors in the following approximate percentages:

 

Advisor

   March 31, 2021      March 31, 2021
(percentage of Partners’ Capital)
    December 31, 2020      December 31, 2020
(percentage of Partners’ Capital)
 

Transtrend

   $ 67,066,666        19   $  66,632,375        19

FORT

   $ 46,549,252        13   $ 57,968,789        16

Northlander

   $ 13,773,998        4   $ 11,667,608        3

JSCL

   $ 99,889,435        29   $ 98,938,743        28

Pan

   $ 22,208,601        6   $ 22,185,046        6

Greenwave

   $ 25,955,069        8   $ 30,467,267        8

Quantica

   $ 74,015,633        21   $ 71,394,917        20

For additional disclosures about operational and financial risk related to the COVID-19 outbreak, refer to Part II, Item 5. “Other Information.” in this Form 10-Q.

 

24


Item 3.         Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.

The Partnership/Funds are speculative commodity pools. The market sensitive instruments held by the Partnership/Funds are acquired for speculative trading purposes, and all or substantially all of the Partnership’s/Funds’ assets are subject to the risk of trading loss. Unlike an operating company, the risk of market sensitive instruments is integral, not incidental, to the Partnership’s/Funds’ main line of business.

The limited partners will not be liable for losses exceeding the current net asset value of their investment.

Market movements result in frequent changes in the fair value of the Partnership’s/Funds’ open contracts and, consequently, in their earnings and cash balances. The Partnership’s/Funds’ market risk is influenced by a wide variety of factors. These primarily include factors which affect energy price levels, including supply factors and weather conditions, but could also include the level and volatility of interest rates, exchange rates, equity price levels, the market value of financial instruments and contracts, the diversification effects among the Partnership’s/Funds’ open contracts and the liquidity of the markets in which they trade.

The Partnership/Funds rapidly acquire and liquidate both long and short positions in a wide range of different markets. Consequently, it is not possible to predict how a particular future market scenario will affect performance, and the Partnership’s/Funds’ past performances is not necessarily indicative of their future results.

Quantifying the Partnership’s and the Funds’ Trading Value at Risk

The following quantitative disclosures regarding the Partnership’s and the Funds’ market risk exposures contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor from civil liability provided for such statements by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (set forth in Section 27A of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)). All quantitative disclosures in this section are deemed to be forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor, except for statements of historical fact.

The Partnership and the Funds account for open positions on the basis of fair value accounting principles. Any loss in the market value of the Partnership’s and each Fund’s open positions is directly reflected in the Partnership’s and each Fund’s earnings and cash flow.

The Partnership’s and the Funds’ risk exposure in the market sectors traded by the Advisors is estimated below in terms of Value at Risk. Please note that the Value at Risk model is used to numerically quantify market risk for historic reporting purposes only and is not utilized by either the General Partner or the Advisors in their daily risk management activities.

“Value at Risk” is a measure of the maximum amount which the Partnership/Funds could reasonably be expected to lose in a given market sector. However, the inherent uncertainty of the Partnership’s/Funds’ speculative trading and the recurrence in the markets traded by the Partnership/Funds of market movements far exceeding expectations could result in actual trading or non-trading losses far beyond the indicated Value at Risk or the Partnership’s/Funds’ experience to date (i.e., “risk of ruin”). In light of the foregoing, as well as the risks and uncertainties intrinsic to all future projections, the inclusion of the quantification in this section should not be considered to constitute any assurance or representation that the Partnership’s/Funds’ losses in any market sector will be limited to Value at Risk or by the Partnership’s/Funds’ attempts to manage their market risk.

Exchange margin requirements have been used by the Partnership/Funds as the measure of their Value at Risk. Margin requirements are set by exchanges to equal or exceed the maximum losses reasonably expected to be incurred in the fair value of any given contract in 95%-99% of any one-day interval. The margin levels are established by dealers and exchanges using historical price studies as well as an assessment of current market volatility (including the implied volatility of the options on a given futures contract) and economic fundamentals to provide a probabilistic estimate of the maximum expected near-term one-day price fluctuation.

Value at Risk tables represent a probabilistic assessment of the risk of loss in market risk sensitive instruments. JSCL, Pan, Greenwave and Quantica directly trade managed accounts in the name of the Partnership. Transtrend, Northlander and FORT currently trade the Partnership’s assets indirectly in master fund managed accounts established in the name of the master funds over which they have been granted limited authority to make trading decisions. The first two trading Value at Risk tables reflect the market sensitive instruments held by the Partnership directly and through its investment in the Funds. The remaining trading Value at Risk tables reflect the market sensitive instruments held by the Partnership directly (i.e. in the managed accounts in the Partnership’s name traded by JSCL, Pan, Greenwave and Quantica) and indirectly by each Fund separately. There has been no material change in the trading Value at Risk information previously disclosed in the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.

 

25


The following tables indicate the trading Value at Risk associated with the Partnership’s open positions by market category as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020. As of March 31, 2021, the Partnership’s total capitalization was $349,458,654.

 

March 31, 2021

 

Market Sector

   Value at Risk      % of Total
Capitalization
 

Currencies

   $ 7,948,811        2.27

Energy

     11,092,515        3.17  

Grains

     2,905,186        0.83  

Indices

     6,061,002        1.73  

Interest Rates U.S.

     3,390,041        0.97  

Interest Rates Non-U.S.

     5,963,091        1.71  

Livestock

     996,435        0.29  

Metals

     3,272,409        0.94  

Softs

     2,459,173        0.70  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 44,088,663        12.61
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2020, the Partnership’s total capitalization was $359,254,745.

 

December 31, 2020

 

Market Sector

   Value at Risk      % of Total
Capitalization
 

Currencies

   $ 9,132,601        2.54

Energy

     9,244,038        2.57  

Grains

     2,833,843        0.79  

Indices

     8,908,326        2.48  

Interest Rates U.S.

     2,377,558        0.66  

Interest Rates Non-U.S.

     6,931,554        1.93  

Livestock

     835,043        0.23  

Metals

     4,572,824        1.27  

Softs

     2,340,934        0.65  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 47,176,721        13.12
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

26


The following tables indicate the trading Value at Risk associated with the Partnership’s direct investments and indirect investments in the Funds by market category as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, and the highest, lowest and average values during the three months ended March 31, 2021 and the twelve months ended December 31, 2020, as applicable. All open position trading risk exposures have been included in calculating the figures set forth below.

At March 31, 2021, the Partnership’s Value at Risk for the portion of its assets that are traded directly was as follows:

March 31, 2021

 

                  Three Months Ended March 31, 2021  

Market Sector

   Value at Risk      % of Total
Capitalization
    High
Value at Risk
     Low
Value at Risk
     Average
Value at Risk*
 

Currencies

   $ 4,334,332        1.24   $ 5,394,125      $ 2,731,465      $ 4,015,529  

Energy

     7,753,875        2.22       7,900,442        4,672,904        5,733,449  

Grains

     1,917,879        0.55       2,316,342        1,358,132        1,820,108  

Indices

     2,225,860        0.64       5,461,795        2,225,860        4,019,629  

Interest Rates U.S.

     2,089,230        0.60       2,771,045        1,010,762        1,867,198  

Interest Rates Non-U.S.

     3,580,330        1.02       6,868,118        3,157,105        4,523,533  

Livestock

     496,375        0.14       894,922        93,704        441,807  

Metals

     1,967,460        0.56       3,921,858        1,909,578        2,591,910  

Softs

     1,612,204        0.46       3,534,137        1,488,913        1,969,346  
  

 

 

    

 

 

         

Total

   $ 25,977,545        7.43        
  

 

 

    

 

 

         

 

*

Average of daily Values at Risk.

At December 31, 2020, the Partnership’s Value at Risk for the portion of its assets that are traded directly was as follows:

December 31, 2020

 

                  Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2020  

Market Sector

   Value at Risk      % of Total
Capitalization
    High
Value at Risk
     Low
Value at Risk
     Average
Value at Risk*
 

Currencies

   $ 3,389,760        0.94   $ 5,269,055      $ 629,154      $ 2,431,899  

Energy

     6,184,256        1.72       13,521,727        3,760,820        9,244,751  

Grains

     1,383,941        0.39       5,718,941        720,538        2,426,904  

Indices

     3,781,386        1.05       7,746,319        92,887        2,743,407  

Interest Rates U.S.

     1,010,762        0.28       2,043,671        214,773        1,107,710  

Interest Rates Non-U.S.

     3,157,105        0.88       7,123,169        771,101        4,310,725  

Livestock

     341,231        0.09       5,779,951        240,768        2,315,619  

Metals

     1,909,578        0.53       7,087,231        376,349        3,682,732  

Softs

     1,558,845        0.43       7,007,411        662,448        2,278,312  
  

 

 

    

 

 

         

Total

   $ 22,716,864        6.31        
  

 

 

    

 

 

         

 

*

Annual average of daily Values at Risk.

 

27


At March 31, 2021, Transtrend Master’s total capitalization was $67,066,960 and the Partnership owned 100.0% of Transtrend Master. As of March 31, 2021, Transtrend Master’s Value at Risk for its assets (including the portion of the Partnership’s assets allocated to Transtrend for trading) was as follows:

March 31, 2021

 

                  Three Months Ended March 31, 2021  

Market Sector

   Value at Risk      % of Total
Capitalization
    High
Value at Risk
     Low
Value at Risk
     Average
Value at Risk*
 

Currencies

   $ 3,141,867        4.68   $ 5,335,509      $ 2,871,112      $ 3,529,929  

Energy

     1,515,392        2.26       1,657,661        1,239,675        1,434,100  

Grains

     987,307        1.47       1,725,096        987,307        1,460,469  

Indices

     1,486,392        2.22       2,580,608        1,486,392        1,995,060  

Interest Rates U.S.

     1,131,084        1.69       1,131,084        513,043        845,560  

Interest Rates Non-U.S.

     1,600,131        2.39       3,030,400        1,600,131        2,323,572  

Livestock

     500,060        0.75       658,240        433,840        526,426  

Metals

     1,176,249        1.75       2,536,086        1,129,397        1,686,341  

Softs

     846,969        1.26       1,009,313        750,065        877,731  
  

 

 

    

 

 

         

Total

   $ 12,385,451        18.47        
  

 

 

    

 

 

         

 

*

Average of daily Values at Risk.

At December 31, 2020, Transtrend Master’s total capitalization was $66,632,519 and the Partnership owned 100.0% of Transtrend Master. As of December 31, 2020, Transtrend Master’s Value at Risk for its assets (including the portion of the Partnership’s assets allocated to Transtrend for trading) was as follows:

December 31, 2020

 

                  Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2020  

Market Sector

   Value at Risk      % of Total
Capitalization
    High
Value at Risk
     Low
Value at Risk
     Average
Value at Risk*
 

Currencies

   $ 5,319,265        7.98   $ 19,590,628      $ 2,199,776      $ 7,438,615  

Energy

     1,497,415        2.25       4,454,924        700,276        2,010,461  

Grains

     1,449,902        2.18       3,515,820        1,045,499        1,963,809  

Indices

     2,271,081        3.41       8,833,776        651,665        3,853,934  

Interest Rates U.S.

     915,405        1.37       1,720,048        192,556        1,019,051  

Interest Rates Non-U.S.

     2,795,726        4.20       6,121,339        1,122,144        2,420,152  

Livestock

     493,812        0.74       1,129,893        159,940        436,792  

Metals

     2,536,086        3.81       4,082,966        1,242,232        2,670,773  

Softs

     782,089        1.17       2,736,946        596,029        1,355,694  
  

 

 

    

 

 

         

Total

   $ 18,060,781        27.11        
  

 

 

    

 

 

         

 

*

Annual average of daily Values at Risk.

 

28


At March 31, 2021, FORT Contrarian Master’s total capitalization was $46,548,602 and the Partnership owned 100.0% of FORT Contrarian Master. As of March 31, 2021, FORT Contrarian Master’s Value at Risk for its assets (including the portion of the Partnership’s assets allocated to FORT for trading) was as follows:

March 31, 2021

 

                  Three Months Ended March 31, 2021  

Market Sector

   Value at Risk      % of Total
Capitalization
    High
Value at Risk
     Low
Value at Risk
     Average
Value at Risk*
 

Currencies

   $ 472,612        1.02   $ 583,567      $ 281,989      $ 437,112  

Energy

     287,645        0.62       525,042        227,827        389,640  

Indices

     2,348,750        5.05       2,933,444        2,110,040        2,489,824  

Interest Rates U.S.

     169,727        0.36       566,451        151,799        350,282  

Interest Rates Non-U.S.

     782,630        1.68       1,121,426        645,957        883,705  

Metals

     128,700        0.28       151,800        75,350        121,962  
  

 

 

    

 

 

         

Total

   $ 4,190,064        9.01        
  

 

 

    

 

 

         

 

*

Average of daily Values at Risk.

At December 31, 2020, FORT Contrarian Master’s total capitalization was $57,965,478 and the Partnership owned 100.0% of FORT Contrarian Master. As of December 31, 2020, FORT Contrarian Master’s Value at Risk for its assets (including the portion of the Partnership’s assets allocated to FORT for trading) was as follows:

December 31, 2020

 

                  Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2020  

Market Sector

   Value at Risk      % of Total
Capitalization
    High
Value at Risk
     Low
Value at Risk
     Average
Value at Risk*
 

Currencies

   $ 423,576        0.73   $ 1,988,707      $ 202,069      $ 838,490  

Energy

     276,619        0.48       1,165,186        142,190        564,762  

Indices

     2,855,859        4.93       5,798,597        449,691        2,778,753  

Interest Rates U.S.

     451,391        0.78       1,702,197        145,815        695,438  

Interest Rates Non-U.S.

     978,723        1.69       4,211,112        495,790        2,131,137  

Metals

     127,160        0.22       257,510        15,972        87,974  
  

 

 

    

 

 

         

Total

   $ 5,113,328        8.83        
  

 

 

    

 

 

         

 

*

Annual average of daily Values at Risk.

 

29


At March 31, 2021, NL Master’s total capitalization was $18,023,684 and the Partnership owned approximately 76.4% of NL Master. As of March 31, 2021, NL Master’s Value at Risk for its assets (including the portion of the Partnership’s assets allocated to Northlander for trading) was as follows:

March 31, 2021

 

                  Three Months Ended March 31, 2021  

Market Sector

   Value at Risk      % of Total
Capitalization
    High
Value at Risk
     Low
Value at Risk
     Average
Value at Risk*
 

Energy

   $ 2,009,952        11.15   $ 2,126,456      $ 1,349,006      $ 1,652,854  
  

 

 

    

 

 

         

Total

   $ 2,009,952        11.15        
  

 

 

    

 

 

         

 

*

Average of daily Values at Risk.

At December 31, 2020, NL Master’s total capitalization was $14,337,973 and the Partnership owned approximately 81.4% of NL Master. As of December 31, 2020, NL Master’s Value at Risk for its assets (including the portion of the Partnership’s assets allocated to Northlander for trading) was as follows:

December 31, 2020

 

                  Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2020  

Market Sector

   Value at Risk      % of Total
Capitalization
    High
Value at Risk
     Low
Value at Risk
     Average
Value at Risk*
 

Energy

   $ 1,579,543        11.02   $ 1,579,543      $      74,383      $    443,187  
  

 

 

    

 

 

         

Total

   $ 1,579,543        11.02        
  

 

 

    

 

 

         

 

*

Annual average of daily Values at Risk.

 

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Item 4.         Controls and Procedures.

The Partnership’s disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Partnership on the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods expected in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Partnership in the reports it files is accumulated and communicated to management, including the President and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) of the General Partner, to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosure and appropriate SEC filings.

The General Partner is responsible for ensuring that there is an adequate and effective process for establishing, maintaining and evaluating disclosure controls and procedures for the Partnership’s external disclosures.

The General Partner’s President and CFO have evaluated the effectiveness of the Partnership’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of March 31, 2021 and, based on that evaluation, the General Partner’s President and CFO have concluded that, at that date, the Partnership’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

The Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting is a process under the supervision of the General Partner’s President and CFO to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP. These controls include policies and procedures that:

 

   

pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Partnership;

 

   

provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and (ii) the Partnership’s receipts are handled and expenditures are made only pursuant to authorizations of the General Partner; and

 

   

provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection and correction of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Partnership’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

There were no changes in the Partnership’s internal control over the financial reporting process during the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2021, that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.         Legal Proceedings.

This section describes the major pending legal proceedings, other than ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business, to which MS&Co. or its subsidiaries is a party or to which any of their property is subject. There are no material legal proceedings pending against the Partnership or the General Partner.

On June 1, 2011, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated converted from a Delaware corporation to a Delaware limited liability company. As a result of that conversion, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated is now named Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC (“MS&Co.”).

MS&Co. is a wholly-owned, indirect subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, a Delaware holding company. Morgan Stanley files periodic reports with the SEC as required by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) which include current descriptions of material litigation and material proceedings and investigations, if any, by governmental and/or regulatory agencies or self-regulatory organizations concerning Morgan Stanley and its subsidiaries, including MS&Co. As a consolidated subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, MS&Co. does not file its own periodic reports with the SEC that contain descriptions of material litigation, proceedings and investigations. As a result, we refer you to the “Legal Proceedings” section of Morgan Stanley’s SEC 10-K filings for 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015 and 2014. In addition, MS&Co. annually prepares an Audited, Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition (“Audited Financial Statement”) that is publicly available on Morgan Stanley’s website at www.morganstanley.com. We refer you to the Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies – Legal section of MS&Co.’s 2019 Audited Financial Statement.

In addition to the matters described in those filings, in the normal course of business, each of Morgan Stanley and MS&Co. has been named, from time to time, as a defendant in various legal actions, including arbitrations, class actions, and other litigation, arising in connection with its activities as a global diversified financial services institution. Certain of the legal actions include claims for substantial compensatory and/or punitive damages or claims for indeterminate amounts of damages. Each of Morgan Stanley and MS&Co. is also involved, from time to time, in investigations and proceedings by governmental and/or regulatory agencies or self-regulatory organizations, certain of which may result in adverse judgments, fines or penalties. The number of these investigations and proceedings has increased in recent years with regard to many financial services institutions, including Morgan Stanley and MS&Co.

MS&Co. is a Delaware limited liability company with its main business office located at 1585 Broadway, New York, New York 10036. Among other registrations and memberships, MS&Co. is registered as a futures commission merchant and is a member of the National Futures Association.

During the preceding five years, the following administrative, civil, or criminal actions pending, on appeal or concluded against MS&Co. or any of its principals are material within the meaning of CFTC Rule 4.24(l)(2) or 4.34(k)(2):

Regulatory and Governmental Matters.

On April 21, 2015, the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated (CBOE) and the CBOE Futures Exchange, LLC (CFE) filed statements of charges against MS&Co. in connection with trading by one of MS&Co.’s former traders of EEM options contracts that allegedly disrupted the final settlement price of the November 2012 VXEM futures. CBOE alleged that MS&Co. violated CBOE Rules 4.1, 4.2 and 4.7, Sections 9(a) and 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 thereunder. CFE alleged that MS&Co. violated CFE Rules 608, 609 and 620. The matters were

 

32


resolved on July 12, 2016 and June 28, 2016, respectively, without any findings of fraud. Pursuant to the settlements, MS&Co. was required to pay a $750,000 penalty to the CBOE (for which MS&Co. and an individual were jointly and severally liable) and a $400,000 penalty to the CFE (for which MS&Co. and an individual were jointly and severally liable) and $152,664 in disgorgement.

On August 6, 2015, MS&Co. consented to and became the subject of an order by the CFTC to resolve allegations that MS&Co. violated CFTC Regulation 22.9(a) by failing to hold sufficient U.S. Dollars in cleared swap segregated accounts in the United States to meet all U.S. Dollar obligations to cleared swaps customers. Specifically, the CFTC found that while MS&Co. at all times held sufficient funds in segregation to cover its obligations to its customers, on certain days during 2013 and 2014, it held currencies, such as euros, instead of US dollars, to meet its U.S. dollar obligations. In addition, the CFTC found that MS&Co. violated CFTC Regulation 166.3 by failing to have in place adequate procedures to ensure that it complied with CFTC Regulation 22.9(a). Without admitting or denying the findings or conclusions and without adjudication of any issue of law or fact, MS&Co. accepted and consented to the entry of findings, the imposition of a cease and desist order, a civil monetary penalty of $300,000, and undertakings related to public statements, cooperation, and payment of the monetary penalty.

On December 20, 2016, MS&Co. consented to and became the subject of an order by the SEC in connection with allegations that MS&Co. willfully violated Sections 15(c)(3) and 17(a)(1) of the Exchange Act and Rules 15c3-3(e), 17a-5(a), and 17a-5(d) thereunder, by inaccurately calculating its Reserve Account requirement under Rule 15c3-3 by including margin loans to an affiliate in its calculations, which resulted in making inaccurate records and submitting inaccurate reports to the SEC. Without admitting or denying the underlying allegations and without adjudication of any issue of law or fact, MS&Co. consented to a cease and desist order, a censure, and a civil monetary penalty of $7.5 million.

On September 28, 2017, the CFTC issued an order filing and simultaneously settling charges against MS&Co. regarding violations of CFTC Rule 166.3 by failing to diligently supervise the reconciliation of exchange and clearing fees with the amounts it ultimately charged customers for certain transactions on multiple exchanges. The order and settlement required MS&Co. to pay a $500,000 penalty and cease and desist from violating CFTC Rule 166.3.

On November 2, 2017, the CFTC issued an order filing and simultaneously settling charges against MS&Co. for non-compliance with applicable rules governing Part 17 Large Trader reports to the CFTC. The order requires MS&Co. to pay a $350,000 penalty and cease and desist from further violations of the Commodity Exchange Act.

On September 30, 2020, the SEC entered into a settlement order with MS&Co. settling an administrative action which relates to MS&Co.’s violations of the order marking requirements of Regulation SHO of the Exchange Act resulting from its improper use of aggregation units in structuring the Firm’s equity swaps business. The order found that MS&Co. improperly operated its equity swaps business without netting certain “long” and “short” positions as required by Rule 200(c) of Regulation SHO. The order found that the long exposure to an equity security (the “Long Unit”) and the short exposure to an equity security (the “Short Unit”) were not independent from one another and did not have separate trading strategies or objectives without regard to each other, and that the Long and Short Units were not eligible for the exception in Rule 200(f) of Regulation SHO. The order found that MS&Co. willfully violated Section 200(g) of Regulation SHO. MS&Co. consented, without admitting or denying the findings and without adjudication of any issue of law

 

33


or fact, to a censure; to cease and desist from committing or causing future violations; to pay a civil penalty of $5 million; and to comply with the undertaking enumerated in the order.

Civil Litigation

On October 15, 2010, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago filed a complaint against MS&Co. and other defendants in the Circuit Court of the State of Illinois, styled Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago v. Bank of America Funding Corporation et al. A corrected amended complaint was filed on April 8, 2011, which alleges that defendants made untrue statements and material omissions in the sale to plaintiff of a number of mortgage pass-through certificates backed by securitization trusts containing residential mortgage loans and asserts claims under Illinois law. The total amount of certificates allegedly sold to plaintiff by MS&Co. at issue in the action was approximately $203 million. The complaint seeks, among other things, to rescind the plaintiff’s purchase of such certificates. The defendants filed a motion to dismiss the corrected amended complaint on May 27, 2011, which was denied on September 19, 2012. On December 13, 2013, the court entered an order dismissing all claims related to one of the securitizations at issue. On January 18, 2017, the court entered an order dismissing all claims related to an additional securitization at issue. After those dismissals, the remaining amount of certificates allegedly issued by MS&Co. or sold to plaintiff by MS&Co. was approximately $65 million. At December 25, 2019, the current unpaid balance of the mortgage pass-through certificates at issue in this action was approximately $35 million, and the certificates had not yet incurred actual losses. Based on currently available information, MS&Co. believes it could incur a loss in this action up to the difference between the $35 million unpaid balance of these certificates (plus any losses incurred) and their fair market value at the time of a judgment against MS&Co., plus pre- and post-judgment interest, fees and costs. MS&Co. may be entitled to be indemnified for some of these losses and to an offset for interest received by the plaintiff prior to a judgment.

On May 17, 2013, plaintiff in IKB International S.A. in Liquidation, et al. v. Morgan Stanley, et al. filed a complaint against MS&Co. and certain affiliates in the Supreme Court of NY. The complaint alleges that defendants made material misrepresentations and omissions in the sale to plaintiff of certain mortgage pass-through certificates backed by securitization trusts containing residential mortgage loans. The total amount of certificates allegedly sponsored, underwritten and/or sold by MS&Co. to plaintiff was approximately $133 million. The complaint alleges causes of action against MS&Co. for common law fraud, fraudulent concealment, aiding and abetting fraud, and negligent misrepresentation, and seeks, among other things, compensatory and punitive damages. On October 29, 2014, the court granted in part and denied in part MS&Co.’s motion to dismiss. All claims regarding four certificates were dismissed. After these dismissals, the remaining amount of certificates allegedly issued by MS&Co. or sold to plaintiff by MS&Co. was approximately $116 million. On August 11, 2016, the First Department affirmed the trial court’s decision denying in part MS&Co.’s motion to dismiss the complaint. At December 25, 2019, the current unpaid balance of the mortgage pass-through certificates at issue in this action was approximately $22 million, and the certificates had incurred actual losses of $58 million. Based on currently available information, MS&Co. believes it could incur a loss in this action up to the difference between the $22 million unpaid balance of these certificates (plus any losses incurred) and their fair market value at the time of a judgment against MS&Co., or upon sale, plus pre- and post-judgment interest, fees and costs. MS&Co. may be entitled to be indemnified for some of these losses and to an offset for interest received by the plaintiff prior to a judgment.

In August of 2017, MS&Co. was named as a defendant in a purported antitrust class action in the United States District Court for the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York styled Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System et al. v. Bank of America Corporation

 

34


et al. Plaintiffs allege, inter alia, that MS&Co., together with a number of other financial institution defendants, violated U.S. antitrust laws and New York state law in connection with their alleged efforts to prevent the development of electronic exchange-based platforms for securities lending. The class action complaint was filed on behalf of a purported class of borrowers and lenders who entered into stock loan transactions with the defendants. The class action complaint seeks, among other relief, certification of the class of plaintiffs and treble damages. On September 27, 2018, the court denied the defendants’ motion to dismiss the class action complaint.

Settled Civil Litigation

On December 23, 2009, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle filed a complaint against MS&Co. and another defendant in the Superior Court of the State of Washington, styled Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle v. Morgan Stanley & Co. Inc., et al. The amended complaint, filed on September 28, 2010, alleged that defendants made untrue statements and material omissions in the sale to plaintiff of certain mortgage pass-through certificates backed by securitization trusts containing residential mortgage loans. The total amount of certificates allegedly sold to plaintiff by MS&Co. was approximately $233 million. The complaint raised claims under the Washington State Securities Act and sought, among other things, to rescind the plaintiff’s purchase of such certificates. On January 23, 2017, the parties reached an agreement to settle the litigation.

On July 15, 2010, China Development Industrial Bank (“CDIB”) filed a complaint against MS&Co., styled China Development Industrial Bank v. Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated et al., which is pending in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, New York County (“Supreme Court of NY”). The complaint related to a $275 million credit default swap (“CDS”) referencing the super senior portion of the STACK 2006-1 CDO. The complaint asserted claims for common law fraud, fraudulent inducement and fraudulent concealment and alleges that MS&Co. misrepresented the risks of the STACK 2006-1 CDO to CDIB, and that MS&Co knew that the assets backing the CDO were of poor quality when it entered into the CDS with CDIB. On March 22, 2021, the parties entered into a settlement agreement. On April 16, 2021, the court entered a stipulation of voluntary discontinuance, with prejudice.

On March 15, 2010, the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco filed a complaint against MS&Co. and other defendants in the Superior Court of the State of California styled Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco v. Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. et al. An amended complaint, filed on June 10, 2010, alleged that defendants made untrue statements and material omissions in connection with the sale to plaintiff of certain mortgage pass-through certificates backed by securitization trusts containing residential mortgage loans. The amount of certificates allegedly sold to plaintiff by MS&Co. was approximately $276 million. The complaint raised claims under both the federal securities laws and California law and sought, among other things, to rescind the plaintiff’s purchase of such certificates. On December 21, 2016, the parties reached an agreement to settle the litigation.

On April 20, 2011, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston filed a complaint against MS&Co. and other defendants in the Superior Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts styled Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston v. Ally Financial, Inc. F/K/A GMAC LLC et al. An amended complaint was filed on June 29, 2012 and alleged that defendants made untrue statements and material omissions in the sale to plaintiff of certain mortgage pass-through certificates backed by securitization trusts containing residential mortgage loans. The total amount of certificates allegedly issued by MS&Co. or sold to plaintiff by MS&Co. was approximately $385 million. The amended complaint raised claims under the Massachusetts Uniform Securities Act, the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act and common law and sought, among other things, to

 

35


rescind the plaintiff’s purchase of such certificates. On November 25, 2013, July 16, 2014, and May 19, 2015, respectively, the plaintiff voluntarily dismissed its claims against MS&Co. with respect to three of the securitizations at issue. After these voluntary dismissals, the remaining amount of certificates allegedly issued by MS&Co. or sold to plaintiff by MS&Co. was approximately $332 million. On July 13, 2018, the parties reached an agreement in principle to settle the litigation.

On May 3, 2013, plaintiffs in Deutsche Zentral-Genossenschaftsbank AG et al. v. Morgan Stanley et al. filed a complaint against MS&Co., certain affiliates, and other defendants in the Supreme Court of NY. The complaint alleged that defendants made material misrepresentations and omissions in the sale to plaintiffs of certain mortgage pass-through certificates backed by securitization trusts containing residential mortgage loans. The total amount of certificates allegedly sponsored, underwritten and/or sold by MS&Co. to plaintiff was approximately $634 million. The complaint alleged causes of action against MS&Co. for common law fraud, fraudulent concealment, aiding and abetting fraud, negligent misrepresentation, and rescission and sought, among other things, compensatory and punitive damages. On June 26, 2018, the parties entered into an agreement to settle the litigation.

On April 1, 2016, the California Attorney General’s Office filed an action against MS&Co. in California state court styled California v. Morgan Stanley, et al., on behalf of California investors, including the California Public Employees’ Retirement System and the California Teachers’ Retirement System. The complaint alleged that MS&Co. made misrepresentations and omissions regarding residential mortgage-backed securities and notes issued by the Cheyne SIV, and asserted violations of the California False Claims Act and other state laws and sought treble damages, civil penalties, disgorgement, and injunctive relief. On April 24, 2019, the parties reached an agreement to settle the litigation.

Beginning on March 25, 2019, MS&Co. was named as a defendant in a series of putative class action complaints filed in the Southern District of NY, the first of which is styled Alaska Electrical Pension Fund v. BofA Secs., Inc., et al. Each complaint alleged a conspiracy to fix prices and restrain competition in the market for unsecured bonds issued by the following Government-Sponsored Enterprises: the Federal National Mortgage Association; the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation; the Federal Farm Credit Banks Funding Corporation; and the Federal Home Loan Banks. The purported class period for each suit is from January 1, 2012 to June 1, 2018. Each complaint raised a claim under Section 1 of the Sherman Act and sought, among other things, injunctive relief and treble compensatory damages. On May 23, 2019, plaintiffs filed a consolidated amended class action complaint styled In re GSE Bonds Antitrust Litigation, with a purported class period from January 1, 2009 to January 1, 2016. On June 13, 2019, the defendants filed a joint motion to dismiss the consolidated amended complaint. On August 29, 2019, the court denied MS&Co.’s motion to dismiss. On December 15, 2019, MS&Co. and certain other defendants entered into a stipulation of settlement to resolve the action as against each of them in its entirety. On June 16, 2020, the court granted final approval of the settlement.

Additional lawsuits containing claims similar to those described above may be filed in the future. In the course of its business, MS&Co., as a major futures commission merchant, is party to various civil actions, claims and routine regulatory investigations and proceedings that the General Partner believes do not have a material effect on the business of MS&Co. MS&Co. may establish reserves from time to time in connections with such actions.

 

36


Item lA.      Risk Factors.

There have been no material changes to the risk factors set forth under Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors.” in the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.

Item 2.         Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

For the three months ended March 31, 2021, there were subscriptions of 890.9890 Class A Redeemable Units totaling $2,519,943 and subscriptions of 17.3570 Class Z Redeemable Units totaling $19,685. The Redeemable Units were issued in reliance upon applicable exemptions from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and Section 506 of Regulation D promulgated thereunder. These Redeemable Units were purchased by accredited investors as defined in Regulation D. In determining the applicability of the exemption, the General Partner relied on the fact that the Redeemable Units were purchased by accredited investors in a private offering.

Proceeds from the sale of Redeemable Units are used in the trading of commodity interests including futures, option and forward contracts.

The following chart sets forth the purchases of limited partner Redeemable Units for each Class by the Partnership.

 

Period   

Class A

(a) Total
Number of
Redeemable
Units
Purchased*

    

Class A

(b) Average
Price Paid
per
Redeemable
Unit**

    

Class Z

(a) Total
Number of
Redeemable
Units
Purchased*

     Class Z (b)
Average
Price Paid
per
Redeemable
Unit**
     (c) Total
Number of
Redeemable
Units
Purchased
as Part of
Publicly
Announced
Plans or
Programs
     (d) Maximum
Number (or
Approximate
Dollar Value)
of Redeemable
Units that
May Yet Be
Purchased
Under the
Plans or
Programs
 

January 1, 2021 - January 31, 2021

     5,420.4710      $ 2,757.63        N/A        N/A        N/A        N/A  

February 1, 2021 - February 28, 2021

     2,890.2710      $ 2,861.95        138.6030      $ 1,173.41        N/A        N/A  

March 1, 2021 - March 31, 2021

     2,124.3550      $ 2,915.03        92.6540      $ 1,195.93        N/A        N/A  
       10,435.0970      $ 2,818.57        231.2570      $ 1,182.43                    

 

  *

Generally, limited partners are permitted to redeem their Redeemable Units as of the end of each month on three business days’ notice to the General Partner. Under certain circumstances, the General Partner may compel redemption, although to date the General Partner has not exercised this right. Purchases of Redeemable Units by the Partnership reflected in the chart above were made in the ordinary course of the Partnership’s business in connection with effecting redemptions for limited partners.

 

  **

Redemptions of Redeemable Units are effected as of the end of each month at the net asset value per Redeemable Unit as of that day. No fee will be charged for redemptions.

Item 3.         Defaults Upon Senior Securities. — None.

Item 4.         Mine Safety Disclosures. — Not Applicable.

Item 5.         Other Information.

Certain impacts to public health conditions particular to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak that occurred after December 31, 2020 could impact the operations and financial performance of the Partnership’s investments subsequent to March 31, 2021. The extent of the impact to the financial performance of the Partnership’s investments will depend on future developments, including (i) the duration and spread of the outbreak, (ii) the restrictions and advisories, (iii) the effects on the financial markets, and (iv) the effects on the economy overall, all of which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted. If the financial performance of the Partnership’s investments is impacted because of these factors for an extended period, the Partnership’s performance may be adversely affected.

 

37


Item 6.        Exhibits.

Exhibit 31.1 — Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification (Certification of President and Director) (filed herewith).

Exhibit 31.2 — Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification (Certification of Chief Financial Officer and Director) (filed herewith).

Exhibit 32.1 — Section 1350 Certification (Certification of President and Director) (filed herewith).

Exhibit 32.2 — Section 1350 Certification (Certification of Chief Financial Officer and Director) (filed herewith).

101.INS XBRL Instance Document.

101.SCH XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.

101.CAL XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.

101.LAB XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.

101.PRE XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.

101.DEF XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Document.

 

38


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

CERES ORION L.P.

By:   Ceres Managed Futures LLC (General Partner)
By:   /s/ Patrick T. Egan
  Patrick T. Egan
  President and Director
Date: May 12, 2021
By:   /s/ Steven Ross
 

Steven Ross

 

Chief Financial Officer and Director

(Principal Accounting Officer)

Date: May 12, 2021

The General Partner which signed the above is the only party authorized to act for the registrant. The registrant has no principal executive officer, principal financial officer, controller, or principal accounting officer and has no Board of Directors.

 

39