SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
Annual report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the fiscal year ended | Commission File Number | |
December 31, 2015 | 0-17555 |
The Everest Fund, L.P.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Iowa | 42-1318186 | |
(State or other
jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
1100 North 4th Street, Suite 143, Fairfield, Iowa 52556
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:
(641) 472-5500
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
None
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Units of Limited Partnership Interest
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
Yes o No x
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.
Yes x No o
Note Checking the box above will not relieve any registrant required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act from their obligations under those Sections.
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 o
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation SK is not contained herein and will not be contained to the best of the Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of Form 10K or any amendment to this Form 10-K: x
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of accelerated filer and large accelerated filer in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
(Check one):
Large accelerated filer | o | Accelerated filer o | |||
Non-accelerated filer | o | Small Reporting Company Filer x |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).
Yes o No x
State the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold, or the average bid and asked price of such common equity, as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed fourth fiscal quarter: $5,629,265.
Note: If a determination as to whether a particular person or entity is an affiliate cannot be made without involving unreasonable effort and expense, the aggregate market value of the common stock held by non-affiliates may be calculated on the basis of assumptions reasonable under the circumstances, provided that the assumptions are set forth in this Form.
APPLICABLE ONLY TO REGISTRANTS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY
PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PRECEDING FIVE YEARS:
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Section 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court.
Yes o No o
(APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE REGISTRANTS)
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
List hereunder the following documents if incorporated by reference and the Part of the Form 10-K (e.g., Part I, Part II, etc.) into which the document is incorporated: (1) Any annual report to security holders; (2) Any proxy or information statement; and (3) Any prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) or (c) under the Securities Act of 1933. The listed documents should be clearly described for identification purposes (e.g., annual report to security holders for fiscal year ended December 24, 1980).
None
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Part I
Item 1. Business
The Everest Fund, L.P. (the “Partnership” or “Everest”) is a limited partnership organized on June 20, 1988 under the Iowa Uniform Limited Partnership Act. The business of the Partnership is the speculative trading of commodity futures contracts and other commodity interests, including forward contracts on foreign currencies (Commodity Interests) either directly or indirectly through other entities, including subsidiaries, partnerships, Partnerships or other limited liability entities, which constitute one industry segment. The Partnership commenced its trading operations on February 1, 1989. Its General Partner is Everest Asset Management, Inc. (the “General Partner”) a Delaware corporation organized in December, 1987.
During its operation, the Partnership has had various trading advisors. In December 1990, John W. Henry & Company, Inc. (JWH) began trading for the Partnership as one of the Partnerships’ trading advisors. In May 1994, JWH became the sole trading advisor to the Partnership. After another tough month of trading, John W. Henry, the Chairman of JWH announced that JWH would stop trading client assets as of December 31, 2012. The Partnership terminated JWH as of October 31st. The Fund began trading on December 3rd 2012 with the new advisor EMC Capital Management, Inc (EMC). In October 1, 2013 EMC Capital Management., Inc changed name to EMC Capital Advisors, LLC.
On September 13, 1996 the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission accepted a voluntary filing by the Partnership of a Form 10 - General Form for Registration of Securities, and public reporting of Units of the Partnership sold as a private placement commenced at that time and has continued to the present.
In 2009 the Partnership continued previously offered Class A Units (retail shares) and charged an initial 1% Offering and Organization fee as a reduction to capital.
In 2009 the Partnership retained the JWH Global Analytics Program ( JWH GAP )as its sole trading program. As of December 31, 2009 100% of the Partnership’s assets were traded by the JWH GAP through October 31, 2012.
The Partnership began trading on December 3rd 2012 with the new advisor EMC Capital Management, Inc (now EMC Capital Advisors, LLC) or (EMC). 100% of the Partnership’s assets are being traded by the EMC Classic Program.
Upon fifteen days written notice, a Class A Limited Partner may require the Partnership to redeem all or part of his Units effective as of the close of business (as determined by the General Partner) on the last day of any month at the Net Asset Value thereof on such date. Notwithstanding the above, pursuant to the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership, the General Partner may, in its sole discretion, and on ten days’ notice, require a Limited Partner to redeem all or part of his Units in the Partnership as of the end of any month. There are no additional charges to the Limited Partner at redemption. The Partnership’s Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership contains a full description of redemption and distribution procedures.
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Since commencing trading operations, the Partnership has engaged in the speculative trading of Commodity Interests and will continue to do so until its dissolution and liquidation, which will occur on the earlier of December 31, 2020 or the occurrence of any of the events set forth in Paragraph 4(a) of the Agreement of Limited Partnership. Such events are (i) an election to dissolve the Partnership made by over 50% of the Limited Partnership Units at least 90 days prior to dissolution, (ii) withdrawal, insolvency, or dissolution of the General Partner (unless a new general partner is substituted), (iii) decline in the Net Asset Value of the Partnership at the close of any business day to less than $300,000, or (iv) any event which will make it unlawful for the existence of the Partnership to be continued or requiring termination of the Partnership.
The address of the General Partner and the Partnership is 1100 North 4th Street, Suite 143, Fairfield, Iowa 52556, and the telephone number at such location is (641) 472-5500. The General Partner changed its name as of March 1, 1994 and amended its Certificate of Incorporation, with no other changes, accordingly. In accordance with the provisions of the Commodity Exchange Act and the rules of the National Futures Association (NFA), the General Partner is registered as a commodity pool operator and a commodity trading advisor, EMC Capital Advisors, LLC (EMC) is registered as a commodity trading advisor and the Commodity Broker is registered as a futures commission merchant, each subject to regulation by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Each is also a member of the NFA in such capacity.
The General Partner, to the exclusion of the limited partners of the Partnership (the Limited Partners), manages and conducts the business of the Partnership. Thus the General Partner (i) selects and monitors the independent commodity trading advisor(s) and the Commodity Broker; (ii) allocates and/or reallocates assets of the Partnership to or from EMC and/or the advisor(s); (iii) determines if an advisor or commodity broker should be removed or replaced; (iv) negotiates management fees, incentive fees and brokerage commissions; (v) determines its own compensation with respect to management and administrative fees; and (vi) performs such other services as the Partnership may from time to time request, except that all trading decisions are made by EMC and not the General Partner. In addition, the General Partner selects the commodity broker(s) that will clear trades for the advisor(s).
R.J. O’Brien and Associates, LLC (RJO) currently acts as Everest’s commodity broker. RJO offices are located at 222 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 900, Chicago, Illinois 60606.
The General Partner is responsible for the preparation of monthly and annual reports to the Limited Partners; filing reports required by the CFTC, the NFA, the SEC and any other federal or state agencies having jurisdiction over the Partnership’s operations; calculation of the Net Asset Value (meaning the total assets less total liabilities of the Partnership (for a more precise definition, see the Exhibit Form 10 - General Form for Registration of Securities incorporated by reference hereto) and directing payment of the management and incentive fees payable to EMC or the advisor(s) under an advisory agreement(s) entered into with the commodity trading advisor(s).
Effective November 2003, the General Partner charges the Partnership a monthly management fee equal to 0.50% of the Partnership’s Class A beginning-of-month net asset value. The General Partner pays a portion of its fees for actual commission charges to its Clearing Broker.
In addition, the Partnership reimburses the General Partner for the actual organization and offering expenses advanced by it, not to exceed one percent of the Class A Net Asset Value of Units sold.
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Organization and offering expenses shall mean all expenses incurred by the Partnership or the General Partner in connection with and in preparation to offer and distribute the Units to investors, including, but not limited to, expenses for traveling, printing, engraving, mailing, salaries of employees while engaged in sales activity, charges of transfer agents, registrars, trustees, escrow holder, depositories, experts, expenses of qualification of the sales of its securities under state law, including taxes and fees and accountants and attorneys fees.
Everest pays EMC Capital Advisors, LLC (EMC)., its current commodity trading advisor, a monthly management fee equal to 0.167% (approximately 2% annually) of Everest s month-end Allocated Assets, as defined, and a quarterly incentive fee equal to 20% of Everest’s trading profits allocable to its trading exclusive of interest income on Allocated Assets, as defined. The incentive fee is retained by EMC even though trading losses may occur in subsequent quarters; however, no further incentive fees are payable until any such trading losses (other than losses attributable to redeemed units and losses attributable to assets reallocated to another advisor) are recouped by Everest.
The Commodity Broker has agreed to pay Everest interest on 95% of Everest assets (including open trade equity) deposited with it during a month at the average of 91-day U.S. Treasury Bills purchased by the Commodity Broker during each month. The Commodity Broker will retain all excess interest, if any, earned on the Everest assets, above the amount of interest paid to Everest. The interest rate to be paid by the Commodity Broker to Everest is a negotiated rate which has been negotiated between the Commodity Broker and the General Partner. The actual interest income on Everest s assets earned by the Commodity Broker may be greater than or less than the negotiated rate to be paid by the Commodity Broker to Everest. The Commodity Broker will also be responsible for execution and clearance of futures contracts (and possibly certain other Commodity Interests).
The Partnership pays no selling commission but does pay an ongoing compensation fee equal to 3% of the Net Asset Value of Class A Units sold, unless waived in whole or in part by the General Partner, to the selling agents in connection with the sale of the Units. The Partnership is obligated to pay its periodic operating expenses and extraordinary expenses. Although those expenses will vary depending on the Partnership’s size, it is estimated that the periodic operating expenses will be approximately $95,000 annually. Extraordinary expenses for these purposes include expenses associated with significant non-recurring litigation including, but not limited to, class action suits and suits involving the indemnification provisions of the Agreement of Limited Partnership or any other agreement to which the Partnership is a party. By their nature, the dollar amount of extraordinary expenses cannot be estimated. All expenses shall be billed directly and paid for by the Partnership. The Partnership’s operating expenses for the years 2014-2015 can be found in the table in Item 6 below.
As of December 31, 2015, the General Partner had two full-time employees and one part-time employee. Further, the General Partner, in its capacity as a CFTC regulated commodity pool operator, contracts certain services of research, administration, client support and management information systems and analysis to Capital Management Partners, Inc. (Capital). Capital is a CFTC-regulated introducing broker, and an NFA member. Capital is also registered with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. ( FINRA ) as a broker dealer. As of December 31, 2015, Capital had 6 employees.
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The Partnership’s business constitutes only one segment for financial reporting purposes; and the purpose of the Partnership is to trade, buy, sell, spread or otherwise acquire, hold or dispose of Commodity Interests including futures contracts, forward contracts, physical commodities and related options thereon. The objective of the Partnership’s business is appreciation of its assets through speculative trading in such Commodity Interests. Financial information about the Partnership’s business, as of December 31, 2015 is set forth under Items 6 and 7 herein.
For a description of commodity trading and its regulation, see the Prospectus filed on Form S-18 and the Confidential Private Placement Memorandum filed as part of the Form 10 and included in the exhibits hereto.
The Current Offering
On July 1, 1995 the Partnership reopened for investment as a Regulation D, Rule 506 private placement offering an unlimited amount of limited partnership interests. On September 19, 1996 the Commission accepted a Form 10 - General Form for Registration of Securities submitted by the Partnership thereby making the Partnership a public reporting private placement offering. It also qualified the Partnership as a publicly offered security as defined in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) rules permitting it to accept investment of an unlimited amount of plan assets as defined in ERISA. Hitherto, as a private placement the Partnership could accept ERISA plan assets representing no more than 25% of the total investment in the Partnership. The limited partnership interests are offered by the Selling Agent and additional selling agents with a Class A minimum subscription amount of $25,000. (The Class A minimum subscription amount for employee benefit plans and individual retirement accounts is $10,000).
Competition
EMC and any other advisor(s) of the Partnership, its or their respective principals, affiliates and employees are free to trade for their own accounts and to manage other commodity accounts during the term of the Advisory Agreement and to use the same information and trading strategy which EMC obtains, produces or utilizes in the performance of services for the Partnership through its investment in Everest. To the extent that EMC recommends similar or identical trades to the Partnership and other accounts which it manages, the Partnership may compete with those accounts for the execution of the same or similar trades.
Other trading advisors who are not affiliated with the Partnership may utilize trading methods which are similar in some respects to those methods used by EMC, or any other future Partnership’s advisor(s). These other trading advisors could also be competing with the Partnership for the same or similar trades as requested by the Partnership’s advisor(s).
Item 1A. Risk Factors
GENERAL
Trading in Commodity Interests Is Speculative. Commodity interest prices are highly volatile. Price movements for futures contracts, for example, which may fluctuate substantially during a short period of time, are influenced by numerous factors that affect the commodities markets, including, but not limited to: changing supply and demand relationships, government programs and policies, national and international political and economic events, and changes in interest rates. See, Risk Factors - Commodity Interests Trading May Be Illiquid.
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Commodity Interests Trading Is Highly Leveraged. The low margin deposits normally required in trading commodity interests permit an extremely high degree of leverage. Accordingly, a relatively small price movement in a commodity interest may result in an immediate and substantial loss to the investor. For example, if at the time of purchase 5% of the price of a futures contract is deposited as margin, a 5% decrease in the price of the futures contract would, if the contract were then closed out, result in a total loss of the margin deposit (brokerage commission expense would also be incurred). Like other leveraged investments, any commodity interest trade may result in losses in excess of the amount invested. Although more than the initial margin can be lost on a trade, the Partnership, and not investors personally, will be subject to margin calls.
The Partnership’s Trading Account May Be Leveraged or de-leveraged. The general partner may, in its sole discretion, periodically adjust the size of the trading account with EMC by increasing or decreasing the cash, other assets or notional Partnerships allocated to it (and thus the amount by which the Partnership’s assets are leveraged). Because the trading account may be leveraged, (i) the Partnership may incur greater risk since the Partnership may experience greater losses, as measured by a percentage of assets actually allocated to EMC, due to the notional Partnership’s component; (ii) the Partnership’s returns may experience greater volatility compared to the returns which the Partnership would have achieved on a non- leveraged basis; and (iii) the Partnership may receive more frequent and larger margin calls. Because the trading account may be de-leveraged, the partnership may incur smaller gains than it would if the EMC trading program had been fully allocated to.
Commodity Interests Trading May Be Illiquid. Most U.S. commodity futures exchanges impose daily limits regulating the maximum amount above or below the previous day’s settlement price which a futures contract price may fluctuate during a single day. During a single trading day no trades may be executed at prices beyond the daily limit. Once the price of a particular futures contract has increased or decreased to the limit point, it may be difficult, costly or impossible to liquidate a position. Futures prices in particular contracts have occasionally moved the daily limit for several consecutive days with little or no trading. If this occurs, the Partnership might be prevented from promptly liquidating unfavorable positions, which could result in substantial losses. Those losses could significantly exceed the margin initially committed to the trades involved. In addition, even if prices have not moved the daily limit or there are no limits for the contracts traded, trades might not be able to be executed at favorable prices if little trading in the contracts is taking place. It is also possible that an exchange or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) may suspend trading in a particular contract, order immediate settlement of a contract, or order the liquidation of open positions only.
Exchange for Physical. EMC may make use of a trading technique referred to as exchange for physical in which a cash or spot market position (which may be a forward contract) is exchanged, often outside of regular trading hours, for a comparable futures position. The CFTC has released a study of the exchange for physical market that recommended that a number of new regulatory restrictions be applied to it. If these recommendations or restrictions are adopted, the ability of EMC to use this market may be curtailed.
Trading Decisions Based on Technical Analysis. EMC uses trading programs that employ technical factors in identifying price moves. The success of technical analysis depends upon the occurrence in the future of price movements. Technical systems will not be profitable, and may in fact produce losses, if there are no market moves of the kind the system seeks to follow. Any factor that would make it more difficult to execute the trades identified, such as a reduction of liquidity, also would reduce profitability. There is no assurance that the trading systems of EMC will generate profits under all or any market conditions.
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Possible Effects of Other Similar Systems. Commodity trading systems, which use market data like EMC uses, are not new. If many traders follow similar systems, these systems may generate similar buy and sell orders at the same time. Depending on the liquidity of a market, this could cause difficulty in executing orders. The General Partner believes that, although there has been an increase in the number of trading systems in recent years, there also has been an increase in the overall trading volume and liquidity in the futures markets. Any increase in the proportion of Partnerships traded using trend-following systems could alter trading patterns or affect execution of trades to the detriment of the Partnership.
No Assurance of EMC’s Continued Services. EMC has exclusive responsibility for trading commodity interests allocated to it. EMC is dependent on the services of certain key persons. The loss of the services of such persons would make it difficult or impossible for EMC to continue to provide services to the Partnership. In addition, the advisory contract between the Partnership and EMC may be terminated by either party on sixty (60) days written notice.
Changes in Trading Strategies. The trading strategies of most trading advisors are continually developing. EMC is free to make any changes in trading strategies. Changes in commodity interests traded or leverage used are not considered changes in trading strategy.
Possible Effects of Speculative Position Limits. The CFTC and U.S. exchanges have established speculative position limits. These limits control the number of net long or net short speculative futures or options (on futures) positions any person may hold or control in futures or options contracts traded on U.S. exchanges. EMC controls the commodity trading of other accounts. All positions and accounts owned or controlled by EMC and its principals are combined with the Partnership’s positions established by EMC for position limit purposes. In order to avoid exceeding position limits, it is possible that EMC will have to modify its trading instructions, and that positions held by the Partnership will have to be liquidated. That could have a negative effect on the operations of the Partnership and its profitability. See, Risk Factors Increase in Amount of Partnerships Managed. In addition, all commodity accounts of the General Partner and its affiliates may also be combined with the Partnership for position limit purposes.
Increase in Amount of Partnerships Managed. EMC expects to manage additional Partnerships in the future. It is not known if managing additional Partnerships, including Partnerships raised in this offering, will have any effect on its performance or trading strategies. In many cases, the rates of return achieved by an advisor deteriorate as assets under management increase. Increases in Partnerships managed may affect the number of futures or options positions an advisor would otherwise hold for each account it manages because of speculative position limits imposed by U.S. exchanges. There is no assurance that changes in strategies, if any, in response to increased Partnerships will be successful. There can be no guarantee that the investment results of that portion of the assets allocated to EMC will be similar to those achieved by it in the past in its other accounts.
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Changes in the Number of Available Futures Contracts and Related Options. U.S. and foreign exchanges have established new futures and options contracts in the past few years. This trend could continue. If EMC trades these contracts in the future, there is no assurance that its trading strategies will produce profits.
Past Performance Is Not Necessarily Indicative of Future Results. Although some of the client accounts of EMC have been profitable in the past, you should take seriously the warning the CFTC and the NFA require. PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS. AN INVESTMENT IN THE PARTNERSHIP IS SPECULATIVE AND INVOLVES A SUBSTANTIAL RISK OF LOSS.
The Fund was using Horizon Cash Management, L.L.C. since 1994 as an Investment Advisor (IA) with Power of Attorney (POA), to manage Everest Partnership assets on deposit at Northern Trust through investments in short term interest bearing instruments in order to enhance the interest return component and effectively reduce costs. With interest rates as low as they are currently and small spreads between duration of maturities, Horizon has struggled to provide any significant net return for their clients above T-bill. They ceased operating in November 2014. Subsequently 100% of the money managed by Horizon was transferred back to Everest’s futures broker R.J. O’Brien, the FCM, in late November 2014, into a new separate cash account. As is standard in the industry Everest receives 90% of the 3 month T-bill rate on its cash that is unused for trading. The Partnership’s assets at RJO cash account are subject to potential loss resulting from interest rate fluctuations and default.
EMC PROGRAMS
Effects of Trading Multiple Investment Programs. EMC makes trading decisions for each of its investment programs independently of trading decisions for the other EMC investment programs.
Mandatory Closing Out of Offsetting Positions. CFTC rules require offsetting positions taken by EMC for clients be closed out.
Swap Transactions. EMC may periodically enter into transactions which are characterized as swap transactions and which may involve interest rates, currencies, securities interests, commodities, and other items. Swap contracts are not traded on exchanges and are not regulated by the CFTC. Swap transactions are individually negotiated, non-standardized agreements between two parties to exchange cash flows measured by different interest rates, exchange rates or prices, with payments calculated by reference to a principal amount or quantity. As a result, the Partnership will not receive the protection afforded by the Commodity Exchange Act in connection with this trading activity by EMC. The absence of regulation could expose the Partnership to significant losses in the event of trading abuses or financial failure by participants in the swap markets. EMC has not previously traded swaps and has no experience in that market. Transactions in these markets also present certain risks similar to those in the futures, forward and options markets. Only the accounts of eligible swap participants as defined in Part 35 of CFTC Regulations, may engage in swaps.
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Options Transactions. EMC may engage in the trading of options (both puts and calls) on futures on behalf of the Partnership. The value of an option depends largely upon the likelihood of favorable price movements in the underlying futures contract in relationship to the exercise (or strike) price during the life of the option. Therefore many of the risks applicable to trading the underlying futures contract are also applicable to options trading. In addition, there are a number of other risks associated with the trading of options. For example, the purchaser of an option runs the risk of loss of his/her entire investment (the premium he pays). Similarly, the uncovered writer of an option is subject to an adverse price movement in the underlying futures position, any such movement may exceed the premium income from the option transaction. Spread positions using options are subject to the same risks involved in the purchase and writing of options. In addition, in the event the Partnership were to write uncovered options as one part of a spread position and such option were exercised by the purchasing party, the Partnership would be required to purchase and deliver the underlying futures contract in accordance with the terms of the option. Finally, an options trader runs the risk of market illiquidity preventing offsetting positions for any particular option. (See Commodity Trading May Be Illiquid above.)
Business Interruption Risk.
Any business interruption events, whether weather-related or otherwise, that affect the Illinois area could disrupt the trading operations of EMC, despite the backup precautions it has established. EMC has a business continuity plan, but it cannot guarantee that business interruption events will not have an impact on its operations.
Electronic Trading and Order Routing Systems. EMC may from time to time trade on electronic trading and order routing systems which differ from traditional open outcry pit trading and manual order routing methods. Transactions using an electronic system are subject to the rules and regulations of the exchanges offering the system or listing the contract. Characteristics of electronic trading and order routing systems vary widely among the different electronic systems with respect to order matching procedures, opening and closing procedures and prices, error trade policies and trading limitations or requirements. There are also differences regarding qualifications for access and grounds for termination and limitations on the types of orders that may be entered into the system. Each of these matters may present different risk factors with respect to the trading on or using a particular system. Each system may also present risks related to system access, varying response times and security. In the case of internet-based systems, there may be additional risks related to service providers and the receipt and monitoring of electronic mail.
Trading through an electronic trading or order routing system is also subject to risks associated with system or component failure. In the event of system or component failure, it is possible that for a certain time period, it might not be possible to enter new orders, execute existing orders or modify or cancel orders that were previously entered. System or component failure may also result in loss of orders or order priority. Some contracts offered on an electronic trading system may be traded electronically and through open outcry during the same trading hours. Exchanges offering an electronic trading or order routing system and listing the contract may have adopted rules to limit their liability, the liability of futures brokers and software and communication system vendors and the amount that may be collected for system failures and delays. These limitations of liability provisions vary among the exchanges.
Reliance on Timely and Accurate Market Data. EMC’s ability to detect market trends and trade them profitably depends on its access to timely and accurate market price data throughout the trend identification and trading processes. If price data is not available or is delayed, EMC would be unable to trade for client accounts until reliable data sources have been restored. Data reconciliation procedures are applied each day to confirm accurate price quotations, and on the subsequent day prices that were employed in the EMC systems are re-reconciled in an attempt to identify changes from previously posted prices. EMC’s traders are required to confirm a price from multiple sources before executing a trade, and, during volatile market conditions, traders request confirmation of high and low prices from the floor before placing a trade. Inaccurate information may be generated by a data vendor, or an exchange may transmit inaccurate prices that a vendor then distributes to EMC, but which are later cancelled or amended by the exchange. In addition, EMC may obtain from third parties, such as clearing firms, information about price or about contract specifications and changes to them. Inaccurate price information may cause EMC to enter or close trades that it would not otherwise have entered or closed, to trade or fail to trade at times that would have been indicated by accurate data, or to be completely unable to place a trade. Communications or technical failure may also cause an electronic trading tool to fail, which could cause EMC to fail to act when a trading stop is reached. As a result of such potential data problems, client accounts may be unable to exit positions or miss the opportunity to establish new positions. EMC receives price data electronically. Data providers typically make no representations or warranties about the accuracy or timeliness of the data they provide, and assume no financial liability for lost profits, trading losses or other consequential damages. Data providers also disclaim any responsibility for events of force majeure, as well as for actions (or inaction) of third party information, hardware and software providers, and for interruption of means of communication. Because all of the data required for EMC’s trading is provided from third parties, EMC, cannot, despite its employment of the precautions described above, make any assurances that its efforts will detect erroneous or incomplete data, or prevent client accounts from incurring losses or missing profit opportunities.
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PARTNERSHIP ISSUES
Substantial Charges to Partnership. The Partnership pays substantial fees and charges and has substantial operating costs. As a result, it must make substantial profits for your units to increase in value. These include an incentive fee to EMC that is based on, among other things, unrealized appreciation in open commodity interest positions. The incentive fee is paid (and retained by EMC) even if that portion of the Partnership’s assets traded by it experience subsequent losses or the appreciation is never realized. It is therefore possible that the Partnership may pay an incentive fee in years in which the Partnership breaks even or experiences losses.
Possible Misallocation of Incentive Fees. The Partnership pays quarterly incentive fees on trading profits, if any, earned by EMC. Trading profits are calculated on the overall profits earned by EMC on its allocated assets and not just on increases in the Net Asset Value of each unit. As a result, the Partnership might pay incentive fees even if Partnership units decline in value. In addition, if, at the time limited partners purchase units, there is an accrued incentive fee expense, that accrued expense will reduce the purchase price of their units. If the accrual is reversed because of later losses, the incentive fee will be misallocated because the reversal of the accrued incentive fee expense will be allocated equally to all outstanding units rather than only to those outstanding during the period when the incentive fee expense accrued. Similarly, if you buy units after an incentive fee has been paid and after a later loss attributable to EMC, your units will not be assessed an incentive fee until there are new trading profits, even if your units have increased in value.
There Is No Intrinsic Value to the Partnership’s Investments. The Partnership must be profitable for it to provide beneficial diversification to a limited partner’s portfolio. Trading in commodity interests is a zero-sum activity in which for every gain there is an equal and offsetting loss (disregarding transaction costs). This differs from a typical securities investment, in which there is an expectation of consistent yields (in the case of bonds) or participation over time in general economic growth (in the case of stocks). The Partnership could lose money while stock and bond prices rise. Stocks and bonds (except penny stocks) generally have some intrinsic value. Limited partners generally can realize some value for their stocks or bonds even if they sell in a down market. In trading commodity interests, on the other hand, investors risk losing all of their investment if prices move against them. In general, performance statistics do not reflect the different risk profiles or tax treatment of traditional and managed commodity interest investments. See, Risk Factors Limited Partners Will Be Taxed on Profits whether or Not Distributed or Realized.
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Partnership Trading Is Not Transparent. EMC makes all of the trading decisions for the portion of the Partnership’s assets allocated to it. While the General Partner receives daily trade confirmations from the commodity broker, only the monthly performance of the Partnership is reported to limited partners. Accordingly, an investment in the Partnership does not offer limited partners the same transparency, i.e., an ability to review all investment positions daily that a personal trading account offers.
Non-Correlated, Not Negatively Correlated, Performance Objective. Historically, managed futures have been generally non-correlated to the performance of other asset classes such as stocks and bonds. Non-correlation means that there is no statistically valid relationship between the past performance of futures and forward contracts on the one hand and stocks or bonds on the other hand (as opposed to negative correlation, where the performance would be exactly opposite between two asset classes). Because of this non-correlation, the Partnership cannot be expected to be automatically profitable during unfavorable periods for the stock market, or vice versa. The futures and forward markets are different from the securities markets in that for every gain in futures and forward trading, there is an equal and offsetting loss. If the Partnership’s investments do not perform in a manner non-correlated with the general financial markets, or do not perform successfully, limited partners will obtain no diversification benefits by investing in the units and the Partnership may have no gains to offset their losses from other investments.
Limited Partners Will Not Participate in Management. Limited Partners will not participate in the management of the Partnership. Under principles of limited partnership law, limited partners’ participation in the Partnership’s management could result in unlimited liability for them. The limited partnership agreement provides that certain actions may be taken, or approved, by the vote of limited partners owning more than 50% of the units, but their role in the Partnership is passive and the profitability of their investment depends entirely on the efforts of others.
Indemnification of Partnership by Limited Partners. If someone signs the subscription agreement and the General Partner accepts their subscription, they will become a limited partner. Under the agreement, they will be required to indemnify the Partnership for any liability that it incurs as a result of their actions.
LIQUIDITY
Limited Ability to Liquidate Investment in Units. Limited partners cannot immediately liquidate their units. There is no market for the units and none is likely to develop. They may, however, redeem their Class A units, without penalty, on the last day of any month on fifteen (15) days prior written notice to the General Partner or such lesser time as is acceptable to the General Partner Because of the time delay between your Class A notice to the General Partner and the end of the month when their investment is redeemed, the value of their investment on the date of redemption may be substantially less than at the time they notify the General Partner of their request to redeem.
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Possible Effect of Redemptions on Unit Values. The Partnership will lose money if it has to sell positions at a loss in order to raise capital so that the Partnership can pay substantial redemptions. If a large number of redemptions occur simultaneously, the need to liquidate positions could continue even after the redemption date. The Partnership would have fewer assets to trade after a high level of redemptions. This might make it more difficult for it to recover losses or generate trading profits. Market illiquidity could make it difficult to liquidate positions on favorable terms, and may also result in losses and thus a decline in the value of Partnership units. Automatic Trading Suspension. Limited Partners should buy units only if you are looking for a long-term investment. If the net asset value per unit declines as of the close of business on any day to a trading suspension level (50% of the highest prior month-end net asset value per unit, after adjustment for prior distributions), the Partnership will liquidate its open positions and notify limited partners. The Partnership cannot assure limited partners that it can liquidate its investments without incurring substantial additional losses or that limited partner will receive any specific value for the units they own. See, Risk Factors Commodity Interest Trading May Be Illiquid.
Counterparty Creditworthiness - U.S. Markets. Commodity exchanges provide centralized market facilities for trading in futures contracts relating to specified commodities. Each of the commodity exchanges in the United States has an associated clearinghouse. Once trades made between members of an exchange have been confirmed, the clearing house becomes substituted for the clearing member acting on behalf of each buyer and each seller of contracts traded on the exchange and in effect becomes the other party to the trade. Thereafter, each clearing member firm party to the trade looks only to the clearinghouse for performance. Clearinghouses do not deal with customers, but only with member firms, and the guarantee of performance under open positions provided by the clearinghouse does not run to customers. If a customer’s commodity broker becomes bankrupt or insolvent, or otherwise defaults on such broker’s obligations to such customer, the customer in question may not receive all amounts owing to such customer in respect of his or her trading, despite the clearing house fully discharging all of its obligations.
A substantial portion of the Partnership’s assets are held in a cash account at RJO. Failure of this firm might result in losses to the Partnership.
FOREIGN INSTRUMENTS
Counterparty Creditworthiness -- Non-U.S. Markets. EMC may trade commodity interests on foreign exchanges and in the over-the-counter markets. Unlike U.S. exchange traded futures contracts where the exchange clearing corporation acts as the counterparty to each customer transaction, the over-the-counter markets and some foreign markets are principals markets. This means that the performance of the contract is the responsibility only of the individual firm or member on the other side of the trade and not of any exchange or clearing corporation. In those transactions, the Partnership will be subject to the risk of the inability of, or refusal by, the counterparty to perform.
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Trading on Foreign Exchanges and Currency Exchange Rate Fluctuations. Neither existing CFTC regulations nor regulations of any other U.S. governmental agency apply to transactions on foreign markets. If a foreign clearing house default or bankruptcy occurs, the Partnership’s rights and responsibilities are likely to differ from those existing on U.S. exchanges. The Partnership is at risk for fluctuations in the exchange rate between the currencies in which the commodity interest is traded and U.S. dollars. It also is possible that in the future, U.S. or foreign governments could impose exchange controls. There is no restriction on how much of the Partnership’s trading can be conducted on foreign markets. The Partnership may pay brokerage commissions in foreign currencies. If the exchange rate of those currencies and the U.S. dollar fluctuates, the commission rate paid for those trades might increase (decrease).
Possibility of Forward and Cash Trading. The Partnership might make spot and forward contracts for certain commodities, primarily currencies with U.S. or foreign banks or dealers. A forward contract is a contractual right to purchase or sell a commodity, such as a currency, at or before a specific date in the future at a specific price. Because forward contracts are not traded on exchanges, there is no regulatory protection provided by any exchange or the CFTC. There is no limit on daily price moves for forward contracts. Banks and dealers are not required to continue to make markets in any commodity. In the past, there have been times when certain banks have refused to quote prices for forward contracts or have quoted prices with an unusually wide spread between the price at which the bank is prepared to buy and that at which it is prepared to sell. There is a risk that the banks or dealers through which the Partnership trades could fail or refuse to perform.
The CFTC is studying questions about the regulation of off-exchange instruments such as forward contracts. A number of the major U.S. commodity exchanges have also expressed concerns about these instruments. The CFTC has indicated that it would regard marketing of forward contracts on a retail basis to the U.S. public at large as a violation of the CEAct. The CFTC might, in the future, prohibit the Partnership from trading in the forward markets.
TAX AND REGULATORY ISSUES
Possibility of Taxation as a Corporation. General Partner believes that under current federal income tax law and regulations the Partnership will be classified as a partnership and not as an association taxable as a corporation. The General Partner will not obtain a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or an opinion of counsel to confirm its belief. If the Partnership is taxed as a corporation for federal income tax purposes in any taxable year, its income or losses will not be passed through to you, and the Partnership will be subject to tax on its income at the corporate tax rate. In addition, any distributions made to you could be taxable to you as dividend or capital gain income, and those distributions will not be deductible in computing taxable income.
Possible Legislative Tax Changes. All of the statements in this Memorandum about taxes are based upon the current Internal Revenue Code (the Code). Congress and the IRS regularly revise the Code and the regulations. Those revisions could materially affect you and the Partnership.
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Unrelated Business Taxable Income (UBTI) for Employee Benefit Plans. If the Partnership were a publicly-traded partnership and limited partners are a tax exempt entity, or if they are a tax-exempt entity and debt finance their investment, their share of gross income less Partnership deductions is treated as UBTI, and subject to tax. The General Partner does not believe that the Partnership is publicly-traded for this purpose. However, if it were decided that the Partnership is publicly-traded, it may not be an appropriate investment for employee benefit plans, including individual retirement accounts (IRAs). In addition, if investing in commodity interests results in UBTI, each partner that is a tax-exempt entity would take into account its share of the Partnership’s UBTI and the deductions attributable to that income (including a $1,000 deduction against UBTI which is generally available to all tax-exempt entities) in computing its tax liability. Benefit plan investors should consult with their own legal and financial advisers about the tax consequences of plan investments in the Partnership.
Limited Partners Will Be Taxed on Profits whether or Not Distributed or Realized. The Partnership is not required, and the General Partner does not intend, to distribute profits. If the Partnership has taxable income for a fiscal year, the income will be taxable to them based on their distributive share of Partnership profit even if no profits have been distributed. As a result, limited partners might owe taxes on undistributed profits. It is also possible that those profits could be lost by the Partnership after the end of its fiscal year, so that limited partners might never receive the profits on which they are taxed. However, they may redeem units to pay taxes, but this would result in a reduction in their interest in the Partnership’s future profits (if any).
Foreign Limited Partners. If limited partners are not citizens or residents of the U.S. and are not otherwise engaged in a trade or business in the U.S., they will generally not be required to pay U.S. income tax on capital gains from commodity interest trading. Interest income will be taxable to them, if they are a foreign investor, unless there is an exemption from tax in an appropriate tax treaty. If the law requires the General Partner to withhold a portion of the income they earn because they are a foreign limited partner, the General Partner may redeem their units to pay the U.S. Department of Treasury taxes they owe. If a limited partner believes amounts were improperly withheld, they must deal directly with the U.S. Department of Treasury.
Failure of Commodity Brokerage Firms. Futures commission merchants must maintain the Partnership’s assets in a segregated account. If the Partnership’s futures clearing broker RJO becomes bankrupt, the Partnership could lose money. In addition, even if RJO adequately segregates the assets of the Partnership, the Partnership may be able to recover only a pro rata share of the property available for distribution to all of RJO’s customers.
Forex Trading Counterparty Creditworthiness. The Partnership will enter into an agreement with an equity in RJO which will result in such entity acting as the counter-party to the Partnership’s foreign currency transactions. That is, the counterparty will be the seller of all forex instruments purchased by the Partnership and the buyer of all forex instruments sold by the Partnership. The counterparty’s financial benefit from entering into these transactions with the Partnership is derived from its ability to participate in the foreign exchange interbank markets, which are only available to large institutional investors. The counterparty’s compensation will be derived from a mark-up on the bid/ask spread price quoted to the Partnership on each transaction, and the counterparty’s ability to offset these transactions in the foreign exchange interbank market. In the event that the counterparty is unable to successfully participate in this market, the ability of the counterparty to enter into transactions with the Partnership may be interrupted. In addition, the counterparty has entered into similar agreements with other persons, and thus acts as the counter-party in transactions effected by these other persons. Because the counterparty acts as counter-party in these transactions, the Partnership is subject to the additional risk that the counterparty will be unable to fulfill its obligations to the Partnership. Moreover, in the event of a bankruptcy of the counterparty, the Partnership may be unable to recover assets held at the counterparty, even if such assets are directly traceable to the Partnership. In the event of the counterparty’s bankruptcy, there is no equivalent of the Securities Investors Protection Corporation insurance as applicable in the case of securities broker dealers’ bankruptcies.
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A substantial portion of the Partnership’s assets are held in a cash account at RJO. Failure of this firm might result in losses to the Partnership.
Possibility of Tax Audit. The IRS might audit the tax returns of the Partnership, or adjustments to its returns might be made as a result of an audit. Uncertainty regarding the federal income tax treatment of certain management and incentive fees paid by the Partnership, or ongoing fees paid to others, may increase the likelihood of an audit. If an audit results in an adjustment, limited partners may be required to pay additional taxes, interest and penalties and may be subject to audit. The IRS is currently authorized to impose an interest penalty on tax deficiencies based on prevailing private sector interest rates.
Risk that Units Will Not Be Considered Publicly-Offered Securities under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). The General Partner believes that it is reasonable to take the position that the units qualify as publicly-offered securities under Title I of ERISA, and that the underlying assets of the Partnership will therefore not be considered for any purposes of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code to be assets of employee benefit plans and IRAs that purchase units. However, this position is not binding on the Department of Labor (DOL) and, therefore, there is no certainty that the units qualify. If the units are determined not to qualify as such publicly-offered securities, the General Partner intends to redeem units held by certain limited partners that are employee benefit plans or IRAs to the extent necessary to prevent the underlying assets of the Partnership from thereafter being considered for purposes of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code to be assets of such employee benefit plans or IRAs. However, for any period that the underlying assets of the Partnership are considered to be assets of employee benefit plans or IRAs, the provisions of Title I of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code would apply to the operation of the Partnership and could adversely affect the Partnership’s investments and activities.
Absence of Regulation Applicable to Investment Companies. The Partnership is not registered as an investment company or mutual Partnership. Therefore, the SEC does not regulate it under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act). Although the Partnership has the right to invest in securities, limited partners are not protected by the 1940 Act. The General Partner is, however, registered with the CFTC as commodity pool operator (CPO), EMC is registered with the CFTC as a CTA and RJO is registered with the CFTC as a futures commission merchant (FCM).
Item 1B. N/A
Item 2. Properties
The Partnership does not utilize any physical properties in the conduct of its business. The General Partner uses its offices to perform its administrative functions.
The address of the General Partner and the Partnership is 1100 North 4th Street, Suite 143, Fairfield, Iowa 52556, and the telephone number at such location is (641) 472-5500.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
Neither the Partnership, nor the General Partner, is party to any pending material legal proceeding.
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Item 4. None - Removed and reserved by SEC.
PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
(a) There is no established public market for the Units and none is expected to develop.
(b) As of December 31, 2015, there were 2,491.81 Class A Units held by Limited Partners. A total of 0 Class A units were purchased by Limited Partners during 2015. A total of 306.17 Units were redeemed by Class A Limited Partners during 2015.
RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES IN 2015 A UNITS
2015 | 1st quarter | 2nd quarter | 3rd quarter | 4th quarter | ||||||||||||
Units Sold | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||
Value of Units Sold | $ | 0.00 | $ | 0.00 | $ | 0.00 | $ | 0.00 |
RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES IN 2014 A UNITS
2014 | 1st quarter | 2nd quarter | 3rd quarter | 4th quarter | ||||||||||||
Units Sold | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||
Value of Units Sold | $ | 0.00 | $ | 0.00 | $ | 0.00 | $ | 0.00 |
The Seventh Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership for the Partnership contain a full description of redemption and distribution procedures.
The Agreement of Limited Partnership does not provide for regular or periodic cash distributions, but gives the General Partner sole discretion in determining what distributions, if any, the Partnership will make to its partners. The General Partner has not declared any such distributions to date, and does not currently intend to declare any such distributions.
Item 6. Selected Financial Data
2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | ||||||||||||||||
(In thousands, except amounts per Unit) | ||||||||||||||||||||
1. Net trading Gain/loss | -835 | -3,249 | -340 | 1,500 | 123 | |||||||||||||||
2. Interest and other income | 37 | 34 | 4 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||
3. Expenses | 1,527 | 992 | 653 | 500 | 562 | |||||||||||||||
4. Net Income | -2,325 | -4,207 | -989 | 1,001 | -438 | |||||||||||||||
5. Income (Loss) Per Unit: A Shares | -512.12 | -1,150.01 | -322.05 | 357.75 | -175.81 | |||||||||||||||
6. Total Assets | 15,178 | 9,296 | 6,876 | 6,898 | 5,714 | |||||||||||||||
7. Long Term Obligations | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
8. Cash Dividend per Unit | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
9. Total partners’ capital | 15,024 | 8,637 | 6,332 | 6,810 | 5,629 | |||||||||||||||
10. Increase/decrease in NA | -2,039 | -6,387 | -2,305 | 478 | -1,181 |
* Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.
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Item 6. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We receive our capital resources from investor’s contributions.
Net Asset Value of an interest is defined in the Partnership Agreement to mean the Net Assets allocated to the capital account represented by such interest on the date of calculation and includes that interest’s pro-rata share of all assets attributable to that Class of units less all liabilities attributable to that Class of units determined in accordance with the principles specified in the Partnership Agreement or, where no principle is specified, in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied under the accrual basis of accounting.
Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. An investment in the partnership is speculative and involves a substantial Risk of loss.
Off-Balance Sheet Risk
The term “off-balance sheet risk” refers to an unrecorded potential liability that, even though it does not appear on the balance sheet, may result in future obligation or loss. The Partnership trades in futures and forward contracts and is therefore a party to financial instruments with elements of off-balance sheet market and credit risk. In entering into these contracts there exists a risk to the Partnership, market risk, that such contracts may be significantly influenced by market conditions, such as interest rate volatility, resulting in such contracts being less valuable. If the markets should move against all of the futures interests positions of the Partnership at the same time, and if the commodity trading advisors were unable to offset futures interest positions of the Partnership, the Partnership could lose all of its assets and the Limited Partners would realize a 100% loss. Everest Asset Management, Inc., the General Partner, minimizes market risk through diversification of the portfolio allocations to EMC, which in turn trades a diversified portfolio, and maintenance of a margin-to-equity ratio that rarely exceeds 30%.
In addition to market risk, in entering into futures and forward contracts there is a risk that the counterparty will not be able to meet its obligations to the Partnership. The counterparty for futures contracts traded in the United States and on most foreign exchanges is the clearinghouse associated with such exchange. In general, clearinghouses are backed by the corporate members of the clearinghouse who are required to share any financial burden resulting from the nonperformance by one of their members and, as such, should significantly reduce this risk. In cases where the clearinghouse is not backed by the clearing members, like some foreign exchanges, it is normally backed by a consortium of banks or other financial institutions.
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In the case of forward contracts, which are traded on the inter-bank market rather than on exchanges, the counterparty is generally a single bank or other financial institution, rather than a group of financial institutions; thus there may be a greater counterparty risk. Everest Asset Management, Inc. utilizes only those counterparties that it believes to be creditworthy for the Partnership. All positions of the Partnership are valued each day on a mark-to-market basis. There can be no assurance that any clearing member, clearinghouse or other counterparty will be able to meet its obligations to the Partnership.
The Partnership will utilize high grade short-term commercial paper, which is an unsecured, short-term debt instrument issued by a corporation with maturities rarely longer than 365 days. Commercial paper is not usually backed by any form of collateral, so only firms with high-quality debt rating will be used. As commercial paper is not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government, if the issuing corporation defaults on their obligations to the Partnership, the Partnership bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received.
The Partnership has no Contractual Obligations.
Most U.S. commodity exchanges limit by regulations the amount of fluctuation in commodity futures contract prices during a single trading day. These regulations specify what are referred to as “daily price fluctuation limits” or “daily limits”. The daily limits establish the maximum amount the price of a futures contract may vary either up or down from the previous day’s settlement price at the end of a trading session. Once the daily limit has been reached in a particular commodity, no trades may be made at a price beyond the limit. Positions in the commodity could then be taken or liquidated only if traders are willing to effect trades at or within the limit during the period from trading on such day. Because the “daily limit” rule only governs price movement for a particular trading day, it does not limit losses. In the past, futures prices have moved the daily limit for numerous consecutive trading days and thereby prevented prompt liquidation of futures positions on one side of the market, subjecting commodity futures traders holding such positions to substantial losses for those days. It is also possible for an exchange or the CFTC to suspend trading in a particular contract, order immediate settlement of a particular contract, or direct that trading in a particular contract be for liquidation only.
For the year ended December 31, 2015, Limited Partners redeemed a total of 306.17 Class A Units for $742,847. During 2015, investors purchased 0 Class A Units.
The Partnership trades on recognized global futures exchanges. In addition, the Partnership trades over the counter contracts in the form of forward foreign currency transactions.
See Footnote 4 of the 2015 Financial Statements for procedures established by the General Partner to monitor and minimize market and credit risks for the Partnership. The General Partner of the Partnership reviews on a daily basis reports of the performance of the Partnership, including monitoring the daily net asset value of the Partnership. The financial situation of the Commodity Broker is monitored on a monthly basis to monitor specific credit risks. The Commodity Broker does not engage in proprietary trading and thus has no direct market exposure which provides the General Partner with assurance that the Partnership, will not suffer trading losses through the Commodity Broker.
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Results of Operations
Calendar Year 2015
At December 31, 2015 the Partnership had approximately $5.629 million in Class A assets, all of which have been allocated to EMC Capital Advisors, LLC(EMC).
The Partnership recorded a loss of $438,095 or $174.87 per Class A unit, for the year 2015. That represents a loss of 7.18% for the year.
The Partnership continued to employ advisor EMC Capital Advisors, LLC’s (EMC) Classic Program through December 31, 2015.
Class A Units were positive 3.44% in January 2015 resulting in a Net Asset Value per unit of $2,517.72 as of January 31, 2015. The Everest Fund continued to have gains in currencies and energies in January. But the largest gains came in interest rates. There were no significant losing market segments. With the S&P 500 being negative (-2.68%), it was nice to provide meaningful diversification for the month of January.
Class A Units were negative 2.33% in February 2015 resulting in a Net Asset Value per unit of $2,459.13 as of February 28, 2015. The Fund had gains in stock indices but they were not enough to offset losses in every other sector in February. Long standing trends in interest rates, currencies and energies came to a halt in February, interrupting the 8 consecutive months of positive performance for the Fund. The same markets are finding direction and positions are lighter while EMC systems determine whether the trends will continue in the same direction or have reached the limit and might reverse.
Class A Units were negative 0.11% in March 2015 resulting in a Net Asset Value per unit of $2,456.35 as of March 31, 2015. The Fund had essentially a break even month in March with gains in currencies and interest rates offset by losses in metals and softs. The previously trending markets of currencies, energies and interest rates are still struggling to find direction. The Fund was both in positive and negative territory during the month and EMC did a good job handling the fluctuations.
Class A Units were negative 0.68% in April 2015 resulting in a Net Asset Value per unit of $2,439.66 as of April 30, 2015. Gains in global stock indices were more than offset by losses in currencies and interest rates. The month was defined by good trending opportunities and positive returns for most of the month which were eroded in the last week by volatile swings, especially in currencies.
The Fund remains in positive territory for the year. The same markets that have provided profitable trading opportunities for the last 10 months are seeking direction. In the last two months the Fund has been up as these markets continued trending only to give back the gains at the end of the months as the trends reverse. In my opinion, EMC has done a good job identifying the trends and protecting against losses from the reversals.
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Class A Units were negative 0.02% in May 2015 resulting in a Net Asset Value per unit of $2,439.23 as of May 31, 2015. The Fund had an essentially break even month in May. Gains in currencies, grains, and softs were offset with losses in metals, energies, and interest rates.
Continuing the trend of the last few months, the month of May saw range bound markets. As a result, the Fund was down, up, and then even at the end of the month. EMC, once again, identified the trends while they lasted and excited the positions when trends reversed. It should be noted that the equity markets have been range bound for the last few months as well.
Class A Units were negative 5.36% in June 2015 resulting in a Net Asset Value per unit of $2,308.49 as of June 30, 2015. The Fund had gains in metals but larger losses in stock indices, grains, interest rates, currencies, and energies.
For most of the month the Fund was buffeted by market gyrations and the month end Greek/Puerto Rico global fears did not help performance. Macro-economic dislocations can be opportunities for the Fund to see gains, but 2 days at the end of the month are not enough to establish positions to take advantage of trends. We will see what happens for the month of July as the Greek crisis unfolds.
Class A Units were positive 3.98% in July 31, 2015 resulting in a Net Asset Value per unit of $2,400.32 as of July 31, 2015. In July EMC did have a chance to trade out of the short term damage inflicted at the end of June. The Fund took advantage of positions in metals and currencies. Profits were also posted in stock indices, energies and softs. Smaller losses came in agriculturals and interest rates.
After the markets settled down a bit from the Greek and Puerto Rico jitters, the month was mainly defined by weaker metals and a stronger dollar. EMC was able to capitalize in those sectors.
Class A Units were negative 3.13% in August 31, 2015 resulting in a Net Asset Value per unit of $2,325.09 as of August 31, 2015. Although the Fund was up during the largest down days of the US stock market for the month of August, the abrupt reversals in the following days created losses for our positions. The combination of large and abrupt moves (some markets changed more than 10% in both directions) did not favor EMC’s trend following approach. Losses were seen in softs, stock indices, metals, energies and currencies. Gains came in interest rate positions.
Obviously with S&P 500 negative 6.26% for the month of August we all would like to see some relief from our Fund, but trend following is most successful from sustained moves in any direction, not abrupt reversals.
Class A Units were positive 2.99% in September 30, 2015 resulting in a Net Asset Value per unit of $2,394.78 as of September 30, 2015. Another volatile month saw gains in interest rates, energies and currencies. Other sectors were mixed with gains in precious metals offset by losses in base metals, and losses in softs and grains essentially offset from gains in meats.
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Class A Units were a negative 4.33% in October 2015 resulting in a Net Asset Value of $2,290.98 as of October 31, 2015. The Fund had a negative month while the equity markets rebounded nicely with no sign of the Feds changing interest rates. The Everest Fund gave back all the gains from September and then some. The Fund’s large gain in the energy sector offset by losses almost across the board especially from currencies and metals. Those two sectors could not decide which way they were going for most of the month but were particularly difficult for our positions in the last few days of the month.
Class A Units were a positive 2.35% in November 2015 resulting in a Net Asset Value of $2,344.77 as of November 30, 2015. Gains came in currencies, metals and energies. Smaller overall losses came in interest rates and global stock indices. November was another month that saw a lot of fluctuation. The USD strengthened, while metals and energies trended lower. EMC was able to capitalize on those moves and provide a profitable month with meaningful diversification.
Class A Units were a negative 3.65% in December 2015 resulting in a Net Asset Value of $2,259.10 as of December 31, 2015. Although EMC continued to profit from energies, the up and down nature of the interest rate and currency positions dominated our portfolio in December. Losses were also sustained in stock indices and metals, with smaller gains in grains. The monthly result ensured a down year of 7.18% for the Fund, coming on the heels of last year’s gain of 18%.
Results of Operations
Calendar Year 2014
At December 31, 2014 the Partnership had approximately $6.810 million in Class A assets, all of which have been allocated to EMC Capital Advisors, LLC (EMC).
The Partnership recorded a gain of $1,000,951 or $357.74 per Class A unit, for the year 2014. That represents a gain of 18.10% for the year.
The Partnership continued to employ advisor EMC Capital Advisors, LLC’s (EMC) Classic Program through December 31, 2014.
Class A Units were negative 3.80% in January 2014 resulting in a Net Asset Value per unit of $1,982.56 as of January 31, 2014. The Fund had a loss as did the S&P 500 for the month of January. It was a volatile month with very few lasting trends and prices moving up down, up down for most of the month. Losses came in metals, currencies and stock indices. Smaller gains were seen in grains/agriculturals and softs. January was pretty much a textbook example of poor trending conditions for trend following with prices reversing and choppy all month.
Class A Units were negative 2.83% in February 2014 resulting in a Net Asset Value per unit of $1,926.45 as of February 28, 2014. February was a month of volatile markets as witnessed by the fluctuations of the S&P 500, which had a mini sell off, only to finish at new highs. Other markets had similar moves, with abrupt reversals the norm. The Fund lost just under 3%, with conditions once again not favorable for trend following. Gains in currencies, grains and meats were not enough to offset losses in metals, softs and stock indices.
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Class A Units were negative 3.76% in March 2014 resulting in a Net Asset Value per unit of $1,853.93 as of March 31, 2014. March was a month much like January and February for trend following. False price trends, followed by abrupt reversals. EMC’s trading program was able to extract profits in metals, grains and softs but larger losses in currencies, energies, interest rates and stock indices resulted in another down month.
Class A Units were negative 0.05% in April 2014 resulting in a Net Asset Value per unit of $1,853.03 as of April 30, 2014. April was essentially a break even month for the Fund. Gains in currencies, grains, interest rates, and metals were offset by losses in energies and stock indices. While no one is satisfied with a break even month, it does put an end to a 4 month decline, and we did see less abrupt price reversals this month. In a rare coincidence, the Fund and the S&P 500 total return result were essentially the same for the month.
Class A Units were negative 0.04% in May 2014 resulting in a Net Asset Value per unit of $1,852.22 as of May 31, 2014. May was another essentially break even month for the Fund. Gains in interest rates and stock indices were negated by similar losses in currencies, softs and to a smaller extent, energies. This marks the second month in a row with slightly negative almost flat performance. There were stretches of positive performance and some price trending throughout the month. The trends were, however, short lived.
Class A Units were positive 0.97% in June 2014 resulting in a Net Asset Value per unit of $1,870.20 as of June 30, 2014. In June the Fund had a gain of just under 1%. Profits came in meats, interest rates, softs, energies and stock indices, with smaller losses in currencies and grains. There were some trending prices and for the first time in a number of months the last few days were not characterized by abrupt reversals and that allowed for a positive result.
Class A Units were positive 6.77% in July 31, 2014 resulting in a Net Asset Value per unit of $1,996.77 as of July 31, 2014. In July the markets had a return to trending prices and as a result the Fund had a significant gain of +6.77%. In addition, the fund had a timely and beneficial negative correlation to the S&P 500 which was -1.51%. Profits came in softs, stock indices, grains, interest rates, metals, meats and currencies. There were losses in energies.
Class A Units were positive 4.22% in August 31, 2014 resulting in a Net Asset Value per unit of $2,081.09 as of August 31, 2014. The Fund posted another significant gain of +4.22% for August, as trending prices continued. Profits came in interest rates, currencies, energies and grains, with smaller losses in stock indices, metals and meats. This third consecutive month of gains for the Fund brings us to a +0.98% positive result on the year. While this is not enough in and of itself, it is certainly better than a -12% of a few months ago. EMC has, once again, demonstrated that they are able to generate profits when conditions are favorable to trend following.
Class A Units were positive 7.49% in September 30, 2014 resulting in a Net Asset Value per unit of $2,236.95 as of September 30, 2014. The Fund posted a gain of 7.49%. The largest profitable positions were in the currency sector, with smaller gains in energies, metals, softs and grains. Smaller losses were posted in stock indices and interest rates. September was another month of negative correlation for the Fund to equity markets as the S&P 500 was down.
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Class A Units were a positive 0.19% in October 2014 resulting in a Net Asset Value of $2,241.30 as of October 31, 2014. The Fund posted a gain of approximately 0.19% in October. The essentially break even month saw gains in energies, interest rates and metals, with losses in softs and stock indices. In another wild October for equity markets, the S&P 500 had a 7.8% intra month high low range, but ended up for the month. Short term large swings are seldom good for trend following systems, and EMC did a good job staying out of the red this month.
Class A Units were a positive 5.55% in November 2014 resulting in a Net Asset Value of $2,365.60 as of November 30, 2014. Leading the profits were positions in energies and currencies, followed by interest rates, metals and softs. There were no significant losses by sector for the month. November’s performance is the 6th consecutive positive month and it lifts the Fund to a +14.78% year to date result. Since the beginning of June, the Fund has posted a +21.71% gain overcoming the -10% result of the first 5 months of the year when markets were reversing. EMC has once again demonstrated that when markets trend in any direction they can capitalize on it. The majority of the gains have come in the energy and currency sectors for the last few months, with energy prices falling and the US Dollar strengthening.
Class A Units were a positive 2.89% in December 2014 resulting in a Net Asset Value of $2,433.97 as of December 31, 2014. The Fund posted a gain in currencies and energies. The dollar continued to strengthen against most other currencies mirroring the continued improvement in the US economy and crude continued to slide with PEC not able to restrain production amid a global surplus. The Fund finished the year with a gain of 18.10%.
Inflation
Inflation does have an effect on commodity prices and the volatility of commodity markets; however, inflation is not expected to have an adverse effect on the Partnership’s operations or assets.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Introduction
Past Results Are Not Necessarily Indicative of Future Performance.
The Partnership is a speculative commodity pool. The market sensitive instruments held by it are acquired for speculative trading purposes, and all or substantially all of the Partnership’s 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 main line of business of the Partnership.
Market movements result in frequent changes in the fair market value of the open positions of the Partnership and, consequently, in its earnings and cash flow. The market risk of the Partnership is influenced by a wide variety of factors, including the level and volatility of interest rates, exchange rates, equity price levels, the market value of financial instruments, the diversification effects among the open positions of the Partnership and the liquidity of the markets in which it trades.
The Partnership can acquire and/or liquidate both long and short positions in a wide range of different financial and metals markets. Consequently, it is not possible to predict how a particular future market scenario will affect performance, and the past performance of the Partnership is not necessarily indicative of its future results.
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Value at Risk is a measure of the maximum amount which the Partnership could reasonably be expected to lose in a given market sector. However, the inherent uncertainty of the Partnership’s speculative trading and the recurrence in the markets traded by the Partnership of market movements far exceeding expectations could result in actual trading or non-trading losses far beyond the indicated Value at Risk or the experience of the Partnership 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 included in this section should not be considered to constitute any assurance or representation that the losses of the Partnership in any market sector will be limited to Value at Risk or by the attempts of the Partnership to manage its market risk.
Standard of Materiality
Materiality as used in this section, “Qualitative and Quantitative Disclosures About Market Risk,” is based on an assessment of reasonably possible market movements and the potential losses caused by such movements, taking into account the leverage, optionality and multiplier features of the market sensitive instruments of the Partnership.
Quantifying the Trading Value at Risk of the Partnership
Qualitative Forward-Looking Statements
The following quantitative disclosures regarding the market risk exposures of the Partnership 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). 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 risk exposure of the Partnership in the various market sectors traded by the commodity trading advisor is quantified below in terms of Value at Risk. Due to the mark-to-market accounting of the Partnership, any loss in the fair value of the Partnership’s open positions is directly reflected in the earnings (realized or unrealized) of the Partnership and cash flow (at least in the case of exchange-traded contracts in which profits and losses on open positions are settled daily through variation margin).
Exchange maintenance margin requirements have been used by the Partnership as the measure of its Value at Risk. Maintenance 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 intervals. The maintenance 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. Maintenance margin has been used rather than the more generally available initial margin, because initial margin includes a credit risk component which is not relevant to Value at Risk.
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In the case of market sensitive instruments which are not exchange traded (almost exclusively currencies in the case of the Partnership), the margin requirements for the equivalent futures positions have been used as Value at Risk. In those rare cases in which a futures-equivalent margin is not available, margins of the dealers have been used.
In quantifying the Value at Risk of the Partnership, 100% positive correlation in the different positions held in each market risk category has been assumed. Consequently, the margin requirements applicable to the open contracts have simply been aggregated to determine the aggregate Value at Risk for each trading category. The diversification effects resulting from the fact that the positions of the Partnership are rarely, if ever, 100% positively correlated have not been reflected.
The Trading Value at Risk in Different Market Sectors of the Partnership
The following table indicates the trading Value at Risk associated with the open positions of the Partnership by market category as of December 31, 2015. All open position trading risk exposures of the Partnership have been included in calculating the figures set forth below.
As of December 31, 2015, the total capitalization of the Partnership was approximately $5,629,265, all in Class A Shares.
December 31, 2015
Market Sector | Value at Risk | % of Total Capitalization | ||||||
Commodities | $ | 166,934.68 | 2.97 | % | ||||
Energies | $ | 74,639.22 | 1.33 | % | ||||
Financial Stock Indices | $ | 153,779.41 | 2.73 | % | ||||
Interest Rates | $ | 244,290.22 | 4.34 | % | ||||
Metals | $ | 221,900.01 | 3.94 | % | ||||
Currencies | $ | 263,091.50 | 4.67 | % | ||||
Total | $ | 1,124,635.04 | 19.98 | % |
As of December 31, 2014, the total capitalization of the Partnership was approximately $6,810,208, all in Class A Shares.
December 31, 2014
Market Sector | Value at Risk | % of Total Capitalization | ||||||
Commodities | $ | 57,531.80 | 0.84 | % | ||||
Energies | $ | 33,571.60 | 0.49 | % | ||||
Financial Stock Indices | $ | 56,704.12 | 0.83 | % | ||||
Interest Rates | $ | 143,474.83 | 2.11 | % | ||||
Metals | $ | 51,420.58 | 0.76 | % | ||||
Currencies | $ | 103,948.98 | 1.53 | % | ||||
Total | $ | 446,651.91 | 6.56 | % |
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Material Limitations on Value at Risk as an Assessment of Market Risk
The face value of the market sector instruments held by the Partnership is typically many times the applicable maintenance margin requirement (maintenance margin requirements generally ranging between approximately 1% and 10% of contract face value) as well as many times the capitalization of the Partnership. The magnitude of the open positions of the Partnership creates a “risk of ruin” not typically found in most other investment vehicles. Because of the size of its positions, certain market conditions that are unusual, but historically recurring from time to time, could cause the Partnership to incur severe losses over a short period of time. The foregoing Value at Risk table, as well as the past performance of the Partnership, give no indication of this “risk of ruin.”
Non-Trading Risk
The Partnership has non-trading market risk on its foreign cash balances not needed for margin. However, these balances (as well as any market risk they represent) are immaterial.
The Partnership holds a portion of its assets in cash on deposit with RJO trading account (“RJO”) and substantial remainder on deposit with RJO Cash account. The Partnership has cash flow risk on these cash deposits because if interest rates decline, so will the interest paid out by RJO at the 91-day Treasury bill rate. As of December 31, 2015, the Partnership had approximately $5.543 million in cash on deposit with RJO accounts.
Qualitative Disclosures Regarding Primary Trading Risk Exposures
The following qualitative disclosures regarding the market risk exposures of the Partnership, except for (i) those disclosures that are statements of historical fact and (ii) the descriptions of how the Partnership and the Trading Advisor manage the primary market risk exposures of the Partnership, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act. The primary market risk exposures of the Partnership as well as the strategies used and to be used by the Trading Advisor for managing such exposures are subject to numerous uncertainties, contingencies and risks, any one of which could cause the actual results of the risk controls of the Partnership to differ materially from the objectives of such strategies. Government interventions, defaults and expropriations, illiquid markets, the emergence of dominant fundamental factors, political upheavals, changes in historical price relationships, an influx of new market participants, increased regulation and many other factors could result in material losses as well as in material changes to the risk exposures and the risk management strategies of the Partnership. There can be no assurance that the current market exposure and/or risk management strategies of the Partnership will not change materially or that any such strategies will be effective in either the short- or long-term. Investors must be prepared to lose all or substantially all of their investment in the Partnership.
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The following were the primary trading risk exposures of the Partnership as of December 31, 2015, by market sector.
Interest Rates. Interest rate risk is a major market exposure of the Partnership. Interest rate movements directly affect the price of the sovereign bond positions held by the Partnership and indirectly the value of its stock index and currency positions. Interest rate movements in one country as well as relative interest rate movements between countries materially impact the profitability of the Partnership. The primary interest rate exposure of the Partnership is to interest rate fluctuations in the United States and the other G-7 countries. However, the Partnership also takes positions in the government debt of smaller nations - e.g., Australia. The General Partner anticipates that G-7 interest rates will remain the primary market exposure of the Partnership for the foreseeable future. The changes in interest rates which have the most effect on the Partnership are changes in long-term, as opposed to short-term, rates. Most of the speculative positions held by the Partnership are in medium to long-term instruments. However, since February 2000, the JWH program added a European short rate, the Euribor, which is closely tied to the actions of the European Central Bank. This was done to add short term interest rate diversification.
Currencies. The currency exposure of the Partnership is to exchange rate fluctuations, primarily fluctuations which disrupt historical pricing relationships between different currencies and currency pairs. These fluctuations are influenced by interest rate changes as well as political and general economic conditions. The Partnership trades in a large number of currencies, including cross-rates - i.e., positions between two currencies other than the U.S. dollar. However, the Partnership’s major exposures have typically been in the dollar/yen, dollar/Euro, dollar/Swiss franc, dollar/Australian dollar, dollar/pound positions and dollar/Hong Kong dollar.
The General Partner does not anticipate that the risk profile of the Partnership’s currency sector will change significantly in the future. The currency trading Value at Risk figure includes foreign margin amounts converted into U.S. dollars with an incremental adjustment to reflect the exchange rate risk inherent to the dollar based Partnership in expressing Value at Risk in a functional currency other than dollars.
Stock Indices. The primary equity exposure of the Partnership is to equity price risk in the G-7 countries. The stock index futures traded by the Partnership are by law limited to futures on broadly based indices. Ordinarily the primary exposures are in the FTSE (England), Nikkei (Japan) and All Ordinaries (Australia) stock indices. However, in February 2000, the JWH firm added the German DAX Index Futures. The General Partner anticipates little trading in non-G-7 stock indices. The Partnership is primarily exposed to the risk of adverse price trends or static markets in the major U.S., European and Japanese indices. (Static markets would not cause major market changes but would make it difficult for the Partnership to avoid being “whipsawed” into numerous small losses.)
Metals. The metals market exposure of the Partnership is to fluctuations in the price of gold and silver (precious metals) and the base metals of copper, aluminum, zinc, and nickel at EMC.
Commodities. The exposure to commodities of the Partnership from EMC Classic Program includes corn, soybeans, soybean meal, soybean oil, wheat, and the softs of coffee, cotton, and sugar, as well as a full complement of other agricultural commodities.
Energy. The exposure of the Partnership to energy contracts in the EMC Classic program is heating oil, unleaded gasoline, crude oil natural gas and others.
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Qualitative Disclosures Regarding Non-Trading Risk Exposure
The following were the only non-trading risk exposures of the Partnership as of December 31, 2015.
Foreign Currency Balances. The primary foreign currency balances of the Partnership are in Japanese yen, Euros, British pounds and Australian dollars. The Partnership controls the non-trading risk of these balances by regularly converting these balances back into dollars (no less frequently than twice a month).
Cash Position. The Partnership holds a portion of its assets in cash at R.J. O’Brien and Associates, LLC (RJO) trading account. 95% of these assets earn interest at the average rate paid on 91-day U.S. Treasury Bills purchased during the month. Substantially all of reminder is held at RJO in a separate cash account. At December 31, 2015 approximately 78% of the Partnership’s capital funds were deposited at the cash account at RJO. The Partnership receives 90% of the 30-day rate on 91-day U.S. Treasury bill rate.
Qualitative Disclosures Regarding Means of Managing Risk Exposure
The General Partner monitors the performance of the Partnership and the concentration of its open positions, and consults with the commodity trading advisor concerning the overall risk profile of the Partnership. If the General Partner felt it necessary to do so, the General Partner could require the commodity trading advisor to close out individual positions as well as entire programs traded on behalf of the Partnership. However, any such intervention would be a highly unusual event. The General Partner primarily relies on the commodity trading advisor’s own risk control policies while maintaining a general supervisory overview of the Partnership’s market risk exposures.
Risk Management
EMC attempts to control risk in all aspects of the investment Process - from confirmation of a trend to determining the optimal exposure in a given market, and to money management issues such as the startup or upgrade of investor accounts. EMC double checks the accuracy of market data, and will not trade a market without multiple price sources for analytical input. In constructing a portfolio, EMC seeks to control overall risk as well as the risk of any one position, and EMC trades only markets that have been identified as having positive performance characteristics. Trading discipline requires plans for the exit of a market as well as for entry. EMC factors the point of exit into the decision to enter (stop loss). The size of the EMC positions in a particular market is not a matter of how large a return can be generated but of how much risk it is willing to take relative to that expected return.
To attempt to reduce the risk of volatility while maintaining the potential for excellent performance, proprietary research is conducted on an ongoing basis to refine the EMC investment strategies. Research may suggest substitution of alternative investment methodologies with respect to particular contracts; this may occur, for example, when the testing of a new methodology has indicated that its use might have resulted in different historical performance. In addition, risk management research and analysis may suggest modifications regarding the relative weighting among various contracts, the addition or deletion of particular contracts from a program, or a change in position size in relation to account equity. The weighting of capital committed to various markets in the investment programs is dynamic, and EMC may vary the weighting at its discretion as market conditions, liquidity, position limit considerations and other factors warrant.
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EMC may determine that risks arise when markets are illiquid or erratic, such as may occur cyclically during holiday seasons, or on the basis of irregularly occurring market events. In such cases, EMC at its sole discretion may override computer-generated signals and may at times use discretion in the application of its quantitative models, which may affect performance positively or negatively.
Adjustments in position size in relation to account equity have been and continue to be an integral part of the EMC investment strategy. At its discretion, EMC may adjust the size of a position in relation to equity in certain markets or entire programs. Such adjustments may be made at certain times for some programs but not for others. Factors which may affect the decision to adjust the size of a position in relation to account equity include ongoing research, program volatility, assessments of current market volatility and risk exposure, subjective judgment, and evaluation of these and other general market conditions.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Reference is made to the financial statements and the notes thereto attached to this report.
THE EVEREST FUND, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
Supplementary Summarized Quarterly Data
For the four Quarters for 2015 and 2014.
March 31, 2015 | June 30, 2015 | September 30, 2015 | December 31, 2015 | |||||||||||||
Class A | Class A | Class A | Class A | |||||||||||||
Net Income | $ | 62,670 | $ | -378,394 | $ | 216,206 | $ | -338,578 | ||||||||
Increase in Net Asset Value Per Unit | $ | 22.38 | $ | -147.86 | $ | 86.29 | $ | -135.68 | ||||||||
Net Asset Value Per Unit | $ | 2,456.35 | $ | 2,308.49 | $ | 2,394.78 | $ | 2,259.10 | ||||||||
Ending Net Asset Value | $ | 6,579,367 | $ | 5,782,729 | $ | 5,976,052 | $ | 5,629,265 |
March 31, 2014 | June 30, 2014 | September 30, 2014 | December 31, 2014 | |||||||||||||
Class A | Class A | Class A | Class A | |||||||||||||
Net Income | $ | -634,338 | $ | 48,712 | $ | 1,035,278 | $ | 551,299 | ||||||||
Increase in Net Asset Value Per Unit | $ | -207.04 | $ | 16.27 | $ | 366.74 | $ | 197.02 | ||||||||
Net Asset Value Per Unit | $ | 1,853.93 | $ | 1,870.20 | $ | 2,236.94 | $ | 2,433.97 | ||||||||
Ending Net Asset Value | $ | 5,628,031 | $ | 5,345,365 | $ | 6,273,081 | $ | 6,810,207 |
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.
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Item 9A(T). Controls and Procedures Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The General Partner carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the General Partner’s management, including its principal executive Officer, Peter Lamoureux, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Partnership’s disclosure controls and procedures as contemplated by Rule 13(a)-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Any control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable (not absolute) assurance that its objectives will be met. Furthermore, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, have been detected. Based on their evaluation as of December 31, 2015, the General Partner’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that the Partnership’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
Changes In Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There was no change in the Partnership’s internal control Over financial reporting in the 12 months ended December 31, 2015 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting.
The General Partner’s management has conducted the evaluation of the internal control over financial reporting, as required by Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15.
Report on Management’s Assessment of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
The management of the General Partner is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting by the Partnership.
The General Partner’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Partnership; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, and that receipts and expenditures of the Partnership are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management of the Partnership; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the Partnership’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations, including the possibility of human error and the circumvention of overriding controls. Accordingly, even effective internal control over financial reporting can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
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Management assessed the effectiveness of the Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting, based on the framework set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control-Integrated Framework. Based on that assessment, management concluded that, as of December 31, 2015, the Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting was effective based on the criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework.
This annual report does not include an attestation report of the Partnership’s registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by the company’s registered public accounting firm pursuant to temporary rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit the company to provide only management’s report in this annual report.
Item 9 B. Other Information.
None
Part III
Item 10. Director and Executive Officer of the Registrant.
The General Partner, Everest Asset Management, Inc., is the sole General Partner and commodity pool operator of the Partnership. It is a Delaware corporation incorporated in 1987, is and has been registered with the CFTC as a commodity pool operator since July 1, 1988 and is and has been a member of the National Futures Association since that date. Its address is 1100 North 4th Street, Suite 143, Fairfield, Iowa 52556 and its telephone number at such location is (641) 472-5500.
The officer and director of the General Partner as of December 31, 2015 is listed below:
Peter Lamoureux. Mr. Lamoureux, (born in 1950), has been President, Treasurer and Secretary of the General Partner since November 1996. He joined the General Partner and Capital Management Partners, Inc., a selling agent and affiliate of the Partnership at that time, in 1991 and has had primary responsibility for Partnership syndication since October 1994. Prior to joining the General Partner, Mr. Lamoureux was Manager of Refined Products with United Fuels International, Inc., an energy brokerage firm in Waltham, Massachusetts. He received his B.S. in Education from Rhode Island College, R.I.
The General Partner does not trade commodities for its own account but its principals may. Because of their confidential nature, records of such trading will not be available to Limited Partners for inspection.
There have been no material criminal, civil or administrative actions during the preceding five years or ever against the General Partner or its principal.
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Audit Committee Financial Expert
The Board of Directors of Everest Asset Management, Inc. has determined that Peter Lamoureux, President, Treasurer and Secretary of the General Partner, qualifies as an audit committee financial expert in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Mr. Lamoureux is not “independent” as that term is defined in Item 7(a)(3)(iv) of Schedule 14A under the Exchange Act.
Code of Ethics
The General Partner has adopted a code of ethics for its chief executive officer and persons performing similar functions. A copy of the General Partner’s code of ethics may be obtained at no charge by written request to Everest Asset Management, Inc., 1100 North 4th Street, Suite 143, Fairfield, Iowa 52356 or by calling 641-472-5500.
Item 11. Executive Compensation.
The Partnership has no directors or executive officers. As a limited partnership, the business of the Partnership is managed by its General Partner which is responsible for the administration of the business affairs of the Partnership and receives the compensation described in Item 1 “Business” hereof. The officers and directors of the General Partner receive no compensation from the Partnership for acting in their respective capacities with the General Partner.
The General Partner is the manager of the Partnership. General Partner receives .05% management fees monthly.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
(a) As of December 31, 2015 there were four partners known to the Partnership to own beneficially more than 5% of the outstanding Units:
Alan L Schoolcraft 30.21%
RBRF Limited Partnership 10.39%
Ruth Davis 7.84%
James & Venice King, LLC 6.18%
(b) As of December 31, 2015, management ownership was: by Peter Lamoureux with 77.353 class A units. This represents 3.10% of class A units of the Partnership.
(c) As of December 31, 2015, no arrangements were known to the Partnership, including no pledge by any person of Units of the Partnership or shares of the General Partner or the affiliates of the General Partners, such that a change in control of the Partnership may occur at a subsequent date.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.
(a) None other than the compensation arrangements described herein.
(b) None.
(c) None.
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The Partnership filed Registration Statements on Form S-18 and Form 10, therefore this information is not required to be included.
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services
Audit Fees
For the year ended December 31, 2015 the aggregate fee billed by Donahue Associates, LLC, Independent Registered Public Accountant, for professional services rendered for the audit of the financial statements included in this annual report was $13,300.
For the year ended December 31, 2014 the aggregate fee billed by Donahue Associates, LLC, Independent Registered Public Accountant, for professional services rendered for the audit of the financial statements included in this annual report was $13,300.
Audit Related Fees
None.
Tax Fees
The audit committee pre-approved all fees for the Everest Partnership, L.P. for fiscal year 2015 and 2014.
For the year ended December 31, 2015, the aggregate fees billed by Donahue Associates, LLC for federal and state tax return preparation totaled $7,000.
For the year ended December 31, 2014, the aggregate fees billed by Donahue Associates, LLC for federal and state tax return preparation totaled $7,000.
All Other Fees
None.
Part IV
Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement, Schedules.
(a) The following documents are included herein:
(1) Financial Statements:
a. Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm:
Donahue Associates, LLC for 2015
Donahue Associates, LLC for 2014
b. Statements of Financial Condition, December 31, 2015 and 2014.
c. Statements of Operations, Years Ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.
d. Statements of Changes in Partners’ Capital, Years Ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.
e. Statements of Cash Flows, Years Ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.
f. Schedule of Investments, December 31, 2015
g. Schedule of Investments, December 31, 2014
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Notes to Financial Statements.
Acknowledgment
(2) All financial statement schedules have been omitted because the information required by the schedules is not applicable, or because the information required is contained in the financial statements included herein or the notes thereto.
(3) Exhibits:
See the Index to Exhibits annexed hereto.
Form 8-K-None
Exhibits:
See The Index to Exhibits annexed hereto.
(c) Financial Statement Schedules
None.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Partnership has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Date: March 30, 2016
The Everest Fund, L.P.
By: Everest Asset Management, Inc.
(General Partner)
By: /s/ Peter Lamoureux
Peter Lamoureux, President
Secretary, Treasurer, and Director
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Partnership and in the capacities and on the date indicated.
Date: March 30, 2016
By: /s/ Peter Lamoureux
Peter Lamoureux, President,
Secretary, Treasurer, and Director
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Index to Exhibits:
Exhibit No. | Description |
3.4 | Amended
and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership dated as of May 1, 1995.
Advisory Contract between the Partnership, the General Partner and John W. Henry & Company, Inc. dated December 1, 1990. |
10.6 | Amendment to Advisory Contract between the Partnership, the General Partner and John W. Henry & Company, Inc. dated April 1, 1995. |
10.9 | Certificate
of Limited Partnership for Everest Futures Fund II L.P. dated March 15, 1996.
Limited Partnership Agreement for Everest Futures Fund II L.P. dated as of March 29, 1996. Confidential Private Placement Memorandum and Disclosure Document dated August 21, 1996. |
Advisory Contract between the Partnership, the General Partner and EMC Capital Management, Inc. dated November 30, 2012. |
Notes to the Exhibits:
Exhibits 3.4, 10.5, 10.6, 10.9, 10.10 and 28.1 are incorporated by reference to the Partnership’s Form 10 accepted on September 19, 1996.
The Exhibits referenced above bear the exhibit numbers corresponding to those indicated in the Partnership’s Registration Statements.
Number of Attached Exhibits
None.
Yours truly,
/s/ Peter Lamoureux
Peter Lamoureux
President
EVEREST FUND, L.P.
(An Iowa Limited Partnership)
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
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The Everest Fund, L.P.
(an Iowa Limited Partnership)
FINANCIAL REPORT
For the Years Ending
December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014
The Everest Fund, L.P.
Table of Contents
The Everest Fund, L.P
AFFIRMATION OF THE COMMODITY POOL OPERATOR
To the best of my knowledge and belief, information contained in the attached financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 is accurate and complete.
/s/ Peter Lamoureux | |
Peter Lamoureux, President | |
Everest Asset Management, Inc. for Commodity Pool Operator | |
The Everest Fund, L.P. |
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
The management of the Partnership is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting is defined in Rules 13-a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act as a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the Partnership’s principal executive and principal financial officers and effected by the Partnership’s management and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Internal control includes those 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 transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Partnership are being made only in accordance with authorization of management and directors of the Partnership; and |
· | provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Partnership’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. |
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Management assessed the effectiveness of the Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015. In making this assessment, management used the criteria established in “Internal Control-Integrated Framework,” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
Based on this assessment, management believes that, as of December 31, 2015, the Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting is effective.
There have not been any changes in the Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
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DONAHUE ASSOCIATES, LLC
Certified Public Accountants
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Partners
The Everest Fund, L.P.
We have audited the accompanying statements of financial condition, including the condensed schedules of investments, of The Everest Fund, L.P. as of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, and the related statements of operations, changes in partners’ capital and cash flows each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2015. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Partnership’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of The Everest Fund, L.P. as of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2015 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Donahue Associates LLC
Monmouth Beach, New Jersey
March 14, 2016
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The Everest Fund
Statements of Financial Condition
As of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014
2015 | 2014 | |||||||
ASSETS | ||||||||
Equity in broker trading accounts: | ||||||||
Cash and investments in marketable securities | $ | 13,442 | $ | 15,571 | ||||
Cash in broker trading accounts | 5,543,019 | 6,565,795 | ||||||
Net unrealized gain (loss) on open contracts | 157,585 | 316,358 | ||||||
Total cash & equity in broker trading accounts | $ | 5,714,046 | $ | 6,897,724 | ||||
Other assets: | ||||||||
Interest receivable | 461 | 96 | ||||||
Total Assets | $ | 5,714,507 | $ | 6,897,820 | ||||
LIABILITIES | ||||||||
Management fees payable | $ | 9,501 | $ | 11,369 | ||||
General partner fees payable | 24,935 | 30,640 | ||||||
Redemptions payable | 8,209 | 0 | ||||||
Accounts payable & accrued expenses | 42,598 | 45,604 | ||||||
Total Liabilities | $ | 85,243 | $ | 87,613 | ||||
PARTNERS’ CAPITAL | ||||||||
Limited partners, Class A shares: 2,491.81 and 2,797.98 units outstanding | 5,629,264 | 6,810,207 | ||||||
Total Liabilities & Partners’ Capital | $ | 5,714,507 | $ | 6,897,820 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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The Everest Fund, L.P.
For the Years Ended December 31, 2015 and 2014
2015 | 2014 | |||||||
Trading gains (losses): | ||||||||
Net realized trading gains (losses) | $ | 303,901 | $ | 1,624,496 | ||||
Change in unrealized gains (losses) | -153,576 | -81,567 | ||||||
Brokerage commissions & fees | -26,970 | -42,826 | ||||||
Net gain (loss) from trading | $ | 123,355 | $ | 1,500,103 | ||||
Net investment income: | ||||||||
Income: | ||||||||
Interest income | $ | 1,113 | $ | 675 | ||||
Total income | 1,113 | 675 | ||||||
Expenses: | ||||||||
Management fees- general partner | $ | 348,459 | $ | 312,359 | ||||
Management fees- advisors | 124,621 | 120,264 | ||||||
Advisor incentive fees | 0 | 0 | ||||||
Professional fees | 80,419 | 63,117 | ||||||
Administrative expenses | 9,066 | 4,087 | ||||||
Total administrative expenses | 562,565 | 499,827 | ||||||
Net investment income (loss) | -561,452 | -499,152 | ||||||
Net income (loss) | $ | -438,097 | $ | 1,000,951 | ||||
Net income (loss) per unit of partner interest | $ | -165.64 | $ | 341.03 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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The Everest Fund, L.P.
Statement of Changes in Partners’ Capital
For the Years Ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014
Net Asset | ||||||||||||
Partners’ Equity | Units Outstanding | Value Per Unit | ||||||||||
Partners’ equity at December 31, 2013 | $ | 6,331,720 | 3,072.20 | $ | 2,060.97 | |||||||
Additions | 101,836 | 51.36 | ||||||||||
Redemptions | -624,300 | -325.58 | ||||||||||
Offering costs | 0 | |||||||||||
Net loss | 1,000,951 | |||||||||||
Partners’ equity at December 31, 2014 | $ | 6,810,207 | 2,797.98 | $ | 2,433.97 | |||||||
Additions | 0 | 0.00 | ||||||||||
Redemptions | -742,846 | -306.17 | ||||||||||
Offering costs | 0 | |||||||||||
Net income | -438,097 | |||||||||||
Partners’ equity at December 31, 2015 | $ | 5,629,264 | 2,491.81 | $ | 2,259.11 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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The Everest Fund, L.P.
For the Years Ended December 31, 2015 and 2014
2015 | 2014 | |||||||
Cash flows from (for) operating activities | ||||||||
Net income (loss) | $ | -438,097 | $ | 1,000,951 | ||||
Net changes to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided (used) by operating activities: | ||||||||
Unrealized gain (loss) on open contracts | 158,773 | 114,723 | ||||||
Interest receivable | -365 | -76 | ||||||
General partner fees payable | -5,705 | 4,775 | ||||||
Redemptions payable | 8,209 | -442,723 | ||||||
Management fees payable | -1,868 | 59 | ||||||
Accounts payable & accrued expenses | -3,006 | -18,965 | ||||||
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities | $ | -282,059 | $ | 658,744 | ||||
Cash flows from (for) financing activities: | ||||||||
Partner additions, net of offering costs | $ | 0 | $ | 101,836 | ||||
Redemptions paid | -742,846 | -624,300 | ||||||
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities | -742,846 | -522,464 | ||||||
Net change in cash & cash equivalent position | $ | -1,024,905 | $ | 136,280 | ||||
Cash & investments in marketable securities at January 1st | 6,581,366 | 6,445,086 | ||||||
Cash & investments in marketable securities at December 31st | $ | 5,556,461 | $ | 6,581,366 | ||||
Cash & investment in marketable securities consist of: | ||||||||
Cash at banks | $ | 13,442 | $ | 15,571 | ||||
Cash in broker trading accounts | 5,543,019 | 6,565,795 | ||||||
Total cash & marketable securities | $ | 5,556,461 | $ | 6,581,366 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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The Everest Fund, L.P.
Condensed Schedule of Investments
As of December 31, 2015
Unrealized | ||||||||||||||
Number | Percent of | Gain (Loss) | ||||||||||||
Expiration | of | Partners’ | on Open | |||||||||||
Date | Contracts | Capital | Contracts | |||||||||||
Long U.S. Futures Contracts | ||||||||||||||
Interest rates | Mar 16–Mar 17 | 100 | -0.77 | % | $ | -43,148 | ||||||||
Metals | Mar 16 | 7 | 0.05 | % | 2,863 | |||||||||
Agriculture | Mar 16 | 39 | -0.19 | % | -10,842 | |||||||||
Currencies | Mar 16 | 8 | 0.14 | % | 8,100 | |||||||||
Indices | Mar 16 | 100 | -0.02 | % | -1,333 | |||||||||
Total Long Futures Contracts | -0.79 | % | $ | -44,360 | ||||||||||
Forward Positions | ||||||||||||||
Currencies | 0.00 | % | 0 | |||||||||||
Total Long Positions | -0.79 | % | $ | -44,360 | ||||||||||
Short U.S. Futures Contracts | ||||||||||||||
Interest Rates | Mar 16–Dec 16 | 289 | -0.33 | % | $ | -18,847 | ||||||||
Metals | Mar 16–Apr 16 | 30 | 0.25 | % | 14,202 | |||||||||
Energy | Feb 16–Mar 16 | 22 | 0.80 | % | 45,036 | |||||||||
Agriculture | Feb 16–Mar 16 | 89 | 1.00 | % | 56,446 | |||||||||
Currencies | Mar 16–Sep 17 | 160 | 1.98 | % | 111,628 | |||||||||
Indices | Jan 16–Mar 16 | 11 | -0.12 | % | -6,519 | |||||||||
Total Short Futures Contracts | 3.59 | % | $ | 201,945 | ||||||||||
Forward Positions | ||||||||||||||
Currencies | 0.00 | % | 0 | |||||||||||
Total Short Positions | 3.59 | % | $ | 201,945 | ||||||||||
Total Contracts | 2.80 | % | $ | 157,585 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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The Everest Fund, L.P.
Condensed Schedule of Investments
As of December 31, 2014
Unrealized | ||||||||||||||
Number | Percent of | Gain (Loss) | ||||||||||||
Expiration | of | Partners’ | on Open | |||||||||||
Date | Contracts | Capital | Contracts | |||||||||||
Long U.S. Futures Contracts | ||||||||||||||
Interest rates | Mar 15–Mar 16 | 213 | 1.36 | % | $ | 92,900 | ||||||||
Metals | Mar 15 | 2 | -0.11 | % | -7,250 | |||||||||
Agriculture | Mar 15 | 12 | -0.06 | % | -4,130 | |||||||||
Indices | Mar 15–Mar 16 | 56 | 0.53 | % | 36,019 | |||||||||
Total Long Futures Contracts | 1.72 | % | $ | 117,539 | ||||||||||
Forward Positions | ||||||||||||||
Currencies | 0.85 | % | 57,949 | |||||||||||
Total Long Positions | 2.57 | % | $ | 175,488 | ||||||||||
Short U.S. Futures Contracts | ||||||||||||||
Metals | Feb 15–Apr 15 | 12 | 0.42 | % | 28,422 | |||||||||
Energy | Feb 15–Mar 15 | 12 | 1.22 | % | 83,414 | |||||||||
Agriculture | Feb 15–Mar 15 | 34 | 0.31 | % | 21,489 | |||||||||
Currencies | Mar 15 | 3 | 0.48 | % | 32,489 | |||||||||
Indices | Mar 15 | 3 | -0.14 | % | -9,554 | |||||||||
Total Short Futures Contracts | 2.29 | % | $ | 155,789 | ||||||||||
Forward Positions | ||||||||||||||
Currencies | -0.22 | % | -14,919 | |||||||||||
Total Short Positions | 2.07 | % | $ | 140,870 | ||||||||||
Total Contracts | 4.64 | % | $ | 316,358 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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The Everest Fund, L.P.
Notes to the Financial Statements
For the Years Ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014
1. Organization and Business
The Everest Fund, L.P., (the “Partnership”) is a limited partnership organized in June 1988, under the Iowa Uniform Limited Partnership Act (the “Act”) for the purpose of engaging in the speculative trading of commodity futures and options thereon and forward contracts (collectively referred to as “Commodity Interests”). The sole General Partner of the Partnership is Everest Asset Management, Inc. (the “General Partner”).
On July 1, 1995, the Partnership recommenced its offering under a Regulation D, Rule 506 private placement. The private placement offering is continuing at a gross subscription price per unit equal to net asset value (NAV) per unit, plus an organization and offering cost reimbursement fee payable to the General Partner, and an ongoing compensation fee equal to 3% of the net asset value of Class A Units sold. The Class A Units (retail shares) continue to be charged an initial 1% offering and organization fee as a reduction to capital.
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States as detailed in the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Accounting Standards Codification (ASC).
Revenue Recognition
Commodity futures contracts, forward contracts, physical commodities, and related options are recorded on the trade-date basis and realized gains or losses are recognized when contracts are liquidated. All such transactions are recorded on the identified cost basis and marked to market daily. Unrealized gains or losses on open contracts (the difference between contract trade price and market price) are reported in the statement of financial condition as a net unrealized gain or loss. Any change in net unrealized gain or loss from the preceding period is reported in the statement of operations. Fair value of exchange-traded contracts is based upon exchange settlement prices. Fair value of non-exchange-traded contracts is based on third party quoted dealer values on the Inter-bank market.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
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Note 2, continued
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash equivalents represent short-term highly liquid investments with maturities of 90 days or less at the date of acquisition.
Redemptions Payable
Redemptions approved by the General Partner prior to month end with a fixed effective date and fixed amount are recorded as redemptions payable as of month end.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The financial instruments held by the Company are reported in the statements of financial condition at fair value, or at carrying amounts that approximate fair value, due to their highly liquid nature and short-term maturity.
Foreign Currency Translation
The Partnership’s functional currency is the U.S. dollar; however, it transacts business in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the prevailing exchange rates as of the date of the statements of financial condition. Gains and losses on investment activity are translated at the prevailing exchange rate on the date of each respective transaction while year-end balances are translated at the year-end currency rates. Realized and unrealized foreign exchange gains or losses are included in trading income in the statements of operations.
Income Taxes
No provision for income taxes has been made in the accompanying financial statements as each partner is responsible for reporting income (loss) based upon the pro rata share of the profits or losses of the Partnership. The Partnership files U.S. federal and state tax returns.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
There have been no recently issued accounting pronouncements that materially affect the Partnership’s financial statements.
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3. Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.
In determining fair value, the Partnership uses various valuation approaches. ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures”, establishes a fair value hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are those that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Partnership. Unobservable inputs reflect the Partnership’s assumptions about the inputs market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. The fair value hierarchy is categorized into three levels based on the inputs as follows.
Level 1. Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity has the ability to access at the measurement date. Since valuations are based on quoted prices that are readily and regularly available in an active market, valuation of these securities does not entail a significant degree of judgment.
Level 2. Inputs other than quoted prices within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly; and fair value is determined through the use of models or other valuation methodologies. A significant adjustment to a Level 2 input could result in the Level 2 measurement becoming a Level 3 measurement.
Level 3. Inputs are unobservable for the asset or liability and include situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability. The inputs into the determination of fair value are based upon the best information in the circumstances and may require significant management judgment or estimation.
12 |
Note 3, continued
The table below demonstrates the Partnership’s fair value hierarchy for those assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014:
Fair Value Measurement of Assets
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | ||||||||||
Assets at December 31, 2015: | ||||||||||||
Open positions in futures and forward contracts | $ | 157,585 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||||
Total assets at fair value | $ | 157,585 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 |
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | ||||||||||
Assets at December 31, 2014: | ||||||||||||
Open positions in futures and forward contracts | $ | 316,358 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||||
Total assets at fair value | $ | 316,358 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 |
4. Principle Risks Associated With Derivative Instruments
In the normal course of business, the Partnership engages in trading derivatives by purchasing and selling futures contracts and options on future contracts for its own account. All such trading is effectuated as speculative as opposed to hedging. Effective January 1, 2009, the Partnership adopted the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification 815, Derivatives & Hedging, which requires enhanced disclosures about the objectives and strategies for using derivatives and quantitative disclosures about the fair value amounts, and gains and losses on derivatives. See below for such disclosures.
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Note 4, continued
Fair Value of Derivative Instruments | ||||||||||
2015 | 2014 | |||||||||
Speculative Instruments | Location- Statement of Financial Condition | Fair Value | Fair Value | |||||||
Futures Contracts | Net unrealized gain (loss) on open contracts | $ | 157,585 | $ | 316,358 |
2015 | 2014 | |||||||||
Speculative Instruments | Location- Statement of Operations | Fair Value | Fair Value | |||||||
Futures Contracts | Net realized trading gains (losses) | $ | 303,901 | $ | 1,624,496 | |||||
Futures Contracts | Change in unrealized gains (losses) | $ | -153,576 | $ | -81,567 |
Investments in derivative contracts are subject to additional risks that can result in a loss of all or part of an investment. The Partnership is subject to these risks in the normal course of its investment objectives. The Partnership uses futures and option contracts to gain exposure to, or hedge against, changes in the value of commodities, interest rates, stock indices, or foreign currencies. A futures contract represents a commitment for the future purchase or sale of an asset at a specified price on a specified date. Option contracts entered into give the Partnership the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell within a limited period of time, a futures contract at a contracted price.
The success of any investment activity is influenced by general economic conditions that may affect the level of volatility of commodity prices, credit spreads, interest rates, and equity prices. Unexpected volatility or illiquidity in the markets in which the Partnership directly or indirectly holds positions could impair its ability to carry out its business and could result in losses. See below for detailed description of selected risks.
Market Risk- This represents the potential loss that can be caused by increases or decreases in the fair value of the Partnership’s investments. The Partnership’s exposure to market risk is directly influenced by a number of factors, including the volatility and liquidity of the markets in which the derivatives are traded.
Liquidity Risk- This is the risk that the Partnership will not be able to sell its derivatives quickly or close to its fair value.
Interest Rate Risk- The risk that the value of the Partnership’s investments may fluctuate as a result of changes in market interest rates.
Currency Risk- This is the risk that the value of the Partnership’s investments, which are denominated in the currency of the country where the investment was entered into, may fluctuate as result of changes in the country’s foreign currency rate. The Partnership is subject to the risk that those foreign currency exchange rates mat decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar.
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5. Limited Partner Agreement
The Limited Partners and General Partner share in the profits and losses of the Partnership in proportion to the number of units or unit equivalents held by each. However, no Limited Partner is liable for obligations of the Partnership in excess of their capital contribution and profits. Distributions of profits are made solely at the discretion of the General Partner.
Responsibility for managing the Partnership is vested solely in the General Partner. The General Partner has delegated complete trading authority to an unrelated party (see Note 5).
Limited Partners may cause any or all of their Class A units to be redeemed as of the end of any month at the month end net asset value on fifteen days’ prior written notice to the general partner, or such lesser period as is acceptable to the Partnership. Although the Partnership Agreement does not permit redemptions for the first six months following a Limited Partner’s admission to the Partnership, the Agreement does permit the Partnership to declare additional regular redemption dates.
The Partnership will be dissolved on December 31, 2020, or upon the occurrence of certain events, as specified in the Partnership agreement.
6. Agreements and Related Party Transactions
EMC Capital Advisors, LLC. (EMC) serves as the Partnership’s commodity trading advisor. EMC receives a monthly management fee equal to 0.167% (2% annually) of the Partnership’s month-end net asset value, as defined, and a quarterly incentive fee of 20% of the Partnership’s new net trading profits, as defined. The incentive fee is retained by EMC even though trading losses may occur in subsequent quarters; however, no further incentive fees are payable until any such trading losses (other than losses attributable to redeemed units and losses attributable to assets reallocated to another advisor) are recouped by the Partnership.
Effective November 2003, the General Partner charges the Partnership a monthly management fee equal to 0.50% (6% annually) of the Partnership’s Class A beginning-of-month net asset value.
The Partnership’s clearing FCM is R.J. O’Brien, a company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois and an FCM registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). R.J. O’Brien charges the Partnership a brokerage commission rate per round-turn trade, plus applicable exchange fees, give up fees and other fees for futures contracts and options contracts executed on registered domestic and foreign exchanges. For trades on certain foreign exchanges, the rates may be higher.
The Partnership earns interest on 95% of the Partnership’s average monthly cash balance on deposit with R.J. O’Brien at a rate equal to the average 91-day Treasury Bill rate for US Treasury Bills issued during that month.
The Partnership has funds deposited at a separate cash account at R.J. O’Brien. At December 31, 2015 approximately 78% of the Partnership’s capital funds were deposited at the cash account at RJO. The Partnership receives 90% of the 30-day rate on 91-day U.S. Treasury bill rate.
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7. Financial Instruments, Off-Balance Sheet Risks and Contingencies
The Partnership engages in the speculative trading of U.S. and foreign futures contracts, options on U.S. and foreign futures contracts, and forward contracts (“collectively derivatives”). These derivatives include both financial and non-financial contracts held as part of a diversified trading strategy. The Partnership is exposed to both market risk, the risk arising from changes in the market value of the contracts; and credit risk, the risk of failure by another party to perform according to the terms of a contract.
The purchase and sale of futures and options requires margin deposits with an FCM. Additional deposits may be necessary for any loss on contract value the Partnership holds. The Commodity Exchange Act requires an FCM to segregate all customer transactions and assets from the FCM’s proprietary activities. A customer’s cash and other property such as U.S. Treasury Bills, deposited with an FCM are considered commingled with all other customer funds subject to the FCM’s segregation requirements. In the event of an FCM’s insolvency, recovery may be limited to a pro rata share of segregated funds available. It is possible that the recovered amount could be less than the total of cash and other property deposited.
For derivatives, risks arise from changes in the market value of the contracts. Theoretically, the Partnership is exposed to a market risk equal to the value of futures and forward contracts purchased and unlimited liability on such contracts sold short. As both a buyer and seller of options, the Partnership pays or receives a premium at the outset and then bears the risk of unfavorable changes in the price of the contract underlying the option.
In the case of forward contracts, over-the-counter options contracts or swap contracts, which are traded on the interbank or other institutional market rather than on exchanges, the counterparty is generally a single bank or other financial institution, rather than an FCM backed by a group of financial institutions; thus, there likely will be greater counterparty credit risk. The Partnership trades only with those counterparties that it believes to be creditworthy. All positions of the Partnership are valued each day on a mark-to-market basis. There can be no assurance a counterparty will be able to meet its obligations to the Partnership.
The Partnership’s policy is to continuously monitor its exposure to market and counterparty risk through the use of a variety of financial, position and credit exposure reporting and control procedures. In addition, the Partnership has a policy of reviewing the credit standing of each FCM or counter party with which it conducts business. The limited partners bear the risk of loss only to the extent of the net asset value of their Partnership units.
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8. Financial Highlights
The following financial highlights show the Partnership’s financial performance for the years ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.
2015 | 2014 | |||||||
Class A | Class A | |||||||
Total return before distributions | -7.18 | % | 18.1 | % | ||||
Ratio to average net assets: | ||||||||
Management fees | 5.61 | % | 5.22 | % | ||||
Incentive fees | 0.00 | % | 0.00 | % | ||||
Other expenses | 3.45 | % | 3.13 | % | ||||
Total expenses | 9.06 | % | 8.35 | % |
Total return is calculated for all partners throughout the year. An individual partner’s return may vary from these Partnership returns based on the timing of unit transactions.
9. Concentrations of Credit
The Partnership has a significant amount of its assets on deposit with the clearing FCM, which are not insured. In the event of the insolvency of the clearing FCM, recovery of the Partnership’s assets may be limited to a pro rata share of available funds.
The Partnership may, from time to time, have deposits at banks that are in excess of insured amounts.
10. Subsequent Events
The Partnership has made a review of material subsequent events from December 31, 2015 through the date of this report and found no material subsequent events reportable during this period.
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EXHIBIT 31
CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER
PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350 AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Peter Lamoureux, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of The Everest Fund, L.P.;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. I am responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting;
5. I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
THE EVEREST FUND, L.P.
Date: March 30, 2016 | By: Everest Asset Management, Inc., its General Partner |
By: /s/ Peter Lamoureux
Peter Lamoureux
Director, President, and Treasurer
EXHIBIT 32
CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL
OFFICER PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the Report (as defined under the preceding Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002), I, Peter Lamoureux, President of Everest Asset Management, Inc. , the general partner of the Everest Fund, L.P. (the “Fund”), certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
1. The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
2. The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Fund.
By: /s/ Peter Lamoureux
Name: Peter Lamoureux
Title: Director, President and Treasurer
Date: March 30, 2016
Document and Entity Information - USD ($) |
12 Months Ended | ||
---|---|---|---|
Dec. 31, 2015 |
Mar. 24, 2016 |
Jun. 30, 2015 |
|
Document And Entity Information | |||
Entity Registrant Name | EVEREST FUND L P | ||
Entity Central Index Key | 0000837919 | ||
Document Type | 10-K | ||
Document Period End Date | Dec. 31, 2015 | ||
Amendment Flag | false | ||
Current Fiscal Year End Date | --12-31 | ||
Is Entity a Well-known Seasoned Issuer? | No | ||
Is Entity a Voluntary Filer? | No | ||
Is Entity's Reporting Status Current? | Yes | ||
Entity Filer Category | Smaller Reporting Company | ||
Entity Public Float | $ 5,629,265 | ||
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding | 0 | ||
Document Fiscal Period Focus | FY | ||
Document Fiscal Year Focus | 2015 |
Statements of Financial Condition - USD ($) |
Dec. 31, 2015 |
Dec. 31, 2014 |
---|---|---|
Equity in broker trading accounts: | ||
Cash and investments in marketable securities | $ 13,442 | $ 15,571 |
Cash in broker trading accounts | 5,543,019 | 6,565,795 |
Net unrealized gain (loss) on open contracts | 157,585 | 316,358 |
Total cash & equity in broker trading accounts | 5,714,046 | 6,897,724 |
Other assets: | ||
Interest receivable | 461 | 96 |
Total Assets | 5,714,507 | 6,897,820 |
LIABILITIES | ||
Management fees payable | 9,501 | 11,369 |
General partner fees payable | 24,935 | 30,640 |
Redemptions payable | 8,209 | 0 |
Accounts payable & accrued expenses | 42,598 | 45,604 |
Total Liabilities | 85,243 | 87,613 |
Limited partners, Class A shares: 2,491.81 and 2,797.98 units outstanding | 5,629,264 | 6,810,207 |
Total Liabilities & Partners' Capital | $ 5,714,507 | $ 6,897,820 |
Statements of Financial Condition (Parenthetical) - shares |
Dec. 31, 2015 |
Dec. 31, 2014 |
---|---|---|
Partners Capital | ||
Limited Partners Class A, units outstanding | 2,491.81 | 2,797.98 |
Statements of Operations - USD ($) |
12 Months Ended | |
---|---|---|
Dec. 31, 2015 |
Dec. 31, 2014 |
|
Trading gains (losses): | ||
Net realized trading gains (losses) | $ 303,901 | $ 1,624,496 |
Change in unrealized gains (losses) | (153,576) | (81,567) |
Brokerage commissions & fees | (26,970) | (42,826) |
Net gain (loss) from trading | 123,355 | 1,500,103 |
Net investment income: | ||
Interest income | 1,113 | 675 |
Total income | 1,113 | 675 |
EXPENSES: | ||
Management fees- general partner | 348,459 | 312,359 |
Management fees- advisors | 124,621 | 120,264 |
Advisor incentive fees | 0 | 0 |
Professional fees | 80,419 | 63,117 |
Administrative expenses | 9,066 | 4,087 |
Total administrative expenses | 562,565 | 499,827 |
Net investment income (loss) | (561,452) | (499,152) |
Net income (loss) | $ (438,097) | $ 1,000,951 |
Net income (loss) per unit of partner interest | $ (165.64) | $ 341.03 |
Statement of Changes in Partners' Capital - USD ($) |
Partners Equity |
Total |
---|---|---|
BEGINNING PARTNERS' CAPITAL,Unit at Dec. 31, 2013 | 3,072.20 | |
BEGINNING PARTNERS' CAPITAL,Amount at Dec. 31, 2013 | $ 6,331,720 | |
Net Asset Value Per Unit, beginning at Dec. 31, 2013 | $ 2,060.97 | |
Additions, unit | 51.36 | |
Additions, amount | $ 101,836 | |
Redemptions, unit | (325.58) | |
Redemptions, amount | $ (624,300) | |
Offering costs | 0 | |
Net income (loss) | $ 1,000,951 | $ 1,000,951 |
ENDING PARTNERS' CAPITAL,Unit at Dec. 31, 2014 | 2,797.98 | |
ENDING PARTNERS' CAPITAL,Amount at Dec. 31, 2014 | $ 6,810,207 | |
Net Asset Value Per Unit, ending at Dec. 31, 2014 | $ 2,433.97 | |
Redemptions, unit | (306.17) | |
Redemptions, amount | $ (742,846) | |
Net income (loss) | $ (438,097) | $ (438,097) |
ENDING PARTNERS' CAPITAL,Unit at Dec. 31, 2015 | 2,491.81 | |
ENDING PARTNERS' CAPITAL,Amount at Dec. 31, 2015 | $ 5,629,264 | |
Net Asset Value Per Unit, ending at Dec. 31, 2015 | $ 2,259.11 |
1. Organization and Business |
12 Months Ended |
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Dec. 31, 2015 | |
Accounting Policies [Abstract] | |
1. Organization and Business | The Everest Fund, L.P., (the Partnership) is a limited partnership organized in June 1988, under the Iowa Uniform Limited Partnership Act (the Act) for the purpose of engaging in the speculative trading of commodity futures and options thereon and forward contracts (collectively referred to as Commodity Interests). The sole General Partner of the Partnership is Everest Asset Management, Inc. (the General Partner).
On July 1, 1995, the Partnership recommenced its offering under a Regulation D, Rule 506 private placement. The private placement offering is continuing at a gross subscription price per unit equal to net asset value (NAV) per unit, plus an organization and offering cost reimbursement fee payable to the General Partner, and an ongoing compensation fee equal to 3% of the net asset value of Class A Units sold. The Class A Units (retail shares) continue to be charged an initial 1% offering and organization fee as a reduction to capital. |
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies |
12 Months Ended |
---|---|
Dec. 31, 2015 | |
Accounting Policies [Abstract] | |
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | Basis of Presentation
The financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States as detailed in the Financial Accounting Standards Boards Accounting Standards Codification (ASC).
Revenue Recognition
Commodity futures contracts, forward contracts, physical commodities, and related options are recorded on the trade-date basis and realized gains or losses are recognized when contracts are liquidated. All such transactions are recorded on the identified cost basis and marked to market daily. Unrealized gains or losses on open contracts (the difference between contract trade price and market price) are reported in the statement of financial condition as a net unrealized gain or loss. Any change in net unrealized gain or loss from the preceding period is reported in the statement of operations. Fair value of exchange-traded contracts is based upon exchange settlement prices. Fair value of non-exchange-traded contracts is based on third party quoted dealer values on the Inter-bank market.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash equivalents represent short-term highly liquid investments with maturities of 90 days or less at the date of acquisition.
Redemptions Payable
Redemptions approved by the General Partner prior to month end with a fixed effective date and fixed amount are recorded as redemptions payable as of month end.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The financial instruments held by the Company are reported in the statements of financial condition at fair value, or at carrying amounts that approximate fair value, due to their highly liquid nature and short-term maturity.
Foreign Currency Translation
The Partnerships functional currency is the U.S. dollar; however, it transacts business in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the prevailing exchange rates as of the date of the statements of financial condition. Gains and losses on investment activity are translated at the prevailing exchange rate on the date of each respective transaction while year-end balances are translated at the year-end currency rates. Realized and unrealized foreign exchange gains or losses are included in trading income in the statements of operations.
Income Taxes
No provision for income taxes has been made in the accompanying financial statements as each partner is responsible for reporting income (loss) based upon the pro rata share of the profits or losses of the Partnership. The Partnership files U.S. federal and state tax returns.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
There have been no recently issued accounting pronouncements that materially affect the Partnerships financial statements. |
3. Fair Value of Financial Instruments |
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Dec. 31, 2015 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3. Fair Value of Financial Instruments | Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.
In determining fair value, the Partnership uses various valuation approaches. ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, establishes a fair value hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are those that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Partnership. Unobservable inputs reflect the Partnerships assumptions about the inputs market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. The fair value hierarchy is categorized into three levels based on the inputs as follows.
Level 1. Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity has the ability to access at the measurement date. Since valuations are based on quoted prices that are readily and regularly available in an active market, valuation of these securities does not entail a significant degree of judgment.
Level 2. Inputs other than quoted prices within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly; and fair value is determined through the use of models or other valuation methodologies. A significant adjustment to a Level 2 input could result in the Level 2 measurement becoming a Level 3 measurement.
Level 3. Inputs are unobservable for the asset or liability and include situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability. The inputs into the determination of fair value are based upon the best information in the circumstances and may require significant management judgment or estimation.
The table below demonstrates the Partnerships fair value hierarchy for those assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014:
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4. Principle Risks Associated With Derivative Instruments |
12 Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Dec. 31, 2015 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4. Principle Risks Associated With Derivative Instruments |
In the normal course of business, the Partnership engages in trading derivatives by purchasing and selling futures contracts and options on future contracts for its own account. All such trading is effectuated as speculative as opposed to hedging. Effective January 1, 2009, the Partnership adopted the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification 815, Derivatives & Hedging, which requires enhanced disclosures about the objectives and strategies for using derivatives and quantitative disclosures about the fair value amounts, and gains and losses on derivatives. See below for such disclosures.
Investments in derivative contracts are subject to additional risks that can result in a loss of all or part of an investment. The Partnership is subject to these risks in the normal course of its investment objectives. The Partnership uses futures and option contracts to gain exposure to, or hedge against, changes in the value of commodities, interest rates, stock indices, or foreign currencies. A futures contract represents a commitment for the future purchase or sale of an asset at a specified price on a specified date. Option contracts entered into give the Partnership the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell within a limited period of time, a futures contract at a contracted price.
The success of any investment activity is influenced by general economic conditions that may affect the level of volatility of commodity prices, credit spreads, interest rates, and equity prices. Unexpected volatility or illiquidity in the markets in which the Partnership directly or indirectly holds positions could impair its ability to carry out its business and could result in losses. See below for detailed description of selected risks.
Market Risk- This represents the potential loss that can be caused by increases or decreases in the fair value of the Partnerships investments. The Partnerships exposure to market risk is directly influenced by a number of factors, including the volatility and liquidity of the markets in which the derivatives are traded.
Liquidity Risk- This is the risk that the Partnership will not be able to sell its derivatives quickly or close to its fair value.
Interest Rate Risk- The risk that the value of the Partnerships investments may fluctuate as a result of changes in market interest rates.
Currency Risk- This is the risk that the value of the Partnerships investments, which are denominated in the currency of the country where the investment was entered into, may fluctuate as result of changes in the countrys foreign currency rate. The Partnership is subject to the risk that those foreign currency exchange rates mat decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar. |
5. Limited Partner Agreement |
12 Months Ended |
---|---|
Dec. 31, 2015 | |
Notes to Financial Statements | |
5. Limited Partner Agreement | The Limited Partners and General Partner share in the profits and losses of the Partnership in proportion to the number of units or unit equivalents held by each. However, no Limited Partner is liable for obligations of the Partnership in excess of their capital contribution and profits. Distributions of profits are made solely at the discretion of the General Partner.
Responsibility for managing the Partnership is vested solely in the General Partner. The General Partner has delegated complete trading authority to an unrelated party (see Note 5).
Limited Partners may cause any or all of their Class A units to be redeemed as of the end of any month at the month end net asset value on fifteen days prior written notice to the general partner, or such lesser period as is acceptable to the Partnership. Although the Partnership Agreement does not permit redemptions for the first six months following a Limited Partners admission to the Partnership, the Agreement does permit the Partnership to declare additional regular redemption dates.
The Partnership will be dissolved on December 31, 2020, or upon the occurrence of certain events, as specified in the Partnership agreement. |
6. Agreements and Related Party Transactions |
12 Months Ended |
---|---|
Dec. 31, 2015 | |
Related Party Transactions [Abstract] | |
6. Agreements and Related Party Transactions | EMC Capital Advisors, LLC. (EMC) serves as the Partnerships commodity trading advisor. EMC receives a monthly management fee equal to 0.167% (2% annually) of the Partnerships month-end net asset value, as defined, and a quarterly incentive fee of 20% of the Partnerships new net trading profits, as defined. The incentive fee is retained by EMC even though trading losses may occur in subsequent quarters; however, no further incentive fees are payable until any such trading losses (other than losses attributable to redeemed units and losses attributable to assets reallocated to another advisor) are recouped by the Partnership.
Effective November 2003, the General Partner charges the Partnership a monthly management fee equal to 0.50% (6% annually) of the Partnerships Class A beginning-of-month net asset value.
The Partnerships clearing FCM is R.J. OBrien, a company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois and an FCM registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). R.J. OBrien charges the Partnership a brokerage commission rate per round-turn trade, plus applicable exchange fees, give up fees and other fees for futures contracts and options contracts executed on registered domestic and foreign exchanges. For trades on certain foreign exchanges, the rates may be higher.
The Partnership earns interest on 95% of the Partnership's average monthly cash balance on deposit with R.J. OBrien at a rate equal to the average 91-day Treasury Bill rate for US Treasury Bills issued during that month.
The Partnership has funds deposited at a separate cash account at R.J. OBrien. At December 31, 2015 approximately 78% of the Partnerships capital funds were deposited at the cash account at RJO. The Partnership receives 90% of the 30-day rate on 91-day U.S. Treasury bill rate. |
7. Financial Instruments, Off-Balance Sheet Risks and Contingencies |
12 Months Ended |
---|---|
Dec. 31, 2015 | |
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] | |
7. Financial Instruments, Off-Balance Sheet Risks and Contingencies | The Partnership engages in the speculative trading of U.S. and foreign futures contracts, options on U.S. and foreign futures contracts, and forward contracts (collectively derivatives). These derivatives include both financial and non-financial contracts held as part of a diversified trading strategy. The Partnership is exposed to both market risk, the risk arising from changes in the market value of the contracts; and credit risk, the risk of failure by another party to perform according to the terms of a contract.
The purchase and sale of futures and options requires margin deposits with an FCM. Additional deposits may be necessary for any loss on contract value the Partnership holds. The Commodity Exchange Act requires an FCM to segregate all customer transactions and assets from the FCM's proprietary activities. A customer's cash and other property such as U.S. Treasury Bills, deposited with an FCM are considered commingled with all other customer funds subject to the FCM's segregation requirements. In the event of an FCM's insolvency, recovery may be limited to a pro rata share of segregated funds available. It is possible that the recovered amount could be less than the total of cash and other property deposited.
For derivatives, risks arise from changes in the market value of the contracts. Theoretically, the Partnership is exposed to a market risk equal to the value of futures and forward contracts purchased and unlimited liability on such contracts sold short. As both a buyer and seller of options, the Partnership pays or receives a premium at the outset and then bears the risk of unfavorable changes in the price of the contract underlying the option.
In the case of forward contracts, over-the-counter options contracts or swap contracts, which are traded on the interbank or other institutional market rather than on exchanges, the counterparty is generally a single bank or other financial institution, rather than an FCM backed by a group of financial institutions; thus, there likely will be greater counterparty credit risk. The Partnership trades only with those counterparties that it believes to be creditworthy. All positions of the Partnership are valued each day on a mark-to-market basis. There can be no assurance a counterparty will be able to meet its obligations to the Partnership.
The Partnerships policy is to continuously monitor its exposure to market and counterparty risk through the use of a variety of financial, position and credit exposure reporting and control procedures. In addition, the Partnership has a policy of reviewing the credit standing of each FCM or counter party with which it conducts business. The limited partners bear the risk of loss only to the extent of the net asset value of their Partnership units. |
8. Financial Highlights |
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Dec. 31, 2015 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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8. Financial Highlights | The following financial highlights show the Partnerships financial performance for the years ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.
Total return is calculated for all partners throughout the year. An individual partners return may vary from these Partnership returns based on the timing of unit transactions. |
9. Concentrations of Credit |
12 Months Ended |
---|---|
Dec. 31, 2015 | |
Risks and Uncertainties [Abstract] | |
9. Concentrations of Credit | The Partnership has a significant amount of its assets on deposit with the clearing FCM, which are not insured. In the event of the insolvency of the clearing FCM, recovery of the Partnerships assets may be limited to a pro rata share of available funds.
The Partnership may, from time to time, have deposits at banks that are in excess of insured amounts. |
10. Subsequent Events |
12 Months Ended |
---|---|
Dec. 31, 2015 | |
Subsequent Events [Abstract] | |
10. Subsequent Events | The Partnership has made a review of material subsequent events from December 31, 2015 through the date of this report and found no material subsequent events reportable during this period. |
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies) |
12 Months Ended |
---|---|
Dec. 31, 2015 | |
Accounting Policies [Abstract] | |
Revenue Recognition | Commodity futures contracts, forward contracts, physical commodities, and related options are recorded on the trade-date basis and realized gains or losses are recognized when contracts are liquidated. All such transactions are recorded on the identified cost basis and marked to market daily. Unrealized gains or losses on open contracts (the difference between contract trade price and market price) are reported in the statement of financial condition as a net unrealized gain or loss. Any change in net unrealized gain or loss from the preceding period is reported in the statement of operations. Fair value of exchange-traded contracts is based upon exchange settlement prices. Fair value of non-exchange-traded contracts is based on third party quoted dealer values on the Inter-bank market. |
Use of Estimates | The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. |
Cash and Cash Equivalents | Cash equivalents represent short-term highly liquid investments with maturities of 90 days or less at the date of acquisition. |
Redemptions Payable | Redemptions approved by the General Partner prior to month end with a fixed effective date and fixed amount are recorded as redemptions payable as of month end. |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments | The financial instruments held by the Company are reported in the statements of financial condition at fair value, or at carrying amounts that approximate fair value, due to their highly liquid nature and short-term maturity. |
Foreign Currency Translation | The Partnerships functional currency is the U.S. dollar; however, it transacts business in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the prevailing exchange rates as of the date of the statements of financial condition. Gains and losses on investment activity are translated at the prevailing exchange rate on the date of each respective transaction while year-end balances are translated at the year-end currency rates. Realized and unrealized foreign exchange gains or losses are included in trading income in the statements of operations. |
Income Taxes | No provision for income taxes has been made in the accompanying financial statements as each partner is responsible for reporting income (loss) based upon the pro rata share of the profits or losses of the Partnership. The Partnership files U.S. federal and state tax returns. |
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements | There have been no recently issued accounting pronouncements that materially affect the Partnerships financial statements. |
3. Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Tables) |
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Fair Value Measurement |
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4. Principle Risks Associated With Derivative Instruments (Tables) |
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Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Schedule of Derivatives Instruments Statements of Financial Performance and Financial Position, Location |
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8. Financial Highlights (Tables) |
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Dec. 31, 2015 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notes to Financial Statements | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Return summary |
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3. Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - USD ($) |
Dec. 31, 2015 |
Dec. 31, 2014 |
---|---|---|
Level 1 | ||
Assets | $ 157,585 | $ 316,358 |
Level 1 | Futures and forward contracts | ||
Assets | 157,585 | 316,358 |
Level 2 | ||
Assets | 0 | 0 |
Level 2 | Futures and forward contracts | ||
Assets | 0 | 0 |
Level 3 | ||
Assets | 0 | 0 |
Level 3 | Futures and forward contracts | ||
Assets | $ 0 | $ 0 |
4. Principle Risks Associated With Derivative Instruments (Details) - USD ($) |
12 Months Ended | |
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Dec. 31, 2015 |
Dec. 31, 2014 |
|
Net unrealized gain (loss) on open contracts | $ 157,585 | $ 316,358 |
Net realized trading gains (losses) | 303,901 | 1,624,496 |
Change in unrealized gains (losses) | (153,576) | (81,567) |
Futures Contracts | ||
Net unrealized gain (loss) on open contracts | 157,585 | 316,358 |
Net realized trading gains (losses) | 303,901 | 1,624,496 |
Change in unrealized gains (losses) | $ (153,576) | $ (81,567) |
6. Agreements and Related Party Transactions (Details Narrative) |
12 Months Ended |
---|---|
Dec. 31, 2015 | |
EMC Capital Advisors | |
Monthly management fee | EMC receives a monthly management fee equal to 0.167% (2% annually) of the Partnerships month-end net asset value, as defined, and a quarterly incentive fee of 20% of the Partnerships new net trading profits, as defined. |
General Partner | |
Monthly management fee | the General Partner charges the Partnership a monthly management fee equal to 0.50% (6% annually) of the Partnerships Class A beginning-of-month net asset value. |
R.J. O Brien | |
Monthly management fee | R.J. OBrien charges the Partnership a brokerage commission rate per round-turn trade, plus applicable exchange fees, give up fees and other fees for futures contracts and options contracts executed on registered domestic and foreign exchanges. For trades on certain foreign exchanges, the rates may be higher. |
8. Financial Highlights (Details) - Class A |
12 Months Ended | |
---|---|---|
Dec. 31, 2015 |
Dec. 31, 2014 |
|
Total return before distributions | (7.18%) | 18.10% |
Ratio to average net assets: | ||
Management fees | 5.61% | 5.22% |
Incentive fees | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Other expenses | 3.45% | 3.13% |
Total expenses | 9.06% | 8.35% |
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