10-Q 1 gpff-20200331x10q.htm 10-Q gpff_Current folio_10Q

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

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

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2020

 

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

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the Transition Period From                        to                    

 

Commission File Number:  0-50316

 

GRANT PARK FUTURES FUND

LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

 

Illinois

 

36-3596839

(State or other jurisdiction of

 

(I.R.S. Employer

incorporation or organization)

 

Identification Number)

 

 

 

c/o Dearborn Capital Management, L.L.C.

555 West Jackson Boulevard, Suite 600

Chicago, Illinois 60661

(Address of Principal Executive Offices, including Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (312) 756-4450

 

 

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

 

 

Title of each class

Trading Symbol(s)

Name of each exchange on which registered

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

 

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   No 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit such files). Yes   No 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

Large accelerated filer 

 

Accelerated filer 

 

 

 

Non accelerated filer 

 

Smaller reporting company                   Emerging growth company 

 

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

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b -2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Yes   No 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

GRANT PARK FUTURES FUND LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

 

QUARTER ENDED March 31, 2020

 

INDEX

 

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION 

 

 

 

ITEM 1. 

Financial Statements

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as of March 31, 2020 (unaudited)
and December 31, 2019

2

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Condensed Schedule of Investments as of March 31, 2020 (unaudited)

3

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Condensed Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2019

5

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended
March 31, 2020 and 2019 (unaudited)

7

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Partners’ Capital (Net Asset Value)
for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 (unaudited)

8

 

 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

12

 

 

 

ITEM 2. 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

31

 

 

 

ITEM 3. 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

36

 

 

 

ITEM 4. 

Controls and Procedures

40

 

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION 

 

 

 

ITEM 1A.  

Risk Factors

41

 

 

 

ITEM 2.  

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

41

 

 

 

ITEM 6.  

Exhibits

42

 

 

 

SIGNATURES 

43

CERTIFICATIONS

 

 

 

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.  Financial Statements

 

Grant Park Futures Fund Limited Partnership

Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

March 31, 

    

December 31, 

 

 

 

2020

    

2019

 

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity in brokers' trading accounts:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash

 

$

11,593,313

 

$

10,866,216

 

Net unrealized gain (loss) on open futures contracts

 

 

975,375

 

 

401,807

 

Net unrealized gain (loss) on open forward currency contracts

 

 

10,353

 

 

(69,073)

 

Net unrealized gain (loss) on open swap contracts

 

 

(5,071,616)

 

 

3,037,439

 

Total equity in brokers' trading accounts

 

 

7,507,425

 

 

14,236,389

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

6,276,445

 

 

577,181

 

Securities owned, at fair value (cost $39,576,248 and $50,013,633, respectively)

 

 

38,748,534

 

 

50,080,807

 

Interest and dividend receivable, net

 

 

 —

 

 

5,553

 

Total assets

 

$

52,532,404

 

$

64,899,930

 

Liabilities and Partners' Capital (Net Asset Value)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brokerage charge payable

 

$

252,966

 

$

317,812

 

Accrued incentive fees

 

 

61,819

 

 

77,585

 

Organization and offering costs payable

 

 

12,529

 

 

15,480

 

Accrued operating expenses

 

 

10,912

 

 

13,494

 

Redemptions payable to limited partners

 

 

1,149,946

 

 

1,269,238

 

Interest and other liabilities

 

 

6,695

 

 

20,414

 

Total liabilities

 

 

1,494,867

 

 

1,714,023

 

Partners' Capital (Net Asset Value)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class A (307.34 units outstanding at both March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019)

 

 

256,796

 

 

304,918

 

Legacy 2 Class (263.13 units outstanding at both March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019)

 

 

180,038

 

 

212,682

 

Global 1 Class (392.74 units outstanding at both March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019)

 

 

278,788

 

 

328,671

 

Global 2 Class (231.81 units outstanding at both March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019)

 

 

160,341

 

 

189,151

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Limited Partners

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class A (3,740.34 units outstanding at both March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019)

 

 

3,125,166

 

 

3,710,803

 

Class B (50,401.60 and 52,290.82 units outstanding at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)

 

 

33,893,049

 

 

41,821,340

 

Legacy 1 Class (497.72 units outstanding at both March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019)

 

 

350,883

 

 

414,242

 

Legacy 2 Class (140.55 units outstanding at both March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019)

 

 

96,164

 

 

113,599

 

Global 1 Class (16,974.54 and 18,241.21 units outstanding at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)

 

 

12,049,429

 

 

15,265,460

 

Global 2 Class (590.33 and 614.97 units outstanding at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)

 

 

408,339

 

 

501,820

 

Global 3 Class (417.30 and 477.23 units outstanding at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)

 

 

238,544

 

 

323,221

 

Total partners' capital (net asset value)

 

 

51,037,537

 

 

63,185,907

 

Total liabilities and partners' capital (net asset value)

 

$

52,532,404

 

$

64,899,930

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

2

Grant Park Futures Fund Limited Partnership

Consolidated Condensed Schedule of Investments

March 31, 2020

(Unaudited)

 

Futures, Forward and Swap Contracts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

Unrealized gain/(loss) on open long contracts

    

Percent of Partners’ Capital (Net Asset Value)

    

Unrealized gain/(loss) on open short contracts

    

Percent of Partners’ Capital (Net Asset Value)

    

Net unrealized gain/(loss) on open contracts

    

Percent of Partners’ Capital (Net Asset Value)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Futures Contracts *

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Futures Positions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agriculturals

 

$

10,378

 

0.02

%  

$

53,968

 

0.11

%  

$

64,346

 

0.13

%

Currencies

 

 

(3,845)

 

(0.01)

%  

 

121,017

 

0.24

%  

 

117,172

 

0.23

%

Energy

 

 

(24,124)

 

(0.05)

%  

 

182,761

 

0.36

%  

 

158,637

 

0.31

%

Interest rates

 

 

328,409

 

0.65

%  

 

(2,700)

 

(0.01)

%  

 

325,709

 

0.64

%

Meats

 

 

 —

 

 —

%  

 

25,317

 

0.05

%  

 

25,317

 

0.05

%

Metals

 

 

32,217

 

0.06

%  

 

(10,482)

 

(0.02)

%  

 

21,735

 

0.04

%

Soft commodities

 

 

(8,844)

 

(0.02)

%  

 

87,377

 

0.17

%  

 

78,533

 

0.15

%

Stock indices

 

 

(91,878)

 

(0.18)

%  

 

(8,840)

 

(0.02)

%  

 

(100,718)

 

(0.20)

%

Total U.S. Futures Positions

 

 

242,313

 

 

 

 

448,418

 

 

 

 

690,731

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign Futures Positions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rates

 

 

19,420

 

0.05

%  

 

3,241

 

0.01

%  

 

22,661

 

0.04

%

Metals

 

 

(95,660)

 

(0.19)

%  

 

272,383

 

0.53

%  

 

176,723

 

0.35

%

Stock indices

 

 

93,304

 

0.18

%  

 

(8,044)

 

(0.02)

%  

 

85,260

 

0.17

%

Total Foreign Futures Positions

 

 

17,064

 

 

 

 

267,580

 

 

 

 

284,644

 

 

 

Total Futures Contracts

 

$

259,377

 

0.51

%  

$

715,998

 

1.40

%  

$

975,375

 

1.91

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forward Contracts *

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Currencies

 

$

108,145

 

0.21

%  

$

(97,792)

 

(0.19)

%  

$

10,353

 

0.02

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swap Contracts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deutsche Bank total return swap, Termination date April 30, 2024

 

$

(1,480,432)

 

(2.90)

%  

$

 —

 

 —

%  

$

(1,480,432)

 

(2.90)

%

Deutsche Bank total return swap, Termination date July 1, 2020

 

 

(3,591,184)

 

(7.04)

%  

 

 —

 

 —

%  

 

(3,591,184)

 

(7.04)

%

Total Swap Contracts

 

$

(5,071,616)

 

(9.94)

%  

$

 —

 

 —

%

$

(5,071,616)

 

(9.94)

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Futures, Forward and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swap Contracts

 

$

(4,704,094)

 

(9.22)

%  

$

618,206

 

1.21

%  

$

(4,085,888)

 

(8.01)

%

*No individual futures and forward contract position constituted greater than 1 percent of partners’ capital (net asset value). Accordingly, the number of contracts and expiration dates are not presented.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

3

Grant Park Futures Fund Limited Partnership

Consolidated Condensed Schedule of Investments (continued)

March 31, 2020

(Unaudited)

 

Securities owned

U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                               

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent of

 

 

 

 

                                                     

 

 

 

 

 

 

Partners' Capital

 

Face Value

    

Maturity Dates

    

Description

    

Fair Value

 

(net asset value)

 

$

4,500,000

 

2/10/2023-3/17/2023

 

Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corp., 1.0%-1.7%

 

$

4,506,727

 

8.83

%

 

7,500,000

 

12/2/2021-1/17/2023

 

Federal Farm Credit Banks, 1.6%-1.8%

 

 

7,534,374

 

14.76

%

 

12,000,000

 

12/5/2022-2/28/2023

 

Federal Home Loan Banks, 1.7%-1.8%

 

 

12,044,288

 

23.60

%

 

2,000,000

 

8/10/2022

 

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., 1.7%

 

 

2,004,675

 

3.93

%

 

 

 

Total U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises (cost $26,000,465)

 

 

 

$

26,090,064

 

51.12

%

 

U.S. Government securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                   

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent of

 

 

 

 

                                                     

 

 

 

 

 

 

Partners' Capital

 

Face Value

    

Maturity Dates

    

Description

    

Fair Value

 

(net asset value)

 

$

5,000,000

 

6/25/2020

 

U.S. Treasury bills, 1.6% (cost $4,962,051)

 

$

4,981,878

 

9.76

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Exchange-traded funds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                               

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent of

 

 

 

 

                                                     

 

 

 

 

 

 

Partners' Capital

 

Shares

    

Description

    

Fair Value

 

(net asset value)

 

 

85,000

 

Highland/iBoxx Senior Loan ETF

 

 

 

$

1,315,103

 

2.57

%

 

50,000

 

Invesco Preferred ETF

 

 

 

 

658,000

 

1.29

%

 

20,000

 

PIMCO Enhanced Short Maturity Active ETF

 

 

 

 

1,979,600

 

3.88

%

 

55,000

 

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term High Yield Bond ETF

 

 

 

 

1,295,800

 

2.54

%

 

95,403

 

Other Exchange-traded funds**

 

 

 

 

2,428,089

 

4.76

%

 

 

 

Total Exchange-traded funds (cost $8,613,732)

 

 

 

$

7,676,592

 

15.04

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent of

 

 

 

 

 

 

Partners' Capital

 

 

  

Fair Value

   

(net asset value)

 

Total securities owned (cost of $39,576,248)

 

$

38,748,534

 

75.92

%

 

**No individual position constituted greater than 1 percent of partners’ capital (net asset value).

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

4

Grant Park Futures Fund Limited Partnership

Consolidated Condensed Schedule of Investments

December 31, 2019

Futures, Forward and Swap Contracts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

Unrealized gain/(loss) on open long contracts

    

Percent of Partners’ Capital (Net Asset Value)

    

Unrealized gain/(loss) on open short contracts

    

Percent of Partners’ Capital (Net Asset Value)

    

Net unrealized gain/(loss) on open contracts

    

Percent of Partners’ Capital (Net Asset Value)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Futures Contracts *

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Futures Positions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agriculturals

 

$

177,229

 

0.28

%  

$

(21,745)

 

(0.03)

%  

$

155,484

 

0.25

%

Currencies

 

 

69,782

 

0.11

%  

 

(63,469)

 

(0.10)

%  

 

6,313

 

0.01

%

Energy

 

 

321,136

 

0.50

%  

 

(236,395)

 

(0.37)

%  

 

84,741

 

0.13

%

Interest rates

 

 

(62,078)

 

(0.10)

%  

 

1,500

 

 —

%  

 

(60,578)

 

(0.10)

%

Meats

 

 

(240)

 

 —

%  

 

(3,075)

 

 —

%  

 

(3,315)

 

(0.01)

%

Metals

 

 

196,600

 

0.31

%  

 

970

 

 —

%  

 

197,570

 

0.31

%

Soft commodities

 

 

45,310

 

0.07

%  

 

7,051

 

0.01

%  

 

52,361

 

0.08

%

Stock indices and single stock futures

 

 

230,145

 

0.36

%  

 

(29,668)

 

(0.04)

%  

 

200,477

 

0.32

%

Total U.S. Futures Positions

 

 

977,884

 

 

 

 

(344,831)

 

 

 

 

633,053

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign Futures Positions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rates

 

 

(251,752)

 

(0.39)

%  

 

34,460

 

0.05

%  

 

(217,292)

 

(0.34)

%

Metals

 

 

(71,872)

 

(0.11)

%  

 

(1,114)

 

 —

%  

 

(72,986)

 

(0.11)

%

Stock indices

 

 

57,771

 

0.09

%  

 

1,261

 

 —

%  

 

59,032

 

0.09

%

Total Foreign Futures Positions

 

 

(265,853)

 

 

 

 

34,607

 

 

 

 

(231,246)

 

 

 

Total Futures Contracts

 

$

712,031

 

1.12

%  

$

(310,224)

 

(0.49)

%  

$

401,807

 

0.63

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forward Contracts *

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Currencies

 

$

(4,609)

 

(0.01)

%  

$

(64,464)

 

(0.10)

%  

$

(69,073)

 

(0.11)

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swap Contracts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deutsche Bank total return swap, Termination date April 30, 2024

 

$

(612,793)

 

(0.97)

%  

$

 —

 

 —

%  

$

(612,793)

 

(0.97)

%

Deutsche Bank total return swap, Termination date July 1, 2020

 

 

3,650,232

 

5.78

%  

 

 —

 

 —

%  

 

3,650,232

 

5.78

%

Total Swap Contracts

 

$

3,037,439

 

4.81

%  

$

 —

 

 —

%

$

3,037,439

 

4.81

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Futures, Forward and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swap Contracts

 

$

3,744,861

 

5.92

%  

$

(374,688)

 

(0.59)

%  

$

3,370,173

 

5.33

%

 

*No individual futures and forward contract position constituted greater than 1 percent of partners’ capital (net asset value). Accordingly, the number of contracts and expiration dates are not presented.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

5

Grant Park Futures Fund Limited Partnership

Consolidated Condensed Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

Securities owned

U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent of

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Partners' Capital

 

Face Value

    

Maturity Dates

    

Description

    

Fair Value

    

(net asset value)

 

$

17,500,000

 

1/15/2021-12/27/2022

 

Federal Farm Credit Banks, 1.6%-2.2%

 

 

17,594,846

 

27.85

%

 

14,000,000

 

9/13/2021-12/23/2022

 

Federal Home Loan Banks, 1.8%-2.3%

 

 

14,049,584

 

22.23

%

 

 

 

Total U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises (cost $31,501,260)

 

 

 

$

31,644,430

 

50.08

%

U.S. Government securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                   

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent of

 

 

 

 

                                                     

 

 

 

 

 

 

Partners' Capital

 

Face Value

    

Maturity Dates

    

Description

    

Fair Value

 

(net asset value)

 

$

13,500,000

 

1/16/2020-6/25/2020

 

U.S. Treasury bills, 1.5%-2.0% (cost $13,408,474)

 

$

13,431,977

 

21.26

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Exchange-traded funds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                               

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent of

 

 

 

 

                                                     

 

 

 

 

 

 

Partners' Capital

 

Shares

    

Description

    

Fair Value

 

(net asset value)

 

 

85,000

 

Highland/iBoxx Senior Loan ETF

 

 

 

$

1,490,900

 

2.36

%

 

20,000

 

PIMCO Enhanced Short Maturity Active ETF

 

 

 

 

2,031,800

 

3.22

%

 

55,000

 

SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term High Yield Bond ETF

 

 

 

 

1,481,700

 

2.34

%

 

 

 

Total Exchange-traded funds (cost $5,103,899)

 

 

 

$

5,004,400

 

7.92

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent of

 

 

 

 

 

 

Partners' Capital

 

 

    

Fair Value

    

(net asset value)

 

Total securities owned (cost of $50,013,633)

 

$

50,080,807

 

79.26

%

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

6

Grant Park Futures Fund Limited Partnership

Consolidated Statements of Operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

March 31, 

 

 

 

 

2020

 

2019

    

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

Net trading gains (losses)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net gain (loss) from futures trading

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Realized

 

$

(870,104)

 

$

1,887,583

 

 

Change in unrealized

 

 

573,568

 

 

360,482

 

 

Commissions

 

 

(200,147)

 

 

(276,498)

 

 

Net gains (losses) from futures trading

 

 

(496,683)

 

 

1,971,567

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net gain (loss) from forward trading

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Realized

 

 

165,438

 

 

17,913

 

 

Change in unrealized

 

 

79,426

 

 

18,442

 

 

Commissions

 

 

(3,770)

 

 

(206)

 

 

Net gains (losses) from forward trading

 

 

241,094

 

 

36,149

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net gain (loss) from swap trading

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change in unrealized

 

 

(8,109,055)

 

 

(230,918)

 

 

Net gains (losses) from swap trading

 

 

(8,109,055)

 

 

(230,918)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net gain (loss) from securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Realized

 

 

 —

 

 

2,215

 

 

Change in unrealized

 

 

(837,641)

 

 

93,250

 

 

Net gains (losses) from securities

 

 

(837,641)

 

 

95,465

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net trading gains (losses)

 

 

(9,202,285)

 

 

1,872,263

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net investment income (loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

 

 

141,765

 

 

207,203

 

 

Dividend income

 

 

86,067

 

 

56,974

 

 

Total income

 

 

227,832

 

 

264,177

 

 

Expenses from operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brokerage charge

 

 

658,829

 

 

881,419

 

 

Incentive fees

 

 

61,819

 

 

31,371

 

 

Organizational and offering costs

 

 

41,971

 

 

55,639

 

 

Operating expenses

 

 

36,537

 

 

48,320

 

 

Total expenses

 

 

799,156

 

 

1,016,749

 

 

Net investment loss

 

$

(571,324)

 

$

(752,572)

 

 

Net income (loss) 

 

$

(9,773,609)

 

$

1,119,691

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss) per unit  (based on weighted average number of units outstanding during the period) and increase (decrease) in net asset value per unit for the period:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General Partner & Limited Partner Class A Units

 

$

(156.57)

 

$

13.76

 

 

General Partner & Limited Partner Class B Units

 

$

(127.32)

 

$

9.89

 

 

General Partner & Limited Partner Legacy 1 Class Units

 

$

(127.30)

 

$

15.58

 

 

General Partner & Limited Partner Legacy 2 Class Units

 

$

(124.05)

 

$

14.19

 

 

General Partner & Limited Partner Global 1 Class Units

 

$

(127.02)

 

$

15.70

 

 

General Partner & Limited Partner Global 2 Class Units

 

$

(124.28)

 

$

15.48

 

 

General Partner & Limited Partner Global 3 Class Units

 

$

(105.65)

 

$

10.71

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

7

Grant Park Futures Fund Limited Partnership

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Partners’ Capital (Net Asset Value)

Three Months Ended March 31, 2020

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class A

 

Class B

 

Legacy 1 Class

 

Legacy 2 Class

 

 

General Partner

 

Limited Partners

 

General Partner

 

Limited Partners

 

General Partner

 

Limited Partners

 

General Partner

 

Limited Partners

 

 

Number

 

 

 

 

Number

 

 

 

 

Number

 

 

 

 

Number

 

 

 

 

Number

 

 

 

 

Number

 

 

 

 

Number

 

 

 

 

Number

 

 

 

 

    

of Units

  

Amount

  

of Units

  

Amount

  

of Units

  

Amount

  

of Units

  

Amount

  

of Units

  

Amount

  

of Units

  

Amount

  

of Units

  

Amount

  

of Units

  

Amount

Partners’ capital,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2019

 

307.34

 

$

304,918

 

3,740.34

 

$

3,710,803

 

 —

 

$

 —

 

52,290.82

 

$

41,821,340

 

 —

 

$

 —

 

497.72

 

$

414,242

 

263.13

 

$

212,682

 

140.55

 

$

113,599

Redemptions

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

(1,889.22)

 

 

(1,368,811)

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

Net income (loss)

 

 —

 

 

(48,122)

 

 —

 

 

(585,637)

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

(6,559,480)

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

(63,359)

 

 —

 

 

(32,644)

 

 —

 

 

(17,435)

Partners’ capital,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2020

 

307.34

 

$

256,796

 

3,740.34

 

$

3,125,166

 

 —

 

$

 —

 

50,401.60

 

$

33,893,049

 

 —

 

$

 —

 

497.72

 

$

350,883

 

263.13

 

$

180,038

 

140.55

 

$

96,164

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net asset value per General Partner and Limited Partner unit at December 31, 2019

 

 

 

$

992.10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

799.78

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

832.28

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

808.27

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net asset value per General Partner and Limited Partner unit at March 31, 2020

 

 

 

$

835.53

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

672.46

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

704.98

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

684.22

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

8

Grant Park Futures Fund Limited Partnership

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Partners’ Capital (Net Asset Value) (continued)

Three Months Ended March 31, 2020

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Global 1 Class

 

Global 2 Class

 

Global 3 Class

 

 

 

 

 

 

General Partner

 

Limited Partners

 

General Partner

 

Limited Partners

 

General Partner

 

Limited Partners

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number

 

 

 

 

Number

 

 

 

 

Number

 

 

 

 

Number

 

 

 

 

Number

 

 

 

 

Number

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

  

of Units

  

Amount

  

of Units

  

Amount

  

of Units

  

Amount

  

of Units

  

Amount

  

of Units

  

Amount

  

of Units

  

Amount

  

Amount

 

Partners’ capital,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2019

 

392.74

 

$

328,671

 

18,241.21

 

$

15,265,460

 

231.81

 

$

189,151

 

614.97

 

$

501,820

 

 —

 

$

 —

 

477.23

 

$

323,221

 

$

63,185,907

 

Redemptions

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

(1,266.67)

 

 

(953,528)

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

(24.64)

 

 

(18,162)

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

(59.93)

 

 

(34,260)

 

 

(2,374,761)

 

Net income (loss)

 

 —

 

 

(49,883)

 

 —

 

 

(2,262,503)

 

 —

 

 

(28,810)

 

 —

 

 

(75,319)

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

(50,417)

 

 

(9,773,609)

 

Partners’ capital,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2020

 

392.74

 

$

278,788

 

16,974.54

 

$

12,049,429

 

231.81

 

$

160,341

 

590.33

 

$

408,339

 

 —

 

$

 —

 

417.30

 

$

238,544

 

$

51,037,537

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net asset value per General Partner and Limited Partner unit at December 31, 2019

 

 

 

$

836.87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

815.99

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

677.29

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net asset value per General Partner and Limited Partner unit at March 31, 2020

 

 

 

$

709.85

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

691.71

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

571.64

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

9

Grant Park Futures Fund Limited Partnership

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Partners’ Capital (Net Asset Value) (continued)

Three Months Ended March 31, 2019

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class A

 

Class B

 

Legacy 1 Class

 

Legacy 2 Class

 

 

 

General Partner

 

Limited Partners

 

General Partner

 

Limited Partners

 

General Partner

 

Limited Partners

 

General Partner

 

Limited Partners

 

 

 

Number

 

 

 

 

Number

 

 

 

 

Number

 

 

 

 

Number

 

 

 

 

Number

 

 

 

 

Number

 

 

 

 

Number

 

 

 

 

Number

 

 

 

 

 

    

of Units

  

Amount

  

of Units

  

Amount

  

of Units

  

Amount

  

of Units

  

Amount

  

of Units

  

Amount

  

of Units

  

Amount

  

of Units

  

Amount

  

of Units

  

Amount

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Partners’ capital,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2018

 

307.34

 

$

290,822

 

4,655.70

 

$

4,405,397

 

 —

 

$

 —

 

66,834.11

 

$

51,282,621

 

574.13

 

$

445,722

 

726.20

 

$

563,781

 

263.13

 

$

199,013

 

166.90

 

$

126,227

 

Contributions

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

Redemptions

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

(236.85)

 

 

(225,961)

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

(3,936.77)

 

 

(3,038,692)

 

(574.13)

 

 

(444,997)

 

(2.67)

 

 

(2,117)

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

Net income (loss)

 

 —

 

 

4,230

 

 —

 

 

62,667

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

639,984

 

 —

 

 

(725)

 

 —

 

 

11,314

 

 —

 

 

3,735

 

 —

 

 

2,369

 

Partners’ capital,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2019

 

307.34

 

$

295,052

 

4,418.85

 

$

4,242,103

 

 —

 

$

 —

 

62,897.34

 

$

48,883,913

 

 —

 

$

 —

 

723.53

 

$

572,978

 

263.13

 

$

202,748

 

166.90

 

$

128,596

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net asset value per General Partner and Limited Partner unit at December 31, 2018

 

 

 

$

946.24

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

767.31

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

776.34

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

756.33

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net asset value per General Partner and Limited Partner unit at March 31, 2019

 

 

 

$

960.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

777.20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

791.92

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

770.52

 

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

10

Grant Park Futures Fund Limited Partnership

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Partners’ Capital (Net Asset Value) (continued)

Three Months Ended March 31, 2019

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Global 1 Class

 

Global 2 Class

 

Global 3 Class

 

 

 

 

 

 

General Partner

 

Limited Partners

 

General Partner

 

Limited Partners

 

General Partner

 

Limited Partners

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number

 

 

 

 

Number

 

 

 

 

Number

 

 

 

 

Number

 

 

 

 

Number

 

 

 

 

Number

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

  

of Units

  

Amount

  

of Units

  

Amount

  

of Units

  

Amount

  

of Units

  

Amount

  

of Units

  

Amount

  

of Units

  

Amount

  

Amount

 

Partners’ capital,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2018

 

469.97

 

$

365,357

 

24,310.14

 

$

18,898,570

 

231.81

 

$

176,000

 

736.07

 

$

558,876

 

 —

 

$

 —

 

971.50

 

$

622,313

 

$

77,934,699

 

Contributions

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

12.36

 

 

9,565

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

9,565

 

Redemptions

 

(77.23)

 

 

(60,000)

 

(1,747.46)

 

 

(1,369,971)

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

(26.95)

 

 

(20,515)

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

(90.32)

 

 

(57,800)

 

 

(5,220,053)

 

Net income (loss)

 

 —

 

 

6,123

 

 —

 

 

366,002

 

 —

 

 

3,588

 

 —

 

 

11,026

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

9,378

 

 

1,119,691

 

Partners’ capital,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2019

 

392.74

 

$

311,480

 

22,575.04

 

$

17,904,166

 

231.81

 

$

179,588

 

709.12

 

$

549,387

 

 —

 

$

 —

 

881.18

 

$

573,891

 

$

73,843,902

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net asset value per General Partner and Limited Partner unit at December 31, 2018

 

 

 

$

777.40

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

759.26

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

640.57

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net asset value per General Partner and Limited Partner unit at March 31, 2019

 

 

 

$

793.10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

774.74

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

651.28

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

11

Note 1.  Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of business: Grant Park Futures Fund Limited Partnership (the “Partnership”) was organized as a limited partnership under Illinois law in August 1988 and will continue until December 31, 2027, unless terminated sooner as provided for in its Limited Partnership Agreement. As a commodity investment pool, the Partnership is subject to the regulations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), an agency of the United States (U.S.) government which regulates most aspects of the commodity futures industry; rules of the National Futures Association, an industry self-regulatory organization; and the requirements of the various commodity exchanges where the Partnership executes transactions. Additionally, the Partnership is subject to the requirements of futures commission merchants (“FCMs”) and interbank and other market makers through which the Partnership trades. The Partnership is a registrant with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and, accordingly is subject to the regulatory requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Prior to April 1, 2019, the Partnership was also subject to the regulatory requirements under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Effective April 1, 2019, limited partnership units of the Partnership were no longer offered for sale. For existing investors in the Partnership, business has been and will be conducted as usual. There was no change in the trading, operations, or monthly statements, etc., and redemption requests will continue to be offered on a monthly basis.

The Partnership engages in the speculative trading of futures and forward contracts for commodities, financial instruments or currencies, any rights pertaining thereto and any options thereon, or on physical commodities, equities, listed options, swap transactions and broad based exchange-traded funds. The Partnership may also engage in hedge, arbitrage and cash trading of commodities and futures.

The Partnership is a multi-advisor commodity pool that invests the assets of each class of the Partnership in the Partnership’s subsidiary limited liability trading companies (each, a “Trading Company” and collectively, the “Trading Companies”)  which (i) enter into advisory agreements with the independent commodity trading advisors retained by the general partner; (ii) enter into swap transactions or derivative instruments tied to the performance of certain reference traders; and/or (iii) allocate assets to the Partnership’s cash management trading company. The Partnership’s general partner, commodity pool operator and sponsor is Dearborn Capital Management, L.L.C. (“the General Partner”), an Illinois limited liability company. The Trading Companies were set up to, among other things, segregate risk by commodity trading advisor or reference trader. Effectively, this structure isolates one trading advisor or reference trader from another and any losses from one Trading Company will not carry over to the other Trading Companies. The following is a list of the Trading Companies, for which the Partnership is the sole member and all of which were organized as Delaware limited liability companies:

GP 1, LLC (“GP 1”)          GP 5, LLC (“GP 5”)          GP 11, LLC (“GP 11”)         

GP 3, LLC (“GP 3”)          GP 8, LLC (“GP 8”)          GP 18, LLC (“GP 18”)

GP 4, LLC (“GP 4”)          GP 9, LLC (“GP 9”)             

There were no assets allocated to GP 8, GP 9 and GP 11 as of March 31, 2020, and there were no assets allocated to GP 11 as of December 31, 2019.

Additionally, GP Cash Management, LLC (“GP Cash Management”) was created as a Delaware limited liability company to collectively manage and invest excess cash not required to be held at clearing brokers. The excess cash is held in a separate account in the name of GP Cash Management, LLC and custodied at State Street Bank and Trust Company or may be invested in mutual funds.  The members of GP Cash Management are the Trading Companies.

Classes of interests: The Partnership has seven classes of limited partner interests (each, a “Class” and collectively, the “Interests”), Class A, Class B, Legacy 1 Class, Legacy 2 Class, Global Alternative Markets 1 (“Global 1”) Class, Global Alternative Markets 2 (“Global 2”) Class and Global Alternative Markets 3 (“Global 3”) Class units.

Both Class A and Class B units are traded pursuant to identical trading programs and differ only in respect to the brokerage charge and organization and offering costs payable to the General Partner.

Both Legacy 1 Class and Legacy 2 Class units are traded pursuant to trading programs pursuing a technical trend trading philosophy, which is the same trading philosophy used for the Class A and Class B units. The Legacy 1

12

Class and Legacy 2 Class units differ only in respect to the brokerage charge payable to the General Partner. The Legacy 1 Class and Legacy 2 Class units were offered only to investors who are represented by approved selling agents who are directly compensated by the investor for services rendered in connection with an investment in the Partnership (such arrangements commonly referred to as “wrap-accounts”).

The Global 1 Class, Global 2 Class and Global 3 Class units are traded pursuant to trading programs pursuing technical trend trading philosophies. The Global 1 Class, Global 2 Class and Global 3 Class units differ in respect to the General Partner’s brokerage charge. The Global 1 Class and Global 2 Class units were offered only to investors in wrap accounts.

The Partnership’s significant accounting policies are as follows:

Accounting Principles: Pursuant to rules and regulations of the SEC, consolidated financial statements of the Partnership are prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). The Partnership is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance under the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic (“ASC”) 946, Financial Services – Investment Companies.

Consolidation: The Partnership is the sole member of each of the Trading Companies. The Trading Companies, in turn, are the only members of GP Cash Management. The Partnership presents consolidated financial statements, which include the accounts of the Trading Companies and GP Cash Management. All material inter-company accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

Use of estimates: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and cash equivalents: Cash and cash equivalents may include cash, overnight investments, commercial paper, U.S. treasury bills, money market funds and short-term investments in interest-bearing demand deposits with banks and cash managers with original maturities of three months or less at the date of acquisition.

Valuation of investments: All investments are used for trading purposes and recorded at their fair value, as described in Note 2. Substantially all of the Partnership’s assets and liabilities are considered financial instruments and are recorded at fair value or at carrying amounts that approximate fair value because of the short maturity of the instruments.

Investment transactions, investment income and expenses: Futures contracts, forward contracts and options on futures and forward contracts and securities are recorded on a trade date basis and realized gains or losses are recognized when contracts/positions are liquidated. Unrealized gains or losses on open contracts/positions (the difference between contract trade price and market price) or securities are reported in the consolidated statement of financial condition as a net unrealized gain or loss, as there exists a right of offset of unrealized gains or losses in accordance with FASB ASC 210-20, Balance Sheet, Offsetting. Any change in net unrealized gain or loss from the preceding period is reported in the consolidated statement of operations. Interest income and expense is recognized under the accrual basis. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date.

Set forth in Note 10 are instruments and transactions eligible for offset in the consolidated statement of financial condition and which are subject to derivative clearing agreements with the Partnership’s clearing brokers. Each clearing broker nets margin held on behalf of the Partnership or payment obligations of the clearing broker to the Partnership against any payment obligations of the Partnership to the clearing broker. The Partnership is required to deposit margin at each clearing broker to meet the original and maintenance requirements established by that clearing broker, and/or the exchange or clearinghouse associated with the exchange on which the instrument is traded. The derivative clearing agreements give each clearing broker a security interest in this margin to secure any liabilities owed to the clearing broker arising from a default by the Partnership.

13

Commissions: Commissions and other trading fees are expensed when contracts are opened and closed, and are reflected separately in the consolidated statement of operations.

Redemptions payable: Pursuant to the provisions of FASB ASC 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, 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.

Income taxes: No provision for income taxes has been made in these consolidated financial statements as each partner is individually responsible for reporting income or loss based on its respective share of the Partnership’s income and expenses as reported for income tax purposes.

The Partnership follows the provisions of ASC 740, Income Taxes. FASB guidance requires the evaluation of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the course of preparing the Partnership’s tax returns to determine whether the tax positions are “more-likely-than-not” of being sustained “when challenged” or “when examined” by the applicable tax authority. Tax positions not deemed to meet the more-likely-than-not threshold would be recorded as a tax benefit or expense and liability in the current year. If a tax position does not meet the minimum statutory threshold to avoid payment of penalties, an expense for the amount of the statutory penalty and interest, if applicable, shall be recognized in the consolidated statement of operations in the period in which the position is claimed or expected to be claimed. As of March 31, 2020, management has determined that there are no material uncertain income tax positions and, accordingly, has not recorded a liability. The Partnership is generally not subject to examination by U.S. federal or state taxing authorities for tax years before 2016.

Organization and offering costs: The General Partner has incurred all expenses in connection with the organization and the continuous public offering of partnership interests and is reimbursed by the Partnership. In addition, the General Partner continues to compensate wholesalers for services rendered to certain Limited Partners. This reimbursement is made monthly and the reimbursement amounts are listed by class in Note 5. In no event, however, will the monthly reimbursement from the Partnership to the General Partner exceed 0.083%, or 1.0% annually, of the net asset value of the Partnership. In its discretion, the General Partner may require the Partnership to reimburse the General Partner in any subsequent calendar year for amounts that exceed these limits in any prior year, provided that the maximum amount reimbursed by the Partnership will not exceed the overall limit set forth above. Amounts reimbursed by the Partnership with respect to the organization and the continuous public offering expenses are charged to expense from operations at the time of reimbursement or accrual. If the Partnership terminates prior to completion of payment of the calculated amounts to the General Partner, the General Partner will not be entitled to any additional payments, and the Partnership will have no further obligation to the General Partner. As of March 31, 2020, unreimbursed organization and offering costs incurred by the General Partner were approximately $241,000 and may be reimbursed by the Partnership in the future.

Foreign currency transactions: 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 currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars at the rates in effect at the date of the consolidated statement of financial condition. Income and expense items denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars at the rates in effect during the period. Gains and losses resulting from the translation to U.S. dollars are reported in income currently.

The Partnership does not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations are included with the net realized or unrealized gain or loss from investments.

Swap contracts: Certain Trading Companies of the Partnership strategically allocate a portion or all of their assets to total return swaps selected at the direction of the General Partner. A swap is a bilaterally negotiated agreement between two parties to exchange cash flows based upon an asset, rate or some other reference index. In a typical swap, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on one or more particular predetermined investments or instruments. The gross returns to be exchanged or “swapped” between the parties are calculated with respect to a “notional amount” (i.e., the amount or value of the underlying asset used in computing the particular interest rate, return, or other amount to be exchanged) in a particular investment, or in a “basket” of

14

commodities or other investments representing a particular index. A Trading Company’s investment in swap agreements will likely vary over time due to cash flows, asset allocations and market movements. The swap agreements serve to diversify the investment holdings of the Partnership and to provide access to programs and commodity trading advisors that would not otherwise be available to the Partnership, and are not used for hedging purposes.

Changes in the value of the swap agreements are recognized as unrealized gains or losses in the consolidated statement of operations by marking to market on a daily basis to reflect the value of the swap agreement at the end of each day as reported by the swap counterparty. The final exchange amount based on the swap value at the termination of the swap agreement will be recorded as a realized gain or loss in the consolidated statement of operations. Through its Trading Companies, the Partnership has entered into total return swaps with Deutsche Bank AG.  The Partnership maintains cash as collateral to secure its obligations under the swaps. As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the notional value of the swaps were $22,678,256 and $29,622,256, respectively, and the cash margin balance was $10,901,500 and $5,082,500, respectively, which is included in equity in brokers’ trading accounts on the consolidated statements of financial condition. The swaps were effective July 1, 2015 and April 5, 2016 and have termination dates of July 1, 2020 and April 30, 2024, respectively.

Statement of cash flows: The Partnership has elected not to provide statements of cash flows as permitted by FASB ASC 230, Statement of Cash Flows. The Partnership noted that as of and for the periods ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, substantially all investments were highly liquid, all investments are carried at fair value, the Partnership carried no debt, and the statements of changes in partners’ capital (net asset value) is presented.

Recent accounting pronouncements:  In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13 Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The new guidance requires an entity to measure all expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts as opposed to delaying recognition until the loss was probable of occurring.  The guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019.  The Partnership adopted ASU 2016-13 on January 1, 2020 and the adoption did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements. 

 

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13 Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) Disclosure Framework – Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement.  The amendments in this update apply to all entities that are required, under existing GAAP, to make disclosures about recurring or nonrecurring fair value measurements.  The amendments in this update modify the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements in Topic 820. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019.  The Partnership adopted ASU 2018-13 on January 1, 2020 and the adoption did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

Note 2. Fair Value Measurements

As described in Note 1, the Partnership follows the provisions of FASB ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures. FASB ASC 820 defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date and sets out a fair value hierarchy. The Partnership utilizes valuation techniques to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. Assets and liabilities recorded at fair value are categorized within the fair value hierarchy based upon the level of judgment associated with the inputs used to measure their value. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). Inputs are broadly defined as assumptions market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:

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.

Level 2. Inputs other than quoted prices within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. A significant adjustment to a Level 2 input could result in the Level 2 measurement becoming a Level 3 measurement.

15

Level 3. Inputs that are unobservable for the asset or liability. The Partnership does not have any assets classified as Level 3.

The following section describes the valuation techniques used by the Partnership to measure different financial instruments at fair value and includes the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the financial instrument is categorized.

The fair value of exchange-traded futures contracts, options on futures contracts and exchange-traded funds are based upon exchange settlement prices as of the last business day of the reporting period. These financial instruments are classified in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.

The fair value of money market funds are based upon exchange settlement prices as of the last business day of the reporting period.  These financial instruments are classified in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.

The Partnership values forward contracts and options on forward contracts based on the average bid and ask price of quoted forward spot prices obtained as of the last business day of the reporting period, and forward contracts and options on forward contracts are classified in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

U.S. Government securities and U.S. Government-sponsored enterprise securities are stated at cost plus accrued interest, which approximates fair value based on quoted market prices in an active market. The Partnership compares market prices quoted by dealers to the cost plus accrued interest to ensure a reasonable approximation of fair value. These securities are classified in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

The investments in total return swaps are reported at fair value based on daily price reporting from the swap counterparty, which uses exchange prices to value most futures positions and the remaining positions are valued using proprietary pricing models of the counterparty. The Partnership’s swap transactions are a two-party contract entered into primarily to exchange the returns earned or realized on particular pre-determined investments or instruments. The gross returns to be exchanged or swapped between parties are calculated with respect to a notional amount. The total return swaps have inputs which are transparent and can generally be corroborated by market data and therefore are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

The following table presents the Partnership’s fair value hierarchy for those assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2020:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assets

    

Level 1

    

Level 2

    

Level 3

    

Total

 

Equity in brokers' trading accounts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. and foreign futures contracts

 

$

975,375

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

$

975,375

 

Forward currency contracts

 

 

 —

 

 

10,353

 

 

 —

 

 

10,353

 

Swap contracts

 

 

 —

 

 

(5,071,616)

 

 

 —

 

 

(5,071,616)

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. money market fund

 

 

6,273,074

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

6,273,074

 

Securities owned

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises

 

 

 —

 

 

26,090,064

 

 

 —

 

 

26,090,064

 

U.S. Government securities

 

 

 —

 

 

4,981,878

 

 

 —

 

 

4,981,878

 

U.S. Exchange-traded funds

 

 

7,676,592

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

7,676,592

 

Total

 

$

14,925,041

 

$

26,010,679

 

$

 —

 

$

40,935,720

 

The gross presentation of the fair value of the Partnership’s derivatives by contract type is shown in Note 10. See the consolidated condensed schedule of investments for detail by sector.

16

The following table presents the Partnership’s fair value hierarchy for those assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2019:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assets

    

Level 1

    

Level 2

    

Level 3

    

Total

 

Equity in brokers' trading accounts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. and foreign futures contracts

 

$

401,807

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

$

401,807

 

Forward currency contracts

 

 

 —

 

 

(69,073)

 

 

 —

 

 

(69,073)

 

Swap contracts

 

 

 —

 

 

3,037,439

 

 

 —

 

 

3,037,439

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. money market fund

 

 

576,180

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

576,180

 

Securities owned

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises

 

 

 —

 

 

31,644,430

 

 

 —

 

 

31,644,430

 

U.S. Government securities

 

 

 —

 

 

13,431,977

 

 

 —

 

 

13,431,977

 

U.S. Exchange-traded funds

 

 

5,004,400

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

5,004,400

 

Total

 

$

5,982,387

 

$

48,044,773

 

$

 —

 

$

54,027,160

 

The gross presentation of the fair value of the Partnership’s derivatives by contract type is shown in Note 10. See the consolidated condensed schedule of investments for detail by sector.

The Partnership assesses the level of the investments at each measurement date, and transfers between levels are recognized on the actual date of the event or change in circumstances that caused the transfer in accordance with the Partnership’s accounting policy regarding the recognition of transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy. There were no transfers among Levels 1, 2, and 3 during the three months ended March 31, 2020 and year ended December 31, 2019.

 

Note 3. Deposits with Brokers and Interbank Market Makers

The Partnership, through the Trading Companies, deposits assets with ADM Investor Services, Inc. and SG Americas Securities, LLC subject to CFTC regulations and various exchange and broker requirements. Margin requirements may be satisfied by the deposit of U.S. Treasury bills, Government- sponsored enterprise securities and/or cash with such clearing brokers. The Partnership may earn interest income on its assets deposited with the clearing brokers.

The Partnership, through the Trading Companies, has entered into a relationship with Sociètè Gènèrale International Limited for the clearing of its OTC foreign currency transactions and with Deutsche Bank AG for its swap transactions.  The Partnership has entered into an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. master agreement with Deutsche Bank AG and Sociètè Gènèrale International Limited.  Margin requirements may be satisfied by the deposit of U.S. Treasury bills and/or cash with such interbank market makers or swap counterparties. The Partnership may earn interest income on its assets deposited with the interbank market makers.

 

Note 4. Commodity Trading Advisors and Reference Traders

The Partnership, through the Trading Companies, allocates assets to the commodity trading advisors or through swap transactions based on reference programs of such advisors. Each trading advisor that receives a direct allocation from the Partnership has entered into an advisory contract with the Partnership. As of March 31, 2020, the commodity trading advisors are EMC Capital Advisors, LLC (“EMC”), Episteme Capital Partners (UK) LLP (“Episteme”) and Quantica Capital AG (“Quantica”) (collectively, the “Advisors”). The Partnership will obtain the equivalent of net profits or net losses generated by H2O AM LLP (“H2O”) and Winton Capital Management Limited (“Winton”) as reference traders (“collectively, the “Reference Traders”) through off-exchange swap transactions and will not allocate assets to H2O or Winton directly. The Advisors and Reference Traders are paid a quarterly consulting fee, directly or through swap transactions, ranging from 0.2 percent to 1 percent per annum of the Partnership’s month-end allocated net assets and a quarterly or semi-annual incentive fee, directly or through swap transactions, ranging from 0 percent to 20 percent of the new trading profits on the allocated net assets of the Advisor or Reference Trader.

17

Note 5. General Partner and Related Party Transactions

The General Partner shall at all times, so long as it remains a general partner of the Partnership, own Units in the Partnership: (i) in an amount sufficient, in the opinion of counsel for the Partnership, for the Partnership to be taxed as a partnership rather than as an association taxable as a corporation; and (ii) during such time as the Units are registered for sale to the public, in an amount at least equal to the greater of: (a) 1 percent of all capital contributions of all Partners to the Partnership; or (b) $25,000; or such other amount satisfying the requirements then imposed by the North American Securities Administrators Association, Inc. (“NASAA”) Guidelines. Further, during such time as the Units are registered for sale to the public, the General Partner shall, so long as it remains a general partner of the Partnership, maintain a net worth (as such term may be defined in the NASAA Guidelines) at least equal to the greater of: (i) 5 percent of the total capital contributions of all partners and all limited partnerships to which it is a general partner (including the Partnership) plus 5 percent of the Units being offered for sale in the Partnership; or (ii) $50,000; or such other amount satisfying the requirements then imposed by the NASAA Guidelines. In no event, however, shall the General Partner be required to maintain a net worth in excess of $1,000,000 or such other maximum amount satisfying the requirements then imposed by the NASAA Guidelines.

Ten percent of the General Partners limited partnership interest in the Partnership is characterized as a general partnership interest. Notwithstanding, the general partnership interest will continue to pay all fees associated with a limited partnership interest.

The Partnership pays the General Partner a monthly brokerage charge, organization and offering reimbursement and operating expenses. The annualized brokerage charge, organization and offering reimbursement and operating expenses are presented in the table below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Organization and Offering

 

 

 

 

    

Brokerage charge*

    

Reimbursement*

    

Operating Expense*

 

Class A units

 

7.00

%  

0.10

%  

0.25

%

Class B units

 

7.45

%

0.30

%

0.25

%

Legacy 1 Class units

 

4.50

%

0.30

%

0.25

%

Legacy 2 Class units

 

4.75

%

0.30

%

0.25

%

Global 1 Class units

 

3.95

%

0.30

%

0.25

%

Global 2 Class units

 

4.20

%

0.30

%

0.25

%

Global 3 Class units

 

5.95

%

0.30

%

0.25

%

*The fees are calculated and payable monthly on the basis of month-end adjusted net assets. “Adjusted net assets” is defined as the month-end net assets of the particular class before accruals for fees and expenses and redemptions.  

Included in the total brokerage charge are amounts paid to the clearing brokers for execution and clearing costs, which are reflected in the commissions line of the consolidated statements of operations, and the remaining amounts are management fees paid to the Advisors, compensation to the selling agents and an amount to the General Partner for management services rendered, which are reflected in the brokerage charge line on the consolidated statements of operations. The brokerage charge in the amounts of $658,829 and $881,419, for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, are shown on the consolidated statements of operations.

Transaction costs and consulting fees are taken into account in determining the net amount the Partnership receives or pays in connection with swap transactions, but such costs or fees are not directly charged to the Partnership or any of its trading companies. The general partner will reduce (but not below zero) the brokerage charge by the amount of such costs and fees. Each class of units pays a fee to a counterparty in respect of any swap transaction of up to 0.50% of the notional amount of such swap transaction.

Ongoing organization and offering costs of the Partnership are paid for by the General Partner and reimbursed by the Partnership. The organization and offering costs in the amounts of $41,971 and $55,639, for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, are shown on the consolidated statements of operations.

Operating expenses of the Partnership are paid for by the General Partner and reimbursed by the Partnership. To the extent operating expenses are less than 0.25 percent of the Partnership’s average month-end net assets during the

18

year, the difference may be reimbursed, at the General Partner’s discretion, pro rata to record-holders as of December 31 of each year. The operating expenses in the amounts of $36,537 and $48,320, for the three months ended March  31, 2020 and 2019,  respectively, are shown on the consolidated statement of operations.

An entity owned in part and controlled by Mr. Kavanagh, who indirectly controls and is president of Dearborn Capital Management, L.L.C., the general partner of the Partnership, and in part by Mr. Al Rayes, who is a principal of the general partner, and an entity owned in part and controlled by Mr. Meehan, the chief operating officer of the general partner, purchased a minority ownership interest in EMC, which is one of the commodity trading advisors of the Partnership.  The general partner, on behalf of the Partnership, pays EMC a quarterly consulting fee and a quarterly incentive fee based on new trading profits, if any, achieved on EMC’s allocated net assets at the end of each period. For the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, EMC was paid approximately $19,900 and $21,500, respectively, in consulting fees and no incentive fees.

   

Note 6. Redemptions and Allocation of Net Income or Loss

Class A, Class B, Legacy 1 Class, Legacy 2 Class, Global 1 Class, Global 2 Class and Global 3 Class Limited Partners have the right to redeem units as of any month-end upon ten (10) days’ prior written notice to the Partnership. The General Partner, however, may permit earlier redemptions in its discretion. Legacy 1 Class, Legacy 2 Class, Global 1 Class, Global 2 Class and Global 3 Class Limited Partners were prohibited from redeeming such units for the three months following the subscription for units. Global 3 Class Limited Partners who redeemed their units after the three-month lock-up, but prior to the one-year anniversary of their subscriptions for the redeemed units, paid the applicable early redemption fee. There were no redemption fees applicable to Legacy 1 Class, Legacy 2 Class, Global 1 Class and Global 2 Class Limited Partners or to Global 3 Class Limited Partners who redeemed their units on or after the one-year anniversary of their subscription. Redemptions will be made as of the last day of the month for an amount equal to the net asset value per unit, as defined, represented by the units to be redeemed. The right to obtain redemption is also contingent upon the Partnership’s having property sufficient to discharge its liabilities on the redemption date and may be delayed if the General Partner determines that earlier liquidation of commodity interest positions to meet redemption payments would be detrimental to the Partnership or nonredeeming Limited Partners.

In addition, the General Partner may at any time cause the redemption of all or a portion of any Limited Partner’s units upon fifteen (15) days’ written notice. The General Partner may also immediately redeem any Limited Partner’s units without notice if the General Partner believes that (i) the redemption is necessary to avoid having the assets of the Partnership deemed Plan Assets under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), (ii) the Limited Partner made a misrepresentation in connection with its subscription for the units, or (iii) the redemption is necessary to avoid a violation of law by the Partnership or any Partner.

In accordance with the Third Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement, net income or loss of the Partnership is allocated to partners according to their respective interests in the Partnership as of the beginning of the month.

19

Note 7. Financial Highlights

 

The following financial highlights reflect activity related to the Partnership. Total return is based on the change in value during the period of a theoretical investment made by a limited partner at the beginning of each calendar month during the period and is not annualized. Individual limited partners’ ratios may vary from these ratios based on various factors, including but not limited to the timing of capital transactions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31, 

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total return – Class A Units

 

(15.78)

%

 

1.45

%

Total return – Class B Units

 

(15.92)

%

 

1.29

%

Total return – Legacy 1 Class Units

 

(15.30)

%

 

2.01

%

Total return – Legacy 2 Class Units

 

(15.35)

%

 

1.88

%

Total return – Global 1 Class Units

 

(15.18)

%

 

2.02

%

Total return – Global 2 Class Units

 

(15.23)

%

 

2.04

%

Total return – Global 3 Class Units

 

(15.60)

%

 

1.67

%

Ratios as a percentage of average net assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses prior to incentive fees (1)

 

5.02

%

 

5.20

%

Incentive fees (2)

 

0.11

%

 

0.04

%

Total expenses

 

5.13

%

 

5.24

%

Net investment loss (1) (3)

 

(3.47)

%

 

(3.80)

%

 

(1)

Annualized.

(2)

Not annualized.

(3)

Excludes incentive fee.

 

The expense ratios above are computed based upon the weighted average net assets of the Partnership for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 (annualized).

 

The following per unit performance calculations reflect activity related to the Partnership for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class A Units

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31, 

 

 

 

2020

 

2019

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Per Unit Performance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(for unit outstanding throughout the entire period):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net asset value per unit at beginning of period

 

$

992.10

 

$

946.24

 

Income (loss) from operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net realized and change in unrealized gain (loss) from trading*

 

 

(146.80)

 

 

23.53

 

Expenses net of interest and dividend income*

 

 

(9.77)

 

 

(9.77)

 

Total income (loss) from operations

 

 

(156.57)

 

 

13.76

 

Net asset value per unit at end of period

 

$

835.53

 

$

960.00

 

 

 

20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class B Units

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31, 

 

 

 

2020

 

2019

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Per Unit Performance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(for unit outstanding throughout the entire period):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net asset value per unit at beginning of period

 

$

799.78

 

$

767.31

 

Income (loss) from operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net realized and change in unrealized gain (loss) from trading*

 

 

(118.13)

 

 

19.09

 

Expenses net of interest and dividend income*

 

 

(9.19)

 

 

(9.20)

 

Total income (loss) from operations

 

 

(127.32)

 

 

9.89

 

Net asset value per unit at end of period

 

$

672.46

 

$

777.20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Legacy 1 Class Units

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31, 

 

 

 

2020

 

2019

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Per Unit Performance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(for unit outstanding throughout the entire period):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net asset value per unit at beginning of period

 

$

832.28

 

$

776.34

 

Income (loss) from operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net realized and change in unrealized gain (loss) from trading*

 

 

(123.56)

 

 

19.61

 

Expenses net of interest and dividend income*

 

 

(3.74)

 

 

(4.03)

 

Total income (loss) from operations

 

 

(127.30)

 

 

15.58

 

Net asset value per unit at end of period

 

$

704.98

 

$

791.92

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Legacy 2 Class Units

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31, 

 

 

 

2020

 

2019

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Per Unit Performance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(for unit outstanding throughout the entire period):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net asset value per unit at beginning of period

 

$

808.27

 

$

756.33

 

Income (loss) from operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net realized and change in unrealized gain (loss) from trading*

 

 

(119.94)

 

 

18.80

 

Expenses net of interest and dividend income*

 

 

(4.11)

 

 

(4.61)

 

Total income (loss) from operations

 

 

(124.05)

 

 

14.19

 

Net asset value per unit at end of period

 

$

684.22

 

$

770.52

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Global 1 Class Units

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31, 

 

 

 

2020

 

2019

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Per Unit Performance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(for unit outstanding throughout the entire period):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net asset value per unit at beginning of period

 

$

836.87

 

$

777.40

 

Income (loss) from operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net realized and change in unrealized gain (loss) from trading*

 

 

(124.25)

 

 

19.38

 

Expenses net of interest and dividend income*

 

 

(2.77)

 

 

(3.68)

 

Total income (loss) from operations

 

 

(127.02)

 

 

15.70

 

Net asset value per unit at end of period

 

$

709.85

 

$

793.10

 

 

21

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Global 2 Class Units

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31, 

 

 

 

2020

 

2019

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Per Unit Performance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(for unit outstanding throughout the entire period):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net asset value per unit at beginning of period

 

$

815.99

 

$

759.26

 

Income (loss) from operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net realized and change in unrealized gain (loss) from trading*

 

 

(121.14)

 

 

18.91

 

Expenses net of interest and dividend income*

 

 

(3.14)

 

 

(3.43)

 

Total income (loss) from operations

 

 

(124.28)

 

 

15.48

 

Net asset value per unit at end of period

 

$

691.71

 

$

774.74

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Global 3 Class Units

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31, 

 

 

 

2020

 

2019

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Per Unit Performance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(for unit outstanding throughout the entire period):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net asset value per unit at beginning of period

 

$

677.29

 

$

640.57

 

Income (loss) from operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net realized and change in unrealized gain (loss) from trading*

 

 

(100.18)

 

 

15.94

 

Expenses net of interest and dividend income*

 

 

(5.47)

 

 

(5.23)

 

Total income (loss) from operations

 

 

(105.65)

 

 

10.71

 

Net asset value per unit at end of period

 

$

571.64

 

$

651.28

 

 

* Expenses net of interest and dividend income per unit are calculated by dividing the expenses net of interest income by the average number of units outstanding during the period. The net realized and change in unrealized gain (loss) from trading is a balancing amount necessary to reconcile the change in net asset value per unit with the other per unit information.

Note 8. Trading Activities and Related Risks

 

The Partnership, through its Advisors or swap transactions based on reference programs of such advisors, engages in the speculative trading of a variety of instruments, including U.S. and foreign futures contracts, options on U.S. and foreign futures contracts and forward contracts and other derivative instruments including swap contracts (collectively, derivatives; see Note 10). These derivatives include both financial and nonfinancial contracts held as part of a diversified trading strategy. Additionally, the Partnership’s speculative trading includes equities and exchange-traded funds. 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 on futures contracts require margin deposits with FCMs. Additional deposits may be necessary for any loss on contract value. 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 (for example, 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. The Partnership utilizes ADM Investor Services, Inc. and SG Americas Securities, LLC as its clearing brokers.

 

The amount of required margin and good faith deposits with the FCMs, interbank market makers and swap counterparties usually ranges from 5% to 35% of the Partnership’s net asset value. The cash deposited with the FCMs, interbank market makers and swap counterparties at March  31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 was $11,593,313 and $10,866,216, respectively, which was 22.72% and 17.20% of the net asset value, respectively, and is included in equity in brokers’ trading accounts on the consolidated statements of financial condition.

22

 

For derivatives, risks arise from changes in the fair 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. Written options expose the Partnership to potentially unlimited liability; for purchased options the risk of loss is limited to the premiums paid.

 

In addition to market risk, trading futures, forwards and swap contracts entails a credit risk that a counterparty will not be able to meet its obligations to the Partnership. The counterparty for futures and options on futures contracts traded in the United States and on most non-U.S. futures 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 credit risk. In cases in which the clearinghouse is not backed by the clearing members, like some non-U.S. exchanges, it is normally backed by a consortium of banks or other financial institutions.

 

In the case of forward contracts, over-the-counter options contracts or swap contracts, which are traded on the interbank or other institutional markets rather than on exchanges, the counterparty is generally a single bank or other financial institution, rather than a clearinghouse 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 that any clearing member, clearinghouse or other counterparty will be able to meet its obligations to the Partnership.

 

Unlike futures and options on futures contracts, most swap contracts currently are not traded on or cleared by an exchange or clearinghouse. The CFTC currently requires only a limited class of swap contracts (certain interest rate and credit default swaps) to be cleared and executed on an exchange or other organized trading platform. In accordance with the Dodd-Frank Act, the CFTC will determine in the future whether other classes of swap contracts will be required to be cleared and executed on an exchange or other organized trading platform. Until such time as these transactions are cleared, the Partnership will be subject to a greater risk of counterparty default on its swaps. Because swaps do not generally involve the delivery of underlying assets or principal, the amount payable upon default and early termination is usually calculated by reference to the current market value of the contract. Swap dealers and major swap participants require the Partnership to deposit initial margin and variation margin as collateral to support such obligation under the swap agreement but may not themselves provide collateral for the benefit of the Partnership. If the counterparty to such a swap agreement defaults, the Partnership would be a general unsecured creditor for any termination amounts owed by the counterparty to the Partnership as well as for any collateral deposits in excess of the amounts owed by the Partnership to the counterparty, which would result in losses to the Partnership.

 

There are no limitations on daily price movements in swap transactions. Speculative position limits are not currently applicable to swaps, but in the future may be applicable for swaps on certain commodities. In addition, participants in swap markets are not required to make continuous markets in the swaps they trade, and determining a market value for calculation of termination amounts can lead to uncertain results.

 

Securities sold short represent obligations of the Partnership to deliver specific securities and thereby create a liability to purchase these instruments in the open market at prevailing prices. These transactions may result in market risk not reflected in the consolidated statement of financial condition as the Partnership’s ultimate obligation to satisfy its obligation for trading liabilities may exceed the amount reflected in the consolidated statements of financial condition.

 

The Partnership maintains deposits with high quality financial institutions in amounts that are in excess of federally insured limits; however, the Partnership does not believe it is exposed to any significant credit risk.

 

The General Partner has established procedures to actively monitor and minimize market and credit risks. The Limited Partners bear the risk of loss only to the extent of the fair value of their respective investments and, in certain specific circumstances, distributions and redemptions received.

 

23

Trading on international markets may increase the risk that events or circumstances that disrupt such markets may have a materially adverse effect on Grant Park’s business or operations or the value of positions held by Grant Park.  Such events or circumstances may include, but are not limited to, inflation or deflation, currency devaluation, interest rate changes, exchange rate fluctuations, changes in government policies, natural disasters, pandemics or other extraordinary events such as coronavirus, armed conflicts, political or social instability or other unforeseen developments that cannot be quantified.

 

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus disease 2019, known as COVID-19 (“COVID-19”), a pandemic.  As governments and organizations around the world implement various measures in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19, including imposing travel restrictions, quarantining of employees and other efforts focusing on social distancing, the impact on Grant Park cannot be determined.  However, because Grant Park allocates assets among multiple third party trading advisors and reference traders, at least some of whom trade internationally, the general partner expects COVID-19 to have a material impact on Grant Park, its operations and possible economic consequences for at least all or a portion of calendar year 2020 and potentially longer.

 

Note 9. Indemnifications

 

In the normal course of business, the Partnership enters into contracts and agreements that contain a variety of representations and warranties and which provide general indemnifications. The Partnership’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Partnership that have not yet occurred. The Partnership expects the risk of any future obligation under these indemnifications to be remote.

 

Note 10. Derivative Instruments

 

The Partnership follows the provisions of FASB ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging. FASB ASC 815 is intended to improve transparency in financial reporting by requiring enhanced disclosures of an entity’s derivative instruments and hedging activities and their effects on the entity’s financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. FASB ASC 815 applies to all derivative instruments within the scope of FASB ASC 815-10-05. It also applies to non-derivative hedging instruments and all hedged items designated and qualifying as hedges under FASB ASC 815-10-05. FASB ASC 815 amends the current qualitative and quantitative disclosure requirements for derivative instruments and hedging activities set forth in FASB ASC 815-10-05 and generally increases the level of disaggregation that will be required in an entity’s financial statements. FASB ASC 815 requires qualitative disclosures about objectives and strategies for using derivatives, quantitative disclosures about fair value amounts of gains and losses on derivative instruments, and disclosures about credit-risk-related contingent features in derivative agreements (see Trading Activities and Related Risks, Note 8).

 

The Partnership’s business is speculative trading. The Partnership intends to close out all futures, options on futures and forward contracts prior to their expiration. The Partnership trades in futures and other commodity interest contracts and is therefore a party to financial instruments with elements of off-balance sheet market risk and credit risk. In entering into these contracts, the Partnership faces the market risk that these contracts may be significantly influenced by market conditions, such as interest rate volatility, resulting in such contracts being less valuable. The Partnership minimizes market risk through real-time monitoring of open positions, diversification of the portfolio and maintenance of a margin-to-equity ratio that rarely exceeds 25%.

 

In addition to market risk, in entering into commodity interest contracts there is a credit risk that a counterparty will not be able to meet its obligations to the Partnership. In general, clearing organizations are backed by the corporate members of the clearing organization who are required to share any financial burden resulting from the non-performance by one of their members and, as such, should significantly reduce this credit risk. In cases in which the clearing organization is not backed by the clearing members, like some non-U.S. exchanges, it is normally backed by a consortium of banks or other financial institutions.

 

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 a central clearing organization backed by a group of financial institutions. As a result,

24

there will likely be greater counterparty credit risk in these transactions. The Partnership trades only with those counterparties that it believes to be creditworthy. Nonetheless, the clearing member, clearing organization or other counterparty to these transactions may not be able to meet its obligations to the Partnership, in which case the Partnership could suffer significant losses on these contracts.

 

The Partnership does not designate any derivative instruments as hedging instruments under FASB ASC 815-10-05.

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2020, the monthly average number of futures contracts bought and sold was 4,747 and the monthly average number of forward contracts bought and sold was 397. For the three months ended March 31, 2019, the monthly average number of futures contracts bought and sold was 10,966 and the monthly average number of forward contracts bought and sold was 431. The following tables summarize the quantitative information required by FASB ASC 815:

25

Fair Values of Derivative Instruments at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated

 

Asset

 

Liability

 

 

 

 

 

Statements of Financial

 

Derivatives

 

Derivatives

 

 

 

 

    

Condition Location

    

3/31/2020

    

3/31/2020

    

Fair Value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agricultural contracts

 

Net Unrealized gain (loss) on open futures contracts

 

$

69,794

 

$

(5,448)

 

$

64,346

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Currencies contracts

 

Net Unrealized gain (loss) on open futures contracts

 

 

121,017

 

 

(3,845)

 

 

117,172

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Energy contracts

 

Net Unrealized gain (loss) on open futures contracts

 

 

203,381

 

 

(44,744)

 

 

158,637

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rates contracts

 

Net Unrealized gain (loss) on open futures contracts

 

 

466,955

 

 

(118,585)

 

 

348,370

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meats contracts

 

Net Unrealized gain (loss) on open futures contracts

 

 

25,317

 

 

 —

 

 

25,317

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Metals contracts

 

Net Unrealized gain (loss) on open futures contracts

 

 

329,602

 

 

(131,144)

 

 

198,458

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soft commodities contracts

 

Net Unrealized gain (loss) on open futures contracts

 

 

89,342

 

 

(10,809)

 

 

78,533

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock indices contracts

 

Net Unrealized gain (loss) on open futures contracts

 

 

202,436

 

 

(217,894)

 

 

(15,458)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

1,507,844

 

$

(532,469)

 

$

975,375

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forward currency contracts

 

Net Unrealized gain (loss) on open forward currency contracts

 

$

135,413

 

$

(125,060)

 

$

10,353

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swap Contracts*

 

Net Unrealized gain (loss) on open swap contracts

 

$

 —

 

$

(5,071,616)

 

$

(5,071,616)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*At March 31, 2020, the sector exposure of the CTA indices underlying the swaps was:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deutsche Bank total return swap, termination date April 30, 2024

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agricultural contracts

 

6%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Energy contracts

 

1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rate contracts

 

53%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Metals contracts

 

4%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock indices contracts

 

3%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forward currency contracts

 

33%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

100%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deutsche Bank total return swap, termination date July 1, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rate contracts

 

42%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock indices contracts

 

10%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forward currency contracts

 

48%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

100%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

26

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated

 

Asset

 

Liability

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statements of Financial

 

Derivatives

 

Derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

    

Condition Location

    

12/31/2019

    

12/31/2019

    

Fair Value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agricultural contracts

 

Net Unrealized gain (loss) on open futures contracts

 

$

201,399

 

$

(45,915)

 

$

155,484

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Currencies contracts

 

Net Unrealized gain (loss) on open futures contracts

 

 

77,837

 

 

(71,524)

 

 

6,313

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Energy contracts

 

Net Unrealized gain (loss) on open futures contracts

 

 

399,221

 

 

(314,480)

 

 

84,741

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rates contracts

 

Net Unrealized gain (loss) on open futures contracts

 

 

47,095

 

 

(324,965)

 

 

(277,870)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meats contracts

 

Net Unrealized gain (loss) on open futures contracts

 

 

1,715

 

 

(5,030)

 

 

(3,315)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Metals contracts

 

Net Unrealized gain (loss) on open futures contracts

 

 

277,156

 

 

(152,572)

 

 

124,584

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soft commodities contracts

 

Net Unrealized gain (loss) on open futures contracts

 

 

56,283

 

 

(3,922)

 

 

52,361

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock indices contracts

 

Net Unrealized gain (loss) on open futures contracts

 

 

325,154

 

 

(65,645)

 

 

259,509

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

1,385,860

 

$

(984,053)

 

$

401,807

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forward currency contracts

 

Net Unrealized gain (loss) on open forward currency contracts

 

$

67,730

 

$

(136,803)

 

$

(69,073)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swap Contracts*

 

Net Unrealized gain (loss) on open swap contracts

 

$

3,650,232

 

$

(612,793)

 

$

3,037,439

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*At December 31, 2019, the sector exposure of the CTA indices underlying the swaps was:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deutsche Bank total return swap, termination date April 30, 2024

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agricultural contracts

 

3%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Energy contracts

 

3%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rate contracts

 

46%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Metals contracts

 

5%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock indices contracts

 

12%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forward currency contracts

 

31%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

100%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deutsche Bank total return swap, termination date July 1, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rate contracts

 

39%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock indices contracts

 

22%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forward currency contracts

 

39%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

100%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

27

The Effect of Derivative Instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 and 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Three Months Ended

 

Type of Contract

    

 

    

March 31, 2020

    

March 31, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agriculturals contracts

 

Net gain (loss) from futures trading

 

$

171,033

 

$

116,879

 

Currencies contracts

 

Net gain (loss) from futures trading

 

 

427,509

 

 

(506,183)

 

Energy contracts

 

Net gain (loss) from futures trading

 

 

568,697

 

 

(578,242)

 

Interest rates contracts

 

Net gain (loss) from futures trading

 

 

1,857,269

 

 

3,077,891

 

Meats contracts

 

Net gain (loss) from futures trading

 

 

143,671

 

 

(26,149)

 

Metals contracts

 

Net gain (loss) from futures trading

 

 

351,036

 

 

(253,345)

 

Soft commodities contracts

 

Net gain (loss) from futures trading

 

 

2,287

 

 

(162,505)

 

Stock indices

 

Net gain (loss) from futures trading

 

 

(3,818,038)

 

 

579,719

 

Forward Currency Contracts

 

Net gain (loss) from forward trading

 

 

244,864

 

 

36,355

 

Swap Contracts

 

Net gain (loss) from swap trading

 

 

(8,109,055)

 

 

(230,918)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

(8,160,727)

 

$

2,053,502

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Line Item in Consolidated Statements of Operations

 

Three Months Ended

 

    

March 31, 2020

    

March 31, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net gain (loss) from futures trading

 

 

 

 

 

 

Realized

 

$

(870,104)

 

$

1,887,583

Change in unrealized

 

 

573,568

 

 

360,482

Total realized and change in unrealized net gain (loss) from futures trading

 

$

(296,536)

 

$

2,248,065

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net gain (loss) from forward trading

 

 

 

 

 

 

Realized

 

$

165,438

 

$

17,913

Change in unrealized

 

 

79,426

 

 

18,442

Total realized and change in unrealized net gain (loss) from forward trading

 

$

244,864

 

$

36,355

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net gain (loss) from swap trading

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change in unrealized

 

$

(8,109,055)

 

$

(230,918)

Total realized and change in unrealized net gain (loss) from swap trading

 

$

(8,109,055)

 

$

(230,918)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total realized and change in unrealized net gain (loss) from futures, forward and swap trading

 

$

(8,160,727)

 

$

2,053,502

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

28

The tables below show the gross amounts of recognized derivative assets and gross amounts offset in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition:

 

Offsetting of Derivative Assets

As of March 31, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Amount of

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross Amounts

 

Unrealized Gain/(Loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Offset in the

 

Presented in

 

 

 

Gross Amount of

 

Consolidated

 

the Consolidated

 

 

 

Recognized

 

Statements of

 

Statements of

 

Type of Instrument

    

Assets

    

Financial Condition

    

Financial Condition

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. and foreign futures contracts

 

$

1,507,844

 

$

(532,469)

 

$

975,375

 

Forward contracts

 

 

135,413

 

 

(125,060)

 

 

10,353

 

Swap contracts

 

 

 —

 

 

(5,071,616)

 

 

(5,071,616)

 

Total derivatives

 

$

1,643,257

 

$

(5,729,145)

 

$

(4,085,888)

 

 

Offsetting of Derivative Liabilities

As of March 31, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Amount of

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross Amounts

 

Unrealized Gain

 

 

 

 

 

 

Offset in the

 

Presented in

 

 

 

Gross Amount of

 

Consolidated

 

the Consolidated

 

 

 

Recognized

 

Statements of

 

Statements of

 

Type of Instrument

    

Liabilities

    

Financial Condition

    

Financial Condition

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. and foreign futures contracts

 

$

532,469

 

$

(532,469)

 

$

 —

 

Forward contracts

 

 

125,060

 

 

(125,060)

 

 

 —

 

Swap contracts

 

 

5,071,616

 

 

(5,071,616)

 

 

 —

 

Total derivatives

 

$

5,729,145

 

$

(5,729,145)

 

$

 —

 

 

Derivatives Assets and Liabilities and Collateral Received by Counterparty

As of March 31, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Consolidated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statements of Financial Condition

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Amount of

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized Gain/(Loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Presented in

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the Consolidated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statements of

 

Financial

 

Cash Collateral

 

 

 

 

Counterparty

    

Financial Condition

    

Instruments

    

Received

    

Net Amount

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ADM Investor Services, Inc.

 

$

547,129

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

$

547,129

 

Deutsche Bank AG

 

 

(5,071,616)

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

(5,071,616)

 

SG Americas Securities, LLC

 

 

438,599

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

438,599

 

Total

 

$

(4,085,888)

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

$

(4,085,888)

 

 

29

Offsetting of Derivative Assets

As of December 31, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Amount of

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross Amounts

 

Unrealized Gain/(Loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Offset in the

 

Presented in

 

 

 

Gross Amount of

 

Consolidated

 

the Consolidated

 

 

 

Recognized

 

Statements of

 

Statements of

 

Type of Instrument

    

Assets

    

Financial Condition

    

Financial Condition

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. and foreign futures contracts

 

$

1,385,860

 

$

(984,053)

 

$

401,807

 

Forward contracts

 

 

67,730

 

 

(136,803)

 

 

(69,073)

 

Swap contracts

 

 

3,650,232

 

 

(612,793)

 

 

3,037,439

 

Total derivatives

 

$

5,103,822

 

$

(1,733,649)

 

$

3,370,173

 

 

Offsetting of Derivative Liabilities

As of December 31, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Amount of

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross Amounts

 

Unrealized Gain

 

 

 

 

 

 

Offset in the

 

Presented in

 

 

 

Gross Amount of

 

Consolidated

 

the Consolidated

 

 

 

Recognized

 

Statements of

 

Statements of

 

Type of Instrument

    

Liabilities

    

Financial Condition

    

Financial Condition

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. and foreign futures contracts

 

$

984,053

 

$

(984,053)

 

$

 —

 

Forward contracts

 

 

136,803

 

 

(136,803)

 

 

 —

 

Swap contracts

 

 

612,793

 

 

(612,793)

 

 

 —

 

Total derivatives

 

$

1,733,649

 

$

(1,733,649)

 

$

 —

 

 

Derivatives Assets and Liabilities and Collateral Received by Counterparty

As of December 31, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Consolidated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statements of Financial Condition

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Amount of

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized Gain/(Loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Presented in

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the Consolidated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statements of

 

Financial

 

Cash Collateral

 

 

 

 

Counterparty

    

Financial Condition

    

Instruments

    

Received

    

Net Amount

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ADM Investor Services, Inc.

 

$

(75,551)

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

$

(75,551)

 

Deutsche Bank AG

 

 

3,037,439

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

3,037,439

 

SG Americas Securities, LLC

 

 

408,285

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

408,285

 

Total

 

$

3,370,173

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

$

3,370,173

 

 

 

 

Note 11. Subsequent Events

 

The Partnership has evaluated subsequent events for potential recognition and/or disclosure through date of issuance of the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

 

30

ITEM 2.MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Introduction

Grant Park has been in continuous operation since it commenced trading on January 1, 1989. Since its inception and through February 28, 2003, Grant Park offered its beneficial interests exclusively to qualified investors on a private placement basis.  Effective June 30, 2003, Grant Park publicly offered its units for sale.  Grant Park’s registration statement was withdrawn on April 1, 2019 and units of Grant Park are no longer offered for sale. For existing investors in Grant Park, business has been and will continue to be conducted as usual. There was no change in the trading, operations, or monthly statements, etc., and redemption requests will continue to be offered on a monthly basis.

Critical Accounting Policies

Grant Park’s most significant accounting policy is the valuation of its assets invested in U.S. and international futures and forward contracts, options contracts, swap transactions, other interests in commodities, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds and fixed income products. The majority of these investments are exchange-traded contracts, valued based upon exchange settlement prices. The remainder of its investments are non-exchange-traded contracts with valuation of those investments based on quoted forward spot prices, swap transactions with the valuation based on daily price reporting from the swap counterparty, and fixed income products, including U.S. Government securities, securities of U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises, corporate bonds and commercial paper, which are stated at cost plus accrued interest, which approximates fair value based on quoted market prices in an active market. With the valuation of the investments easily obtained, there is little or no judgment or uncertainty involved in the valuation of investments, and accordingly, it is unlikely that materially different amounts would be reported under different conditions using different but reasonably plausible assumptions.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. 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 revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Grant Park’s significant accounting policies are described in detail in Note 1 of the consolidated financial statements.

Grant Park is the sole member of each of the Trading Companies. The Trading Companies, in turn, are the only members of GP Cash Management, LLC. Grant Park presents consolidated financial statements which include the accounts of the Trading Companies and GP Cash Management, LLC. All material inter-company accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

Valuation of Financial Instruments

Grant Park follows the provisions of FASB ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures. Grant Park utilizes valuation techniques that are consistent with the market approach per the requirement of ASC 820 for the valuation of futures (exchange traded) contracts, forward (non-exchange traded) contracts, option contracts, swap transactions, other interests in commodities, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds and fixed income products. FASB ASC 820 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurement and also emphasizes that fair value is a market-based measurement, not an entity-specific measurement. Grant Park records all investments at fair value in the financial statements. Changes in fair value from the prior period are recorded as unrealized gain or losses and are reported in the consolidated statement of operations. Fair value of exchange-traded futures contracts, options on futures contracts and exchange-traded funds are based upon exchange settlement prices. Grant Park values forward contracts and options on forward contracts based on the average bid and ask price of quoted forward spot prices obtained. U.S. Government securities, securities of U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises, corporate bonds and commercial paper are stated at cost plus accrued interest, which approximates fair value based on quoted market prices in an active market. Grant Park compares market prices quoted by dealers to the cost plus accrued interest to ensure a reasonable approximation of fair value. Grant Park values bank deposits at face value plus accrued interest, which approximates fair value. The investment in total return swaps is reported at fair value based on daily price reporting from the swap counterparty which uses exchange prices to value most futures positions and the

31

remaining positions are valued using proprietary pricing models of the counterparty. The investment in mutual funds is reported at fair value based on quoted market prices as of the last day of the reporting period.

Results of Operations

Grant Park’s returns, which are Grant Park’s trading gains plus interest income less brokerage fees, performance fees, operating costs and offering costs borne by Grant Park, for the three months ended March  31, 2020 and 2019, are set forth in the table below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31, 

 

 

 

2020

    

2019

    

Total return – Class A Units

 

(15.78)

%  

1.45

%  

Total return – Class B Units

 

(15.92)

%  

1.29

%  

Total return – Legacy 1 Class Units

 

(15.30)

%  

2.01

%  

Total return – Legacy 2 Class Units

 

(15.35)

%  

1.88

%  

Total return – Global 1 Class Units

 

(15.18)

%  

2.02

%  

Total return – Global 2 Class Units

 

(15.23)

%  

2.04

%  

Total return – Global 3 Class Units

 

(15.60)

%  

1.67

%  

Grant Park’s total net asset value at March  31, 2020 was approximately $51.0 million, at December 31, 2019 was approximately $63.2 million, and at March 31, 2019 was approximately $73.8 million, respectively. Results from past periods are not indicative of results that may be expected for any future period.

The table below sets forth Grant Park’s trading gains or losses by sector, excluding the swap transactions, for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

% Gain (Loss)

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

March 31, 

 

 

 

    

2020

    

 

2019

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agriculturals

 

0.3

%  

 

0.2

%  

 

Currencies

 

0.9

 

 

(0.7)

 

 

Energy

 

1.1

 

 

(0.8)

 

 

Interest rates

 

3.6

 

 

4.1

 

 

Meats

 

0.3

 

 

 —

 

 

Metals

 

0.7

 

 

(0.3)

 

 

Soft commodities

 

 —

 

 

(0.2)

 

 

Stock indices

 

(7.5)

 

 

0.8

 

 

Forward currency contracts

 

0.5

 

 

 —

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

(0.1)

%  

 

3.1

%

 

 

Three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to three months ended March 31, 2019

For the three months ended March 30, 2020, Grant Park had a negative return of 15.8% for the Class A units, a negative return of 15.9% for the Class B units, a negative return of 15.3% for the Legacy 1 Class units, a negative return of 15.4% for the Legacy 2 Class units, a negative return of 15.2% for the Global 1 Class units, a negative return of 15.2% for the Global 2 Class units, and a negative return of 15.6% for the Global 3 Class units. On a combined basis prior to expenses, Grant Park had trading losses of 0.1% which were increased by losses of 15.9% from swap transactions and decreased by gains of 0.5% from interest and dividend income. These trading losses were increased by 0.2% in combined brokerage fees, performance fees and operating and offering costs borne by Grant Park.  For the same period in 2019,  Grant Park had a positive return of 1.5% for the Class A units, a positive return of 1.3% for the Class B units, a positive return of 2.0% for the Legacy 1 Class units, a positive return of 1.9% for the Legacy 2 Class units, a positive return of 2.0% for the Global 1 Class units, a positive return of 2.0% for the Global 2 Class units, and a positive return of

32

1.7% for the Global 3 Class units. On a combined basis prior to expenses, Grant Park had trading gains of 3.1% which were decreased by losses of 0.3% from swap transactions and increased by gains of 0.4% from interest and dividend income. These trading gains were decreased by 2.0% in combined brokerage fees, performance fees and operating and offering costs borne by Grant Park.    

 Three months ended March 31, 2020

Trading on international markets may increase the risk that events or circumstances that disrupt such markets may have a materially adverse effect on Grant Park’s business or operations or the value of positions held by Grant Park.  Such events or circumstances may include, but are not limited to, inflation or deflation, currency devaluation, interest rate changes, exchange rate fluctuations, changes in government policies, natural disasters, pandemics or other extraordinary events such as coronavirus, armed conflicts, political or social instability or other unforeseen developments that cannot be quantified.

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus disease 2019, known as COVID-19 (“COVID-19”), a pandemic.  As governments and organizations around the world implement various measures in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19, including imposing travel restrictions, quarantining of employees and other efforts focusing on social distancing, the impact on Grant Park cannot be determined.  However, because Grant Park allocates assets among multiple third party trading advisors and reference traders, at least some of whom trade internationally, COVID-19 had a material impact on Grant Park, its operations for the later parter of the first quarter of 2020 and the general partner expects COVID-19 to have a material impact on Grant Park, its operations and possible economic consequences for at least all or a portion of the remaining calendar year 2020 and potentially longer.

Key trading developments for Grant Park during the first three months of 2020 included the following:

January. Grant Park recorded losses during the month. Class A units were down 1.14%, Class B units were down 1.19%, Legacy 1 Class units were down 0.95%, Legacy 2 Class units were down 0.97%, Global 1 Class units were down 0.91%, Global 2 Class units were down 0.93% and Global 3 Class units were down 1.06%. Overall Grant Park performance was negative, led by losses in the equities sector.  Positive performance in the fixed income, agriculturals, energies, metals and currencies sectors partially offset Grant Park losses. Negative performance in equities was driven by positions in the FTSE, MSCI EM, Dax, Nikkei and Hang Seng indices. Positive performance in the fixed income sector was driven by positions in the Bund, U.S. Treasury Bonds, Euro OAT Futures, U.S. 10-year Treasury Notes and eurodollars.  Gains in the agriculturals sector were led by positions in soybeans, soybean meal and sugar. Performance in the energies sector was driven by positions in gas oil, heating oil and natural gas. Positive performance in metals was led by positions in gold.  Performance in the currencies sector was slightly positive as gains from positions in the euro and Australian dollar were somewhat offset by losses in positions in the Swedish krona.

February. Grant Park recorded losses during the month. Class A units were down 3.79%, Class B units were down 3.84%, Legacy 1 Class units were down 3.60%, Legacy 2 Class units were down 3.62%, Global 1 Class units were down 3.55%, Global 2 Class units were down 3.57%  and Global 3 Class units were down 3.72%. Overall Grant Park performance was negative, led by losses in the equities and agriculturals sectors. Positive performance in the fixed income, currencies, metals and energies sectors partially offset Grant Park losses. Negative performance in equities was driven by positions in the FTSE, Nikkei, S&P 500, Dow, MSCI EM and Eurostoxx indices. Losses in agriculturals were led by positions in wheat, cotton, soybean meal and soybeans. Positive performance in the fixed income sector was driven by positions in the Bund, eurodollars, U.S. Treasury Bonds, U.S. 10-year Treasury Notes, Euro OAT Futures and U.S. 5-year Treasury Notes. Gains in the currencies sector were led by positions in the euro, Japanese yen, Australian dollar, New Zealand dollar and Canadian dollar. Performance in the metals sector was driven by positions in gold and silver. Energies performance was flat as gains from positions in gas oil and brent oil were offset by losses from positions in gasoline blendstock and crude oil.

 

March. Grant Park recorded losses during the month. Class A units were down 11.46%, Class B units were down  11.51%, Legacy 1 Class units were down 11.29%, Legacy 2 Class units were down 11.31%, Global 1 Class units were down 11.25%, Global 2 Class units were down 11.27%  and Global 3 Class units were down 11.40%. Overall Grant Park performance was negative, led by losses in the equities sector. Positive performance in the currencies, energies, agriculturals, fixed income and metals sectors partially offset Grant Park losses. Negative performance in equities was

33

driven by positions in the FTSE, Nikkei, MSCI EM, Dax, S&P Midcap, Russell 2000, S&P Canada and Eurostoxx indices. Positive performance in the currencies sector was driven by positions in the Norwegian krone, Canadian dollar, euro, Australian dollar and Japanese yen. Gains in the energies sector were led by positions in brent oil, gas oil and heating oil.  Performance in the agriculturals sector was driven by positions in soybean, cotton and live cattle. Fixed income performance was positive led by positions in eurodollars, bunds, U.S. treasury bonds and U.S. 5-year treasury notes. Metals performance was slightly positive as losses in gold positions offset some gains from positions in copper and silver.

 

Three months ended March 31, 2019

Key trading developments for Grant Park during the first three months of 2019 included the following:

January. Grant Park recorded losses during the month. Class A units were down 1.33%, Class B units were down 1.39%, Legacy 1 Class units were down 1.14%, Legacy 2 Class units were down 1.16%, Global 1 Class units were down 1.10%, Global 2 Class units were down 1.12% and Global 3 Class units were down 1.26%. The U.S. dollar weakened slightly compared to the Australian and New Zealand dollars after the Federal Reserve said it would slow the pace of future interest rate hikes. The Canadian dollar strengthened on rising oil prices. The British pound strengthened on growing expectations that Britain can avoid a no-deal Brexit. Crude oil prices rose over 18% as domestic crude oil inventories rose less than expected and after the U.S. imposed sanctions on Venezuela. Natural gas prices declined on elevated supplies.  Global equity markets rose due to the Federal Reserve’s announcement concerning interest rate hikes, on optimism for trade talks between the U.S. and China and due to stronger-than-expected earnings for the fourth quarter. Global fixed income markets rose in reaction to the Federal Reserve’ policy announcement and the European Central Bank indicated it would leave interest rates at current levels at least through the summer. Wheat markets rose in anticipation of reopening trade with China and as Russia considered reducing exports. Soybean prices rose as poor weather in Brazil threatened to reduce crop yields. Cocoa markets fell over 10% as weather conditions in West Africa improved and eased supply concerns. Coffee prices rose when the Brazilian government projected this year's coffee crop would experience a significant decline compared to last year's record harvest. Gold and precious metals markets rose as the Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged and indicated a slower pace for raising interest rates. Copper and other base metal prices rose on firming demand, on optimism that Beijing’s stimulus will help China’s economy and on optimism about the resolution of the U.S.-China trade negotiations. 

February. Grant Park recorded gains during the month. Class A units were up 0.80%, Class B units were up 0.74%, Legacy 1 Class units were up 0.99%, Legacy 2 Class units were up 0.97%, Global 1 Class units were up 1.04%, Global 2 Class units were up 1.02% and Global 3 Class units were up 0.87%. The U.S. dollar strengthened on hopes for progress in trade talks between the U.S. and China. The Australian and New Zealand dollars weakened after Australia’s central bank considered a possible rate cut as it acknowledged growing economic risks. The Japanese yen fell following data of weakening economic performance. The British pound strengthened after Prime Minister Theresa May said Parliament will be allowed to vote on a “no-deal” Brexit or delay. Crude oil prices rose due to new U.S. imposed sanctions on Venezuela, reduced output by OPEC and a continued slowdown in U.S. drilling activity. Heating oil prices moved higher on lower inventories. Global equity markets rose on reports of progress in trade talks between the U.S. and China and a boost in energy stocks amid rising oil prices. Global fixed income markets declined slightly on optimism for a U.S.-China trade deal and easing Brexit fears. Wheat and corn markets fell on muted demand and abundant supplies.  Coffee prices declined over 10% due to excess supplies and a weaker Brazilian real. Cocoa markets moved higher as demand increased and concerns arose about poor weather conditions in the Ivory Coast. Cotton markets moved higher on optimism about a possible trade deal between the U.S. and China. Gold and silver markets moved lower as a stronger dollar reduced demand for the safe-haven assets. Copper and other base metal prices rose on firming demand and hopes of a U.S.-China trade deal.

March. Grant Park recorded gains during the month. Class A units were up 2.01%, Class B units were up 1.96%, Legacy 1 Class units were up 2.17%, Legacy 2 Class units were up 2.09%, Global 1 Class units were up 2.09%, Global 2 Class units were up 2.15% and Global 3 Class units were up 2.08%. The U.S. dollar strengthened on optimism about the trade talks between the U.S. and China and on better-than-expected economic data. The Canadian dollar weakened after the Bank of Canada expressed uncertainty about future rate hikes. The British pound weakened due to Brexit concerns. Crude oil prices rose as OPEC reduced production and the U.S. continued to impose sanctions against Iran and Venezuela. Natural gas prices declined as mild weather weakened demand. Global equity markets rose on

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optimism for a trade deal between the U.S. and China and on dovish central bank policies. Global fixed income markets rose on dovish central bank policies and concerns of slowing global growth. Corn prices fell due to an excess of supplies and greater-than-expected crop plantings. Soybean markets fell on reports of elevated storage levels. Cotton prices rose over 8% in response to a 2% reduction in plantings and in anticipation a trade deal between the U.S. and China would lead to increased exports. Lean hog markets rose over 38% as China made its biggest purchase of the commodity from the U.S. in nearly two years. Gold and precious metals markets moved lower as a stronger dollar reduced demand for the safe-haven assets. Copper and other base metal prices were down on concerns about China’s exports, growth and slow trade negotiations with the U.S.

 Capital Resources

Effective April 1, 2019, units in Grant Park were no longer offered for sale. For existing investors in Grant Park, business has been and will continue as usual. There was no change in trading, operations or monthly statements, etc., and redemptions requests will continue to be offered on a monthly basis. 

Due to the nature of Grant Park’s business, it does not make any capital expenditures and does not have any capital assets that are not operating capital or assets.

Grant Park maintains 65% to 95% of its net asset value in cash, cash equivalents or other liquid positions over and above that needed to post as collateral for trading. These funds are available to meet redemptions each month.

Liquidity

Most U.S. futures exchanges limit fluctuations in some futures and options contract prices during a single day by regulations referred to as daily price fluctuation limits or daily limits. During a single trading day, no trades may be executed at prices beyond the daily limit. Once the price of a contract has reached the daily limit for that day, positions in that contract can neither be taken nor liquidated. Futures prices have occasionally moved to the daily limit for several consecutive days with little or no trading. Similar occurrences could prevent Grant Park from promptly liquidating unfavorable positions and subject Grant Park to substantial losses that could exceed the margin initially committed to those trades. In addition, even if futures or options prices do not move to the daily limit, Grant Park may not be able to execute trades at favorable prices, if little trading in the contracts is taking place. Other than these limitations on liquidity, which are inherent in Grant Park’s futures and options trading operations, Grant Park’s assets are expected to be highly liquid.

A portion of each Trading Company’s assets is used as margin to support its trading. Margin requirements are satisfied by the deposit of U.S. Treasury bills and/or cash with brokers subject to CFTC regulations and various exchange and broker requirements.

Grant Park maintains a portion of its assets at its clearing brokers as well as at Lake Forest Bank & Trust Company. These assets, which may range from 5% to 35% of Grant Park’s value, are held in cash, and/or U.S. Treasury securities. The balance of Grant Park’s assets, which range from 65% to 95%, are invested in investment grade money market instruments and exchange-traded funds purchased and managed by Middleton Dickinson Capital Management, LLC which are held in a separate account in the name of GP Cash Management, LLC and custodied at State Street Bank and Trust Company or may be invested in mutual funds. Violent fluctuations in prevailing interest rates or changes in other economic conditions could cause mark-to-market losses on Grant Park’s cash management income.

Off-Balance Sheet Risk

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. Grant Park trades in futures, swap transactions and other commodity interest contracts and is therefore a party to financial instruments with elements of off-balance sheet market and credit risk. In entering into these contracts, Grant Park faces the market risk that these 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 commodity interest positions of Grant Park at the same time, and if Grant Park were unable to offset positions, Grant Park could lose all of its assets and the limited partners would realize a 100% loss. Grant Park minimizes market risk through real-time monitoring of open positions, diversification of the portfolio and

35

maintenance of a margin-to-equity ratio that rarely exceeds 25%. All positions of Grant Park are valued each day on a mark-to-market basis.

In addition to market risk, when entering into commodity interest contracts there is a credit risk that a counterparty will not be able to meet its obligations to Grant Park. The counterparty for futures and options on futures contracts traded in the United States and on most non-U.S. futures exchanges is the clearing organization associated with such exchange. In general, clearing organizations are backed by the corporate members of the clearing organization who are required to share any financial burden resulting from the nonperformance by one of their members and, as such, should significantly reduce this credit risk.

In cases where the clearing organization is not backed by the clearing members, like some non- U.S. exchanges, it is normally backed by a consortium of banks or other financial institutions.

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 a central clearing organization backed by a group of financial institutions. As a result, there likely will be greater counterparty credit risk in these transactions. Grant Park trades only with those counterparties that it believes to be creditworthy. Nonetheless, the clearing member, clearing organization or other counterparty to these transactions may not be able to meet its obligations to Grant Park, in which case Grant Park could suffer significant losses on these contracts.

In the normal course of business, Grant Park enters into contracts and agreements that contain a variety of representations and warranties and which provide general indemnifications. Grant Park’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against Grant Park that have not yet occurred. Grant Park expects the risk of any future obligation under these indemnifications to be remote.

ITEM 3.QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Introduction

Grant Park is a speculative commodity pool. The market sensitive instruments held by it are acquired for speculative trading purposes, and all or a substantial amount of Grant Park’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 Grant Park’s business.

Market movements result in frequent changes in the fair market value of Grant Park’s open positions and, consequently, in its earnings and cash flow. Grant Park’s market risk is influenced by a wide variety of factors, including the level and volatility of exchange rates, interest rates, equity price levels, the market value of financial instruments and contracts, market prices for base and precious metals, energy complexes and other commodities, the diversification effects among Grant Park’s open positions and the liquidity of the markets in which it trades.

Grant Park rapidly acquires and liquidates both long and short positions in a wide range of different markets. Consequently, it is not possible to predict how a particular future market scenario will affect performance. Erratic, choppy, sideways trading markets and sharp reversals in movements can materially and adversely affect Grant Park’s results. Likewise, markets in which a potential price trend may start to develop but reverses before an actual trend is realized may result in unprofitable transactions. Grant Park’s past performance is not necessarily indicative of its future results.

Materiality, as used in this section, is based on an assessment of reasonably possible market movements and the potential losses caused by such movements, taking into account the leverage, and multiplier features of Grant Park’s market sensitive instruments.

The following quantitative and qualitative disclosures regarding Grant Park’s market risk exposures contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor from civil liability provided for such statements by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (set forth in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). All quantitative and qualitative disclosures in this section are deemed to be

36

forward-looking statements, except for statements of historical fact and descriptions of how Grant Park manages its risk exposure. Grant Park’s primary market risk exposures, as well as the strategies used and to be used by its trading advisors for managing such exposures, are subject to numerous uncertainties, contingencies and risks, any one of which could cause the actual results of Grant Park’s risk controls 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 Grant Park. Grant Park’s current market exposure and/or risk management strategies may not be effective in either the short-or long-term and may change materially.

Quantitative Market Risk

Trading Risk

Grant Park’s approximate risk exposure in the various market sectors traded by its trading advisors is quantified below in terms of Value at Risk (VaR). Due to Grant Park’s mark-to-market accounting, any loss in the fair value of Grant Park’s open positions is directly reflected in Grant Park’s earnings, realized or unrealized.

Grant Park uses an Aggregate Returns Volatility method to calculate VaR for the portfolio. The method consists of creating a historical price time series for each instrument or its proxy instrument for the past 200 days, and then measuring the standard deviation of that return history. Then, using a normal distribution (a normal distribution curve has a mean of zero and a standard deviation of one), the standard deviation measurement is scaled up in order to achieve a result in line with the 95% degree of confidence, which corresponds to a scaling factor of approximately 1.645 times of standard deviations.

The VaR for each market sector represents the one day risk of loss for the aggregate exposures associated with that sector. The current methodology used to calculate VaR represents the VaR of Grant Park’s open positions across all market sectors and is less than the sum of the VaR of the individual market sectors due to the diversification benefit across all market sectors combined.

Grant Park’s VaR methodology and computation is based on the underlying risk of each contract or instrument in the portfolio and does not distinguish between exchange and non-exchange traded contracts. It is also not based on exchange maintenance margin requirements. VaR does not typically represent the worst case outcome.

VaR is a measure of the maximum amount that Grant Park could reasonably be expected to lose in a given market sector in a given day; however, VaR does not typically represent the worst case outcome. The inherent uncertainty of Grant Park’s speculative trading and the recurrence in the markets traded by Grant Park of market movements far exceeding expectations could result in actual trading or non-trading losses far beyond the indicated value at risk or Grant Park’s experience to date. This risk is often referred to as the risk of ruin. In light of the preceding information, as well as the risks and uncertainties intrinsic to all future projections, the inclusion of the quantification in this section should not be considered to constitute any assurance or representation that Grant Park’s losses in any market sector will be limited to VaR or by Grant Park’s attempts to manage its market risk. VaR models, including Grant Park’s, are continually evolving as trading portfolios become more diverse and modeling systems and techniques continue to evolve. Moreover, value at risk may be defined differently as used by other commodity pools or in other contexts.

The composition of Grant Park’s trading portfolio, based on the nature of its business of speculative trading of futures, forwards and options, can change significantly, over any period of time, including a single day of trading. These changes can have a positive or negative material impact on the market risk as measured by VaR.

Value at Risk by Market Sectors

The following tables indicate the trading value at risk associated with Grant Park’s open positions by market category as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 and the trading gains/losses by market category for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and the year ended December 31, 2019.  All open position trading risk exposures of Grant Park, except for the swap transactions, have been included in calculating the figures set forth below. As of March  31,  

37

2020, Grant Park’s net asset value was approximately $51.0 million. As of December 31, 2019, Grant Park’s net asset value was approximately $63.2 million.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2020

 

Market Sector

    

Value at Risk*

    

Trading Gain/(Loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock indices

 

0.4

%  

(7.5)

%  

Agriculturals/softs/meats

 

0.1

 

0.6

 

Currencies & Forward currency contracts

 

0.1

 

1.4

 

Energy

 

0.1

 

1.1

 

Interest Rates

 

0.1

 

3.6

 

Metals

 

0.1

 

0.7

 

Aggregate/Total

 

0.3

%  

(0.1)

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2019

 

Market Sector

    

Value at Risk*

    

Trading Gain/(Loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Energy

 

0.3

%  

(1.1)

%

Stock indices

 

0.3

 

2.7

 

Currencies & Forward currency contracts

 

0.2

 

(0.1)

 

Metals

 

0.2

 

0.8

 

Agriculturals/softs/meats

 

0.1

 

(0.7)

 

Interest Rates

 

0.1

 

8.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aggregate/Total

 

0.6

%  

10.2

%

* The VaR for a market sector represents the one day risk of loss for the aggregate exposure for that particular sector. The aggregate VaR represents the VaR of Grant Park’s open positions across all market sectors, excluding the swap transaction, and is less than the sum of the VaR of the individual market sectors due to the diversification benefit across all market sectors combined.

Material Limitations of Value at Risk as an Assessment of Market Risk

Past market risk factors will not always result in an accurate prediction of future distributions and correlations of future market movements. Changes in the portfolio value caused by market movements may differ from those measured by the VaR model. The VaR model reflects past trading positions, while future risk depends on future trading positions. VaR using a one-day time horizon does not fully capture the market risk of positions that cannot be liquidated within one day. The historical market risk data for the VaR model may provide only limited insight into the losses that could be incurred under unusual market movements. The magnitude of Grant Park’s open positions creates a risk of ruin not typically found in most other investment vehicles. Because of the size of its positions, certain market conditions-unusual, but historically recurring from time to time-could cause Grant Park to incur severe losses over a short period of time. The value at risk table above, as well as the past performance of Grant Park, gives no indication of this risk of ruin.

Non-Trading Risk

Grant Park has non-trading market risk on its foreign cash balances not needed for margin. However, these balances, as well as the market risk they represent, are immaterial. Grant Park also has non-trading market risk as a result of investing a portion of its available assets in U.S. Treasury bills. The market risk represented by these investments is also immaterial.

Qualitative Market Risk

Trading Risk

The following were the primary trading risk exposures of Grant Park as of March  31, 2020, by market sector. 

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Agriculturals/Softs/Meats

 

Grant Park’s primary commodities risk exposure is driven by agricultural price movements, which are often directly affected by severe or unexpected weather conditions, as well as other factors.

 

Currencies

 

Exchange rate risk is a significant market exposure of Grant Park. Grant Park’s currency exposure is due to exchange rate fluctuations, primarily fluctuations that disrupt the 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. Grant Park trades in a large number of currencies, including cross-rates, which are positions between two currencies other than the U.S. dollar. The general partner anticipates that the currency sector will remain one of the primary market exposures for Grant Park for the foreseeable future.

 

Energy

 

Grant Park’s primary energy market risk exposure is due to price movements in the gas and oil markets, which often result from political developments in the Middle East, Nigeria, Russia, and South America. Energy prices can be volatile and substantial profits and losses have been and are expected to continue to be experienced in these markets.

 

Interest Rates

 

Interest rate risk is a principal market exposure of Grant Park. Interest rate movements directly affect the price of the futures positions held by Grant Park and indirectly affect the value of its stock index and currency positions.  Interest rate movements in one country, as well as relative interest rate movements between countries, could materially impact Grant Park’s profitability. Grant Park’s primary interest rate exposure is due to interest rate fluctuations in the United States and the other G-7 countries. Grant Park also takes futures positions on the government debt of smaller nations, such as Australia and New Zealand. The general partner anticipates that G-7 interest rates will remain the primary market exposure of Grant Park for the foreseeable future.

 

Metals

 

Grant Park’s metals market risk exposure is due to fluctuations in the price of both precious metals, including gold and silver, and on base metals, including aluminum, lead, copper, tin, nickel, palladium and zinc.

 

Stock Indices

 

Grant Park’s primary equity exposure is due to equity price risk in G-7 countries, as well as other jurisdictions, including Australia, the Eurozone, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Mexico, Poland, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand and Turkey. The stock index futures contracts currently traded by Grant Park are futures on broadly-based indices and on narrow-based stock index or single-stock futures contracts.

 

Non-Trading Risk Exposure

 

The following were the only non-trading risk exposures of Grant Park as of March  31, 2020.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Foreign Currency Balances

 

Grant Park’s primary foreign currency balances are in Japanese yen, British pounds, euros and Australian dollars.  The trading advisors regularly convert foreign currency balances to U.S. dollars in an attempt to control Grant Park’s non-trading risk.

Managing Risk Exposure

The general partner monitors and controls Grant Park’s risk exposure on a daily basis through financial, credit and risk management monitoring systems and, accordingly, believes that it has effective procedures for evaluating and limiting the credit and market risks to which Grant Park is subject.

The general partner monitors Grant Park’s performance and the concentration of its open positions and consults with the trading advisors concerning Grant Park’s overall risk profile. If the general partner felt it necessary to do so, the general partner could require the trading advisors to close out individual positions as well as enter positions traded on behalf of Grant Park. However, any intervention would be a highly unusual event. Approximately 10% to 20% of Grant Park’s assets are deposited with over-the-counter counterparties in order to initiate and maintain forward and swap contracts.  The general partner primarily relies on the trading advisors’ own risk control policies while maintaining a general supervisory overview of Grant Park’s market risk exposures. The trading advisors apply their own risk management policies to their trading. The trading advisors often follow diversification guidelines, margin limits and stop loss points to exit a position. The trading advisors’ research of risk management often suggests ongoing modifications to their trading programs.

As part of the general partner’s risk management, the general partner periodically meets with the trading advisors to discuss their risk management and to look for any material changes to the trading advisors’ portfolio balance and trading techniques. The trading advisors are required to notify the general partner of any material changes to their programs.

General

From time to time, certain regulatory or self-regulatory organizations have proposed increased margin requirements on futures contracts. Because Grant Park generally will use a small percentage of assets as margin, Grant Park does not believe that any increase in margin requirements, as proposed, will have a material effect on Grant Park’s operations.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Controls and Procedures

As of the end of the period covered by this report, 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 and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of Grant Park’s disclosure controls and procedures as contemplated by Rule 13a-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Based on, and as of the date of that evaluation, the general partner’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that Grant Park’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective, in all material respects, in timely alerting them to material information relating to Grant Park required to be included in the reports required to be filed or submitted by Grant Park with the SEC under the Exchange Act.

There were no changes in Grant Park’s internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended March 31, 2020 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, Grant Park’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II- OTHER INFORMATION 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

Other than as described below, there have been no material changes to the risk factors relating to Grant Park from those previously disclosed in Grant Park’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, in response to Item 1A to Part 1 of Form 10-K.

 

Grant Park is subject to global risks and market disruption such as COVID-19.

 

Trading on international markets may increase the risk that events or circumstances that disrupt such markets may have a materially adverse effect on Grant Park’s business or operations or the value of positions held by Grant Park.  Such events or circumstances may include, but are not limited to, inflation or deflation, currency devaluation, interest rate changes, exchange rate fluctuations, changes in government policies, natural disasters, pandemics or other extraordinary events such as coronavirus, armed conflicts, political or social instability or other unforeseen developments that cannot be quantified.

 

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus disease 2019, known as COVID-19 (“COVID-19”), a pandemic.  As governments and organizations around the world implement various measures in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19, including imposing travel restrictions, quarantining of employees and other efforts focusing on social distancing, the impact on Grant Park cannot be determined.  However, because Grant Park allocates assets among multiple third party trading advisors and reference traders, at least some of whom trade internationally, the general partner expects COVID-19 to have a material impact on Grant Park, its operations and possible economic consequences for at least all or a portion of calendar year 2020 and potentially longer.

 

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

There are no Grant Park units authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans. There have been no sales of unregistered securities of Grant Park during the quarter ended March 31, 2020. In addition, Grant Park did not repurchase any units under a formal repurchase plan. All Grant Park unit redemptions were in the ordinary course of business during the quarter ended March 31, 2020.  There have not been any purchases of units by Grant Park or any affiliated purchasers during the quarter ended March 31, 2020.

 

 

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Item 6.  Exhibits

 

(a)Exhibits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31.1

Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

 

 

 

 

 

31.2

Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

 

 

 

 

 

32.1

Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

 

 

101.1

The following financial statements from the Partnership’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition; (ii) Consolidated Condensed Schedule of Investments; (iii) Consolidated Statements of Operations; (iv) Consolidated Statements of Changes in Partners’ Capital (Net Asset Value); and (v) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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SIGNATURES

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

GRANT PARK FUTURES FUND

 

LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date: May 15, 2020 

by:

Dearborn Capital Management, L.L.C.

 

its general partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David M. Kavanagh

 

 

David M. Kavanagh

 

 

President

 

 

(principal executive officer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Maureen O’Rourke

 

 

Maureen O’Rourke

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

(principal financial and accounting officer)

 

 

 

 

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