Item 1B.
Unresolved Staff Comments
None
The Registrant does not use any physical properties in the conduct of its business. Its assets currently consist of futures and other contracts, cash, U.S. Treasury Bills, and other fixed income securities.
Campbell & Company is not aware of any material legal proceedings to which the Registrant is a party or to which any of their assets are subject.
PART II
Item 5.
Item 5.
Market for Registrant’s Common Equity , Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Units of Beneficial Interest are not publicly traded. Units may be transferred or redeemed subject to the conditions imposed by the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust and Trust Agreement. As of December 31, 2009, there were 109 Unitholders in the Registrant and 18,862.150 Units of Beneficial Interest outstanding.
Campbell & Company has sole discretion in determining what distributions, if any, the Registrant will make to its Unit holders. Campbell & Company has not made any distributions as of the date hereof.
The Registrant has no securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans.
The following summarized financial information is for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, and 2005.
*
- Based on weighted average number of units outstanding during the period.
The following summarized quarterly financial information presents the results of operations for the three-month periods ending March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31, 2009 and 2008.
*
- Based on weighted average number of units outstanding during the period.
Item 7.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Introduction
The offering of its Units of Beneficial Interest commenced on May 15, 2001. The initial offering terminated on September 28, 2001 and the Trust commenced operations on October 1, 2001. The continuing offering period commenced at the termination of the initial offering period and is ongoing.
Critical Accounting Policies
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expense during the reporting period. Management believes that the estimates utilized in preparing the financial statements are reasonable and prudent; however, actual results could differ from those estimates. The Trust’s significant accounting policies are described in detail in Note 1 of the Financial Statements.
The Trust records all investments at fair value in its financial statements, with changes in fair value reported as a component of realized and change in unrealized trading gain (loss) in the Statements of Operations. Generally, fair values are based on market prices; however, in certain circumstances, estimates are involved in determining fair value in the absence of an active market closing price (e.g. forward and option contracts which are traded in the inter-bank market).
Capital Resources
The Trust will raise additional capital only through the sale of Units offered pursuant to the continuing offering, and does not intend to raise any capital through borrowing. Due to the nature of the Trust’s business, it will make no capital expenditures and will have no capital assets which are not operating capital or assets.
The Trust maintains 40-80% of its net asset value in cash, cash equivalents or other liquid positions in its cash management program over and above that needed to post as collateral for trading. These funds are available to meet redemptions each month. After redemptions and additions are taken into account each month, the trade levels of the Trust are adjusted and positions in the instruments the Trust trades are added or liquidated on a pro-rata basis to meet those increases or decreases in trade levels.
Liquidity
Most United States commodity exchanges limit fluctuations in commodity futures contracts 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 futures contract has reached the daily limit for that day, positions in that contract can neither be taken nor liquidated. Commodity futures prices have occasionally moved to the daily limit for several consecutive days with little or no trading. Similar occurrences could prevent the Trust from promptly liquidating unfavorable positions and subject the Trust to substantial losses which could exceed the margin initially committed to such trades. In addition, even if commodity futures prices have not moved the daily limit, the Trust may not be able to execute futures trades at favorable prices, if little trading in such contracts is taking place. Other than these limitations on liquidity, which are inherent in the Trust’s commodity futures trading operations, the Trust’s assets are expected to be highly liquid.
The entire offering proceeds, without deductions, will be credited to the Trust’s bank and brokerage accounts to engage in trading activities and as reserves for that trading. The Trust meets its margin requirements by depositing U.S. government securities with the futures broker and the over-the-counter counterparties. In this way, substantially all (i.e., 95% or more) of the Trust’s assets, whether used as margin for trading purposes or as reserves for such trading, can be invested in U.S. government securities and time deposits with U.S. banks. Investors should note that maintenance of the Trust’s assets in U.S. government securities and banks does not reduce the risk of loss from trading futures and forward contracts. The Trust receives all interest earned on its assets. No other person shall receive any interest or other economic benefits from the deposit of Trust assets.
Approximately 10% to 30% of the Trust’s assets normally are committed as required margin for futures contracts and held by the futures broker, although the amount committed may vary significantly. Such assets are maintained in the form of cash or U.S. Treasury bills in segregated accounts with the futures broker pursuant to the Commodity Exchange Act and regulations thereunder. Approximately 10% to 30% of the Trust’s assets are deposited with over-the-counter counterparties in order to initiate and maintain forward contracts. Such assets are not held in segregation or otherwise regulated under the Commodity Exchange Act, unless such over-the-counter counterparty is registered as a futures commission merchant. These assets are held either in U.S. government securities or short-term time deposits with U.S.-regulated bank affiliates of the over-the-counter counterparties.
The managing owner deposits the majority of those assets of the Trust that are not required to be deposited as margin with the futures broker and over-the-counter counterparty in a custodial account with Northern Trust Company. The assets deposited in the custodial account with Northern Trust Company are segregated. The custodial account constitutes approximately 40% to 80% of the Trust’s assets and is invested
directly by Wilmington Trust Investment Management LLC (“Wilmington”). Wilmington is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Wilmington does not guarantee any interest or profits will accrue on the Trust’s assets in the custodial account. Wilmington will invest according to agreed upon investment guidelines that are modeled after those investments allowed by the futures broker as defined under The Commodity Exchange Act, Title 17, Part 1, § 1.25 Investment of customer funds. Investments can include, but are not limited to, (i) U.S. Government Securities, Government Agency Securities, Municipal Securities, banker acceptances and certificates of deposits; (ii) commercial paper; and (iii) corporate debt.
The Trust occasionally receives margin calls (requests to post more collateral) from its futures broker or over-the-counter counterparties, which are met by moving the required portion of the assets held in the custody account at Northern Trust to the margin accounts. In the past 3 years, the Trust has not needed to liquidate any position as a result of a margin call.
The Trust’s assets are not and will not be, directly or indirectly, commingled with the property of any other person in violation of law or invested with or loaned to Campbell & Company or any affiliated entities.
Off-Balance Sheet Risk
The term “off-balance sheet risk” refers to an unrecorded potential liability that, even though it does not appear on the balance sheet, may result in future obligation or loss. The Trust trades in futures, forward and options contracts and is therefore a party to financial instruments with elements of off-balance sheet market and credit risk. In entering into these contracts there exists a risk to the Trust, market risk, that such contracts may be significantly influenced by market conditions, such as interest rate volatility, resulting in such contracts being less valuable. If the markets should move against all of the futures interests positions of the Trust at the same time, and if the Trust’s trading advisor was unable to offset futures interests positions of the Trust, the Trust could lose all of its assets and the Unitholders would realize a 100% loss. Campbell & Company, Inc., the managing owner (who also acts as trading advisor), 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 30%.
In addition to market risk, in entering into futures, forward and option contracts there is a credit risk that a counterparty will not be able to meet its obligations to the Trust. The counterparty for futures contracts traded in the United States and on most foreign exchanges is the clearinghouse associated with such exchange. In general, clearinghouses are backed by the corporate members of the clearinghouse who are required to share any financial burden resulting from the non-performance by one of their members and, as such, should significantly reduce this credit risk. In cases where the clearinghouse is not backed by the clearing members, like some foreign exchanges, it is normally backed by a consortium of banks or other financial institutions.
In the case of forward and option contracts, which are traded on the interbank market rather than on exchanges, the counterparty is generally a single bank or other financial institution, rather than a group of financial institutions; thus there may be a greater counterparty credit risk. Campbell & Company trades for the Trust only with those counterparties which it believes to be creditworthy. All positions of the Trust 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 Trust.
Disclosures About Certain Trading Activities that Include Non-Exchange Traded Contracts Accounted for at Fair Value
The Trust invests in futures, forward currency and option on forward currency contracts. The market value of futures (exchange-traded) contracts is determined by the various futures exchanges, and reflects the settlement price for each contract as of the close of the last business day of the reporting period. The market value of forward (non-exchange traded) contracts is extrapolated on a forward basis from the spot prices
quoted as of 3:00 P.M. (E.T.) of the last business day of the reporting period. The market value of option (non-exchange traded) contracts is calculated by applying an industry-standard adaptation of the Black-Scholes options valuation model to foreign currency options, using as input, the spot prices, interest rates and option implied volatilities quoted as of 3:00 P.M. (E.T.) on the last business day of the reporting period.
Results of Operations
The returns for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 were (5.78)%, 1.77% and (11.67)%, respectively. The following is a discussion of the brokerage and performance fees accrued and paid. During the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007, the Trust accrued brokerage fees in the amount of $941,871, $1,055,055 and $1,157,288, respectively, and paid brokerage fees in the amounts of $952,313, $1,063,516 and $1,170,369, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007, the Trust accrued and paid performance fees in the amount of $0, $0, and $270,167, respectively.
For the 2009 decrease of 5.78%, approximately 1.74% was due to trading losses (before commissions) and approximately 0.15% due to investment income offset by approximately (4.19)% due to brokerage fees, operating costs and offering costs borne by the Trust. An analysis of the 1.74% trading loss by sector is as follows:
President Obama’s stimulus plan took center stage in January; however, weak economic data continued to negatively impact global stock markets into the start of the New Year. An early month rally fizzled quickly, causing notable declines in major global indices. The Trust gained in equity indices trading on net short positions across each region. Gains were recorded in fixed income trading as the world’s central banks continued to lower interest rates. Mounting fiscal deficits and huge issuance needs begin to weigh heavy on the long-end; however, credit markets generally improved in January with yield spreads continuing to contract. Foreign exchange trading finished slightly negative on the month. Risk aversion and capital preservation benefited the Trust’s net long U.S. Dollar position; however, the U.K. government’s unprecedented move to give the Bank of England power to increase their stake in Royal Bank of Scotland to 70% helped fuel a late month rally in the British Pound, eliminating gains from a previous decline. Commodity trading was generally flat on volatility across precious and base metals and a slowing of the negative energy trend.
In February, the U.S. government’s ability to address the economic crisis was met with skepticism by Wall Street. Economic data remained persistently weak, especially on the employment and housing fronts. The U.S. was not alone in reporting negative news, as European and Asian economies also continued with the release of dismal economic data such as declining exports and falling dividends. The majority of February gains in the Trust resulted from equity indices trading, particularly from short positions in the U.S. and Asia. Additional gains were recorded in foreign exchange trading as investors continued to feed U.S. Dollar strength, particularly relative to the Japanese Yen. The U.S. Dollar continues to be the safe haven pick as the risk aversion theme continued, as evidenced by the U.S. treasury yields recording all-time lows.
Stock markets rallied in March as the 2008 fourth quarter earnings announcements subsided and large U.S. banks announced they would be profitable for the first two months of 2009. The majority of the Trust’s losses in March resulted from equity indices trading, as the equity rally adversely impacted net short positions globally. Commodities recorded losses as energy price swings have become correlated with equities and metals surged on news of China’s economic stimulus plan. Gains from fixed income markets were recorded from the
Trust’s long global bond positions as prices moved significantly higher on announcements from the Swiss, British and American Central Banks on their intentions of adding liquidity by purchasing medium to long-term bonds in the market. Foreign exchange trading resulted in gains as investors sought currencies whose home central banks were not keen on engaging in quantitative easing.
While equity index trading produced the most profitable sector results for the Trust for 2008, the Trust’s net exposure on the short side of global stock indices through April 2009 has hurt performance as markets continued to stage rallies that began in mid-March. U.S. economic indicators, including housing and manufacturing, showed signs of improvement and stabilization rather than further deterioration. In addition, the G-20 agreed to fund more than $1 trillion in emergency aid to help cushion the economic fallout of the current international financial crisis. While the general tone of the economic outlook was more upbeat, officials have still been cautious in their assessment. April saw a continuation of the March risk-seeking rally leading to several growth currencies registering solid gains against the dollar. Losses were realized in the foreign exchange sector due to the Trust’s general bias to be long the dollar against most major currencies. In fixed income, the equity market rally helped general investor sentiment, driving bond prices lower across the board which produced losses for the Trust in this sector. Commodity trading finished relatively flat with gains from the energy sector offsetting small losses in base and precious metals.
In May, conflicting signals on global recovery weighed on the direction of the markets as increased risk appetite and signs of stabilization in the global economy emerged. Equity markets continued their rally, particularly in Asia, generating small gains in the stock index sector. Fixed income trading generated a marginal positive return as short-term rates in Europe climbed higher following the European Central Bank rate cut of 25 basis points. The gains in the stock index and fixed income sectors were offset by losses in the foreign exchange sector. The U.S. Dollar suffered a broad based decline in May on a combination of stronger risk appetite and growing fears over structural deficiencies in the U.S. Investors moved dormant dollar denominated assets overseas to capture growth and risk in commodity block currencies. Smaller losses were also recorded in the commodities sector as natural gas finished a volatile month higher.
During June, a surprise payroll number to the upside for May prompted an aggressive sell-off in short-term U.S. rates and raised market expectations of a rate hike in 2009. The price reaction was swift and caused particular difficulty for systematic trading. Losses for the Trust in the fixed income sector were offset by marginal gains in the foreign exchange sector. The Trust’s currency positions were generally mixed, thus hedging some U.S. Dollar risk, as investors crowded the Dollar as a safe-haven trade, pushing it higher on the month. Marginal gains were also recorded in the commodities sector, primarily from long positions in the energy complex. As geo-political headlines were plentiful, energies traded in a highly correlated fashion to global equity markets. The stock index sector finished basically flat for the month as global equity markets reflected mixed results congruent with both positive and negative economic data relating to global recovery.
Contrary to investor fears, global stock market returns in 2009 have fueled improved risk appetite as economic data and corporate earnings support the rally for yet another month in July. The Trust’s trading performance was relatively flat, with positive results from long stock and short U.S. Dollar positions being offset by losses incurred from short interest rate positions. For the first half of 2009, many “trend-following” strategies struggled to curb losses and eked out small gains in a market environment that is in a classic “consolidation” (trendless and choppy) period.
While risk appetite was generally strong in August, investors’ risk behavior was a bit random as fixed income initially sold off on better than expected payrolls data, but spent the rest of the month rallying. Bernanke’s nomination for a second term and continued “lower rates for longer” comments from Fed officials helped support treasury prices against the Trust’s general positioning across the curve. Smaller losses were recorded in currency trading as investors appeared unwilling to chase growth currencies higher, at the expense of the dollar, from already stretched levels. Gains were recorded in commodity markets as the Trust increased its exposure to this sector with the launch of more agile models providing more efficient holding period
diversification. Trading in base and precious metals was a primary driver as the “risk on” trade prevailed on improving economic data. Equity indices trading yielded a marginal gain as positioning geographically and across model groups remains mixed.
During the month of September, the Trust’s technical and fundamental strategies both recorded healthy gains in the foreign exchange sector from short positions in the U.S. Dollar vs. most major currencies. Commodity-linked currencies were particularly profitable for the Trust, as both the Australian and New Zealand Dollars rose in value close to 5%. Technical and fundamental signals were also effective in the equity index sector, where the Trust benefited from primarily long positions across global stock indices. With the exception of Japan, global equities moved higher by 2 - 3% during the month on healthy M&A activity, as well as favorable signs of a manufacturing rebound and consumer spending renewal. Results were mixed in fixed income trading as gains earned from short-term rates were largely offset by losses on the long end of the curve. Commodities trading resulted in marginal losses overall, primarily due to short positions in natural gas. The price of natural gas rallied over 20% during the month as a result of significant short covering in the market despite record storage levels.
The risk pendulum continued to swing between “risk on” and “risk off” during the month of October, culminating in “risk off” at month-end and impacting all sectors of the portfolio. As global equity markets fell, commodities fell in tandem and the U.S. Dollar rallied along with fixed income in a thematic trade tied to central bank activity. While the Trust’s risk exposure to equity indices was relatively low, our net long position yielded the largest sector loss during the month. The high volatility environment for mean-reversion equity trading was quite favorable, resulting in gains in the cash equities statistical models in both U.S. and Japan. The perseverance of the “risk off” trade at month-end resulted in modest losses in foreign exchange, modest gains in commodities.
November saw strong trends generate a return of 3.03%, with solid gains in interest rates, foreign exchange, and commodities. Weaker than expected new home sales to start the month, the Federal Open Market Committee’s retention of “extended period” language at mid-month, and a flight to quality at month-end fueled by fears over Dubai debt pushed bond prices higher throughout the month. Thus, trading in fixed income contributed to strong gains from both the short and long end of the curve; foreign exchange trading profited from a continued downward trend of the U.S. Dollar; and commodity trading benefitted from gains in precious metals.
In December, the markets saw a rapid reversal in fixed income and the U.S. Dollar. Inflationary fears subsided as better than expected U.S. economic data fueled equity prices higher and bond prices lower. While market participants seemed to be trading at reduced risk levels, price trends were inconsistent leading into the holiday break, causing losses for many systematic managers, including Campbell. Sharp losses in fixed income trading and modest losses in foreign exchange outweighed solid gains in cash equities and equity indices trading, resulting in a net loss for the month.
For the 2008 increase of 1.77%, approximately 4.43% was due to trading gains (before commissions) and approximately 1.51% due to interest income offset by approximately (4.17)% due to brokerage fees, operating costs and offering costs borne by the Trust. An analysis of the 4.43% trading gain by sector is as follows:
The first quarter of 2008 began where 2007 left off, with the credit crisis causing more write-downs, more credit downgrades, and a growing realization that sub-prime issues would have broader and longer-lasting impacts than initially suspected. In January, weak economic data caused the Federal Open Market Committee to cut short-term rates by a total of 1.25%, which included an unprecedented 0.75% emergency cut. The S&P 500 recorded one of its worst monthly performances in the history of the index. The Trust’s performance in January was basically flat, with gains in equity indices trading more than offset by losses in currencies and flat performance in fixed income and commodities.
February saw the U.S. dollar weaken against most major currencies, as U.S. economic data disappointed, stagflation concerns grew and U.S. interest rate expectations declined dramatically. The Trust’s currency trading profited from these moves, generating a positive return for the month. The Trust also recorded gains in equity indices trading, as the S&P 500, Dow, and NASDAQ continued to slide. Overall, the Trust had a positive month, posting a 1.68% gain.
March brought more Federal Reserve intervention, which resulted in a slight recovery by U.S. stocks from mid-month slides to finish flat for the month, but still significantly negative for the year. The US dollar continued to weaken. The Trust’s performance was close to flat for the month at (0.08)%, with gains in equity indices and currencies offset by losses in commodities and fixed income. The Trust closed the first quarter of 2008 with a year-to-date gain of 1.57%.
In April, the U.S. Dollar rallied against key funding currencies, despite a generally weak global economy. The Trust realized gains in foreign exchange and commodities. However, those gains were overshadowed by losses in the fixed income and equity indices sectors, as prior trends in both sectors reversed course. For the month of April, the Trust suffered a loss of 2.32%.
May was a strong month for the Trust. Positive commodity trading led the charge as crude oil breached new technical levels, touching $135 mid-month. Foreign exchange models also posted gains, as high-yielding currencies performed well. These gains, together with modest gains in the fixed income more than offset a loss in equity indices. The Trust achieved a positive return on the month of 2.07%.
In June the Trust realized its best month of the year, posting a return of 5.26%. Equity indices trading produced strong gains as short positions benefitted from the negative news that roiled the markets around the globe. Signs of commodity-based inflation were constantly in the headlines. Consumer confidence fell to a 16-year low, as U.S., European, and Asian equities markets fell in tandem. Fixed income trading produced additional gains for the Trust, in response to fears of inflation and the ECB’s increasingly hawkish stance. Commodities also posted gains as crude oil hit new highs on the back of increased tensions in the Middle East and among OPEC members. In addition, the Trust had modest gains in foreign exchange sector. The Trust concluded the second quarter with a gain of 5.40% for the quarter, and a year-to-date gain of 7.05%.
The month of July was characterized by reversals in many asset classes. The Dow and S&P hit technical bear market territory early in the month, while Japanese equities saw their longest back-to-back losing streak in 54 years. Equity markets seemed to find a bottom mid-month after the U.S. announced the Government-Sponsored Enterprises bailout plan. Commodity prices also reversed, with crude oil declining almost 12% on fears that a weakened economy would reduce global demand. The Trust earned profits in equity indices trading. Those gains were offset by losses in fixed income and commodities. All-in, the Trust finished the month with a loss of 1.10%.
In August, sub-prime fallout continued to plague the global financial markets. The U.S. unemployment rate hit a four-year high. Commodity prices continued to decline, with natural gas leading the way with a decline of 12.75% and gold falling to its lowest level in eight months. The Trust experienced losses in foreign exchange and commodities sectors as currencies linked to commodities fell in tandem with metal and energy markets, while the U.S. Dollar Index posted unusually strong gains. Those losses edged out gains in fixed income, resulting in a loss for the month of 1.37%.
September saw concern over the widening credit crises come to a boiling point. Equity markets in the U.S., Europe, and Asia declined sharply. Investors fled high-yielding currencies in response to the global decline in equity markets. The Trust posted a loss of 1.36%. Gains in equity indices were offset by losses in foreign exchange, fixed income, and commodities. Diversification of positions by sector and geography played an important role in dampening losses to the Trust, as did a decrease in risk levels across the portfolio. The Trust concluded the third quarter with a loss of 3.78% for the quarter, leaving the year-to-date gain at 3.00%.
At the time, the month of October seemed like a month to remember, as equity markets around the world plummeted, fueling further anxiety about the length and depth of a global recession and further exacerbating the liquidity, growth, and confidence crisis. With the benefit of hindsight, it was but the beginning of a quarter to remember. For the Trust, the month was about the benefits and disadvantages of diversification. Modest gains in equity indices trading were more than offset by losses in foreign exchange and fixed income, resulting in a loss for the month of 0.91%.
November brought further global economic panic, as governments around the world continued to announce plans to help bolster sagging economies. The U.S. reversed course on its bailout effort, from buying troubled assets to facilitating lending flow. Economic data reflected another sharp drop in manufacturing, rising unemployment, and the largest drop in retail sales since 1992, prompting wild swings in both equity and bond markets. The Trust maintained a relatively low risk profile during the month, which resulted in marginal losses and gains across the sectors. For the Trust, losses in fixed income offset marginal gains in other sectors, resulting in a loss for the month of 1.07%.
December saw more of the same on the global economic front. The Trust, however, took advantage of dramatic moves in the British Pound, particularly against the Euro, to achieve gains in foreign exchange. Likewise, fixed income trading was profitable as central banks across the globe continued to lower interest rates on persistent negative data. Overall, the Trust gained 0.80% for December.
The Trust completed the fourth quarter of 2008, one of the most volatile in market history, with a loss for the quarter of 1.19%, bringing the return for the year to 1.77%.
For the 2007 decrease of (11.67)%, approximately (11.32)% was due to trading losses (before commissions) and approximately (4.91)% was due to brokerage fees, performance fees, and operating and offering costs borne by the Trust offset by approximately 4.56% due to interest income. An analysis of the (11.32)% trading gain by sector is as follows:
The first quarter demonstrated how market perceptions on the global macroeconomic environment can drastically change during a quarter. Fixed income was initially a driver in performance as a result of the acceleration of global economic momentum, but ultimately resulted in overall losses for the quarter. The global growth environment turned into a flight to quality from risky assets, sponsored by former Federal Reserve
Chairman Alan Greenspan’s comments about a recession by year end and the whipsaw activity experience in fixed income. Currency trading followed a similar path of fixed income (initial gains and overall quarterly losses); initial gains from currency crosses were generated from unexpected rate hikes by the Bank of England in the beginning of the quarter but were wiped out by the liquidations of Yen-based carry trades in February, followed by whipsaw activity at the end of quarter. The Trust’s equity indices initially bucked the trend of fixed income and currency with gains coming from our fundamental models and strong M&A activity, but ultimately succumbed to an overall quarterly loss. Energy losses were driven by price declines in January on inventory build-ups due to warmer than average temperatures, but finished the last two months of the quarter basically flat. Global economic worries that were sparked at the end of February continued through the early part of March. All major market sectors experienced increased volatility accompanied by sharply higher short-term correlation. Whipsaw activity in currencies, interest rates and equities indices led to negative performance in all of these sectors, acting as the primary drivers of March losses. Risk levels for the Trust were reduced early in March in response to market conditions, and were restored to normal levels as conditions warranted.
The second quarter charged forward with M&A activity supported by impressive earnings, unfettered access to liquidity and major U.S. indices reaching all time highs, to only end with inflation concerns and a flight to quality related to the sub-prime world. Currencies provided gains early and late in the quarter related to negative U.S. dollar sentiment, but experienced losses mid-quarter mainly in outright exposures. Fixed income gains early in the month of April were given back during the last days of the month, but global fixed income prices breaking out of their trading ranges in May allowed the Trust to gain on both the long and short end of the yield curve. Early in the quarter commodity trading was positive as copper prices rallied on China’s release of high import figures, then finished slightly negative mid-quarter with energy trading gains mitigating some losses in metals. Commodities ended the quarter with small losses related to being short crude as it rallied above $70 per barrel on geo-political risks and inventory changes keeping traders bullish.
The third quarter began with a sudden flight to quality, reversal of high yielding currencies, and a highly correlated, unusually large move against the Trust’s positions resulting in one of the Trust’s largest monthly declines in recent years. Losses were broadly based and evenly spread between the interest rate, foreign exchange and equity index sectors. In response to this “perfect storm,” the Trust’s leverage was temporarily cut by 50%. Continuing the unusual market conditions theme into the first half of August, the contagion effect throughout the financial system created a confidence and liquidity crisis that also negatively impacted the Trust’s performance. Major stock, bond and currency markets globally experienced double digit losses from mid-July to mid-August. The foreign exchange sector proved very difficult in August as the Trust’s technical and macro models were both exposed to high-yielding currencies that suffered market value declines of historical proportions in mid-August. The Trust’s leverage was cut again in mid-August. Trading in the equity indices sector was also difficult as volatility dominated global stock markets, with the S&P dropping over 8% from its intra-month high only to bounce off of its lows once the Trust’s exposure was reduced. The Trust earned the majority of its gains at the end of the quarter in the foreign exchange markets as higher-yielding currencies once again gained favor. Trading in the stock indices sector also posted positive results, as the markets breathed a collective sigh of relief that the Federal Reserve was seriously addressing the credit crisis and resulting economic impact. The Trust’s portfolio maintained a lower risk posture throughout the month of September with full re-engagement resuming in the early part of the fourth quarter.
The fourth quarter started with mixed messages as corporate earnings’ reports either beat estimates or severely disappointed, money centers and investment banks grappling with major credit related losses, housing data continuing to soften, and the Federal Open Market Committee complying with market expectations of a 25 basis point cut. High yielding currencies provided healthy gains early in the quarter battling back from August lows, however, during the remainder of the quarter the Trust incurred its largest sector losses in currencies enduring the yen reaching levels not seen since June of 2005. Trading in global indices proved a similar fate to the currency sector, initially beginning the quarter with gains followed up by two consecutive months of incurring losses related to U.S. recessionary fears spawning fears of a global slowdown in growth. Fixed income began the quarter flat as credit quality remained an underlying concern, then moving to positive returns
mid-quarter thanks to Treasuries posting the best month in 12 years, to finishing negative at year-end related to extreme volatility. Energy and base metals began the quarter with a minimal loss and flat performance, respectively, as the markets continued to wrestle with a tight supply/demand picture, deteriorating geo-political landscape, a weakening dollar and strong growth from India & China. This market landscape then switched to fears of slowing global growth and fundamental arguments for lower energy prices in which Campbell recorded losses in both sectors. The quarter ended with gains realized in base and precious metals as gold rallied 6% to all time highs amid strong buying in the face of a bounce in the U.S. dollar.
Item 7A.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Introduction
Past Results Not Necessarily Indicative of Future Performance
The Trust 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 the Trust’s assets are subject to the risk of trading loss. Unlike an operating company, the risk of market sensitive instruments is integral, not incidental, to the Trust’s main line of business.
Market movements result in frequent changes in the fair market value of the Trust’s open positions and, consequently, in its earnings and cash flow. The Trust’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, the diversification effects among the Trust’s open positions and the liquidity of the markets in which it trades.
The Trust 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, and the Trust’s past performance is not necessarily indicative of its future results.
Standard of Materiality
Materiality as used in this section, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,” is based on an assessment of reasonably possible market movements and the potential losses caused by such movements, taking into account the leverage, and multiplier features of the Trust’s market sensitive instruments.
Quantifying the Trust’s Trading Value at Risk
Quantitative Forward-Looking Statements
The following quantitative disclosures regarding the Trust’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 disclosures in this section are deemed to be forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor, except for statements of historical fact (such as the dollar amount of maintenance margin required for market risk sensitive instruments held at the end of the reporting period).
The Trust’s risk exposure in the various market sectors traded is estimated in terms of Value at Risk (VaR). The Trust estimates VaR using a model based upon historical simulation (with a confidence level of 97.5%) which involves constructing a distribution of hypothetical daily changes in the value of a trading portfolio. The VaR model takes into account linear exposures to risks, including equity and commodity prices, interest rates, foreign exchange rates, and correlation among these variables. The hypothetical changes in
portfolio value are based on daily percentage changes observed in key market indices or other market factors to which the portfolio is sensitive. The Trust’s VaR at a one day 97.5% confidence level VaR corresponds to the negative change in portfolio value that, based on observed market risk factors, would have been exceeded once in 40 trading days or one day in 40. VaR typically does not represent the worst case outcome.
The Trust uses approximately one quarter of daily market data and revalues its portfolio for each of the historical market moves that occurred over this time period. This generates a probability distribution of daily “simulated profit and loss” outcomes. The VaR is the 2.5 percentile of this distribution.
The VaR for a sector represents the one day downside risk for the aggregate exposures associated with this sector. The current methodology used to calculate the aggregate VaR represents the VaR of the Trust’s open positions across all market sectors, and is less than the sum of the VaRs for all such market sectors due to the diversification benefit across asset classes.
The Trust’s VaR computations are based on the risk representation of the underlying benchmark for each instrument or contract and does not distinguish between exchange and non-exchange dealer-based instruments. It is also not based on exchange and/or dealer-based maintenance margin requirements.
VaR models, including the Trust’s, are continually evolving as trading portfolios become more diverse and modeling techniques and systems capabilities improve. Please note that the VaR model is used to numerically quantify market risk for historic reporting purposes only and is not utilized by the Trust in its daily risk management activities. Please further note that VaR as described above may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other entities.
Because the business of the Trust is the speculative trading of futures, forwards and options, the composition of the Trust’s trading portfolio can change significantly over any given time period, or even within a single trading day, which could positively or negatively materially impact market risk as measured by VaR.
The Trust’s Trading Value at Risk in Different Market Sectors
The following tables indicate the trading Value at Risk associated with the Trust’s open positions by market category as of December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 and the trading gains/losses by market category for the years then ended.
December 31, 2009
*
- The VaR for a sector represents the one day downside risk for the aggregate exposures associated with this sector. The aggregate VaR represents the VaR of the Trust’s open positions across all market sectors, and is less than the sum of the VaRs for all such market sectors due to the diversification benefit across asset classes.
**
- Of the return for the year ended December 31, 2009, approximately (1.74)% was due to trading gains (before commissions) and approximately 0.15% due to interest income offset by approximately (4.19)% was due to brokerage fees, operating costs and offering costs borne by the Trust offset by giving a net return of (5.78)%.
December 31, 2008
*
- The VaR for a sector represents the one day downside risk for the aggregate exposures associated with this sector. The aggregate VaR represents the VaR of the Trust’s open positions across all market sectors, and is less than the sum of the VaRs for all such market sectors due to the diversification benefit across asset classes.
**
- Of the return for the year ended December 31, 2008, approximately 4.43% was due to trading gains (before commissions) and approximately 1.51% due to interest income offset by approximately (4.17)% was due to brokerage fees, operating costs and offering costs borne by the Trust offset by giving a net return of 1.77%.
December 31, 2007
*
- The VaR for a sector represents the one day downside risk for the aggregate exposures associated with this sector. The aggregate VaR represents the VaR of the Trust’s open positions across all market sectors, and is less than the sum of the VaRs for all such market sectors due to the diversification benefit across asset classes.
**
- Of the return for the year ended December 31, 2007, approximately 11.32% was due to trading losses (before commissions) and approximately 4.91% due to brokerage fees, performance fees and operating and offering costs borne by the Trust offset by approximately 4.56% of interest income giving a net return of (11.67)%.
Material Limitations of Value at Risk as an Assessment of Market Risk
The following limitations of VaR as an assessment of market risk should be noted:
1)
Past changes in market risk factors will not always result in accurate predictions of the distributions and correlations of future market movements;
2)
Changes in portfolio value caused by market movements may differ from those of the VaR model;
3)
VaR results reflect past trading positions while future risk depends on future positions;
4)
VaR using a one day time horizon does not fully capture the market risk of positions that cannot be liquidated or hedged within one day; and
5)
The historical market risk factor data for VaR estimation may provide only limited insight into losses that could be incurred under certain unusual market movements.
VaR is not necessarily representative of historic risk nor should it be used to predict the Trust’s future financial performance or its ability to manage and monitor risk. There can be no assurance that the Trust’s actual losses on a particular day will not exceed the VaR amounts indicated or that such losses will not occur more than once in 40 trading days.
Non-Trading Risk
The Trust 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. The Trust also has non-trading market risk as a result of investing a substantial portion of its available assets in U.S. Treasury Bills held at the broker and over-the-counter counterparty. The market risk represented by these investments is minimal. Finally, the Trust has non-trading market risk on fixed income securities held as part of its cash management program. The cash manager will use its best endeavors in the management of the assets of the Trust but provide no guarantee that any profit or interest will accrue to the Trust as a result of such management.
Qualitative Disclosures Regarding Primary Trading Risk Exposures
The following qualitative disclosures regarding the Trust’s market risk exposures - except for (i) those disclosures that are statements of historical fact and (ii) the descriptions of how the Trust manages its primary market risk exposures - constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act. The Trust’s primary market risk exposures as well as the strategies used and to be used by Campbell & Company for managing such exposures are subject to numerous uncertainties, contingencies and risks, any one of which could cause the actual results of the Trust’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 the Trust. There can be no assurance that the Trust’s current market exposure and/or risk management strategies will not change materially or that any such strategies will be effective in either the short- or long-term. Investors must be prepared to lose all or substantially all of their investment in the Trust.
The following were the primary trading risk exposures of the Trust as of December 31, 2009, by market sector.
Currencies
Exchange rate risk is the principal market exposure of the Trust. The Trust’s currency exposure is to exchange rate fluctuations, primarily fluctuations which 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. The Trust trades in a large number of currencies, including cross-rates - i.e., positions between two currencies other than the U.S. Dollar. Campbell & Company does not anticipate that the risk profile of the Trust’s currency sector will change significantly in the future.
Interest Rates
Interest rate risk is a significant market exposure of the Trust. Interest rate movements directly affect the price of the sovereign bond positions held by the Trust and indirectly the value of its stock index and currency positions. Interest rate movements in one country as well as relative interest rate movements between countries materially impact the Trust’s profitability. The Trust’s primary interest rate exposure is to interest rate fluctuations in the United States and the other G-7 countries. Campbell & Company anticipates that G-7 interest rates will remain the primary rate exposure of the Trust for the foreseeable future. The changes in interest rates which have the most effect on the Trust are changes in long-term, as opposed to short-term rates. Most of the speculative positions held by the Trust are in medium- to long-term instruments.
Stock Indices
The Trust’s primary equity exposure is to equity price risk in the G-7 countries and several other countries (Hong Kong, Spain, Taiwan, and Netherlands). The stock index futures traded by the Trust are by law limited to futures on broadly based indices. The Trust is primarily exposed to the risk of adverse price trends or static markets in the major U.S., European and Japanese indices. (Static markets would not cause major market changes but would make it difficult for the Trust to avoid being “whipsawed” into numerous small losses).
Energy
The Trust’s primary energy market exposure is to crude oil and derivative product price movements, often resulting from international political developments and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and the perceived outcome. Oil and gas prices can be volatile and substantial profits and losses have been and are expected to continue to be experienced in this market.
Metals
The Trust’s metals market exposure is to fluctuations in the price of gold, silver, copper, nickel and zinc.
Agricultural
The Trust’s agricultural exposure was to the fluctuations in the price of wheat, corn, coffee, and cotton.
Qualitative Disclosures Regarding Non-Trading Risk Exposure
The following were the primary non-trading risk exposures of the Trust as of December 31, 2009.
Foreign Currency Balances
The Trust’s primary foreign currency balances are in Japanese Yen, British Pounds and Euros. The Trust controls the non-trading risk of these balances by regularly converting these balances back into dollars (no less frequently than twice per month, and more frequently if a particular foreign currency balance becomes unusually large).
Fixed Income Securities
The Trust’s primary market exposure in instruments (other than treasury positions described in the subsequent section) held other than for trading is in its fixed income portfolio. The cash manager, Wilmington, has authority to make certain investments on behalf of the Trust. All securities purchased by the cash manager
on behalf of the Trust will be held in the Trust’s custody account at the custodian. The cash manager will use its best endeavors in the management of the assets of the Trust but provide no guarantee that any profit or interest will accrue to the Trust as a result of such management.
Treasury Bill Positions Held for Margin Purposes
The Trust also has market exposure in its Treasury Bill portfolio. The Trust holds Treasury Bills (interest bearing and credit risk-free) with maturities no longer than six months. Violent fluctuations in prevailing interest rates could cause minimal mark-to-market losses on the Trust’s Treasury Bills, although substantially all of these short-term investments are held to maturity.
Qualitative Disclosures Regarding Means of Managing Risk Exposure
The means by which the Trust and Campbell & Company, severally, attempt to manage the risk of the Trust’s open positions is essentially the same in all market categories traded. Campbell & Company applies risk management policies to its trading which generally limit the total exposure that may be taken per “risk unit” of assets under management. In addition, Campbell & Company follows diversification guidelines (often formulated in terms of the balanced volatility between markets and correlated groups), as well as precalculating “stop-loss” points at which systems will signal to close out open positions.
Campbell & Company manages the risk of the Trust’s non-trading instruments of Treasury Bills held for margin purposes by limiting the duration of such instruments to no more than six months. Campbell & Company manages the risk of the Trust’s fixed income securities held for cash management purposes by restricting the cash managers to investing in securities that are modeled after those investments allowed by the futures broker as defined under The Commodity Exchange Act, Title 17, Part 1, § 1.25 Investment of customer funds. Investments can include, but are not limited to, (i) U.S. Government Securities, Government Agency Securities, Municipal Securities, banker acceptances and certificates of deposits; (ii) commercial paper; and (iii) corporate debt.
Campbell & Company manages the risk of the Trust’s non-trading instruments (Treasury Bills held for cash management purposes) by limiting the duration of such instruments to no more than six months.
General
The Trust is unaware of any (i) anticipated known demands, commitments or capital expenditures; (ii) material trends, favorable or unfavorable, in its capital resources; or (iii) trends or uncertainties that will have a material effect on operations. From time to time, certain regulatory agencies have proposed increased margin requirements on futures contracts. Because the Trust generally will use a small percentage of assets as margin, the Trust does not believe that any increase in margin requirements, as proposed, will have a material effect on the Trust’s operations.
Item 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Financial statements meeting the requirements of Regulation S-X appear beginning on Page 31 of this report. The supplementary financial information specified by Item 302 of Regulation S-K is included in Item 6.
Item 9.
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.
Item 9A.
Item 9A.
Controls and Procedures
Campbell & Company, Inc., the managing owner of the Trust, with the participation of the managing owner’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Rules 13a-15(e) or 15d-15(e)) with respect to the Trust as of the end of the period covered by this annual report. Based on their evaluation, the chief executive officer and chief financial officer have concluded that these disclosure controls and procedures are effective. There were no changes in the managing owner’s internal control over financial reporting applicable to the Trust identified in connection with the evaluation required by paragraph (d) of Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 or 15d-15 that occurred during the last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, internal control over financial reporting applicable to the Trust.
Item 9A (T).
Controls and Procedures
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Campbell & Company, Inc. (“CCI”), the managing owner of the Trust, is responsible for the management of the Trust. Management of CCI (“Management”) is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. The internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
The Management’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:
•
Pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Trust;
•
Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that the partnership’s transactions are being made only in accordance with authorizations of Management and;
•
Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Trust’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Management assessed the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009. In making this assessment, Management used the framework established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). As a result of this assessment and based on the criteria in the COSO framework, management has concluded that, as of December 31, 2009, the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting was effective.
This annual report does not include an attestation report of the Trust’s registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by the company’s registered public accounting firm pursuant to temporary rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit the company to provide only management’s reporting this annual report.
There was no information required to be disclosed in a report on form 8-K during the fourth quarter of 2009.
PART III
Item 10.
Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant
The Registrant has no directors or executive officers. The Registrant has no employees. It is managed by Campbell & Company in its capacity as general partner. Campbell & Company has been registered as a commodity pool operator (CPO) since September 1982. Its main business address is located at 2850 Quarry Lake Drive, Baltimore, Maryland 21209, (410) 413-2600. Campbell & Company’s directors and executive officers are as follows:
G. William Andrews, born in 1972, has been employed by Campbell & Company since April 1997 and was appointed Vice President: Director of Research Operations in March 2006 and has served as Vice President: Director of Operations since April 2007. His duties include managing daily research and trade operations, new research product implementation and code management. From November 1995 to April 1997, Mr. Andrews was employed at Legg Mason as a Research Analyst in the Realty Group. Before immigrating to the United States, he was employed by the Japanese Department of Education in the town of Fujimi, Nagano prefecture. Mr. Andrews holds an M.B.A. in Finance from Loyola College in Maryland and a Bachelor of Social Science from Waikato University, New Zealand. Mr. Andrews became listed as a Principal of Campbell & Company effective June 21, 2006.
Theresa D. Becks, born in 1963, joined Campbell & Company in June 1991 and has served as President and Chief Executive Officer since April 2007, Secretary since May 1992, a Director since January 1994, and was Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer until July 2008. Ms. Becks is also the President and Chief Executive Officer of Campbell & Company Investment Adviser LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Campbell & Company, and Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Campbell Multi-Strategy Trust, a registered investment company. Ms. Becks served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Managed Funds Association from November 2002 to November 2006. From December 1987 to June 1991, she was employed by Bank Maryland Corp, a publicly held company, as a Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. From September 1985 to December 1987, she worked with the public accounting firm Ernst & Young as a C.P.A. Ms. Becks is a C.P.A. and has a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Delaware. Ms. Becks became registered as an Associated Person and listed as a Principal and NFA Associate Member of Campbell & Company effective May 7, 1999, March 10, 1993 and April 21, 1999, respectively. Ms. Becks became registered as an Associated Person and listed as a Principal and NFA Associate Member of Campbell & Company Investment Adviser LLC effective December 14, 2005, December 12, 2005 and December 14, 2005, respectively.
D. Keith Campbell, born in 1942, has served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Campbell & Company since it began operations, was President until January 1994, and was Chief Executive Officer until January 1998. Mr. Campbell is the majority voting stockholder of Campbell & Company. Mr. Campbell has acted as a commodity trading advisor since January 1972 when, as general partner of the Campbell Fund, a limited partnership engaged in commodity futures trading, he assumed sole responsibility for trading decisions made on its behalf. Since then, he has applied various technical trading models to numerous discretionary futures trading accounts. Mr. Campbell is registered with the CFTC and NFA as a commodity pool operator. Mr. Campbell became registered as an Associated Person and listed as a Principal and NFA Associate Member of Campbell & Company effective October 29, 1997, September 29, 1978 and September 29, 1997, respectively. Mr. Campbell became listed as a Principal of Campbell & Company Investment Adviser LLC effective July 9, 2008. Mr. Campbell became listed as a Principal of his Commodity Pool Operator effective March 10, 1975.
Bruce L. Cleland, born in 1947, joined Campbell & Company in January 1993 and has served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Campbell & Company since April 2007, was President from January 1994 to April 2007, and Chief Executive Officer from January 1998 to April 2007. Until April 2007, Mr. Cleland was also the President and Chief Executive Officer of Campbell & Company Investment Adviser LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Campbell & Company, and Trustee, Chief Executive Officer and President of The Campbell Multi-Strategy Trust, a registered investment company. Mr. Cleland has worked in the international derivatives industry for over thirty years, and has owned and managed firms engaged in global clearing, floor brokerage, trading and portfolio management. Mr. Cleland is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the National Futures Association, and previously served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Managed Funds Association and as a member of the Board of Governors of the COMEX, in New York. Mr. Cleland is a graduate of Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand where he earned a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration degree. Mr. Cleland became registered as an Associated Person and listed as a Principal and NFA Associate Member of Campbell & Company effective December 15, 1993, September 15, 1993 and December 15, 1993, respectively. Mr. Cleland became listed as a Principal of Campbell & Company Investment Adviser LLC effective July 9, 2008. Mr. Cleland was a registered Associated Person and NFA Associate Member with Campbell & Company Investment Adviser LLC from December 2005 to April 2007.
Gregory T. Donovan, born in 1972, joined Campbell & Company in October 2006 and has served as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Campbell & Company since July 2008, and was Senior Vice President of Accounting and Finance from October 2006 to July 2008. His duties include oversight of accounting and finance functions and review of accounting policies and procedures. Mr. Donovan is also the Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary of both Campbell & Company Investment Adviser LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Campbell & Company, and The Campbell Multi-Strategy Trust, a registered investment company. From November 2003 to October 2006, Mr. Donovan was employed by Huron Consulting Services serving as Director in the Financial and Economic Consulting Practice. From May 1998 until November 2003, Mr. Donovan was employed by KPMG LLP in which he served in the capacity of Manager in the Forensic and Litigation Services Practice. Mr. Donovan is a C.P.A. and has a B.S. in Business Administration with concentrations in Accounting and Management from Castleton State College and holds a M.S. in Finance from the University of Baltimore. Mr. Donovan became registered as an Associated Person and listed as a Principal and NFA Associate Member of Campbell & Company effective July 5, 2007, May 9, 2007 and July 2, 2007, respectively. Mr. Donovan became listed as a Principal of Campbell & Company Investment Adviser LLC effective May 16, 2007.
Michael S. Harris, born in 1975, has been employed by Campbell & Company since July 2000, was appointed Deputy Manager of Trading in September 2004 and has served as Vice President and Director of Trading since June 2006. His duties include managing daily trade execution for the assets under Campbell & Company’s management. From October 1999 to July 2000, Mr. Harris worked as a futures and options broker for Refco Inc. (NY). From May 1997 to October 1999, he worked in the Sales and Product Development groups at Morgan Stanley Managed Futures. Mr. Harris holds a B.A. in Economics and Japanese Studies from Gettysburg College. He also spent time studying abroad at Kansai Gaidai University in Osaka, Japan. Mr. Harris became registered as an Associated Person and listed as a Principal and NFA Associate Member of Campbell & Company effective September 21, 2000, June 15, 2006 and August 19, 2000, respectively.
Michael J. Hebrank, born in 1955, joined Campbell & Company in April 2004 and has served as Chief Technology Officer since then. From February 1999 to April 2004, Mr. Hebrank was the Chief Information Officer at Greater Baltimore Medical Center, the fourth largest healthcare system in Maryland. Mr. Hebrank holds a B.S. in Applied Statistics from the University of Baltimore and an M.S. in Computer Engineering from Loyola College of Maryland. Mr. Hebrank became listed as a Principal of Campbell & Company effective June 21, 2006.
Kevin M. Heerdt, born in 1958, joined Campbell & Company in March 2003 and has served as Chief Investment Officer and Director of Research since July 2007, was Executive Vice President-Research from March 2003 to June 2007 and Chief Operating Officer from June 2005 to June 2007. His duties include risk management, research, and the development of quantitatively based hedge fund and options strategies. Mr. Heerdt is also the Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of both Campbell & Company Investment Adviser LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Campbell & Company, and The Campbell Multi-Strategy Trust, a registered investment company. From February 2002 to March 2003, he was the sole proprietor of Integrity Consulting, a start-up business consulting firm. From December 1990 to February 2002, Mr. Heerdt worked for Moore Capital
Management, Inc., a private investment management firm, and its affiliates, where he was a Director and a Managing Director. Mr. Heerdt holds a B.A. in Economics and in International Relations from the University of Southern California. Mr. Heerdt became registered as an Associated Person and listed as a Principal and NFA Associate Member of Campbell & Company effective April 15, 2003, April 15, 2003 and April 1, 2003, respectively. Mr. Heerdt became registered as an Associated Person and listed as a Principal and NFA Associate Member of Campbell & Company Investment Adviser LLC effective December 14, 2005, December 12, 2005 and December 14, 2005, respectively. On March 12, 2010, by mutual agreement, Chief Investment Officer Kevin Heerdt left Campbell & Company to pursue other interests. Going forward, management of the research and investment process at Campbell will be conducted by an Investment Committee chaired by Campbell’s Vice Chairman Bruce Cleland. Other members of the Investment Committee will be Research Director, Xiaohua Hu, PhD, and Chief Operating Officer Will Andrews.
Thomas P. Lloyd, born in 1959, joined Campbell & Company in September 2005 as General Counsel and Executive Vice President-Legal and Compliance. In this capacity, he is involved in all aspects of legal affairs, compliance and regulatory oversight. Since April 2007, Mr. Lloyd has also overseen Campbell & Company’s fund administration function. Mr. Lloyd is also the Secretary, Chief Compliance Officer and Assistant Treasurer of both Campbell & Company Investment Adviser LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Campbell & Company, and The Campbell Multi-Strategy Trust, a registered investment company. From July 1999 to September 2005, Mr. Lloyd was employed by Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. (“DBSI”) in several positions, including Managing Director and head of the legal group for Deutsche Bank Alex. Brown, the Private Client Division of DBSI. From March 1997 to July 1999, Mr. Lloyd was an attorney in the Enforcement Department of NASD Regulation, Inc., and, from July 1995 to March 1997, he served as a senior counsel in the Division of Enforcement of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. From January 1989 to July 1995, he was engaged in the private practice of law. Mr. Lloyd holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Maryland, and a J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law. Mr. Lloyd is a member of the Bars of the State of Maryland and the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Lloyd became listed as a Principal of Campbell & Company and Campbell & Company Investment Adviser LLC effective October 20, 2005 and December 12, 2005, respectively.
Tracy Wills-Zapata, born in 1971, joined Campbell & Company in February 2006 and has served as Managing Director - Business Development since January 2007 and was Managing Director of Institutional Business Development from February 2006 to January 2007. Prior to joining Campbell, Ms. Wills-Zapata was a Managing Director of DB Advisors LLC, and affiliates, from September 2002 to December 2005, where she was responsible for distribution of Deutsche Bank’s single manager hedge fund platform. Ms. Wills-Zapata was registered as an Associated Person from January 2005 to December 2005 with DB Capital Advisers Inc., from February 2003 to January 2005 with DB Advisors LLC, and from November 2002 to February 2003 with Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. Ms. Wills-Zapata was listed as a Principal with DB Advisors LLC from February 2003 to February 2004. Ms. Wills-Zapata was an NFA Associate Member from December 2004 to December 2005 with DB Capital Advisers Inc., from January 2003 to January 2005 with DB Advisors LLC, and from November 2002 to February 2003 with Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. From April 1995 to September 2002, Ms. Wills-Zapata was employed by Dominion Capital Management, Inc., a global money management firm specializing in financial derivatives portfolios, where she served as a Principal and Executive Vice President. Ms. Wills-Zapata was registered as an Associated Person and listed as a Principal and NFA Associate Member with Dominion Capital Management, Inc. from April 1995 to September 2002, from November 1999 to September 2002, and from April 1995 to September 2002, respectively. From December 1993 to April 1995, Ms. Wills-Zapata was employed by R.J. O’Brien & Associates, Inc., an independent futures brokerage firm, as an Executive Vice President. Ms. Wills-Zapata was registered as an Associated Person and listed as an NFA Associate Member with R.J. O’Brien & Associates, Inc. from March 1995 to June 2000. Ms. Wills-Zapata is currently a member of the Board of Directors and a Member of the Executive Committee for the Managed Funds Association. Ms. Wills-Zapata became registered as an Associated Person and listed as a Principal and NFA Associate Member of Campbell & Company effective March 27, 2006, July 21, 2008 and March 27, 2006, respectively. Ms. Wills-Zapata became registered as an Associated Person and listed as a Principal and NFA Associate Member of Campbell & Company Investment Adviser LLC effective February 18, 2009.
There has never been a material administrative, civil or criminal action brought against Campbell & Company or any of its directors, executive officers, promoters or control persons.
No Forms 3, 4, or 5 have been furnished to the Registrant since inception. To the best of the Registrant’s knowledge, no such forms have been or are required to be filed.
Audit Committee Financial Expert
The Board of Directors of Campbell & Company, in its capacity as the audit committee for the Trust, has determined that Gregory T. Donovan qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. He is not independent of management.
Code of Ethics
Campbell & Company has adopted a code of ethics for its chief executive officer, chief financial officer, director of fund accounting, accounting managers and persons performing similar functions. A copy of the code of ethics may be obtained at no charge by written request to Campbell & Company’s corporate secretary, 2850 Quarry Lake Drive, Baltimore, Maryland 21209 or by calling 1-800-698-7235.
The Registrant is managed by its managing owner, Campbell & Company. Campbell & Company receives from the Registrant a Brokerage Fee equal to 2.85% of the Registrant’s month-end Net Assets per year. From such 2.85% Brokerage Fee, Campbell & Company remits 0.35% to the broker-dealers which engaged in the distribution of the Units in return for ongoing services to the Unitholders. Campbell & Company retains the remaining 2.5% as management fees (2% for providing advisory fees and 0.5% for acting as managing owner). Campbell & Company also receives a performance fee of 20% of the aggregate cumulative appreciation (if any) in Net Asset Value per unit at the end of each calendar quarter, exclusive of the appreciation attributable to interest income. The performance fee is paid on the cumulative increase if any, in the Net Asset Value per Unit over the highest previous cumulative Net Asset Value per Unit (commonly referred to as a “High Water Mark”). In determining the fees in this paragraph, adjustments shall be made for capital additions and withdrawals and Net Assets shall not be reduced by the fees being calculated for such current period. The performance fee is not subject to any clawback provisions. The brokerage fee and performance fee are typically paid in the month following the month in which they are earned. The brokerage fee and performance fee are paid from the available cash at the Trust’s bank, broker or cash management accounts.
Item 12.
Item 12.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
Item 13.
Item 13.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
See Item 11, Executive Compensation and Item 12, Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.
Item 14.
Item 14.
Principal Accounting Fees and Services
The principle accountant for the year ended December 31, 2009 was Deloitte & Touche LLP.
(a)
Audit Fees
The aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for the audit of the Trust’s annual financial statements, for review of financial statements included in the Trust’s Forms 10-Q and other services normally provided in connection with regulatory filings for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 were $36,450 and $60,050, respectively.
(b)
Audit Related Fees
The aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by the principal accountant in connection with Sarbanes Oxley compliance for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 were $5,070 and $0, respectively.
(c)
Tax Fees
None
(d)
All Other Fees
None
(e)
The Board of Directors of Campbell & Company approved all of the services described above. The Board of Directors has determined that the payments made to its independent accountants for these services are compatible with maintaining such auditors’ independence. The Board of Directors explicitly pre-approves all audit and non-audit services and all engagement fees and terms.
PART IV
Item 15.
Item 15.
Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K
(a)
The Following documents are filed as part of this report:
(1)
See Financial Statements beginning on page 40 hereof.
(2)
Schedules:
Financial statement schedules have been omitted because they are not included in the financial statements or notes hereto applicable or because equivalent information has been included in the financial statements or notes thereto.
(3)
Exhibit
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15 (d) 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 on March 31, 2010.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant in the capacities of Campbell & Company, Inc., Managing Owner of the Registrant indicated on March 31, 2010.
CAMPBELL ALTERNATIVE ASSET TRUST
ANNUAL REPORT
December 31, 2009
CAMPBELL ALTERNATIVE ASSET TRUST
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Unitholders of Campbell Alternative Asset Trust
We have audited the accompanying statements of financial condition of Campbell Alternative Asset Trust (the “Trust”), including the condensed of schedules of investments, as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the related statements of operations, cash flows, changes in unitholders’ capital (net asset value) and financial highlights for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2009. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Campbell Alternative Asset Trust as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, the results of its operations, cash flows, changes in its unitholders’ capital (net asset value) and financial highlights for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2009, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Princeton, New Jersey
March 26, 2010
Campbell Alternative Asset Trust
Condensed Schedule of Investments
December 31, 2009
FIXED INCOME SECURITIES
See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
Campbell Alternative Asset Trust
Condensed Schedule of Investments
December 31, 2009
LONG FUTURES CONTRACTS
SHORT FUTURES CONTRACTS
FORWARD CURRENCY CONTRACTS
PURCHASED OPTIONS ON FORWARD CURRENCY CONTRACTS
See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
Campbell Alternative Asset Trust
Condensed Schedule of Investments
December 31, 2009
WRITTEN OPTIONS ON FORWARD CURRENCY CONTRACTS
*
Pledged as collateral for the trading of futures, forward and option positions.
See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
Campbell Alternative Asset Trust
Condensed Schedule of Investments
December 31, 2008
FIXED INCOME SECURITIES
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT SECURITIES*
LONG FUTURES CONTRACTS
SHORT FUTURES CONTRACTS
See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
Campbell Alternative Asset Trust
Condensed Schedule of Investments
December 31, 2008
FORWARD CURRENCY CONTRACTS
PURCHASED OPTIONS ON FORWARD CURRENCY CONTRACTS
WRITTEN OPTIONS ON FORWARD CURRENCY CONTRACTS
*
Pledged as collateral for the trading of futures, forward and option positions.
See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
Campbell Alternative Asset Trust
Statements of Financial Condition
December 31, 2009 And 2008
See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements
Campbell Alternative Asset Trust
Statements of Operations
For The Years Ended December 31, 2009, 2008 And 2007
See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
Campbell Alternative Asset Trust
Statements of Cash Flows
For The Years Ended December 31, 2009, 2008 And 2007
See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
Campbell Alternative Asset Trust
Statements of Changes in unitholders capital (Net Asset Value)
For The Years Ended December 31, 2009, 2008 And 2007
See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
Campbell Alternative Asset Trust
Financial Highlights
For The Years Ended December 31, 2009, 2008 And 2007
The following information presents per unit operating performance data and other supplemental financial data for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007. This information has been derived from information presented in the financial statements.
Total returns are calculated based on the change in value of a unit during the year. An individual partner’s total returns and ratios may vary from the above total returns and ratios based on the timing of additions and redemptions.
(1)
Net investment income (loss) per unit and offering costs per unit are calculated by dividing the net investment income (loss) and offering costs by the average number of units outstanding during the year. Total net trading gains (losses) is a balancing amount necessary to reconcile the change in net asset value per unit with the other per unit information.
(2)
Excludes performance fee.
See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
Campbell Alternative Asset Trust
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2009
Note 1. ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
A.
General Description of the Trust
Campbell Alternative Asset Trust (the Trust) is a Delaware statutory trust which operates as a commodity investment pool. The Trust was formed on May 3, 2000 and commenced trading on October 1, 2001. The Trust engages in the speculative trading of futures contracts, forward currency contracts and options on forward currency contracts.
As of December 31, 2002, units are no longer offered to the public, but are offered exclusively for sale to the Campbell & Company, Inc. 401(K) Plan (the 401(K) Plan). At December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, the 401(K) Plan held approximately 74% and 68% of the Trust’s outstanding units, respectively.
B.
Regulation
As a registrant with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Trust is subject to the regulatory requirements under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. As a commodity investment pool, the Trust is subject to the regulations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, 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 Trust executes transactions. Additionally, the Trust is subject to the requirements of futures commission merchants (brokers) and interbank market makers through which the Trust trades.
C.
Method of Reporting
The Trust’s financial statements are presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, which may require the use of certain estimates made by the Trust’s management. Actual results may differ from these estimates. Investment transactions are accounted for on the trade date. Gains or losses are realized when contracts are liquidated. Unrealized gains and losses on open contracts (the difference between contract trade price and market price) are reported in the statement of financial condition as a net gain or loss, as there exists a right of offset of unrealized gains or losses in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 210-20, Offsetting - Balance Sheet, (formerly FAS No. 39 - “Offsetting of Amounts Related to Certain Contracts”). The market value of futures (exchange-traded) contracts is determined by the various futures exchanges, and reflects the settlement price for each contract as of the close on the last business day of the reporting period. The market value of forward currency (non-exchange traded) contracts was extrapolated on a forward basis from the spot prices quoted as of 3:00 P.M. (E.T.) on the last business day of the reporting period or based on the market value of its exchange-traded equivalent.
The market value of option (non-exchange traded) contracts is calculated by applying an industry-standard adaptation of the Black-Scholes options valuation model to foreign currency options, using as input, the spot prices, interest rates and option implied volatilities quoted as of 3:00 P.M. (E.T.) on the last business day of the reporting period. Any change in net unrealized gain or loss from the preceding period is reported in the statement of operations.
When the Trust writes an option, an amount equal to the premium received by the Trust is reflected as an asset and an equivalent liability. The amount of the liability is subsequently marked-to-market to reflect the current market value of option written. Brokerage commissions include other trading fees and are charged to expense when contracts are opened.
The fixed income investments, other than U.S. Treasury bills held at the brokers or interbank market makers, are marked-to-market on the last business day of the reporting period by a custodian who utilizes a third party vendor hierarchy of pricing providers who specialize in such markets. The prices furnished by the providers consider the yield or price of bonds of comparable quality, coupon, maturity, and type, as well as prices quoted by dealers who make markets in such securities. U.S. Treasury bills not held by the custodian are stated at cost plus accrued interest,
Campbell Alternative Asset Trust
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2009
which approximates fair value. Premiums and discounts on debt securities are amortized for financial reporting purposes.
For purposes of both financial reporting and calculation of redemption value, Net Asset Value per unit is calculated by dividing Net Asset Value by the number of outstanding units.
The Trust adopted the provisions of ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (formerly FASB No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements”), as of January 1, 2008. ASC 820 provides guidance for determining fair value and requires increased disclosure regarding the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. 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.
ASC 820 establishes a fair value hierarchy which prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3).
Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Trust has the ability to access at the measurement date. An active market for the asset or liability is a market in which transactions for the asset or liability occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis. The value of the Trust’s exchange-traded futures contracts fall into this category.
Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. This category includes forward currency contracts and options on forward currency contracts that the Trust values using models or other valuation methodologies derived from observable market data. This category also includes fixed income investments.
Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for an asset or liability (including the Fund’s own assumptions used in determining the fair value of investments). Unobservable inputs shall be used to measure fair value to the extent that observable inputs are not available, thereby allowing for situations in which there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date. As of and for the year ended December 31, 2009, the Trust did not have any Level 3 assets or liabilities.
The following tables set forth by level within the fair value hierarchy the Trust’s investments accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008.
Campbell Alternative Asset Trust
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2009
D.
Income Taxes
The Trust prepares calendar year U.S. federal and applicable state information tax returns and reports to the unitholders their allocable shares of the Trust’s income, expenses and trading gains or losses. No provision for income taxes has been made in the accompanying financial statements as each unitholder is individually responsible for reporting income or loss based on such unitholder’s respective share of the Trust’s income and expenses as reported for income tax purposes.
Management has continued to evaluate the application of ASC 740, Income Taxes (formerly FIN No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes”) to the Trust, and has determined that no reserves for uncertain tax positions were required. The Trust files federal and state tax returns. The 2006 through 2009 tax years generally remain subject to examination by the U.S. federal and most state tax authorities.
E.
Offering Costs
Campbell & Company, Inc. (Campbell & Company) has incurred all costs in connection with the initial and continuous offering of units of the Trust (offering costs). Offering costs are charged to the Trust at a monthly rate of 1/12 of 0.9% (0.9% annualized) of the Trust’s month-end net asset value (as defined in the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust and Trust Agreement) until such amounts are fully reimbursed. Such amounts are charged directly to unitholders’ capital. The Trust is only liable for payment of offering costs on a monthly basis. At December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, the Trust reflects a liability in the statement of financial condition for offering costs payable to Campbell & Company of $5,727 and $9,025, respectively.
The offering costs for which Campbell & Company are being reimbursed relate to the offering of units of the Trust to all unitholders except the 401(K) Plan. Therefore, Campbell & Company rebates to the 401(K) Plan the offering costs charged to the 401(K) Plan. All such rebates are made by issuing additional units to the 401(K) Plan.
If the Trust terminates prior to completion of payment to Campbell & Company for the unreimbursed offering costs incurred through the date of such termination, Campbell & Company will not be entitled to any additional payments, and the Trust will have no further obligation to Campbell & Company. At December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, the amount of unreimbursed offering costs incurred by Campbell & Company is $25,094 and $114,051, respectively.
Campbell Alternative Asset Trust
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2009
F.
Foreign Currency Transactions
The Trust’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 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.
G.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In January 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards update No. 2010-06 (“ASU 2010-06”) for improving disclosure about fair value measurements. ASU 2010-06 adds new disclosure requirements about transfers into and out of Levels 1 and 2 and separate disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances and settlements in the reconciliation for fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3). It also clarifies existing disclosure requirements relating to the levels of disaggregation for fair value measurement and inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The amended guidance is effective for financial statements for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2009 except for disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances and settlements in the rollforward of activity in Level 3 fair value measurements, which are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010 and for interim periods within those fiscal years. The impact of this guidance on the Trust’s financial statements and disclosures, if any, is currently being assessed.
Note 2.
MANAGING OWNER AND COMMODITY TRADING ADVISOR
The managing owner of the Trust is Campbell & Company, which conducts and manages the business of the Trust. Campbell & Company is also the commodity trading advisor of the Trust. The Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust and Trust Agreement requires Campbell & Company to maintain a capital account equal to 1% of the total capital accounts of the Trust. Additionally, Campbell & Company is required by the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust and Trust Agreement to maintain a net worth of not less than $1,000,000.
The Trust pays a monthly brokerage fee of 1/12 of 2.85% (2.85% annualized) of month-end net assets to Campbell & Company and approximately $4 per round turn to the broker for execution and clearing costs. Such costs are limited to 3.5% of average month-end net assets per year. From the 2.85% fee, a portion (0.35%) is used to compensate selling agents for administrative services and a portion (2.5%) is retained by Campbell & Company for trading and management services rendered.
Campbell & Company is also paid a performance fee equal to 20% of New Appreciation (as defined) calculated as of the end of each calendar quarter and upon redemption of units. More specifically, the performance fee is paid on the cumulative increase, if any, in the Net Asset Value per Unit over the highest previous cumulative Net Asset Value per Unit (commonly referred to as a “High Water Mark”) adjusting for investment income. In determining the brokerage and performance fees, adjustments shall be made for capital additions and withdrawals and Net Assets shall not be reduced by the fees being calculated for such current period. The performance fee is not subject to any clawback provisions. The brokerage fee and performance fee are typically paid in the month following the month in which they are earned. The brokerage fee and performance fee are paid from the available cash at the Trust’s bank, broker or cash management accounts.
Campbell & Company rebates to the 401(K) Plan the brokerage fee and the performance fee applicable to the 401(K) Plan. All such rebates are made by issuing additional units to the 401(K) Plan.
Campbell Alternative Asset Trust
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2009
Note 3. TRUSTEE
The trustee of the Trust is U.S. Bank National Association, a national banking corporation. The trustee has delegated to the managing operator the duty and authority to manage the business and affairs of the Trust and has only nominal duties and liabilities with respect to the Trust.
Note 4. CASH MANAGER AND CUSTODIAN
The Trust has appointed Wilmington Trust Investment Management LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Wilmington Trust Corporation, as cash manager under the Non-Custody Investment Advisory Agreement dated July 8, 2009, to manage and control the liquid assets of the Trust. The cash manager is registered as an investment adviser with the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
The Trust opened a custodial account at The Northern Trust Company (the custodian) and has granted the cash manager authority to make certain investments on behalf of the Trust provided such investments are consistent with the investment guidelines created by the managing operator. All securities purchased by the cash manager on behalf of the Trust will be held in its custody account at the custodian. The cash manager will have no beneficial or other interest in the securities and cash in such custody account. The cash manager began trading on behalf of the Trust in August 2009.
Note 5. DEPOSITS WITH BROKER
The Trust deposits assets with a broker subject to Commodity Futures Trading Commission regulations and various exchange and broker requirements. Margin requirements are satisfied by the deposit of U.S. Treasury bills and cash with such broker. The Trust typically earns interest income on its assets deposited with the broker.
Note 6. OPERATING EXPENSES
Operating expenses of the Trust are restricted by the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust and Trust Agreement to 0.40% per annum of the average month-end Net Asset Value of the Trust.
Note 7. SUBSCRIPTIONS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND REDEMPTIONS
Investments in the Trust are made by subscription agreement, subject to acceptance by Campbell & Company.
The Trust is not required to make distributions, but may do so at the sole discretion of Campbell & Company. A unitholder may request and receive redemption of units owned, subject to restrictions in the Declaration of Trust and Trust Agreement. Units are transferable, but no market exists for their sale and none is expected to develop. Monthly redemptions are permitted upon ten (10) business days advance written notice to Campbell & Company.
Note 8. TRADING ACTIVITIES AND RELATED RISKS
The Trust engages in the speculative trading of U.S. and foreign futures contracts, forward currency contracts and options on forward currency contracts (collectively, “derivatives”). Specifically, the Fund trades a portfolio primarily focused on financial futures, which are instruments designed to hedge or speculate on changes in interest rates, currency exchange rates or stock index values. A secondary emphasis is on metals, energy and agriculture values. The Trust 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 market sensitive instruments held by the Trust are acquired for speculative trading purposes, and all or a substantial amount of the Trust’s assets are subject to the risk of trading loss. Unlike an operating company, the risk of market sensitive instruments is integral, not incidental, to the Trust’s main line of business.
Purchase and sale of futures contracts requires margin deposits with the brokers. Additional deposits may be necessary for any loss on contract value. The Commodity Exchange Act requires a broker to segregate all customer transactions and assets from such broker’s proprietary
Campbell Alternative Asset Trust
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2009
activities. A customer’s cash and other property (for example, U.S. Treasury bills) deposited with a broker are considered commingled with all other customer trusts subject to the broker’s segregation requirements. In the event of a broker’s insolvency, recovery may be limited to a pro rata share of segregated Trusts available. It is possible that the recovered amount could be less than total cash and other property deposited.
The amount of required margin and good faith deposits with the broker and interbank market makers usually range from 10% to 30% of Net Asset Value. The market value of securities held to satisfy such requirements at December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 was $6,649,184 and $1,100,000, respectively, which equals 23% and 3% of Net Asset Value, respectively. The cash deposited with interbank market makers at December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 was $102,855 and $257,949, respectively, which equals 0% and 1% of Net Asset Value, respectively. These amounts are included in cash. Included in cash deposits with the broker and interbank market maker at December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 was restricted cash for margin requirements of $0 and $1,180,793 respectively, which equals 0% and 3% of Net Asset Value respectively.
The Trust trades forward currency and options on forward currency contracts in unregulated markets between principals and assumes the risk of loss from counterparty nonperformance. Accordingly, the risks associated with forward currency and options on foreign currency contracts are generally greater than those associated with exchange traded contracts because of the greater risk of counterparty default. Additionally, the trading of forward currency and options on forward currency contracts typically involves delayed cash settlement.
The Trust has a substantial portion of its assets on deposit with financial institutions. In the event of a financial institution’s insolvency, recovery of Trust assets on deposit may be limited to account insurance or other protection afforded such deposits.
For derivatives, risks arise from changes in the market value of the contracts. Market movements result in frequent changes in the fair market value of the Trust’s open positions and, consequently, in its earnings and cash flow. The Trust’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, the diversification effects among the Trust’s open positions and the liquidity of the markets in which it trades. Theoretically, the Trust is exposed to a market risk equal to the notional contract value of futures and forward currency contracts purchased and unlimited liability on such contracts sold short. As both a buyer and seller of options, the Trust 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 Trust to potentially unlimited liability, and purchased options expose the Trust to a risk of loss limited to the premiums paid. See Note 1. C. for an explanation of how the Trust determines its valuation for derivatives as well as the netting of derivatives.
The unrealized gain (loss) on open futures, forward currency and options on forward currency contracts is comprised of the following:
Campbell Alternative Asset Trust
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2009
The trading revenue of the Trust’s derivatives by instrument type, as well as the location of those gains and losses on the Statement of Operations, for the year ended December 31, 2009 is as follows:
Campbell Alternative Asset Trust
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2009
For the year ended December 31, 2009, the monthly average of futures contracts bought and sold was approximately 900, and the monthly average of notional value of forward currency and options on forward currency contracts was $175,300,000.
Open contracts generally mature within three months; as of December 31, 2009, the latest maturity date for open futures contracts is March 2011, the latest maturity date for open forward currency contracts is March 2010, and the latest expiry date for options on forward currency contracts is January 2010. However, the Trust intends to close all futures and foreign currency contracts prior to maturity.
Campbell & Company has established procedures to actively monitor market risk and minimize credit risk, although there can be no assurance that it will, in fact, succeed in doing so. Campbell & Company’s basic market risk control procedures consist of continuously monitoring open positions, diversification of the portfolio and maintenance of a margin-to-equity ratio that rarely exceeds 30%. Campbell & Company’s attempt to manage the risk of the Trust’s open positions is essentially the same in all market categories traded. Campbell & Company applies risk management policies to its trading which generally limit the total exposure that may be taken per “risk unit” of assets under management. In addition, Campbell & Company follows diversification guidelines (often formulated in terms of the balanced volatility between markets and correlated groups), as well as precalculating “stop-loss” points at which systems will signal to close open positions. Campbell & Company controls the risk of the Fund’s non-trading fixed income instruments by limiting the duration of such instruments and requiring a minimum credit quality of the issuers of those instruments.
Campbell & Company seeks to minimize credit risk primarily by depositing and maintaining the Trust’s assets at financial institutions and brokers which Campbell & Company believes to be credit worthy. The unitholder bears the risk of loss only to the extent of the market value of their respective investments and, in certain specific circumstances, distributions and redemptions received.
Campbell Alternative Asset Trust
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2009
Note 9. INDEMNIFICATIONS
In the normal course of business, the Trust enters into contracts and agreements that contain a variety of representations and warranties which provide general indemnifications. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred. The Trust expects the risk of any future obligation under these indemnifications to be remote.
Note 10. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Management of the Trust has evaluated subsequent events through the date the financial statements were issued. There are no subsequent events to disclose or record.
EXHIBIT INDEX
E-1