Item 1. Business.
General development of business
The Campbell Fund Trust (the "Registrant" or the “Trust”) is a business trust organized on January 2, 1996 under the Delaware Business Trust Act, which was replaced by the Delaware Statutory Trust Act as of September 1, 2002. The Trust is a successor to the Campbell Fund Limited Partnership (formerly known as the Commodity Trend Fund) and began trading operations in January 1972. The Trust currently trades in the U.S. and international futures and forward markets under the sole direction of Campbell & Company, Inc. (“Campbell & Company” or the “managing operator”). Specifically, the Trust trades in a diverse array of global assets, including global interest rates, stock indices, currencies and commodities. The Trust is an actively managed account with speculative trading profits as its objective.
As a registrant with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), the Trust is subject to the regulatory requirements under the Securities Act of 1934. As a commodity investment pool, the Trust is subject to the provisions of the Commodity Exchange Act, regulations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the "CFTC"), an agency of the United States government which regulates most aspects of the commodity futures industry; rules of the National Futures Association (the "NFA"), 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 and interbank market makers through which the Trust trades.
U.S. Bank National Association, a national banking corporation, (the “Trustee”), is the sole trustee of the Trust. The Trustee is unaffiliated with the managing operator and the Trust’s selling agents, and its duties and liabilities with respect to the offering of the Units of Beneficial Interest (the “Units”) are limited to its express obligations under the Declaration of Trust and Trust Agreement.
Under the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust and Trust Agreement, the Trustee has delegated the exclusive management of all aspects of the business and administration of the Trust to Campbell & Company, a Maryland corporation organized in April 1978 as a successor to a partnership originally organized in January 1974. Campbell & Company is registered with the CFTC as a commodity pool operator and a commodity trading advisor, and is a member of the NFA in such capacities. In addition to managing all aspects of business and administration, Campbell & Company makes all trading decisions for the Trust. Campbell & Company uses a systematic trading approach combined with quantitative portfolio management analysis and seeks to identify and profit from price movements in the futures and forward markets. Multiple trading models are utilized across most markets traded. Each model analyzes market movements and internal market and price configurations in order to generate signals to be executed through a variety of execution platforms.
The Trust’s funds are traded pursuant to Campbell & Company’s Global Diversified Large Portfolio. Prior to June 1997, Campbell & Company had one Global Diversified Portfolio. In June 1997, the Global Diversified Portfolio was split into two separate portfolios, the Global Diversified Large Portfolio (which generally is used for accounts greater than $10 million) and the Global Diversified Small Portfolio (which is generally used for accounts less than $10 million). From inception through June 1997, the Trust’s account was traded pursuant to Campbell & Company’s Global Diversified Portfolio. Between June 1997 and August 1999, the Trust’s account was traded pursuant to the Global Diversified Small Portfolio, and since August 1, 1999, has been traded pursuant to the Global Diversified Large Portfolio.
The Registrant will be terminated and dissolved promptly thereafter upon the happening of the earlier of: (a) the expiration of the Trust’s stated term on December 3l, 2025; (b) an election to terminate the Trust at any time by Unitholders owning more than 50% of the Units then outstanding; (c) the trading in commodity futures is terminated, suspended or for any reason becomes impossible or economically unfeasible in the sole judgment of the managing operator; or (d) the date upon which the Trust is dissolved by operation of law or judicial decree.
Effective August 31, 2008, the Trust began offering Series A, Series B, and Series W Units. The units in the Trust prior to that date became Series B Units. Series B Units are only available for additional investment by existing holders of Series B Units.
As of December 31, 2011, the aggregate capitalization of the Trust was $374,632,413 with Series A, Series B and Series W comprising $140,986,636, $215,781,891and $17,863,886, respectively, of the total. The Net Asset Value per Unit was $2,461.73 for Series A, $2,513.99 for Series B, and $2,560.99 for Series W.
Financial information about segments
The Trust’s business constitutes only one segment for financial reporting purposes, i.e., a speculative “commodity pool.” The Trust does not engage in the sale of goods or services.
Narrative description of business
General
The purpose of the Trust is to engage in the speculative trading, buying, selling, or otherwise acquiring, holding or disposing of commodities, including futures contracts, forward contracts and any other rights pertaining thereto, and for such other purposes as may be incidental or related thereto. The Fund has no employees.
The Trust trades speculatively in the U.S. and international futures and forward markets. Specifically, the Trust trades in a diverse array of global assets, including global interest rates, stock indices, currencies and commodities. The Trust has entered into an advisory agreement with Campbell & Company whereby it trades the Trust’s assets pursuant to Campbell & Company’s Global Diversified Large Portfolio. The Global Diversified Large Portfolio seeks exposure to these markets by following signals generated by a series of systematic computer models. The Global Diversified Large Portfolio employs a broad spectrum of models including traditional and factor-based trend following models, as well as a number of macroeconomic-based models. The average sector allocation for each sector as of the previous six month ends, through December 31, 2011, is as follows: 31% to interest rates, 28% to commodities, 28% to currencies, and 13% to stock indices. Sector allocation for each sector is calculated using the dollar value of margin posted to support trading in all sectors.
Use of Proceeds and Cash Management Income
Subscription Proceeds and Available Assets
The entire offering proceeds, without deductions, will be credited to the Trust‘s bank, brokerage and/or cash management 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 counterparty. 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, may 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 the over-the-counter counterparty in order to initiate and maintain currency 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 cash, U.S. government securities or short-term time deposits with U.S. regulated bank affiliates of the over-the-counter counterparty. The remaining 40% to 80% of the Trust‘s assets will be invested in cash, cash equivalents or other liquid positions in its cash management program over and above that needed to post as collateral for trading.
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.
In the event net asset value per unit as of the end of any business day declines by 50% or more from either the prior year-end or the prior month-end unit value, Campbell & Company will suspend trading activities, notify all unitholders of the relevant facts within seven business days and declare a special redemption period.
Cash Manager and Custodian
The Trust appointed Horizon Cash Management LLC as cash manager (the “Cash Manager”) under the Investment Advisory Agreement dated December 22, 2010 to manage and control the liquid assets of the Trust. The Cash Manager is registered as an investment adviser with the SEC of the United States under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The Cash Manager specializes in investments which are predominately short-term in maturity and high grade, high quality in nature with particular emphasis on U.S. Treasury securities and U.S. Government Agencies’ issues.
The Trust opened a custodial account at The Northern Trust Company (the “Custodian”), and has granted the Cash Manager a limited power of attorney over such accounts. Such power of attorney gives 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 to the Trust. Such investments include, but are not limited to, U.S. Treasury securities, securities issued by U.S. Government Agencies, high quality money-market securities and repurchase agreements. All securities purchased by the Cash Manager on behalf of the Trust or other liquid funds 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.
Market Sectors
Campbell & Company’s FME Large Portfolio trades in a fully diversified portfolio of futures and forward markets, including energy products (Brent crude, gas oil, heating oil, natural gas, unleaded gasoline and WTI Crude), agricultural products (wheat, corn, coffee, sugar, soy, hogs, cattle and cotton), precious and base metals (aluminum, copper, gold, nickel, silver and zinc), stock market indices (AEX, CAC 40, DAX, DJ Euro Stoxx 50, Dow Jones Mini, FTSE, Hang Seng, IBEX, MSCI, NASDAQ, Nikkei, S&P 500, S&P Canada 60 Index Futures and Share Price 200 Index), interest rates (short-term and long-term) and foreign currencies (majors, minors and cross rates).
Market Types
The Trust trades on a variety of United States and foreign futures exchanges, and in the off-exchange highly liquid, institutionally-based currency forward markets. As in the case of its market sector allocations, the Trust’s commitments to different types of markets - U.S. and non-U.S., regulated and non-regulated - differ substantially from time to time, as well as over time, and may change at any time if Campbell & Company determines such change to be in the best interests of the Trust.
Charges
The following is a description of current charges to the Trust.
RECIPIENT
NATURE OF PAYMENT
AMOUNT OF PAYMENT
Campbell & Company
Management Fee
A monthly management fee of 1/12 of 4% of the month-end net assets of the Series A Units and Series B Units, totaling approximately 4% of the average month-end net assets per year of the Series A Units and Series B Units; a monthly management fee of 1/12 of 2% of the month-end net assets of the Series W Units, totaling approximately 2% of average month-end net assets per year of the Series W Units. The managing operator may pay a portion or all of its monthly management fee either upfront (with respect to Series A Units) or on an ongoing basis with respect to Series B Units (commencing with the 13th month with respect to Series A Units) to selected selling agents who have sold the Series A Units and the Series B Units, in return for their provision of ongoing services to the Series A and/or the Series B Unitholders. It is intended that, in most cases, the ongoing payment paid to selling agents will be 2% per annum, paid monthly, on the then current net asset value of Units sold by the selling agents, net of redemptions.
Campbell & Company
Performance Fee
A quarterly performance fee of 20% of the aggregate cumulative appreciation (if any) in the net asset value per Unit of the Series A Units, Series B Units and Series W Units at the end of each quarter, exclusive of appreciation attributable to interest income.
RECIPIENT
NATURE OF PAYMENT
AMOUNT OF PAYMENT
Campbell & Company
Offering Expenses
The Series A Units and Series W Units each bear offering expenses incurred in relation to the offering of the Series A Units and Series W Units, respectively, up to an amount equal to approximately 1/12 of 0.50% of the month-end net assets of each of the Series A Units and Series W Units, totaling a maximum of 0.50% of average month-end net assets per year each of the Series A Units and Series W Units. Such organization and offering expenses of the Trust include all fees and expenses in connection with the distribution of the Units, including legal, accounting, printing, mailing, filing fees, escrow fees, salaries and bonuses of employees while engaged in sales activities, and marketing expenses of Campbell & Company and the selling agents which are paid by the Trust.
Selling Agents
Service Fee
The selling agents (the firm and not the individual representatives) who sell Series W Units receive a monthly administrative fee of 1/12 of 0.50% of the month-end net assets of the Series W Units, totaling approximately 0.50% of average month-end net assets per year of the Series W Units.
UBS Securities, LLC
Brokerage Commissions
Brokerage commissions are paid at a rate of approximately $4 for each round-turn trade executed for the Trust, or approximately 0.35% of average month-end net assets per year of each Series of Units, although there is no limit on the amount of such commissions.
Royal Bank of Scotland plc (RBS)
Over-the-Counter Counterparty Execution Costs
The over-the-counter counterparty’s execution costs are included in the price of each forward or option contract purchased or sold, and, accordingly, such costs cannot be determined but are charged. In addition, RBS charges approximately $4 per $1 million, plus any additional electronic platform charges, for forward or option contracts it facilitates on behalf of the Trust with third party banks. These prime brokerage fees, combined with the futures broker’s charges, usually equal approximately 0.40% of the Trust’s net assets.
RECIPIENT
NATURE OF PAYMENT
AMOUNT OF PAYMENT
Horizon Cash Management, LLC (the “Cash Manager”)
Cash Manager and the Custodian
The Trust pays the Cash Manager and Northern Trust Company a combined annualized fee equal to approximately 0.10% per annum of the funds managed by the Cash Manager based on a percentage of the principal amount of the Trust’s non-margin assets under management by the Cash Manager, computed and accrued on the average daily market value maintained in the Northern Trust Company custodial account by the Trust. The Cash Manager and Northern Trust Company are not affiliated with Campbell & Company. The Trust may engage other firms which are unaffiliated with Campbell & Company from time to time to provide cash management and custodial services. Such services would be provided pursuant to similar terms and fees as those that apply to the Cash Manager and Northern Trust Company. The Trust may also terminate all types of cash management services at any time.
Other
Operating Expenses
The Trust pays operating expenses (other than the cost of the Units), including, but not limited to, administrative, legal and accounting fees and any taxes or extraordinary expenses payable by the Trust. These expenses are estimated at approximately 0.10% of the Trust’s net assets annually, although there is no limit on the amount of such expenses.
Regulation
The U.S. futures markets are regulated under the Commodity Exchange Act, which is administered by the CFTC, a federal agency created in 1974. The CFTC licenses and regulates commodity exchanges, commodity pool operators, commodity trading advisors and clearing firms which are referred to in the futures industry as “futures commission merchants.” Campbell & Company is licensed by the CFTC as a commodity pool operator and commodity trading advisor. Futures professionals are also regulated by the NFA, a self-regulatory organization for the futures industry that supervises the dealings between futures professionals and their customers. If its pertinent CFTC licenses or NFA memberships were to lapse, be suspended, or be revoked, Campbell & Company would be unable to act as the Trust’s commodity pool operator and commodity trading advisor.
The CFTC has adopted disclosure, reporting and recordkeeping requirements for commodity pool operators and disclosure and recordkeeping requirements for commodity trading advisors. The reporting rules require pool operators to furnish to the participants in their pools a monthly statement of account, showing the pool’s income or loss and change in net asset value, and an annual financial report, audited by an independent certified public accountant.
The CFTC and the exchanges have pervasive powers over the futures markets, including the emergency power to suspend trading and order trading for liquidation of existing positions only. The exercise of such powers could adversely affect the Trust’s trading.
The CFTC does not regulate forward contracts. Federal and state banking authorities also do not regulate forward trading or forward dealers. Trading in foreign currency forward contracts may be less liquid and the Trust’s trading results may be adversely affected.
Available Information
The Trust files quarterly, annual and current reports with the SEC. These reports are available to read and copy at the SEC’s Public Reference Facilities in Washington, D.C. at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC’s toll free number, 1-800-SEC-0330, for further information. The Trust does not maintain a website where these reports are posted. However, the Trust’s filings are posted on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
Item 1A.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
Market Risks
You Could Possibly Lose Your Total Investment in the Trust
Futures and forward contracts have a high degree of price variability and are subject to occasional rapid and substantial changes. Consequently, you could lose all or a substantial amount of your investment in the Trust.
The Trust is Highly Leveraged
Because the amount of margin funds necessary to be deposited in order to enter into a futures or forward contract position is typically about 2% to 10% of the total value of the contract, Campbell & Company is able to hold positions in the Trust’s account with face values equal to several times the Trust’s net assets. The ratio of margin to equity is typically 10% to 30%. As a result of this leveraging, even a small movement in the price of a contract can cause major losses.
Changes in Financing Policies or the Imposition of Other Credit Limitations or Restrictions Could Compel the Trust to Liquidate Positions at Disadvantageous Prices
The Trust may utilize leverage and may depend on the availability of credit in order to finance its portfolio. There can be no assurance that the Trust will be able to maintain adequate financing arrangements under all market circumstances. As a general matter, the dealers that provide financing to the Trust can apply essentially discretionary margin, haircut, financing, security and collateral valuation policies. Changes by dealers in such financing policies, or the imposition of other credit limitations or restrictions, whether due to market circumstances or governmental, regulatory or judicial action, may result in large margin calls, loss of financing, forced liquidation of positions at disadvantageous prices, termination of swap and repurchase agreements and cross-defaults to agreements with other dealers. Any such adverse effects may be exacerbated in the event that such limitations or restrictions are imposed suddenly and/or by multiple market participants at or about the same time. The imposition of such limitations or restrictions could compel the Trust to liquidate all or part of its portfolio at disadvantageous prices. Recently, banks and dealers substantially curtailed financing activities and increased collateral requirements, forcing many hedge funds to liquidate.
The Trust's Investments Could be Illiquid
Futures and forward positions cannot always be liquidated at the desired price; this can occur when the market is thinly traded (i.e., a relatively small volume of buy and sell orders) or in the event of disrupted markets and other extraordinary events in which historical pricing relationships become materially distorted. The Trust may incur material losses and the risk of loss from pricing distortions is compounded by the fact that in disrupted markets many positions become illiquid making it difficult or impossible to close out positions against which the markets are moving. The financing available to the Trust from banks, dealers and other counterparties is likely to be restricted in disrupted markets. For example, in 1994, 1998 and again from 2007-2009, there was a sudden restriction of credit by the dealer community that resulted in forced liquidations and major losses for a number of private investment funds. It is possible that in the future, in such situations, Campbell & Company may be unable for some time to liquidate certain unprofitable positions, thereby increasing the loss of the Trust from the trade. Additionally, foreign governments may take or be subject to political actions which disrupt the markets in their currency or major exports, such as energy products or metals. Market disruptions caused by unexpected political, military and terrorist events may from time to time cause dramatic losses for the Trust, and such events can result in otherwise historically low-risk strategies performing with unprecedented volatility and risk. Any of these actions could also result in losses to the Trust. A subscription for Units should be considered only by persons financially able to maintain their investment and who can afford the loss of all or substantially all of such investment.
Reduced Market Exposure in Times of High Volatility May Limit Profit Potential
During periods of high volatility in the markets, the Trust may reduce its market exposure. While the purpose of such reductions is to attempt to limit potential losses to the Trust, such reductions may also have the effect of limiting potential profits for such time as the Trust’s market exposure remains in a reduced state.
Your Investment in the Trust Could Be Illiquid
There is no secondary market for the Units and none is expected to develop. While the Units have redemption rights, there are restrictions. For example, redemptions can occur only at the end of a month. If a large number of redemption requests were to be received at one time, the Trust might have to liquidate positions to satisfy the requests. Such a forced liquidation could adversely affect the Trust and consequently your investment.
Transfers of interest in the Units are subject to limitations, such as 30 days’ advance notice of any intent to transfer. Also, Campbell & Company may deny a request to transfer if it determines that the transfer may result in adverse legal or tax consequences for the Trust.
Over-the-Counter Transactions are Subject to Little, if Any, Regulation
The Trust trades forward contracts in foreign currencies. Such contracts are typically traded over-the-counter through a dealer market, which is dominated by major money center and investment banks, and is not regulated by the CFTC. Thus, you do not receive the protection of CFTC regulation or the statutory scheme of the Commodity Exchange Act in connection with this trading activity by the Trust. The market for forward contracts relies upon the integrity of market participants in lieu of the additional regulation imposed by the CFTC on participants in the futures markets. This regulation includes, for example, trading practices and other customer protection requirements, and minimum financial and trade reporting requirements. The absence of regulation could expose the Trust to significant losses in the event of trading abuses or financial failure by participants in the forward markets which it might otherwise have avoided.
Over-the-Counter Transactions May Be Subject to the Risk of Counterparty Default
The Trust faces the risk of non-performance by its counterparties to forward contracts and such non-performance may cause some or all of its gains to remain unrealized.
Unlike in futures contracts, the counterparty to these contracts is generally a single bank or other financial institution, rather than a clearing organization backed by a group of financial institutions. As a result, there will be greater counterparty credit risk in these transactions. The clearing member, clearing organization or other counterparty may not be able to meet its obligations, in which case, the Trust could suffer significant losses on these contracts.
An Investment in the Trust May Not Diversify an Overall Portfolio
Historically, alternative investments such as managed futures funds have been generally non-correlated to the performance of other asset classes such as stocks and bonds. Non-correlation means that there is no statistically valid relationship between the past performance of futures and forward contracts on the one hand and stocks or bonds on the other hand. Non-correlation should not be confused with negative correlation, where the performance of two asset classes would be exactly opposite. Because of this non-correlation, the Trust cannot be expected to be automatically profitable during unfavorable periods for the stock market or vice versa. The futures and forward markets are fundamentally different from the securities markets in that for every gain made in a futures and forward transaction, the opposing side of that transaction will have an equal and off-setting loss. If the Trust does not perform in a manner non-correlated with the general financial markets or does not perform successfully, you will obtain no diversification benefits by investing in the Units and the Trust may have no gains to offset your losses from other investments.
The Current Markets are Subject to Market Disruptions That May be a Detriment to Your Investment
The global financial markets have in the past few years gone through pervasive and fundamental disruptions that have led to extensive and unprecedented governmental intervention. Such intervention has in certain cases been implemented on an “emergency” basis, suddenly and substantially eliminating market participants’ ability to continue to implement certain strategies or manage the risk of their outstanding positions. In addition, as one would expect given the complexities of the financial markets and the limited time frame within which governments have felt compelled to take action, these interventions have typically been unclear in scope and application, resulting in confusion and uncertainty which in itself has been materially detrimental to the efficient functioning of the markets as well as previously successful investment strategies.
The Trust may incur major losses in the event of disrupted markets and other extraordinary events in which historical pricing relationships become materially distorted. The risk of loss from pricing distortions is compounded by the fact that in disrupted markets many positions become illiquid, making it difficult or impossible to close out positions against which the markets are moving. The financing available to the Trust from its banks, dealers and other counterparties is typically reduced in disrupted markets. Such a reduction may result in substantial losses to the Trust. Market disruptions may from time to time cause dramatic losses for the Trust, and such events can result in otherwise historically low-risk strategies performing with unprecedented volatility and risk.
The Current Markets are Subject to Governmental Intervention That May Be a Detriment to Your Investment
During the second half of 2008, losses at brokers, banks and other financial sector companies as well as extreme volatility and disruptions in the credit markets globally led to extensive and unprecedented governmental intervention in worldwide financial markets. Such intervention was in certain cases implemented on an “emergency” basis, subjecting market participants without notice to a set of regulations which were in some cases unclear in scope and in application.
The trading advisor believes that it is possible that emergency intervention may take place again in the future. The trading advisor also believes that the regulation of financial markets is likely to be increased in the future. It is impossible to predict the impact of any such intervention and/or increased regulation on the performance of the Trust or the fulfillment of its investment objectives.
The Dodd Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the "Reform Act")
In response to the financial crises of 2008, the Obama Administration and the U.S. Congress proposed sweeping reform of the U.S. financial regulatory system. After over a year of debate, the Reform Act became law in July 2010. The Reform Act seeks to regulate markets, market participants and financial instruments that previously have been unregulated and substantially alters the regulation of many other markets, market participants and financial instruments. Because many provisions of the Reform Act require rulemaking by the applicable regulators before becoming fully effective and the Reform Act mandates multiple agency reports and studies (which could result in additional legislative or regulatory action), it is difficult to predict the impact of the Reform Act on the Trust, Campbell & Company, and the markets in which it trades and invests. The Reform Act could result in certain investment strategies in which the Trust engages or may have otherwise engaged becoming non-viable or non-economic to implement. The Reform Act and regulations adopted pursuant to the Reform Act could have a material adverse impact on the profit potential of the Trust. See also "Speculative Position Limits," “Over-the-Counter Derivatives Markets” and "Swap Agreements" below.
The Trust is Subject to Regulatory Risk Associated with Futures Contracts that Could Adversely Affect the Trust’s Operations and Profitability
On October 18, 2011, the CFTC adopted regulations that impose new federal position limits on futures and options on metals, agricultural commodities and energy futures contracts such as crude oil, heating oil, natural gas, gasoline and other energy products. We do not anticipate that these limits will affect the Trust’s ability to trade, but it is possible that they may in the future if the Trust’s assets increase dramatically.
The Trust is a Party to Financial Instruments with Elements of Off-Balance Sheet Risk, Which May Cause the Trust to Lose All of Its Assets
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 and forward contracts and is therefore a party to financial instruments with elements of off-balance sheet market and credit risk. In entering into these contracts there exists a risk to the 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 limited partners would realize a 100% loss. Campbell & Company, Inc. 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%; however, these precautions may not be effective in limiting the risk of loss.
Trading Risks
There are Disadvantages to Making Trading Decisions Based Primarily on Technical Market Data
The trading systems used by the managing operator for the Trust are primarily technical. The profitability of trading under these systems depends on, among other things, the occurrence of significant price movements, up or down, in futures and forward prices. Such price movements may not develop; there have been periods in the past without such price movements.
The likelihood of the Units being profitable could be materially diminished during periods when events external to the markets themselves have an important impact on prices. During such periods, Campbell & Company’s historic price analysis could establish positions on the wrong side of the price movements caused by such events.
Increased Competition from Other Trend-Following Traders Could Reduce Campbell & Company’s Profitability
There has been a dramatic increase in the volume of assets managed by trend-following trading systems like some of the Campbell & Company programs. For example, in 1980, the assets in the managed futures industry were estimated at approximately $300 million; as of the third quarter of 2011, this estimate had risen to approximately $320.3 billion. Increased trading competition from other trend-following traders could operate to the detriment of the Trust. It may become more difficult for the Trust to implement its trading strategy if other trading advisors using technical systems are, at the same time, also attempting to initiate or liquidate futures or forward positions, or otherwise alter trading patterns.
Speculative Position Limits
The CFTC and certain exchanges have established position limits on the maximum net long or short futures positions which any person or group of persons acting in concert may hold or control in particular futures contracts. The CFTC has adopted a rule generally requiring each domestic U.S. exchange to set speculative position limits, subject to CFTC approval, for all futures contracts traded on exchanges which are not already subject to speculative position limits established by the CFTC or such exchange. The CFTC has jurisdiction to establish speculative position limits with respect to all futures contracts traded on exchanges located in the United States, and any such exchange may impose additional limits on positions on that exchange. Generally, no speculative position limits are in effect with respect to the trading of forward contracts or trading on non-U.S. exchanges. All trading accounts owned or managed by Campbell & Company acting on behalf of the Trust, its respective principals and affiliates are aggregated for calculating compliance with speculative position limits. Because futures position limits allow a commodity trading advisor and its principals to control only a limited number of contracts in any one commodity, Campbell & Company and its principals are potentially subject to a conflict among the interests of all accounts it controls because they are competing for shares of that limited number of contracts. Although Campbell & Company may be able to achieve the same performance results with OTC substitutes for futures contracts, the OTC market may be subject to differing prices, lesser liquidity and greater counterparty credit risks than the regulated U.S. commodities exchanges. Campbell & Company may in the future reduce the size of the positions which would otherwise be taken or not trade in certain markets on behalf of the Trust in order to avoid exceeding such limits. Modification of such trades that would otherwise be made by Campbell & Company, if required, could adversely affect the Trust’s operations and profitability. Such modification, if required, could require the Trust to liquidate certain positions more rapidly than might otherwise be desirable, and could adversely affect the performance of the Trust. A violation of speculative position limits by the Trust could lead to regulatory action materially adverse to the Trust’s prospects for profitability.
On October 18, 2011, the CFTC adopted regulations that imposed new federal speculative position limits for futures and options on certain energy, metal and agricultural commodities, and economically equivalent swaps. Such speculative position limits may apply to traders engaged in trading that is neither for bona fide hedging nor swap dealer risk management purposes. The rules concerning speculative position limits may be amended in a manner that is detrimental to the Trust. For example, if the amended rules are detrimental to the Trust, the Trust’s ability to invest in additional commodity futures contracts or economically equivalent swaps may be limited to the extent these activities would cause the Trust to exceed the applicable speculative position limits.
Over-the-Counter Derivatives Markets
The Reform Act includes provisions that comprehensively regulate the over-the-counter (“OTC”) derivatives markets for the first time.
The Reform Act will mandate that a substantial portion of OTC derivatives must be executed in regulated markets and submitted for clearing to regulated clearinghouses. OTC trades submitted for clearing will be subject to minimum initial and variation margin requirements set by the relevant clearinghouse, as well as possible SEC- or CFTC-mandated margin requirements. The regulators also have broad discretion to impose margin requirements on non-cleared OTC derivatives and new requirements will apply to the holding of customer collateral by OTC derivatives dealers. These requirements may increase the amount of collateral the Trust is required to provide and the costs associated with providing it. Although the Reform Act includes limited exemptions from the clearing and margin requirements for so-called “end-users,” the Trust does not expect to be able to rely on such exemptions. In addition, the OTC derivative dealers with which the Trust executes the majority of its OTC derivatives will not be able to rely on the end-user exemptions under the Reform Act and therefore such dealers will be subject to clearing and margin requirements irrespective of whether the Trust is subject to such requirements. OTC derivative dealers also will be required to post margin to the clearinghouses through which they clear their customers’ trades instead of using such margin in their operations, as is currently permitted. This will increase the OTC derivative dealers’ costs, and these increased costs are expected to be passed through to other market participants in the form of higher upfront and mark-to-market margin, less favorable trade pricing, and the possible imposition of new or increased fees.
The SEC and CFTC, as applicable, may also require a substantial portion of derivative transactions that are currently executed on a bi-lateral basis in the OTC markets to be executed through a regulated securities, futures, or swap exchange or execution facility. Such requirements may make it more difficult and costly for investment funds, including the Trust, to enter into highly tailored or customized transactions. They may also render certain strategies in which the Trust might otherwise engage impossible or so costly that they will no longer be economical to implement.
OTC derivative dealers and major OTC derivatives market participants will be required to register with the SEC and/or CFTC. The Trust or Campbell & Company may be required to register as major participants in the OTC derivatives markets. Dealers and major participants will be subject to minimum capital and margin requirements. These requirements may apply irrespective of whether the OTC derivatives in question are exchange-traded or cleared. OTC derivatives dealers will also be subject to new business conduct standards, disclosure requirements, reporting and recordkeeping requirements, transparency requirements, position limits, limitations on conflicts of interest, and other regulatory burdens. These requirements may further increase the overall costs for OTC derivative dealers, which costs are also likely to be passed along to market participants. The overall impact of the Reform Act on the Trust is highly uncertain and it is unclear how the OTC derivatives markets will adapt to this new regulatory regime.
In addition, Congress has considered imposing, and may in the future impose, restrictions on trading credit default swaps and other derivatives, including, potentially, a ban on trading these instruments except for the purpose of insuring a physically held position.
Swap Agreements
The Trust may enter into swap agreements. Swap agreements are privately negotiated over-the-counter derivative products in which two parties agree to exchange actual or contingent payment streams that may be calculated in relation to a rate, index, instrument, or certain securities, and a particular “notional amount.” Swaps may be subject to various types of risk, including market risk, liquidity risk, structuring risk, tax risk, and the risk of non-performance by the counterparty, including risks relating to the financial soundness and creditworthiness of the counterparty. Swaps can be individually negotiated and structured to include exposure to a variety of different types of investments or market factors. Depending on their structure, swaps may increase or decrease the Trust’s exposure to commodity prices, equity or debt securities, long-term or short-term interest rates (in the United States or abroad), non-U.S. currency values, mortgage-backed securities, corporate borrowing rates, or other factors such as security prices, baskets of securities, or inflation rates and may increase or decrease the overall volatility of the Trust’s portfolio. Swap agreements can take many different forms and are known by a variety of names. The Trust is not limited to any particular form of swap agreement if the managing operator determines that other forms are consistent with the Trust’s investment objective and policies. A significant factor in the performance of swaps is the change in individual commodity values, specific interest rates, currency values, or other factors that determine the amounts of payments due to and from the counterparties. If a swap calls for payments by the Trust, the Trust must have sufficient cash availability to make such payments when due. In addition, if a counterparty’s creditworthiness declines, the value of the swap agreement would be likely to decline, potentially resulting in losses to the Trust. The Reform Act will mandate that a substantial portion of swap transactions must be executed in regulated markets and submitted for clearing to regulated clearinghouses. While these provisions are intended in part to reduce counterparty credit risk related to swap transactions, the Reform Act’s success in this regard will depend on the implementation of many rules and regulations, a process that may take several years.
Increase in Assets Under Management May Make Profitable Trading More Difficult
The managing operator has not agreed to limit the amount of additional equity which it may manage, and is actively engaged in raising assets for existing and new accounts. Should the amount of equity Campbell & Company manages increase, it may be more difficult for Campbell & Company to trade profitably because of the difficulty of trading larger positions without adversely affecting prices and performance. Accordingly, such increases in equity under management may require Campbell & Company to modify its trading decisions for the Trust which could have a detrimental effect on your investment. Such considerations may also cause Campbell & Company to eliminate smaller markets from consideration for inclusion in its Global Diversified Large Portfolio, reducing the range of markets in which trading opportunities may be pursued. Campbell & Company reserves the right to make distributions of profits to Unitholders in an effort to control asset growth. In addition, Campbell & Company may have an incentive to favor other accounts because the compensation received from some other accounts does exceed the compensation it receives from managing the Trust’s account. Because records with respect to other accounts are not accessible to Unitholders in the Trust, the Unitholders will not be able to determine if Campbell & Company is favoring other accounts.
Investors Will Not be Able to Review the Trust’s Holdings on a Daily Basis, Which May Result in Unanticipated Losses
The managing operator makes the Trust’s trading decisions. While the managing operator receives daily trade confirmations from the futures broker and over-the-counter counterparty, the Trust’s trading results are reported to Unitholders monthly. Accordingly, an investment in the Trust does not offer Unitholders the same transparency, i.e., an ability to review all investment positions daily, that a personal trading account offers. As a result, you may suffer unanticipated losses due to the Trust's holdings.
Tax Risks
Investors are Taxed Based on Their Share of Trust Income and Gain
Investors are taxed each year on their share of the Trust’s income and gain, if any, irrespective of whether they redeem any Units or receive any cash distribution from the Trust. The managing operator has the authority to make such distributions at any time in its sole discretion.
All performance information included herein is presented on a pre-tax basis; the investors (other than tax-exempt investors) who experienced such performance had to pay the related taxes from other sources.
Tax Could be Due from Investors on Their Share of the Trust’s Ordinary Income Despite Overall Losses
Investors may be required to pay tax on their allocable share of the Trust’s ordinary income, which in the case of the Trust is the Trust’s interest income, gain on some foreign futures contracts, and certain other investment assets, even though the Trust incurs overall losses. Capital losses of individual taxpayers can be used only to offset capital gains and, in the case of non-corporate investors, $3,000 of ordinary income each year. Consequently, if an individual investor were allocated $5,000 of ordinary income and $10,000 of capital losses, the investor would owe tax on $2,000 of ordinary income even though the investor would have a $5,000 economic loss for the year. The remaining $7,000 capital loss could be used in subsequent years to offset capital gain and ordinary income, but subject to the same annual limitation on its deductibility against ordinary income.
There Could be a Limit on the Deductibility of Management and Performance Fees
Although the Trust treats the management and performance fees paid to the managing operator as ordinary and necessary business expenses, upon an IRS audit, the Trust may be required to treat such fees as “investment advisory fees” if the Trust’s trading activities did not constitute a trade or business for tax purposes. Investment advisory fees are subject to substantial restrictions on deductibility for federal income tax purposes. Such treatment would likely create or increase the tax liability of non-corporate Unitholders.
Other Risks
Fees and Commissions are Charged Regardless of Profitability and are Subject to Change
The Trust is subject to substantial charges payable irrespective of profitability, in addition to performance fees which are payable based on the Trust’s profitability. Included in these charges are brokerage fees and operating expenses. On the Trust’s forward trading, “bid-ask” spreads are incorporated into the pricing of forward contracts by the counterparties in addition to the brokerage fees paid by the Trust. It is not possible to quantify the “bid-ask” spreads paid by the Trust because the Trust cannot determine the profit its counterparty is making on the forward transactions. Such spreads can at times be significant.
The Trust’s Service Providers Could Fail, Which May Result in Losses for the Trust
The institutions with which the Trust trades or invests may encounter financial difficulties that impair the operational capabilities or the capital position of the Trust. A futures broker is generally required by U.S. law to segregate all funds received from such broker’s customers from such broker’s proprietary assets. If the futures broker did not do so to the full extent required by law, the assets of the Trust might not be fully protected in the event of the bankruptcy of the futures broker. Furthermore, in the event of the futures broker’s bankruptcy, the Trust could be limited to recovering only a pro rata share of all available funds segregated on behalf of the futures broker's combined customer accounts, even though certain property specifically traceable to the Trust (for example, Treasury bills deposited by the Trust with the futures broker as margin) was held by the futures broker. Furthermore, dealers in forward contracts are not regulated by the Commodity Exchange Act and are not obligated to segregate customer assets. The futures broker has been the subject of regulatory and private causes of action.
Although the managing operator regularly monitors the financial condition of the counterparties it uses, if the Trust’s counterparties were to become insolvent or the subject of liquidation proceedings in the United States (either under the Securities Investor Protection Act of the United States Bankruptcy Code), there exists the risk that the recovery of the Trust’s assets from such counterparty will be delayed or be a value less than the value of the assets originally entrusted to such counterparty.
Investors Must Not Rely on the Past Performance of Either Campbell & Company or the Trust in Deciding Whether to Buy Units
The future performance of the Trust is not predictable, and no assurance can be given that the Trust and Campbell & Company will perform successfully in the future in as much as past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. The managing operator’s trading systems are continually evolving and the fact that the Trust and the managing operator may have traded successfully in the past does not mean that they will do so in the future. Additionally, the markets in which the Trust operates have been severely disrupted over the past year or more, so results observed in earlier periods may have little relevance to the results observable in the current environment.
The past performance of the Trust may not be construed as an indication of the future results. The personnel of Campbell & Company responsible for managing the investment portfolio have substantial experience in managing investments and private investment funds and have provided and continue to provide advisory and management services to clients and private and registered investment funds.
Conflicts of Interest Exist in the Structure and Operation of the Trust
Campbell & Company has not established any formal procedures to resolve the following conflicts of interest. Consequently, there is no independent control over how Campbell & Company resolves these conflicts which can be relied upon by investors as ensuring that the Trust is treated equitably with other Campbell & Company clients.
Campbell & Company has a conflict of interest because it acts as the managing operator and sole trading advisor for the Trust. Since Campbell & Company acts as both trading advisor and managing operator for the Trust, it is very unlikely that its advisory contract will be terminated by the Trust. The fees payable to Campbell & Company were established by it and were not the subject of arm’s-length negotiation. These fees consist of a management fee of up to 4% (of which 2% is retained) and a 20% performance fee. Campbell & Company, as managing operator, determines whether or not distributions are made and it receives increased fees to the extent distributions are not made. Campbell & Company has the authority to make such distributions at any time in its sole discretion.
Selling agents will be entitled to ongoing compensation as a result of their clients remaining in the Trust, so a conflict exists between the selling agent’s interest in maximizing compensation and in advising its clients to make investment decisions in the client’s best interests.
There are No Independent Experts Representing Investors
Campbell & Company has consulted with counsel, accountants and other experts regarding the formation and operation of the Trust. No counsel has been appointed to represent the Unitholders in connection with the offering of the Units. Accordingly, each prospective investor should consult his own legal, tax and financial advisers regarding the desirability of an investment in the Trust.
The Trust Places Significant Reliance on Campbell & Company and the Incapacity of its Principals Could Adversely Affect the Trust
Unitholders are not entitled to participate in the management of the Trust or the conduct of its business. Rather, the Trust is wholly dependent upon the services of the managing operator. There can be no assurance that such services will be available for any length of time following the term of the Advisory Agreement. Furthermore, the incapacity of the managing operator’s principals could have a material and adverse effect on the managing operator’s ability to discharge its obligations under the Advisory Agreement. However, there is no individual principal at Campbell & Company whose absence would result in a material adverse effect on Campbell & Company’s ability to adequately carry out its advisory responsibilities.
The Trust Could Terminate Before You Achieve Your Investment Objective Causing Potential Loss of Your Investment or Disrupt Your Investment Portfolio
The managing operator may withdraw from the Trust upon 90 days’ notice, which would cause the Trust to terminate. Other events, such as a long-term substantial loss suffered by the Trust, could also cause the Trust to terminate before the expiration of its stated term. This could cause you to liquidate your investments and disrupt the overall maturity and timing of your investment portfolio. If the registrations with the CFTC or memberships in the NFA of Campbell & Company or the futures broker were revoked or suspended, such entity would no longer be able to provide services to the Trust.
The Trust is Not a Regulated Investment Company and is Therefore Subject to Different Protections Than a Regulated Investment Company
Although the Trust and Campbell & Company are subject to regulation by the CFTC, the Trust is not an investment company subject to the Investment Company Act of 1940 and Campbell & Company is not registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Accordingly, you do not have the protections afforded by those statutes which, for example, requires investment companies to have a majority of disinterested directors and regulates the relationship between the adviser and the investment company.
Hybrids and Other Derivatives are Not Subject to CFTC Regulation; Therefore, the Fund Will Not Receive the Same Protections on These Transactions
The Trust may trade hybrid instruments and other off-exchange contracts. Hybrids are instruments which combine features of a security with those of a futures contract. There is no exchange or clearinghouse for these contracts and they are not regulated by the CFTC. The Trust will not receive the protections which are provided by the CFTC’s regulatory scheme for these transactions.
The Trust is Subject to Foreign Market Credit and Regulatory Risk
A substantial portion of Campbell & Company’s trades takes place on markets or exchanges outside the United States. From time to time, over 50% of the Trust’s overall market exposure could involve positions taken on foreign markets. The risk of loss in trading foreign futures contracts can be substantial. Participation in foreign futures transactions involves the execution and clearing of trades on, or subject to the rules of, a foreign board of trade. Non-U.S. markets may not be subject to the same degree of regulation as their U.S. counterparts. None of the CFTC, NFA or any domestic exchange regulates activities of any foreign boards of trade, including the execution, delivery and clearing of transactions, nor do they have the power to compel enforcement of the rules of a foreign board of trade or any applicable foreign laws. Trading on foreign exchanges also presents the risks of exchange controls, expropriation, taxation and government disruptions.
The Trust is Subject to Foreign Exchange Risk
The price of any foreign futures contract and, therefore, the potential profit and loss thereon, may be affected by any variance in the foreign exchange rate between the time a position is established and the time it is liquidated, offset or exercised. Certain foreign exchanges may also be in a more or less developmental stage so that prior price histories may not be indicative of current price dynamics. In addition, the Trust may not have the same access to certain positions on foreign exchanges as do local traders, and the historical market data on which Campbell & Company bases its strategies may not be as reliable or accessible as it is in the United States. The rights of clients (such as the Trust) in the event of the insolvency or bankruptcy of a non-U.S. market or broker are also likely to be more limited than in the case of U.S. markets or brokers.
Transfers Could Be Restricted
Unitholders may transfer or assign Units only upon 30 days’ prior written notice to the managing operator and only if the managing operator is satisfied that the transfer complies with applicable laws and would not result in adverse legal or tax consequences for the Trust. A transferee shall not become a substituted Unitholder without the written consent of the managing operator.
Restrictions on Investment by ERISA Plans, Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974
The managing operator anticipates that the underlying assets of the Trust may be considered for purposes of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, as amended (“ERISA”), and Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), to be assets of certain employee benefit plans and other Plans that purchase Units. Under such circumstances, the investments of the Trust and the activities of the managing operator will be subject to and, in certain cases, limited by, ERISA and the Code.
When considering an investment in the Trust of the assets of an employment benefit plan subject to Title I of ERISA, a fiduciary with respect to such plan should consider, among other things: (i) the definition of “Plan assets” under section 3(42) of ERISA and the regulations issued by the Department of Labor (“DOL”) regarding the definition of Plan assets; (ii) whether the investment satisfies the diversification requirements of Section 404(a)(1) of ERISA; (iii) whether the investment satisfies the prudence requirements of Section 404(a)(1) of ERISA; and (iv) that there will be no secondary market in which such fiduciary can sell or otherwise dispose of the Units.
A Single-Advisor Fund May be More Volatile Than a Multi-Advisor Fund
The Trust is a single-advisor managed futures fund. Potential investors should understand that many managed futures funds are structured as multi-advisor funds in order to attempt to control risk and reduce volatility through combining advisors whose historical performance records have exhibited a significant degree of non-correlation with each other. As a single-advisor managed futures fund, the Trust may have increased performance volatility and a higher risk of loss than investment vehicles employing multiple advisors.
The Performance Fee Could Be an Incentive to Make Riskier Investments
Campbell & Company employs a speculative strategy for the Trust, and receives performance fees based on the trading profits earned by it for the Trust. Campbell & Company would not agree to manage the Trust’s account in the absence of such a performance fee arrangement. Accordingly, Campbell & Company may make investments that are riskier than might be made if the Trust’s assets were managed by a trading advisor that did not require performance-based compensation.
The Trust May Distribute Profits to Unitholders at Inopportune Times
Campbell & Company reserves the right to make distributions of profits of the Trust to the Unitholders at any time in its sole discretion in order to control the growth of the assets under Campbell & Company’s management. Unitholders will have no choice in receiving these distributions as income, and may receive little notice that these distributions are being made. Distributions may be made at an inopportune time for the Unitholders.
Potential Inability to Trade or Report Due to Systems Failure Could Adversely Affect the Trust
Campbell & Company’s strategies are dependent to a significant degree on the proper functioning of its internal computer systems. Accordingly, systems failures, whether due to third party failures upon which such systems are dependent or the failure of Campbell & Company’s hardware or software, could disrupt trading or make trading impossible until such failure is remedied. Any such failure, and consequential inability to trade (even for a short time), could, in certain market conditions, cause the Trust to experience significant trading losses or to miss opportunities for profitable trading. Additionally, any such failures could cause a temporary delay in reports to investors.
Failure to Receive Timely and Accurate Market Data from Third Party Vendors Could Cause Disruptions or the Inability to Trade
Campbell & Company’s strategies are dependent to a significant degree on the receipt of timely and accurate market data from third party vendors. Accordingly, the failure to receive such data in a timely manner or the receipt of inaccurate data, whether due to the acts or omissions of such third party vendors or otherwise, could disrupt trading to the detriment of the Trust or make trading impossible until such failure or inaccuracy is remedied. Any such failure or inaccuracy could, in certain market conditions, cause the Trust to experience significant trading losses, effect trades in a manner which it otherwise would not have done, or miss opportunities for profitable trading. For example, the receipt of inaccurate market data may cause Campbell & Company to establish (or exit) a position which it otherwise would not have established (or exited), or fail to establish (or exit) a position which it otherwise would have established (or exited), and any subsequent correction of such inaccurate data may cause Campbell & Company to reverse such action or inaction, all of which may ultimately be to the detriment of the Trust.
Item 1B.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.
Item 2.
Item 2. Properties.
The Registrant does not use any physical properties in the conduct of its business. Its assets currently consist of futures and other contracts, cash, short-term time deposits and other fixed income securities.
Item 3.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
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.
Item 4.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not Applicable.
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, 2011, there were 1,645 Unitholders and 57,271.409 Units of Beneficial Interest outstanding in Series A, 857 Unitholders and 85,832.499 Units of Beneficial Interest outstanding in Series B, and 244 Unitholders and 6,975.389 Units of Beneficial Interest outstanding in Series W of the Registrant.
Campbell & Company has sole discretion in determining what distributions, if any, the Registrant will make to its Unitholders. Campbell & Company has not made any distributions as of the date hereof.
The Registrant has no securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans.
Item 6.
Item 6. Selected Financial Data.
Dollars in thousands, except per Unit amounts
The following summarized financial information is for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2007.
*
Based on weighted average number of units outstanding during the period.
The following summarized quarterly financial information (unaudited) presents the results of operations for the three-month periods ending March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31, 2011 and 2010.
*
Based on weighted average number of units outstanding during the period.
Item 7.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Introduction
The Campbell Fund Trust (the “Trust”) is a business trust organized on January 2, 1996 under the Delaware Business Trust Act, which was replaced by the Delaware Statutory Trust Act as of September 1, 2002. The Trust is a successor to the Campbell Fund Limited Partnership (formerly known as the Commodity Trend Fund) which began trading operations in January 1972. The Trust currently trades in the U.S. and international futures and forward markets under the sole direction of Campbell & Company, Inc., the managing operator of the Trust. Specifically, the Trust trades in a diverse array of global assets, including global interest rates, stock indices, currencies and commodities. The Trust is an actively managed account with speculative trading profits as its objective.
Effective August 31, 2008, the Trust began offering Series A, Series B, and Series W Units. The units in the Trust prior to that date became Series B Units. Series B Units are only available for additional investment by existing holders of Series B Units.
As of December 31, 2011, the aggregate capitalization of the Trust was $374,632,413 with Series A, Series B and Series W comprising $140,986,636, $215,781,891 and $17,863,886, respectively, of the total. The Net Asset Value per Unit was $2,461.73 for Series A, $2,513.99 for Series B, and $2,560.99 for Series W.
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 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 (i.e., forward 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 futures exchanges limit fluctuations in 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. 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 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 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, brokerage and/or cash management accounts. The Trust meets margin requirements for its trading activities by depositing cash and U.S. government securities with the futures broker and the over-the-counter counterparty. This does not reduce the risk of loss from trading activities. 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 the over-the-counter counterparty 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 counterparty.
The managing operator 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 Horizon Cash Management LLC (“Horizon”). Horizon is registered with the SEC as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Horizon does not guarantee any interest or profits will accrue on the Trust’s assets in the custodial account. Horizon 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 counterparty, 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 three 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 in 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 and forward contracts and is therefore a party to financial instruments with elements of off-balance sheet market and credit risk. In entering into these contracts there exists a risk to the 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 operator (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 and forward 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 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 and forward currency contracts. Prior to September 2011, the Trust also invested in options 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 swap and 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 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.
Results of Operations
The returns for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 for Series A were (5.89)%, 10.61% and (6.34)%, respectively, and for Series B were (5.36)%, 11.63% and (5.86)%, respectively. The returns for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 and for the period March 1, 2009 (commencement of trading) through December 31, 2009 for Series W were (4.42)%, 11.65% and (6.41)%, respectively.
The following is a discussion of the management and performance fees accrued and paid. During the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009, the Trust accrued management fees in the amount of $14,308,111, $13,137,518 and $16,971,300, respectively, and paid management fees in the amounts of $14,245,515, $13,224,458 and $17,509,152, respectively.
During the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, the Trust accrued performance fees in the amount of $5,222, $381,483 and $0, respectively, and paid performance fees in the amounts of $0, $0, and $0, respectively.
2011 (For the Year Ended December 31)
Of the (5.89)% return for the year for Series A, approximately (1.14)% was due to trading losses (before commissions) and approximately (5.08)% was due to brokerage fees, management fees, operating costs and offering costs borne by Series A, offset by approximately 0.33% due to investment income.
Of the (5.36)% return for the year for Series B, approximately (1.14)% was due to trading losses (before commissions) and approximately (4.56)% was due to brokerage fees, management fees and operating costs borne by Series B, offset by approximately 0.34% due to investment income.
Of the (4.42)% return for the year for Series W, approximately (1.14)% was due to trading losses (before commissions) and approximately (3.61)% was due to brokerage fees, management fees, sales commissions, operating costs and offering costs borne by Series W, offset by approximately 0.33% due to investment income.
An analysis of the (1.14)% gross trading loss for the Trust for the year by sector is as follows:
2011 started with global equities trending higher, fueled by improving U.S. labor market conditions, a “pro-business” move toward the center by President Obama, stronger corporate earnings and a general rotation from fixed income into stocks. The Trust’s long equity positions made the sector the best performer for the month of January, in the face of such a rising global equity environment. Commodity trading also produced gains for the month of January from the Trust’s long positions in agricultural and energy contracts. A number of energy contracts reached 24 month highs on strong global demand due to a number of factors, including, cold weather in the U.S. / U.K. and civil unrest in the Middle East. Cotton started 2011 up over 16% for the month of January on surging demand from the world’s biggest consumer, China. Currency trading on the month proved difficult as the Trust’s short position in the U.S. Dollar generated losses as emerging market risk aversion may have been prompted by the Egyptian anti-government protests. Additional losses were recorded in the fixed income markets from the Trust’s long position in short-term European rates. The bond market was choppy during the first part of January until concerns were raised about Euro-zone inflation, contributing to a sell-off in short-term rates as market participants began pricing in future rate hikes.
In February, geopolitical concerns, centering on the growing Middle East/North African ("MENA") populist uprising, may have negatively affected the commodity markets. This regional tension may have generated significant price movements in the energy sector fueling gains for the Trust. Precious Metals, including gold and silver, were also strong contributors, along with soft commodities such as cotton (+17% during February) and coffee as they continued their upward trends. Additional gains were recorded in equity trading due partially to improving macroeconomic data supporting the global recovery theme. While some of the major currencies rallied during the month, others like the New Zealand Dollar fell significantly on the devastation of a massive earthquake in the Christchurch region. In the aggregate, currency trading was marginally positive on the month for the Trust. Fixed Income trading finished slightly negative as price action was choppy across the globe, mainly from better economic data in the early part of the month followed by risk aversion in the second half of February.
The “V-shaped” behavior in most sectors during March may have been caused by global stock market volatility compounded by the devastating earthquake and resulting tsunami in Japan, followed by upside surprises to manufacturing data and other economic activity as the month came to a close. Global stock markets experienced significant volatility as the MENA unrest and Europe’s sovereign debt crisis both worsened prior to the crisis in Japan that concluded with threats of a nuclear reactor emergency. While the Nikkei finished down approximately 8% for March, the U.S. stock market was relatively unchanged despite large mid-month swings. The Trust’s models adjusted to the abrupt price swings by reducing long equity exposure over 50% (region specific) by mid-month across the U.S., Europe and Asia. Stock indices trading was the worst performing sector for March. Commodities were negatively impacted by base metal prices. Gains from long positions in energies and precious metals were not enough to overcome losses in nickel, copper and corn. Currency trading also proved challenging as Central Banks intervened in response to excess volatility and disorderly movements in exchange rates that may have been perceived as having adverse implications for economic and financial stability. In particular, the Trust’s short position in the Japanese Yen suffered as a result of the repatriation of Yen back to Japan. While risk exposures were light in fixed income trading, small losses were incurred in both short-term and long-term rates due to choppy market price action.
While March’s volatile markets were highlighted by the events in Japan, April’s theme revolved mostly around a persistently weaker U.S. Dollar coupled with a “risk on” appetite in global stock markets. Irrespective of the continued unrest in MENA, Goldman Sachs’ warning that the commodities boom may be running out of steam and oil at multi-year highs, the bulls prevailed on relatively strong M&A activity, a strong start to the earnings season, and the U.S. Federal Reserve’s continued pledge to keep interest rates low for an “extended period.” The U.S. Dollar Index experienced its largest monthly decline since September of last year as the Federal Reserves Chairman Ben Bernanke maintained an accommodative stance in the U.S., while the European Central Bank raised rates to fight inflation. Additional downward pressure came in the form of an S&P downgrade, mid-month, to the U.S. long-term credit outlook. The Trust recorded gains in the currency sector, particularly against the Swiss Franc and commodity-linked currencies such as the Australian Dollar and the New Zealand Dollar. Commodity trading also produced substantial gains as geopolitics contributed to a strong rally in the petroleum complex. Precious metals were also solid performers as Silver came close to its all-time high when the Hunt brothers attempted to corner the market in 1980. In Stock Indices, the Trust generally increased its net long exposure as bullish trends apparently reasserted themselves following a chaotic March, while only maintaining a marginal short exposure in Japan. Trading in fixed income yielded flat results as gains in long positions were offset by losses from short positions.
The petroleum complex sold off substantially on May 5th, despite the lack of any oil-related fundamental data. In addition, precious metals saw a significant decline with the price of silver dropping 24%, giving back the entire April rally. While the Trust suffered losses in these sectors, our models significantly reduced long commodity exposure on the abrupt reversal in price action and spike in volatility throughout the month. Trading in global equities also generated losses on softer economic data, Wall Street lowering U.S. growth forecasts, and renewed European sovereign debt concerns mainly focused on Greece. While positions have been reduced in this sector, regional risk was apparently rotated out of Europe and back to the U.S. Losses were also recorded in currency trading as the U.S. Dollar rallied against most major currencies. The Trust's long Euro position produced the biggest currency loss, as the European Central Bank disappointed expectations of rate hikes at its May policy meeting. Fixed income trading produced strong positive results, helping to mitigate losses in riskier assets as the flight-to-quality theme was dominant in May.
The Greek debt crisis continued to influence price movement in June, leading to the eventual passage of an austerity plan at month-end. In addition, the U.S. Federal Reserve, which continued to expect that economic conditions were likely to warrant exceptionally low interest rates for an extended period, gave no hint of a new “QE3” program. Commodity trading was difficult in June, particularly in the energy complex, as prices continued to fall from late April/early May highs. Factors such as concerns about the European sovereign debt crisis, discord with OPEC, and an unexpected and controversial use of U.S. and European strategic petroleum reserves by the IEA (International Energy Agency) and the DOE (Department of Energy) weighed heavily on prices. Additional losses were recorded in precious and base metals. Trading in global equities also produced negative results as stock markets around the world declined on Greek debt concerns and weak economic data. While the Trust’s models generally reduced overall long stock index exposure throughout the month, concentrations remained in the U.S. and Europe with mixed positioning in Asia. Certain risky assets rallied and bond prices fell across the globe during the last few days of the month after the austerity package in Greece was finally passed. Small losses were recorded in fixed income trading, particularly on the short-end of the curve. Foreign exchange markets were largely unchanged in June, despite headlines that may have caused the currency markets to fluctuate intra-month. The Trust continued to maintain a short U.S. Dollar exposure versus most major currencies.
During the month of July, the markets were affected by the ongoing sovereign debt crisis in both Europe and the U.S. As risky assets suffered, certain bond prices were increased partially from investors flocking to the relative safety of fixed income, yielding strong gains for the Trust’s global long position. While U.S. Treasuries finished the month up over 2%, U.K. Gilts finished up 4%, German Bunds were up 3.5%, Japanese Bonds closed up 5% and Canadian Bonds increased by 2.5%. Additional gains were recorded in foreign exchange trading as the U.S. Dollar continued its downward trend against most major currencies. The U.S. Dollar, in particular, fell to new all-time lows against the Swiss Franc and the New Zealand Dollar, some of the best performing markets for the Trust in July. Commodity trading for the Trust was also strongly positive in July, particularly from precious metals, as safe-haven buying supported prices in gold and silver. Additional profits came from soft commodities as sugar continued its upward trend, gaining 12% in July, on signs that Brazil’s production would not match expectations. The base metals and energy sector yielded small gains, while grains yielded small losses. The stock index sector was the Trust's only losing sector during the month as European sovereign debt remained a concern, economic data was mixed to weaker-than-expected, and the U.S. debt-ceiling and deficit-reduction debate took center stage. While the Trust reduced net long exposure in Europe, position exposure increased in the Pacific Rim and in North America.
August experienced significant volatility stemming mainly from the S&P downgrade of the United States Triple-A credit rating after weeks of contentious political debate. Strong gains in fixed income were recorded during the month as risk appetite diminished sending yields in both the U.S. and European fixed income markets lower. However, the reduction in risk appetite may have been a primary driver for losses in currency trading, stock indices and commodities. As a consequence of market volatility, European Union regulators implemented restrictions on short selling in various stock indices. The Trust’s trading is also subject to these restrictions and appropriate action was taken to be in compliance. While the Trust was still able to short certain stock index contracts in Europe, others have been temporarily removed from the portfolio. The Trust continued to take advantage of stock market volatility (indirectly) through trading in currencies, bonds and commodities.
The markets seemed to be in risk aversion mode in September as the pressure of implementing fiscal austerity in the Eurozone continued. Negative sentiment in macroeconomic growth may have increased fears of recessions and may have overwhelmed some tentative signs of optimism. The Trust benefited from higher bond prices. Equity Indices also yielded gains in the Trust, primarily from short positions in Europe and Asia as stocks globally finished lower. These gains were not enough to offset losses experienced in the other sectors. Risk assets struggled during the month while the U.S. Dollar which was up nearly 6% for the month. The Trust, having been positioned with the prevailing trend of a weaker U.S. Dollar, recorded its largest losses in the Foreign Exchange sector as a result of the U.S. Dollar's rally. The Trust’s models adjusted positioning in response to the rally; however, the losses in this sector were difficult to offset. Commodities amplified the theme of bearish global macroeconomic conditions resulting in overall losses in the sector for the Trust. Precious metals reversed significantly, with nearly a 28% decline in silver and 11% in gold, perhaps implying deflation was on the horizon. Base metal positions helped dampen losses from energy trading, despite certain shorts during the month.
Primary catalysts for the mid-November sell-off in equity prices may have been influenced by the ongoing sovereign debt crisis in Europe, negative news out of China, and the U.S. deficit-reduction “super committee’s” failure to reach an agreement. The late month rally may have been influenced by better than expected U.S. holiday shopping results, a globally coordinated central bank liquidity action, and optimistic reports of economic data in the U.S. While Trend-Following strategies cannot typically manage intra-day and intra-week fluctuations in price action well, the Trust’s model diversity across time horizon and across market segments may have dampened larger potential market losses for the month. In equity indices trading, early in the month the Trust’s longs in the U.S. and Europe were offset by shorts in Asia. As the month progressed, significant volatility in global equity markets may have caused the Trust’s models to contract and adjust their positioning, leaving marginal room to take advantage of the impromptu rally at month-end. While fixed income trading was strongly positive throughout the month, the risk asset rally at month end may have generated an abrupt fixed income sell-off, thus diminishing gains from the Trust’s long bond positioning in the sector. A similar phenomenon occurred in the currency sector as the U.S. Dollar rally may have caused the Trust’s models to increase their long positioning, only to see an unexpected policy decision negatively influence the U.S. Dollar in the last days of the month. Commodity prices also experienced volatility. The Trust’s short positioning in natural gas yielded substantial gains; however, the sector as a whole finished with losses coming primarily in precious metals. Trend-based systems need linear, directional volatility to profit.
In December, political events continued to influence market price action, with the European Debt Crisis taking center stage. Fixed Income trading yielded strong gains during the month as the Trust’s long positions globally helped close a strong year for the sector. Fixed Income was one of the few sectors to exhibit relatively more pronounced price trend behavior throughout the year. Unfortunately for trend-following strategies in general, much of 2011 exhibited choppy and volatile price action in risk assets due to a number of political events that may have adversely impacted investor sentiment. Currency trading was also a significant contributor to gains on the month as the U.S. Dollar rallied against most of the majors, particularly against the Euro. That said, some significant reversals throughout the year left the Trust in negative territory on the year in foreign exchange. Price action in global equity markets was mixed and finished slightly negative on the month for the Trust and negative on the year. Mixed news out of Europe, generally better than expected U.S. economic data including strong holiday sales, and China’s pro-growth policy were all contributing factors to mixed results. Commodity prices experienced their first annual drop as a sector since 2008 and individual sub-sectors remained volatile, especifically Gold and Silver, losing 10-15% respectively. While commodity trading has been difficult for the Trust on the year, losses on the month were marginal as broad diversification in positioning and underlying risk exposure may have dampened volatility.
Global risk appetite seemed to improve throughout the month of October as market participants became more optimistic that progress could be achieved in managing the European debt crisis. The turn-around was impressive when considering some markets rallied 20% from their low points. While the Euro rallied relative to the U.S. Dollar during the month, the biggest shock to the system seemed to be the Bank of Japan intervention at month end. The Dollar's significant rally against the Yen caused the Yen to be the only G20 currency with a negative performance against the Dollar on the month. Outside of Europe, economic data improved, thus diminishing some of the global recessionary concerns. A more resilient economy, coupled with expectations of progress in the Eurozone may have supported the global equity markets and commodity prices. While losses in equity indices and fixed income trading were marginal, volatility was elevated in the commodity markets at large, generating losses to the Trust. While aggregate long positions in precious metals were marginally accretive, short positions in the base metals were responsible for the overall loss in the commodities sector, with copper prices rising over 15%. On the last day of the month, the rally unwound and the tide began to change largely due to a call for a referendum on the recently negotiated EU agreement and a confidence vote by the Greek Prime Minister. Choppy markets with high volatility created difficulty for trend-following models.
2010 (For the Year Ended December 31)
Of the 10.61% return for year ended 2010 for Series A, approximately 15.73% was due to trading gains (before commissions) and approximately 0.43% due to investment income, offset by approximately (5.55)% due to brokerage fees, management fees, offering costs and operating costs borne by Series A.
Of the 11.63% return for year ended 2010 for Series B, approximately 15.73% was due to trading gains (before commissions) and approximately 0.40% due to investment income, offset by approximately (4.50)% due to brokerage fees, management fees and operating costs borne by Series B.
Of the 11.65% return for year ended 2010 for Series W, approximately 15.73% was due to trading gains (before commissions) and approximately 0.43% due to investment income, offset by approximately (4.51)% due to brokerage fees, management fees, sales commissions, offering costs and operating costs borne by Series W.
An analysis of the 15.73% gross trading gains for the Trust for the year by sector is as follows:
The New Year began with an equity sell-off in the second half of the month as global confidence in a steady recovery, again, begins to waver, resulting in trading losses for the Trust’s net long equity indices positions. Primary drivers were related to: (1) China’s efforts to manage growth; (2) questionable stability of the European Union as Greece potentially defaults on sovereign debt; and (3) the potential heavy-handed regulation of the U.S. banking system. As the global risk trade unwound, the Trust’s commodity positions also produced losses, largely in the energy complex and in base metals. The global negative news detracted from a relative positive earnings season and signs of improved economic data. Further losses were recorded in currency trading as the U.S. Dollar was, once again, seen as a safe haven as the economic health of several nations was called into question. Marginal gains were recorded in fixed income as we were able to benefit from the steepening of the yield curve as a result of short-term interest rates being kept at extremely low levels by global central banks.
The first half of February was somewhat subdued as the market digested mixed U.S. employment numbers versus the unemployment rate. By mid-month, the Federal Reserve surprised the markets by decided to hike the discount rate, in a clear sign that the pace of their exit strategy may be more aggressive than originally anticipated. Our long position in short-term rates, both in the U.S. and Europe, fueled strong gains in the sector for the remainder of the month. Gains were also recorded in currency trading as the Euro currency weakened against most majors on accelerated sovereign fears evidenced by the record high cost of insuring Greek and Portuguese debt. Global equity indices trading produced small losses for the Trust as a result of dealing with diverse global macroeconomic challenges (weakening Euro, China central bank intervention and U.S. employment and earnings season results). While the market finished generally negative in Europe and Asia, the U.S. managed to record a gain on largely upbeat fourth quarter earnings announcements with many S&P constituents beating consensus expectations. Commodity trading resulted in generally negative results as the structural imbalances in Europe, and the strong relative performance of the U.S. economy versus the Eurozone helped “de-link” Europe from the risk trade, keeping commodities in alignment with U.S. stocks. While energy prices rallied for most of the month, precious metals sold off early only to turn positive as the market used gold as a safe haven against Eurozone turmoil.
March proved to be a very strong month for trends as our long positions in energies and base metals benefited from prices moving higher on climbing global economic growth prospects. Global equity indices also provided gains for the Trust’s long positions as prices surged on renewed merger and acquisition activity, positive news centered on economic releases, and subdued fears regarding Greece’s finances. Marginal gains were recorded in the foreign exchange markets as the return of the carry trade pushed commodity linked currencies higher. Almost all central banks have acknowledged that the worst has passed; however, the lack of flexibility to induce fresh fiscal or monetary stimulus has forced a lower for longer interest rate policy globally. The Trust’s net gains were partially offset by losses in the fixed income markets from long positions in U.S. Treasury futures as prices fell during the month. In the U.S. fixed income market, heavy supply put pressure on bond prices, and U.S. Treasury yields were higher than swap yields for the first time on record.
April performance was led by strong gains in the fixed income markets from long positions in Europe and from U.S. bond prices that moved higher during the month as the Greece sovereign debt concerns and fears of contagion played center stage in global markets. Currency trading also benefited from the sovereign debt fears and from perceived signs of positive economic growth beginning to materialize. Further gains were recorded in energy and precious metals, as energy markets continued its high correlation to the S&P and investor demand for precious metals continued to grow. Marginal losses were incurred in base metals trading as these markets moved lower on U.S. dollar strength. Global equity indices trading produced flat performance, with net longs across the board producing positive results in the U.S., negative results in Europe, and flat performance in Asia.
As European sovereign debt concerns persisted and China tightened credit in an attempt to cool overheating in its property sector, the decline in equity markets by the end of May was wide-spread across the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Certainly the “flash crash” on May 6th only added to the unsettling nature of equity market price behavior throughout the month. While the Trust experienced losses in equity indices, gains in fixed income help offset the flight from risky assets in favor of government debt. Commodity trading was difficult for the Trust, particularly in the energy sector, as the complex fell in tandem with the equity markets until a late month bounce. While BP’s spill in the Gulf continued to flow uncontrollably, the disaster has not significantly affected the supply of oil into the U.S. to date. Along with the scare in Greece, the Euro came under pressure against the U.S. Dollar as comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke raised concerns over the Eurozone’s bank funding. The U.S. Dollar was, once again, viewed as a safe position trade as risk aversion, volatility and liquidity dominated currency markets contributing to gains in the foreign exchange sector for the Trust.
In June, another month of the “risk off” trade gave government bonds a bid, which produced healthy gains from long global fixed income positions. Unfortunately, these gains were offset by losses in equity indices, foreign exchange and commodities. Long equity positions suffered from an equity sell-off, which primarily stemmed from weaker than expected U.S. and Chinese economic data, negative corporate news and interbank funding concerns in the European region. Foreign exchange trading generated losses primarily from the Trust’s short Swiss Franc position as the currency rallied 7% vs. the U.S. Dollar based on Swiss National Bank comments softening its intervention language. Commodity trading produced minimal losses, largely from our trading in natural gas futures which ended up 3.6% after finally breaking out of a three-month range. The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has not been a significant factor on short-term price movements but most analysts agree that the real impact will be long-term as the cost of production is almost sure to go higher on the back of tighter regulation.
Catalysts for the equity rally in July hinged on strong economic data out of Europe, positive results from European bank stress tests and an increase in positive sentiment out of China. The S&P 500 and Dow Jones recorded gains of approximately 7% in July, adding another twist to their rollercoaster paths. Small gains were recorded in the European and U.S. equity markets from long positions in stock index futures as over-sold conditions paved the way for a reversal higher. Stocks rallied on better-than-expected second quarter earnings, increased M&A activity, higher dividends and additional buybacks. The Trust experienced losses in commodities, primarily from short positions in crude oil and long positions in precious metals. The correlation between equities and energies remained high and the rally in global equities sparked profit taking, reducing investor demand for gold as a safe haven. The Trust had additional losses in foreign exchange from short positions in the Euro/Yen cross, as the Euro showed renewed signs of life, appreciating more than 4% against the Yen. Losses were offset by gains in equities trading and in short-term fixed income markets from long positions in Eurodollar interest rate futures. Weaker-than-expected U.S. economic data led the market to believe that the U.S. Federal Reserve will need to keep interest rates low for an extended period.
The release of the August U.S. Federal Reserve meeting minutes resulted in yet another sell-off of “risk assets,” which helped contributed to the rise in fixed income prices. Yields reached multi-year lows in the U.S., Europe, and U.K., resulting in gains from the Trust’s long fixed income positions, especially on the long end of the curve. Smaller gains were realized in the commodity markets, primarily in precious metals. Gold fully retraced July’s corrective sell-off, with its August month-end market value closing several ticks higher than the June close. The Trust’s long gold position benefitted from gold’s safe-haven status, as well as from news out of China, the world’s largest consumer and producer of gold, that they will allow greater access to trading of the metal. The Trust’s long silver position also produced favorable results due to its lock-step trading with gold. Long global equity indices holdings resulted in losses for the month. Weak labor and housing data releases, coupled with the Federal Open Market Committee (“FOMC”) of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s downgrade of its assessment of the U.S. economic outlook, contributed to the poor performance of U.S. market indices. Japanese equities fared worse, as the stubbornly strong Japanese Yen weighs on Japanese exporters. By month-end, the Euro Stoxx 50 lost nearly 4.5%, the S&P 500 fell about 4.75%, and the Japanese Nikkei lost almost 7.5%. Additional losses were recorded in the foreign exchange markets from short positions in the Euro/Yen cross as the Euro appreciated more than 4% against the Japanese Yen. The Euro moved higher against most currencies as investors covered short positions as the Euro showed renewed signs of life.
Asset prices during the month of September were driven by FOMC hinting that the Federal Reserve is ready and willing to undergo a second round of quantitative easing. While the U.S. Dollar and interest rates fell, equities and commodities rose significantly. Commodity trading was the dominant contributor to positive performance for the month, particularly in precious and base metals, grains and soft commodities. Gold prices reached all-time highs, while silver rallied 12% to levels not seen since the early 1980s. Aluminum and nickel prices also posted double-digit increases during the month. Elevated demand and weather-related supply concerns pushed sugar, cotton and corn prices up over 22%, 17% and 10%, respectively. While commodity trading was a strong driver, foreign exchange was also a material contributor to performance, particularly from commodity-linked currencies. The month brought U.S. Dollar weakness against all major currencies as investors bet the Federal Reserve would implement a fresh round of asset purchases to jump-start the slowing U.S. economy. Smaller gains were recorded in the equity markets as prices surged higher on fewer concerns of a “double-dip” U.S. recession and a continued increase in M&A activity. Stocks in Asia took the lead, followed by the U.S. and Europe, which lagged due to ongoing sovereign debt level concerns. A portion of the Portfolio’s gains were offset by losses in fixed income markets as bond prices were extremely volatile during September.
Financial markets in October were fixated on the U.S. Federal Reserve’s intentions to engage in a second round of Quantitative Easing (“QE2”). In September, markets began pricing in the anticipated QE2 stimulus, which clearly continued into October. Over the course of the month the U.S. Treasury markets shifted from speculating on a future deflationary environment to pricing in future inflation in the TIPS market. Perhaps the markets were reacting to Chairman Bernanke’s comments that inflation is too low and unemployment is too high. Commodity trading was a primary driver of gains for the Trust as silver and gold reached new highs mid-month, and zinc and copper surged higher in the base metal category. Sugar and cotton both rose over 22% on supply/demand imbalances, while grains continued their upward trend with corn leading the way in performance for the sector. The growing expectations of QE2 in the U.S., third quarter earnings that largely beat analyst estimates and market expectations for a congressional change of power at the mid-term elections, propelled the global equity markets higher. The Trust recorded strong gains in stock index trading, particularly in the U.S. and Europe. QE2 also took center stage in currency trading, allowing the Trust to benefit from a weaker U.S. Dollar against most major currencies. Asian-based currencies and commodity-linked currencies were, in particular, profitable. Minimal losses were recorded in the fixed income markets as positive intra-month economic data caused market participants to question if additional QE on a global level was warranted on such a massive scale.
After much anticipation and debate, the second effort by the U.S. Federal Reserve to stimulate the U.S. economy through government bond purchases. Perhaps a case of “buy the rumor, sell the fact,” bond prices fell following the announcement and continued to fall for the remainder of the month generating losses for the Trust in fixed income trading. In currency trading, once QE2 was announced, the U.S. Dollar never looked back. The Trust’s short U.S. Dollar position was significantly reduced during the month; however, small losses in currency trading were incurred. In Europe, the Euro dropped below 1.30 for the first time in more than 10 weeks as speculation leaned toward a worsening debt crisis, and unemployment in the region rose to the highest level in more than 12 years. Commodities were volatile and mixed, generating small gains in the sector for Campbell on the month. Gains in energy trading and metals were dampened by losses in grains and soft commodities. While the energy complex made new highs for the year, primarily on the Chinese inflation story, cotton prices fell 26% from the mid-November high. It seems to be all about China these days as they attempt to dampen growth for fear of inflation. Equity trading was marginally positive despite mixed performance around the globe. While major U.S. indices finished slightly lower on the month, Japan’s Nikkei was up 8%, primarily driven by the weakening Yen. Global Central Bank intervention has made trading based solely on macroeconomic measures difficult. The Trust’s models have naturally tilted to technical indicators until the value of fundamental information is once again relevant to asset prices.
The appetite for risk-based assets was clearly back in vogue during the month of December. Commodities were the strongest performing sector during the month for the Trust as the rally in energies, metals, soft commodities and grain markets continued. The petroleum and industrial metal complexes closed December near the year’s highs on steady demand and a healthy global economic picture. Cotton rallied over 25% during the month to finish up over 90% on the year. Additional gains were recorded in stock index trading as global equity markets staged a strong rally during the month on better than expected economic data, including strong consumer spending during the 2010 holiday season, and increased M&A activity. Despite signs of a stronger economy and higher interest rates, the U.S. Dollar weakened against all major currencies in December, fueling gains for the Trust in the currency sector. Commodity-linked currencies, in particular, enjoyed a strong rally with the Australian Dollar reaching its strongest level since 1982. Despite its strong year-to-date performance, Fixed Income was the only losing sector for the Trust in December, as economic conditions improved and Central Bank policies across the globe remained unchanged.
2009 (For the Year Ended December 31)
Of the (6.34)% return for year ended 2009 for Series A, approximately 1.71% was due to trading losses (before commissions) and approximately (4.85)% due to brokerage fees, management fees, offering costs and operating costs borne by Series A, offset by approximately 0.22% due to investment income.
Of the (5.86)% return for year ended 2009 for Series B, approximately 1.71% was due to trading losses (before commissions) and approximately (4.27)% due to brokerage fees, management fees and operating costs borne by Series B, offset by approximately 0.12% due to investment income.
Of the (6.41)% return for Series W for the period March 1, 2009 (commencement of trading) through December 31, 2009, approximately (1.71)% was due to trading losses (before commissions) and approximately 4.93% was due to brokerage fees, management fees, sales commissions, offering costs and operating costs borne by Series W, offset by approximately 0.23% due to investment income.
An analysis of the (1.71)% gross trading losses for the Trust for the year 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 trust 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 in 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 payroll 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.
Item 7A.
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 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 and forwards, 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, 2011, 2010 and 2009 and the trading gains/losses by market category for the years then ended.
*
- 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.
**
- Represents the gross trading for the Trust for the year ended December 31, 2011.
Of the (5.89)% return for the year ended 2011 for Series A, approximately (1.14)% was due to trading losses (before commissions) and approximately (5.08)% was due to brokerage fees, management fees, incentive fees, operating costs and offering costs borne by Series A, offset by approximately 0.33% due to investment income.
Of the (5.36)% return for the year ended 2011 for Series B, approximately (1.14)% was due to trading losses (before commissions) and approximately (4.56)% was due to brokerage fees, management fees and operating costs borne by Series B, offset by approximately 0.34% due to investment income.
Of the (4.42)% return for the year ended 2011 for Series W, approximately (1.14)% was due to trading losses (before commissions) and approximately (3.61)% was due to brokerage fees, management fees, incentive fees, sales commissions, operating costs and offering costs borne by Series W, offset by approximately 0.33% due to investment income.
*
- 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.
**
- Represents the gross trading for the Trust for the year ended December 31, 2010.
Of the 10.61% return for year ended 2010 for Series A, approximately 15.73% was due to trading gains (before commissions) and approximately 0.43% due to investment income, offset by approximately (5.55)% due to brokerage fees, management fees, offering costs and operating costs borne by Series A.
Of the 11.63% return for year ended 2010 for Series B, approximately 15.73% was due to trading gains (before commissions) and approximately 0.40% due to investment income, offset by approximately (4.50)% due to brokerage fees, management fees and operating costs borne by Series B.
Of the 11.65% return for year ended 2010 for Series W, approximately 15.73% was due to trading gains (before commissions) and approximately 0.43% due to investment income, offset by approximately (4.51)% due to brokerage fees, management fees, sales commissions, offering costs and operating costs borne by Series W.
*
- 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.
**
- Represents the gross trading for the Trust for the year ended December 31, 2009.
Of the (6.34)% return for year ended 2009 for Series A, approximately (1.71)% was due to trading losses (before commissions) and approximately (4.85)% was due to brokerage fees, management fees, operating costs and offering costs borne by Series A offset by approximately 0.22% due to investment income.
Of the (5.86)% return for year ended 2009 for Series B, approximately (1.71)% was due to trading losses (before commissions) and approximately (4.27)% due to brokerage fees, management fees and operating costs borne by Series B offset by approximately 0.12% due to investment income.
Of the (6.41)% return for Series W for the period March 1, 2009 (commencement of trading) through December 31, 2009, approximately (1.71)% was due to trading losses (before commissions) and approximately (4.93)% was due to brokerage fees, management fees, sales commissions, operating costs and offering costs borne by Series W offset by approximately 0.23% due to investment income.
Material Limitations on 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 represent the primary trading risk exposures of the Trust as of December 31, 2011 by market sector.
Currencies
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 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 market 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. Changes in the interest rate environment will have the most impact on longer dated fixed income positions, at points of time throughout the year. The majority of the speculative positions held by the Trust may be held in medium to long-term fixed income positions.
Stock Indices
The Trust’s primary equity exposure is to equity price risk in the G-7 countries and several other countries or regions (Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan and the Netherlands). The stock index futures traded by the Trust are 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. Markets that trade in a narrow range could result in the Trust’s positions being “whipsawed” into numerous small losses.
Energy
The Trust’s primary energy market exposure is to natural gas, 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 aluminum, copper, gold, nickel, silver and zinc.
Agricultural
The Trust’s agricultural exposure is to fluctuations of the price of cattle, coffee, corn, cotton, hogs, soy, sugar and wheat.
Qualitative Disclosures Regarding Non-Trading Risk Exposure
The following were the primary non-trading risk exposures of the Trust as of December 31, 2011.
Foreign Currency Balances
The Trust’s primary foreign currency balances are in Australian Dollar, 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 a 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, Horizon, 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 their 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 reducing position sizes dynamically in response to trading losses.
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.
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.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
Financial statements meeting the requirements of Regulation S-X appear beginning on Page 51 of this report. The supplementary financial information specified by Item 302 of Regulation S-K is included in Item 6 - Selected Financial Data.
Item 9.
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 operator of the Trust, with the participation of the managing operator’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 operator’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 quarterly that have materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, internal control over financial reporting applicable to the Trust.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Campbell & Company, Inc. (“CCI”), the managing operator 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 Trust’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, 2011. 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, 2011, the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting was effective.
Item 9B.
Item 9B. Other Information.
None.
PART III
Item 10.
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
The Registrant has no directors or executive officers. The Registrant has no employees. It is managed by Campbell & Company in its capacity as managing operator. Campbell & Company has been registered as a commodity pool operator (CPO) since September 1982. Its main business address is 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 Chief Operating Officer in January 2010, was Vice President: Director of Operations from April 2007 to January 2010, Vice President: Director of Research Operations from March 2006 to April 2007, and Research Assistant from March 2005 to February 2006. As Chief Operating Officer, he is involved in all operational aspects of the firm. In March 2010, Mr. Andrews was appointed to the firm’s Investment Committee, and in that capacity is responsible for the management of the research and investment process at the firm. In March 2010, Mr. Andrews was appointed the Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of both Campbell & Company Investment Adviser LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Campbell & Company, a registered commodity trading advisor and an SEC registered investment adviser, and The Campbell Multi-Strategy Trust, a registered investment company. 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. Mr. Andrews became listed as a Principal of Campbell & Company Investment Adviser LLC effective March 29, 2010.
D. Keith Campbell, born in 1942, has served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Campbell & Company since it began operations in January 1972, 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 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. From December 2005 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, a registered commodity trading advisor and an SEC registered investment adviser. From June 2005 until April 2007, Mr. Cleland also served as Trustee, Chief Executive Officer and President of The Campbell Multi-Strategy Trust, a registered investment company. In March 2010, Mr. Cleland was appointed to the firm’s Investment Committee, and in that capacity is responsible for the management of the research and investment process at the firm. Mr. Cleland is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the NFA. 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 was an Associated Person, Principal and NFA Associate Member of Campbell & Company Investment Adviser LLC from December 2005 to April 2007. Effective July 9, 2008, Mr. Cleland again became listed as a Principal of Campbell & Company Investment Adviser LLC.
Gregory T. Donovan, born in 1972, joined Campbell & Company in October 2006 and has served as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer 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, since April 2007, the Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary of both Campbell & Company Investment Adviser LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Campbell & Company, a registered commodity trading advisor and an SEC registered investment adviser, and The Campbell Multi-Strategy Trust, a registered investment company; since May 2010 as Treasurer of Campbell & Company International Bahamas Limited, an international business company incorporated in The Bahamas which invests in international investment opportunities; and since October 2009 as Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Campbell Financial Services, Inc., a registered broker-dealer with the SEC and FINRA member. From November 2003 to October 2006, Mr. Donovan was employed by Huron Consulting Services, a management consulting firm, serving as Director in the Financial and Economic Consulting 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. In March 2010, Mr. Harris was appointed to the firm’s Investment Committee, and in that capacity is responsible for the management of the investment process of the firm. 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.
Xiaohua Hu, born in 1963, joined Campbell & Company in April 1994 and was appointed Director of Research in March 2010. Since he joined the firm, Dr. Hu has had a major role in the ongoing research and development of Campbell & Company’s trading systems. In March 2010, Dr. Hu was appointed to the firm’s Investment Committee, and in that capacity is responsible for the management of the research and investment process at the firm. Dr. Hu holds a B.A. in Manufacturing Engineering from Changsha Institute of Technology in China. He went on to receive a Ph.D. in Systems and Information Engineering from the Toyohashi University of Technology, in Japan. During his studies at Toyohashi, he was also a Visiting Researcher in Computer Science and Operations Research and published several refereed papers in the Journal of Society of Instrument and Control Engineers of Japan. Dr. Hu was listed as a Principal of Campbell & Company from February 1998 to December 2011. Dr. Hu again became listed as a Principal of Campbell & Company effective April 7, 2010.
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. In October 2011, Mr. Lloyd was also appointed Secretary of Campbell & Company. Mr. Lloyd is also, since September 2005, the Secretary, Chief Compliance Officer and Assistant Treasurer of both Campbell & Company Investment Adviser LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Campbell & Company, a registered commodity trading advisor and an SEC registered investment adviser, and The Campbell Multi-Strategy Trust, a registered investment company, and since May 2010, Secretary of Campbell & Company International Bahamas Limited, an international business company incorporated in The Bahamas which invests in international investment opportunities. Since October 2009, Mr. Lloyd has served as a Director and Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer and Secretary of Campbell Financial Services, Inc., a registered broker-dealer with the SEC and FINRA member. From July 1999 to September 2005, Mr. Lloyd was employed by Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. (“DBSI”), a broker/dealer subsidiary of a global investment bank, in several positions, including Managing Director and head of the legal group for Deutsche Bank Alex. Brown, the Private Client Division of DBSI. 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 registered as an Associated Person and listed as a Principal and NFA Associate Member of Campbell & Company effective August 30, 2010, October 20, 2005 and August 30, 2010, respectively. Mr. Lloyd became listed as a Principal of Campbell & Company Investment Adviser LLC effective December 12, 2005.
Robert W. McBride, born in 1970, has been employed by Campbell & Company since January 2004 and was appointed Director - Software Development and Research Operations in May 2010, was Director - Research Operations and Trade Operations from January 2010 to May 2010, Research Operations - Code Management Manager from March 2006 to January 2010, and Research Programmer from January 2004 to March 2006. Mr. McBride holds a Master’s of Science in Computer Science from South Dakota Schools of Mines and Technology and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Minnesota State University Mankato. Mr. McBride became listed as a Principal of Campbell & Company effective May 25, 2010.
Stephen C. Roussin, born in 1963, joined Campbell & Company in June 2011 and has served as President since June 2011, Chief Executive Officer since October 2011, and Director effective January 2012. Mr. Roussin became the President in June 2011 and the President and Chief Executive Officer in October 2011 of Campbell & Company Investment Adviser LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Campbell & Company, a registered commodity trading advisor and an SEC registered investment adviser. Mr. Roussin became the President in June 2011 and has served as a Director and President and Chief Executive Office since October 2011 of Campbell Financial Services, Inc., a registered broker-dealer with the SEC and FINRA member. Mr. Roussin has served since September 2011 as Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Campbell Multi-Strategy Trust, a registered investment company. In October 2011, Mr. Roussin was appointed President of Campbell & Company International Bahamas Limited, an international business company incorporated in The Bahamas which invests in international investment opportunities. Mr. Roussin was employed by UBS Wealth Management Americas, a wealth management division of a global financial services company, as Managing Director, Head of Investment Solutions, where he was responsible for several business units and functional teams from September 2004 to November 2009, after which he had a hiatus in employment until taking the position with Campbell & Company. From June 1997 to June 2004, Mr. Roussin served as President and Chief Operating Officer of New York Life Investment Management LLC, an investment management firm and a subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company, where he was responsible for managing a senior team of investment management professionals, after which he had a hiatus in employment until taking the position with UBS Wealth Management Americas. From June 1994 to June 1997, Mr. Roussin was employed by Smith Barney Inc., an SEC registered broker-dealer and subsidiary of the Travelers Group Inc., as a Senior Vice President, where he was responsible for numerous product management functions supporting proprietary and non-proprietary funds offerings, offshore products, marketing, shareholder services, and program development. From July 2007 to October 2008, Mr. Roussin was listed as a Principal of UBS Financial Advisor, L.L.C., a UBS affiliate and an SEC registered investment adviser, where he served on the boards of several closed-end funds. From March 2008 to October 2008, Mr. Roussin was also an NFA Associate Member and Associated Person of UBS Fund Advisor, L.L.C. Mr. Roussin became registered as an Associated Person and listed as a Principal and NFA Associate Member of Campbell & Company effective October 18, 2011, July 8, 2011 and October 18, 2011, respectively. Mr. Roussin became registered as an Associated Person and listed as a Principal and NFA Associate Member of Campbell & Company Investment Adviser LLC effective October 20, 2011, July 8, 2011 and October 20, 2011, 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. Ms. Wills-Zapata is also, since December 2008, Vice President of both Campbell & Company Investment Adviser LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Campbell & Company, a registered commodity trading advisor and an SEC registered investment adviser, and The Campbell Multi-Strategy Trust, a registered investment company. Since October 2009, Ms. Wills-Zapata has served as a Director and Vice President of Campbell Financial Services, Inc., a registered broker-dealer with the SEC and FINRA member, and in this capacity, Ms. Wills-Zapata oversees the marketing activities of the firm. Ms. Wills-Zapata served as a member of the Board of Directors and a Member of the Executive Committee for the Managed Funds Association from November 2006 to November 2010. 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 SEC. 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.
Item 11.
Item 11. Executive Compensation.
The Trust does not itself have any officers, directors or employees. The Trust pays management fees and performance fees to Campbell & Company. The directors and managing officers of Campbell & Company are remunerated by Campbell & Company in their respective positions. The directors and managing officers receive no “other compensation” from the Trust. There are no compensation plans or arrangements relating to a change in control of either the Trust or Campbell & Company.
Campbell & Company receives from the Trust a monthly management fee of 1/12 of 4% of the month-end net assets of the Series A Units and Series B Units, totaling approximately 4% of the average month-end net assets per year of the Series A Units and Series B Units; a monthly management fee of 1/12 of 2% of the month-end net assets of the Series W Units, totaling approximately 2% of average month-end net assets per year of the Series W Units. The managing operator may pay a portion or all of its monthly management fee either upfront (with respect to Series A Units) or on an ongoing basis with respect to Series B Units (commencing with the 13th month with respect to Series B Units) to selected selling agents who have sold the Series A Units and the Series B Units, in return for their provision of ongoing services to the Series A and/or the Series B Unitholders. It is intended that, in most cases, the ongoing payment paid to selling agents will be 2% per annum, paid monthly, on the then current net asset value of Units sold by the selling agents, net of redemptions. In addition, Campbell & Company receives a quarterly performance fee of 20% of the aggregate cumulative appreciation (if any) in the net asset value per Unit of the Series A Units, Series B Units and Series W Units at the end of each quarter, exclusive of 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 Shareholder Matters.
(a)
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners. As of December 31, 2011, no Units of Beneficial Interest are owned or held by an officer of Campbell & Company.
(b)
Security Ownership of Management. As of December 31, 2011, Campbell & Company owned 20.360 Units of Beneficial Interest in Series B having a value of $51,185. The amounts are summarized in the table below:
Amount and Nature
Name of
of Beneficial
Title of Class
Beneficial Owner
Ownership
Percentage of Class
Units of Beneficial Interest in Series B
Campbell & Company, Inc.
20.360 Units
0.02% of Units outstanding
Campbell & Company did not own any Series A or Series W Units at December 31, 2011.
Item 13.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
See Item 11 - Executive Compensation and Item 12 - Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Shareholder Matters.
Item 14.
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services.
The principal accountant for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 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, 2011 and 2010 were $119,000 and $108,488, respectively.
(b)
Audit Related Fees
None.
(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.
(1)
See Financial Statements beginning on page 51 thereof.
(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)
Exhibits
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 30, 2012.
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., the Managing Operator of the Registrant, indicated on March 30, 2012.
Signature
Capacity
/s/ D. Keith Campbell
Chairman of the Board of Directors
D. Keith Campbell
/s/ Bruce L. Cleland
Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors
Bruce L. Cleland
/s/ Stephen C. Roussin
Chief Executive Officer
Stephen C. Roussin
/s/ Gregory T. Donovan
Chief Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer
Gregory T. Donovan
THE CAMPBELL FUND TRUST
ANNUAL REPORT
December 31, 2011
THE CAMPBELL FUND TRUST
INDEX
PAGES
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Financial Statements
Condensed Schedules of Investments December 31, 2011 and 2010
54-55
Statements of Financial Condition December 31, 2011 and 2010
Statements of Operations For the Years Ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009
Statements of Cash Flows For the Years Ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009
Statements of Changes in Unitholders’ Capital (Net Asset Value) For the Years Ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009
59-60
Financial Highlights For the Years Ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009
61-63
Notes to Financial Statements
64-72
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Unitholders of
The Campbell Fund Trust
We have audited the accompanying statements of financial condition of The Campbell Fund Trust (the “Trust”), including the condensed schedules of investments, as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, 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, 2011. 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 The Campbell Fund Trust as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, the results of its operations, its cash flows, changes in its unitholders’ capital (net asset value) and the financial highlights for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2011, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
March 29, 2012
THE CAMPBELL FUND TRUST
CONDENSED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2011
*
Pledged as collateral for the trading of forward positions.
See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
THE CAMPBELL FUND TRUST
CONDENSED SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2010
*
Pledged as collateral for the trading of futures, forward and option positions.
See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
THE CAMPBELL FUND TRUST
STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
DECEMBER 31, 2011 AND 2010
See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
THE CAMPBELL FUND TRUST
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2011, 2010 AND 2009
See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
THE CAMPBELL FUND TRUST
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2011, 2010 AND 2009
See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
THE CAMPBELL FUND TRUST
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN UNITHOLDERS' CAPITAL (NET ASSET VALUE)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2011, 2010 AND 2009
See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
THE CAMPBELL FUND TRUST
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN UNITHOLDERS' CAPITAL (NET ASSET VALUE)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2011, 2010 AND 2009
See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
THE CAMPBELL FUND TRUST
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2011, 2010 AND 2009
The following information presents per unit operating performance data and other supplemental financial data for Series A for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009. 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 unitholder'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.
THE CAMPBELL FUND TRUST
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2011, 2010 AND 2009
The following information presents per unit operating performance data and other supplemental financial data for Series B for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009. 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 unitholder'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 is calculated by dividing the net investment income (loss) 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.
THE CAMPBELL FUND TRUST
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2011, 2010 AND 2009
The following information presents per unit operating performance data and other supplemental financial data for Series W for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and the period March 1, 2009 (commencement of trading) through December 31, 2009. 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 period. An individual unitholder'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 is calculated by dividing the net investment income (loss) and offering costs by the average number of units outstanding during the period. 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.
(3) Annualized for the period March 1, 2009 (commencement of trading) through December 31, 2009.
(4) Represents the net asset value per Series W Unit at March 1, 2009 (commencement of trading).
See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
THE CAMPBELL FUND TRUST
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2011
Note 1. ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
A. General Description of the Trust
The Campbell Fund Trust (the Trust) is a Delaware statutory trust which operates as a commodity investment pool. The Trust engages in the speculative trading of futures contracts and forward currency contracts. Prior to September 2011, the Trust also traded options on forward currency contracts.
Effective August 31, 2008, the Trust began offering units of beneficial interest classified into Series A units, Series B units and Series W units. The rights of the Series A units, Series B units and Series W units are identical, except that the fees and commissions vary on a Series-by-Series basis. Series A and Series W commenced trading on October 1, 2008 and March 1, 2009, respectively. The initial minimum subscription for Series A units and Series W units is $25,000. Series B units are only available for additional investments by existing holders of Series B units. See Note 1F, Note 1H, Note 2 and Note 5 for an explanation of allocations and Series specific charges.
B. Regulation
The Trust is a registrant with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act"). As a registrant, the Trust is subject to the regulations of the SEC and the informational requirements of the Act. 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 (the "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 Statements of Financial Condition as a net gain or loss, as there exists a right of offset of unrealized gains or losses in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 210-20, "Offsetting - Balance Sheet." The fair 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 fair 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.
The fair 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 inputs the spot prices, interest rates and the 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 Statements 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 fair value of the option written. Brokerage commissions include other trading fees and are charged to expense when contracts are opened.
THE CAMPBELL FUND TRUST
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2011
The fixed income investments, other than U.S. Treasury bills, are held at the custodian and marked to market on the last business day of the reporting period by the 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 are held at the brokers or interbank market makers and are stated at cost plus accrued interest, which approximates fair value. Premiums and discounts on fixed income securities are amortized and accreted 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 follows the provisions of ASC 820, "Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures." 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 Trust'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 years ended December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Trust did not have any Level 3 assets or liabilities.
In January 2010, the FASB 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. As of January 1, 2010, the Trust adopted the provisions of ASU 2010-06 except for disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances and settlements in the rollforward of activity in Level 3 fair value measurements, which were adopted as of January 1, 2011. The adoption of the remaining provisions has not had a material impact on the Trust's financial statement disclosures.
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, 2011 and December 31, 2010.
THE CAMPBELL FUND TRUST
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2011
The gross presentation of the fair value of the Trust's derivatives by instrument type is shown in Note 9. See Condensed Schedules of Investments for additional detail categorization.
D. Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents includes cash and overnight money market investments at financial institutions.
E. 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," to the Trust, and has determined that no reserves for uncertain tax positions were required. The Trust files federal and state tax returns. The 2008 through 2011 tax years generally remain subject to examination by the U.S. federal and most state tax authorities.
F. 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"). Series A units and Series W units will each bear the offering costs incurred in the relation to the offering of Series A units and Series W units, respectively. Offering costs are charged to Series A and Series W at a monthly rate of 1/12 of 0.5% (0.5% annualized) of each Series' month-end net asset value (as defined in the Declaration of Trust and Trust Agreement) until such amounts are fully reimbursed. Such amounts are charged directly to unitholders' capital. Series A and Series W are only liable for payment of offering costs on a monthly basis. The offering costs allocable to the Series B units are borne by Campbell & Company.
THE CAMPBELL FUND TRUST
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2011
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 Series A units and Series W units will have no further obligation to Campbell & Company. At December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the amount of unreimbursed offering costs incurred by Campbell & Company is $2,848,875 and $2,712,914 for Series A units and $578,115 and $556,411 for Series W units, respectively.
G. 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 Statements 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.
H. Allocations
Income or loss (prior to calculation of the management fee, service fee, offering costs and performance fee) is allocated pro rata to each Series of units. Each Series of units is then charged the management fee, service fee, offering costs and performance fee applicable to such Series of units.
I. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-04 ("ASU 2011-04") to achieve common fair value measurement and disclosure requirements in U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. ASU 2011-04 explains how to measure fair value. It does not require additional fair value measurements and is not intended to establish valuation standards or affect valuation practices outside of financial reporting. The amended guidance is effective for financial statements for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The impact of this guidance on the Trust's financial statements and disclosures, if any, is currently being assessed.
Note 2. MANAGING OPERATOR AND COMMODITY TRADING ADVISOR
The managing operator 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.
Series A units and Series B units pay the managing operator a monthly management fee equal to 1/12 of 4% (4% annually) of the Net Assets (as defined) of Series A units and Series B units, respectively, as of the end of each month. Series W units pay the managing operator a monthly management fee equal to 1/12 of 2% (2% annually) of the Net Assets (as defined) of Series W units as of the end of each month. Each Series of units will pay the managing operator a quarterly performance fee equal to 20% of the aggregate cumulative appreciation in Net Asset Value per Unit (as defined) exclusive of appreciation attributable to interest income on a Series-by-Series basis.
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 management fee and performance fee (the "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 fees are typically paid in the month following the month in which they are earned. The fees are paid from the available cash at the Trust's bank, broker or cash management custody accounts.
THE CAMPBELL FUND TRUST
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2011
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 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. The Trust appointed Horizon Cash Management LLC as cash manager under the Investment Advisory Agreement dated December 22, 2010 to manage and control the liquid assets of the Trust. Both cash managers are registered as investment advisers with the SEC of the United States under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The Trust has terminated the Non-Custody Investment Advisory Agreement appointing Wilmington Trust Investment Management LLC as cash manager, effective December 31, 2010.
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.
Note 5. SERVICE FEE
The selling firms who sell Series W units receive a monthly service fee equal to 1/12 of 0.5% of the month-end Net Asset Value (as defined) of the Series W units, totaling approximately 0.50% per year.
Note 6. DEPOSITS WITH FUTURES BROKER
The Trust deposits assets with UBS Securities LLC (the "broker") to act as futures 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 7. DEPOSITS WITH INTERBANK MARKET MAKER
The Trust’s counterparty with regard to its forward currency transactions is The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC ("RBS"). The Trust has entered into an International Swap and Derivatives Association, Inc. agreement with RBS which governs these transactions. The credit ratings reported by the three major rating agencies for RBS were considered investment grade as of December 31, 2011. Margin requirements are satisfied by the deposit of U.S. Treasury bills and cash with RBS. The Trust typically earns interest income on its assets deposited with RBS.
Note 8. 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.
THE CAMPBELL FUND TRUST
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2011
Redemption fees, which are paid to Campbell & Company, apply to Series A units through the first twelve month-ends following purchase (the month-end as of which the unit is purchased is counted as the first month-end) as follows: 1.833% of Net Asset Value per unit redeemed through the second month-end, 1.666% of Net Asset Value per unit redeemed through the third month-end, 1.500% of Net Asset Value per unit redeemed through the fourth month-end, 1.333% of Net Asset Value per unit redeemed through the fifth month-end, 1.167% of Net Asset Value per unit redeemed through the sixth month-end, 1.000% of Net Asset Value per unit redeemed through the seventh month-end, 0.833% of Net Asset Value per unit redeemed through the eight month-end, 0.667% of Net Asset Value per unit redeemed through the ninth month-end, 0.500% of Net Asset Value per unit redeemed through the tenth month-end, 0.333% of Net Asset Value per unit redeemed through the eleventh month-end and 0.167% of Net Asset Value per unit redeemed through the twelfth month end. For the year ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, Campbell & Company received redemption fees of $9,401 and $2,139, respectively.
Note 9. 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 focused on financial futures, which are instruments designed to hedge or speculate on changes in interest rates, currency exchange rates, stock index values, as well as 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.
Purchase and sale of futures contracts requires margin deposits with the broker. 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 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 funds 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 funds 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, 2011 and 2010 was $16,400,000 and $61,998,650, respectively, which equals 4% and 18% of Net Asset Value, respectively. The cash deposited with interbank market makers at December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 was $21,775 and $15,795,395, respectively, which equals 0% and 5% of Net Asset Value, respectively. Included in cash deposits with the broker and interbank market maker at December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 was restricted cash for margin requirements of $34,189,502 and $ 0 respectively, which equals 9% and 0% 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. 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 CAMPBELL FUND TRUST
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2011
The Trust has adopted the provisions of ASC 815 "Derivatives and Hedging" ("ASC 815"). ASC 815 provides enhanced disclosures about how and why an entity uses derivative instruments, how derivative instruments are accounted for, and how derivative instruments affect an entity's financial position, financial performance and cash flows.
The following tables summarize quantitative information required by ASC 815.
The fair value of the Trust's derivatives by instrument type, as well as the location of those instruments on the Statements of Financial Condition, as of December 31, 2011 and 2010 is as follows:
THE CAMPBELL FUND TRUST
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2011
The trading revenue of the Trust's derivatives by instrument type, as well as the location of those gains and losses on the Statements of Operations, for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 is as follows:
** Amount differs from the amount on the Statements of Operations as the amount above does not include gains and losses on foreign currency cash balanaces at the futures broker.
For the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, the monthly average of futures contracts bought and sold was approximately 25,400, 19,400 and 17,900, respectively, and the monthly average of notional value of forward currency and options on forward currency contracts was $2,883,000,000, $2,506,800,000 and $2,101,400,500, respectively.
Open contracts generally mature within three months; as of December 31, 2011, the latest maturity date for open futures contracts is September 2013 and the latest maturity date for open forward currency contracts is March 2012. However, the Trust intends to close all futures and forward currency contracts prior to maturity.
THE CAMPBELL FUND TRUST
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2011
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 Trust'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.
Note 10. 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 11. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Management of the Trust has evaluated subsequent events through the date the financial statements were filed. There are no subsequent events to disclose or record.
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