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Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

 

  x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2016 or

 

  ¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                  to                 

Commission File Number: 000-26338

MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY SPECTRUM TECHNICAL L.P.

 

 

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

 

13-3782231

 

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

Ceres Managed Futures LLC

522 Fifth Avenue

New York, NY

 

 

10036

 

(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (855) 672-4468

 

 

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  x    No  ¨

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

 

Large accelerated filer   ¨    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   x    Smaller reporting company   ¨

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

As of July 31, 2016, 4,199,459.400 Limited Partnership Units were outstanding.


Table of Contents

MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY SPECTRUM TECHNICAL L.P.

FORM 10-Q

INDEX

 

         Page
Number
 

PART I – Financial Information:

  

Item 1.

 

Financial Statements:

  
 

Statements of Financial Condition as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 (unaudited)

     2   
 

Condensed Schedules of Investments as of June 30, 2016 (unaudited) and December 31, 2015

     3-4   
 

Statements of Income and Expenses for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 (unaudited)

     5   
 

Statements of Changes in Partners’ Capital for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 (unaudited)

     6   
 

Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited)

     7-21   

Item 2.

 

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

     22-26   

Item 3.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

     27-29   

Item 4.

 

Controls and Procedures

     30   

PART II – Other Information:

  

Item 1.

 

Legal Proceedings

     31-38   

Item 1A.

 

Risk Factors

     39   

Item 2.

 

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

     39   

Item 3.

 

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

     39   

Item 4.

 

Mine Safety Disclosures

     39   

Item 5.

 

Other Information

     39   

Item 6.

 

Exhibits

     40   


Table of Contents

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Spectrum Technical L.P.

Statements of Financial Condition

(Unaudited)

 

     June 30,
2016
     December 31,
2015
 

Assets:

     

Investment in SECOR Master Fund (1), at fair value

     $     28,128,629           $     27,517,405     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Equity in trading account:

     

Investments in U.S. Treasury bills, at fair value (amortized cost $13,994,077 and $21,748,974 at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively)

     13,998,179           21,747,370     

Unrestricted cash

     32,651,834           36,014,670     

Restricted cash

     4,143,629           7,078,848     

Net unrealized appreciation on open futures contracts

     1,701,372           -         

Net unrealized appreciation on open forward contracts

     429,570           -         
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total equity in trading account

     52,924,584           64,840,888     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cash at bank

     606           -         

Interest receivable

     7,138           5,019     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

     $ 81,060,957           $ 92,363,312     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities and Partners’ Capital:

     

Liabilities:

     

Net unrealized depreciation on open futures contracts

     $ -               $ 302,645     

Net unrealized depreciation on open forward contracts

     -               86,933     

Redemptions payable to Limited Partners

     1,467,732           1,139,210     

Redemptions payable to General Partner

     50,273           -         

Accrued expenses:

     

Ongoing placement agent fees

     130,178           159,363     

General Partner fees

     130,178           159,363     

Management fees

     103,336           131,877     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     1,881,697           1,979,391     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Partners’ Capital:

     

Limited Partners (4,252,980.011 and 4,713,198.629 Units at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively)

     78,329,237           89,337,807     

General Partner (46,150.675 and 55,189.877 Units at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively)

     850,023           1,046,114     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total partners’ capital (net asset value)

     79,179,260           90,383,921     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities and partners’ capital

     $ 81,060,957           $ 92,363,312     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net asset value per Unit

     $ 18.42           $ 18.95     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) 

Defined in Note 1.

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

2


Table of Contents

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Spectrum Technical L.P.

Condensed Schedule of Investments

June 30, 2016

(Unaudited)

 

     Notional ($)/

 

    Number of Contracts    

         Fair Value              % of Partners’    

 

Capital

     

Futures Contracts Purchased

          

Commodity

     345           $ 315,499           0.40       %

Equity

     219           144,249           0.18      

Foreign currency

     2           (10)          (0.00)      *

Interest rate

     879           1,176,052           1.49      
     

 

 

    

 

 

   

Total futures contracts purchased

        1,635,790           2.07      
     

 

 

    

 

 

   

Futures Contracts Sold

          

Commodity

     667           179,452           0.23      

Equity

     266           (4,857)          (0.01)     

Foreign currency

     3           63           0.00       *

Interest rate

     1,192           (109,076)          (0.14)     
     

 

 

    

 

 

   

Total futures contracts sold

        65,582           0.08      
     

 

 

    

 

 

   

Net unrealized appreciation on open futures contracts

        $ 1,701,372           2.15       %
     

 

 

    

 

 

   

Unrealized Appreciation on Open Forward Contracts

          

Commodity

     147           $ 288,516           0.36       %

Foreign currency

     $ 82,225,223           2,050,176           2.59      
     

 

 

    

 

 

   

Total unrealized appreciation on open forward contracts

        2,338,692           2.95      
     

 

 

    

 

 

   

Unrealized Depreciation on Open Forward Contracts

          

Commodity

     86           (342,695)          (0.43)     

Foreign currency

     $ 71,399,575           (1,566,427)          (1.98)     
     

 

 

    

 

 

   

Total unrealized depreciation on open forward contracts

        (1,909,122)          (2.41)     
     

 

 

    

 

 

   

Net unrealized appreciation on open forward contracts

        $ 429,570           0.54       %
     

 

 

    

 

 

   

U.S. Government Securities

          
Face Amount            Maturity Date    Description    Fair Value     

    % of Partners’    

 

Capital

    

$6,000,000

   7/7/2016    U.S. Treasury bills, 0.205% (Amortized cost of $5,998,258)        $    5,999,933         7.58    %

$8,000,000

   8/11/2016    U.S. Treasury bills, 0.265% (Amortized cost of $7,995,819)      7,998,246         10.10   
        

 

 

    

 

  

Total U.S. Government Securities

       $  13,998,179         17.68    %
        

 

 

    

 

  

 

*

Due to rounding.

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

3


Table of Contents

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Spectrum Technical L.P.

Condensed Schedule of Investments

December 31, 2015

 

               Notional ($)/
    Number of Contracts    
           Fair Value                % of Partners’    
Capital
 

Futures Contracts Purchased

        

Commodity

     149           $ (27,379)          (0.03) 

Equity

     217           1,661           0.00  

Foreign currency

     12           678           0.00  

Interest rate

     1,240           (407,453)          (0.45)    
           

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total futures contracts purchased

        (432,493)          (0.48)    
           

 

 

    

 

 

 

Futures Contracts Sold

        

Commodity

     1,086           41,971           0.05     

Equity

     179           (28,878)          (0.03)    

Foreign currency

     122           109,485           0.12     

Interest rate

     475           7,270           0.01     
           

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total futures contracts sold

        129,848           0.15     
           

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net unrealized depreciation on open futures contracts

        $ (302,645)          (0.33) 
           

 

 

    

 

 

 

Unrealized Appreciation on Open Forward Contracts

        

Commodity

     92           $            156,179           0.17  

Foreign currency

   $         116,304,457           1,745,778           1.93     
           

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total unrealized appreciation on open forward contracts

        1,901,957                             2.10     
           

 

 

    

 

 

 

Unrealized Depreciation on Open Forward Contracts

        

Commodity

     238           (366,155)          (0.41)    

Foreign currency

   $ 97,698,308           (1,622,735)          (1.80)    
           

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total unrealized depreciation on open forward contracts

        (1,988,890)          (2.21)    
           

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net unrealized depreciation on open forward contracts

        $ (86,933)          (0.11) 
           

 

 

    

 

 

 

U.S. Government Securities

        

Face Amount

     Maturity Date     

Description

       Fair Value          % of Partners’
          Capital           
 

$9,250,000

       1/21/2016       U.S. Treasury bills, 0.0125% (Amortized
cost of $9,249,708)
     $ 9,249,393           10.23  

$12,500,000

       3/3/2016       U.S. Treasury bills, 0.015% (Amortized
cost of $12,499,266)
     12,497,977           13.83     
          

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total U.S. Government Securities

     $          21,747,370                            24.06  
          

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

*

Due to rounding.

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

4


Table of Contents

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Spectrum Technical L.P.

Statements of Income and Expenses

(Unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
     Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
           2016            2015      2016      2015  

Investment Income:

           

Interest income

     $ 33,381            $ 1,601            $ 77,358            $ 3,580      
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Expenses:

           

Ongoing placement agent fees

     409,193            528,403            868,856            1,082,768      

General Partner fees

     409,193            528,403            868,856            1,082,768      

Management fees

     324,789            404,025            688,045            805,740      

Incentive fees

     -                -                208,244            715,096      
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total expenses

     1,143,175            1,460,831            2,634,001            3,686,372      
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Net investment loss

  

 

 

 

(1,109,794)  

 

  

  

 

 

 

(1,459,230)  

 

  

  

 

 

 

(2,556,643)  

 

  

  

 

 

 

(3,682,792)  

 

  

  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Tradng Results:

           

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

           

Net realized gains (losses) on closed contracts

     (3,336,506)           (5,318,944)           (2,530,791)           3,686,874      

 

Net realized gains (losses) on closed contracts allocated from Blackwater Master Fund

     -                (219,310)           -                443,972      

 

Net realized gains (losses) on closed contracts allocated from SECOR Master Fund

     (1,287,753)           (769,360)           (1,327,419)           845,494      

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on open contracts

     1,994,544            (3,088,266)           2,520,350            (4,224,691)     

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on open contracts allocated from Blackwater Master Fund

     -                (71,624)           -                (558,999)     

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on open contracts allocated from SECOR Master Fund

     812,357            780,843            1,499,581            64,438      
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Total trading results

  

 

 

 

(1,817,358)  

 

  

  

 

 

 

(8,686,661)  

 

  

  

 

 

 

161,721   

 

  

  

 

 

 

257,088   

 

  

  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

  

 

  $

 

(2,927,152)  

 

  

  

 

  $

 

(10,145,891)  

 

  

  

 

  $

 

(2,394,922)  

 

  

  

 

  $

 

(3,425,704)  

 

  

  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income (loss) allocation:

           

Limited Partners

     $ (2,896,475)           $ (10,033,451)           $ (2,374,104)           $ (3,389,121)     

General Partner

     $ (30,677)           $ (112,440)           $ (20,818)           $ (36,583)     

 

Net income (loss) per Unit*

           

Limited Partners

     $ (0.63)           $ (1.86)           $ (0.53)           $ (0.68)     

General Partner

     $ (0.63)           $ (1.86)           $ (0.53)           $ (0.68)     
                 Units                  Units      Units      Units  

Weighted average number of Units outstanding

       4,463,122.786            5,427,995.557            4,585,200.646            5,540,133.998      

 

*

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

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

5


Table of Contents

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Spectrum Technical L.P.

Statements of Changes in Partners’ Capital

For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 and 2015

(Unaudited)

 

     Units of
Partnership
Interest
     Limited
Partners
     General Partner      Total  

Partners’ Capital, December 31, 2015

         4,768,388.506           $         89,337,807           $         1,046,114           $ 90,383,921     

Net income (loss)

     -               (2,374,104)          (20,818)          (2,394,922)    

Redemptions

     (469,257.820)          (8,634,466)          (175,273)          (8,809,739)    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Partners’ Capital, June 30, 2016

     4,299,130.686           $ 78,329,237           $ 850,023           $ 79,179,260     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Partners’ Capital, December 31, 2014

  

 

 

 

5,734,525.375  

 

  

  

 

  $

 

108,125,693  

 

  

  

 

  $

 

1,223,104  

 

  

  

 

  $

 

        109,348,797  

 

  

Net income (loss)

     -               (3,389,121)          (36,583)          (3,425,704)    

Redemptions

     (479,218.885)          (9,209,889)          (76,589)          (9,286,478)    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Partners’ Capital, June 30, 2015

     5,255,306.490           $ 95,526,683           $ 1,109,932           $ 96,636,615     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

6


Table of Contents

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Spectrum Technical L.P.

Notes to Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

1.

Organization:

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Spectrum Technical L.P. (the “Partnership”) is a Delaware limited partnership organized in 1994 to engage primarily in the speculative trading of futures contracts, options on futures and forward contracts, and forward contracts on physical commodities and other commodity interests, including, but not limited to, foreign currencies, financial instruments, metals, energy, and agricultural products (collectively, “Futures Interests”) (refer to Note 4, “Financial Instruments”). The General Partner (defined below) may also determine to invest up to all of the Partnership’s assets in United States (“U.S.”) Treasury bills and/or money market mutual funds, including money market mutual funds managed by Morgan Stanley or its affiliates. The Partnership is one of the Morgan Stanley Spectrum series of funds, comprised of the Partnership, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Spectrum Currency and Commodity L.P., Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Spectrum Strategic L.P. and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Spectrum Select L.P.

Ceres Managed Futures LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, acts as the general partner (“Ceres” or the “General Partner”) and commodity pool operator for the Partnership. Ceres is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Holdings LLC (“MSSBH”). MSSBH is wholly-owned indirectly by Morgan Stanley. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC is doing business as Morgan Stanley Wealth Management (“Morgan Stanley Wealth Management”). Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is a principal subsidiary of MSSBH.

During the reporting periods ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, the Partnership’s commodity broker was Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC (“MS&Co.”), a registered futures commission merchant. The Partnership also deposits a portion of its cash in a non-trading account at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. MS&Co. also acts as the counterparty on all trading of foreign currency forward contracts. MS&Co. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley.

The trading advisors to the Partnership are Campbell & Company, Inc. (“Campbell”), Aspect Capital Limited (“Aspect”) and Secor Capital Advisors, L.P. (“SECOR”). Prior to September 30, 2015 and March 31, 2016, Blackwater Capital Management LLC (“Blackwater”) and Winton Capital Management Limited (“Winton” and together with Blackwater, Campbell, Aspect and SECOR, each, individually, a “Trading Advisor” or collectively, the “Trading Advisors”), respectively, were also trading advisors to the Partnership.

Blackwater managed the assets of the Partnership through its investment in Blackwater Master Fund L.P. (“Blackwater Master Fund”) (prior to its full redemption on September 30, 2015), a limited partnership organized under the partnership laws of the State of Delaware. Ceres was the general partner of Blackwater Master Fund. Effective September 30, 2015, Ceres terminated the management agreement with Blackwater, and Blackwater no longer trades on behalf of the Partnership.

Effective March 31, 2016, Ceres terminated the management agreement with Winton pursuant to which Winton ceased trading the assets of the Partnership, fully liquidated all commodity interest positions in the Partnership, and converted all currency balances in the Partnership to U.S. dollars.

Ceres, SECOR and the Partnership entered into a management agreement pursuant to which, as of January 1, 2015, SECOR serves as a trading advisor to the Partnership and trades its allocated portion of the Partnership’s net assets through the Partnership’s investment in SECOR Master Fund L.P. (“SECOR Master Fund” and together with Blackwater Master Fund, each, a “Master Fund” and collectively, the “Master Funds”), a limited partnership organized under the partnership laws of the State of Delaware, pursuant to the SECOR Alpha Program. Ceres is also the general partner of SECOR Master Fund.

In July 2015, the General Partner delegated certain administrative functions to SS&C Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation, currently doing business as SS&C GlobeOp (the “Administrator”). Pursuant to a master services agreement, the Administrator furnishes certain administrative, accounting, regulatory, reporting, tax and other services as agreed from time to time. In addition, the Administrator maintains certain books and records of the Partnership. The General Partner pays or reimburses the Partnership, from the General Partner fee (formerly, the administrative fee) it receives from the Partnership, the ordinary administrative expenses of the Partnership. This includes the expenses related to the engagement of the Administrator. Therefore, the engagement of the Administrator did not impact the Partnership’s break-even point.

 

7


Table of Contents

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Spectrum Technical L.P.

Notes to Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

2.

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies:

The accompanying financial statements and accompanying notes are unaudited but, in the opinion of the General Partner, include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the Partnership’s financial condition at June 30, 2016, the results of its operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, and changes in partners’ capital for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015. These financial statements present the results of interim periods and do not include all of the disclosures normally provided in annual financial statements. These financial statements should be read together with the financial statements and notes included in the Partnership’s December 31, 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K (the “Form10-K”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the year ended December 31, 2015. The December 31, 2015 information has been derived from the audited financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2015.

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

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

Statement of Cash Flows: The Partnership is not required to provide a Statement of Cash Flows.

Partnership’s/Master Funds’ Investments: All commodity interests of the Partnership/Master Funds, including derivative financial instruments and derivative commodity instruments, are held for trading purposes. Commodity interests denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates prevailing at the measurement date. Gains or losses are realized when contracts are liquidated and are determined using the first-in, first-out method. Unrealized gains or losses on open contracts are included as a component of equity in trading account in the Partnership’s/Master Funds’ Statements of Financial Condition. Net realized gains or losses and net change in unrealized gains or losses are included in the Partnership’s/Master Funds’ Statements of Income and Expenses.

The Partnership carries its investment in SECOR Master Fund (and carried its investment in Blackwater Master Fund) at fair value based on its proportionate interest in the respective Master Fund’s net asset value as calculated by the Master Fund.

Restricted and Unrestricted Cash: As reflected in the Partnership’s Statements of Financial Condition, restricted cash equals the cash portion of assets on deposit to meet margin requirements plus the cash required to offset unrealized losses on foreign currency forward and option contracts and offset unrealized losses only on the offsetting London Metal Exchange positions. All of these amounts are maintained separately. Cash available for Future Interest trading that is not classified as restricted cash is therefore classified as unrestricted cash. Cash includes cash denominated in foreign currencies of $88,037 (cost of $70,270) and $423,964 (cost of $406,027) as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.

Investment Company Status: Effective January 1, 2014, the Partnership adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2013-08, “Financial Services — Investment Companies (Topic 946): Amendments to the Scope, Measurement and Disclosure Requirements” and based on the General Partner’s assessment, the Partnership has been deemed to be an investment company since inception. Accordingly, the Partnership follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of Topic 946 and reflects its investments at fair value with unrealized gains and losses resulting from changes in fair value reflected in the Statements of Income and Expenses.

 

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Notes to Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

Income Taxes: Income taxes have not been listed as each partner is individually liable for the taxes, if any, on its share of the Partnership’s income and expenses. The General Partner has concluded that no provision for income tax is required in the Partnership’s financial statements. The Partnership files U.S. federal and various state and local tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The 2012 through 2015 tax years remain subject to examination by U.S. federal and most state tax authorities. The General Partner does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability.

Net Income (Loss) per Unit: Net income (loss) per Unit of limited partnership interest (“Unit(s)”) is calculated in accordance with ASU 946, “Financial Services – Investment Companies.” See Note 3, “Financial Highlights.”

Fair Value of Financial Instruments: The carrying value of the Partnership’s/Master Funds’ assets and liabilities presented in the Statements of Financial Condition that qualify as financial instruments under the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 825, “Financial Instruments,” approximates the fair value due to the short term nature of such balances.

Recent Accounting Pronouncement: In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, “Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities.” The amendments in this update address certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of financial instruments for all entities that hold financial assets or owe financial liabilities. One of the amendments in this update eliminates the requirement for public business entities to disclose the methods and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value that is required to be disclosed for financial instruments measured at amortized cost on the balance sheet or a description of changes in the methods and significant assumptions. Additionally, the update eliminates the requirement to disclose the fair value of financial instruments measured at amortized cost for entities that are not public business entities. Investment companies are specifically exempted from ASU 2016-01’s equity investment accounting provisions and will continue to follow the industry specific guidance for investment accounting under Topic 946. For public business entities, this update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods therein. For other entities, it is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. The General Partner is currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on the Partnership’s financial statements and related disclosures.

Reclassification: Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to current period presentation. Amounts previously presented as net unrealized gain (loss) on open contracts in the Statements of Financial Condition are now reported as net unrealized appreciation on open futures contracts, net unrealized depreciation on open futures contracts, net unrealized appreciation on open forward contracts and net unrealized depreciation on open forward contracts, as applicable. In addition, amounts previously presented as futures and forward contracts purchased and futures and forward contracts sold in the Condensed Schedules of Investments are now reported as futures contracts purchased, futures contracts sold, unrealized appreciation on open forward contracts and unrealized depreciation on open forward contracts, as applicable. Amounts previously presented as unrealized currency gain (loss) in the Condensed Schedules of Investments and included in net unrealized gain (loss) on open contracts in the Statements of Financial Condition are now reported as part of unrestricted cash in the Statements of Financial Condition.

There have been no material changes with respect to the Partnership’s critical accounting policies as reported in the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

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Notes to Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

3.

Financial Highlights:

Financial highlights for the limited partner class for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 were as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
     Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2016      2015      2016      2015  

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

           

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses)

     $ (0.38)           $ (1.59)           $ 0.03            $     (0.01)     

Net investment loss

     (0.25)           (0.27)           (0.56)           (0.67)     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) for the period

     (0.63)           (1.86)           (0.53)           (0.68)     

Net asset value per Unit, beginning of period

     19.05            20.25            18.95            19.07      
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net asset value per Unit, end of period

     $     18.42            $     18.39            $     18.42            $ 18.39      
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     Three Months Ended
June 30,
     Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2016      2015      2016      2015  

Ratios to Average Limited Partners’ Capital: **

           

Net investment loss ***

     (5.5)%           (5.7)%           (5.7)%           (6.3)%     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating expenses before incentive fees

             5.7 %                   5.7 %                   5.7 %                   5.6 %     

Incentive fees

     0.0 %           0.0 %           0.2 %           0.7 %     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating expenses after incentive fees

     5.7 %           5.7 %           5.9 %           6.3 %     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total return:

           

Total return before incentive fees

     (3.3)%           (9.2)%           (2.6)%           (2.9)%     

Incentive fees

     0.0 %           0.0 %           (0.2)%           (0.7)%     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total return after incentive fees

     (3.3)%           (9.2)%           (2.8)%           (3.6)%     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

*

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

 

**

Annualized (except for incentive fees, if applicable).

 

***

Interest income less total expenses.

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

 

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Notes to Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

4.

Financial Instruments:

The Partnership and the Master Funds trade Futures Interests. Futures and forwards represent contracts for delayed delivery of an instrument at a specified date and price. Futures Interests are open commitments until the settlement date, at which time they are realized. They are valued at fair value, generally on a daily basis, and the 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 unrealized appreciation or depreciation on open futures contracts or net unrealized appreciation or depreciation on open forward contracts. The resulting net change in unrealized gains and losses is reflected in “Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on open contracts, “Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on open contracts allocated from Blackwater Master Fund” and “Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on open contracts allocated from SECOR Master Fund” on open contracts from one period to the next in the Statements of Income and Expenses. The Partnership’s contracts are accounted for on a trade-date basis. Risk arises from changes in the value of these contracts and the potential inability of counterparties to perform under the terms of the contracts. There are numerous factors which may significantly influence the fair value of these contracts, including interest rate volatility.

The fair value of an exchange-traded contract is based on the settlement price quoted by the exchange on the day with respect to which fair value is being determined. If an exchange-traded contract could not have been liquidated on such day due to the operation of daily limits or other rules of the exchange, the settlement price will be equal to the settlement price on the first subsequent day on which the contract could be liquidated.

In general, the risks associated with off-exchange-traded contracts are greater than those associated with exchange-traded contracts because of the greater risk of default by the counterparty to an off-exchange-traded contract. The Partnership and SECOR Master Fund have credit risk associated with counterparty nonperformance. As of the date of the financial statements, the credit risk associated with the instruments in which the Partnership and SECOR Master Fund trade is limited to the unrealized gain (loss) amounts reflected in the Partnership’s/SECOR Master Fund’s Statements of Financial Condition. The net unrealized gains (losses) on open contracts are further disclosed gross by type of contract and corresponding fair value level in Note 6, “Fair Value Measurements.”

 

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Notes to Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

The Partnership also has credit risk because MS&Co. acts as the commodity futures broker, or the counterparty, with respect to most of the Partnership’s assets. Exchange-traded futures and exchange-traded forward contracts are fair valued on a daily basis, with variations in value settled on a daily basis. MS&Co., which is acting as a commodity futures broker for the Partnership’s exchange-traded futures and exchange-traded forward contracts, is required, pursuant to regulations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), to segregate from its own assets, and for the sole benefit of its commodity customers, total cash held by it with respect to exchange-traded futures and exchange-traded forward contracts, including an amount equal to the net unrealized gains (losses) on all open exchange-traded futures and exchange-traded forward contracts, and exchange-traded futures-styled option contracts, which in the aggregate, totaled $38,442,656 and $42,580,896 at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. With respect to the Partnership’s off-exchange-traded forward currency contracts and forward currency option contracts, there are no daily settlements of variation in value, nor is there any requirement that an amount equal to the net unrealized gains (losses) on such contracts be segregated. However, the Partnership is required to meet margin requirements equal to the net unrealized loss on open forward currency contracts in the Partnership’s accounts with the counterparty, which is accomplished by daily maintenance of the cash balance in a custody account held at MS&Co., for the benefit of MS&Co. With respect to those off-exchange-traded forward currency contracts, the Partnership is at risk to the ability of MS&Co., the sole counterparty on all such contracts, to perform. The Partnership has a netting agreement with the counterparty. The primary terms are based on industry standard master netting agreements. This agreement, which seeks to reduce both the Partnership’s and the counterparty’s exposure on off-exchange-traded forward currency contracts, should materially decrease the Partnership’s credit risk in the event of MS&Co.’s bankruptcy or insolvency.

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

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

The futures and forwards traded by the Partnership, along with U.S. Treasury bills held by the Partnership, involve varying degrees of related market risk. Market risk is often dependent upon changes in the level or volatility of interest rates, exchange rates, and prices of financial instruments and commodities, factors that result in frequent changes in the fair value of the Partnership’s open positions, and consequently in its earnings, whether realized or unrealized, and cash flow.

Gains and losses on open positions of exchange-traded futures and exchange-traded forward contracts are settled daily through variation margin. Gains and losses on off-exchange-traded forward currency contracts are settled upon termination of the contract. Gains and losses on off-exchange-traded forward currency option contracts are settled on an agreed-upon settlement date.

 

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Notes to Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

5.

Trading Activities:

The Partnership’s objective is to profit from speculative trading in Futures Interests. Therefore, the Trading Advisors for the Partnership will take speculative positions in Futures Interests where they feel the best profit opportunities exist for their trading strategies. As such, the average number of contracts outstanding in absolute quantities (the total of the open long and open short positions) has been presented as a part of the volume disclosure, as position direction is not an indicative factor in such volume disclosures.

All of the commodity interests owned by the Partnership are held for trading purposes. The monthly average number of futures contracts traded during the three months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 were 2,525 and 4,048, respectively. The monthly average number of futures contracts traded during the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 were 2,734 and 4,766, respectively. The monthly average number of metals forward contracts traded during the three months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 were 523 and 548, respectively. The monthly average number of metals forward contracts traded during the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 were 498 and 501, respectively. The monthly average notional values of currency forward contracts held during the three months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 were $418,763,812 and $289,972,776, respectively. The monthly average notional values of currency forward contracts held during the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 were $386,433,963 and $300,958,521, respectively.

The following tables summarize the gross and net amounts recognized relating to the assets and liabilities of the Partnership’s derivatives and their offsetting subject to master netting agreements or similar agreements as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.

 

June 30, 2016

   Gross Amounts
Recognized
     Gross Amounts
Offset in the

Statements of
Financial
Condition
     Amounts
Presented in the

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

 

Assets

                 

Futures

     $ 2,200,840           $ (499,468)          $            1,701,372           $                     -             $             -             $         1,701,372     

Forwards

     2,338,692           (1,909,122)          429,570           -             -             429,570     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

     $ 4,539,532           $         (2,408,590)          $ 2,130,942           $ -             $ -             $ 2,130,942     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities

                 

Futures

     $ (499,468)          $ 499,468           $ -               $ -             $ -             $ -         

Forwards

     (1,909,122)          1,909,122           -               -             -             -         
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     $       (2,408,590)          $ 2,408,590           $ -               $ -             $ -             $ -         
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net fair value

                    $  2,130,942  
                 

 

 

 

 

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Notes to Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

December 31, 2015    

    Gross Amounts  
Recognized
      Gross Amounts  
Offset in the

Statements of
Financial

Condition
    Amounts
  Presented in the  

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

 

Assets

           

 

Futures

   $ 1,246,262         $     (1,246,262)        $ -           $         -          $         -          $ -       

 

Forwards

    1,901,957          (1,901,957)         -            -           -           -       
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 3,148,219         $ (3,148,219)        $ -           $ -          $ -          $ -       
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

           

 

Futures

   $ (1,548,907)        $ 1,246,262         $ (302,645)        $ -          $ -          $     (302,645)    

 

Forwards

    (1,988,890)         1,901,957          (86,933)         -           -           (86,933)    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

   $ (3,537,797)        $ 3,148,219         $ (389,578)        $ -          $ -          $ (389,578)    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Net fair value

             $ (389,578) 
           

 

 

 

 

*

In the event of default by the Partnership, MS&Co., the Partnership’s commodity futures broker and the sole counterparty to the Partnership’s off-exchange-traded contracts, as applicable, has the right to offset the Partnership’s obligation with the Partnership’s cash and/or U.S. Treasury bills held by MS&Co., thereby minimizing MS&Co.’s risk of loss. There is no collateral posted by MS&Co. and as such, in the event of default by MS&Co., the Partnership is exposed to the amount shown in the Statements of Financial Condition. In the case of exchange-traded contracts, the Partnership’s exposure to counterparty risk may be reduced since the exchange’s clearinghouse interposes its credit between buyer and seller and the clearinghouse’s guarantee fund may be available in the event of a default.

 

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Notes to Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

The following tables indicate the gross fair values of derivative instruments of futures and forward contracts as separate assets and liabilities as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.

 

   

June 30, 2016

 

Assets

 

Futures Contracts

 

Commodity

    $             802,109      

Equity

    210,216      

Foreign currency

    83      

Interest rate

    1,188,432      
 

 

 

 

Total unrealized appreciation on open futures contracts

    2,200,840      
 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

Futures Contracts

 

Commodity

    (307,158)     

Equity

    (70,824)     

Foreign currency

    (30)     

Interest rate

    (121,456)     
 

 

 

 

Total unrealized depreciation on open futures contracts

    (499,468)     
 

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation on open futures contracts

    $ 1,701,372   
 

 

 

 

 

Assets

 

Forward Contracts

 

Commodity

    $ 288,516      

Foreign currency

    2,050,176      
 

 

 

 

Total unrealized appreciation on open forward contracts

    2,338,692      
 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

Forward Contracts

 

Commodity

    (342,695)     

Foreign currency

    (1,566,427)     
 

 

 

 

Total unrealized depreciation on open forward contracts

    (1,909,122)     
 

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation on open forward contracts

    $ 429,570    ** 
 

 

 

 

 

*

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

**

This amount is in “Net unrealized appreciation on open forward contracts” in the Partnership’s Statements of Financial Condition.

 

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Notes to Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

     December 31, 2015  

Assets

  

Futures Contracts

  

Commodity

      $ 776,737      

Equity

     143,691      

Foreign currency

     121,130      

Interest rate

     204,704      
  

 

 

 

Total unrealized appreciation on open futures contracts

     1,246,262      
  

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

  

Futures Contracts

  

Commodity

     (762,145)     

Equity

     (170,908)     

Foreign currency

     (10,967)     

Interest rate

     (604,887)     
  

 

 

 

Total unrealized depreciation on open futures contracts

     (1,548,907)     
  

 

 

 

Net unrealized depreciation on open futures contracts

      $ (302,645)  
  

 

 

 

 

Assets

  

Forward Contracts

  

Commodity

      $ 156,179      

Foreign currency

     1,745,778      
  

 

 

 

Total unrealized appreciation on open forward contracts

     1,901,957      
  

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

  

Forward Contracts

  

Commodity

     (366,155)     

Foreign currency

     (1,622,735)     
  

 

 

 

Total unrealized depreciation on open forward contracts

     (1,988,890)     
  

 

 

 

Net unrealized depreciation on open forward contracts

      $ (86,933)   ** 
  

 

 

 

 

*

This amount is in “Net unrealized depreciation on open futures contracts” in the Partnership’s Statements of Financial Condition.

**

This amount is in “Net unrealized depreciation on open forward contracts” in the Partnership’s Statements of Financial Condition.

 

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Notes to Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

The following tables indicate the Partnership’s trading gains and losses, by market sector, on derivative instruments for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015.

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
     Six Months Ended
June 30,
 

Sector

   2016      2015      2016      2015  

Commodity

   $     (1,398,071)         $     (2,628,647)         $     (1,982,676)         $     (2,407,609)     

Equity

     (1,342,238)           (666,582)           (1,102,455)           1,306,830      

Foreign currency

     (591,439)           (2,293,967)           (871,063)           1,442,193      

Interest rate

     1,514,390            (3,097,465)           4,117,915            (84,326)     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ (1,817,358)     ***     $ (8,686,661)     ***     $ 161,721      ***     $ 257,088      *** 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

***

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

 

6.

Fair Value Measurements:

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date under current market conditions. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to fair values derived from unobservable inputs (Level 3). The level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement in its entirety falls shall be determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.

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

The Partnership considers prices for exchange-traded commodity futures, forward, swap and option contracts to be based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities (Level 1). The values of U.S. Treasury bills, non-exchange-traded forward, swap and certain option contracts for which market quotations are not readily available are priced by broker quotes or pricing services that derive fair values for those assets and liabilities from observable inputs (Level 2). As of June 30, 2016, and December 31, 2015, and for the periods ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, the Partnership did not hold any derivative instruments that were priced at fair value using unobservable inputs through the application of the General Partner’s assumptions and internal valuation pricing models (Level 3). Transfers between levels are recognized at the end of the reporting period. During the reporting periods, there were no transfers of assets or liabilities between Level 1 and Level 2.

 

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Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Spectrum Technical L.P.

Notes to Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

June 30, 2016

   Total      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3  

 

Assets

           

U.S. Treasury bills

     $ 13,998,179           $ -             $ 13,998,179           $ -       

Futures

     2,200,840           2,200,840           -             -       

Forwards

     2,338,692           288,516           2,050,176           -       
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Total assets

     $     18,537,711           $     2,489,356           $     16,048,355           $ -       
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities

           

Futures

     $ 499,468           $ 499,468           $ -             $ -       

Forwards

     1,909,122           342,695           1,566,427           -       
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     $ 2,408,590           $ 842,163           $ 1,566,427           $ -       
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

December 31, 2015

   Total      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3  

 

Assets

           

U.S. Treasury bills

     $ 21,747,370           $ -             $ 21,747,370           $                     -       

Futures

     1,246,262           1,246,262           -             -       

Forwards

     1,901,957           156,179           1,745,778           -       
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Total assets

     $ 24,895,589           $ 1,402,441           $ 23,493,148           $ -       
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities

           

Futures

     $ 1,548,907           $ 1,548,907           $ -             $ -       

Forwards

     1,988,890           366,156           1,622,734           -       
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     $ 3,537,797           $ 1,915,063           $ 1,622,734           $ -       
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Spectrum Technical L.P.

Notes to Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

7.

Investment in the Master Funds:

On December 1, 2011, the Partnership invested a portion of its assets in Blackwater Master Fund. Blackwater Master Fund was formed to permit accounts managed now or in the future by Blackwater using the Global Program, a proprietary, systematic trading program, to invest together in one trading vehicle. Ceres was also the general partner for Blackwater Master Fund. Individual and pooled accounts currently managed by Blackwater, including the Partnership, are permitted to be limited partners of Blackwater Master Fund. The General Partner and Blackwater believed that trading through this structure should promote efficiency and economy in the trading process. Effective September 30, 2015, the Partnership redeemed its investment in Blackwater Master Fund for cash equal to $3,204,555, and Blackwater no longer trades on behalf of the Partnership.

On January 1, 2015, the Partnership invested a portion of its assets in SECOR Master Fund. SECOR Master Fund permits accounts managed by SECOR using a variation of the program traded by SECOR Alpha Master Fund L.P., a proprietary, systematic trading program, to invest together in one trading vehicle. Individual and pooled accounts currently managed by SECOR, including the Partnership, are permitted to be limited partners of SECOR Master Fund. The General Partner and SECOR believe that trading through this structure should promote efficiency and economy in the trading process.

Summarized information reflecting the total assets, liabilities and partners’ capital of SECOR Master Fund is shown in the following tables.

 

     June 30, 2016  
     Total Assets          Total Liabilities              Total Partners’ Capital      

SECOR Master Fund

     $     47,946,513           $ 27,138           $ 47,919,375     
    

 

December 31, 2015

 
     Total Assets          Total Liabilities              Total Partners’ Capital      

SECOR Master Fund

     $ 50,962,450           $ 464,928           $ 50,497,522     

 

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Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Spectrum Technical L.P.

Notes to Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

Summarized information reflecting the Partnership’s investment in, and the operations of SECOR Master Fund and Blackwater Master Fund are shown in the following tables:

 

     June 30, 2016      For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2016  
     % of
  Partners’  
Capital
     Fair
Value
     Partnership’s
Pro-Rata Share
of Net Income
     Investment
objective
     Redemptions
Permitted
 

SECOR Master Fund

     35.5%         $     28,128,629           $ (464,591)             Commodity Portfolio           Monthly     
    

 

June 30, 2016

     For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2016  
     % of
Partners’
Capital
     Fair
Value
     Partnership’s
Pro-Rata Share
of Net Income
     Investment
objective
     Redemptions
Permitted
 

SECOR Master Fund

     35.5%         $     28,128,629           $ 197,080              Commodity Portfolio           Monthly     
    

 

December 31, 2015

     For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2015  
     % of
Partners’
Capital
     Fair
Value
     Partnership’s
Pro-Rata Share
of Net Income
     Investment
objective
     Redemptions
Permitted
 

SECOR Master Fund

     30.4%         $     27,517,405           $ 11,483              Commodity Portfolio           Monthly     

Blackwater Master Fund

     -               -               (290,934)             Commodity Portfolio           Monthly     
    

 

December 31, 2015

     For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2015  
     % of
Partners’
Capital
     Fair
Value
     Partnership’s
Pro-Rata Share
of Net Income
     Investment
objective
     Redemptions
Permitted
 

SECOR Master Fund

     30.4%         $     27,517,405           $ 909,932              Commodity Portfolio           Monthly     

Blackwater Master Fund

     -               -               (115,027)             Commodity Portfolio           Monthly     

SECOR Master Fund does not pay, and Blackwater Master Fund did not pay, any management or incentive fees related to the Partnership’s investment in the fund. These fees are accrued and paid by the Partnership. The Partnership reimburses SECOR Master Fund, and reimbursed Blackwater Master Fund, for all brokerage related fees borne by Blackwater Master Fund and SECOR Master Fund on behalf of the Partnership’s investment.

As of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Partnership owned approximately 58.7% and 54.5%, of SECOR Master Fund, respectively. It is the Partnership’s intention to continue to invest in SECOR Master Fund. The performance of the Partnership is directly affected by the performance of SECOR Master Fund, and was directly affected by the performance of Blackwater Master Fund.

 

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Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Spectrum Technical L.P.

Notes to Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

The tables below represent summarized Income Statement information for SECOR Master Fund and Blackwater Master Fund for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

 

For the Three Months

Ended June 30, 2016

       Investment    
Income
     Net
    Investment Loss    
         Total Trading    
Results
         Net Income    
(Loss)
 

SECOR Master Fund

     $     19,532           $ (67,063)           $ (820,318)           $ (887,381)     

 

For the Six Months

Ended June 30, 2016

   Investment
Income
     Net
Investment Loss
     Total Trading
Results
     Net Income
(Loss)
 

SECOR Master Fund

     $     45,757           $ (145,724)           $ 393,562           $ 247,838      

 

For the Three Months

Ended June 30, 2015

   Investment
Income
     Net
Investment Loss
     Total Trading
Results
     Net Income
(Loss)
 

SECOR Master Fund

     $ 806           $ (100,822)           $ (143,575)           $     (244,397)     

Blackwater Master Fund

     298           (12,900)           (455,735)           (468,635)     

 

For the Six Months

Ended June 30, 2015

   Investment
Income
     Net
Investment Loss
     Total Trading
Results
     Net Income
(Loss)
 

SECOR Master Fund

     $ 1,612           $ (221,230)           $ 2,557,803            $ 2,336,573      

Blackwater Master Fund

     730           (23,133)           (209,927)           (233,060)     

 

8.

Subsequent Events:

The General Partner evaluates events that occur after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued. The General Partner has assessed the subsequent events through the date of issuance and has determined that, other than those described below, there were no subsequent events requiring adjustment to or disclosure in the financial statements.

Effective June 1, 2016, the Partnership entered into a management agreement by and among the Partnership, the General Partner, and FORT, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“FORT”), pursuant to which FORT will serve as a trading advisor to the Registrant and will manage the portion of the Partnership’s assets allocated to it. Effective July 1, 2016, a portion of the Partnership’s assets were allocated to FORT and traded pursuant to the Global Contrarian Program.

 

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

As of June 30, 2016, the percentage of assets allocated to each market sector was approximately as follows: Interest Rate 17.5%; Currency 28.5%; Equity 26.1%; and Commodity 27.9%.

Liquidity: The Partnership deposits its assets available for Futures Interest trading with MS&Co. as its clearing commodity broker in separate futures, forward and options trading accounts established for each Trading Advisor. Such assets are used as margin to engage in trading and may be used as margin solely for the Partnership’s trading. The assets are held either in non-interest bearing bank accounts or in securities and instruments permitted by the CFTC for investment of customer segregated or secured funds. Since the Partnership’s sole purpose is to trade in futures, forwards and options it is expected that the Partnership will continue to own such liquid assets for margin purposes.

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

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

There are no known material trends, demands, commitments, events, or uncertainties at the present time that are reasonably likely to result in the Partnership’s liquidity increasing or decreasing in any material way.

As of June 30, 2016, approximately 28.4% of the Partnership’s total investment exposure is futures contracts which are exchange-traded while approximately 71.6% is forward contracts which are off-exchange traded.

Capital Resources: The Partnership does not have, nor does it expect to have, any capital assets. The Partnership’s only assets are its cash at bank, interest receivable, equity in trading accounts consisting of restricted and unrestricted cash, net unrealized appreciation on open futures contracts, net unrealized appreciation on open forward contracts, investment in SECOR Master Fund, and investments in U.S. Treasury bills, if applicable. SECOR Master Fund’s only assets are its equity in its trading account, consisting of cash, cash margin, net unrealized appreciation on open futures contracts, net unrealized appreciation on open forward contracts and investment in U.S. Treasury bills, if applicable. Redemptions of Units in the future will affect the amount of funds available for investments in futures, forwards and options in subsequent periods. It is not possible to estimate the amount, and therefore the impact, of future outflows of Units.

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

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations: The Partnership does not have any off-balance sheet arrangements, nor does it have contractual obligations or commercial commitments to make future payments that would affect its liquidity or capital resources.

 

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Table of Contents

Results of Operations

General: The Partnership’s results depend on the Trading Advisors and the ability of each Trading Advisor’s trading program to take advantage of price movements in the futures, forward and option markets.

Aspect trades the allocated portion of the Partnership’s assets in accordance with its Diversified Program, a proprietary, systematic trading system. The Diversified Program is a proprietary, systematic global futures trading program. Its goal is the generation of significant long-term capital growth independent of stock and bond market returns. This program continuously monitors price movements in a wide range of global financial, currency and commodity markets, searching for profit opportunities over periods ranging from a few hours to several months.

Aspect has designed the Diversified Program to have broad market diversification (subject to liquidity constraints). Aspect’s quantitative resources are sufficient to enable it to design and implement a broadly diversified portfolio with a significant allocation to numerous different markets.

Aspect’s Diversified Program trades in over 100 markets in the seven major sectors: currencies, energy, metals, stock indices, bonds, agricultural commodities and interest rates implementing momentum strategies. Aspect is constantly examining new liquid and uncorrelated markets to incorporate in the program with the aim of improving its reward/risk ratio and capacity. Aspect has no market or sector preferences, believing that, allowing for liquidity effects, equal profitability can be achieved in the long-term in all markets. The key factors in determining the asset allocation are correlation and liquidity. Correlations are analyzed at the sector, sub-sector, economic block and market levels to design a portfolio which is highly diversified.

Campbell trades the allocated portion of the Partnership’s assets in accordance with its Financial, Metal Energy Large Portfolio, a proprietary, systematic trading program. Campbell’s trading models are designed to detect and exploit medium-term to long-term price changes, while also applying risk management and portfolio management principles.

Campbell believes that utilizing multiple trading models provides an important level of diversification, and is most beneficial when multiple contracts of each market are traded. Every trading model may not trade every market. It is possible that one trading model may signal a long position while another trading model signals a short position in the same market. It is Campbell’s intention to offset those signals to reduce unnecessary trading, but if the signals are not simultaneous, both trades will be taken and since it is unlikely that both positions would prove profitable, in retrospect, one or both trades will appear to have been unnecessary. It is Campbell’s policy to follow trades signaled by each trading model independently of the other models.

SECOR’s investment objectives are to generate high risk-adjusted returns by: (i) investing across a diverse set of asset classes, geographies, factors, themes and time horizons, (ii) identifying and exploiting temporarily pronounced market inefficiencies or risk premia, (iii) employing dynamic risk-budgeting to minimize tail risk and potentially enable alpha to be generated through timing of exposures and (iv) utilizing sophisticated modeling techniques supported by straight-forward economic intuition and sound fundamentals. SECOR will seek to target long-term annualized volatility of 15% and low long-term correlation to other hedge fund strategies and broader markets. SECOR has a healthy respect for the general information efficiency of markets but believes that certain inefficiencies (or outsized risk premia) may exist in certain markets, and these or other inefficiencies (or risk premia) may periodically become more pronounced in particular market conditions. SECOR believes that it is feasible to construct an investment strategy that seeks to capture such inefficiencies (premia) in pursuit of high risk-adjusted returns (or excess returns for benchmarked mandates) that are lowly correlated with broad stock and bond market returns (alpha). SECOR employs statistical techniques and empirical analysis to help determine whether they believe that observed or conjectured alpha opportunities are real and, more importantly, likely to be sustained in the future. If properly employed, these techniques may have certain advantages versus a purely judgmental approach including the potential ability to: control for the impact of particular factors, evaluate phenomena over longer history, systematically assess confidence levels based on availability of data, evaluate performance over certain sub-periods and market cycles, identify certain possible causation and lead/lag effects, reduce certain common behavioral biases in human judgment and evaluate a range of factors in a systematic way.

Prior to March 31, 2016, Winton traded the Partnership’s assets in accordance with its Diversified Program, a proprietary, systematic trading system. The Diversified Program trades approximately 95 futures and forward contracts on U.S. and non-U.S. exchanges and markets.

 

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Winton employed a fully systematic, computerized, technical, trend-following trading system developed by its principals. This system tracks the daily price movements from these markets around the world, and carries out certain computations to determine each day how long or short the portfolio should be in an attempt to maximize profit within a certain range of risk. If rising prices in a particular market are anticipated, a long position will be established in that market; if prices in a particular market are expected to fall, a short position in that market will be established.

Prior to September 30, 2015, Blackwater traded its Global Program on behalf of the Partnership. Blackwater utilizes medium and long-term, systematic technical models to trade global futures and foreign exchange markets. The models are designed to establish positions when market behavior exhibits a high probability of an emerging sustained move. Blackwater seeks to aggressively protect open equity after profit targets have been reached, limiting sharp reversals and drawdowns. It incorporates strict money management techniques based on individual market, sector and portfolio levels in order to reduce volatility.

The following chart sets forth the percentage and the amount of the Partnership’s net assets allocated to each Trading Advisor as of June 30, 2016 and March 31, 2016, respectively, and the change during the three months ended June 30, 2016.

 

Trading Advisor

       Allocation as of    
June 30

         2016 (%)
         Allocation as of    
March 31,

        2016 (%)
        Allocation as of    
June 30,

        2016 ($)
         Allocation as of    
March 31,

        2016 ($)
     Change
during the
period (%)
 

Aspect

     33.31%          31.82%         26,371,886          27,562,035          (4.32)   

Winton

     0.00%          0.28%      -             243,719          (100.00)   

Campbell

     31.33%          33.14%         24,807,723          28,706,111          (13.58)   

SECOR

     35.36%          34.76%         27,999,651          30,106,329          (7.00)   

 

*

Prior to the Partnership’s redemption from Winton.

The following presents a summary of the Partnership’s operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, and 2015, and a general discussion of its trading activities during each period. It is important to note, however, that the Trading Advisors trade in various markets at different times and that prior activity in a particular market does not mean that such market will be actively traded by the Trading Advisors or will be profitable in the future. Consequently, the results of operations of the Partnership are difficult to discuss other than in the context of the Trading Advisors’ trading activities on behalf of the Partnership during the period in question. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

The Partnership’s results of operations set forth in the financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP, which require the use of certain accounting policies that affect the amounts reported in these financial statements, including the following: the contracts the Partnership trades are accounted for on a trade-date basis and marked to market on a daily basis. The difference between their original contract value and market value is recorded in the Statements of Income and Expenses as “Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on open contracts,” “Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on open contracts allocated from Blackwater Master Fund” and “Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on open contracts allocated from SECOR Master Fund,” and recorded as “Net realized gains (losses) on closed contracts,” “Net realized gains (losses) on closed contracts allocated from Blackwater Master Fund” and “Net realized gains (losses) on closed contracts allocated from SECOR Master Fund.” when open positions are closed out. The sum of these amounts constitutes the Partnership’s trading results. Interest income, as well as management fees, incentive fees, General Partner fees and ongoing placement agent fees of the Partnership are recorded on an accrual basis, as applicable. The Partnership records its investment in SECOR Master Fund and recorded its investment in Blackwater Master Fund, at fair value on the basis of the net asset value of such investments.

 

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Table of Contents

The General Partner believes that, based on the nature of the operations of the Partnership, no assumptions relating to the application of critical accounting policies other than those presently used could reasonably affect reported amounts.

For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2016

The Partnership recorded total trading results including interest income totaling $(1,783,977) and expenses totaling $1,143,175, resulting in net loss of $2,927,152 for the three months ended June 30, 2016. The Partnership’s net asset value per Unit decreased from $19.05 at March 31, 2016 to $18.42 at June 30, 2016.

During the second quarter, the Partnership posted a loss in net asset value as trading gains in the global interest rate and agricultural sectors were more than offset by trading losses in the currency, global stock index, energy, and metals sectors. The most significant losses were recorded in the currency sector during May from long positions in the Australian dollar versus the U.S. dollar as the relative value of the U.S. currency rallied after hawkish comments from the U.S. Federal Reserve increased speculation that interest rates could be increased as early as June. Additional losses were incurred from positions in the Japanese yen, Canadian dollar, and Mexican peso. Within the global stock index sector, losses were incurred during June from long positions in U.S. equity index futures as prices declined on mounting uncertainties following the U.K’s decision to leave the European Union. Within the energy sector, losses were incurred during April from short positions in crude oil and its related products as prices surged as data from the Energy Information Agency showed U.S. crude oil production continued to decline. Additional losses were recorded during April from short positions in natural gas futures as prices moved higher as producers idled drilling equipment at historic rates. Within the metals sector, losses were incurred during April and May from long futures positions in industrial metals as prices declined amid concerns of an overextended commodity market in China and signs of a weakening economy in the U.S. The Partnership’s trading losses for the quarter were partially offset by trading gains within the global interest rate sector during June from long positions in European and U.S. fixed income futures as prices advanced as uncertainty surrounding the economic and political fallout following the U.K.’s vote in late June to leave the European Union increased demand for the relative “safety” of government debt. Within the agricultural sector, gains were experienced during June and May from long positions in soybean and soybean meal futures as prices rose as flooding and adverse weather in South America threatened to curtail grain exports. Additional gains were experienced from long positions in sugar futures, primarily during June, as prices climbed higher amid speculation India’s newly imposed duty on sugar exports could further tighten the world sugar market.

The Partnership recorded total trading results including interest income totaling $239,079 and expenses totaling $2,634,001 resulting in a net loss of $2,394,922 for the six months ended June 30, 2016. The Partnership’s net asset value per Unit decreased from $18.95 at December 31, 2015 to $18.42 at June 30, 2016.

During the first six months of the year, the Partnership posted a loss in Net Asset Value as trading gains in the global interest rate and agricultural sectors were more than offset by trading losses in the global stock index, metals, currency, and energy sectors. The most significant losses were recorded in the global stock index sector during June from long positions in U.S. equity index futures as prices declined on mounting uncertainties following the U.K’s decision to leave the European Union. Additional losses were incurred during January from long positions in European and U.S. equity index futures as prices declined amid mounting investor concerns about declining oil prices and a China-led slowdown in global growth. Within the metals sector, losses were incurred primarily during February, March, and April from short positions in gold and silver futures as prices advanced amid increased investor demand for precious metals. Further losses in the metals sector were incurred throughout the first quarter from positions in zinc futures. Within the currency sector, losses were incurred during May from long positions in the Australian dollar versus the U.S. dollar as the relative value of the U.S. currency rallied after hawkish comments from the U.S. Federal Reserve increased speculation that interest rates could be increased as early as June. Additional currency losses during may were incurred from positions in the Japanese yen, Canadian dollar, and euro. Within the energy sector, losses were incurred during April from short positions in crude oil and its related products as prices surged as data from the Energy Information Agency showed U.S. crude oil production continued to decline. Additional losses were recorded during April from short positions in natural gas futures as prices moved higher as producers idled drilling equipment at historic rates. The Partnership’s trading losses for the first six months of the year were partially offset by trading gains within the global interest rate sector during January and February from long positions in European and Pacific Rim fixed income futures as prices advanced after weakness in Chinese economic data revived concern about the stability of the global economy. Additional gains were experienced during June from long positions in European and U.S. fixed income futures as prices advanced as uncertainty surrounding the economic and political fallout following the U.K.’s vote in late June to leave the European Union increased demand for the relative “safety” of government debt. Within the agricultural sector, gains were experienced during June and May from long positions in soybean and soybean meal futures as prices rose as flooding and adverse weather in South America threatened to curtail grain exports. Additional gains were experienced from long positions in sugar futures, primarily during June, as prices climbed higher amid speculation India’s newly imposed duty on sugar exports could further tighten the world sugar market.

 

25


Table of Contents

For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2015

The Partnership recorded total trading results including interest income totaling $(8,685,060) and expenses totaling $1,460,831, resulting in a net loss of $10,145,891 for the three months ended June 30, 2015. The Partnership’s net asset value per Unit decreased from $20.25 at March 31, 2015 to $18.39 at June 30, 2015.

During the second quarter, the Partnership posted a loss in net asset value from trading losses in the global interest rate, currency, energy, agricultural, and global stock index sectors. Trading results in the metals sector were relatively flat for the quarter and had no material impact on the Partnership’s performance. The most significant losses were incurred within the global interest rate markets during May and June from long positions in European and U.S. fixed income futures as prices retreated amid growing investor concern over Greece’s debt crisis. Additional losses were experienced during April from long positions in European fixed income futures as prices declined on speculation that gains triggered by European Central Bank bond purchases were overdone. Within the currency sector, losses were incurred primarily during April from short positions in the euro versus the U.S. dollar as the value of the euro advanced following stronger-than-expected European economic data. Within the energy sector, losses were experienced primarily during April from short positions in crude oil and its related products as prices advanced amid growing expectations that a decline in U.S oil drilling will curb production. Within the agricultural sector, losses were incurred primarily during June from short positions in wheat, corn, and soybean futures as prices rallied after heavy rainfall in the U.S. Midwest raised the potential for crop damage. Within the global stock index sector, losses were incurred primarily during June from long positions in European equity index futures as prices declined as concerns over Greece’s latest effort to avoid a default weighed on global financial markets.

The Partnership recorded total trading results including interest income totaling $260,668 and expenses totaling $3,686,372, resulting in a net loss of $3,425,704 for the six months ended June 30, 2015. The Partnership’s net asset value per Unit decreased from $19.07 at December 31, 2014 to $18.39 at June 30, 2015.

During the first six months of the year, the Partnership posted a loss in net asset value as trading profits in the global stock index sector were more than offset by losses in the energy, agricultural, metals and currency sectors. Trading results in the global interest rate sector were relatively flat for the first six months of the year and had no material impact on the Partnership’s performance. The most significant losses were incurred in the energy sector primarily during April from short positions in crude oil and its related products as prices advanced amid growing expectations that a decline in U.S oil drilling will curb production. Additional losses were incurred during February from short positions in crude oil and its related products, particularly gas oil and heating oil, as prices rallied on signs of higher demand and lower supply, including more bullish forecasts from both the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (“OPEC”) and the U.S. government. Within the agricultural sector, losses were incurred primarily during June from short positions in wheat, corn, and soybean futures as prices rallied after heavy rainfall in the U.S. Midwest raised the potential for crop damage. Within the metals sector, losses were recorded throughout the first quarter from positions in gold and silver futures as prices were volatile in reaction to various economic and geopolitical factors. Additional losses were incurred during the first half of May from short precious metals futures positions as prices rose amid speculation the U.S. Federal Reserve will delay an interest rate hike, which lowered the value of the U.S. dollar. Within the currency sector, losses were experienced primarily in January from short positions in the Swiss franc as the value of the Swiss franc soared against currencies globally after the Swiss National Bank abandoned its exchange-rate cap, which had previously maintained a minimum exchange-rate for the Swiss franc against the euro. Additional currency losses were experienced throughout the first six months of the year from positions in the South African rand, Brazilian real, and Japanese yen. The Partnership’s losses for the first six months of the year were partially offset by gains recorded in the global stock index sector primarily during February from long positions in European and Asian equity index futures as prices advanced after euro-area finance ministers reached a provisional deal to keep financial aid flowing to Greece. Additional gains in this sector were recorded during April from positions in Asian equity indices.

 

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Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Introduction

The Partnership is a commodity pool engaged primarily in the speculative trading of futures, forwards, options and U.S. Treasury bills. The market-sensitive instruments held by the Partnership are acquired for speculative trading purposes only and, as a result, all or substantially all of the Partnership’s assets are at risk of trading loss. Unlike an operating company, the risk of market-sensitive instruments is inherent to the primary business activity of the Partnership.

The futures, forwards and options on such contracts traded, and the U.S. Treasury bills held, by the Partnership involve varying degrees of related market risk. Market risk is often dependent upon changes in the level or volatility of interest rates, exchange rates, and prices of financial instruments and commodities, factors that result in frequent changes in the fair value of the Partnership’s open positions, and consequently in its earnings, whether realized or unrealized, and cash flow. Gains and losses on open positions of exchange-traded futures and exchange-traded forward contracts are settled daily through variation margin. Gains and losses on off-exchange-traded forward currency contracts and forward currency option contracts are settled upon termination of the contract. Gains and losses on off-exchange-traded forward currency option contracts are settled on an agreed-upon settlement date.

The Partnership’s total market risk may increase or decrease as it is influenced by a wide variety of factors, including, but not limited to, the diversification among the Partnership’s open positions, the volatility present within the markets, and the liquidity of the markets.

The face value of the market sector instruments held by the Partnership is typically many times the applicable margin requirements. Margin requirements generally range between 2% and 15% of contract face value. Additionally, the use of leverage causes the face value of the market sector instruments held by the Partnership typically to be many times the total capitalization of the Partnership.

The Partnership’s past performance is no guarantee of its future results. Any attempt to numerically quantify the Partnership’s market risk is limited by the uncertainty of its speculative trading. The Partnership’s speculative trading and use of leverage may cause future losses and volatility (i.e., “risk of ruin”) that far exceed the Partnership’s experience to date as discussed under the “Partnership’s Value at Risk in Different Market Sectors” section and significantly exceed the Value at Risk tables disclosed.
Limited partners will not be liable for losses exceeding the current net asset value of their investment.

Quantifying the Partnership’s Trading Value at Risk

The following quantitative disclosures regarding the Partnership’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, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)). All quantitative disclosures in this section are deemed to be forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor, except for statements of historical fact.

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

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

 

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

Exchange maintenance margin requirements have been used by the Partnership as the measure of its Value at Risk. Maintenance margin requirements are set by exchanges to equal or exceed the maximum losses reasonably expected to be incurred in the fair value of any given contract in 95% — 99% of any one-day interval. Maintenance margin has been used rather than the more generally available initial margin, because initial margin includes a credit risk component, which is not relevant to Value at Risk.

The Partnership’s Value at Risk in Different Market Sectors

The following tables indicate the trading Value at Risk associated with the Partnership’s open positions by market category as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, and the highest, lowest and average values during the three months ended June 30, 2016, and for the twelve months ended December 31, 2015. All open position trading risk exposures of the Partnership have been included in calculating the figures set forth below. There has been no material change in the trading Value at Risk information previously disclosed in the Form 10-K.

As of June 30, 2016, the Partnership’s total capitalization was $79,179,260.

 

June 30, 2016

 

 

Market Sector

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

Commodity

     $ 4,326,188           5.46       $     5,525,458           $     3,268,956           $     3,906,873     

Equity

     4,058,354           5.13          6,741,242           2,923,670           5,650,687     

Foreign currency

     4,416,666           5.58          9,171,218           4,416,666           7,232,038     

Interest rate

     2,723,257           3.44          3,291,761           2,438,012           2,809,883     
  

 

 

    

 

 

         

Total

     $         15,524,465                           19.61          
  

 

 

    

 

 

         

 

*

Average of daily Value at Risk.

As of December 31, 2015, the Partnership’s total capitalization was $90,383,921.

 

December 31, 2015

 

 

Market Sector

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

Commodity

     $ 8,260,812           9.14       $     9,916,050           $     2,846,107           $     6,651,993     

Equity

     2,410,344           2.67          3,841,170           1,748,550           2,783,673     

Foreign currency

     4,028,853           4.46          7,574,622           1,936,232           5,019,439     

Interest rate

     5,345,720           5.91          5,999,962           2,743,300           4,346,771     
  

 

 

    

 

 

         

Total

     $         20,045,729                           22.18          
  

 

 

    

 

 

         

 

*

Average of daily Value at Risk.

 

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Limitations on Value at Risk as an Assessment of Market Risk

Value at Risk models permit estimation of a portfolio’s aggregate market risk exposure, incorporating a range of varied market risks, reflect risk reduction due to portfolio diversification or hedging activities, and can cover a wide range of portfolio assets. However, Value at Risk measures should be viewed in light of the methodology’s limitations, which include, but may not be limited to, the following:

 

   

past changes in market risk factors will not always result in accurate predictions of the distributions and correlations of future market movements;

 

   

changes in portfolio value caused by market movements may differ from those of the Value at Risk model;

 

   

Value at Risk results reflect past market fluctuations applied to current trading positions while future risk depends on future positions;

 

   

Value at Risk 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

 

   

the historical market risk factor data used for Value at Risk estimation may provide only limited insight into losses that could be incurred under certain unusual market movements.

Non-Trading Risk:

The Partnership has non-trading market risk on its foreign cash balances not needed for margin. These balances and any market risk they may represent are immaterial.

A decline in short-term interest rates would result in a decline in the Partnership’s cash management income. This cash flow risk is not considered to be material.

Materiality, as used throughout this section, is based on an assessment of reasonably possible market movements and any associated potential losses, taking into account the leverage, optionality, and multiplier features of the Partnership’s market-sensitive instruments, in relation to the Partnership’s net assets.

Qualitative Disclosures Regarding Primary Trading Risk Exposures:

The following qualitative disclosures regarding the Partnership’s market risk exposures — except for (A) those disclosures that are statements of historical fact and (B) the descriptions of how the Partnership 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 Exchange Act. The Partnership’s primary market risk exposures, as well as the strategies used and to be used by Ceres and the Trading Advisors for managing such exposures, are subject to numerous uncertainties, contingencies and risks, any one of which could cause the actual results of the Partnership’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 Partnership. Investors must be prepared to lose all or substantially all of their investment in the Partnership.

Qualitative Disclosures Regarding Means of Managing Risk Exposure:

The Partnership and the Trading Advisors, separately, attempt to manage the risk of the Partnership’s open positions in essentially the same manner in all market categories traded. Ceres attempts to manage market exposure by diversifying the Partnership’s assets among different market sectors and trading approaches through the selection of the commodity trading advisors and by daily monitoring of their performance. In addition, the Trading Advisors establish diversification guidelines, often set in terms of the maximum margin to be committed to positions in any one market sector or market-sensitive instrument.

Ceres monitors and controls the risk of the Partnership’s non-trading instrument, cash. Cash is the only Partnership investment directed by Ceres, rather than the Trading Advisors.

 

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Item 4.    Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures:

Under the supervision and with the participation of the General Partner, Ceres’ President (Ceres’ principal executive officer) and Chief Financial Officer (Ceres’ principal financial officer) have evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Partnership’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of June 30, 2016. The Partnership’s disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information the Partnership is required to disclose in the reports that the Partnership files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time period specified in the applicable rules and forms. Based on this evaluation, the President and Chief Financial Officer of Ceres have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures of the Partnership were effective at June 30, 2016.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting:

There have been no changes during the period covered by this quarterly report in the Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect the Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting.

Limitations on the Effectiveness of Controls:

Any control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide reasonable (not absolute) assurance that its objectives will be met. Furthermore, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, have been detected.

 

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.    Legal Proceedings

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

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

MS&Co. is a wholly-owned, indirect subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, a Delaware holding company. Morgan Stanley files periodic reports with the SEC as required by the Exchange Act, which include current descriptions of material litigation and material proceedings and investigations, if any, by governmental and/or regulatory agencies or self-regulatory organizations concerning Morgan Stanley and its subsidiaries, including MS&Co. As a consolidated subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, MS&Co. does not file its own periodic reports with the SEC that contain descriptions of material litigation, proceedings and investigations. As a result, we refer you to the “Legal Proceedings” section of Morgan Stanley’s SEC 10-K filings for 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, and 2011. In addition, MS&Co. annually prepares an Audited Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition (the “Audited Financial Statement”) that is publicly available on Morgan Stanley’s website at www.morganstanley.com. We refer you to the “Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies—Contingencies—Legal” section in MS&Co.’s 2015 Audited Financial Statement.

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

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

Regulatory and Governmental Matters. 

MS&Co. has received subpoenas and requests for information from certain federal and state regulatory and governmental entities, including among others various members of the RMBS Working Group of the Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force, such as the United States Department of Justice, Civil Division and several state Attorney General’s Offices, concerning the origination, financing, purchase, securitization and servicing of subprime and non-subprime residential mortgages and related matters such as residential mortgage backed securities (“RMBS”), collateralized debt obligations (“CDOs”), structured investment vehicles (“SIVs”) and credit default swaps backed by or referencing mortgage pass-through certificates. These matters, some of which are in advanced stages, include, but are not limited to, investigations related to MS&Co.’s due diligence on the loans that it purchased for securitization, MS&Co.’s communications with ratings agencies, MS&Co.’s disclosures to investors, and MS&Co.’s handling of servicing and foreclosure related issues.

On February 25, 2015, MS&Co. reached an agreement in principle with the United States Department of Justice, Civil Division and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California, Civil Division (collectively, the “Civil Division”) to pay $2.6 billion to resolve certain claims that the Civil Division indicated it intended to bring against MS&Co. That settlement was finalized on February 10, 2016.

 

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On April 1, 2016, the California Attorney General’s Office filed an action against MS&Co. and certain affiliates in California state court styled California v. Morgan Stanley, et al., on behalf of California investors, including the California Public Employees’ Retirement System and the California Teachers’ Retirement System. The complaint alleges that MS&Co. made misrepresentations and omissions regarding RMBS and notes issued by the Cheyne SIV, and asserts violations of the California False Claims Act and other state laws and seeks treble damages, civil penalties, disgorgement, and injunctive relief. On July 20, 2016, MS&Co. filed a demurrer.

In October 2014, the Illinois Attorney General’s Office (“ILAG”) sent a letter to MS&Co. alleging that MS&Co. knowingly made misrepresentations related to RMBS purchased by certain pension funds affiliated with the State of Illinois and demanding that MS&Co. pay ILAG approximately $88 million. MS&Co. and ILAG reached an agreement to resolve the matter on February 10, 2016.

On January 13, 2015, the New York Attorney General’s Office (“NYAG”), which is also a member of the RMBS Working Group, indicated that it intends to file a lawsuit related to approximately 30 subprime securitizations sponsored by MS&Co. NYAG indicated that the lawsuit would allege that MS&Co. misrepresented or omitted material information related to the due diligence, underwriting and valuation of the loans in the securitizations and the properties securing them and indicated that its lawsuit would be brought under the Martin Act. MS&Co. and NYAG reached an agreement to resolve the matter on February 10, 2016.

On June 5, 2012, MS&Co. consented to and became the subject of an Order Instituting Proceedings Pursuant to Sections 6(c) and 6(d) of the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended, Making Findings and Imposing Remedial Sanctions by The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) to resolve allegations related to the failure of a salesperson to comply with exchange rules that prohibit off-exchange futures transactions unless there is an Exchange for Related Position (“EFRP”). Specifically, the CFTC found that from April 2008 through October 2009, MS&Co. violated Section 4c(a) of the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended (the “CEA”) and CFTC Regulation 1.38 by executing, processing and reporting numerous off-exchange futures trades to the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (“CME”) and Chicago Board of Trade (“CBOT”) as EFRPs in violation of CME and CBOT rules because those trades lacked the corresponding and related cash, OTC swap, OTC option, or other OTC derivative position. In addition, the CFTC found that MS&Co. violated CFTC Regulation 166.3 by failing to supervise the handling of the trades at issue and failing to have adequate policies and procedures designed to detect and deter the violations of the CEA and CFTC Regulations. Without admitting or denying the underlying allegations and without adjudication of any issue of law or fact, MS&Co. accepted and consented to entry of findings and the imposition of a cease and desist order, a fine of $5,000,000, and undertakings related to public statements, cooperation and payment of the fine. MS&Co. entered into corresponding and related settlements with the CME and CBOT in which the CME found that MS&Co. violated CME Rules 432.Q and 538 and fined MS&Co. $750,000 and CBOT found that MS&Co. violated CBOT Rules 432.Q and 538 and fined MS&Co. $1,000,000.

On July 23, 2014, the SEC approved a settlement by MS&Co. and certain affiliates to resolve an investigation related to certain subprime RMBS transactions sponsored and underwritten by those entities in 2007. Pursuant to the settlement, MS&Co. and certain affiliates were charged with violating Sections 17(a)(2) and 17(a)(3) of the Securities Act, agreed to pay disgorgement and penalties in an amount of $275 million and neither admitted nor denied the SEC’s findings.

On April 21, 2015, the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated (“CBOE”) and the CBOE Futures Exchange, LLC (“CFE”) filed statements of charges against MS&Co. in connection with trading by one of MS&Co.’s former traders of EEM options contracts that allegedly disrupted the final settlement price of the November 2012 VXEM futures. CBOE alleged that MS&Co. violated CBOE Rules 4.1, 4.2 and 4.7, Sections 9(a) and 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and Rule 10b-5 thereunder. CFE alleged that MS&Co. violated CFE Rules 608, 609 and 620. The matters were resolved on June 28, 2016 without any findings of fraud.

 

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On June 18, 2015, MS&Co. entered into a settlement with the SEC and paid a fine of $500,000 as part of the MCDC Initiative to resolve allegations that MS&Co. failed to form a reasonable basis through adequate due diligence for believing the truthfulness of the assertions by issuers and/or obligors regarding their compliance with previous continuing disclosure undertakings pursuant to Rule 15c2-12 in connection with offerings in which MS&Co. acted as senior or sole underwriter.

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

Civil Litigation

On December 23, 2009, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle filed a complaint against MS&Co. and another defendant in the Superior Court of the State of Washington, styled Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle v. Morgan Stanley & Co. Inc., et al. The amended complaint, filed on September 28, 2010, alleges that defendants made untrue statements and material omissions in the sale to plaintiff of certain mortgage pass-through certificates backed by securitization trusts containing residential mortgage loans. The total amount of certificates allegedly sold to plaintiff by MS&Co. was approximately $233 million. The complaint raises claims under the Washington State Securities Act and seeks, among other things, to rescind the plaintiff’s purchase of such certificates By orders dated June 23, 2011 and July 18, 2011, the court denied defendants’ omnibus motion to dismiss plaintiff’s amended complaint and on August 15, 2011, the court denied MS&Co.’s individual motion to dismiss the amended complaint. On March 7, 2013, the court granted defendants’ motion to strike plaintiff’s demand for a jury trial. The defendants’ joint motions for partial summary judgment were denied on November 9, 2015. At June 25, 2016, the current unpaid balance of the mortgage pass-through certificates at issue in this action was approximately $44 million, and the certificates had not yet incurred actual losses. Based on currently available information, MS&Co. believes it could incur a loss in this action up to the difference between the $44 million unpaid balance of these certificates (plus any losses incurred) and their fair market value at the time of a judgment against MS&Co., plus pre- and post-judgment interest, fees and costs. MS&Co. may be entitled to be indemnified for some of these losses and to an offset for interest received by the plaintiff prior to a judgment.

On March 15, 2010, the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco filed a complaint against MS&Co. and other defendants in the Superior Court of the State of California styled Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco v. Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. et al. An amended complaint, filed on June 10, 2010, alleges that defendants made untrue statements and material omissions in connection with the sale to plaintiff of certain mortgage pass-through certificates backed by securitization trusts containing residential mortgage loans. The amount of certificates allegedly sold to plaintiff by MS&Co. was approximately $276 million. The complaint raises claims under both the federal securities laws and California law and seeks, among other things, to rescind the plaintiff’s purchase of such certificates. On August 11, 2011, plaintiff’s federal securities law claims were dismissed with prejudice. On February 9, 2012, defendants’ demurrers with respect to all other claims were overruled. On December 20, 2013, plaintiff’s negligent misrepresentation claims were dismissed with prejudice. At June 25, 2016, the current unpaid balance of the mortgage pass-through certificates at issue in these cases was approximately $55 million, and the certificates had incurred actual losses of approximately $2 million. Based on currently available information, MS&Co. believes it could incur a loss for this action up to the difference between the $55 million unpaid balance of these certificates (plus any losses incurred) and their fair market value at the time of a judgment against MS&Co., or upon sale, plus pre- and post-judgment interest, fees and costs. MS&Co. may be entitled to be indemnified for some of these losses and to an offset for interest received by the plaintiff prior to a judgment.

 

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On July 15, 2010, China Development Industrial Bank (“CDIB”) filed a complaint against MS&Co., styled China Development Industrial Bank v. Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated et al., which is pending in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, New York County (“Supreme Court of NY”). The complaint relates to a $275 million credit default swap referencing the super senior portion of the STACK 2006-1 CDO. The complaint asserts claims for common law fraud, fraudulent inducement and fraudulent concealment and alleges that MS&Co. misrepresented the risks of the STACK 2006-1 CDO to CDIB, and that MS&Co. knew that the assets backing the CDO were of poor quality when it entered into the credit default swap with CDIB. The complaint seeks compensatory damages related to the approximately $228 million that CDIB alleges it has already lost under the credit default swap, rescission of CDIB’s obligation to pay an additional $12 million, punitive damages, equitable relief, fees and costs. On February 28, 2011, the court denied MS&Co.’s motion to dismiss the complaint. Based on currently available information, MS&Co. believes it could incur a loss of up to approximately $240 million plus pre- and post-judgment interest, fees and costs.

On October 15, 2010, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago filed a complaint against MS&Co. and other defendants in the Circuit Court of the State of Illinois, styled Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago v. Bank of America Funding Corporation et al. A corrected amended complaint was filed on April 8, 2011. The corrected amended complaint alleges that defendants made untrue statements and material omissions in the sale to plaintiff of a number of mortgage pass-through certificates backed by securitization trusts containing residential mortgage loans and asserts claims under Illinois law. The total amount of certificates allegedly sold to plaintiff by MS&Co. at issue in the action was approximately $203 million. The complaint seeks, among other things, to rescind the plaintiff’s purchase of such certificates. The defendants filed a motion to dismiss the corrected amended complaint on May 27, 2011, which was denied on September 19, 2012. On December 13, 2013, the court entered an order dismissing all claims related to one of the securitizations at issue. After that dismissal, the remaining amount of certificates allegedly issued by MS&Co. or sold to plaintiff by MS&Co. was approximately $78 million. At June 25, 2016, the current unpaid balance of the mortgage pass-through certificates at issue in this action was approximately $49 million, and the certificates had not yet incurred actual losses. Based on currently available information, MS&Co. believes it could incur a loss in this action up to the difference between the $49 million unpaid balance of these certificates (plus any losses incurred) and their fair market value at the time of a judgment against MS&Co., plus pre- and post-judgment interest, fees and costs. MS&Co. may be entitled to be indemnified for some of these losses and to an offset for interest received by the plaintiff prior to a judgment.

On April 20, 2011, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston filed a complaint against MS&Co. and other defendants in the Superior Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts styled Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston v. Ally Financial, Inc. F/K/A GMAC LLC et al. An amended complaint was filed on June 29, 2012 and alleges that defendants made untrue statements and material omissions in the sale to plaintiff of certain mortgage pass-through certificates backed by securitization trusts containing residential mortgage loans. The total amount of certificates allegedly issued by MS&Co. or sold to plaintiff by MS&Co. was approximately $385 million. The amended complaint raises claims under the Massachusetts Uniform Securities Act, the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act and common law and seeks, among other things, to rescind the plaintiff’s purchase of such certificates. On May 26, 2011, defendants removed the case to the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts. The defendants’ motions to dismiss the amended complaint were granted in part and denied in part on September 30, 2013. On November 25, 2013, July 16, 2014, and May 19, 2015, respectively, the plaintiff voluntarily dismissed its claims against MS&Co. with respect to three of the securitizations at issue. After these voluntary dismissals, the remaining amount of certificates allegedly issued by MS&Co. or sold to plaintiff by MS&Co. was approximately $332 million. At June 25, 2016, the current unpaid balance of the mortgage pass-through certificates at issue in this action was approximately $53 million, and the certificates had not yet incurred actual losses. Based on currently available information, MS&Co. believes it could incur a loss in this action up to the difference between the $53 million unpaid balance of these

 

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certificates (plus any losses incurred) and their fair market value at the time of a judgment against MS&Co., or upon sale, plus pre- and post-judgment interest, fees and costs. MS&Co. may be entitled to be indemnified for some of these losses and to an offset for interest received by the plaintiff prior to a judgment.

On May 3, 2013, plaintiffs in Deutsche Zentral-Genossenschaftsbank AG et al. v. Morgan Stanley et al. filed a complaint against MS&Co., certain affiliates, and other defendants in the Supreme Court of NY. The complaint alleges that defendants made material misrepresentations and omissions in the sale to plaintiffs of certain mortgage pass-through certificates backed by securitization trusts containing residential mortgage loans. The total amount of certificates allegedly sponsored, underwritten and/or sold by MS&Co. to plaintiff currently at issue in this action was approximately $644 million. The complaint alleges causes of action against MS&Co. for common law fraud, fraudulent concealment, aiding and abetting fraud, negligent misrepresentation, and rescission and seeks, among other things, compensatory and punitive damages. On June 10, 2014, the court granted in part and denied in part MS&Co.’s motion to dismiss the complaint. MS&Co. perfected its appeal from that decision on June 12, 2015. At June 25, 2016, the current unpaid balance of the mortgage pass-through certificates at issue in this action was approximately $258 million, and the certificates had incurred actual losses of approximately $84 million. Based on currently available information, MS&Co. believes it could incur a loss in this action up to the difference between the $258 million unpaid balance of these certificates (plus any losses incurred) and their fair market value at the time of a judgment against MS&Co., or upon sale, plus pre- and post-judgment interest, fees and costs. MS&Co. may be entitled to be indemnified for some of these losses.

On May 17, 2013, plaintiff in IKB International S.A. in Liquidation, et al. v. Morgan Stanley, et al. filed a complaint against MS&Co. and certain affiliates in the Supreme Court of NY. The complaint alleges that defendants made material misrepresentations and omissions in the sale to plaintiff of certain mortgage pass-through certificates backed by securitization trusts containing residential mortgage loans. The total amount of certificates allegedly sponsored, underwritten and/or sold by MS&Co. to plaintiff was approximately $132 million. The complaint alleges causes of action against MS&Co. for common law fraud, fraudulent concealment, aiding and abetting fraud, and negligent misrepresentation, and seeks, among other things, compensatory and punitive damages. On October 29, 2014, the court granted in part and denied in part MS&Co.’s motion to dismiss. All claims regarding four certificates were dismissed. After these dismissals, the remaining amount of certificates allegedly issued by MS&Co. or sold to plaintiff by MS&Co. was approximately $116 million. On August 26, 2015, MS&Co. perfected its appeal from the court’s October 29, 2014 decision. At June 25, 2016, the current unpaid balance of the mortgage pass-through certificates at issue in this action was approximately $26 million, and the certificates had incurred actual losses of $58 million. Based on currently available information, MS&Co. believes it could incur a loss in this action up to the difference between the $26 million unpaid balance of these certificates (plus any losses incurred) and their fair market value at the time of a judgment against MS&Co., or upon sale, plus pre- and post-judgment interest, fees and costs. MS&Co. may be entitled to be indemnified for some of these losses and to an offset for interest received by the plaintiff prior to a judgment.

Settled Civil Litigation

On August 25, 2008, MS&Co. and two ratings agencies were named as defendants in a purported class action related to securities issued by a structured investment vehicle called Cheyne Finance PLC and Cheyne Finance LLC (together, the “Cheyne SIV”). The case was styled Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, et al. v. Morgan Stanley & Co. Inc., et al. The complaint alleged, among other things, that the ratings assigned to the securities issued by the Cheyne SIV were false and misleading, including because the ratings did not accurately reflect the risks associated with the subprime RMBS held by the Cheyne SIV. The plaintiffs asserted allegations of aiding and abetting fraud and negligent misrepresentation relating to approximately $852 million of securities issued by the Cheyne SIV. On April 24, 2013, the parties reached an agreement to settle the case, and on April 26, 2013, the court dismissed the action with prejudice.

 

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On March 15, 2010, the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco filed a complaint against MS&Co. and other defendants in the Superior Court of the State of California styled Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco v. Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, et al. An amended complaint filed on June 10, 2010 alleged that defendants made untrue statements and material omissions in connection with the sale to plaintiff of a number of mortgage pass-through certificates backed by securitization trusts containing residential mortgage loans. The amount of certificates allegedly sold to plaintiff by MS&Co. was approximately $704 million. The complaint raised claims under both the federal securities laws and California law and sought, among other things, to rescind the plaintiff’s purchase of such certificates. On January 26, 2015, as a result of a settlement with certain other defendants, the plaintiff requested and the court subsequently entered a dismissal with prejudice of certain of the plaintiff’s claims, including all remaining claims against MS&Co.

On July 9, 2010 and February 11, 2011, Cambridge Place Investment Management Inc. filed two separate complaints against MS&Co. and/or its affiliates and other defendants in the Superior Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, both styled Cambridge Place Investment Management Inc. v. Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc., et al. The complaints asserted claims on behalf of certain clients of plaintiff’s affiliates and allege that defendants made untrue statements and material omissions in the sale of a number of mortgage pass-through certificates backed by securitization trusts containing residential mortgage loans. The total amount of certificates allegedly issued by MS&Co. and/or its affiliates or sold to plaintiff’s affiliates’ clients by MS&Co. and/or its affiliates in the two matters was approximately $263 million. On February 11, 2014, the parties entered into an agreement to settle the litigation. On February 20, 2014, the court dismissed the action.

On October 25, 2010, MS&Co., certain affiliates and Pinnacle Performance Limited, a special purpose vehicle (“SPV”), were named as defendants in a purported class action in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (“SDNY”), styled Ge Dandong, et al. v. Pinnacle Performance Ltd., et al. On January 31, 2014, the plaintiffs in the action, which related to securities issued by the SPV in Singapore, filed a second amended complaint, which asserted common law claims of fraud, aiding and abetting fraud, fraudulent inducement, aiding and abetting fraudulent inducement, and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. On July 17, 2014, the parties reached an agreement to settle the litigation, which received final court approval on July 2, 2015.

On July 5, 2011, Allstate Insurance Company and certain of its affiliated entities filed a complaint against MS&Co. in the Supreme Court of NY, styled Allstate Insurance Company, et al. v. Morgan Stanley, et al. An amended complaint was filed on September 9, 2011, and alleges that the defendants made untrue statements and material omissions in the sale to the plaintiffs of certain mortgage pass-through certificates backed by securitization trusts containing residential mortgage loans. The total amount of certificates allegedly issued and/or sold to the plaintiffs by MS&Co. was approximately $104 million. The complaint raised common law claims of fraud, fraudulent inducement, aiding and abetting fraud, and negligent misrepresentation and seeks, among other things, compensatory and/or recessionary damages associated with the plaintiffs’ purchases of such certificates. On March 15, 2013, the court denied in substantial part the defendants’ motion to dismiss the amended complaint, which order MS&Co. appealed on April 11, 2013. On May 3, 2013, MS&Co. filed its answer to the amended complaint. On January 16, 2015, the parties reached an agreement to settle the litigation.

On July 18, 2011, the Western and Southern Life Insurance Company and certain affiliated companies filed a complaint against MS&Co. and other defendants in the Court of Common Pleas in Ohio, styled Western and Southern Life Insurance Company, et al. v. Morgan Stanley Mortgage Capital Inc., et al. An amended complaint was filed on April 2, 2012 and alleges that defendants made untrue statements and material omissions in the sale to plaintiffs of certain mortgage pass-through certificates backed by securitization trusts containing residential mortgage loans. The amount of the certificates allegedly sold to plaintiffs by MS&Co. was approximately $153 million. On June 8, 2015, the parties reached an agreement to settle the litigation.

 

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On September 2, 2011, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (“FHFA”), as conservator for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, filed 17 complaints against numerous financial services companies, including MS&Co. and certain affiliates. A complaint against MS&Co. and certain affiliates and other defendants was filed in the Supreme Court of NY, styled Federal Housing Finance Agency, as Conservator v. Morgan Stanley et al. The complaint alleges that defendants made untrue statements and material omissions in connection with the sale to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac of residential mortgage pass-through certificates with an original unpaid balance of approximately $11 billion. The complaint raised claims under federal and state securities laws and common law and seeks, among other things, rescission and compensatory and punitive damages. On February 7, 2014, the parties entered into an agreement to settle the litigation. On February 20, 2014, the court dismissed the action.

On April 25, 2012, Metropolitan Life Insurance Company and certain affiliates filed a complaint against MS&Co. and certain affiliates in the Supreme Court of NY, styled Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, et al. v. Morgan Stanley, et al. An amended complaint was filed on June 29, 2012, and alleges that the defendants made untrue statements and material omissions in the sale to the plaintiffs of certain mortgage pass-through certificates backed by securitization trusts containing residential mortgage loans. The total amount of certificates allegedly sponsored, underwritten, and/or sold by MS&Co. was approximately $758 million. The amended complaint raised common law claims of fraud, fraudulent inducement, and aiding and abetting fraud and seeks, among other things, rescission, compensatory, and/or rescissionary damages, as well as punitive damages, associated with the plaintiffs’ purchases of such certificates. On April 11, 2014, the parties entered into a settlement agreement.

On April 25, 2012, The Prudential Insurance Company of America and certain affiliates filed a complaint against MS&Co. and certain affiliates in the Superior Court of the State of New Jersey, styled The Prudential Insurance Company of America, et al. v. Morgan Stanley, et al. On October 16, 2012, plaintiffs filed an amended complaint. The amended complaint alleged that defendants made untrue statements and material omissions in connection with the sale to plaintiffs of certain mortgage pass-through certificates backed by securitization trusts containing residential mortgage loans. The total amount of certificates allegedly sponsored, underwritten and/or sold by MS&Co. was approximately $1.073 billion. The amended complaint raises claims under the New Jersey Uniform Securities Law, as well as common law claims of negligent misrepresentation, fraud, fraudulent inducement, equitable fraud, aiding and abetting fraud, and violations of the New Jersey RICO statute, and includes a claim for treble damages. On January 8, 2016, the parties reached an agreement to settle the litigation.

In re Morgan Stanley Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates Litigation, which had been pending in the SDNY, was a putative class action involving allegations that, among other things, the registration statements and offering documents related to the offerings of certain mortgage pass-through certificates in 2006 and 2007 contained false and misleading information concerning the pools of residential loans that backed these securitizations. On December 18, 2014, the parties’ agreement to settle the litigation received final court approval, and on December 19, 2014, the court entered an order dismissing the action.

On November 4, 2011, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”), as receiver for Franklin Bank S.S.B, filed two complaints against MS&Co. in the District Court of the State of Texas. Each was styled Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation as Receiver for Franklin Bank, S.S.B v. Morgan Stanley & Company LLC F/K/A Morgan Stanley & Co. Inc. and alleged that MS&Co. made untrue statements and material omissions in connection with the sale to plaintiff of mortgage pass-through certificates backed by securitization trusts containing residential mortgage loans. The amount of certificates allegedly underwritten and sold to plaintiff by MS&Co. in these cases was approximately $67 million and $35 million, respectively. On July 2, 2015, the parties reached an agreement to settle the litigation.

 

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On February 14, 2013, Bank Hapoalim B.M. filed a complaint against MS&Co. and certain affiliates in the Supreme Court of NY, styled Bank Hapoalim B.M. v. Morgan Stanley et al. The complaint alleges that defendants made material misrepresentations and omissions in the sale to plaintiff of certain mortgage pass-through certificates backed by securitization trusts containing residential mortgage loans. The total amount of certificates allegedly sponsored, underwritten and/or sold by MS&Co. to plaintiff was approximately $141 million. On July 28, 2015, the parties reached an agreement to settle the litigation, and on August 12, 2015, the plaintiff filed a stipulation of discontinuance with prejudice.

On September 23, 2013, the plaintiff in National Credit Union Administration Board v. Morgan Stanley & Co. Inc., et al. filed a complaint against MS&Co. and certain affiliates in the SDNY. The complaint alleged that defendants made untrue statements of material fact or omitted to state material facts in the sale to the plaintiff of certain mortgage pass-through certificates issued by securitization trusts containing residential mortgage loans. The total amount of certificates allegedly sponsored, underwritten and/or sold by MS&Co. to plaintiffs in the matter was approximately $417 million. The complaint alleged violations of federal and various state securities laws and sought, among other things, rescissionary and compensatory damages. On November 23, 2015, the parties reached an agreement to settle the matter.

On September 16, 2014, the Virginia Attorney General’s Office filed a civil lawsuit, styled Commonwealth of Virginia ex rel. Integra REC LLC v. Barclays Capital Inc., et al., against MS&Co. and several other defendants in the Circuit Court of the City of Richmond related to RMBS. The lawsuit alleged that MS&Co. and the other defendants knowingly made misrepresentations and omissions related to the loans backing RMBS purchased by the Virginia Retirement System. The complaint asserts claims under the Virginia Fraud Against Taxpayers Act, as well as common law claims of actual and constructive fraud, and seeks, among other things, treble damages and civil penalties. On January 6, 2016, the parties reached an agreement to settle the litigation. An order dismissing the action with prejudice was entered on January 28, 2016.

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

 

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Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes to the risk factors set forth under Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 and under Part II, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in the Partnership’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2016.

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

The Partnership no longer offers Units.

The following chart sets forth the purchases of limited partner Units by the Partnership.

 

Period

 

 

(a) Total Number of
Units Purchased *

 

   

(b) Average Price
Paid per Unit **

 

   

(c) Total Number of
Units Purchased as Part  
of Publicly Announced

Plans or Programs

 

 

 

(d) Maximum Number (or
Approximate Dollar
Value) of Units that May
Yet Be Purchased Under
the Plans or Programs

 

April 1, 2016 - April 30, 2016

    88,200.175      $ 18.12      N/A   N/A

May 1, 2016 - May 31, 2016

    78,272.021      $ 17.83      N/A   N/A

June 1, 2016 - June 30, 2016

    79,681.436      $ 18.42      N/A   N/A
      246,153.632      $ 18.12           

 

*

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

 

**

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

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities — None.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures — Not applicable.

Item 5. Other Information — None.

 

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Item 6.  Exhibits

 

  31.01   

Certification of President and Director of Ceres Managed Futures LLC, the General Partner of the Partnership, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

  31.02   

Certification of Chief Financial Officer and Director of Ceres Managed Futures LLC, the General Partner of the Partnership, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

  32.01   

Certification of President and Director of Ceres Managed Futures LLC, the General Partner of the Partnership, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

  32.02   

Certification of Chief Financial Officer and Director of Ceres Managed Futures LLC, the General Partner of the Partnership, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

101.INS*    XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH*    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL*    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.LAB*    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Document
101.PRE*    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Document
101.DEF*    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Document

Notes to Exhibits List

*      Submitted electronically herewith.

 

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SIGNATURES

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

 

MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY SPECTRUM TECHNICAL L.P.   

By:

  

Ceres Managed Futures LLC

(General Partner)

     

By:

  

/s/ Patrick T. Egan

     
  

Patrick T. Egan

     
  

President and Director

     

Date: August 11, 2016

  

By:

  

/s/ Steven Ross

     
  

Steven Ross

     
  

Chief Financial Officer and Director

(Principal Accounting Officer)

     

Date: August 11, 2016

 

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