Campbell Strategic Allocation Fund 10-Q2020 Q2 Quarterly report

Campbell Strategic Allocation Fund, L.P. (the “Fund”) is a Delaware limited partnership which operates as a commodity investment pool. The Fund engages in the speculative trading of futures contracts and forward currency contracts.

Effective January 6, 2012, Units in the Fund were no longer offered for sale. For existing investors in the Fund, business has been and will be conducted as usual. There was no change in trading, operations, or monthly statements, etc., and redemptions will continue to be offered on a monthly basis.

As a registrant with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), the Fund is subject to the regulatory requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Prior to January 6, 2012, the Fund was also subject to the regulatory requirements under the Securities Act of 1933.  As a commodity investment pool, the Fund is subject to the regulations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, an agency of the United States (U.S.) government which regulates most aspects of the commodity futures industry; rules of the National Futures Association, an industry self-regulatory organization; and the requirements of the various commodity exchanges where the Fund executes transactions. Additionally, the Fund is subject to the requirements of futures commission merchants (the “futures brokers”) and interbank market makers through which the Fund trades.

The Fund’s financial statements are presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, which may require the use of certain estimates made by the Fund’s management. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Fund’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC for the year ended December 31, 2019. All adjustments of a normal recurring nature considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included herein.

The Fund meets the definition of an investment company according to the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 946-10, Financial Services – Investment Companies.

Investment transactions are accounted for on the trade date. Gains or losses are realized when contracts are liquidated. Unrealized gains and losses on open contracts (the difference between contract trade value and fair value) are reported in the Statements of Financial Condition as a net gain or loss, as there exists a right of offset of unrealized gains or losses in accordance with ASC 210-20, Offsetting - Balance Sheet. The fair value of futures (exchange-traded) contracts is based on various futures exchanges, and reflects the settlement price for each contract as of the close on the last business day of the reporting period. The fair value of forward currency (non-exchange traded) contracts was extrapolated on a forward basis from the spot prices quoted as of 3:00 P.M. (E.T.) on the last business day of the reporting period.

The fixed income investments are marked to market on the last business day of the reporting period using a third party vendor hierarchy of pricing providers who specialize in such markets. The prices furnished by the providers consider the yield or price of bonds of comparable quality, coupon, maturity, and type, as well as prices quoted by dealers who make markets in such securities. Premiums and discounts on fixed income securities are amortized and accreted for financial reporting purposes.

The short term investments represent cash held at the custodian and invested overnight in a money market fund.

For purposes of both financial reporting and calculation of redemption value, Net Asset Value per unit is calculated by dividing Net Asset Value by the number of outstanding units.

The Fund follows the provisions of ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (“ASC 820”). ASC 820 provides guidance for determining fair value and requires increased disclosure regarding the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. ASC 820 defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.

ASC 820 establishes a fair value hierarchy which prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3).

The following tables set forth by level within the fair value hierarchy the Fund’s investments accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019.

The gross presentation of the fair value of the Fund’s derivatives by instrument type is shown in Note 9. See Condensed Schedules of Investments for additional detail categorization.

Cash and cash equivalents includes cash and overnight money market investments at financial institutions.

The Fund prepares calendar year U.S. federal and applicable state tax returns and reports to the partners their allocable shares of the Fund’s income, expenses and trading gains or losses. No provision for income taxes has been made in the accompanying financial statements as each partner is individually responsible for reporting income or loss based on such partner’s respective share of the Fund’s income and expenses as reported for income tax purposes.

Management has continued to evaluate the application of ASC 740, Income Taxes, to the Fund, and has determined that no reserves for uncertain tax positions were required. There are no tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly increase or decrease within twelve months. The Fund files federal and state tax returns. The 2016 through 2019 tax years generally remain subject to examination by the U.S. federal and most state tax authorities.

Campbell & Company, LP (“Campbell & Company”) has incurred all costs in connection with the initial and continuous offering of units of the Fund (“offering costs”). In addition, Campbell & Company continues to compensate wholesalers for services rendered to Limited Partners. The Fund’s liability for offering costs is limited to the maximum of total offering costs incurred by Campbell & Company, not to exceed 2.5% of the aggregate subscriptions accepted during the initial and continuous offerings. As of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Fund has the potential remaining reimbursement amount of approximately $34.4 million and $34.7 million, respectively. If the Fund terminates prior to completion of payment of the calculated amounts to Campbell & Company, Campbell & Company will not be entitled to any additional payments, and the Fund will have no further obligation to Campbell & Company.

The Fund’s functional currency is the U.S. dollar; however, it transacts business in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars at the rates in effect at the date of the Statements of Financial Condition. Income and expense items denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars at the rates in effect during the period. Gains and losses resulting from the translation to U.S. dollars are reported in income.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework – Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. The primary focus of ASU 2018-13 is to improve the effectiveness of the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. The changes affect all companies that are required to include fair value measurement disclosures. In general, the amendments in ASU 2018-13 are effective for all entities for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. An affected entity is permitted to adopt the removed or modified disclosures upon the issuance of ASU 2018-13 and may delay adoption of the additional disclosures, which are required for public companies only, until their effective date. Campbell & Company has adopted the new guidance, and management has determined its adoption has no material impact on the Fund’s financial statement disclosures.

Certain 2019 amounts in the Notes to the Financial Statements were reclassified to conform with the 2020 presentation. Specifically, trading gains and losses in Note 9 were reclassified to include and disclose the amounts of gains and losses on foreign currency cash balances at the futures brokers.

The general partner of the Fund is Campbell & Company, which conducts and manages the business of the Fund. Campbell & Company is also the commodity trading advisor of the Fund. The Amended Agreement of Limited Partnership provides that Campbell & Company may make withdrawals of its units, provided that such withdrawals do not reduce Campbell & Company’s aggregate percentage interest in the Fund to less than 1% of the net aggregate contributions.

Campbell & Company is required by the Amended Agreement of Limited Partnership to maintain a net worth equal to at least 5% of the capital contributed by all the limited partnerships for which it acts as general partner, including the Fund. The minimum net worth shall in no case be less than $50,000 nor shall net worth in excess of $1,000,000 be required.

The Fund pays a monthly brokerage fee equal to 1/12 of 7% (7% annualized) of month-end net assets to Campbell & Company and approximately $4 per round turn to the futures brokers for execution and clearing costs. From the 7% fee, a portion (4%) is used to compensate selling agents for ongoing services rendered and a portion (3%) is retained by Campbell & Company for trading and management services rendered. The amount paid to the futures brokers and interbank market makers for execution and clearing costs is limited to 1/12 of 1% (1% annualized) of month-end net assets.

Campbell & Company is also paid a quarterly performance fee of 20% of the Fund’s aggregate cumulative appreciation in the Net Asset Value per unit, exclusive of appreciation attributable to interest income. More specifically, the performance fee is paid on the cumulative increase, if any, in the Net Asset Value per Unit over the highest previous cumulative Net Asset Value per Unit (commonly referred to as a High Water Mark) adjusting for investment income. In determining the brokerage and performance fees (the “fees”), adjustments shall be made for capital additions and withdrawals and Net Assets shall not be reduced by the fees being calculated for such current period. The performance fee is not subject to any clawback provisions. The fees are typically paid in the month following the month in which they are earned. The fees are paid from the available cash at the Fund’s bank, futures brokers or cash management accounts.

Effective January 1, 2020, NAV Consulting, Inc. became the Administrator of the Fund. The Administrator receives fees at rates agreed upon between the Fund and the Administrator and is entitled to reimbursement of certain actual out-of-pocket expenses incurred while performing its duties. The Administrator’s primary responsibilities are portfolio accounting and fund accounting services. Prior to January 1, 2020, Northern Trust Hedge Fund Services LLC served as the Administrator of the Fund.

NAV Consulting, Inc. serves as the Transfer Agent of the Fund. The Transfer Agent receives fees at rates agreed upon between the Fund and the Transfer Agent and is entitled to reimbursement of certain actual out-of-pocket expenses incurred while performing its duties.

PNC Capital Advisors, LLC serves as the cash manager under the Investment Advisory Agreement to manage and control the liquid assets of the Fund. PNC Capital Advisors, LLC is registered as an investment adviser with the SEC of the United States under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

The Fund opened a custodial account at the Northern Trust Company (the “custodian”) and has granted the cash manager authority to make certain investments on behalf of the Fund provided such investments are consistent with the investment guidelines created by the general partner. All securities purchased by the cash manager on behalf of the Fund will be held in the Fund’s custody account at the custodian. The cash manager will have no beneficial or other interest in the securities and cash in such custody account.

The Fund deposits assets with UBS Securities LLC and Goldman, Sachs & Co. subject to Commodity Futures Trading Commission regulations and various exchange and futures broker requirements. Margin requirements are satisfied by the deposit of U.S. Treasury Bills and cash with such futures brokers. The Fund typically earns interest income on its assets deposited with the futures brokers.

The Fund’s counterparties with regard to its forward currency transactions are NatWest Markets PLC (“NatWest”), formerly The Royal Bank of Scotland, and UBS AG (“UBS”). The Fund has entered into an International Swap and Derivatives Association, Inc. agreement (“ISDA Agreement”) with NatWest and UBS which governs these transactions. The credit ratings reported by the three major rating agencies for NatWest and UBS were considered investment grade as of June 30, 2020. Margin requirements are satisfied by the deposit of U.S. Treasury Bills and cash with NatWest and UBS. The Fund typically earns interest income on its assets deposited with NatWest and UBS.

Operating expenses of the Fund are limited by the Amended Agreement of Limited Partnership to 0.5% per year of the average month-end Net Asset Value of the Fund. Actual operating expenses were less than 0.5% (annualized) of average month-end Net Asset Value for the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019.

Investments in the Fund were made by subscription agreement, subject to acceptance by Campbell & Company.

The Fund is not required to make distributions, but may do so at the sole discretion of Campbell & Company. A limited partner may request and receive redemption of units owned, subject to restrictions in the Amended Agreement of Limited Partnership. Units are transferable, but no market exists for their sale and none is expected to develop. Monthly redemptions are permitted upon ten (10) business days advance written notice to Campbell & Company.

The Fund engages in the speculative trading of U.S. and foreign futures contracts and forward currency contracts (collectively, “derivatives”). Specifically, the Fund trades a portfolio focused on futures and forward contracts, which are instruments designed to hedge changes in interest rates, currency exchange rates, stock index values, metals, energy and agriculture values. The Fund is exposed to both market risk, the risk arising from changes in the fair value of the contracts, and credit risk, the risk of failure by another party to perform according to the terms of a contract.

In February 2020, the Fund transferred all futures contracts held with UBS Securities LLC to Goldman, Sachs & Co., and all forward currency contracts held with UBS to NatWest. Goldman, Sachs & Co and NatWest serve as the sole futures broker and interbank market maker, respectively, for the Fund’s ongoing trading.

For derivatives, risks arise from changes in the fair value of the contracts. Market movements result in frequent changes in the fair value of the Fund’s open positions and, consequently, in its earnings and cash flow. The Fund’s market risk is influenced by a wide variety of factors, including the level and volatility of exchange rates, interest rates, equity price levels, the fair value of financial instruments and contracts, the diversification effects among the Fund’s open positions and the liquidity of the markets in which it trades. Theoretically, the Fund is exposed to a market risk equal to the notional contract value of futures and forward currency contracts purchased and unlimited liability on such contracts sold short. See Note 1.C. for an explanation of how the Fund determines its valuation for derivatives as well as the netting of derivatives.

The following tables summarize quantitative information required by ASC 815.  The fair value of the Fund’s derivatives by instrument type, as well as the location of those instruments on the Statements of Financial Condition, as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 is as follows:

For the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, the monthly average of futures contracts bought and sold was approximately 19,400 and 25,300, respectively, and the monthly average of notional value of forward currency contracts was $986,400,000 and $2,029,600,000, respectively.

For the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, the monthly average of futures contracts bought and sold was approximately 25,300 and 26,200, respectively, and the monthly average of notional value of forward currency contracts was $1,056,500,000 and $1,995,300,000, respectively.

Open contracts generally mature within three months; as of June 30, 2020, the latest maturity date for open futures contracts is September 2021 and the latest maturity date for open forward currency contracts is September 2020. However, the Fund intends to close all futures and offset all forward currency contracts prior to maturity.

The Fund trades futures contracts on exchanges that require margin deposits with the futures brokers. Additional deposits may be necessary for any loss on contract value. The Commodity Exchange Act requires a futures broker to segregate all customer transactions and assets from such futures broker’s proprietary activities. A customer’s cash and other property (for example, U.S. Treasury Bills) deposited with a futures broker are considered commingled with all other customer funds subject to the futures broker’s segregation requirements. In the event of a futures broker’s insolvency, recovery may be limited to a pro rata share of segregated funds available. It is possible that the recovered amount could be less than total cash and other property deposited.

The Fund trades forward currency contracts in unregulated markets between principals and assumes the risk of loss from counterparty nonperformance. Accordingly, the risks associated with forward currency contracts are generally greater than those associated with exchange traded contracts because of the greater risk of counterparty default. Additionally, the trading of forward currency contracts typically involves delayed cash settlement.

The Fund has a portion of its assets on deposit with PNC Bank. In the event of a financial institution’s insolvency, recovery of the Fund’s assets on deposit may be limited to account insurance or other protection afforded such deposits.

The Fund has entered into ISDA Agreements with UBS AG and NatWest. Under the terms of each ISDA Agreement, upon the designation of an Event of Default, as defined in each ISDA Agreement, the non-defaulting party may set-off any sum or obligation owed by the defaulting party to the non-defaulting party against any sum or obligation owed by the non-defaulting party to the defaulting party. If any sum or obligation is unascertained, the non-defaulting party may in good faith estimate that sum or obligation and set-off in respect to that estimate, accounting to the other party when such sum or obligation is ascertained.

Under the terms of each master netting agreement with UBS Securities and Goldman, upon occurrence of a default by the Fund, as defined in respective account documents, UBS Securities and Goldman have the right to close out any or all open contracts held in the Fund’s account; sell any or all of the securities held; and borrow or buy any securities, contracts or other property for the Fund’s account. The Fund would be liable for any deficiency in its account resulting from such transactions.

The amount of required margin and good faith deposits with the futures brokers and interbank market makers usually range from 10% to 30% of Net Asset Value. The fair value of securities held to satisfy such requirements at June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 was $16,641,407 and $38,712,533, respectively, which equals approximately 11% and 24% of Net Asset Value, respectively. The cash deposited with the interbank market makers at June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 was $18,407,598 and $13,104,927, respectively, which equals approximately 12% and 8% of Net Asset Value, respectively. These amounts are included in cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash at interbank market makers. Included in cash deposits with the futures brokers and interbank market makers at June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 was restricted cash for margin requirements of $22,652,241 and $10,274,725, respectively, which equals approximately 15% and 6% of Net Asset Value, respectively.

Set forth below are tables which disclose both gross information and net information about instruments and transactions eligible for offset in the Statements of Financial Condition and instruments and transactions that are subject to a master netting agreement as well as amounts related to financial collateral (including U.S. Treasury Bills and cash collateral) held at clearing brokers and counterparties. Margin reflected in the collateral tables is limited to the net amount of unrealized loss at each counterparty. Actual margin amounts required at each counterparty are based on the notional amounts or the number of contracts outstanding and may exceed the margin presented in the collateral tables.