CERES FUND LP
10-Q, 1997-11-14
SECURITY & COMMODITY BROKERS, DEALERS, EXCHANGES & SERVICES
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                                    FORM 10-Q

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549


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

                    For the quarterly period ended September
                                   30, 1997.

                                       OR

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

                        Commission file number: 033-37802

                                CERES FUND, L.P.
                      -------------------------------------



                      (State of incorporation) - Tennessee
                (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) - 62-1444129

                 889 Ridge Lake Blvd., Memphis, Tennessee 38120
                                  (901)543-8076
                    -----------------------------------------
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

    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  (  )



<PAGE>




Commission File No. 033-37802

                                CERES FUND, L.P.

                         PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION


Item 1.  Financial Statements

The accompanying  interim consolidated  financial statements are unaudited,  but
include  all  adjustments  which  management  considers  necessary  for the fair
presentation of results at September 30, 1997.

Moreover,  these  financial  statements  do  not  purport  to  contain  complete
disclosures in conformity  with  generally  accepted  accounting  principles and
should  be  read in  conjunction  with  the  Registrant's  audited  consolidated
financial statements at and for the period ended December 31, 1996.

The results reflected for the nine month period ended September 30,1997, and the
period ended  December 31, 1996, are not  necessarily  indicative of the results
for the entire fiscal year which will end December 31, 1997.



<PAGE>



                                CERES FUND, L.P.
                        (A Tennessee Limited Partnership)

                        Statements of Financial Condition

                    September 30, 1997 and December 31, 1996
                                   (UNAUDITED)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                            Assets                                   Assets
                                            September 30, 1997                       December 31, 1996
<S>                                         <C>                                      <C>       

Cash                                        $     378,928                            $    108,554
U. S. Treasury obligations at
  cost plus accrued interest                    6,160,288                               3,077,250
Equity in commodity trading account:
     Cash                                         268,118                               1,514,594
     Unrealized gain (loss) of
        open futures contracts                  (  81,927)                                186,032
     Market Value of open option
        contracts                               (  320,375)                                 -0-
Other assets                                         3,944                                  8,657
                                                 ------------                            ------------
                                               $  6,408,976                           $ 4,895,087
                                                 ============                            ===========
</TABLE>


                        Liabilities and Partners' Capital
<TABLE>
<S>                                                          <C>                        <C>    

Liabilities:
   Accrued management fees                             $     19,744                     $   10,033
   Accrued incentive fees                                     1,429                         32,849
   Other accrued expenses                                     57,439                        36,006
   Payments received for
         future subscriptions                                 110,000                        6,538
   Redemptions payable                                        16,369                        32,572
                                                             ----------                    ---------
                                                              204,981                      117,998
                                                              ----------                   ---------
Partners' capital:
   General partners                                             345,641                     374,741
   Limited partners                                           5,858,354                   4,402,348
                                                              ----------                  ---------
         Total partners' capital                              6,203,995                   4,777,089
                                                              ----------                  ---------

                                                            $  6,408,976                 $ 4,895,087


                                                               =========                   =========
</TABLE>

See accompanying notes to financial statements.


<PAGE>








                                CERES FUND, L.P.
                        (A Tennessee Limited Partnership)

                             Statement of Operations

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               Nine Months Ended                   Three Months Ended
                                                                   September 30,                       September 30,
                                                           1997               1996               1997               1996
                                                      ---------------       ------------       ------------      ----------
<S>                                               <C>                  <C>                  <C>                  <C>    
Income

     Net gains (losses) on trading of commodity
     futures and option contracts:
     Realized gain (losses) on closed
       positions                                  $      435,129       $   3,237,643        $    82,658          $  943,456
     Change in unrealized gain (losses) on
       open positions                                   (391,934)           (275,045)           390,490           ( 277,015)
     Interest                                            214,686             131,997             78,062              52,449

           Income (Loss) From Operations           $     257,881          $3,094,595       $   551,210           $  718,890

Expenses
     Brokerage commissions, exchange,
      clearing fees  and NFA charges                     690,085             371,587            153,645             120,199
     Management fee allocations                          162,207             107,938             57,844              41,674
     Incentive fee allocations                             1,429             351,268              1,429              73,650
     Professional and administrative
       expenses                                           70,403              58,119             18,000              22,575

                                                        924,124              888,912            230,918             258,098
 
           Net Income (Loss)                         $ ( 666,243)           $2,205,683       $  320,292         $   460,792

Aggregate Income (Loss)
   Allocated to General Partners                    $ (   29,100)         $  186,150         $   21,260         $    43,438

Aggregate Income (Loss)
   Allocated to Limited Partners                    $ ( 637,143)           $  2,019,533      $   299,032         $   417,354
 
Net Income (Loss) per Limited
   Partnership Unit (Average)                       $ (   25.95)           $   106.24         $     9.82        $     23.42

</TABLE>

See accompanying notes to financial statements.




<PAGE>



                                CERES FUND, L.P.
                        (A Tennessee Limited Partnership)
                             Statement of Cash Flows
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                       Nine Months Ended September 30,
                                                                          1997                 1996
<S>                                                                  <C>                    <C>    
Cash flows from operating activities:

Net Income (Loss)                                                    $    (666,243)         $ 2,205,683

Adjustments to  reconcile  net Income  (Loss) to net 
cash provided by operating activities:

   Net unrealized gain (loss) on open contracts                           (391,934)            (275,045)

(Increase) decrease in operating assets:

   U. S. Treasury obligation                                            (3,083,038)            (100,151)
   Investments in commodities fund                                       1,246,476           (1,565,681)
   Unrealized gain (loss) on open futures and
     options contracts                                                     659,893              557,726
   Market Value of open option contracts                                   320,375              (85,035)
   Other Assets                                                              4,713               (4,765)

Increase (decrease) in operating liabilities:

   Accrued management fees                                                   9,711                4,350
   Accrued incentive fees                                                  (31,420)             (24,310)
   Other accrued expenses                                                   21,433                7,345
   Amounts received for future subscriptions                               103,462                   --
   Redemptions payable                                                     (16,203)             (17,796)

      Total Adjustments                                                 (1,156,532)          (1,503,362)

Net Cash from (used in) in operating activities                         (1,822,775)             702,321

Cash Flows from (used in) Financing Activities:

  Net proceeds from sale of limited partnership units                    2,556,006                   --
  Redemption of limited partnership units                                 (218,629)            (409,550)
  Distribution to limited partners                                        (244,228)            (288,507)
  Contributions received from general partners                              --                       --

Net increase (decrease) in cash                                            270,374                4,264

Cash at the beginning of the year                                         108,554                15,538

Cash at the end of the quarter                                             378,928               19,802

</TABLE>

<PAGE>






                                CERES FUND, L.P.
                        (A Tennessee Limited Partnership)

                          Notes to Financial Statements

                               September 30, 1997


(1)  Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Organization

Ceres Fund, L.P. (the Partnership) is a Tennessee limited partnership  organized
on  September  19,  1990 to engage in the  speculative  trading  of  commodities
futures contracts and other commodity interests.  Randell Commodity  Corporation
("Randell") and RanDelta  Capital  Partners,  L.P.  ("RanDelta") are the general
partners.  Randell serves as the managing general partner and RanDelta serves as
the financial  general  partner.  Randell will act as commodity  trading advisor
with respect to the Partnership.

The  Partnership  solicited  subscriptions  for a maximum  of  100,000  units of
limited  partnership  interest  at $105 per unit.  During the  initial  offering
period  13,471.6805  units  were  sold  and the  Partnership  commenced  trading
commodity  futures  contracts on December 1, 1991. The Partnership  continues to
sell units as of the end of each month at the then  average  net asset value per
unit plus a selling commission of 4% in accordance with the terms of the Limited
Partnership  Agreement,  and can continue selling units until the maximum number
of units offered have been sold.  At September 30, 1997, a total of  56,441.2849
units have been sold,  1,861.9400  units have been distributed in lieu of a cash
distribution,  and 27,139.0448 units have been redeemed,  leaving an outstanding
balance at September 30, 1997, of 31,164.1801 units.

The  general  partners  agreed to make a capital  contribution  of the lesser of
$100,000 or 3% of total partnership  capitalization  and made an initial capital
contribution of $45,000 and has made additional capital contributions during the
period of $55,000 to meet its investment  commitment in the  Partnership.  In no
event will the general partners'  interest in the Partnership be less than 1% of
total partnership capitalization.

Income and expenses of the Partnership  (excluding the Management Allocation and
Incentive  Allocation)  will be allocated  pro rata among the partners  based on
their respective  capital accounts as of the beginning of the month in which the
items of income  and  expense  accrue,  except  that  limited  partners  have no
liability for partnership  obligations in excess of his or her capital  account,
including  earnings.  The  Management  Allocation  and Incentive  Allocation are
allocated  to the  Limited  Partners  only in  accordance  with the terms of the
Limited Partnership Agreement.


The Partnership is not liable for any  organizational  and offering  expenses in
connection  with the issuance and  distribution of the units.  Refco,  Inc., the
Partnership's   commodity  broker,  paid  the  organizational  expenses  of  the
Partnership  and  the  expenses  of  offering  the  units  to  the  public.  The
Partnership  will not  reimburse  Refco,  Inc.  for any  portion of the costs so
incurred and will not be liable for any such costs at any time.



<PAGE>



Units may not be redeemed  during the first six months after they are purchased.
Thereafter,  limited partners may redeem their units at the redemption net asset
value  per unit as of the end of any  calendar  quarter  upon  ten days  written
notice to the managing general partner.  The redemption  charge will be based on
the redemption net asset value on all units redeemed as more fully  described in
the offering prospectus.

Under the terms of the partnership agreement,  the Partnership will terminate on
the earlier of December 31, 2020, or the  occurrence  of certain  events as more
fully described in the Limited Partnership Agreement.

Valuation of Futures Contracts

Open commodity futures contracts are valued at market daily and unrealized gains
and losses are reflected in income.

Income Taxes

No  provision  for  income  taxes  has been made in the  accompanying  financial
statements  since,  as a  partnership,  income and losses for tax  purposes  are
allocated to the partners for inclusion in their respective tax returns.

(2)  Management Agreement

The Partnership has entered into a Management  Agreement in consideration of and
as  compensation  for the  services to be rendered by the General  Partners  and
trading  advisors.  The Partnership  will pay to the general  partners a monthly
Management  Allocation  equal to 1/3 of 1% (4% per  annum) of the  adjusted  net
asset value of units at month end, plus a quarterly Incentive  Allocation of 15%
of any net new  appreciation  in the  adjusted  net asset value of units for the
quarter.  During the nine months  ended  September  30,  1997,  management  fees
totalled $162,207 and incentive fees totalled $1,429.

(3)  Customer Agreement with Refco, Inc.

The  Partnership  entered into a customer  agreement with Refco,  Inc.  (Refco),
pursuant to which the  Partnership  deposits  its assets in a commodity  trading
account  with  Refco who  executes  trades on  behalf  of the  Partnership.  The
Partnership  agrees to pay such  brokerage  and  commission  charges and fees as
Refco may establish and charge from time to time. During 1997, Refco charged the
Partnership   commissions  on  commodity  trades  at  the  rate  of  $32.50  per
round-turn.  Total  commissions  charged to the Partnership by Refco during this
nine month period were $654,259.  The  Partnership  earns interest on 80% of the
average daily equity maintained as cash in the Partnership's  trading account at
a rate equal to the average yield on 13-week United States Treasury Bills. Total
interest  earned by the  Partnership  from this  source  during  this nine month
period amounted to $214,686.

(4)  Related Parties

The sole  shareholder of the parent of the managing General Partner is an active
partner in the law firm which is the  counsel to the  Partnership,  the  General
Partners, the Memphis branch of Refco and the Partnership's commodity broker.

(5)  Distribution to Limited Partners.

On January 16, 1997, the General Partner  declared a distribution to the limited
partners equal to the  difference  between the December 31, 1996 net asset value
per unit and $210 per unit. This distribution, totaling $244,228


<PAGE>



in cash and 1,861.94 in units,  resulted in each unit holder  having a net asset
value of $210 per unit on January 1, 1997.

On January 15, 1996, the General Partner  declared a distribution ot the limited
partners equal to the difference  between the December 31, 1995, net asset value
per unit and $125 per unit. This  distribution,  totaling  $288,507  resulted in
each unit holder having a net asset value of $125 per unit on January 1, 1996.

(6) Calculation of Net Income (Loss) per Limited Partnership Unit

The Net Income (Loss) per Limited  Partnership  Unit for the period from January
1, 1997 through  September  30, 1997 of $(25.95) was  calculated by dividing the
Aggregate  Income  (Loss)  Allocated to Limited  Partners of  $(637,143)  by the
Average  Units  outstanding  between  December 31, 1996 and  September  30, 1997
(24,551.4085 Units).

The Net Income (Loss) per Limited  Partnership  Unit for the period from January
1, 1996 through  September  30, 1996 of $ 106.24 was  calculated by dividing the
Aggregate  Income  (Loss)  Allocated to Limited  Partners of  $2,019,533  by the
Average  Units  outstanding  between  December 31, 1995 and  September  30, 1996
(19,009.7461Units).

The Net Income (Loss) per Limited  Partnership  Unit for the period from July 1,
1997  through  September  30,  1997 of $9.82  was  calculated  by  dividing  the
Aggregate Income (Loss) Allocated to Limited Partners of $299,032 by the Average
Units  outstanding  between June 30, 1997 and  September  30, 1997  (30,443.4384
Units).

The Net Income (Loss) per Limited  Partnership  Unit for the period from July 1,
1996  through  September  30,  1996 of $23.42 was  calculated  by  dividing  the
Aggregate Income (Loss) Allocated to Limited Partners of $417,354 by the Average
Units  outstanding  between June 30, 1996 and  September  30, 1996  (17,819.0565
Units).








<PAGE>



                                CERES FUND, L.P.
                        (A Tennessee Limited Partnership)

                     MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
                  FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

                    for the Quarter Ended September 30, 1997.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The Three and Nine Months Ended  September  30, 1997,  compared to the Three and
Nine Months Ended September 30, 1996.

Trading results were less profitable during the three months ended September 30,
1997, as compared to the same period in 1996.  The  Partnership  had income from
trading activities of $551,210 for the three months ended September 30, 1997, as
compared to income from  trading  activitiies  of $718,890  for the three months
ended   September  30,  1996.   The  gains  during  this  period  are  primarily
attributable  to gains in connection with the trading of grain  contracts.  As a
result of such gains from trading activitiies,  the Partnership had a net income
of $320,292  for the three  months ended  September  30,  1997,  compared to net
income of  $460,792  for the same  period in 1996;  and a net income per limited
partnership Unit of $9.82 for the three months ended June 30, 1996,  compared to
net income per limited partnership Unit of $23.42 for the same period in 1996.

Trading results were also less profitable during the nine months ended September
30, 1997,  as compared to the same period in 1996.  The  Partnership  had income
from trading  activitiies  of $257,881 for the nine months ended  September  30,
1997,  compared to income from trading  activities  of  $3,094,575  for the nine
months ended  September  30, 1996.  The gains during this period were  primarily
attributable  to gains in connection with the trading of grain  contracts.  As a
result of such gains from trading activities,  the Partnership had a net loss of
$666,243 for the nine months ended September 30, 1997, compared to net income of
$2,205,683 for the same period in 1996;  and a net loss per limited  partnership
Unit of $25.95 for the nine months ended  September  30,  1997,  compared to net
income per limited partnership Unit of $106.24 for the same period in 1996.



<PAGE>



                           PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings.

     None.

Item 2.  Changes in Securities.

     None.

Item 3.  Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

     None.

Item 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

     None.

Item 5.  Other Information.

A. The  registration  statement  became effective on March 9, 1991 at which time
the  Partnership  began  offering  the  securities  for sale.  The  offering was
extended  for 60 days and  sales of  13,471.6805  Units for  $1,413,296.45  were
consummated by November 30, 1991 at which time the initial offering period ended
and  the  continuous  offering  period  commenced.   The  Partnership  commenced
operations December 1, 1991. The Partnership  continues to offer Units for sale.
During the period of January 1, 1997 through  September  30,  1997,  12,498.8472
additional  Units  were  sold,1.861.9400  Units  were  issued  in lieu of a cash
distribution, and 1,135.2440 Units were redeemed.

B. The Units were  offered by the  Partnership  through  members of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. on a best efforts basis.

C. These securities were registered under the Securities Act of 1933.

D.   (1) Units of Limited Partnership interest outstanding at

               July 31, 1997 - 30,549.0774

       (2)  Units of Limited Partnership interest outstanding at

               August 31, 1997 - 31,042.5233

        (3) Units of Limited Partnership interest outstanding at

               September 30, 1997 - 31,164,1801



<PAGE>




E. Issuance of Limited  Partnership  Units for cash in the following amounts and
on the following dates:

          Dates                      Units                 Amount

      July 1, 1997              826.3808                $ 147,293
      August 1, 1997            493.4459                $  92,188
      September 1, 1997         209.0262                $  38,462

F. Redemption of Limited Partnership Units for cash in the following amounts and
on the following dates:

             Dates                             Units                Amount

        September 30, 1997                      87.3694           $ 16,369

G. On May 9,  1994,  transactions  were  consummated  pursuant  to  which  Delta
International,  Inc.  terminated its services as trading advisor to the Fund and
withdrew as the  co-general  partner of RanDelta  Capital  Partners,  L.P.,  the
financial   general  partner  to  the  Fund  effective  March  31,  1994.  These
transactions were affected without any cost or expense to the Fund.

Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K.

      None.

                                 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 of the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

     Date:  November     , 1997


CERES FUND, L.P.
By:  Randell Commodity Corporation
Managing General Partner


By:  Frank L. Watson, Jr.

/s/ Frank L. Watson, Jr.
 ---------------------------
Frank L. Watson, Jr.
Chairman





<PAGE>










<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CERES
FUND, L.P. STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS FOR THE
PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000869711
<NAME> CERES FUND, L.P.
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                         378,928
<SECURITIES>                                 6,026,104
<RECEIVABLES>                                    3,944
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             6,408,976
<PP&E>                                               0
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               6,408,976
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          204,981
<BONDS>                                              0
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                     6,203,995
<OTHER-SE>                                           0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 6,408,976
<SALES>                                         43,195
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               257,881
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  924,124
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                      0
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 (666,243)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  (25.95)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
        

</TABLE>


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