1. ORGANIZATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

ORGANIZATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

NOTE 1 - ORGANIZATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

General Description of the Partnership

Altegris QIM Futures Fund, L.P. (the “Partnership”) was organized as a Delaware limited partnership in June 2009. The Partnership's general partner is Altegris Advisors, L.L.C. (the “General Partner”). The General Partner has overall responsibility for the management, operation and administration of the Partnership, including the selection of its commodity trading adviser. The Partnership’s trading activities are conducted pursuant to an advisory contract with Quantitative Investment Management LLC (the “Advisor”). The Partnership speculatively trades commodity futures contracts, and may trade options on futures contracts, forward currency contracts and other commodity interests. The objective of the Partnership’s business is appreciation of its assets. It is subject to the regulations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”), an agency of the United States (“U.S.”) government that regulates most aspects of the commodity futures industry; rules of the National Futures Association, an industry self-regulatory organization; and the requirements of commodity exchanges and futures commission merchants (brokers) through which the Partnership trades.

The General Partner is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the U.S. Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, as an investment adviser and is registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) as a commodity pool operator, and is a member of the National Futures Association, an industry self-regulatory organization.

Method of Reporting

The Partnership’s financial statements are presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). Therefore, the Partnership follows the accounting and reporting guidelines for investment companies. The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported fair value of assets and liabilities, disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, and reported amounts of income and expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Management believes that the estimates utilized in preparing the Partnership’s financial statements are reasonable; however, actual results could differ from these estimates and it is reasonably possible that the differences could be material.

The financial information included herein is unaudited; however, such financial information reflects all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for the fair presentation of the financial statements for the interim period.

Fair Value

In accordance with the authoritative guidance under U.S. GAAP, fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (i.e. the “exit price”) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.

In determining fair value, the Partnership uses various valuation approaches. The authoritative guidance under U.S. GAAP establishes a fair value hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are those that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Partnership.

Unobservable inputs reflect the Partnership’s assumption about the inputs market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. The fair value hierarchy is categorized into three levels based on the inputs as follows:

Level 1 – Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities that the Partnership has the ability to access at the measurement date;

Level 2 – Quoted prices which are not active, or inputs that are observable (either directly or indirectly) for substantially the full term of the asset or liability; and

Level 3 – Prices, inputs or exotic modeling techniques which are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (supported by little or no market activity).

The availability of valuation techniques and observable inputs can vary among assets and liabilities and is affected by a wide variety of factors, including the type of asset or liability, whether the asset or liability is new and not yet established in the marketplace, and other characteristics particular to the transaction. To the extent that valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment. Those estimated values do not necessarily represent the amounts that may be ultimately realized due to the occurrence of future circumstances that cannot be reasonably determined. Because of the inherent uncertainty of valuation, those estimated values may be materially higher or lower than the values that would have been used had a ready market for the asset or liability existed. Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised by the Partnership in determining fair value is greatest for assets and liabilities categorized in Level 3. In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement falls in its entirety is determined by the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

Fair value is a market-based measure considered from the perspective of a market participant rather than an entity-specific measure.

Therefore, even when market assumptions are not readily available, the Partnership’s own assumptions are set to reflect those that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date. The Partnership uses prices and inputs that are current as of the measurement date, including prices and inputs during periods of market dislocation. In periods of market dislocation, the observability of prices and inputs may be reduced for many assets and liabilities. This condition could cause an asset or liability to be reclassified to a lower level within the fair value hierarchy. The Partnership values futures contracts at the closing price of the contract’s primary exchange. The Partnership includes futures contracts in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy, as they are exchange traded derivatives.

There were no changes in the Partnership’s valuation methodology during period ended March 31, 2021 and the year ended December 31, 2020.

The following table presents information about the Partnership’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020:

								Balance as of
March 31, 2021	Level 1			Level 2		Level 3		March 31, 2021

Assets
Futures contracts (1)	$	70,758		$	–	$	–	$	70,758

Liabilities
Futures contracts (1)	$	(59,730	)	$	–	$	–	$	(59,730	)

									Balance as of
December 31, 2020	Level 1			Level 2			Level 3		December 31, 2020

Assets
Futures contracts (1)	$	77,126			$	–	$	–	$	77,126

Liabilities

Future contracts (1)	$	(86,699	)		$	–	$	–	$	(86,699	)

(1) See Note 7. “Financial Derivative Instruments” for the fair value in each type of contracts within this category.

For the period ended March 31, 2021 and the year ended December 31, 2020, there were no Level 3 securities.

D. Investment Transactions and Investment Income

Security transactions are recorded on the trade date for financial reporting purposes. Realized gains and losses from security transactions are determined using the specific identification cost method. Change in net unrealized gain or loss from the preceding period is reported in the Statements of Income (Loss). Brokerage commissions on securities and other trading fees are reflected as an adjustment to cost or proceeds at the time of the transaction. Interest income is recorded on an accrual basis.

Gains or losses on futures contracts are realized when contracts are closed. Net unrealized gains or losses on open contracts (the difference between contract trade price and quoted market price) are reflected in the Statements of Financial Condition. Any change in net unrealized gain or loss from the preceding period is reported in the Statements of Income (Loss). Brokerage commissions on futures contracts include other trading fees and are recognized as trading gains and losses.

Net realized gains and losses from foreign currency related transactions represent gains and losses from sales of foreign currencies, currency gains and losses realized between trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of interest and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Partnership’s books and the U.S. Dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized gain (loss) on other assets and other liabilities denominated in foreign currency arise from changes in the value of assets, other than investments in securities, and liabilities at quarter end, resulting from changes in the exchange rates.

J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (the “Custodian”) is the Partnership’s custodian. SG Americas Securities, LLC (the “Clearing Broker”) is the Partnership’s commodity broker. A portion of the Partnership’s assets are held as initial margin or option premiums (in cash or Treasury securities) in the Partnership’s brokerage accounts at the Clearing Broker. The Clearing Broker may convert the Partnership’s cash in U.S. dollar to foreign currency to facilitate the Partnership’s commodity trading activities. At times, the Partnership may carry foreign cash on loan with the Clearing Broker. Any net foreign currency on loan will be recognized in Foreign Currency Due from Broker/Due to Broker on the Statements of Financial Condition.

The Partnership’s Clearing Broker holds margin balances in a single currency, in which all margin requirements can be satisfied in U.S. dollars. Foreign currency balances can also be used to satisfy margin requirements. As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Partnership’s Segregated cash balance on the Statements of Financial Condition of $624,698 and $803,393, respectively, represents the collateral pledged by the Partnership to satisfy the Clearing Broker’s margin requirements in US Dollars. As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Partnership’s Segregated foreign currency due from/to broker balance on the Statements of Financial Condition of $17,979 and $28,210, respectively, represents the collateral owed by the Partnership to satisfy the Clearing Broker’s margin requirements in foreign currency. The Partnership’s assets not deposited at the Clearing Broker are deposited with either the Custodian or held in bank cash accounts at Northern Trust Company and First Republic Bank (and used to pay Partnership operating expenses). For the Partnership’s cash deposited at the Custodian, the Partnership receives cash management services from J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. (“JPMIM”).

Futures Contracts

The Partnership engages in futures contracts as part of its investment strategy. Upon entering into a futures contract, the Partnership is required to deposit with the broker an amount of cash or cash equivalents equal to a certain percentage of the contract amount. This is known as the “initial margin.” Subsequent payments (“variation margin”) are made or received by the Partnership each day, depending on the daily fluctuations in the value of the contract, and are included in unrealized gain (loss) on futures contracts. Due from/Due to broker amounts on the Statements of Financial Condition represent receivables / payables related to the Partnership’s required cash margin. The Partnership recognizes a realized gain or loss when the contract is closed.

There are several risks in connection with the use of futures contracts as an investment option. The change in value of futures contracts primarily corresponds with the value of their underlying instruments. In addition, there is the risk that the Partnership may not be able to enter into a closing transaction because of an illiquid secondary market. Open positions in futures contracts at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 are reflected within the Condensed Schedules of Investments.

Foreign Currency Transactions

The Partnership’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 the Statements of Income (Loss).

Cash

The Partnership maintains a custody account with J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., Northern Trust Company and First Republic Bank. At times, the Partnership’s cash balance could exceed the insured amount under the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”). The Partnership has not experienced any losses in such accounts and believes it is not subject to any significant counterparty risk related to its cash account.

Both Segregated cash and Segregated foreign currency are held as margin collateral deposits for futures transactions.

Income Taxes

The Partnership is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As such, the partners are individually liable for their own distributable share of taxable income or loss. No provision has been made in the accompanying financial statements for U.S., federal, state, or local income taxes.

The Partnership is required to determine whether its tax positions are more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by the applicable taxing authority, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefit recognized is measured as the largest amount of benefit that has a greater than fifty percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the relevant taxing authority. De-recognition of a tax benefit previously recognized results in the Partnership recording a tax liability that reduces ending partners’ capital. Based on its analysis, the Partnership has determined that it has not incurred any liability for unrecognized tax benefits for any of the Partnership's open tax years. However, the Partnership’s conclusions may be subject to review and adjustment at a later date based on factors including, but not limited to, on-going analyses of and changes to tax laws, regulations and interpretations thereof. The Partnership’s tax returns remain open for examination by United States federal tax authorities for a period of three years and by state tax authorities for a period of four years from the date they are filed. Taxes associated with foreign tax jurisdictions remain subject to examination based on varying statutes of limitations, if any. The Partnership is additionally not aware of any tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will change materially in the next twelve months. As a result, no other income tax liability or expense has been recorded in the accompanying financial statements.

Altegris QIM Futures Fund, L.P. 10-Q