UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM N-CSR CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES Investment Company Act file number 811-21666 HATTERAS MASTER FUND, L.P. (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter) 8540 COLONNADE CENTER DRIVE, SUITE 401 RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA 27615 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code) DAVID B. PERKINS 8540 COLONNADE CENTER DRIVE, SUITE 401 RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA 27615 (Name and address of agent for service) Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (919) 846-2324 Date of fiscal year end: MARCH 31 Date of reporting period: SEPTEMBER 30, 2007 Form N-CSR is to be used by management investment companies to file reports with the Commission not later than 10 days after the transmission to stockholders of any report that is required to be transmitted to stockholders under Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30e-1). The Commission may use the information provided on Form N-CSR in its regulatory, disclosure review, inspection, and policymaking roles. A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-CSR, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-CSR unless the Form displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget ("OMB") control number. Please direct comments concerning the accuracy of the information collection burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. ss. 3507. ITEM 1. REPORTS TO STOCKHOLDERS. HATTERAS MASTER FUND, L.P. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD FROM APRIL 1, 2007 TO SEPTEMBER 30, 2007 UNAUDITED HATTERAS MASTER FUND, L.P. FOR THE PERIOD FROM APRIL 1, 2007 TO SEPTEMBER 30, 2007 UNAUDITED TABLE OF CONTENTS Schedule of Investments ................................................... 1 Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Partners' Capital .................... 5 Statement of Operations ................................................... 6 Statements of Changes in Partners' Capital ................................ 7 Statement of Cash Flows ................................................... 8 Notes to Financial Statements ............................................. 9 Board of Directors ........................................................ 17 Fund Management ........................................................... 18 Other Information ......................................................... 19 HATTERAS MASTER FUND, L.P. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS - SEPTEMBER 30, 2007 (UNAUDITED) INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AS A PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL PARTNERS' CAPITAL Percentages are as follows: (PIE CHART) Real Estate Composite (7.06%) Other assets less liabilities (0.76%) Absolute Return (21.68%) Energy and Natural Resources (14.19%) Enhanced Fixed Income (18.00%) Opportunistic Equity (30.21%) Private Equity Composite (8.10%) COST FAIR VALUE ------------ ------------ INVESTMENTS IN UNDERLYING FUNDS (99.21%) ABSOLUTE RETURN (21.68%) Black River Commodity Multi Strategy Fund, L.P. (a, b) $ 7,000,000 $ 7,798,805 Black River Global Multi-Strategy Leveraged Fund, LLC (a, b) 6,000,000 6,882,135 Broad Peak Fund, LP (a,b) 12,000,000 11,963,719 Courage Special Situations Fund, L.P. (a,b) 4,827,675 5,724,157 DE Shaw Composite Fund, LLC (a, b) 16,000,000 17,406,063 Montrica Global Opportunities Fund, L.P. (a, b) 16,000,000 17,050,637 OZ Asia Domestic Partners, L.P. (a, b) 15,000,000 16,296,769 Paulson Partners Enhanced, L.P. (a, b) 7,000,000 9,720,788 PSAM WorldArb Partners, LP (a, b) 6,000,000 5,831,338 Smith Breeden Mortgage Partners, L.P. (a, b) 4,413,258 5,390,035 Stark Investments, L.P. (a, b) 12,000,000 13,525,391 Waterstone Market Neutral Fund, L.P. (a, b) 11,000,000 11,648,786 Wellington Partners, LLC (a,b) 12,785,759 16,604,440 Whitebox Diversified Convertible Arbitrage Fund, L.P. (a, b) 9,000,000 9,146,068 ------------ 154,989,131 ------------ See Notes to Financial Statements 1 HATTERAS MASTER FUND, L.P. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS - SEPTEMBER 30, 2007 (UNAUDITED) (CONTINUED) COST FAIR VALUE ------------ ------------ ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES (14.19%) Arclight Energy Partners Fund III, LP (a, b) $ 2,771,871 $ 2,793,068 Cambridge Energy, L.P. (a, b) 2,566,534 4,668,365 CamCap Resources, L.P. (a, b) 11,000,000 11,480,055 Centennial Energy Partners, L.P. (a, b) 11,000,000 11,868,239 Chilton Global Natural Resources Partners, LP (a,b) 12,000,000 12,797,874 EnerVest Energy Institutional Fund X-A, L.P. (a, b) 2,806,717 3,011,775 EnerVest Energy Institutional Fund XI-A, L.P. (a, b) 2,099,621 1,984,231 Merit Energy Partners F-II, L.P. (a, b) 342,071 342,307 Natural Gas Partners Energy Tech, L.P. (a, b) 477,857 433,334 Natural Gas Partners VIII, L.P. (a, b) 2,710,276 3,174,699 Ospraie Special Opportunities Fund, L.P. (a, b) 5,000,000 5,506,190 Quantum Energy Partners IV, LP (a,b) 1,207,766 1,028,237 Southport Energy Plus Partners, L.P. (a, b) 7,083,819 12,208,434 State Street Research Energy and Natural Resources Hedge Fund, LLC (a, b) 11,700,000 11,534,361 Touradji Deeprock Partners, L.P. (a, b) 4,000,000 4,498,559 Treaty Oak Partners, L.P. (a, b) 11,000,000 14,171,025 ----------- 101,500,753 ------------ ENHANCED FIXED INCOME (18.00%) Anchorage Short Credit Fund II, L.P. (a,b) 13,000,000 12,584,557 ARX Global High Yield Securities Fund I, L.P. (a,b) 14,000,000 14,444,909 BDCM Partners I, L.P. (a,b) 13,500,000 13,744,030 Contrarian Capital Fund I, L.P. (a,b) 10,880,064 13,560,768 D.B. Zwirn Special Opportunities Fund, L.P. (a,b) 6,500,000 8,187,613 Drawbridge Special Opportunities Fund, L.P. (a,b) 12,300,000 13,439,732 Greylock Global Opportunity Fund, L.P. (a,b) 4,922,405 5,714,412 Halcyon Europe L.P. (a,b) 12,000,000 12,299,524 Lazard Emerging Income, L.P. (a,b) 3,000,000 3,712,728 Ore Hill Fund, L.P. (a,b) 7,221,928 8,666,982 The Rohatyn Group Local Currency Opportunity Partners, L.P. (a,b) 6,000,000 6,102,066 Z Capital Partners I, L.P. (a,b) 17,000,000 16,232,254 ----------- 128,689,575 ------------ OPPORTUNISTIC EQUITY (30.18%) Algebris Global Financials Fund, LP (a, b) 6,000,000 7,891,612 Artis Technology Qualified 2X, L.P. (a, b) 7,000,000 9,273,982 Asian Century Quest Fund (QP) L.P. (a, b) 7,000,000 8,143,307 CCM Small Cap Value Qualified Fund, L.P. (a, b) 2,500,000 3,213,773 Criterion Horizons Fund, LP (a, b) 14,000,000 15,798,176 CRM Windridge Partners, L.P. (a, b) 4,522,017 5,228,940 See Notes to Financial Statements 2 HATTERAS MASTER FUND, L.P. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS - SEPTEMBER 30, 2007 (UNAUDITED) (CONTINUED) COST FAIR VALUE ------------ ------------ OPPORTUNISTIC EQUITY (30.18%) (CONTINUED) DE Shaw Oculus Fund LLC (a, b) $ 13,000,000 $ 14,125,838 Ellerston Global Equity Managers Fund (U.S.) L.P. (a,b) 13,000,000 14,858,147 GMO Mean Reversion Fund A (a, b) 5,770,065 6,963,656 Gradient Europe Fund, L.P. (a, b) 8,500,000 13,011,545 Healthcor, L.P. (a, b) 11,000,000 14,481,056 Liberty Square Strategic Partners IV (Asia), L.P. (a, b) 13,000,000 13,502,625 Samlyn Onshore Fund, L.P. (a, b) 8,000,000 9,452,824 Sansar Capital, L.P. (a, b) 10,000,000 12,887,365 SCP Ocean Fund, L.P. (a, b) 4,002,947 6,806,630 SR Global Fund, L.P. (Class C) International (a, b) 3,457,674 7,141,305 SR Global Fund, L.P. (Class F) Europe (a, b) 6,959,403 6,884,930 SR Global Fund, L.P. (Class G) Emerging (a, b) 5,281,970 10,293,020 Standard Pacific Japan Fund, L.P. (a, b) 6,500,000 7,157,622 The Platinum Fund Ltd. (Class A) (a, b) 2,535,461 3,409,539 The Raptor Global Fund, L.P. (a, b) 8,000,000 8,006,182 Visium Long Bias Fund, L.P. (a, b) 15,964,983 17,287,044 ------------ 215,819,118 ------------ PRIVATE EQUITY COMPOSITE (8.10%) Actis Umbrella Fund, L.P. (a, b) 1,835,886 1,983,911 BDCM Opportunity Fund II, L.P. (a, b) 1,601,449 1,461,863 Brazos Equity Fund II, L.P. (a, b) 1,981,957 1,802,457 Carlyle Japan Partners II, L.P. (a, b) 233,036 193,591 CJIP II Co-Invest, L.P. (a, b) 49,224 46,171 Carlyle Partners V, L.P. (a, b) 684,065 645,540 Claremont Creek Ventures, L.P. (a, b) 565,000 489,700 Crosslink Crossover Fund IV, L.P. (a, b) 4,403,262 6,034,721 Crosslink Crossover Fund V, L.P. (a, b) 4,000,000 4,585,404 Dace Ventures I, L.P. (a, b) 303,402 274,665 Darwin Private Equity I, L.P. (a, b) 117,168 82 Encore Consumer Capital Fund, L.P. (a, b) 1,784,957 2,397,912 Gavea Investment Fund II A, L.P. (a, b) 2,500,000 2,543,710 Great Point Partners VII, L.P. (a, b) 645,000 970,919 Halifax Fund II, L.P. (a, b) 515,263 397,203 Hancock Park Capital III, L.P. (a, b) 1,800,000 2,113,805 HealthCor Partners Fund, L.P. (a, b) 167,566 95,386 Integral Capital Partners VII, L.P. (a, b) 6,000,000 8,175,517 Lighthouse Capital Partners VI, L.P. (a, b) 500,000 500,000 OCM European Principal Opportunties Fund, L.P. (a, b) 3,440,307 4,266,141 OCM Mezzanine Fund II, L.P. (a, b) 2,975,316 3,050,258 See Notes to Financial Statements 3 HATTERAS MASTER FUND, L.P. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS - SEPTEMBER 30, 2007 (UNAUDITED) (CONTINUED) COST FAIR VALUE ------------ ------------ PRIVATE EQUITY COMPOSITE (8.10%) (CONTINUED) Pipe Equity Partners, LLC (a, b) $ 3,824,693 $ 4,746,099 Private Equity Investment Fund IV, L.P. (a, b) 1,256,349 1,294,249 Roundtable Healthcare Partners II, L.P. (a, b) 1,091,981 1,037,590 Sanderling Venture Partners VI Co-Investment Fund, L.P. (a,b) 500,000 444,047 Sanderling Venture Partners VI, L.P. (a, b) 600,000 536,285 Sterling Capital Partners II, L.P. (a, b) 1,260,668 1,483,182 Sterling Capital Partners III, L.P. (a, b) 620,073 592,471 Strategic Value Global Opportunities Fund I-A, LP (a,b) 3,997,239 3,896,837 The Column Group, L.P. (a, b) 138,577 121,575 VCFA Private Equity Partners IV, L.P. (a, b) 741,858 834,681 VCFA Venture Partners V, L.P. (a, b) 800,000 746,537 Voyager Capital Fund III, L.P. (a, b) 243,622 182,511 ------------ 57,945,020 ------------ REAL ESTATE COMPOSITE (7.06%) Benson Elliot Real Estate Partners II, L.P. (a, b) 1,528,076 1,422,414 Colony Investors VII, L.P. (a, b) 3,001,697 3,359,368 Colony Investors VIII, L.P. (a, b) 921,651 949,151 ING Clarion CRA Hedge Fund, L.P. (a, b) 2,356,915 3,447,724 ING Clarion Global, L.P. (a, b) 3,000,000 3,547,758 Oak Hill Plus, L.P. (a, b) 7,000,000 7,659,586 ORBIS Real Estate Fund I, L.P. (a, b) 979,079 854,952 Patron Capital III, L.P. (a, b) 8,515 465 Phoenix Asia Real Estate Investment II, L.P. (a, b) 1,157,388 1,157,387 Rockwood Capital Real Estate Partners Fund VII, LP (a, b) 3,353,603 3,293,557 Security Capital Preferred Growth, Inc. b 1,714,043 1,508,488 Third Avenue Real Estate Opportunities Fund, LLC (a,b) 9,000,000 9,320,261 Transwestern Mezzanine Realty Partner II, LLC (b) 1,843,736 1,860,253 WCP Real Estate Fund I, LP (a, b) 4,113,515 3,943,257 Wells Street Global Partners, LP (a, b) 6,686,675 8,190,087 ------------ 50,514,708 ------------ 709,458,305 ------------ TOTAL INVESTMENTS IN UNDERLYING FUNDS (COST $620,954,952) INVESTMENTS IN OPTIONS (0.03%) OPPORTUNISTIC EQUITY (0.03%) EEP Option Straddle 680,800 192,601 ------------ TOTAL INVESTMENTS IN UNDERLYING FUNDS AND OPTIONS (COST $ 621,635,752) 709,650,906 OTHER ASSETS LESS LIABILITIES (0.76%) 5,405,732 ------------ PARTNERS' CAPITAL - 100.00% $715,056,638 ============ a- Non-income producing b-Underlying Funds are issued in private placement transactions and as such are restricted as to resale. Total cost and value of restricted securities as of September 30, 2007 was $620,954,952 and $709,458,305 respectively. See Notes to Financial Statements 4 HATTERAS MASTER FUND, L.P. STATEMENT OF ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL - SEPTEMBER 30, 2007 (UNAUDITED) ASSETS Investments in Underlying Funds, at fair value (cost $620,954,952) $709,458,305 Investments in Underlying Funds paid in advance 65,626,846 Cash and cash equivalents 830,438 Receivable from redemption of Underlying Funds 323,599 Investment in Options (cost $680,800) 192,601 Prepaid assets 62,545 Withholding tax refund receivable 26,478 Dividends and interest receivable 896 ------------ TOTAL ASSETS $776,521,708 ============ LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL Contributions received in advance $ 40,656,225 Line of credit loan payable 20,000,000 Management fee payable 596,097 Accounting and administration fees payable 85,331 Professional fees payable 68,630 Line of credit fees payable 19,430 Custodian fees payable 18,952 Risk management expense payable 16,287 Other accrued expenses 4,118 ------------ TOTAL LIABILITIES 61,465,070 ------------ PARTNERS' CAPITAL 715,056,638 ------------ TOTAL LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL $776,521,708 ============ See Notes to Financial Statements 5 HATTERAS MASTER FUND, L.P. STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS - APRIL 1, 2007 TO SEPTEMBER 30, 2007 (UNAUDITED) INVESTMENT INCOME Dividends $ 1,464,159 Interest 451,557 ------------ TOTAL INVESTMENT INCOME 1,915,716 ------------ OPERATING EXPENSES Management fee 2,971,280 Accounting and administration fees 232,889 Risk management expense 208,398 Professional fees 113,905 Insurance expense 53,170 Line of credit fees 36,667 Custodian fees 32,147 Board of directors' fees 30,000 Interest expense 25,833 Compliance consulting fees 7,500 Printing expense 4,659 Other expenses 20,355 ------------ TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES 3,736,803 ------------ NET INVESTMENT LOSS (1,821,087) ------------ NET REALIZED GAIN AND CHANGE IN UNREALIZED APPRECIATION ON INVESTMENTS IN UNDERLYING FUNDS Net realized gain on investments in Underlying Funds 2,076,293 Net increase in unrealized appreciation on investments in Underlying Funds 28,316,832 ------------ NET REALIZED GAIN AND CHANGE IN UNREALIZED APPRECIATION ON INVESTMENTS IN UNDERLYING FUNDS 30,393,125 ------------ NET INCREASE IN PARTNERS' CAPITAL RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS $ 28,572,038 ============ See Notes to Financial Statements 6 HATTERAS MASTER FUND, L.P. STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN PARTNERS' CAPITAL (UNAUDITED) LIMITED PARTNERS' CAPITAL* ------------ PARTNERS' CAPITAL, AT MARCH 31, 2006 $213,520,988 Capital contributions 207,108,880 Capital withdrawals (23,130,271) Net investment loss (3,115,957) Net realized gain on investments in Underlying Funds 2,322,022 Net increase in unrealized appreciation on investments in Underlying Funds 35,414,077 ------------ PARTNERS' CAPITAL, AT MARCH 31, 2007 $432,119,739 Capital contributions 259,825,457 Capital withdrawals (5,460,596) Net investment loss (1,821,087) Net realized gain on investments in Underlying Funds 2,076,293 Net increase in unrealized appreciation on investments in Underlying Funds 28,316,832 ------------ PARTNERS' CAPITAL, AT SEPTEMBER 30, 2007 $715,056,638 ============ See Notes to Financial Statements 7 HATTERAS MASTER FUND, L.P. STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS - APRIL 1, 2007 TO SEPTEMBER 30, 2007 (UNAUDITED) CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Net increase in partners' capital resulting from operations $ 28,572,038 Adjustments to reconcile net increase in partners' capital resulting from investment operations to net cash used in operating activities: Purchases of Underlying Funds (259,482,116) Proceeds from redemptions of Underlying Funds 19,572,519 Net realized gain on investments in Underlying Funds (2,076,293) Net increase in unrealized appreciation on investments in Underlying Funds (28,316,832) Increase in investments in Underlying Funds paid in advance (48,310,299) Decrease in receivable from redemption of Underlying Funds 5,580,665 Decrease in prepaid assets 63,266 Decrease in dividends and interest receivable 26,120 Increase in management fee payable 225,363 Increase in accounting and administration fees payable 26,461 Decrease in professional fees payable (28,145) Increase in line of credit fees payable 15,297 Increase in custodian fees payable 8,282 Increase in risk management expense payable 12,678 Decrease in interest expense payable (16,250) Increase in other accrued expenses 4,118 ------------- Net cash used in operating activities (284,123,128) ------------- CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Capital contributions (including contributions received in advance) 271,112,305 Capital withdrawals (net of redemptions payable) (18,140,596) Line of credit borrowings 17,000,000 ------------- Net cash used in financing activities 269,971,709 ------------- Net change in cash and cash equivalents (14,151,419) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 14,981,857 ------------- Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 830,438 ============= Supplemental Disclosure of Interest Paid $ 9,583 ============= See Notes to Financial Statements 8 HATTERAS MASTER FUND, L.P. NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - SEPTEMBER 30, 2007 (UNAUDITED) 1. ORGANIZATION Hatteras Master Fund, L.P. (the "Master Fund") was organized as a limited partnership under the laws of the State of Delaware on October 29, 2004. The Master Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), as a closed-end, non-diversified management investment company. The Master Fund is managed by Hatteras Investment Partners, LLC (the "Investment Manager"), a Delaware limited liability company registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The objective of the Master Fund is to generate consistent long-term appreciation and returns across all market cycles. To achieve its objective, the Master Fund will provide its limited partners (each, a "Limited Partner" and together, the "Limited Partners") with access to a broad range of investment strategies and asset categories, trading advisors ("Advisors") and overall asset allocation services typically available on a collective basis to larger institutions. Generally, the Investment Manager intends to select Advisors that collectively employ widely diversified investment strategies and engage in such techniques as opportunistic equity, enhanced fixed income, absolute return, private equity, real estate and energy/natural resources. However, the Investment Manager may also retain Advisors who utilize other strategies. The Master Fund invests with each Advisor either by becoming a participant in an investment vehicle operated by the Advisor (an "Underlying Fund") or by placing assets in an account directly managed by the Advisor. The Master Fund commenced operations on January 1, 2005. Prior to January 1, 2005, the Master Fund engaged in no transactions other than those related to organizational matters and the sale of a $100,000 interest to Hatteras Diversified Strategies Fund, LP. Hatteras Investment Management LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, serves as the General Partner of the Master Fund (the "General Partner"). The General Partner has initially appointed a Board of Directors (the "Board") and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, has irrevocably delegated to the Board its rights and powers to monitor and oversee the business affairs of the Master Fund, including the complete and exclusive authority to oversee and establish policies regarding the management, conduct and operation of the Master Fund's business. On January 3, 2005, the Master Fund received capital contributions totaling $116,269,458, including contributions in the form of transfers-in-kind from Hatteras Diversified Strategies Fund, LP and Hatteras Diversified Strategies Offshore Fund, Ltd. for $72,386,769 and $16,620,182, respectively. In addition, the Hatteras Diversified Strategies Offshore Fund, Ltd. transferred receivables in the amount of $17,242,388 and liquidated $10,020,119 of the Fund's securities at December 31, 2004 and reinvested the proceeds in the Master Fund. 2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The following is a summary of significant accounting and reporting policies used in preparing the financial statement. 9 HATTERAS MASTER FUND, L.P. NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - SEPTEMBER 30, 2007 (UNAUDITED) (CONTINUED) 2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED) A. INVESTMENT VALUATION - INVESTMENTS IN UNDERLYING FUNDS The Master Fund will value interests in the Underlying Funds at fair value, which ordinarily will be the value determined by their respective investment managers, in accordance with procedures established by the Board. Investments in Underlying Funds are subject to the terms of the Underlying Funds' offering documents. Valuations of the Underlying Funds may be subject to estimates and are net of management and performance incentive fees or allocations payable to the Underlying Funds' as required by the Underlying Funds' offering documents. If the Investment Manager determines that the most recent value reported by the Underlying Fund does not represent fair value or if the Underlying Fund fails to report a value to the Master Fund, a fair value determination is made under procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Board. Because of the inherent uncertainty in valuation, the estimated values may differ from the values that would have been used had a ready market for the securities existed, and the differences could be material. B. INVESTMENT INCOME Interest income is recorded on an accrual basis. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date, except that certain dividends from private equity investments are recorded as soon as the information is available to the Master Fund. The Underlying Funds generally do not make regular cash distributions of income and gains and so are generally considered non-income producing securities, however the Master Fund owns securities that are income producing and disburse regular cash distributions. C. FUND EXPENSES The Master Fund will bear all expenses incurred in the business of the Master Fund, including, but not limited to, the following: all costs and expenses related to portfolio transactions and positions for the Master Fund's account; legal fees; accounting and auditing fees; costs of insurance; registration expenses; certain offering and organization costs; and expenses of meetings of the Board. D. INCOME TAXES The Master Fund is treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes and therefore not subject to federal income tax. For income tax purposes, the individual partners will be taxed upon their distributive share of each item of the Master Fund's income, gain, loss, deductions and credits. 10 HATTERAS MASTER FUND, L.P. NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - SEPTEMBER 30, 2007 (UNAUDITED) (CONTINUED) 2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED) E. CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS Cash and cash equivalents includes amounts held in interest bearing demand deposit accounts. At September 30, 2007, the Master Fund held $830,438 in interest bearing demand deposit accounts. Such cash, at times, may exceed federally insured limits. The Master Fund has not experienced any losses in such accounts and does not believe it is exposed to any significant credit risk on such bank deposits. F. USE OF ESTIMATES The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires the Master Fund to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expense during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates. 3. ALLOCATION OF PARTNERS' CAPITAL Net profits or net losses of the Master Fund for each Allocation Period (as defined below) will be allocated among and credited to or debited against the capital accounts of the Limited Partners. Allocation Periods begin on the day after the last day of the preceding Allocation Period and end at the close of business on (1) the last day of each month, (2) the last day of each taxable year; (3) the day preceding each day on which interests are purchased, (4) the day on which interests are repurchased, or (5) the day on which any amount is credited to or debited from the capital account of any Limited Partner other than an amount to be credited to or debited from the capital accounts of all Limited Partners in accordance with their respective investment percentages. 4. MANAGEMENT FEE, RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS AND OTHER The Investment Manager is responsible for providing day-to-day investment management services to the Master Fund, subject to the ultimate supervision of and subject to any policies established by the Board, pursuant to the terms of an investment management agreement with the Master Fund (the "Investment Management Agreement"). Under the Investment Management Agreement, the Investment Manager is responsible for developing, implementing and supervising the Master Fund's investment program. In consideration for such services, the Master Fund pays the Investment Manager a monthly management fee equal to 1/12th of 1.00% (1.00% on an annualized basis) of the aggregate value of its partners' capital determined as of the last day of the month (before repurchase of interests). 11 HATTERAS MASTER FUND, L.P. NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - SEPTEMBER 30, 2007 (UNAUDITED) (CONTINUED) 4. MANAGEMENT FEE, RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS AND OTHER (CONTINUED) Each member of the Board who is not an "interested person" of the Master Fund (the "Independent Board"), as defined by the 1940 Act, receives an annual retainer of $15,000. All Board members are reimbursed by the Master Fund for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in performing their duties. UMB Bank, n.a. serves as custodian of the Master Fund's assets and provides custodial services for the Master Fund. UMB Fund Services, Inc. serves as administrator and accounting agent to the Master Fund and provides certain accounting, record keeping and investor related services. The Master Fund pays a monthly fee to the administrator based upon average partners' capital, subject to certain minimums. 5. INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS Total purchases of Underlying Funds for the period ended September 30, 2007 amounted to $259,482,116. Total proceeds from redemptions of Underlying Funds for the period ended September 30, 2007 amounted to $17,496,226. The cost of investments in Underlying Funds for federal income tax purposes is adjusted for items of taxable income allocated to the Master Fund from the Underlying Funds. 6. RISK FACTORS An investment in the Master Fund involves significant risks that should be carefully considered prior to investing and should only be considered by persons financially able to maintain their investment and who can afford a loss of a substantial part or all of such investment. The Master Fund intends to invest substantially all of its available capital in securities of private investment companies. These investments will generally be restricted securities that are subject to substantial holding periods or are not traded in public markets at all, so that the Master Fund may not be able to resell some of its securities holdings for extended periods, which may be several years. Investments in the Underlying Funds may be restricted from early redemptions or subject to fees for early redemptions as part of contractual obligations agreed to by the Advisor on behalf of the Master Fund. Underlying Funds generally require the Advisor to provide advanced notice of its intent to redeem the Master Fund's total or partial interest and may delay or deny a redemption request depending on the Underlying Funds' governing agreements. No guarantee or representation is made that the investment objective will be met. 12 HATTERAS MASTER FUND, L.P. NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - SEPTEMBER 30, 2007 (UNAUDITED) (CONTINUED) 7. LINE OF CREDIT On May 1, 2006, the Master Fund entered into a $20,000,000 unsecured, uncommitted revolving loan facility ("Facility"), for the purpose to finance short timing differences between the redemption of investments or receipt of partnership capital and the redemption of partnership capital accounts; the investment in new managers; or as general working capital. The facility was increased for a ninety day period on October 1, 2007 to $65,000,000 and will be reduced to $30,000,000 on November 26, 2007. A fee of 37.5 basis points per annum is payable quarterly in arrears on the unused portion of the Facility. Borrowings are charged an interest rate at a base rate less 75 basis points. The base rate is the greater of a) the prime commercial rate as announced from time to time, or b) the Federal Funds rate plus 1/2 of 1%, calculated on a 360-day basis and payable monthly in arrears. At September 30, 2007 the Master Fund had $20,000,000 in borrowings outstanding under the Facility and $19,430 in fees and interest payable. The average interest rate, the average daily balance, and the maximum balance outstanding for borrowings under the Facility for the period ended September 30, 2007 was 7.50%, $677,596, and $20,000,000, respectively. 8. REPURCHASE OF PARTNERS' INTERESTS The Board may, from time to time and in its sole discretion, cause the Master Fund to repurchase interests from Limited Partners pursuant to written tenders by Limited Partners at such times and on such terms and conditions as established by the Board. In determining whether the Master Fund should offer to repurchase interests, the Board will consider the recommendation of the Investment Manager. On March 31, 2006, the Investment Manager recommended to the Board that the Master Fund offer to repurchase interests from Limited Partners on a quarterly basis as of March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year. The Master Fund does not intend to distribute to the partners any of the Master Fund's income, but generally expects to reinvest substantially all income and gains allocable to the partners. A partner may, therefore, be allocated taxable income and gains and not receive any cash distribution. 9. INDEMNIFICATION In the normal course of business, the Master Fund enters into contracts that provide general indemnifications. The Master Fund's maximum exposure under these agreements is dependent on future claims that may be made against the Master Fund, and therefore cannot be established; however, based on experience, the risk of loss from such claims is considered remote. 10. COMMITMENTS As of September 30, 2007, the Master Fund had outstanding investment commitments to Underlying Funds totaling $ 109,958,424. 13 HATTERAS MASTER FUND, L.P. NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - SEPTEMBER 30, 2007 (UNAUDITED) (CONTINUED) 11. FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS The financial highlights are intended to help you understand the Master Fund's financial performance for the past period. The total returns in the table represent the rate that a typical Limited Partner would be expected to have earned or lost on an investment in the Master Fund. The ratios and total return amounts are calculated based on the Limited Partner group taken as a whole. An individual Limited Partner's results may vary from those shown below due to the timing of capital transactions. The ratios are calculated by dividing total dollars of net investment income or expenses, as applicable, by the average of total monthly limited partners' capital. The ratios do not reflect the Master Fund's proportionate share of income and expenses from Underlying Funds. Total return amounts are calculated by geometrically linking returns based on the change in value during each accounting period. The total return amounts have not been annualized for the periods less than a year. FOR THE SIX FOR THE PERIOD FROM MONTH PERIOD JANUARY 1, 2005 ENDED (COMMENCEMENT OF SEPTEMBER 30, FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, OPERATIONS) THROUGH 2007 2007 2006 MARCH 31, 2005 ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------------- Total return amortizing organizational expenses* --** --** --** 0.23% Total return 5.49% 9.31% 13.79% 0.17% Partners' capital, end of period (000) $715,057 $432,120 $213,521 $116,827 Portfolio Turnover 3.45% 14.03% 19.35% 3.72% ANNUALIZED RATIOS: Net Investment loss (0.32)% (0.96)% (1.23)% (1.43)% Total Expenses 0.65% 1.39% 1.52% 1.50% * Return is indicative of amortizing organizational expenses over 60 months for tax purposes. ** Organizational costs were fully expensed as of 3/31/05. 14 HATTERAS MASTER FUND, L.P. NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - SEPTEMBER 30, 2007 (UNAUDITED) (CONTINUED) 12. NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS In July 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Interpretation No. 48, "Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes - an Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109" (the "Interpretation"). The Interpretation establishes for all entities, including pass-through entities such as the Master Fund, a minimum threshold for financial statements recognition of the benefit of positions taken in filing tax returns (including whether an entity is taxable in a particular jurisdiction), and required certain expanded tax disclosures. The Interpretation is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006 and is required to be implemented no later than September 30, 2007. Management has recently begun to evaluate the application of the Interpretation to the Master Fund, and is not in a position at this time to estimate the significance of its impact, if any, on the Master Fund's financial statements. In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, "Fair Value Measurements," (the "Statement"). The Statement defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), and expands disclosures about fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between (1) market participant assumptions developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity (observable inputs). The Statement is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and is to be applied prospectively as of the beginning of the fiscal year in which this Statement is initially applied. Management has recently begun to evaluate the application of the Statement to the Master Fund, and is not in a position at this time to evaluate the significance of its impact, if any, on the Master Fund's financial statements. 13. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS Effective October 1, 2007 and November 1, 2007, there were additional capital contributions of $40,906,226 and $52,066,408 respectively. Effective October 1, 2007 there were redemptions of $6,650,000. There were additional contributions effective as of October 1, 2007 of $89,738,623 resulting from the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization described in the note below. Effective October 1, 2007 according to a reorganization plan (the "Master Fund Agreement") approved by the Board and the Topiary Fund Board by and between the Master Fund and Topiary Master Fund For Benefit Plan Investors (BPI) LLC (the "Topiary Master Fund"), the Topiary Master Fund transferred to the Master fund substantially all of the Topiary Master Fund's assets and liabilities in exchange for limited partnership interests in the Master Fund. Effective October 1, 2007 According to The Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the "TEI Agreement" and, together with the Master Fund Agreement, the "Agreements") by and between the Hatteras Multi-Strategy TEI Fund, L.P. (the "TEI Fund" and, together with the Master Fund, the "Hatteras Funds")) and Topiary Benefit Plan Investor Fund LLC (the "Topiary Feeder Fund"), the Topiary Feeder Fund transferred substantially all of the assets and liabilities of to the TEI Fund in exchange for limited partnership interests in the TEI Fund, 15 HATTERAS MASTER FUND, L.P. NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - SEPTEMBER 30, 2007 (UNAUDITED) (CONCLUDED) 13. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS (CONTINUED) and distributed such limited partnership interests in the Master Fund to the members of the Topiary Feeder Fund in accordance with their respective interests (such transaction referred to as the "Feeder Fund Reorganization" and, together with Master Fund Reorganization, the "Reorganizations"). 16 HATTERAS MASTER FUND, L.P. BOARD OF DIRECTORS (UNAUDITED) The identity of the Board Members and brief biographical information is set forth below. Term of Office; Position(s) Length Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Number of Portfolios in Fund Held with of Time years and Other Directorships Held by Complex' Overseen by Name, Address & Age the Fund Served Director Director or Officer - ------------------- ------------ --------------- ------------------------------------- ---------------------------- INTERESTED DIRECTORS David B. Perkins, 45 Chief 3 year term; Mr. Perkins has been Chairman and CEO 5 1000 Watermeet Lane Executive Since Inception since inception of the Funds. Mr. Raleigh, NC 27614 Officer and Perkins became the President and Chairman of Managing Principal of the Investment the Board of Manager in September 2003 and became Directors the co-founder and Managing Partner of CapFinancial Partners, LLC in April 2003. Prior to that, he was Managing Partner at Wachovia Securities Financial Network, Inc. from June 2002 to September 2003 and Managing Principal of CapTrust Financial Advisors, LLC from October 1997 to June 2002. INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS Steve E. Moss, 54 Director: 3 year term; Mr. Moss has been a member of HMKCT 5 918 Meadow Lane Chairman of Since December Properties, LLC since January 1996. Henderson, NC 27536 the Audit 2004 Committee H. Alexander Holmes, 65 Director: 3 year term; Mr. Holmes founded Holmes Advisory 5 3408 Landor Road Audit Since December Services, LLC, a financial Raleigh, NC 27609 Committee 2004 consultation firm, in 1993. Member Gregory S. Sellers, 48 Director: 3 year term; Mr. Sellers became the Chief 5 2643 Steeplechase Road Audit Since December Financial Officer and a director of Gastonia, NC 28056 Committee 2004 Kings Plush, Inc., a fabric Member manufacturer, in April 2003. Prior to that, he was the Vice President of Finance at Parksdale Mills, Inc., a cotton and cotton blend yarns producer, from January 1991 to April 2003. Art Lottes, 54 Director: 3 year term; Mr. Lottes was the President of 5 4813 Wynneford Way Audit Since November CARQUEST Corporation, an automotive Raleigh, NC 27615 Committee 2006 aftermarket company until December Member 2005. Mr. Lottes was a Board member of CARQUEST and General Partner until December 2005. 17 HATTERAS MASTER FUND, L.P. FUND MANAGEMENT (UNAUDITED) Set forth below is the name, age, position with the Fund, length of term of office, and the principal occupation for the last five years of each of the persons currently serving as Executive Officers of the Fund. Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each officer is 8540 Colonnade Center Drive, Suite 401, Raleigh, NC 27615. Position(s) Length Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Number of Portfolios in Fund Held with of Time years and Other Directorships Held by Complex' Overseen by Name, Address & Age the Fund Served Director Director or Officer - ------------------- ------------ --------------- ------------------------------------- ---------------------------- OFFICERS J. Michael Fields, 34 Chief Since Mr. Fields has been the CFO since N/A 8540 Colonnade Center Financial Inception inception of the Funds. Mr. Fields Drive, Officer became a Director of the Investment Suite 401 Manager in September 2003. Prior to Raleigh, NC 27615 joining the Investment Manager, Mr. Fields was employed by CapTrust Financial Advisors from August 2002 to September 2003. Prior to joining CapTrust, Mr. Fields was employed by Morgan Stanley in Atlanta, Georgia from January 2000 to August 2002. Denise Buchanan, 45 Chief Since Ms. Buchanan has been the CCO since N/A 8540 Colonnade Center Compliance Inception inception of the Funds. Ms. Buchanan Drive, Officer became the Compliance Officer with Suite 401 CapFinancial Partners, LLC Raleigh, NC 27615 ("CapTrust") in November 2003. Prior to joining CapTrust, Ms. Buchanan was President of Broker/Dealer Sales & Consulting, Inc. from 2001 to November 2003. Previously, Ms. Buchanan was the Director of Compliance for Atlantic Capital Management, LLC from 1996 to 2001. Vickey Collins, 41 Secretary Since Ms. Collins has been the Secretary of N/A 8540 Colonnade Drive, Inception the Funds since inception. She became Suite 401 the Operations Manager for the Raleigh, NC 27615 Investment Manager in September 2004. Prior to joining the Investment Manager, she was employed with McKinely Capital Management from 1994 to 2004. 18 HATTERAS MASTER FUND, L.P. OTHER INFORMATION (UNAUDITED) ANNUAL RENEWAL OF INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT At a meeting of the Board of the Master Fund held on February 28, 2007, by a unanimous vote, the Board of the Master Fund, including a majority of the Directors who are not "interested persons" within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act, approved the continuation of the Investment Management Agreement (the "Agreement"). In advance of the meeting, the Independent Directors requested and received extensive materials from the Investment Manager to assist them in considering the renewal of the Agreement. The materials provided by the Investment Manager contained information including detailed comparative information relating to the performance, advisory fees and other expenses of the Master Fund and the Limited Partners of the Master Fund managed by the Investment Manager (collectively, the "Funds"). The materials also included comparisons of the performance of each of the Master Fund's investment sectors versus a relevant benchmark. The Board engaged in a detailed discussion of the materials with management of the Investment Manager. The Independent Directors then met separately with independent counsel to the Independent Directors for a full review of the materials. Following this session, the full Board reconvened and after further discussion determined that the information presented provided a sufficient basis upon which to approve the continuation of the Agreement. DISCUSSION OF FACTORS CONSIDERED The Board reviewed various materials relating to the Investment Manager, including materials furnished by the Investment Manager. These materials included information about the Investment Manager's personnel, organizational structure, operations and financial condition. Management discussed with the Independent Directors the Investment Manager's business plans regarding ownership of the Manager, stability and retention of management and improvements in the Funds' distribution and marketing. The Board considered, among other things, various matters relating to the organizational capabilities of the Investment Manager, including: (1) the nature and stability of the ownership of the Investment Manager; (2) the nature of the Investment Manager's portfolio management experience and resources, including the experience of relevant personnel; and (3) the Investment Manager's resources, practices and procedures to address regulatory compliance matters. The Board concluded that the Investment Manager has sufficient resources to fulfill effectively the Investment Manager's duties under the Agreement. The Board also considered other information, including: (1) the terms of the Agreement; (2) the standard of care applicable to the Investment Manager under the Agreement; (3) information regarding the performance of and fees paid by certain similar private funds managed by the Investment Manager; (4) information compiled by the Investment Manager intended to gauge the 19 HATTERAS MASTER FUND, L.P. OTHER INFORMATION (UNAUDITED) (CONCLUDED) ANNUAL RENEWAL OF INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT (CONTINUED) behavior of the Investment Manager's portfolio management strategy during periods of historical or hypothetical market stress; (5) the Funds' investment performance and expense ratios and the investment performance and expense ratios of other investment companies with similar investment styles to the Funds; and (6) the structure of, and the method used to determine, the compensation of portfolio managers. The Board gave consideration to the fees payable under the Agreement, including: (1) the fees to be paid to the Investment Manager and the Investment Manager's anticipated expenses in providing its services, and the fact that certain affiliates of the Investment Manager provide other services to the Funds and receive payment for these services; and (2) a comparison of the fees payable under the Agreement to fees paid under investment advisory agreements to investment advisers serving other investment companies with similar investment programs to the Master Fund, which assisted the Board in evaluating the reasonableness of the fees to be paid to the Investment Manager. The Board also considered possible economies of scale that might be recognized in the future at different asset levels. In this regard the Board considered the amount of assets in the Master Fund; the placement agent agreements currently in force to increase the Funds' penetration in various distribution channels; the information provided by the Investment Manager relating to its estimated costs; and information comparing the fee rate to be charged by the Investment Manager (which does not include fee breakpoints) with fee rates charged by other unaffiliated investment managers to their clients. The Board considered all factors and no one factor alone was deemed dispositive. PROXY VOTING A description of the policies and procedures that the Master Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities and shareholders record of actual proxy votes cast is available at www.sec.gov and may be obtained at no additional charge by calling 1-800-504-9070. 20 ITEM 2. CODE OF ETHICS. Not applicable to semi-annual reports. ITEM 3. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT. Not applicable to semi-annual reports. ITEM 4. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES. Not applicable to semi-annual reports. ITEM 5. AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS. Not applicable to semi-annual reports. ITEM 6. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS. Schedule of Investments in securities of unaffiliated issuers as of the close of the reporting period is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this form. ITEM 7. DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES. Not applicable. ITEM 8. PORTFOLIO MANAGERS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES. Not applicable to semi-annual reports. ITEM 9. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS. Not applicable. ITEM 10. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS. There have been no material changes to the procedures by which the shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant's board of directors, where those changes were implemented after the registrant last provided disclosure in response to the requirements of Item 407(c)(2)(iv) of Regulation S-K, or this Item. ITEM 11. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES. (a) The registrant's principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, have concluded that the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act") (17 CFR 270.30a-3(c))) are effective, as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of the report that includes the disclosure required by this paragraph, based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(b)) and Rules13a-15(b) or 15d-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (17 CFR 240.13a-15(b) or 240.15d-15(b)). (b) There were no changes in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(d)) that occurred during the registrant's second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting. ITEM 12. EXHIBITS. (a)(1) Not applicable. (a)(2) Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the 1940 Act and Section 302 of the Sarbanes- Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto. (a)(3) Not applicable. (b) Not applicable. SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. (registrant) HATTERAS MASTER FUND, L.P. By (Signature and Title)* /s/ DAVID B. PERKINS ----------------------------------------------------- David B. Perkins, President & Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) Date DECEMBER 3, 2007 Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated. By (Signature and Title)* /s/ DAVID B. PERKINS ----------------------------------------------------- David B. Perkins, President & Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) Date DECEMBER 3, 2007 By (Signature and Title)* /s/ J. MICHAEL FIELDS ----------------------------------------------------- J. Michael Fields, Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer) Date DECEMBER 3, 2007 * Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature.