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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
[X] Annual report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 [No Fee Required]
For the year ended December 31, 1998 or
[ ] Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 [No Fee Required]
For the transition period from ________________to___________________
Commission File Number 0-19116
DEAN WITTER DIVERSIFIED FUTURES FUND III L.P.
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its Limited Partnership Agreement)
DELAWARE 13-3577501
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(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
c/o Demeter Management Corporation
Two World Trade Center, - 62nd Flr., New York, N.Y. 10048
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(212) 392-5454
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Registrant's telephone number, including area code
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Name of each exchange
Title of each class on which registered
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None None
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Units of Limited Partnership Interest
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(Title of Class)
Indicate by check-mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X No
--- ---
Indicate by check-mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to
Item 405 of Regulation S-K (section 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained
herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in
definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part
III of this Form 10-K or any amendment of this Form 10-K. [X]
State the aggregate market value of the Units of Limited Partnership Interest
held by non-affiliates of the registrant. The aggregate market value shall be
computed by reference to the price at which units were sold, as of a specified
date within 60 days prior to the date of filing: $60,421,065.94 at January 31,
1999.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
(See Page 1)
DEAN WITTER DIVERSIFIED FUTURES FUND III L.P.
INDEX TO ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
DECEMBER 31, 1998
Page No.
--------
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Part I.
Item 1. Business. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4
Item 2. Properties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Item 3. Legal Proceedings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders . . 6
Part II.
Item 5. Market for the Registrant's Partnership Units and
Related Security Holder Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Item 6. Selected Financial Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations . . . . . . . . . . 9-18
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About
Market Risk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18-31
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data . . . . . . 31
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on
Accounting and Financial Disclosure . . . . . . . . . . 31
Part III.
Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant. . . 32-36
Item 11. Executive Compensation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners
and Management. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions. . . . . 37
Part IV.
Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and
Reports on Form 8-K . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the following documents are incorporated by reference as follows:
Documents Incorporated Part of Form 10-K
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Partnership's Prospectus dated
June 30, 1992. I
Annual Report to Dean Witter
Diversified Futures Fund III L.P.
Limited Partners for the year
ended December 31, 1998 II, III and IV
-1-
PART I
Item 1. BUSINESS
(a) General Development of Business. Dean Witter Diversified Futures
Fund III L.P. (the "Partnership") is a Delaware limited partnership organized to
engage in the speculative trading of commodity futures contracts and forward
contracts on foreign currencies (collectively, "futures interests"). The general
partner for the Partnership is Demeter Management Corporation ("Demeter"). The
non-clearing commodity broker is Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. ("DWR"), and an
unaffiliated clearing commodity broker, Carr Futures Inc. ("Carr"), provides
clearing and execution services. The trading manager is Dean Witter Futures &
Currency Management Inc. ("DWFCM" or the "Trading Manager"). Demeter, DWR and
DWFCM are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co.
("MSDW").
The Partnership's Net Asset Value per Unit, as of December 31, 1998,
was $1,783.35, representing an increase of 5.39 percent from the Net Asset Value
per Unit of $1,692.08 at December 31, 1997. For a more detailed description of
the Partnership's business see subparagraph (c).
(b) Financial Information about Industry Segments. For financial
information reporting purposes, the Partnership is deemed to engage
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in one industry segment, the speculative trading of futures interests. The
relevant financial information is presented in Items 6 and 8.
(c) Narrative Description of Business. The Partnership is in the
business of speculative trading of futures interests, pursuant to trading
instructions provided by the Trading Manager. For a detailed description of the
different facets of the Partnership's business, see those portions of the
Partnership's prospectus, dated June 30, 1992, (the "Prospectus"), incorporated
by reference in this Form 10-K, set forth below:
Facets of Business
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1. Summary 1. "Summary of the Prospectus"
(Pages 1-8).
2. Commodity Markets 2. "The Commodities Markets"
(Pages 52-59).
3. Partnership's Trading 3. "Trading Policies" (Pages
Arrangements and 48-49). "The Trading
Policies Manager" (Pages 37-47).
4. Management of the Part- 4. "The Management Agreement"
nership (Pages 50-52). "The
General Partner" (Pages
33-35) and "The Commodity
Broker" (Pages 49-50).
"The Limited Partner-
ship Agreement" (Pages
61-65).
5. Taxation of the Partner- 5. "Federal Income Tax
ship's Limited Partners Aspects" and "State and
Local Income Tax Aspects"
(Pages 70-77).
-3-
(d) Financial Information About Foreign and Domestic Operations and
Export Sales.
The Partnership has not engaged in any operations in foreign countries;
however, the Partnership (through the commodity brokers) enters into forward
contract transactions where foreign banks are the contracting party and trades
in futures interests on foreign exchanges.
Item 2. PROPERTIES
The executive and administrative offices are located within the offices
of DWR. The DWR offices utilized by the Partnership are located at Two World
Trade Center, 62nd Floor, New York, NY 10048.
Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
On September 6, 10, and 20, 1996, and on March 13, 1997, similar
purported class actions were filed in the Superior Court of the State of
California, County of Los Angeles, on behalf of all purchasers of interests in
limited partnership commodity pools sold by DWR. Named defendants include DWR,
Demeter, DWFCM, MSDW (all such parties referred to hereafter as the "Dean Witter
Parties"), the Partnership, certain other limited partnership commodity pools of
which Demeter is the general partner, and certain trading advisors to those
pools. On June 16, 1997, the plaintiffs in the above actions filed a
consolidated amended complaint, alleging, among other things, that the
defendants committed fraud, deceit, negligent misrepresentation, various
violations of the
-4-
California Corporations Code, intentional and negligent breach of fiduciary
duty, fraudulent and unfair business practices, unjust enrichment, and
conversion in the sale and operation of the various limited partnership
commodity pools. Similar purported class actions were also filed on September 18
and 20, 1996, in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, New York County,
and on November 14, 1996 in the Superior Court of the State of Delaware, New
Castle County, against the Dean Witter Parties and certain trading advisors on
behalf of all purchasers of interests in various limited partnership commodity
pools, including the Partnership, sold by DWR. A consolidated and amended
complaint in the action pending in the Supreme Court of the State of New York
was filed on August 13, 1997, alleging that the defendants committed fraud,
breach of fiduciary duty, and negligent misrepresentation in the sale and
operation of the various limited partnership commodity pools. On December 16,
1997, upon motion of the plaintiffs, the action pending in the Superior Court of
the State of Delaware was voluntarily dismissed without prejudice. The New York
Supreme Court dismissed the New York action in November 1998, but granted
plaintiffs leave to file an amended complaint, which they did in early December
1998. The defendants have filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint with
prejudice on February 1, 1999. The complaints
-5-
seek unspecified amounts of compensatory and punitive damages and other relief.
It is possible that additional similar actions may be filed and that, in the
course of these actions, other parties could be added as defendants. The Dean
Witter Parties believe that they and the Partnership have strong defenses to,
and they will vigorously contest, the actions. Although the ultimate outcome of
legal proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty, it is the opinion of
management of the Dean Witter Parties that the resolution of the actions will
not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition or the results of
operations of any of the Dean Witter Parties or the Partnership.
Item 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
None.
-6-
PART II
Item 5. MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT'S PARTNERSHIP UNITS AND
RELATED SECURITY HOLDER MATTERS
There is no established public trading market for the Units of Limited
Partnership Interest ("Units") in the Partnership. The number of holders of
Units at December 31, 1998 was approximately 5,114. No distributions have been
made by the Partnership since it commenced trading operations on November 1,
1990. Demeter has sole discretion to decide what distributions, if any, shall be
made to investors in the Partnership. No determination has yet been made as to
future distributions.
-7-
Item 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA (in dollars)
For the Years Ended December 31,
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1998 1997 1996 1995 1994
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Total Revenues
(including interest) 9,448,680 16,870,923 4,036,681 10,909,439 19,353,083
Net Income (Loss) 3,166,040 8,729,367 (5,408,768) (3,937,613) 5,193,417
Net Income (Loss)
Per Unit (Limited
& General Partners) 91.27 185.19 (74.86) (66.26) 91.72
Total Assets 65,687,386 73,774,146 81,320,352 102,412,462 120,022,299
Total Limited
Partners' Capital 64,144,919 70,564,013 78,452,540 98,628,520 115,956,558
Net Asset Value Per
Unit of Limited
Partnership Interest 1,783.35 1,692.08 1,506.89 1,581.75 1,648.01
-8-
Item 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Liquidity. Assets of the Partnership are deposited with DWR as
non-clearing broker and Carr as clearing broker in separate futures interest
trading accounts. Such assets are held in either non-interest bearing bank
accounts or in securities approved by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission
("CFTC") for investment of customer funds. The Partnership's assets held by DWR
and Carr may be used as margin solely for the Partnership's trading. Since the
Partnership's sole purpose is to trade in futures interests, it is expected that
the Partnership will continue to own such liquid assets for margin purposes.
The Partnership's investment in futures interests may, from time to
time, be illiquid. Most United States futures exchanges limit fluctuations in
certain futures interest prices during a single day by regulations referred to
as "daily price fluctuations limits" or "daily limits." Pursuant to such
regulations, during a single trading day no trades may be executed at prices
beyond the daily limit. If the price for a particular future interest has
increased or decreased by an amount equal to the daily limit, positions in such
futures interest can neither be taken nor liquidated unless traders are willing
to effect trades at or within the limit. Futures interests prices have
occasionally moved the daily limit for several consecutive days with little or
no trading.
-9-
Such market conditions could prevent the Partnership from promptly liquidating
its futures interests and result in restrictions on redemptions.
There is no limitation on daily price moves in trading forward contracts
on foreign currency. The markets for some world currencies have low trading
volume and are illiquid, which may prevent the Partnership from trading in
potentially profitable markets or from promptly liquidating unfavorable
positions, subjecting it to substantial losses. Either of these market
conditions could result in restrictions on redemptions.
Capital Resources. The Partnership does not have, nor does it expect to
have, any capital assets. Future redemptions of Units will affect the amount of
funds available for investment in futures interests in subsequent periods. Since
they are at the discretion of Limited Partners, it is not possible to estimate
the amount, and therefore, the impact of future redemptions.
Results of Operations. As of December 31, 1998, the Partnership's total
capital was $64,888,738, a decrease of $7,370,890 from the Partnership's total
capital of $72,259,628 at December 31, 1997. For the year ended December 31,
1998, the partnership generated net income of $3,166,040, and total redemptions
aggregated $10,536,930.
-10-
For the year ended December 31, 1998, the Partnership's total trading
revenues, including interest income, were $9,448,680. The Partnership's total
expenses for the year were $6,282,640, resulting in net income of $3,166,040.
The value of an individual unit in the Partnership increased from $1,692.08 at
December 31, 1997 to $1,783.35 at December 31, 1998.
As of December 31, 1997, the Partnership's total capital was
$72,259,628, a decrease of $7,702,955 from the Partnership's total capital of
$79,962,583 at December 31, 1996. For the year ended December 31, 1997, the
Partnership generated net income of $8,729,367 and total redemptions aggregated
$16,432,322.
For the year ended December 31, 1997, the Partnership's total trading
revenues including interest income were $16,870,923. The Partnership's total
expenses for the year were $8,141,556, resulting in net income of $8,729,367.
The value of an individual unit in the Partnership increased from $1,506.89 at
December 31, 1996 to $1,692.08 at December 31, 1997.
As of December 31, 1996, the Partnership's total capital was
$79,962,583, a decrease of $20,250,999 from the Partnership's total capital of
$100,213,582 at December 31, 1995. For the year ended
-11-
December 31, 1996, the Partnership incurred a net loss of $5,408,768 and total
redemptions aggregated $14,842,231.
For the year ended December 31, 1996, the Partnership's total trading
revenues including interest income were $4,036,681. The Partnership's total
expenses for the year were $9,445,449, resulting in a net loss of $5,408,768.
The value of an individual unit in the Partnership decreased from $1,581.75 at
December 31, 1995 to $1,506.89 at December 31, 1996.
The Partnership's overall performance record represents varied results
of trading in different futures interests markets. For a further description of
1998 trading results, refer to the letter to the Limited Partners in the
accompanying Annual Report to Limited Partners for the year ended December 31,
1998, incorporated by reference in this Form 10-K. The Partnership's gains and
losses are allocated among its partners for income tax purposes.
Credit Risk. In entering into futures and forward contracts, there is a
credit risk to the Partnership that the counterparty on a contract will not be
able to meet its obligations to the Partnership. The ultimate counterparty of
the Partnership for futures contracts traded in the United States and most
foreign exchanges on which the Partnership trades is the clearinghouse
associated with such exchange. In general, a clearinghouse is backed by the
membership of the exchange and will act
-12-
in the event of non-performance by one of its members or one of its member's
customers, and, as such, should significantly reduce this credit risk. For
example, a clearinghouse may cover a default by (i) drawing upon a defaulting
member's mandatory contributions and/or non-defaulting members' contributions to
a clearinghouse guarantee fund, established lines or letters of credit with
banks, and/or the clearinghouse's surplus capital and other available assets of
the exchange and clearinghouse, or (ii) assessing its members.
In cases where the Partnership trades on a foreign exchange where the
clearinghouse is not funded or guaranteed by the membership or where the
exchange is a "principals' market" in which performance is the responsibility of
the exchange member and not the exchange or a clearinghouse, or when the
Partnership enters into off-exchange-traded contracts with a counterparty, the
sole recourse of the Partnership will be the clearinghouse, the exchange member
or the off-exchange-traded contract counterparty, as the case may be. There can
be no assurance that a clearinghouse, exchange or other exchange member will
meet its obligations to the Partnership, and the Partnership is not indemnified
against a default by such parties from Demeter, MSDW or DWR.
Further, the law is unclear as to whether a commodity broker has any
obligation to protect its customers from loss in the event of an
-13-
exchange, clearinghouse or other exchange member default on trades effected for
the broker's customers. Any such obligation on the part of the broker appears
even less clear where the default occurs in a non-US jurisdiction.
Demeter deals with the credit risks of all the partnerships for which
it serves as general partner in several ways. First, it monitors the
Partnership's credit exposure to each exchange on a daily basis, calculating not
only the amount of margin required for it but also the amount of its unrealized
gains at each exchange, if any. The commodity brokers inform the Partnership, as
with all its customers, of its net margin requirements for all its existing open
positions, but do not break that net figure down, exchange by exchange. Demeter,
however, has installed a system which permits it to monitor the Partnership's
potential margin liability, exchange by exchange. Demeter is then able to
monitor the Partnership's potential net credit exposure to each exchange by
adding the unrealized trading gains on that exchange, if any, to the
Partnership's margin liability thereon.
Second, the Partnership's trading policies limit the amount of its net
assets that can be committed at any given time to futures contracts and require,
in addition, a certain minimum amount of diversification in the Partnership's
trading, usually over several different products. One of the aims of such
trading policies has been to reduce the credit
-14-
exposure of the Partnership to a single exchange and, historically, the
Partnership's exposure has typically amounted to only a small percentage of its
total net assets. On those relatively few occasions where a Partnership's credit
exposure may climb above that level, Demeter deals with the situation on a case
by case basis, carefully weighing whether the increased level of credit exposure
remains appropriate.
Third, Demeter has secured, with respect to Carr acting as the clearing
broker for the Partnership, a guarantee by Credit Agricole Indosuez, Carr's
parent, of the payment of the "net liquidating value" of the transactions
(futures and forward contracts) in the Partnership's account.
With respect to forward contract trading, the Partnership trades with
only those counterparties which Demeter, together with DWR, have determined to
be creditworthy. At the date of this filing, the Partnership deals only with
Carr as its counterparty on forward contracts. The guarantee by Carr's parent,
discussed above, covers these forward contracts.
See "Financial Instruments" under Notes to Financial Statements in the
Partnership's Annual Report to Limited Partners for the year ended December 31,
1998, incorporated by reference in this Form 10-K.
-15-
Year 2000 Problem. Commodity pools, like financial and business
organizations and individuals around the world, depend on the smooth functioning
of computer systems. Many computer systems in use today cannot recognize the
computer code for the year 2000, but revert to 1900 or some other date. This is
commonly known as the "Year 2000 Problem". The Partnership could be adversely
affected if computer systems used by it or any third party with whom it has a
material relationship do not properly process and calculate date-related
information and data concerning dates on or after January 1, 2000. Such a
failure could adversely affect the handling or determination of futures trades
and prices and other services.
MSDW began its planning for the Year 2000 Problem in 1995, and
currently has several hundred employees working on the matter. It has developed
its own Year 2000 compliance plan to deal with the problem and had the plan
approved by the company's executive management, Board of Directors, and
Information Technology Department. Demeter is coordinating with MSDW to address
the Year 2000 Problem with respect to Demeter's computer systems that affect the
Partnership. This includes hardware and software upgrades, systems consulting
and computer maintenance.
Beyond the challenge facing internal computer systems, the systems
failure of any of the third parties with whom the Partnership has a
-16-
material relationship - the futures exchanges and clearing organizations through
which it trades, Carr, or the Trading Manager - could result in a material
financial risk to the Partnership. All U.S. futures exchanges are subject to
monitoring by the CFTC of their Year 2000 preparedness and the major foreign
futures exchanges are also expected to be subject to market-wide testing of
their Year 2000 compliance during 1999. Demeter intends to monitor the progress
of Carr and the Trading Manager throughout 1999 in their Year 2000 compliance
and, where applicable, to test its external interface with Carr and the Trading
Manager.
A worst case scenario would be one in which trading of contracts on
behalf of the Partnership becomes impossible as a result of the Year 2000
Problem encountered by any third parties. A less catastrophic but more likely
scenario would be one in which trading opportunities diminish as a result of
technical problems resulting in illiquidity and fewer opportunities to make
profitable trades. MSDW has begun developing various "contingency plans" in the
event that the systems of such third parties fail. Demeter intends to consult
closely with MSDW in implementing those plans. Despite the best efforts of both
Demeter and MSDW, however, it is possible that these steps will not be
sufficient to avoid any adverse impact to the Partnership.
-17-
Risks Associated With the Euro. On January 1, 1999, eleven countries in
the European Union established fixed conversion rates on their existing
sovereign currencies and converted to a common single currency (the "euro").
During a three-year transition period, the sovereign currencies will continue to
exist but only as a fixed denomination of the euro. Conversion to the euro
prevents the Trading Manager from trading in certain currencies and thereby
limits its ability to take advantage of potential market opportunities that
might otherwise have existed had separate currencies been available to trade.
This could adversely affect the performance results of the partnership.
Item 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Introduction
The Partnership is a commodity pool engaged primarily in the
speculative trading of futures interests. The market sensitive instruments held
by the Partnership are acquired solely for speculative trading purposes and, as
a result, all or substantially all of the Partnership's assets are subject to
the risk of trading loss. Unlike an operating company, the risk of market
sensitive instruments is integral, not incidental, to the Partnership's primary
business activities.
The futures interests traded by the Partnership involve varying degrees
of related market risk. Such market risk is often dependent upon
-18-
changes in the level or volatility of interest rates, exchange rates, and/or
market values of financial instruments and commodities. Fluctuations in related
market risk based upon the aforementioned factors result in frequent changes in
the fair value of the Partnership's open positions, and, consequently, in its
earnings and cash flow.
The Partnership's total market risk is influenced by a wide variety of
factors, including the diversification effects among the Partnership's existing
open positions, the volatility present within the market(s) and the liquidity of
the market(s). At varying times, each of these factors may act to exacerbate or
mute the market risk associated with the Partnership.
The Partnership's past performance is not necessarily indicative of its
future results. Any attempt at quantifying the Partnership's market risk must be
qualified by the inherent uncertainty of its speculative trading, which may
cause future losses and volatility (i.e. "risk of ruin") far in excess of the
Partnership's experience to date and/or any reasonable expectation premised upon
historical changes in the fair value of its market sensitive instruments.
-19-
Quantifying the Partnership's Trading Value at Risk
The following quantitative disclosures regarding the Partnership's
market risk exposures contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of
the safe harbor from civil liability provided for such statements by the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (set forth in Section 27A of the
Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).
All quantitative disclosures in this section are deemed to be forward-looking
statements for purposes of the safe harbor, except for statements of historical
fact.
The Partnership accounts for open positions on the basis of
mark-to-market accounting principles. As such, any loss in the fair value of the
Partnership's open positions is directly reflected in the Partnership's
earnings, whether realized or unrealized, and the Partnership's cash flow, as
profits and losses on open positions of exchange traded futures interests are
settled daily through variation margin.
The Partnership's risk exposure in the various market sectors traded by
the Trading Manager is estimated below in terms of Value at Risk ("VaR"). The
VaR model employed by the Partnership incorporates numerous variables that could
impact the fair value of the Partnership's trading
-20-
portfolio. The Partnership estimates VaR using a model based on historical
simulation with a confidence level of 99%. Historical simulation involves
constructing a distribution of hypothetical daily changes in trading portfolio
value. The VaR model generally takes into account linear exposures to price and
interest rate risk. Market risks that are incorporated in the VaR model include
equity and commodity prices, interest rates, foreign exchange rates, as well as
correlation that exists among these variables. The hypothetical changes in
portfolio value are based on daily observed percentage changes in key market
indices or other market factors ("market risk factors") to which the portfolio
is sensitive. In the case of the Partnership's VaR, the historical observation
period is approximately four years. The Partnership's one-day 99% VaR
corresponds to the negative change in portfolio value that, based on observed
market risk factor moves, would have been exceeded once in 100 trading days.
VaR models such as the Partnership's are continually evolving as
trading portfolios become more diverse and modeling techniques and systems
capabilities improve. It must also be noted that the VaR model is used to
quantify market risk for historic reporting purposes only and is not utilized by
either Demeter or the Trading Manager in its daily risk management activities.
-21-
The Partnership's Value at Risk in Different Market Sectors
The following table indicates the VaR associated with the Partnership's
open positions as a percentage of total net assets by market category as of
December 31, 1998. As of December 31, 1998, the Partnership's total
capitalization was approximately $65 million.
Primary Market December 31, 1998
Risk Category Value at Risk
------------- -------------
Interest Rate (.54)%
Currency (.95)
Equity (.22)
Commodity (1.04)
Aggregate Value at Risk (1.37)%
Aggregate value at risk represents the aggregate VaR of the
Partnership's open positions and not the sum of the VaR of the individual
categories listed above. Aggregate VaR will be lower as it takes into account
correlation among different positions and categories.
The table above represents the VaR of the Partnership's open positions
at December 31, 1998 only and is not necessarily representative of either the
historic or future risk of an investment in the Partnership.
-22-
As the Partnership's sole business is the speculative trading of
primarily futures interests, the composition of its portfolio of open positions
can change significantly over any given time period or even within a single
trading day. Such changes in open positions could materially impact market risk
as measured by VaR either positively or negatively.
The table below supplements the year end VaR by presenting the
Partnership's high, low and average VaR as a percentage of total net assets for
the four quarterly reporting periods from January 1, 1998 through December 31,
1998.
Primary Market Risk Category High Low Average
- ---------------------------- ---- --- -------
Interest Rate (1.76)% (.54)% (1.17)%
Currency (2.40) (.95) (1.75)
Equity (.57) (.22) (.36)
Commodity (1.07) (.64) (.88)
Aggregate Value at Risk (3.32)% (1.37)% (2.38)%
-23-
Limitations on Value at Risk as an Assessment of Market Risk
The face value of the market sector instruments held by the Partnership
is typically many times the applicable margin requirements, as such margin
requirements generally range between 2% and 15% of contract face value.
Additionally, due to the use of leverage, the face value of the market sector
instruments held by the Partnership is typically many times the total
capitalization of the Partnership. The financial magnitude of the Partnership's
open positions thus creates a "risk of ruin" not typically found in other
investment vehicles. Due to the relative size of the positions held, certain
market conditions may cause the Partnership to incur losses greatly in excess of
VaR within a short period of time. The foregoing VaR tables, as well as the past
performance of the Partnership, gives no indication of such "risk of ruin".
In addition, VaR risk measures should be interpreted in light of the
methodology's limitations, which include the following: past changes in market
risk factors will not always yield accurate predictions of the distributions and
correlations of future market movements; changes in portfolio value in response
to market movements may differ from the responses implicit in a VaR model;
published VaR results reflect past
-24-
trading positions while future risk depends on future positions; VaR using a
one-day time horizon does not fully capture the market risk of positions that
cannot be liquidated or hedged within one day; and the historical market risk
factor data used for VaR estimation may provide only limited insight into losses
that could be incurred under certain unusual market movements.
The foregoing VaR tables present the results of the Partnership's VaR
for each of the Partnership's market risk exposures and on an aggregate basis at
December 31, 1998 and for the end of quarter periods during calendar 1998. Since
VaR is based on historical data, VaR should not be viewed as predictive of the
Partnership's future financial performance or its ability to manage and monitor
risk and there can be no assurance that the Partnership's actual losses on a
particular day will not exceed the VaR amounts indicated below or that such
losses will not occur more than 1 in 100 trading days.
Non-Trading Risk
The Partnership has non-trading market risk on its foreign cash
balances not needed for margin. However, such balances, as well as any market
risk they may represent, are immaterial. The Partnership also maintains a
substantial portion (approximately 89%) of its available assets in
-25-
cash at DWR. A decline in short-term interest rates will result in a decline in
the Partnership's cash management income. This cash flow risk is not considered
material. Materiality, as used throughout this section, is based on an
assessment of reasonably possible market movements and the potential losses
caused by such movements, taking into account the leverage, optionality and
multiplier features of the Partnership's market sensitive instruments.
Qualitative Disclosures Regarding Primary Trading Risk Exposures
The following qualitative disclosures regarding the Partnership's
market risk exposures - except for (i) those disclosures that are statements of
historical fact and (ii) the descriptions of how the Partnership manages its
primary market risk exposures - constitute forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act. The Partnership's primary market risk exposures as well as the
strategies used and to be used by Demeter and the Trading Manager for managing
such exposures are subject to numerous uncertainties, contingencies and risks,
any one of which could cause the actual results of the Partnership's risk
controls to differ materially from the objectives of such strategies. Government
-26-
interventions, defaults and expropriations, illiquid markets, the emergence of
dominant fundamental factors, political upheavals, changes in historical price
relationships, an influx of new market participants, increased regulation and
many other factors could result in material losses as well as in material
changes to the risk exposures and the risk management strategies of the
Partnership. Investors must be prepared to lose all or substantially all of
their investment in the Partnership.
The following were the primary trading risk exposures of the
Partnership as of December 31, 1998, by market sector. It may be anticipated
however, that these market exposures will vary materially over time.
Currency. The primary exposure in the Partnership is in the currency
complex. The Partnership's currency exposure is to exchange rate fluctuations,
primarily fluctuations that disrupt the historical pricing relationships between
different currencies and currency pairs. Interest rate changes as well as
political and general economic conditions influence these fluctuations. The
Partnership trades in a large number of currencies, including cross-rates i.e.,
positions between two currencies other than the U.S. dollar. However, the
Partnership's major exposures have typically been in the dollar/Swedish krone,
dollar/yen, and dollar/Swiss franc positions. Demeter does not
-27-
anticipate that the risk profile of the Partnership's currency sector will
change significantly in the future, although it is difficult at this point to
predict the effect of the introduction of the Euro on the Trading Manager's
currency trading strategies. The currency trading Value at Risk figure includes
foreign margin amounts converted into U.S. dollars with an incremental
adjustment to reflect the exchange rate risk inherent to the dollar-based
Partnership in expressing Value at Risk in a functional currency other than
dollars.
Interest Rate. The second largest exposure is in the interest rate
sector. Interest rate movements directly affect the price of the sovereign bond
futures positions held by the Partnership and indirectly the value of its stock
index and currency positions. Interest rate movements in one country as well as
relative interest rate movements between countries materially impact the
Partnership's profitability. The Partnership's primary interest rate exposure on
its' futures is to interest rate fluctuations in the United States, Australia
and the other G-7 countries. Demeter anticipates that G-7 and Australian
interest rates will remain the primary market exposure of the Partnership for
the foreseeable future. The changes in interest rates, which have the most
effect on the Partnership are changes in long-term and medium-term instruments.
Consequently, even a material change in short-term rates would have little
effect on the Partnership's futures positions were
-28-
the medium to long term rates to remain steady.
Equity. The Partnership's equity exposure is limited to price risk in
the S&P 500 and the Nikkei (Japan). The stock index futures traded by the
Partnership are by law limited to futures on broadly based indices. As of
December 31, 1998, the Partnership's only equity exposure was in the S&P 500.
Demeter anticipates little, if any, trading in non-G-7 stock indices. The
Partnership is primarily exposed to the risk of adverse price trends or static
markets in the major U.S. and Japanese indices. (Static markets would not cause
major market changes but would make it difficult for the Partnership to avoid
being "whipsawed" into numerous small losses).
Commodity.
Metals. While the Partnership's primary metals market exposure was to
fluctuations in base metals, exposure in the precious metals impacted the
portfolio as well. The fund aims to equally weight market exposure in the metals
as much as possible, however base metals, during period of volatility, will
affect performance more dramatically than gold and silver markets. Demeter
anticipates that base metals will remain the primary metals market exposure of
the Partnership.
Energy. On December 31, 1998 the Partnership's energy exposure
-29-
was shared by futures contracts in the oil and natural gas markets. Price
movements in these markets result from political developments in the Middle
East, weather patterns, and other economic fundamentals. While oil prices are
currently depressed and have shown little volatility as they have decreased
substantially in 1998, they can be volatile. Significant profits and losses have
been and are expected to continue to be experienced in this market. Natural gas,
also a primary energy market exposure, has exhibited more volatility than the
oil markets on an intra day and daily basis. It is expected to continue this
choppy pattern.
Soft Commodities. In 1998 the Partnership had a reasonable amount of
exposure in the markets that comprise these sectors. Within these complexes most
of the exposure was in the cocoa and cotton markets. Overall, however, the
Partnership's exposure in these complexes is generally less than the exposure in
the currency and interest rate sectors. Price movements in these markets are
affected by supply demand inequalities, severe weather disruptions, and market
expectations.
Qualitative Disclosures Regarding Non-Trading Risk Exposure
The following was the only non-trading risk exposure of the Partnership
as of December 31, 1998:
-30-
Foreign Currency Balances. The Partnership's primary foreign currency
balances are in Japanese yen, British pounds, Deutsche marks and Australian
dollars. The Partnership controls the non-trading risk of these balances by
regularly converting these balances back into dollars upon liquidation of the
respective position.
Qualitative Disclosures Regarding Means of Managing Risk Exposure
The means by which the Partnership and the Trading Manager, severally,
attempt to manage the risk of the Partnership's open positions are essentially
the same in all market categories traded. Demeter attempts to manage the
Partnership's market exposure by (i) diversifying the Partnership's assets among
different market sectors and trading approaches, and (ii), monitoring the
performance of the Trading Manager on a daily basis. In addition, the Trading
Manager establishes diversification guidelines, often set in terms of the
maximum margin to be committed to positions in any one market sector or market
sensitive instrument.
Demeter monitors and controls the risk of the Partnership's non-trading
instruments, cash, which is the only Partnership investment directed by Demeter,
rather than the Trading Manager.
-31-
Item 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The information required by this Item appears in the Annual Report to
Limited Partners for the year ended December 31, 1998 and is incorporated by
reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Item 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON
ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
-32-
PART III
Item 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
There are no directors or executive officers of the Partnership. The
Partnership is managed by Demeter.
Directors and Officers of the General Partner
The directors and officers of Demeter are as follows:
Mark J. Hawley, age 55, is Chairman of the Board and a Director of
Demeter. Mr. Hawley is also Chairman of the Board and a Director of DWFCM. Mr.
Hawley previously served as President of Demeter throughout 1998. Mr. Hawley
joined DWR in February 1989 as Senior Vice President and is currently the
Executive Vice President and Director of DWR's Product Management for Individual
Asset Management. In this capacity, Mr. Hawley is responsible for directing the
activities of the firm's Managed Futures, Insurance, and Unit Investment Trust
Business. From 1978 to 1989, Mr. Hawley was a member of the senior management
team at Heinold Asset Management, Inc., a CPO, and was responsible for a variety
of projects in public futures funds. From 1972 to 1978, Mr. Hawley was a Vice
President in charge of institutional block trading for the Mid-West at Kuhn Loeb
& Company.
-33-
Joseph G. Siniscalchi, age 53, is a Director of Demeter. Mr.
Siniscalchi joined DWR in July 1984 as a First Vice President, Director of
General Accounting and served as a Senior Vice President and Controller for
DWR's Securities Division through 1997. He is currently Executive Vice President
and Director of the Operations Division of DWR. From February 1980 to July 1984,
Mr. Siniscalchi was Director of Internal Audit at Lehman Brothers Kuhn Loeb,
Inc.
Edward C. Oelsner, III, age 56, is a Director of Demeter. Mr.
Oelsner is currently an Executive Vice President and head of the Product
Development Group at Dean Witter InterCapital Inc., an affiliate of DWR. Mr.
Oelsner joined DWR in 1981 as a Managing Director in DWR's Investment Banking
Department specializing in coverage of regulated industries and, subsequently,
served as head of the DWR Retail Products Group. Prior to joining DWR, Mr.
Oelsner held positions at The First Boston Corporation as a member of the
Research and Investment Banking Departments from 1967 to 1981. Mr. Oelsner
received his M.B.A. in Finance from the Columbia University Graduate School of
Business in 1966 and an A.B. in Politics from Princeton University in 1964.
Robert E. Murray, age 38, is President and a Director of Demeter.
Mr. Murray is also President and a Director of DWFCM. Effective as of the
close of business December 31, 1998, Mr. Murray replaced Mr. Hawley as
President of Demeter. Mr. Murray is also a Senior Vice President of
-34-
DWR's Managed Futures Department and is the Senior Administrative Officer of
DWFCM. Mr. Murray began his career at DWR in 1984 and is currently the
Director of the Managed Futures Department. In this capacity, Mr. Murray is
responsible for overseeing all aspects of the firm's Managed Futures
Department. Mr. Murray currently serves as a Director of the Managed Funds
Association, an industry association for investment professionals in futures,
hedge funds and other alternative investments. Mr. Murray graduated from
Geneseo State University in May 1983 with a B.A. degree in Finance.
Lewis A. Raibley, III, age 36, is Vice President, Chief Financial
Officer and a Director of Demeter. Effective as of the close of business on
December 31, 1998, Mr. Raibley was elected to Demeter's Board of Directors. Mr.
Raibley is currently Senior Vice President and Controller in the Individual
Asset Management Group of MSDW. From July 1997 to May 1998, Mr. Raibley served
as Senior Vice President and Director in the Internal Reporting Department of
MSDW and prior to that, from 1992 to 1997, he served as Senior Vice President
and Director in the Financial Reporting and Policy Division of Dean Witter
Discover & Co. He has been with MSDW and its affiliates since June 1986.
Mitchell M. Merin, age 45, became a Director of Demeter on March 17,
1999. Mr. Merin was appointed the Chief Operating Officer of Asset
-35-
Management for MSDW in December 1998 and the President and Chief Executive
Officer of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Advisors in February 1998. He has been an
Executive Vice President of DWR since 1990, during which time he has been
director of DWR's Taxable Fixed Income and Futures divisions, managing director
in Corporate Finance and corporate treasurer. Mr. Merin received his Bachelor's
degree from Trinity College in Connecticut and his M.B.A. degree in finance and
accounting from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management of Northwestern
University in 1977.
Richard A. Beech, age 47, became a Director of Demeter on March 17,
1999. Mr. Beech has been associated with the futures industry for over 23 years.
He has been at DWR since August 1984 where he is presently Senior Vice President
and head of Branch Futures. Mr. Beech began his career at the Chicago Mercantile
Exchange, where he became the Chief Agricultural Economist doing market
analysis, marketing and compliance. Prior to joining DWR, Mr. Beech also had
worked at two investment banking firms in Operations, Research, Managed Futures
and Sales Management.
Ray Harris, age 42, became a Director of Demeter on March 17, 1999.
Mr. Harris is currently Senior Vice President, Planning and Administration for
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Asset Management and has
-36-
worked at DWR or its affiliates since July 1982, serving in both financial and
administrative capacities. From August 1994 to January 1999, he worked in two
separate DWR affiliates, Discover Financial Services and Novus Financial
Corp., culminating as Senior Vice President. Mr. Harris received his B.A.
degree from Boston College and his M.B.A. in finance from the University of
Chicago.
Richard M. DeMartini, age 46, previously served as the Chairman of the
Board and as a Director of Demeter throughout 1998. Effective as of the close of
business on December 31, 1998, Mr. DeMartini resigned as the Chairman of the
Board and as a Director of Demeter due to changes in his responsibilities within
MSDW.
Lawrence Volpe, age 51, served as a Director to Demeter throughout
1998. Effective as of the close of business on December 31, 1998, Mr. Volpe
resigned as a Director of Demeter.
Patti L. Behnke, age 38, served as Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer of Demeter through May 1998. Effective June 1, 1998, Ms. Behnke resigned
as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Demeter in order to take on new
responsibilities as Operations Officer - Controllers Division for MSDW, and was
replaced by Mr. Raibley.
-37-
Item 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The Partnership has no directors and executive officers. As a limited
partnership, the business of the Partnership is managed by Demeter, which is
responsible for the administration of the business affairs of the Partnership
but receives no compensation for such services.
Item 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
(a) Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners - As of December
31, 1998 there were no persons known to be beneficial owners of more than 5
percent of the Units.
(b) Security Ownership of Management - At December 31, 1998, Demeter
owned 417.091 Units of General Partnership Interest representing a 1.15 percent
interest in the Partnership.
(c) Changes in Control - None
Item 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Refer to Note 2 - "Related Party Transactions" of "Notes to Financial
Statements", in the accompanying Annual Report to Limited Partners, for the year
ended December 31, 1998, incorporated by reference in this Form 10-K. In its
capacity as the Partnership's retail commodity
-38-
broker, DWR received commodity brokerage commissions (paid and accrued by the
Partnership) of $3,886,833 for the year ended December 31, 1998. In its capacity
as the Partnership's Trading Manager, DWFCM received management fees of
$2,006,537 for the year ended December 31, 1998.
-39-
PART IV
Item 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON
FORM 8-K
(a) 1. Listing of Financial Statements
The following financial statements and report of independent auditors, all
appearing in the accompanying Annual Report to Limited Partners, for the year
ended December 31, 1998 are incorporated by reference in this Form 10-K:
- Report of Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors, for the
years ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996.
- Statements of Financial Condition as of December
31, 1998 and 1997.
- Statements of Operations, Changes in Partners' Capital, and
Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and
1996.
- Notes to Financial Statements.
With the exception of the aforementioned information and the information
incorporated in Items 7, 8 and 13, the Annual Report to Limited Partners for the
year ended December 31, 1998 is not deemed to be filed with this report.
2. Listing of Financial Statement Schedules
No financial statement schedules are required to be filed with this
report.
(b) Reports on Form 8-K
No reports on Form 8-K have been filed by the Partnership during the
last quarter of the period covered by this report.
(c) Exhibits
Refer to Exhibit Index on Page E-1.
-40-
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
DEAN WITTER DIVERSIFIED FUTURES FUND III L.P.
(Registrant)
BY: Demeter Management Corporation,
General Partner
March 29, 1999 BY: /s/ Robert E. Murray
----------------------------------------
Robert E. Murray, Director and
President
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the
registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Demeter Management Corporation.
BY: /s/ Mark J. Hawley March 29, 1999
-------------------------------------------
Mark J. Hawley, Director
and Chairman of the Board
/s/ Robert E. Murray March 29, 1999
-------------------------------------------
Robert E. Murray, Director and
President
/s/ Joseph G. Siniscalchi March 29, 1999
-------------------------------------------
Joseph G. Siniscalchi, Director
/s/ Edward C. Oelsner III March 29, 1999
-------------------------------------------
Edward C. Oelsner III, Director
/s/ Mitchell M. Merin March 29, 1999
-------------------------------------------
Mitchell M. Merin, Director
/s/ Richard A. Beech March 29, 1999
-------------------------------------------
Richard A. Beech, Director
/s/ Ray Harris March 29, 1999
-------------------------------------------
Ray Harris, Director
/s/ Lewis A. Raibley, III March 29, 1999
-------------------------------------------
Lewis A. Raibley, III, Director, Chief
Financial Officer and Principal
Accounting Officer
-41-
EXHIBIT INDEX
ITEM METHOD OF FILING
---- ----------------
-3.01 Limited Partnership Agreement of
the Partnership, dated as of
July 12, 1990. (1)
-3.01 Form of Amendment No. 1 to the
Limited Partnership Agreement
of the Partnership. (2)
- -10.01 Management Agreement among the
Partnership, Demeter Management
Corporation and Dean Witter Futures (3)
& Currency Management Inc. dated
as of July 12, 1990.
- -10.02 Form of Amendment No. 1 to the
Management Agreement. (4)
- -10.03 Amended and Restated Customer Agreement
dated as of December 1, 1997, between the
Partnership and Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. (5)
- -10.04 Customer Agreement, dated as of December 1,
1997, among the Partnership, Carr Futures,
Inc., and Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. (5)
- -10.05 International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement,
dated as of August 1, 1997, between the
Partnership and Carr Futures, Inc. (5)
- -13. Annual Report to Limited Partners for the year ended
December 31, 1998. (5)
(1) Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.01 and Exhibit 3.02 of the
Partnership's Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 33-34989,
filed on May 21, 1990.
(2) Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.01(a) of the Partnership's
Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 33-47797, filed on May
11, 1992.
(3) Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.02 of the Partnership's
Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 33-34989, filed on May
21, 1990.
(4) Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.02(a) of the Partnership's
Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 33-47797, filed on May
11, 1992.
(5) Filed herewith.
-E1-