<PAGE>
AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON DECEMBER 6, 1995
REGISTRATION NOS.: 33-63685
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
[X]
PRE-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1
[X]
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO.
[ ]
AND/OR
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY
ACT OF 1940
[X]
AMENDMENT NO. 1
[X]
TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST
(A MASSACHUSETTS BUSINESS TRUST)
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN CHARTER)
TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10048
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICE)
REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE: (212) 392-1600
SHELDON CURTIS, ESQ.
TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10048
(NAME AND ADDRESS OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
Copy to:
DAVID M. BUTOWSKY, ESQ.
GORDON ALTMAN BUTOWSKY
WEITZEN SHALOV & WEIN
114 WEST 47TH STREET
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10036
APPROXIMATE DATE OF PROPOSED PUBLIC OFFERING: As soon as practicable after
this effective date of this amendment.
THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT
SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS
REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH
SECTION 8(A) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING
PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A), MAY DETERMINE.
<PAGE>
TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST
CROSS-REFERENCE SHEET
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FORM N-1A
PART A
ITEM CAPTION PROSPECTUS
- -------------- -------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
1. Cover Page
2. Summary of Fund Expenses; Prospectus Summary
3. Financial Highlights; Performance Information
4. Investment Objective and Policies; The Fund and its
Management; Cover Page; Investment Restrictions;
Prospectus Summary
5. The Fund and Its Management; Back Cover; Investment
Objective and Policies
6. Dividends, Distributions and Taxes; Additional
Information
7. Underwriting; Purchase of Fund Shares; Shareholder
Services; Repurchases and Redemptions
8. Repurchases and Redemptions; Shareholder Services
9. Not Applicable
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PART B
ITEM STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- -------------- ------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
10. Cover Page
11. Table of Contents
12. The Fund and Its Management
13. Investment Practices and Policies; Investment
Restrictions; Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage
14. The Fund and Its Management; Trustees and Officers
15. Trustees and Officers
16. The Fund and Its Management; Custodian and Transfer
Agent; Independent Accountants
17. Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage
18. Description of Shares
19. Repurchases and Redemptions; Shareholder Services
20. Dividends, Distributions and Taxes
21. The Distributor
22. Performance Information
23. Financial Statements
</TABLE>
PART C
Information required to be included in Part C is set forth under the
appropriate item, so numbered, in Part C of this Registration Statement.
<PAGE>
TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST
PROSPECTUS --, 1996
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust (the "Fund") is an open- end, diversified
management investment company, whose investment objective is long-term
capital appreciation. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by
investing primarily in equity securities issued by medium-sized companies
whose market capitalizations, at the time of acquisition, are in the $300
million to $2 billion range and that, in the opinion of the Fund's Adviser,
exhibit superior earnings growth prospects and attractive stock market
valuations. See "Investment Objective and Policies."
Initial Offering--Shares are being offered in an underwriting by Dean Witter
Distributors Inc. at $10.00 per share with no underwriting commission, with
all proceeds going to the Fund. All expenses in connection with the
organization of the Fund and this offering will be paid by Dean Witter
InterCapital Inc. and the Underwriter except for a maximum of $205,000 of
organizational expenses to be reimbursed by the Fund. The initial offering
will run from approximately January 25, 1996 through February 22, 1996.
Continuous Offering--A continuous offering will commence approximately two
weeks after the closing date (anticipated for February 27, 1996) of the
initial offering. Shares of the Fund will be priced at the net asset value
per share next determined following receipt of an order without imposition of
a sales charge.
Repurchases and/or redemptions of shares are subject in most cases to a
contingent deferred sales charge, scaled down from 5% to 1% of the amount
redeemed, if made within six years of purchase, which charge will be paid to
the Fund's Distributor, Dean Witter Distributors Inc. See "Repurchases and
Redemptions--Contingent Deferred Sales Charge." In addition, the Fund pays
the Distributor a Rule 12b-1 distribution fee pursuant to a Plan of
Distribution at the annual rate of 1% of the lesser of the (i) average daily
aggregate net sales or (ii) average daily net assets of the Fund. See
"Purchase of Fund Shares--Plan of Distribution."
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Prospectus Summary .................................................... 2
Summary of Fund Expenses .............................................. 3
The Fund and its Management ........................................... 4
Investment Objective and Policies ..................................... 4
Risk Considerations and Investment Practices .......................... 5
Investment Restrictions ............................................... 8
Underwriting .......................................................... 9
Purchase of Fund Shares--Continuous Offering .......................... 9
Shareholder Services .................................................. 11
Repurchases and Redemptions ........................................... 12
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes .................................... 14
Performance Information ............................................... 14
Additional Information ................................................ 14
This Prospectus sets forth concisely the information you should know before
investing in the Fund. It should be read and retained for future reference.
Additional information about the Fund is contained in the Statement of
Additional Information, dated , 1996, which has been filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, and which is available at no charge upon
request of the Fund at the address or telephone numbers listed on this page.
The Statement of Additional Information is incorporated herein by reference.
Shares of the Fund are not deposits or obligations of, or guaranteed or
endorsed by, any bank, and the shares are not federally insured by the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board, or any
other agency.
TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
(212) 392-2550 or (800) 869-NEWS
Dean Witter Distributors Inc.
Distributor
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY
IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
The The Fund is organized as a Trust, commonly known as a Massachusetts business
Fund trust, and is an open-end, diversified management investment company investing
primarily in equity securities issued by medium-sized companies whose market
capitalizations, at the time of acquisition, are in the $300 million to $2
billion range and that, in the opinion of the Adviser exhibit superior earnings
growth prospects and attractive stock market valuations.
- --------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Initial Shares of beneficial interest with $.01 par value are being offered in an
Offering Underwriting by Dean Witter Distributors Inc. at $10.00 per share with no
underwriting discount or commission. The minimum purchase is 100 shares
($1,000). The initial offering will run approximately from January 25, 1996
through February 22, 1996. The closing will take place on February 27, 1996
or such other date as may be agreed upon by Dean Witter Distributors Inc.
and the Fund (the "Closing Date"). Shares will not be issued and dividends
will not be declared by the Fund until after the Closing Date. If any orders
received during the initial offering period are accompanied by payment, such
payment will be returned unless an accompanying request for investment in
a Dean Witter money market fund is received at the time the payment is made.
Investors should request and read the money market fund prospectus prior
to investing in the money market fund. Any purchase order may be cancelled
at any time prior to the Closing Date (see page 9).
- --------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Continuous A continuous offering will commence within approximately two weeks after
Offering completion of the initial offering. During the continuous offering, the minimum
initial investment will be $1,000 and the minimum subsequent investment will
be $100 (see page 9).
- --------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment The investment objective of the Fund is long-term capital appreciation.
Objective
- --------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Manager Dean Witter Services Company Inc. (the "Manager"), a wholly-owned subsidiary
of Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. ("InterCapital"), is the Fund's manager.
The Manager also serves as manager to eleven other investment companies advised
by TCW Funds Management, Inc. (the "TCW/DW Funds"). The Manager and InterCapital
serve in various investment management, advisory, management and
administrative capacities to a total of ninety-four investment companies
and other portfolios with assets of approximately $77.5 billion at December
31, 1995 (see page 4).
- --------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Adviser TCW Funds Management, Inc. (the "Adviser") is the Fund's investment adviser.
In addition to the Fund, the Adviser serves as investment adviser to eleven
other TCW/DW Funds. As of December 31, 1995, the Adviser and its affiliates
had approximately $52 billion under management or committed to management
in various fiduciary or advisory capacities, primarily to institutional
investors (see page 4).
- --------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Management The Manager receives a monthly fee at the annual rate of 0.60% of daily net
and Advisory assets. The Adviser receives a monthly fee at an annual rate of 0.40% of
Fees daily net assets (see page 4).
- --------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Dividends Income dividends and capital gains, if any, will be distributed no less than
annually. Dividends and capital gains distributions are automatically
reinvested in additional shares at net asset value unless the shareholder
elects to receive cash (see page 14).
- --------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Distributor Dean Witter Distributors Inc. (the "Distributor"). The Distributor receives
from the Fund a distribution fee accrued daily and payable monthly at the
rate of 1.0% per annum of the lesser of (i) the average daily aggregate net
sales or (ii) the Fund's average daily net assets. This fee compensates the
Distributor for services provided in distributing shares of the Fund and
for sales-related expenses. The Distributor also receives the proceeds of
any contingent deferred sales charges (see page 9).
- --------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Redemption-- Shares are redeemable by the shareholder at net asset value. An account may
Contingent be involuntarily redeemed if the total value of the account is less than
Deferred $100. Although no commission or sales load is imposed upon the purchase of
Sales shares, a contingent deferred sales charge (scaled down from 5% to 1%) is
Charge imposed on any redemption of shares if after such redemption the aggregate
current value of an account with the Fund falls below the aggregate amount
of the investor's purchase payments made during the six years preceding the
redemption. However, there is no charge imposed on redemption of shares purchased
through reinvestment of dividends or distributions (see page 12).
- --------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Risk The net asset value of the Fund's shares will fluctuate with changes in the
Considerations market value of the Fund's portfolio securities. The market value of the
Fund's portfolio securities will increase or decrease due to a variety of
economic, market or political factors which cannot be predicted. The Fund
is intended for long-term investors who can accept the risks involved in
seeking long-term capital appreciation through the investment in securities
of medium-sized companies whose equity capitalizations are in the $300 million
to $2 billion range which involve greater risk of volatility in the Fund's
net asset value than is associated with the investment in larger, more
established companies. The Fund may invest in foreign securities and may
purchase securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or "when, as and if
issued" basis, which may involve certain special risks. An investment in
shares of the Fund should not be considered a complete investment program
and is not appropriate for all investors. Investors should carefully consider
their ability to assume these risks and the risks outlined under the heading
"Risk Considerations and Investment Practices," (p. 6) before making an
investment in the Fund.
- --------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
The above is qualified in its entirety by the detailed information appearing
elsewhere in this Prospectus
and in the Statement of Additional Information.
2
<PAGE>
SUMMARY OF FUND EXPENSES
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following table illustrates all expenses and fees that a shareholder
of the Fund will incur.
SHAREHOLDER TRANSACTION EXPENSES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Purchases .............................................None
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Reinvested Dividends .................................. None
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge
(as a percentage of the lesser of original purchase price or redemption proceeds) .. 5.0%
</TABLE>
A contingent deferred sales charge is imposed at the following
declining rates:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR SINCE PURCHASE PAYMENT MADE PERCENTAGE
--------------
<S> <C>
First ............................... 5.0%
Second .............................. 4.0%
Third ............................... 3.0%
Fourth .............................. 2.0%
Fifth ............................... 2.0%
Sixth ............................... 1.0%
Seventh and thereafter .............. None
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
Redemption Fees ..........................................................None
Exchange Fee ............................................................. None
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (AS A PERCENTAGE OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
Management and Advisory Fees+ ............................................ 1.00%
12b-1 Fees*+ ............................................................. 1.00%
Other Expenses+ .......................................................... 0.32%
Total Fund Operating Expenses**+ ......................................... 2.32%
<FN>
- ------------
* The 12b-1 fee is accrued daily and payable monthly, at an annual rate
of 1.00% of the lesser of: (a) the average daily aggregate gross
sales of the Fund's shares since inception (not including
reinvestment of dividends or distributions), less the average daily
aggregate net asset value of the Fund's shares redeemed since the
Fund's inception upon which a contingent deferred sales charge has
been imposed or waived, or (b) the Fund's daily net assets. A portion
of the 12b-1 fee equal to 0.25% of the Fund's average daily net
assets is characterized as a service fee within the meaning of
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") guidelines
(see "Purchase of Fund Shares").
** "Total Fund Operating Expenses," as shown above, is based upon the
sum of the 12b-1 Fees, Management and Advisory Fees and estimated
"Other Expenses," which may be incurred by the Fund for the fiscal
period ending May 31, 1996.
+ InterCapital has undertaken to assume all operating expenses (except
for any 12b-1 fee, foreign taxes withheld and/or brokerage fees) and
the Manager has agreed to waive the compensation provided for in its
Management Agreement and the Adviser has undertaken to waive the
compensation provided for in its Advisory Agreement, until such time
as the Fund has $50 million of net assets or until six months from
the date of commencement of the Fund's operations, whichever occurs
first.
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXAMPLE 1 YEAR 3 YEARS
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- -----------
<S> <C> <C>
You would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 investment (assuming no fee waiver), assuming (1)
5% annual return and (2) redemption at the end of each time period: ............................. $73 $102
You would pay the following expenses on the same investment, assuming no redemption: ............ $23 $72
</TABLE>
The above example should not be considered a representation of past or
future expenses or performance. Actual expenses of the Fund may be greater or
less than those shown.
The purpose of this table is to assist the investor in understanding the
various costs and expenses that an investor in the Fund will bear directly or
indirectly. For a more complete description of these costs and expenses, see
"The Fund and its Management," "Plan of Distribution" and "Repurchases and
Redemptions" in this Prospectus.
Long-term shareholders of the Fund may pay more in sales charges including
distribution fees than the economic equivalent of the maximum front-end sales
charges permitted by the NASD.
3
<PAGE>
THE FUND AND ITS MANAGEMENT
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust (the "Fund") is an open-end, diversified
management investment company. The Fund is a trust of the type commonly known
as a "Massachusetts business trust" and was organized under the laws of
Massachusetts on October 17, 1995.
Dean Witter Services Company Inc. (the "Manager"), whose address is Two
World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048, is the Fund's Manager. The
Manager is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dean Witter InterCapital Inc.
("InterCapital"). InterCapital is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dean Witter,
Discover & Co. ("DWDC"), a balanced financial services organization providing
a broad range of nationally marketed credit and investment products.
The Manager acts as manager to eleven other TCW/DW Funds. The Manager and
InterCapital serve in various investment management, advisory, management and
administrative capacities to a total of ninety-four investment companies,
thirty of which are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, with combined
assets of approximately $75.5 billion as of December 31, 1995. InterCapital
also manages and advises portfolios of pension plans, other institutions and
individuals which aggregated approximately $2 billion at such date.
The Fund has retained the Manager to manage its business affairs,
supervise its overall day-to-day operations (other than providing investment
advice) and provide all administrative services.
TCW Funds Management, Inc. (the "Adviser"), whose address is 865 South
Figueroa Street, Suite 1800, Los Angeles, California 90017, is the Fund's
investment adviser. The Adviser was organized in 1987 as a wholly-owned
subsidiary of The TCW Group, Inc. ("TCW"), whose subsidiaries, including
Trust Company of the West and TCW Asset Management Company, provide a variety
of trust, investment management and investment advisory services. Robert A.
Day, who is Chairman of the Board of Directors of TCW, may be deemed to be a
control person of the Adviser by virtue of the aggregate ownership by Mr. Day
and his family of more than 25% of the outstanding voting stock of TCW. The
Adviser serves as investment adviser to eleven other TCW/DW Funds in addition
to the Fund. As of December 31, 1995, the Adviser and its affiliated
companies had approximately $52 billion under management or committed to
management, primarily from institutional investors.
The Fund has retained the Adviser to invest the Fund's assets.
The Fund's Trustees review the various services provided by the Manager
and the Adviser to ensure that the Fund's general investment policies and
programs are being properly carried out and that administrative services are
being provided to the Fund in a satisfactory manner.
As full compensation for the services and facilities furnished to the Fund
and for expenses of the Fund assumed by the Manager, the Fund pays the
Manager monthly compensation calculated daily by applying the annual rate of
0.60% to the Fund's net assets. As compensation for its investment advisory
services, the Fund pays the Adviser monthly compensation calculated daily by
applying an annual rate of 0.40% to the Fund's net assets. The total fees
paid by the Fund to the Manager and the Adviser are higher than the fees paid
by most other investment companies for similar services.
The Fund's expenses include: the fees of the Manager and the Adviser; the
fee pursuant to the Plan of Distribution (see "Purchase of Fund Shares");
taxes; legal, transfer agent, custodian and auditing fees; federal and state
registration fees; and printing and other expenses relating to the Fund's
operations which are not expressly assumed by the Manager or Adviser under
their respective Agreements with the Fund. InterCapital has undertaken to
assume all expenses (except for the Plan of Distribution fee and brokerage
fees) and the Manager has undertaken to waive the compensation provided for
in its Management Agreement, and the Adviser has undertaken to waive the
compensation provided for in its Advisory Agreement, until such time as the
Fund has $50 million of net assets or until six months from the date of
commencement of operations, whichever occurs first.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The investment objective of the Fund is long-term capital appreciation.
This objective is fundamental and may not be changed without shareholder
approval. There is no assurance that the objective will be achieved.
The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing under
normal circumstances at least 65% of its total assets in equity securities
issued by medium-sized companies whose market capitalizations, at the time of
acquisition, are in the $300 million to $2 billion range and that, in the
opinion of the Adviser, exhibit superior earnings growth prospects and
attractive stock market valuations. The equity securities in which the Fund
may invest include common stocks and convertible securities such as
investment grade convertible bonds, notes, debentures, preferred stocks or
other securities convertible into common stock.
The Adviser intends to pursue a "bottom-up" investment philosophy in
investing the Fund's assets. The "bottom- up" investment process is
characterized by the Adviser's proprietary research process which is to be
used in the selection of investments. Quantitative and qualitative criteria
also will be used to screen the more than 1,000 medium- sized companies
within the $300 million to $2 billion market capitalization range thereby
providing the Adviser with a list of potential investment securities. This
list of securities is
4
<PAGE>
then subjected to fundamental analysis. The Adviser will consider certain
criteria which include, amongst other things, a demonstrated record of
consistent earnings growth or the potential to grow earnings; an ability to
earn an attractive return on equity; the Adviser's expectation that earnings
will exceed Wall Street research analysts' earnings estimates (i.e.,
potential for earnings surprises); a price/earnings ratio which is less than
the Adviser's internally estimated three-year earnings growth rate; a large
and growing market share; a strong balance sheet (i.e., low debt to
capitalization ratio); a significant ownership interest by management and a
strong management team. Under normal market conditions, the Fund intends to
hold a portfolio containing approximately 40 to 60 issues. Subject to the
Fund's investment objective, the Adviser may modify the foregoing criteria
and analysis without notice.
Up to 25% of the Fund's total assets may be invested in equity securities
of foreign issuers. Such foreign investments may be in the form of direct
investments in securities of foreign issuers or in the form of American
Depository Receipts (ADRs), European Depository Receipts (EDRs) or other
similar securities convertible into securities of foreign issuers. These
securities may not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as the
securities into which they may be converted. ADRs are receipts typically
issued by a United States bank or trust company evidencing ownership of the
underlying securities. EDRs are European receipts evidencing a similar
arrangement. Generally, ADRs, in registered form, are designed for use in the
United States securities markets and EDRs, in bearer form, are designed for
use in European securities markets. The Fund's investments in unlisted
foreign securities are subject to the Fund's overall policy limiting its
investment in illiquid securities to 15% or less of its net assets.
Up to 35% of the Fund's total assets may be invested in investment grade
fixed-income securities consisting of securities issued or guaranteed by the
U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities, corporate debt securities
and money market instruments. With respect to corporate debt securities, the
term "investment grade" means securities which are rated Baa or higher by
Moody's Investors Services, Inc. ("Moody's") or BBB or higher by Standard &
Poor's Corporation ("S&P") or, if not rated, are deemed by the Adviser to be
of comparable quality. See the Appendix to the Statement of Additional
Information for a discussion of ratings of fixed-income securities.
Investments in fixed-income securities rated either BBB by S&P or Baa by
Moody's (the lowest credit ratings designated "investment grade") have
speculative characteristics and, therefore, changes in economic conditions or
other circumstances are more likely to weaken their capacity to make
principal and interest payments than would be the case with investments in
securities with higher credit ratings. If a fixed-income or convertible
security held by the Fund is rated BBB or Baa and is subsequently downgraded
by a rating agency, or otherwise falls below investment grade the Fund will
sell such securities as soon as is practicable without undue market or tax
consequences to the Fund.
The Fund may also invest up to 5% of its assets in convertible securities
and other fixed-income securities rated below investment grade. Securities
below investment grade are the equivalent of high yield, high risk bonds
(commonly known as "junk bonds"). However, the Fund will not invest in
convertible and other fixed-income securities that are rated lower than B by
S&P or Moody's or, if not rated, determined to be of comparable quality by
the Adviser. The Fund will not invest in fixed-income securities that are in
default in payment of principal or interest. A description of fixed-income
securities ratings is contained in the Appendix to the Statement of
Additional Information. A convertible security is a bond, debenture, note,
preferred stock or other security that may be converted into or exchanged for
a prescribed amount of common stock of the same or a different issuer within
a particular period of time at a specified price or formula. Convertible
securities rank senior to common stocks in a corporation's capital structure
and, therefore, entail less risk than the corporation's common stock. The
value of a convertible security is a function of its "investment value" (its
value as if it did not have a conversion privilege), and its "conversion
value" (the security's worth if it were to be exchanged for the underlying
security, at market value, pursuant to its conversion privilege). To the
extent that a convertible security's investment value is greater than its
conversion value, its price will be primarily a reflection of such investment
value and its price will be likely to increase when interest rates fall and
decrease when interest rates rise, as with a fixed-income security (the
credit standing of the issuer and other factors may also have an effect on
the convertible security's value). If the conversion value exceeds the
investment value, the price of the convertible security will rise above its
investment value and, in addition, may sell at some premium over its
conversion value. (This premium represents the price investors are willing to
pay for the privilege of purchasing a fixed-income security with a
possibility of capital appreciation due to the conversion privilege.) At such
times the price of the convertible security will tend to fluctuate directly
with the price of the underlying equity security.
Money market instruments in which the Fund may invest are securities
issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its agencies (Treasury Bills,
Notes and Bonds); obligations of banks subject to regulation by the U.S.
Government and having total assets of $1 billion or more; Eurodollar
certificates of deposit; obligations of savings banks and savings and loan
associations having total assets of $1 billion or more; fully insured
certificates of deposit; and commercial paper rated within the two highest
grades by Moody's or S&P or, if not rated, issued by a company having an
outstanding debt issue rated AAA by S&P or Aaa by Moody's.
There may be periods during which, in the opinion of the Adviser, market
conditions warrant reduction of some or all of the Fund's securities
holdings. During such periods, the Fund may adopt a temporary "defensive"
posture in which up to 100% of its total assets may be invested in money
market instruments or cash.
5
<PAGE>
RISK CONSIDERATIONS AND INVESTMENT PRACTICES
Given the investment risks described below, an investment in shares of the
Fund should not be considered a complete investment program and is not
appropriate for all investors. Investors should carefully consider their
ability to assume these risks before making an investment in the Fund.
The net asset value of the Fund's shares will fluctuate with changes in
the market value of the Fund's portfolio securities. The market value of the
Fund's portfolio securities will increase or decrease due to a variety of
economic, market or political factors which cannot be predicted.
Additionally, the net asset value of the Fund's shares may increase or
decrease due to changes in prevailing interest rates. Generally, a rise in
interest rates will result in a decrease in the value of the Fund's
fixed-income securities, while a drop in interest rates will result in an
increase in the value of those securities.
Mid-Cap Stocks. The Fund is intended for long-term investors who can
accept the risks involved in seeking long-term capital appreciation through
the investment in securities of medium-sized companies whose market
capitalizations, at the time of acquisition, are in the $300 million to $2
billion range which may involve greater risk of volatility of the Fund's net
asset value than is customarily associated with investing in larger, more
established companies. Often mid-size companies and the industries in which
they are focused are still evolving and while this may offer better growth
potential than larger, established companies, it also may make them more
sensitive to changing market conditions. Because prices of stocks, including
mid-cap stocks, fluctuate from day to day, the value of an investment in the
Fund will vary based upon the Fund's investment performance.
Convertible Securities. The Fund may acquire, through purchase or a
distribution by the issuer of a security held in its portfolio, a
fixed-income security which is convertible into common stock of the issuer.
Convertible securities rank senior to common stocks in a corporation's
capital structure and, therefore, entail less risk than the corporation's
common stock. The value of a convertible security is a function of its
"investment value" (its value as if it did not have a conversion privilege),
and its "conversion value" (the security's worth if it were to be exchanged
for the underlying security, at market value, pursuant to its conversion
privilege).
To the extent that a convertible security's investment value is greater
than its conversion value, its price will be primarily a reflection of such
investment value and its price will be likely to increase when interest rates
fall and decrease when interest rates rise, as with a fixed-income security
(the credit standing of the issuer and other factors may also have an effect
on the convertible security's value). If the conversion value exceeds the
investment value, the price of the convertible security will rise above its
investment value and, in addition, may sell at some premium over its
conversion value. (This premium represents the price investors are willing to
pay for the privilege of purchasing a fixed-income security with a
possibility of capital appreciation due to the conversion privilege.) At such
times the price of the convertible security will tend to fluctuate directly
with the price of the underlying equity security. In addition, see "High
Yield, High Risk Securities" below for a discussion of the risks of investing
in convertible and other fixed-income securities below investment grade.
Foreign securities. Foreign securities investments may be affected by
changes in currency rates or exchange control regulations, changes in
governmental administration or economic or monetary policy (in the United
States and abroad) or changed circumstances in dealings between nations.
Fluctuations in the relative rates of exchange between the currencies of
different nations will affect the value of the Fund's investments denominated
in foreign currency. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates relative to
the U.S. dollar will affect the U.S. dollar value of the Fund's assets
denominated in that currency and thereby impact upon the Fund's total return
on such assets.
Foreign currency exchange rates are determined by forces of supply and
demand on the foreign exchange markets. These forces are themselves affected
by the international balance of payments and other economic and financial
conditions, government intervention, speculation and other factors. Moreover,
foreign currency exchange rates may be affected by the regulatory control of
the exchanges on which the currencies trade.
Investments in foreign securities will also occasion risks relating to
political and economic developments abroad, including the possibility of
expropriations or confiscatory taxation, limitations on the use or transfer
of Fund assets and any effects of foreign social, economic or political
instability. Foreign companies are not subject to the regulatory requirements
of U.S. companies and, as such, there may be less publicly available
information about such companies. Moreover, foreign companies are not subject
to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and
requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies.
Securities of foreign issuers may be less liquid than comparable
securities of U.S. issuers and, as such, their price changes may be more
volatile. Furthermore, foreign exchanges and broker-dealers are generally
subject to less government and exchange scrutiny and regulation than their
American counterparts. Brokerage commissions, dealer concessions and other
transaction costs may be higher on foreign markets than in the U.S. In
addition, differences in clearance and settlement procedures on foreign
markets may occasion delays in settlements of the Fund's trades effected in
such markets. As such, the inability to dispose of portfolio securities due
to settlement delays could result in losses to the Fund due to subsequent
declines in value of such securities and the inability of the Fund to make
intended security purchases due to settlement problems could result in a
failure of the Fund to make potentially advantageous investments. To the
extent the Fund purchases Eurodollar certificates of deposit issued by
foreign branches of domestic United States banks, consideration will be given
to their domestic marketability, the lower reserve requirements nor-
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mally mandated for overseas banking operations, the possible impact of
interruptions in the flow of international currency transactions and future
international political and economic developments which might adversely
affect the payment of principal or interest.
Repurchase Agreements. The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements,
which may be viewed as a type of secured lending by the Fund, and which
typically involve the acquisition by the Fund of debt securities from a
selling financial institution such as a bank, savings and loan association or
broker-dealer. The agreement provides that the Fund will sell back to the
institution, and that the institution will repurchase, the underlying
security at a specified price and at a fixed time in the future, usually not
more than seven days from the date of purchase. While repurchase agreements
involve certain risks not associated with direct investments in debt
securities, the Fund follows procedures designed to minimize those risks. See
the Statement of Additional Information for a further discussion of such
investments.
Private Placements. The Fund may invest up to 15% of its total assets in
securities which are subject to restrictions on resale because they have not
been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act"), or which are otherwise not readily marketable. (Securities eligible
for resale pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, and determined to
be liquid pursuant to the procedures discussed in the following paragraph,
are not subject to the foregoing restriction.) These securities are generally
referred to as private placements or restricted securities. Limitations on
the resale of such securities may have an adverse effect on their
marketability, and may prevent the Fund from disposing of them promptly at
reasonable prices. The Fund may have to bear the expense of registering such
securities for resale and the risk of substantial delays in effecting such
registration.
The Securities and Exchange Commission has adopted Rule 144A under the
Securities Act, which permits the Fund to sell restricted securities to
qualified institutional buyers without limitation. The Adviser, pursuant to
procedures adopted by the Trustees of the Fund, will make a determination as
to the liquidity of each such restricted security purchased by the Fund. If
such Rule 144A security is determined to be "liquid," such security will not
be included within the category "illiquid securities," which under current
policy may not exceed 15% of the Fund's net assets.
When-Issued and Delayed Delivery Securities and Forward Commitments. From
time to time, in the ordinary course of business, the Fund may purchase
securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis or may purchase or sell
securities on a forward commitment basis. When such transactions are
negotiated, the price is fixed at the time of the commitment, but delivery
and payment can take place a month or more after the date of the commitment.
An increase in the percentage of the Fund's assets committed to the purchase
of securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis
may increase the volatility of the Fund's net asset value. See the Statement
of Additional Information for a further discussion of such investments.
When, As and If Issued Securities. The Fund may purchase securities on a
"when, as and if issued" basis under which the issuance of the security
depends upon the occurrence of a subsequent event, such as approval of a
merger, corporate reorganization, leveraged buyout or debt restructuring. If
the anticipated event does not occur and the securities are not issued, the
Fund will have lost an investment opportunity. An increase in the percentage
of the Fund's assets committed to the purchase of securities on a "when, as
and if issued" basis may increase the volatility of its net asset value. See
the Statement of Additional Information for a further discussion of such
investments.
Lending of Portfolio Securities. Consistent with applicable regulatory
requirements, the Fund may lend its portfolio securities to brokers, dealers
and other financial institutions, provided that such loans are callable at
any time by the Fund (subject to certain notice provisions described in the
Statement of Additional Information), and are at all times secured by cash or
money market instruments, which are maintained in a segregated account
pursuant to applicable regulations and that are equal to at least the market
value, determined daily, of the loaned securities. As with any extensions of
credit, there are risks of delay in recovery and in some cases even loss of
rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail
financially. However, loans of portfolio securities will only be made to
firms deemed by the Adviser to be creditworthy and when the income which can
be earned from such loans justifies the attendant risks.
High Yield, High Risk Securities. Because of the ability of the Fund to
invest in certain high yield, high risk convertible and other fixed-income
securities (commonly known as "junk bonds"), the Adviser must take into
account the special nature of such securities and certain special
considerations in assessing the risks associated with such investments.
Although the growth of the high yield securities market in the 1980s had
paralleled a long economic expansion, since that time many issuers have been
affected by adverse economic and market conditions. It should be recognized
that an economic downturn or increase in interest rates is likely to have a
negative effect on the high yield bond market and on the value of the high
yield securities held by the Fund, as well as on the ability of the
securities' issuers to repay principal and interest on their borrowings.
The prices of high yield securities have been found to be less sensitive
to changes in prevailing interest rates than higher-rated investments but
more sensitive to adverse economic changes or individual corporate
developments. During an economic downturn or substantial period of rising
interest rates, highly leveraged issuers may experience financial stress
which would adversely affect their ability to service their principal and
interest payment obligations, to meet their projected business goals or to
obtain additional financing. If the issuer of a fixed-income security owned
by the Fund defaults, the Fund may incur additional expenses to seek
recovery. In addition, periods of economic uncertainty and change can be
expected to result in an increased volatility of market prices of high yield
securities and a concomitant volatility in the net asset value of a share of
the Fund.
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The secondary market for high yield securities may be less liquid than the
markets for higher quality securities and, as such, may have an adverse
effect on the market prices of certain securities. The limited liquidity of
the market may also adversely affect the ability of the Fund's Trustees to
arrive at a fair value for certain high yield securities at certain times and
could make it difficult for the Fund to sell certain securities. In addition,
new laws and potential new laws may have an adverse effect upon the value of
high yield securities and a concomitant negative impact upon the net asset
value of a share of the Fund.
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
The Fund's portfolio is actively managed by its Adviser with a view to
achieving the Fund's investment objective. Douglas S. Foreman, Managing
Director of the Adviser, has been designated as the Fund's primary portfolio
manager and Christopher J. Ainley, Senior Vice President of the Adviser, will
assist Mr. Foreman in managing the Fund's assets. Mr. Foreman and Mr. Ainley
have been portfolio managers with affiliates of The TCW Group, Inc. since
1994, prior to which they were portfolio managers with Putnam Investments.
In determining which securities to purchase for the Fund or hold in the
Fund's portfolio, the Adviser will rely on information from various sources,
including research, analysis and appraisals of brokers and dealers, including
Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. ("DWR"), a broker-dealer affiliate of the Manager,
and others regarding economic developments and interest rate trends, and the
Adviser's own analysis of factors it deems relevant.
Orders for transactions in portfolio securities and commodities are placed
for the Fund with a number of brokers and dealers, including DWR. The Fund
may incur brokerage commissions on transactions conducted through DWR. The
Fund intends to buy and hold securities for capital appreciation. Although
the Fund does not intend to engage in substantial short-term trading as a
means of achieving its investment objective, the Fund may sell portfolio
securities without regard to the length of time that they have been held, in
order to take advantage of new investment opportunities or yield
differentials, or because the Fund desires to preserve gains or limit losses
due to changing economic conditions, interest rate trends, or the financial
condition of the issuer. It is not anticipated that the Fund's portfolio
turnover rate will exceed 150% in any one year. The Fund will incur
underwriting discount costs (on underwritten securities) and brokerage costs
commensurate with its portfolio turnover rate, and thus a higher level (over
100%) of portfolio transactions will increase the Fund's overall brokerage
expenses. Short term gains and losses may result from such portfolio
transactions. See "Dividends, Distributions and Taxes" for a discussion of
the tax implications of the Fund's transactions.
The expenses of the Fund relating to its portfolio management are likely
to be greater than those incurred by other investment companies investing
only in securities issued by domestic issuers, as custodial costs, brokerage
commissions and other transaction charges related to investing on foreign
markets are generally higher than in the United States.
Except as specifically noted, all investment policies and practices
discussed above are not fundamental policies of the Fund and thus may be
changed without shareholder approval.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The investment restrictions listed below are among the restrictions which
have been adopted by the Fund as fundamental policies. Under the Act, a
fundamental policy may not be changed without the vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the Fund, as defined in the Act. For
purposes of the following limitations: (i) all percentage limitations apply
immediately after a purchase or initial investment, and (ii) any subsequent
change in any applicable percentage resulting from market fluctuations or
other changes in total or net assets does not require elimination of any
security from the portfolio.
The Fund may not:
1. As to 75% of its assets, invest more than 5% of the value of its
total assets in the securities of any one issuer (other than obligations
issued, or guaranteed by, the United States Government, its agencies or
instrumentalities).
2. As to 75% of its assets, purchase more than 10% of all outstanding
voting securities or more than 10% of any class of securities of any one
issuer.
3. Invest 25% or more of the value of its total assets in securities
of issuers in any one industry. This restriction does not apply to
obligations issued or guaranteed by the United States Government, its
agencies or instrumentalities.
4. Invest more than 5% of the value of its total assets in securities
of issuers having a record, together with predecessors, of less than three
years of continuous operation. This restriction does not apply to
obligations issued or guaranteed by the United States Government, its
agencies or instrumentalities.
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UNDERWRITING
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dean Witter Distributors Inc. (the "Underwriter") has agreed to purchase
up to 10,000,000 shares from the Fund, which number may be increased or
decreased in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement. The initial offering
will run approximately from January 25, 1996 through February 22, 1996. The
Underwriting Agreement provides that the obligation of the Underwriter is
subject to certain conditions precedent and that the Underwriter will be
obligated to purchase the shares on February 27, 1996, or such other date as
may be agreed upon by the Underwriter and the Fund (the "Closing Date").
Shares will not be issued and dividends will not be declared by the Fund
until after the Closing Date. For this reason, payment is not required to be
made prior to the Closing Date. If any orders received during the initial
offering period are accompanied by payment, such payment will be returned
unless an accompanying request for investment in a Dean Witter money market
fund is received at the time the payment is made. All such funds received and
invested in a Dean Witter money market fund will be automatically invested in
the Fund on the Closing Date without any further action by the investor. Any
investor may cancel his or her purchase of Fund shares without penalty at any
time prior to the Closing Date.
The Underwriter will purchase shares from the Fund at $10.00 per share. No
underwriting discounts or selling commissions will be deducted from the
initial public offering price.
The Underwriter shall, regardless of its expected underwriting commitment,
be entitled and obligated to purchase only the number of shares for which
purchase orders have been received by the Underwriter prior to 2:00 p.m., New
York time, on the third business day preceding the Closing Date, or such
other date as may be agreed to between the parties.
The minimum number of Fund shares which may be purchased by any
shareholder pursuant to this offering is 100 shares. Certificates for shares
purchased will not be issued unless requested by the shareholder in writing.
PURCHASE OF FUND SHARES--CONTINUOUS OFFERING
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dean Witter Distributors Inc. (the "Distributor"), an affiliate of the
Manager, will act as the Distributor of the Fund's shares during the
Continuous Offering. Pursuant to a Distribution Agreement between the Fund
and Dean Witter Distributors Inc. (the "Distributor"), an affiliate of the
Manager, shares of the Fund are distributed by the Distributor and offered by
DWR and other dealers (which may include TCW Brokerage Services, an affiliate
of the Adviser) who have entered into selected broker-dealer agreements with
the Distributor ("Selected Broker-Dealers"). The principal executive office
of the Distributor is located at Two World Trade Center, New York, New York
10048.
The minimum initial purchase is $1,000 and subsequent purchases of $100 or
more may be made by sending a check, payable to TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust,
directly to Dean Witter Trust Company (the "Transfer Agent") at P.O. Box
1040, Jersey City, NJ 07303, or by contacting an account executive of DWR or
other Selected Broker-Dealer. In the case of investments pursuant to
Systematic Payroll Deduction Plans (including Individual Retirement Plans),
the Fund, in its discretion, may accept investments without regard to any
minimum amounts which would otherwise be required if the Fund has reason to
believe that additional investments will increase the investment in all
accounts under such Plans to at least $1,000. Certificates for shares
purchased will not be issued unless a request is made by the shareholder in
writing to the Transfer Agent.
Shares of the Fund are sold through the Distributor on a normal three
business day settlement basis; that is, payment is due on the third business
day (settlement date) after the order is placed with the Distributor. Since
DWR and other Selected Broker-Dealers forward investors' funds on settlement
date, they will benefit from the temporary use of the funds if payment is
made prior thereto. As noted above, orders placed directly with the Transfer
Agent must be accompanied by payment. Investors will be entitled to receive
income dividends and capital gains distributions if their order is received
by the close of business on the day prior to the record date for such
dividends and distributions.
The offering price will be the net asset value per share next determined
following receipt of an order by the Transfer Agent (see "Determination of
Net Asset Value"). While no sales charge is imposed at the time shares are
purchased, a contingent deferred sales charge may be imposed at the time of
redemption (see "Repurchases and Redemptions"). Sales personnel of a Selected
Broker-Dealer are compensated for selling shares of the Fund at the time of
their sale by the Distributor and/or Selected Broker-Dealer. In addition,
some sales personnel of the Selected Broker-Dealer will receive various types
of non-cash compensation or special sales incentives, including trips,
educational and/or business seminars and merchandise. The Fund and the
Distributor reserve the right to reject any purchase orders.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Fund has adopted a Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under
the Act (the "Plan"), under which the Fund pays the Distributor a fee, which
is accrued daily and payable monthly, at an annual rate of 1.0% of the lesser
of: (a) the average daily aggregate gross sales of the Fund's shares
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<PAGE>
since the inception of the Fund (not including reinvestments of dividends or
capital gains distributions), less the average daily aggregate net asset
value of the Fund's shares redeemed since the Fund's inception upon which a
contingent deferred sales charge has been imposed or waived; or (b) the
Fund's average daily net assets. This fee is treated by the Fund as an
expense in the year it is accrued. A portion of the fee payable pursuant to
the Plan, equal to 0.25% of the Fund's average daily net assets, is
characterized as a service fee within the meaning of NASD guidelines. The
service fee is a payment made for personal service and/or the maintenance of
shareholder accounts.
Amounts paid under the Plan are paid to the Distributor to compensate it
for the services provided and the expenses borne by the Distributor and
others in the distribution of the Fund's shares, including the payment of
commissions for sales of the Fund's shares and incentive compensation to and
expenses of DWR account executives and others who engage in or support
distribution of shares or who service shareholder accounts, including
overhead and telephone expenses; printing and distribution of prospectuses
and reports used in connection with the offering of the Fund's shares to
other than current shareholders; and preparation, printing and distribution
of sales literature and advertising materials. In addition, the Distributor
may utilize fees paid pursuant to the Plan to compensate DWR and other
Selected Broker- Dealers for their opportunity costs in advancing such
amounts, which compensation would be in the form of a carrying charge on any
unreimbursed distribution expenses.
At any given time, the expenses in distributing shares of the Fund may be
in excess of the total of (i) the payments made by the Fund pursuant to the
Plan, and (ii) the proceeds of contingent deferred sales charges paid by
investors upon the redemption of shares (see "Repurchases and
Redemptions--Contingent Deferred Sales Charge"). For example, if $1 million
in expenses in distributing shares of the Fund had been incurred and $750,000
had been received as described in (i) and (ii) above, the excess expense
would amount to $250,000.
Because there is no requirement under the Plan that the Distributor be
reimbursed for all distribution expenses or any requirement that the Plan be
continued from year to year, such excess amount, if any, does not constitute
a liability of the Fund. Although there is no legal obligation for the Fund
to pay expenses incurred in excess of payments made to the Distributor under
the Plan and the proceeds of contingent deferred sales charges paid by
investors upon redemption of shares, if for any reason the Plan is
terminated, the Trustees will consider at that time the manner in which to
treat such expenses. Any cumulative expenses incurred but not yet recovered
through distribution fees of contingent deferred sales charges, may or may
not be recovered through future distribution fees or contingent deferred
sales charges.
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
The net asset value per share of the Fund is determined once daily at 4:00
p.m., New York time (or, on days when the New York Stock Exchange closes
prior to 4:00 p.m., at such earlier time), on each day that the New York
Stock Exchange is open by taking the value of all assets of the Fund,
subtracting all its liabilities, dividing by the number of shares outstanding
and adjusting to the nearest cent. The net asset value per share will not be
determined on Good Friday and on such other federal and non-federal holidays
as are observed by the New York Stock Exchange.
In the calculation of the Fund's net asset value: (1) an equity portfolio
security listed or traded on the New York or American Stock Exchange or other
domestic or foreign stock exchange or quoted by NASDAQ is valued at its
latest sale price on that exchange or quotation service (if there were no
sales that day, the security is valued at the latest bid price); and (2) all
other portfolio securities for which over-the- counter market quotations are
readily available are valued at the latest bid price. When market quotations
are not readily available, including circumstances under which it is
determined by the Adviser that sale or bid prices are not reflective of a
security's market value, portfolio securities are valued at their fair value
as determined in good faith under procedures established by and under the
general supervision of the Board of Trustees. For valuation purposes,
quotations of foreign portfolio securities, other assets and liabilities and
forward contracts stated in foreign currency are translated into U.S. dollar
equivalents at the prevailing market rates prior to the close of the New York
Stock Exchange as of the morning of valuation. Dividends receivable are
accrued as of the ex-dividend date or as of the time that the relevant
ex-dividend date and amounts become known.
Short-term debt securities with remaining maturities of 60 days or less at
the time of purchase are valued at amortized cost, unless the Trustees
determine such does not reflect the securities' market value, in which case
these securities will be valued at their fair value as determined by the
Trustees. Other short-term debt securities will be valued on a mark-to-market
basis until such time as they reach a remaining maturity of 60 days,
whereupon they will be valued at amortized cost using their value on the 61st
day unless the Trustees determine such does not reflect the securities'
market value, in which case these securities will be valued at their fair
value as determined by the Trustees. All other securities and other assets
are valued at their fair value as determined in good faith under procedures
established by and under the supervision of the Trustees.
Certain of the Fund's portfolio securities may be valued by an outside
pricing service approved by the Fund's Trustees. The pricing service utilizes
a matrix system incorporating security quality, maturity and coupon as the
evaluation model parameters, and/or research evaluations by its staff,
including review of broker-dealer market price quotations, in determining
what the pricing service believes is the fair valuation of such portfolio
securities.
10
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SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Automatic Investment of Dividends and Distributions. All income dividends
and capital gains distributions are automatically paid in full and fractional
shares of the Fund (or, if specified by the shareholder, any other TCW/DW
Fund), unless the shareholder requests that they be paid in cash.
Investment of Dividends or Distributions Received in Cash. Any shareholder
who receives a cash payment representing a dividend or capital gains
distribution may invest such dividend or distribution at the net asset value
per share next determined after receipt by the Transfer Agent, by returning
the check or the proceeds to the Transfer Agent within 30 days after the
payment date. Shares so acquired are not subject to the imposition of a
contingent deferred sales charge upon their redemption (see "Repurchases and
Redemptions").
EasyInvest (Service Mark) . Shareholders may subscribe to EasyInvest, an
automatic purchase plan which provides for any amount from $100 to $5,000 to
be transferred automatically from a checking or savings account, on a
semi-monthly, monthly or quarterly basis, to the Fund's Transfer Agent for
investment in shares of the Fund. Shares purchased through EasyInvest will be
added to the shareholder's existing account at the net asset value calculated
the same business day the transfer of funds is effected. For further
information or to subscribe to EasyInvest, shareholders should contact their
DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer account executive or the Transfer Agent.
Systematic Withdrawal Plan. A systematic withdrawal plan (the "Withdrawal
Plan") is available for shareholders who own or purchase shares of the Fund
having a minimum value of $10,000 based upon the then current net asset
value. The Withdrawal Plan provides for monthly or quarterly (March, June,
September and December) checks in any dollar amount, not less than $25, or in
any whole percentage of the account balance, on an annualized basis. Any
applicable contingent deferred sales charge will be imposed on shares
redeemed under the Withdrawal Plan (See "Repurchases and
Redemptions--Contingent Deferred Sales Charge"). Therefore, any shareholder
participating in the Withdrawal Plan will have sufficient shares redeemed
from his or her account so that the proceeds (net of any applicable
contingent deferred sales charge) to the shareholder will be the designated
monthly or quarterly amount.
Shareholders should contact their DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer
account executive or the Transfer Agent for information about any of the
above services.
Tax Sheltered Retirement Plans. Retirement plans are available for use by
corporations, the self-employed, Individual Retirement Accounts and Custodial
Accounts under Section 403(b)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code. Adoption of
such plans should be on advice of legal counsel or tax adviser.
For further information regarding plan administration, custodial fees and
other details, investors should contact their account executive or the
Transfer Agent.
EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE
The Fund makes available to its shareholders an "Exchange Privilege"
allowing the exchange of shares of the Fund for shares of any other TCW/DW
Fund sold with a contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC Funds"), for shares
of TCW/DW North American Government Income Trust, TCW/DW Income and Growth
Fund and TCW/DW Balanced Fund and for shares of five money market funds for
which InterCapital serves as investment manager: Dean Witter Liquid Asset
Fund Inc., Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust, Dean Witter
Tax-Free Daily Income Trust, Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income
Trust and Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust (the foregoing
eight funds are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Exchange
Funds"). Exchanges may be made after the shares of the Fund acquired by
purchase (not by exchange or dividend reinvestment) have been held for thirty
days. There is no waiting period for exchanges of shares acquired by exchange
or dividend reinvestment.
Shareholders utilizing the Fund's Exchange Privilege may subsequently
re-exchange such shares back to the Fund. However, no exchange privilege is
available between the Fund and any other fund managed by the Manager or
InterCapital, other than other TCW/DW Funds and the five money market funds
listed above.
An exchange to another CDSC Fund or to any Exchange Fund that is not a
money market fund is on the basis of the next calculated net asset value per
share of each fund after the exchange order is received. When exchanging into
a money market fund from the Fund or any other TCW/DW Fund, shares of the
Fund are redeemed out of the Fund at their next calculated net asset value
and the proceeds of the redemption are used to purchase shares of the money
market fund at their net asset value determined the following day. Subsequent
exchanges between any of the money market funds and any TCW/DW Fund can be
effected on the same basis. No contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") is
imposed at the time of any exchange, although any applicable CDSC will be
imposed upon ultimate redemption. During the period of time the shareholder
remains in the Exchange Fund (calculated from the last day of the month in
which the Exchange Fund shares were acquired), the holding period (for the
purpose of determining the rate of the CDSC) is frozen. If those shares are
subsequently reexchanged for shares of a CDSC Fund, the holding period
previously frozen when the first exchange was made resumes on the last day of
the month in which shares of a CDSC Fund are reacquired. Thus, the CDSC is
based upon the time (calculated as described above) the shareholder was
invested in a CDSC Fund (see "Repurchases and Redemptions--Contingent
Deferred Sales Charge"). However, in the case of shares of the Fund exchanged
into an Exchange Fund, upon a redemption of shares which results in a CDSC
being imposed, a credit (not to exceed the amount of the CDSC) will be given
in an amount equal to
11
<PAGE>
the Exchange Fund 12b-1 distribution fees which are attributable to those
shares. (Exchange Fund 12b-1 distribution fees are described in the
prospectuses for those funds.)
Purchases and exchanges should be made for investment purposes only. A
pattern of frequent exchanges may be deemed by the Manager to be abusive and
contrary to the best interests of the Fund's other shareholders and, at the
Manager's discretion, may be limited by the Fund's refusal to accept
additional purchases and/or exchanges from the investor. Although the Fund
does not have any specific definition of what constitutes a pattern of
frequent exchanges, and will consider all relevant factors in determining
whether a particular situation is abusive and contrary to the best interests
of the Fund and its other shareholders, investors should be aware that the
Fund, each of the other TCW/DW Funds and each of the money market funds may
in its discretion limit or otherwise restrict the number of times this
Exchange Privilege may be exercised by any investor. Any such restriction
will be made by the Fund on a prospective basis only, upon notice to the
shareholder not later than ten days following such shareholder's most recent
exchange. Also, the Exchange Privilege may be terminated or revised at any
time by the Fund and/or any of such other TCW/DW Funds or money market funds
for which shares of the Fund have been exchanged, upon such notice as may be
required by applicable regulatory agencies. Shareholders maintaining margin
accounts with DWR or another Selected Broker-Dealer are referred to their
account executive regarding restrictions on exchange of shares of the Fund
pledged in the margin account.
The current prospectus for each fund describes its investment objective(s)
and policies, and shareholders should obtain a copy and examine it carefully
before investing. Exchanges are subject to the minimum investment requirement
and any other conditions imposed by each fund. An exchange will be treated
for federal income tax purposes the same as a repurchase or redemption of
shares, on which the shareholder may realize a capital gain or loss. However,
the ability to deduct capital losses on an exchange may be limited in
situations where there is an exchange of shares within ninety days after the
shares are purchased. The Exchange Privilege is only available in states
where an exchange may legally be made.
If DWR or another Selected Broker-Dealer is the current dealer of record
and its account numbers are part of the account information, shareholders may
initiate an exchange of shares of the Fund for shares of any of the money
market funds for which the Exchange Privilege is available pursuant to this
Exchange Privilege by contacting their DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer
account executive (no Exchange Privilege Authorization Form is required).
Other shareholders (and those shareholders who are clients of DWR or another
Selected Broker-Dealer but who wish to make exchanges directly by writing or
telephoning the Transfer Agent) must complete and forward to the Transfer
Agent an Exchange Privilege Authorization Form, copies of which may be
obtained from the Transfer Agent, to initiate an exchange. If the
Authorization Form is used, exchanges may be made in writing or by contacting
the Transfer Agent at (800) 869-NEWS (toll free). The Fund will employ
reasonable procedures to confirm that exchange instructions communicated over
the telephone are genuine. Such procedures include requiring various forms of
personal identification such as name, mailing address, social security or
other tax identification number and DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer
account number (if any). Telephone instructions will also be recorded. If
such procedures are not employed, the Fund may be liable for any losses due
to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions.
Telephone exchange instructions will be accepted if received by the
Transfer Agent between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. New York time, on any day the
New York Stock Exchange is open. Any shareholder wishing to make an exchange
who has previously filed an Exchange Privilege Authorization Form and who is
unable to reach the Fund by telephone should contact his or her DWR or other
Selected Broker-Dealer account executive, if appropriate, or make a written
exchange request. Shareholders are advised that during periods of drastic
economic or market changes, it is possible that the telephone exchange
procedures may be difficult to implement, although this has not been the case
in the past with other funds managed by the Manager.
Shareholders should contact their DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer
account executive or the Transfer Agent for further information about the
Exchange Privilege.
REPURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Repurchase. DWR and other Selected Dealers are authorized to repurchase
shares represented by a share certificate which is delivered to any of their
offices. Shares held in a shareholder's account without a share certificate
may also be repurchased by DWR and other Selected Broker-Dealers upon the
telephonic or telegraphic request of the shareholder. The repurchase price is
the net asset value per share next computed (see "Purchase of Fund Shares")
after such repurchase order is received by DWR or other Selected
Broker-Dealer, reduced by any applicable CDSC (see below).
The CDSC, if any, will be the only fee imposed by the Fund, the
Distributor, DWR or other Selected Broker- Dealer. The offers by DWR and
other Selected Broker- Dealers to repurchase shares may be suspended without
notice by them at any time. In that event, shareholders may redeem their
shares through the Fund's Transfer Agent as set forth below under
"Redemption."
Redemption. Shares of the Fund can be redeemed for cash at any time at the
net asset value per share next determined; however, such redemption proceeds
will be reduced by the amount of any applicable contingent deferred
12
<PAGE>
sales charge (see below). If shares are held in a shareholder's account
without a share certificate, a written request for redemption to the Fund's
Transfer Agent at P.O. Box 983, Jersey City, NJ 07303 is required. If
certificates are held by the shareholder, the shares may be redeemed by
surrendering the certificates with a written request for redemption along
with any additional documentation required by the Transfer Agent.
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge. Shares of the Fund which are held for
six years or more after purchase (calculated from the last day of the month
in which the shares were purchased) will not be subject to any charge upon
redemption. Shares redeemed sooner than six years after purchase may,
however, be subject to a charge upon redemption. This charge is called a
"contingent deferred sales charge" ("CDSC"), which will be a percentage of
the dollar amount of shares redeemed and will be assessed on an amount equal
to the lesser of the current market value or the cost of the shares being
redeemed. The size of this percentage will depend upon how long the shares
have been held, as set forth in the table below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CONTINGENT DEFERRED
YEAR SINCE SALES CHARGE AS A
PURCHASE PERCENTAGE OF AMOUNT
PAYMENT MADE REDEEMED
- --------------------------- -----------------------
<S> <C>
First ...................... 5.0%
Second ..................... 4.0%
Third ...................... 3.0%
Fourth ..................... 2.0%
Fifth ...................... 2.0%
Sixth ...................... 1.0%
Seventh and thereafter .... None
</TABLE>
A CDSC will not be imposed on: (i) any amount which represents an increase
in value of shares purchased within the six years preceding the redemption;
(ii) the current net asset value of shares purchased more than six years
prior to the redemption; and (iii) the current net asset value of shares
purchased through reinvestment of dividends or distributions. Moreover, in
determining whether a CDSC is applicable it will be assumed that amounts
described in (i), (ii) and (iii) above (in that order) are redeemed first.
In addition, the CDSC, if otherwise applicable, will be waived in the case
of (i) redemptions of shares held at the time a shareholder dies or becomes
disabled, only if the shares are (a) registered either in the name of an
individual shareholder (not a trust), or in the names of such shareholder and
his or her spouse as joint tenants with right of survivorship, or (b) held in
a qualified corporate or self-employed retirement plan, Individual Retirement
Account or Custodial Account under Section 403(b)(7) of the Internal Revenue
Code, provided in either case that the redemption is requested within one
year of the death or initial determination of disability, and (ii)
redemptions in connection with the following retirement plan distributions:
(a) lump-sum or other distributions from a qualified corporate or self-
employed retirement plan following retirement (or in the case of a "key
employee" of a "top heavy" plan, following attainment of age 59 1/2 ); (b)
distributions from an Individual Retirement Account or Custodial Account
under Section 403(b)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code following attainment of
age 59 1/2 , and (c) a tax-free return of an excess contribution to an IRA.
For the purpose of determining disability, the Distributor utilizes the
definition of disability contained in Section 72(m)(7) of the Internal
Revenue Code, which relates to the inability to engage in gainful employment.
All waivers will be granted only following receipt by the Distributor of
confirmation of the investor's entitlement.
Payment for Shares Redeemed or Repurchased. Payment for shares presented
for repurchase or redemption will be made by check within seven days after
receipt by the Transfer Agent of the certificate and/or written request in
good order. Such payment may be postponed or the right of redemption
suspended under unusual circumstances. If the shares to be redeemed have
recently been purchased by check, payment of the redemption proceeds may be
delayed for the minimum time needed to verify that the check used for
investment has been honored (not more than fifteen days from the time of
receipt of the check by the Transfer Agent). Shareholders maintaining margin
accounts with DWR or another Selected Broker-Dealer are referred to their
account executive regarding restrictions on redemption of shares of the Fund
pledged in the margin account.
Reinstatement Privilege. A shareholder who has had his or her shares
repurchased or redeemed and has not previously exercised this reinstatement
privilege may, within thirty days after the date of the repurchase or
redemption, reinstate any portion or all of the proceeds of such repurchase
or redemption in shares of the Fund at net asset value next determined after
a reinstatement request, together with the proceeds, is received by the
Transfer Agent and receive a pro-rata credit for any CDSC paid in connection
with such repurchase or redemption.
Involuntary Redemption. The Fund reserves the right, on sixty days'
notice, to redeem, at their net asset value, the shares of any shareholder
(other than shares held in an Individual Retirement Account or custodial
account under Section 403(b)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code) whose shares
due to redemptions by the shareholder have a value of less than $100 or such
lesser amount as may be fixed by the Trustees. However, before the Fund
redeems such shares and sends the proceeds to the shareholder, it will notify
the shareholder that the value of the shares is less than $100 and allow him
or her sixty days to make an additional investment in an amount which will
increase the value of his or her account to $100 or more before the
redemption is processed. No CDSC will be imposed on any involuntary
redemption.
13
<PAGE>
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dividends and Distributions. The Fund intends to pay dividends and to
distribute substantially all of the Fund's net investment income and net
short-term and net long-term capital gains, if any, at least once each year.
The Fund may, however, determine to retain all or part of any net long-term
capital gains in any year for reinvestment.
All dividends and any capital gains distributions will be paid in
additional Fund shares and automatically credited to the shareholder's
account without issuance of a share certificate unless the shareholder
requests in writing that all dividends and/or distributions be paid in cash.
(See "Shareholder Services--Automatic Investment of Dividends and
Distributions.")
Taxes. Because the Fund intends to distribute all of its net investment
income and capital gains to shareholders and otherwise qualify as a regulated
investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, it is not
expected that the Fund will be required to pay any federal income tax.
Shareholders who are required to pay taxes on their income will normally have
to pay federal income taxes, and any state income taxes, on the dividends and
distributions they receive from the Fund. Such dividends and distributions,
to the extent that they are derived from net investment income or net
short-term capital gains, are taxable to the shareholder as ordinary income
regardless of whether the shareholder receives such payments in additional
shares or in cash. Any dividends declared with a record date in the last
quarter of any calendar year which are paid in the following year prior to
February 1 will be deemed received by the shareholder in the prior calendar
year. Dividend payments will be eligible for the federal dividends received
deduction available to the Fund's corporate shareholders only to the extent
the aggregate dividends received by the Fund would be eligible for the
deduction if the Fund were the shareholder claiming the dividends received
deduction. In this regard, a 46-day holding period generally must be met by
the Fund and the shareholder.
Distributions of net long-term capital gains, if any, are taxable to
shareholders as long-term capital gains regardless of how long a shareholder
has held the Fund's shares and regardless of whether the distribution is
received in additional shares or in cash. The Fund is subject to foreign
withholding taxes and the pass through of such taxes may not be available to
shareholders.
After the end of the calendar year, shareholders will be sent full
information on their dividends and capital gains distributions for tax
purposes. To avoid being subject to a 31% federal backup withholding tax on
taxable dividends, capital gains distributions and the proceeds of
redemptions and repurchases, shareholders' taxpayer identification numbers
must be furnished and certified as to their accuracy.
Shareholders should consult their tax advisers as to the applicability of
the foregoing to their current situation.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From time to time the Fund may quote its "total return" in advertisements
and sales literature. The total return of the Fund is based on historical
earnings and is not intended to indicate future performance. The "average
annual total return" of the Fund refers to a figure reflecting the average
annualized percentage increase (or decrease) in the value of an initial
investment in the Fund of $1,000 over one, five and ten years or the life of
the Fund, if less than any of the foregoing. Average annual total return
reflects all incomeearned by the Fund, any appreciation or depreciation of
the Fund's assets, all expenses incurred by the Fund and all sales charges
which would be incurred by redeeming shareholders, for the period. It also
assumes reinvestment of all dividends and distributions paid by the Fund.
In addition to the foregoing, the Fund may advertise its total return over
different periods of time by means of aggregate, average, and year-by-year or
other types of total return figures. Such calculations may or may not reflect
the deduction of the contingent deferred sales charge which, if reflected,
would reduce the performance quoted. The Fund may also advertise the growth
of hypothetical investments of $10,000, $50,000 and $100,000 in shares of the
Fund. The Fund from time to time may also advertise its performance relative
to certain performance rankings and indexes compiled by independent
organizations (such as mutual fund performance rankings of Lipper Analytical
Services, Inc.).
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Voting Rights. All shares of beneficial interest of the Fund are of $0.01
par value and are equal as to earnings, assets and voting privileges.
The Fund is not required to hold Annual Meetings of Shareholders and in
ordinary circumstances the Fund does not intend to hold such meetings. The
Trustees may call Special Meetings of Shareholders for action by shareholder
vote as may be required by the Act or the Declaration of Trust. Under certain
circumstances, the Trustees may be removed by action of the Trustees or by
the shareholders.
14
<PAGE>
Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of a business trust may, under
certain circumstances, be held personally liable as partners for obligations
of the Fund. However, the Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer
of shareholder liability for acts or obligations of the Fund, requires that
Fund obligations include such disclaimer, and provides for indemnification
and reimbursement of expenses out of the Fund's property for any shareholder
held personally liable for the obligations of the Fund. Thus, the risk of a
shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is
limited to circumstances in which the Fund itself would be unable to meet its
obligations. Given the above limitation on shareholder personal liability,
and the nature of the Fund's assets and operations, the possibility of the
Fund being unable to meet its obligations is remote and thus, in the opinion
of Massachusetts counsel to the Fund, the risk to Fund shareholders of
personal liability is remote.
Code of Ethics. The Adviser is subject to a Code of Ethics with respect to
investment transactions in which the Adviser's officers, directors and
certain other persons have a beneficial interest to avoid any actual or
potential conflict or abuse of their fiduciary position. The Code of Ethics,
as it pertains to the TCW/DW Funds, contains several restrictions and
procedures designed to eliminate conflicts of interest including: (a)
pre-clearance of personal investment transactions to ensure that personal
transactions by employees are not being conducted at the same time as the
Adviser's clients; (b) quarterly reporting of personal securities
transactions; (c) a prohibition against personally acquiring securities in an
initial public offering, entering into uncovered short sales and writing
uncovered options; (d) a seven day "blackout period" prior or subsequent to a
TCW/DW Fund transaction during which portfolio managers are prohibited from
making certain transactions in securities which are being purchased or sold
by a TCW/DW Fund; (e) a prohibition, with respect to certain investment
personnel, from profiting in the purchase and sale, or sale and purchase, of
the same (or equivalent) securities within 60 calendar days; and (f) a
prohibition against acquiring any security which is subject to firm wide or,
if applicable, a department restriction of the Adviser. The Code of Ethics
provides that exemptive relief may be given from certain of its requirements,
upon application. The Adviser's Code of Ethics complies with regulatory
requirements and, insofar as it relates to persons associated with registered
investment companies, the Report of the Advisory Group on Personal Investing
of the Investment Company Institute.
Shareholder Inquiries. All inquiries regarding the Fund should be directed
to the Fund at the telephone numbers or address set forth on the front cover
of this Prospectus.
15
<PAGE>
TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
TRUSTEES
John C. Argue
Richard M. DeMartini
Charles A. Fiumefreddo
John R. Haire
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson
Paul Kolton
Thomas E. Larkin, Jr.
Michael E. Nugent
John L. Schroeder
Marc I. Stern
OFFICERS
Charles A. Fiumefreddo
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Thomas E. Larkin, Jr.
President
Sheldon Curtis
Senior Vice President, Secretary and
General Counsel
Douglas S. Foreman
Vice President
Christopher J. Ainley
Vice President
Thomas F. Caloia
Treasurer
CUSTODIAN
The Bank of New York
90 Washington Street
New York, New York 10286
TRANSFER AGENT AND
DIVIDEND DISBURSING AGENT
Dean Witter Trust Company
Harborside Financial Center
Plaza Two
Jersey City, New Jersey 07311
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
Price Waterhouse LLP
1177 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
MANAGER
Dean Witter Services Company Inc.
ADVISER
TCW Funds Management, Inc.
<PAGE>
TCW/DW
MID-CAP EQUITY
TRUST
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
, 1996
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust (the "Fund") is an open-end, diversified
management investment company, whose investment objective is long-term
capital appreciation. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by
investing primarily in equity securities issued by medium-sized companies
whose market capitalizations, at the time of acquisition, are in the $300
million to $2 billion range and that, in the opinion of the Adviser, exhibit
superior earnings growth prospects and attractive stock market valuations.
See "Investment Objective and Policies."
A Prospectus for the Fund dated , 1996, which provides the
basic information you should know before investing in the Fund, may be
obtained without charge from the Fund at the address or telephone numbers
listed below or from the Fund's Distributor, Dean Witter Distributors Inc.,
or from Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. at any of its branch offices. This
Statement of Additional Information is not a Prospectus. It contains
information in addition to and more detailed than that set forth in the
Prospectus. It is intended to provide additional information regarding the
activities and operations of the Fund, and should be read in conjunction with
the Prospectus.
TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
(212) 392-2550
(800) 869-NEWS
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
The Fund and its Management ........................... 3
Trustees and Officers ................................. 6
Investment Practices and Policies ..................... 12
Investment Restrictions ............................... 15
Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage .................. 16
Underwriting .......................................... 17
The Distributor ....................................... 17
Shareholder Services .................................. 20
Repurchases and Redemptions ........................... 23
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes .................... 25
Performance Information ............................... 26
Description of Shares ................................. 26
Custodian and Transfer Agent .......................... 27
Independent Accountants ............................... 27
Reports to Shareholders ............................... 27
Legal Counsel ......................................... 28
Experts ............................................... 28
Registration Statement ................................ 28
Report of Independent Accountants ..................... 29
Statement of Assets and Liabilities at December 4,
1995 ................................................. 30
</TABLE>
2
<PAGE>
THE FUND AND ITS MANAGEMENT
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE FUND
The Fund is a trust of the type commonly known as a "Massachusetts
business trust" and was organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts on October 17, 1995. The Fund is one of the TCW/DW Funds, which
currently consist, in addition to the Fund, of TCW/DW Core Equity Trust,
TCW/DW Small Cap Growth Fund, TCW/DW North American Government Income Trust,
TCW/DW Latin American Growth Fund, TCW/DW Term Trust 2002, TCW/DW Income and
Growth Fund, TCW/DW Term Trust 2003, TCW/DW Balanced Fund, TCW/DW Term Trust
2000, TCW/DW Emerging Markets Opportunities Trust, and TCW/DW Total Return
Trust.
THE MANAGER
Dean Witter Services Company Inc. (the "Manager"), a Delaware corporation,
whose address is Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048, is the
Fund's Manager. The Manager is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dean Witter
InterCapital Inc. ("InterCapital"), a Delaware corporation. InterCapital is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Dean Witter, Discover & Co. ("DWDC"), a Delaware
corporation. In an internal reorganization which took place in January, 1993,
InterCapital assumed the management, administrative and investment advisory
activities previously performed by the InterCapital Division of Dean Witter
Reynolds Inc. ("DWR"), a broker-dealer affiliate of the Manager. (As
hereinafter used in this Statement of Additional Information, the term
"InterCapital" refers to DWR's InterCapital Division prior to the internal
reorganization and to Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. thereafter). The daily
management of the Fund is conducted by or under the direction of officers of
the Fund and of the Manager and Adviser (see below), subject to review by the
Fund's Board of Trustees. In addition, Trustees of the Fund may provide
guidance on economic factors and interest rate trends. Information as to
these Trustees and officers is contained under the caption "Trustees and
Officers."
Pursuant to a management agreement (the "Management Agreement") with the
Manager, the Fund has retained the Manager to manage the Fund's business
affairs, supervise the overall day-to-day operations of the Fund (other than
rendering investment advice) and provide all administrative services to the
Fund. Under the terms of the Management Agreement, the Manager also maintains
certain of the Fund's books and records and furnishes, at its own expense,
such office space, facilities, equipment, supplies, clerical help and
bookkeeping and certain legal services as the Fund may reasonably require in
the conduct of its business, including the preparation of prospectuses,
statements of additional information, proxy statements and reports required
to be filed with federal and state securities commissions (except insofar as
the participation or assistance of independent accountants and attorneys is,
in the opinion of the Manager, necessary or desirable). In addition, the
Manager pays the salaries of all personnel, including officers of the Fund,
who are employees of the Manager. The Manager also bears the cost of the
Fund's telephone service, heat, light, power and other utilities.
As full compensation for the services and facilities furnished to the Fund
and expenses of the Fund assumed by the Manager, the Fund pays the Manager
monthly compensation calculated daily by applying the annual rate of 0.60% to
the daily net assets of the Fund determined as of the close of each business
day. While the total fees payable under the Management Agreement and the
Advisory Agreement (described below) are higher than that paid by most other
investment companies for similar services, the Board of Trustees determined
that the total fees payable under the Management Agreement and the Advisory
Agreement (described below) are reasonable in relation to the scope and
quality of services to be provided thereunder. In this regard, in evaluating
the Management Agreement and the Advisory Agreement, the Board of Trustees
recognized that the Manager and the Adviser had, pursuant to an agreement
described under the section entitled "The Adviser," agreed to a division as
between themselves of the total fees necessary for the management of the
business affairs of and the furnishing of investment advice to the Fund.
Accordingly, in reviewing the Management Agreement and Advisory Agreement,
the Board viewed as most significant the question as to whether the total
fees payable under the Management and Advisory Agreements were in the
aggregate reasonable in relation to the services to be provided thereunder.
The Management Agreement provides that in the absence of willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its
obligations thereunder, the Manager is not liable to the Fund or any of its
investors for
3
<PAGE>
any act or omission by the Manager or for any losses sustained by the Fund or
its investors. The Management Agreement in no way restricts the Manager from
acting as manager to others.
InterCapital has undertaken to assume all Fund expenses (except for the
Plan of Distribution fee, foreign taxes withheld and brokerage fees) and the
Manager has undertaken to waive the compensation provided for in the
Management Agreement for services rendered, and the Adviser has undertaken to
waive the compensation provided for in its Advisory Agreement, until such
time as the Fund had $50 million of net assets or until six months from the
date of commencement of operations, whichever occurs first.
InterCapital has paid the organizational expenses of the Fund
(approximately $205,500,000) incurred prior to the offering of the Fund's
shares. The Fund has agreed to reimburse InterCapital for such expenses.
These expenses will be deferred by the Fund and amortized on the straight
line method over a period not to exceed five years from the date of
commencement of the Fund's operations.
The Management Agreement was approved by the Trustees on November 29, 1996
and became effective on that date. It was approved by InterCapital as the
then sole shareholder on November 30, 1995. The Management Agreement may be
terminated at any time, without penalty, on thirty days' notice by the
Trustees of the Fund, or by the Manager.
Under its terms, the Management Agreement will continue in effect until
April 30, 1996, and will continue in effect from year to year thereafter,
provided continuance of the Agreement is approved at least annually by the
vote of the Trustees of the Fund, including the vote of a majority of the
Trustees of the Fund who are not parties to the Management or Advisory
Agreement or "interested persons" (as defined in the Investment Company Act
of 1940, as amended (the "Act")) of any such party (the "Independent
Trustees").
THE ADVISER
TCW Funds Management, Inc. (the "Adviser") is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
The TCW Group, Inc. ("TCW"), whose direct and indirect subsidiaries,
including Trust Company of the West and TCW Asset Management Company, provide
a variety of trust, investment management and investment advisory services.
As of December 31, 1995, the Adviser and its affiliates had approximately $52
billion under management or committed to management. Trust Company of the
West and its affiliates have managed equity securities portfolios for
institutional investors since 1971. The Adviser is headquartered at 865 South
Figueroa Street, Suite 1800, Los Angeles, California 90017 and is registered
as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. In
addition to the Fund, the Adviser serves as investment adviser to eleven
other TCW/DW Funds: TCW/DW Small Cap Growth Fund, TCW/DW Core Equity Trust,
TCW/DW North American Government Income Trust, TCW/DW Latin American Growth
Fund, TCW/DW Term Trust 2002, TCW/DW Income and Growth Fund, TCW/DW Term
Trust 2003, TCW/DW Balanced Fund, TCW/DW Term Trust 2000, TCW/DW Emerging
Markets Opportunities Trust and TCW/DW Total Return Trust. The Adviser also
serves as investment adviser to TCW Convertible Securities Fund, Inc., a
closed-end investment company listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and to
TCW Galileo Funds, Inc., an open-end management investment company, and acts
as adviser or sub-adviser to other investment companies.
Robert A. Day, who is Chairman of the Board of Directors of TCW, may be
deemed to be a control person of the Adviser by virtue of the aggregate
ownership of Mr. Day and his family of more than 25% of the outstanding
voting stock of TCW.
Pursuant to an investment advisory agreement (the "Advisory Agreement")
with the Adviser, the Fund has retained the Adviser to invest the Fund's
assets, including the placing of orders for the purchase and sale of
portfolio securities. The Adviser obtains and evaluates such information and
advice relating to the economy, securities markets, and specific securities
as it considers necessary or useful to continuously manage the assets of the
Fund in a manner consistent with its investment objective. In addition, the
Adviser pays the salaries of all personnel, including officers of the Fund,
who are employees of the Adviser.
As full compensation for the services and facilities furnished to the Fund
and expenses of the Fund assumed by the Adviser, the Fund pays the Adviser
monthly compensation calculated daily by applying the annual rate of 0.40% to
the daily net assets of the Fund determined as of the close of each business
day.
4
<PAGE>
The Advisory Agreement provides that in the absence of willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its
obligations thereunder, the Adviser is not liable to the Fund or any of its
investors for any act or omission by the Adviser or for any losses sustained
by the Fund or its investors. The Advisory Agreement in no way restricts the
Adviser from acting as investment adviser to others.
The Advisory Agreement was approved by the Trustees on November 29, 1995
and by InterCapital as the then sole shareholder on November 30, 1995. The
Advisory Agreement may be terminated at any time, without penalty, on thirty
days' notice by the Trustees of the Fund, by the holders of a majority, as
defined in the Act, of the outstanding shares of the Fund, or by the Adviser.
The Agreement will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment (as
defined in the Act).
Under its terms, the Advisory Agreement will continue in effect until
April 30, 1997, and provides that it will continue from year to year
thereafter, provided continuance of the Agreement is approved at least
annually by the vote of the holders of a majority, as defined in the Act, of
the outstanding shares of the Fund, or by the Trustees of the Fund; provided
that in either event such continuance is approved annually by the vote of a
majority of the Independent Trustees of the Fund, which vote must be cast in
person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
Expenses not expressly assumed by the Manager under the Management
Agreement, by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement or by the Distributor
of the Fund's shares, Dean Witter Distributors Inc. ("Distributors" or the
"Distributor") (see "The Distributor"), will be paid by the Fund. The
expenses borne by the Fund include, but are not limited to: expenses of the
Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 (see "The Distributor"); charges
and expenses of any registrar; custodian, stock transfer and dividend
disbursing agent; brokerage commissions and securities transaction costs;
taxes; engraving and printing of share certificates; registration costs of
the Fund and its shares under federal and state securities laws; the cost and
expense of printing, including typesetting, and distributing Prospectuses and
Statements of Additional Information of the Fund and supplements thereto to
the Fund's shareholders; all expenses of shareholders' and trustees' meetings
and of preparing, printing and mailing of proxy statements and reports to
shareholders; fees and travel expenses of trustees or members of any advisory
board or committee who are not employees of the Manager or Adviser or any
corporate affiliate of either; all expenses incident to any dividend,
withdrawal or redemption options; charges and expenses of any outside service
used for pricing of the Fund's shares; fees and expenses of legal counsel,
including counsel to the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Fund
or of the Manager or the Adviser (not including compensation or expenses of
attorneys who are employees of the Manager or the Adviser) and independent
accountants; membership dues of industry associations; interest on Fund
borrowings; postage; insurance premiums on property or personnel (including
officers and trustees) of the Fund which inure to its benefit; extraordinary
expenses (including, but not limited to, legal claims and liabilities and
litigation costs and any indemnification relating thereto); and all other
costs of the Fund's operation.
Pursuant to the Management and Advisory Agreements, total operating
expenses of the Fund are subject to applicable limitations under rules and
regulations of states where the Fund is authorized to sell its shares.
Therefore, operating expenses are effectively subject to the most restrictive
of such limitations as the same may be amended from time to time. Presently,
the most restrictive limitation is as follows. If, in any fiscal year, the
Fund's total operating expenses, exclusive of taxes, interest, brokerage
fees, certain custody fees, distribution fees and extraordinary expenses (to
the extent permitted by applicable state securities laws and regulations),
exceed 2 1/2 % of the first $30,000,000 of average daily net assets, 2% of
the next $70,000,000 and 1 1/2 % of any excess over $100,000,000, the Manager
and the Adviser will reimburse the Fund, on a pro rata basis, for the amount
of such excess. Such amount, if any, will be calculated daily and credited on
a monthly basis.
DWR and TCW have entered into an Agreement for the purpose of creating,
managing, administering and distributing a family of investment companies and
other managed pooled investment vehicles offered on a retail basis within the
United States. The Agreement contemplates that, subject to approval of the
board of trustees or directors of a particular investment entity, DWR or its
affiliates will provide management and distribution services and TCW or its
affiliates will provide investment advisory services for each such investment
entity. The Agreement sets forth the terms and conditions of the
relationship between TCW and its affiliates and DWR and its affiliates and
the manner in which the parties will implement the creation and maintenance
of the investment entities, including the parties' expectations as to
respective allocation of fees to be paid by an investment entity to each
party for the services to be provided to it by such party.
5
<PAGE>
The Fund has acknowledged that each of DWR and TCW owns its own name,
initials and logo. The Fund has agreed to change its name at the request of
either the Manager or the Adviser, if the Management Agreement between the
Manager and the Fund or the Advisory Agreement between the Adviser and the
Fund is terminated.
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Trustees and Executive Officers of the Fund, their principal business
occupations during the last five years and their affiliations, if any, with
the Manager or the Adviser, and the affiliated companies of either, and the
11 TCW/DW Funds and with the 79 investment companies of which InterCapital
serves as investment manager or investment adviser (the "Dean Witter Funds"),
are shown below.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME, AGE, POSITION WITH FUND AND ADDRESS PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION DURING LAST FIVE YEARS
- ------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
John C. Argue (63) Of Counsel, Argue Pearson Harbison & Myers (law firm); Director,
Trustee Avery Dennison Corporation (manufacturer of self-adhesive products
c/o Argue Pearson Harbison & Myers and office supplies) and CalMat Company (producer of aggregates,
801 South Flower Street asphalt and ready mixed concrete); Chairman, Rose Hills Memorial
Los Angeles, California Park (cemetery); advisory director, LAACO Ltd. (owner and operator
of private clubs and real estate); director or trustee of various
business and not-for-profit corporations; Director, TCW Galileo
Funds, Inc.; Trustee, University of Southern California, Occidental
College and Pomona College; Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds.
Richard M. DeMartini* (42) President and Chief Operating Officer of Dean Witter Capital, a
Trustee division of DWR; Director of DWR, the Manager, InterCapital,
Two World Trade Center Distributors and Dean Witter Trust Company ("DWTC"); Executive
New York, New York Vice President of Dean Witter, Discover & Co. ("DWDC"); Member
of the DWDC Management Committee; Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds;
member (since January, 1993) and Chairman (since January, 1995)
of the Board of Directors of NASDAQ.
Charles A. Fiumefreddo* (62) Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Manager,
Chairman of the Board, Chief InterCapital and Distributors; Executive Vice President and Director
Executive Officer and Trustee of DWR; Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Trustee
Two World Trade Center of the TCW/DW Funds; Chairman of the Board, Director or Trustee,
New York, New York President and Chief Executive Officer of the Dean Witter Funds;
Chairman and Director of DWTC; Director and/or officer of various
DWDC subsidiaries; formerly Executive Vice President and Director
of DWDC (until February, 1993).
John R. Haire (70) Chairman of the Audit Committee and Chairman of the Committee of
Trustee Independent Directors or Trustees of each of the Dean Witter Funds;
Two World Trade Center formerly President, Council for Aid to Education (1978-October,
New York, New York 1989) and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Anchor Corporation,
an Investment Adviser (1964-1978); Director of Washington National
Corporation (insurance); Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds.
6
<PAGE>
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME, AGE, POSITION WITH FUND AND ADDRESS PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION DURING LAST FIVE YEARS
- ------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson (46) Senior Partner, Johnson Smick International, Inc., a consulting
Trustee firm; Koch Professor of International Economics and Director of
c/o Johnson Smick International, Inc. the Center for Global Market Studies at George Mason University
1133 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. (since September, 1990); Co-Chairman and a founder of the Group
Washington, D.C. of Seven Council (G7C), an international economic commission (since
September, 1990); Director of NASDAQ (since June, 1995); Director
of Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc. (broker-dealer); formerly Vice
Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
(February, 1986-August, 1990) and Assistant Secretary of the U.S.
Treasury (1982-1986); Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds; Director or
Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds.
Paul Kolton (71) Chairman of the Audit Committee and Chairman of the Committee of
Trustee Independent Trustees of the TCW/DW Funds; former Chairman of the
c/o Gordon Altman Butowsky Weitzen Financial Accounting Standards Advisory Council and Chairman and
Shalov & Wein Chief Executive Officer of the American Stock Exchange; Director
Counsel to the Indepenent Trustees of UCC Investors Holding Inc. (Uniroyal Chemical Company Inc.);
114 West 47th Street director or trustee of various not-for-profit organizations;
New York, New York Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds.
Thomas E. Larkin, Jr.* (56) Executive Vice President, The TCW Group, Inc.; President and Director
President and Trustee of Trust Company of the West; Vice Chairman and Director of TCW
865 South Figueroa Street Asset Management Company; Chairman of the Adviser; President and
Los Angeles, California Director of TCW Galileo Funds, Inc.; Senior Vice President of TCW
Convertible Securities Fund, Inc.; Vice Chairman of the Advisory
Council for the College of Business Administration of the University
of Notre Dame; Director of the California Pediatric and Family
Medicine Center; President and Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds.
Michael E. Nugent (59) General Partner, Triumph Capital, L.P., a private investment
Trustee partnership; formerly Vice President, Bankers Trust Company and
c/o Triumph Capital, L.P. BT Capital Corporation (1984-1988); Director of various business
237 Park Avenue organizations; Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds; Director or Trustee
New York, New York of the Dean Witter Funds.
John L. Schroeder (65) Retired; Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; Trustee
Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds; formerly Executive Vice President and Chief
c/o Gordon Altman Butowsky Weitzen Investment Officer of the Home Insurance Company (August,
Shalov & Wein 1991-September, 1995); Director or Trustee of Dean Witter Funds;
Counsel to the Independent Trustees Director of Citizens Utilities Company; formerly Chairman and Chief
114 West 47th Street Investment Officer of Axe-Houghton Management and the Axe-Houghton
New York, New York Funds (April, 1983-June 1991) and President of USF&G Financial
Services, Inc. (June, 1990-June, 1991).
</TABLE>
7
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME, AGE, POSITION WITH FUND AND ADDRESS PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION DURING LAST FIVE YEARS
- ------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Marc. I. Stern* (51) President, The TCW Group, Inc. (since May, 1992); President and
Trustee Director of the Adviser (since May, 1992); Vice Chairman and Director
865 South Figueroa Street of TCW Asset Management Company (since May, 1992); Executive Vice
Los Angeles, California President and Director of Trust Company of the West; Chairman and
Director of the TCW Galileo Funds, Inc.; Trustee of the TCW/DW
Funds; Chairman of TCW Americas Development, Inc. (since November,
1990); Chairman of TCW Asia, Limited (since January 1993); Chairman
of TCW London International, Limited (since March, 1993); formerly
President of SunAmerica, Inc. (financial services company); Director
of Qualcomm, Incorporated (wireless communications); Director or
Trustee of various not-for-profit organizations.
Sheldon Curtis (63) Senior Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of the Manager
Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel and InterCapital; Senior Vice President and Secretary of DWTC;
Two World Trade Center Senior Vice President, Assistant Secretary and Assistant General
New York, New York Counsel of Distributors; Assistant Secretary of DWR and Vice
President, Secretary and General Counsel of the TCW/DW Funds and
the Dean Witter Funds.
Douglas H. Foreman (37) Managing Director of the Adviser, Trust Company of the West and
Vice President TCW Asset Management Company (since May, 1994); previously portfolio
865 South Figueroa Street manager with Putnam Investments.
Los Angeles, California
Christopher J. Ainley (37) Senior Vice President of the Adviser, Trust Company of the West
Vice President and TCW Asset Management Company (since May, 1994); previously
865 South Figueroa Street portfolio manager with Putnam Investments.
Los Angeles, California
Thomas F. Caloia (48) First Vice President and Assistant Treasurer of the Manager and
Treasurer InterCapital and Treasurer of the TCW/DW Funds and the Dean Witter
Two World Trade Center Funds.
New York, New York <FN>
- ------------
* Denotes Trustees who are "interested persons" of the Fund, as defined
in the Act.
</TABLE>
In addition, Robert M. Scanlan, President and Chief Operating Officer of
the Manager and InterCapital, Executive Vice President of Distributors and
DWTC and Director of DWTC, and David A. Hughey, Executive Vice President and
Chief Administrative Officer of the Manager, InterCapital, Distributors and
DWTC and Director of DWTC, and Robert S. Giambrone, Senior Vice President of
InterCapital, DWSC, Distributors and DWTC, are Vice Presidents of the Fund,
and Marilyn K. Cranney and Barry Fink, First Vice Presidents and Assistant
General Counsels of the Manager and InterCapital, and Lou Anne D. McInnis and
Ruth Rossi, Vice Presidents and Assistant General Counsels of the Manager and
InterCapital, and Carsten Otto, a Staff Attorney with InterCapital, are
Assistant Secretaries of the Fund.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES; RESPONSIBILITIES AND COMPENSATION OF INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES
As mentioned above under the caption "The Fund and its Management," the
Fund is one of the TCW/DW Funds, a group of investment companies for which
TCW Funds Management, Inc. serves as Investment Adviser and Dean Witter
Services Company Inc. as Manager. As of the date of this Statement of
Additional Information, there are a total of 11 TCW/DW Funds. As of December
31, 1995, the TCW/DW Funds had total net assets of approximately $52 billion
and approximately a quarter of a million shareholders.
8
<PAGE>
The Board of Trustees of each TCW/DW Fund has ten (10) members. Six
Trustees, that is, a majority of the total number, have no affiliation or
business connection with TCW Funds Management, Inc. or Dean Witter Services
Company Inc. or any of their affiliated persons and do not own any stock or
other securities issued by DWDC or TCW, the parent companies of Dean Witter
Services Company Inc. and TCW Funds Management, Inc., respectively. These are
the "disinterested" or "independent" Trustees. The Independent Trustees are
the same for each of the TCW/DW Funds. Five of the six Independent Trustees
are also Independent Trustees of the Dean Witter Funds. As of the date of
this Statement of Additional Information, there are a total of 79 Dean Witter
Funds. Four of the TCW/DW Funds' Trustees, that is, the management Trustees,
are affiliated with either Dean Witter Services Company Inc. or TCW. The four
management Trustees are the same for each of the TCW/DW Funds.
As noted in a federal court ruling, "[T]he independent directors . . . are
expected to look after the interests of shareholders by 'furnishing an
independent check upon management,' especially with respect to fees paid to
the investment company's sponsor." In addition to their general "watchdog"
duties, the Independent Trustees are charged with a wide variety of
responsibilities under the Act. In order to perform their duties effectively,
the Independent Trustees are required to review and understand large amounts
of material, often of a highly technical and legal nature.
The TCW/DW Funds seek as Independent Trustees individuals of distinction
and experience in business and finance, government service, law or academia;
that is, people whose advice and counsel are valuable and in demand by others
and for whom there is often competition. To accept a position on the Funds'
Boards, such individuals may reject other attractive assignments because of
the demands made on their time by the Funds. Indeed, to serve on the Funds'
Boards, certain Trustees who would be qualified and in demand to serve on
bank boards would be prohibited by law from serving at the same time as a
director of a national bank and as a Trustee of a Fund.
The Independent Trustees are required to select and nominate individuals
to fill any Independent Trustee vacancy on the Board of any Fund that has a
Rule 12b-1 plan of distribution. Since most of the TCW/DW Funds have such a
plan, and since all of the Funds' Boards have the same independent members,
who comprise a majority of each Board, the Independent Trustees effectively
control the selection of other Independent Trustees of all the TCW/DW Funds.
GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE OF THE TCW/DW FUNDS
While the regulatory system establishes both general guidelines and
specific duties for the Independent Trustees, the governance arrangements
from one investment company group to another vary significantly. In some
groups the Independent Trustees perform their role by attendance at periodic
meetings of the board of directors with study of materials furnished to them
between meetings. At the other extreme, an investment company complex may
employ a full-time staff to assist the Independent Trustees in the
performance of their duties.
The governance structure of the TCW/DW Funds lies between these two
extremes. The Independent Trustees, the Funds' Manager and the Adviser alike
believe that these arrangements are effective and serve the interests of the
Funds' shareholders. All of the Independent Trustees serve as members of the
Audit Committee and the Committee of the Independent Trustees. Three of them
also serve as members of the Derivatives Committee.
The Committee of the Independent Trustees is charged with recommending to
the full Board approval of management, advisory and administration contracts,
Rule 12b-1 plans and distribution and underwriting agreements, continually
reviewing Fund performance, checking on the pricing of portfolio securities,
brokerage commissions, transfer agent costs and performance, and trading
among Funds in the same complex, and approving fidelity bond and related
insurance coverage and allocations, as well as other matters that arise from
time to time.
The Audit Committee is charged with recommending to the full Board the
engagement or discharge of the Fund's independent accountants; directing
investigations into matters within the scope of the independent accountants'
duties, including the power to retain outside specialists; reviewing with the
independent accountants the audit plan and results of the auditing
engagement; approving professional services provided by the independent
accountants and other accounting firms prior to the performance of such
services; reviewing the independence of
9
<PAGE>
the independent accountants; considering the range of audit and non-audit
fees; reviewing the adequacy of the Fund's system of internal controls;
advising the independent accountants and management personnel that they have
direct access to the Committee at all times; and preparing and submitting
Committee meeting minutes to the full Board.
Finally, the Board of each Fund has established a Derivatives Committee to
establish parameters for and oversee the activities of the Fund with respect
to derivative investments, if any, made by the Fund.
During the calendar year ended December 31, 1995, the three Committees
held a combined total of meetings. The Committee meetings are sometimes
held away from the offices of the Adviser and the Manager and sometimes in
the Board room of the Manager. These meetings are held without management
directors or officers being present, unless and until they may be invited to
the meeting for purposes of furnishing information or making a report. These
separate meetings provide the Independent Trustees an opportunity to explore
in depth with their own independent legal counsel, independent auditors and
other independent consultants, as needed, the issues they believe should be
addressed and resolved in the interests of the Funds' shareholders.
DUTIES OF CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES
The Chairman of the Committees is responsible for keeping abreast of
regulatory and industry developments and the Funds' operations and
management. He screens and/or prepares written materials and identifies
critical issues for the Independent Trustees to consider, develops agendas
for Committee meetings, determines the type and amount of information that
the Committees will need to form a judgment on the issues, and arranges to
have the information furnished. He also arranges for the services of
independent experts to be provided to the Committees and consults with them
in advance of meetings to help refine reports and to focus on critical
issues. Members of the Committees believe that the person who serves as
Chairman of all three Committees and guides their efforts is pivotal to the
effective functioning of the Committees.
The Chairman of the Committees also maintains continuous contact with the
Funds' management, with independent counsel to the Independent Trustees and
with the Funds' independent auditors. He arranges for a series of special
meetings involving the annual review of investment advisory, management and
other operating contracts of the Funds and, on behalf of the Committees,
conducts negotiations with the Adviser and the Manager and other service
providers. In effect, the Chairman of the Committees serves as a combination
of chief executive and support staff of the Independent Trustees.
The Chairman of the Committees is not employed by any other organization
and devotes his time primarily to the services he performs as Committee
Chairman and Independent Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds and as an Independent
Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds. The current Committee Chairman has had a
combined total of more than 35 years experience in the securities, financial
and investment company industries. He has served as Chairman and Chief
Executive of the American Stock Exchange, Inc. and Chairman of the Financial
Accounting Standards Advisory Council.
VALUE OF HAVING SAME INDIVIDUALS AS INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES FOR ALL TCW/DW FUNDS
The Independent Trustees and the Funds' management believe that having the
same Independent Trustees for each of the TCW/DW Funds is in the best
interests of all the Funds' shareholders. This arrangement avoids the
duplication of effort that would arise from having different groups of
individuals serving as Independent Trustees for each of the Funds or even of
sub-groups of Funds. It is believed that having the same individuals serve as
Independent Trustees of all the Funds tends to increase their knowledge and
expertise regarding matters which affect the Fund complex generally and
enhances their ability to negotiate on behalf of each Fund with the Fund's
service providers. This arrangement also precludes the likelihood of separate
groups of Independent Trustees arriving at conflicting decisions regarding
operations and management of the Funds and avoids the cost and confusion that
would likely ensue. Finally, it is believed that having the same Independent
Trustees serve on all Fund Boards enhances the ability of each Fund to
obtain, at modest cost to each separate Fund, the services of Independent
Trustees, and a Chairman of their Committees, of the caliber, experience and
business acumen of the individuals who serve as Independent Trustees of the
TCW/DW Funds.
10
<PAGE>
COMPENSATION OF INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES
The Fund will pay each Independent Trustee an annual fee of $3,000 plus a
per meeting fee of $250 for meetings of the Board of Trustees or committees
of the Board of Trustees attended by the Trustee (the Fund will pay the
Chairman of the Audit Committee an annual fee of $1,200 and will pay the
Chairman of the Committee of the Independent Trustees an additional annual
fee of $2,400, in each case inclusive of the Committee meeting fees). The
Fund will also reimburse such Trustees for travel and other out-of-pocket
expenses incurred by them in connection with attending such meetings.
Trustees and officers of the Fund who are or have been employed by the
Manager or the Adviser or an affiliated company of either will not receive
any compensation or expense reimbursement from the Fund. Payments will
commence as of the time the Fund begins paying management and advisory fees,
which, pursuant to undertakings by the Manager and the Adviser, will be at
such time as the Fund has $50 million of net assets or six months from the
date of commencement of the Fund's operations, whichever occurs first.
At such time as the Fund has been in operation, and has paid fees to the
Independent Trustees, for a full fiscal year, and assuming that during such
fiscal year the Fund holds the same number of Board and committee meetings as
were held by the other TCW/DW Funds during the calendar year ended December
31, 1995, it is estimated that compensation paid to each Independent Trustee
during such fiscal year will be the amount shown in the following table.
FUND COMPENSATION (ESTIMATED)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AGGREGATE
COMPENSATION
NAME OF INDEPENDENT TRUSTEE FROM THE FUND
- --------------------------- ---------------
<S> <C>
John C. Argue .............. $ 6,136
John R. Haire .............. 6,136
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson ..... 6,136
Paul Kolton ................ 8,350*
Michael E. Nugent .......... 6,136
John L. Schroeder .......... 6,136
<FN>
- ------------
* Of Mr. Kolton's compensation from the Fund, $3,600 is paid to him as
Chairman of the Committee of the Independent Trustees ($2,400) and as
Chairman of the Audit Committee ($1,200).
</TABLE>
The following table illustrates the compensation paid to the Fund's
Independent Trustees for the calendar year ended December 31, 1995 for
services to the thirteen TCW/DW Funds and, in the case of Messrs. Haire,
Johnson, Kolton, Nugent and Schroeder, the seventy-nine Dean Witter Funds
that were in operation at December 31, 1995, and, in the case of Mr. Argue,
TCW Galileo Funds, Inc. With respect to Messrs. Haire, Johnson, Kolton,
Nugent and Schroeder, the Dean Witter Funds are included solely because of a
limited exchange privilege between various TCW/DW Funds and five Dean Witter
Money Market Funds. With respect to Mr. Argue, TCW Galileo Funds, Inc. is
included solely because the Fund's Adviser, TCW Funds Management, Inc., also
serves as Adviser to that investment company. Mr. Schroeder was elected as a
Trustee of each TCW/DW Fund then in existence on April 20, 1995.
CASH COMPENSATION FROM FUND GROUPS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR SERVICE AS TOTAL CASH
FOR SERVICE AS CHAIRMAN OF COMPENSATION FOR
FOR SERVICE AS DIRECTOR OR COMMITTEES OF SERVICES TO 73 DEAN
TRUSTEE AND TRUSTEE AND FOR SERVICE AS INDEPENDENT WITTER FUNDS, 13
COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMITTEE MEMBER DIRECTOR OF DIRECTORS/ TCW/DW FUNDS AND
NAME OF INDEPENDENT OF 13 TCW/DW OF 73 DEAN WITTER TCW GALILEO TRUSTEES AND TCW GALILEO FUNDS,
TRUSTEE FUNDS FUNDS FUNDS, INC. AUDIT COMMITTEES INC.
- -------------------------- ---------------- ----------------- -------------- ---------------- -------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
John C. Argue ............. $63,250 -- $37,000 -- $100,250
John R. Haire ............. 66,950 $101,061 -- $225,563** 393,574
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson .... 60,750 122,461 -- -- 183,211
Paul Kolton ............... 51,850 128,961 -- 34,200*** 215,011
Michael E. Nugent ......... 52,650 115,761 -- -- 168,411
John L. Schroeder ......... -- 85,938 -- -- 85,938
</TABLE>
- ------------
** For the 73 Dean Witter Funds.
*** For the 13 TCW/DW Funds.
11
<PAGE>
As of the date of this Statement of Additional Information, the aggregate
number of shares of beneficial interest of the Fund owned by the Fund's
officers and Trustees as a group was less than 1 percent of the Fund's shares
of beneficial interest outstanding.
INVESTMENT PRACTICES AND POLICIES
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES
As discussed in the Prospectus, the Fund may invest in, among other
securities, securities issued by the U.S. Government, its agencies or
instrumentalities. Such securities include:
(1) U.S. Treasury bills (maturities of one year or less), U.S.
Treasury notes (maturities of one to ten years) and U.S. Treasury bonds
(generally maturities of greater than ten years), all of which are direct
obligations of the U.S. Government and, as such, are backed by the "full
faith and credit" of the United States.
(2) Securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S.
Government which are backed by the full faith and credit of the United
States. Among the agencies and instrumentalities issuing such obligations
are the Federal Housing Administration, the Government National Mortgage
Association ("GNMA"), the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the
Export-Import Bank, the Farmers Home Administration, the General Services
Administration, the Maritime Administration and the Small Business
Administration. The maturities of such obligations range from three months
to 30 years.
(3) Securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities which are not
backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, but whose
issuing agency or instrumentality has the right to borrow, to meet its
obligations, from an existing line of credit with the U.S. Treasury. Among
the agencies and instrumentalities issuing such obligations are the
Tennessee Valley Authority, the Federal National Mortgage Association
("FNMA"), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("FHLMC") and the
U.S. Postal Service. The U.S. Treasury has no legal obligation to provide
such line of credit and may choose not to do so.
(4) Securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities which are not
backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, but which are
backed by the credit of the issuing agency or instrumentality. Among the
agencies and instrumentalities issuing such obligations are the Federal
Farm Credit System and the Federal Home Loan Banks.
Neither the value nor the yield of the U.S. Government securities which
may be invested in by the Fund are guaranteed by the U.S. Government. Such
values and yield will fluctuate with changes in prevailing interest rates and
other factors. Generally, as prevailing interest rates rise, the value of any
U.S. Government securities held by the Fund will fall. Such securities with
longer maturities generally tend to produce higher yields and are subject to
greater market fluctuation as a result of changes in interest rates than debt
securities with shorter maturities. The Fund is not limited as to the
maturities of the U.S. Government securities in which it may invest.
MONEY MARKET SECURITIES
As stated in the Prospectus, the money market instruments which the Fund
may purchase include U.S. Government securities, bank obligations, Eurodollar
certificates of deposit, obligations of savings institutions, fully insured
certificates of deposit and commercial paper. Such securities are limited to:
U.S. Government Securities. Obligations issued or guaranteed as to
principal and interest by the United States or its agencies (such as the
Export-Import Bank of the United States, Federal Housing Administration and
Government National Mortgage Association) or its instrumentalities (such as
the Federal Home Loan Bank), including Treasury bills, notes and bonds;
Bank Obligations. Obligations (including certificates of deposit, bankers'
acceptances, commercial paper (see below) and other debt obligations) of
banks subject to regulation by the U.S. Government and having total assets of
$1 billion or more, and instruments secured by such obligations, not
including obligations of foreign branches of domestic banks except as
permitted below;
Eurodollar Certificates of Deposit. Eurodollar certificates of deposit
issued by foreign branches of domestic banks having total assets of $1
billion or more (investments in Eurodollar certificates may be affected by
changes in currency rates or exchange control regulations, or changes in
governmental administration or economic or monetary policy in the United
States and abroad);
12
<PAGE>
Obligations of Savings Institutions. Certificates of deposit of savings
banks and savings and loan associations, having total assets of $1 billion or
more (investments in savings institutions above $100,000 in principal amount
are not protected by Federal deposit insurance);
Fully Insured Certificates of Deposit. Certificates of deposit of banks
and savings institutions, having total assets of less than $1 billion, if the
principal amount of the obligation is insured by the Bank Insurance Fund or
the Savings Association Insurance Fund (each of which is administered by the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation), limited to $100,000 principal amount
per certificate and to 15% or less of the Fund's total assets in all such
obligations and in all illiquid assets, in the aggregate; and
Commercial Paper. Commercial paper rated within the two highest grades by
Standard & Poor's Corporation or the highest grade by Moody's Investors
Service, Inc. or, if not rated, issued by a company having an outstanding
debt issue rated at least AAA by Standard & Poor's or Aaa by Moody's.
LENDING OF PORTFOLIO SECURITIES
Consistent with applicable regulatory requirements, the Fund may lend its
portfolio securities to brokers, dealers and other financial institutions,
provided that such loans are callable at any time by the Fund (subject to
notice provisions described below), and are at all times secured by cash or
money market instruments, which are maintained in a segregated account
pursuant to applicable regulations and that are equal to at least the market
value, determined daily, of the loaned securities. The advantage of such
loans is that the Fund continues to receive the income on the loaned
securities while at the same time earning interest on the cash amounts
deposited as collateral, which will be invested in short-term obligations.
The Fund will not lend its portfolio securities if such loans are not
permitted by the laws or regulations of any state in which its shares are
qualified for sale and will not lend more than 25% of the value of its total
assets. A loan may be terminated by the borrower on one business day's
notice, or by the Fund on two business days' notice. If the borrower fails to
deliver the loaned securities within two days after receipt of notice, the
Fund could use the collateral to replace the securities while holding the
borrower liable for any excess of replacement cost over collateral. As with
any extensions of credit, there are risks of delay in recovery and in some
cases even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the
securities fail financially. However, these loans of portfolio securities
will only be made to firms deemed by the Adviser to be creditworthy and when
the income which can be earned from such loans justifies the attendant risks.
Upon termination of the loan, the borrower is required to return the
securities to the Fund. Any gain or loss in the market price during the loan
period would inure to the Fund. The creditworthiness of firms to which the
Fund lends its portfolio securities will be monitored on an ongoing basis by
the Adviser pursuant to procedures adopted and reviewed, on an ongoing basis,
by the Board of Trustees of the Fund.
When voting or consent rights which accompany loaned securities pass to
the borrower, the Fund will follow the policy of calling the loaned
securities, to be delivered within one day after notice, to permit the
exercise of such rights if the matters involved would have a material effect
on the Fund's investment in such loaned securities. The Fund will pay
reasonable finder's, administrative and custodial fees in connection with a
loan of its securities.
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS
When cash may be available for only a few days, it may be invested by the
Fund in repurchase agreements until such time as it may otherwise be invested
or used for payments of obligations of the Fund. These agreements, which may
be viewed as a type of secured lending by the Fund, typically involve the
acquisition by the Fund of debt securities from a selling financial
institution such as a bank, savings and loan association or broker-dealer.
The agreement provides that the Fund will sell back to the institution, and
that the institution will repurchase, the underlying security ("collateral")
at a specified price and at a fixed time in the future, usually not more than
seven days from the date of purchase. The collateral will be maintained in a
segregated account and will be marked to market daily to determine that the
value of the collateral, as specified in the agreement, does not decrease
below the purchase price plus accrued interest. If such decrease occurs,
additional collateral will be requested and, when received, added to the
account to maintain full collateralization. The Fund will accrue interest
from the institution until the time when the repurchase is to occur. Although
such date is deemed by the Fund to be the maturity date of a repurchase
agreement, the maturities of securities subject to repurchase agreements are
not subject to any limits.
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<PAGE>
While repurchase agreements involve certain risks not associated with
direct investments in debt securities, the Fund follows procedures designed
to minimize such risks. These procedures include effecting repurchase
transactions only with large, well-capitalized and well-established financial
institutions whose financial condition will be continually monitored by the
Adviser subject to procedures established by the Board of Trustees of the
Fund. In addition, as described above, the value of the collateral underlying
the repurchase agreement will be at least equal to the repurchase price,
including any accrued interest earned on the repurchase agreement. In the
event of a default or bankruptcy by a selling financial institution, the Fund
will seek to liquidate such collateral. However, the exercising of the Fund's
right to liquidate such collateral could involve certain costs or delays and,
to the extent that proceeds from any sale upon a default of the obligation to
repurchase were less than the repurchase price, the Fund could suffer a loss.
It is the current policy of the Fund not to invest in repurchase agreements
that do not mature within seven days if any such investment, together with
any other illiquid assets held by the Fund, amounts to more than 15% of its
net assets.
WARRANTS
The Fund may invest up to 5% of the value of its net assets in warrants,
including not more than 2% in warrants not listed on either the New York or
American Stock Exchange. Warrants are, in effect, an option to purchase
equity securities at a specific price, generally valid for a specific period
of time, and have no voting rights, pay no dividends and have no rights with
respect to the corporations issuing them. The Fund may acquire warrants
attached to other securities without reference to the foregoing limitations.
WHEN-ISSUED AND DELAYED DELIVERY SECURITIES AND FORWARD COMMITMENTS
From time to time, in the ordinary course of business, the Fund may
purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis and may
purchase or sell securities on a forward commitment basis. When such
transactions are negotiated, the price is fixed at the time of the
commitment, but delivery and payment can take place a month or more after the
date of the commitment. The securities so purchased or sold are subject to
market fluctuation and no interest or dividends accrue to the purchaser prior
to the settlement date. While the Fund will only purchase securities on a
when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis with the intention
of acquiring the securities, the Fund may sell the securities before the
settlement date, if it is deemed advisable. At the time the Fund makes the
commitment to purchase or sell securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery
or forward commitment basis, the Fund will record the transaction and
thereafter reflect the value, each day, of such security purchased or, if a
sale, the proceeds to be received, in determining its net asset value. At the
time of delivery of the securities, the value may be more or less than the
purchase or sale price. The Fund will also establish a segregated account
with the Fund's custodian bank in which it will continuously maintain cash or
U.S. Government securities or other high grade liquid debt portfolio
securities equal in value to commitments to purchase securities on a
when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis; subject to this
requirement, the Fund may purchase securities on such basis without limit. An
increase in the percentage of the Fund's assets committed to the purchase of
securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis may increase the
volatility of the Fund's net asset value.
WHEN, AS AND IF ISSUED SECURITIES
The Fund may purchase securities on a "when, as and if issued" basis under
which the issuance of the security depends upon the occurrence of a
subsequent event, such as approval of a merger, corporate reorganization,
leveraged buyout or debt restructuring. The commitment for the purchase of
any such security will not be recognized in the portfolio of the Fund until
the Adviser determines that issuance of the security is probable. At such
time, the Fund will record the transaction and, in determining its net asset
value, will reflect the value of the security daily. At such time, the Fund
will also establish a segregated account with its custodian bank in which it
will continuously maintain cash or U.S. Government securities or other high
grade liquid debt portfolio securities equal in value to recognized
commitments for such securities. Settlement of the trade will occur within
five business days of the occurrence of the subsequent event. Once a
segregated account has been established, if the anticipated event does not
occur and the securities are not issued the Fund will have lost an investment
opportunity. The Fund may purchase securities on such basis without limit. An
increase in the percentage of the Fund's assets committed to the purchase of
securities on a "when, as and if issued" basis may increase the volatility
14
<PAGE>
of its net asset value. The Adviser does not believe that the net asset value
of the Fund will be adversely affected by its purchase of securities on such
basis. The Fund may also sell securities on a "when, as and if issued" basis
provided that the issuance of the security will result automatically from the
exchange or conversion of a security owned by the Fund at the time of the
sale.
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER
It is anticipated that the Fund's portfolio turnover rate generally will
not exceed 150%. A 100% turnover rate would occur, for example, if 100% of
the securities held in the Fund's portfolio (excluding all securities whose
maturities at acquisition were one year or less) were sold and replaced
within one year.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
In addition to the investment restrictions enumerated in the Prospectus,
the investment restrictions listed below have been adopted by the Fund as
fundamental policies, except as otherwise indicated. Under the Act, a
fundamental policy may not be changed without the vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the Fund, as defined in the Act. Such a
majority is defined as the lesser of (a) 67% or more of the shares present at
a meeting of shareholders, if the holders of 50% of the outstanding shares of
the Fund are present or represented by proxy or (b) more than 50% of the
outstanding shares of the Fund.
The Fund may not:
1. Purchase or sell real estate or interests therein (including
limited partnership interests), although the Fund may purchase securities
of issuers which engage in real estate operations and securities secured
by real estate or interests therein.
2. Purchase oil, gas or other mineral leases, rights or royalty
contracts or exploration or development programs, except that the Fund
may invest in the securities of companies which operate, invest in, or
sponsor such programs.
3. Purchase securities of other investment companies, except in
connection with a merger, consolidation, reorganization or acquisition of
assets.
4. Borrow money, except that the Fund may borrow from a bank for
temporary or emergency purposes in amounts not exceeding 5% (taken at the
lower of cost or current value) of its total assets (not including the
amount borrowed).
5. Pledge its assets or assign or otherwise encumber them except to
secure borrowings effected within the limitations set forth in
restriction (4). For the purpose of this restriction, collateral
arrangements with respect to initial or variation margin for futures are
not deemed to be pledges of assets.
6. Issue senior securities as defined in the Act except insofar as
the Fund may be deemed to have issued a senior security by reason of (a)
entering into any repurchase agreement; (b) purchasing any securities on
a when-issued or delayed delivery basis; (c) purchasing or selling any
financial futures contracts; (d) borrowing money in accordance with
restrictions described above; or (e) lending portfolio securities.
7. Make loans of money or securities, except: (a) by the purchase of
portfolio securities in which the Fund may invest consistent with its
investment objective and policies; (b) by investment in repurchase
agreements; or (c) by lending its portfolio securities.
8. Purchase or sell commodities or commodities contracts except that
the Fund may purchase or sell financial or stock index futures contracts
or options thereon.
9. Make short sales of securities.
10. Purchase securities on margin, except for such short-term loans
as are necessary for the clearance of portfolio securities. The deposit
or payment by the Fund of initial or variation margin in connection with
futures contracts is not considered the purchase of a security on margin.
11. Engage in the underwriting of securities, except insofar as the
Fund may be deemed an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933 in
disposing of a portfolio security.
12. Invest for the purpose of exercising control or management of any
other issuer.
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<PAGE>
In addition, as a nonfundamental policy, the Fund may not invest in
securities of any issuer if, to the knowledge of the Fund, any officer or
trustee of the Fund or any officer or director of the Adviser or the Manager
owns more than 1/2 of 1% of the outstanding securities of such issuer, and
such officers, trustees and directors who own more than 1/2 of 1% own in the
aggregate more than 5% of the outstanding securities of such issuers.
If a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time of investment, a
later increase or decrease in percentage resulting from a change in values of
portfolio securities or amount of total or net assets will not be considered
a violation of any of the foregoing restrictions.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE
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Subject to the general supervision of the Trustees, the Adviser is
responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities for the Fund, the
selection of brokers and dealers to effect the transactions, and the
negotiation of brokerage commissions, if any. Purchases and sales of
securities on a stock exchange are effected through brokers who charge a
commission for their services. In the over-the-counter market, securities are
generally traded on a "net" basis with dealers acting as principal for their
own accounts without a stated commission, although the price of the security
usually includes a profit to the dealer. In addition, securities may be
purchased at times in underwritten offerings where the price includes a fixed
amount of compensation, generally referred to as the underwriter's concession
or discount. Futures transactions will usually be effected through a broker
and a commission will be charged. On occasion, the Fund may also purchase
certain money market instruments directly from an issuer, in which case no
commissions or discounts are paid.
The Adviser currently serves as investment adviser to a number of clients,
including other investment companies, and may in the future act as investment
adviser to others. It is the practice of the Adviser to cause purchase and
sale transactions to be allocated among the Fund and others whose assets it
manages in such manner as it deems equitable. In making such allocations
among the Fund and other client accounts, the main factors considered are the
respective investment objectives, the relative size of portfolio holdings of
the same or comparable securities, the availability of cash for investment,
the size of investments generally held and the opinions of the persons
responsible for managing the portfolios of the Fund and other client
accounts.
The policy of the Fund regarding purchases and sales of securities for its
portfolio is that primary consideration will be given to obtaining the most
favorable prices and efficient executions of transactions. Consistent with
this policy, when securities transactions are effected on a stock exchange,
the Fund's policy is to pay commissions which are considered fair and
reasonable without necessarily determining that the lowest possible
commissions are paid in all circumstances. The Fund believes that a
requirement always to seek the lowest possible commission cost could impede
effective portfolio management and preclude the Fund and the Adviser from
obtaining a high quality of brokerage and research services. In seeking to
determine the reasonableness of brokerage commissions paid in any
transaction, the Adviser relies upon its experience and knowledge regarding
commissions generally charged by various brokers and on its judgment in
evaluating the brokerage and research services received from the broker
effecting the transaction. Such determinations are necessarily subjective and
imprecise, as in most cases an exact dollar value for those services is not
ascertainable.
In seeking to implement the Fund's policies, the Adviser effects
transactions with those brokers and dealers who the Adviser believes provide
the most favorable prices and are capable of providing efficient executions.
If the Adviser believes such prices and executions are obtainable from more
than one broker or dealer, it may give consideration to placing portfolio
transactions with those brokers and dealers who also furnish research and
other services to the Fund or the Adviser. Such services may include, but are
not limited to, any one or more of the following: reports on industries and
companies, economic analyses and review of business conditions, portfolio
strategy, analytic computer software, account performance services, computer
terminals and various trading and/or quotation equipment. They also include
advice from broker-dealers as to the value of securities, availability of
securities, availability of buyers, and availability of sellers. In addition,
they include recommendations as to purchase and sale of individual securities
and timing of such transactions. The Fund will not purchase at a higher price
or sell at a lower price in connection with transactions effected with a
dealer, acting as principal, who furnishes research services to the Fund than
would be the case if no weight were given by the Fund to the dealer's
furnishing of such services.
16
<PAGE>
The information and services received by the Adviser from brokers and
dealers may be of benefit to the Adviser in the management of accounts of
some of its other clients and may not in all cases benefit the Fund directly.
While the receipt of such information and services is useful in varying
degrees and would generally reduce the amount of research or services
otherwise performed by the Adviser and thereby reduce its expenses, it is of
indeterminable value and the advisory fee paid to the Adviser is not reduced
by any amount that may be attributable to the value of such services.
Consistent with the policy described above, brokerage transactions in
securities listed on exchanges or admitted to unlisted trading privileges may
be effected through DWR. In order for DWR to effect any portfolio
transactions for the Fund, the commissions, fees or other remuneration
received by DWR must be reasonable and fair compared to the commissions, fees
or other remuneration paid to other brokers in connection with comparable
transactions involving similar securities being purchased or sold on an
exchange during a comparable period of time. This standard would allow DWR to
receive no more than the remuneration which would be expected to be received
by an unaffiliated broker in a commensurate arm's-length transaction.
Furthermore, the Board of Trustees of the Fund, including a majority of the
Trustees who are not "interested" persons of the Fund, as defined in the Act,
have adopted procedures which are reasonably designed to provide that any
commissions, fees or other remuneration paid to DWR are consistent with the
foregoing standard.
UNDERWRITING
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dean Witter Distributors Inc. (the "Underwriter") has agreed to purchase
up to 10,000,000 shares from the Fund, which number may be increased or
decreased in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement. The Underwriting
Agreement provides that the obligation of the Underwriter is subject to
certain conditions precedent (such as the filing of certain forms and
documents required by various federal and state agencies and the rendering of
certain opinions of counsel) and that the Underwriter will be obligated to
purchase the shares on February , 1996, or other date as may be agreed upon
between the Underwriter and the Fund (the "Closing Date"). Shares will not be
issued and dividends will not be declared by the Fund until after the Closing
Date.
The Underwriter will purchase shares from the Fund at $10.00 per share. No
underwriting discounts or selling commissions will be deducted from the
initial public offering price.
The Underwriter shall, regardless of its expected underwriting commitment,
be entitled and obligated to purchase only the number of shares for which
purchase orders have been received by the Underwriter prior to 2:00 p.m., New
York time, on the third business day preceding the Closing Date, or such
other date as may be agreed to between the parties.
The minimum number of Fund shares which may be purchased pursuant to this
offering is 100 shares. Certificates for shares purchased will not be issued
unless requested by the shareholder in writing.
The Underwriter has agreed to pay certain expenses of the initial offering
and the subsequent Continuous Offering of the Fund's shares. The Fund has
agreed to reimburse certain expenses pursuant to a Plan of Distribution
pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Act (see "The Distributor"). The Fund will
bear the cost of initial typesetting, printing and distribution of
Prospectuses and Statements of Additional Information and supplements thereto
to shareholders. The Fund has agreed to indemnify the Underwriter against
certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended.
THE DISTRIBUTOR
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
As discussed in the Prospectus, during the continuous offering, shares of
the Fund are distributed by Dean Witter Distributors Inc. (the
"Distributor"). The Distributor has entered into a selected dealer agreement
with DWR, which through its own sales organization sells shares of the Fund.
In addition, the Distributor may enter into selected dealer agreements with
other selected broker-dealers. The Distributor, a Delaware corporation, is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of DWDC. As part of an internal reorganization that
took place in January, 1993, the Distributor assumed the investment company
share distribution activities previously performed by DWR. The Trustees of
the Fund, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, approved, at
their meeting held on November 29, 1995, a Distribution Agreement appointing
the Distributor as exclusive distributor of the Fund's
17
<PAGE>
shares and providing for the Distributor to bear distribution expenses not
borne by the Fund. By its terms, the Distribution Agreement has an initial
term ending April 30, 1996, and provides that it will remain in effect from
year to year thereafter if approved by the Board.
The Distributor bears all expenses it may incur in providing services
under the Distribution Agreement. Such expenses include the payment of
commissions for sales of the Fund's shares and incentive compensation to
account executives. The Distributor also pays certain expenses in connection
with the distribution of the Fund's shares, including the costs of preparing,
printing and distributing advertising or promotional materials, and the costs
of printing and distributing prospectuses and supplements thereto used in
connection with the offering and sale of the Fund's shares. The Fund bears
the costs of initial typesetting, printing and distribution of prospectuses
and supplements thereto to shareholders. The Fund also bears the costs of
registering the Fund and its shares under federal and state securities laws.
The Fund and the Distributor have agreed to indemnify each other against
certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended. Under the Distribution Agreement, the Distributor uses its best
efforts in rendering services to the Fund, but in the absence of willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its
obligations, the Distributor is not liable to the Fund or any of its
shareholders for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any act or
omission or for any losses sustained by the Fund or its shareholders.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
To compensate the Distributor for the services it or any selected dealer
provides and for the expenses it bears under the Distribution Agreement, the
Fund has adopted a Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Act
(the "Plan") pursuant to which the Fund pays the Distributor compensation
accrued daily and payable monthly at the annual rate of 1.0% of the lesser
of: (a) the average daily aggregate gross sales of the Fund's shares since
the inception of the Fund (not including reinvestments of dividends or
capital gains distributions), less the average daily aggregate net asset
value of the Fund's shares redeemed since the Fund's inception upon which a
contingent deferred sales charge has been imposed or upon which such charge
has been waived; or (b) the Fund's average daily net assets. The Distributor
receives the proceeds of contingent deferred sales charges imposed on certain
redemptions of shares, which are separate and apart from payments made
pursuant to the Plan.
The Distributor has informed the Fund that a portion of the fees payable
by the Fund each year under the Plan of Distribution, equal to 0.25% of the
Fund's average daily net assets, is characterized as a "service fee" under
the Rules of Fair Practice of the National Association of Securities Dealers
(of which the Distributor is a member). Such fee is payments made for
personal service and/or the maintenance of shareholder accounts. The
remaining portions of the Plan of Distribution fee payments made by the Fund
are characterized as "asset-based sales charges" pursuant to the
aforementioned Rules of Fair Practice.
Under the Plan and as required by Rule 12b-1, the Trustees receive and
review promptly after the end of each fiscal quarter a written report
provided by the Distributor of the amounts expended under the Plan and the
purpose for which such expenditures were made. In the Trustees' quarterly
reviews of the Plan, they will consider its continued appropriateness and the
level of compensation provided therein. The 12b-1 fee is treated by the Fund
as an expense in the year it is accrued.
The Plan was adopted in order to permit the implementation of the Fund's
method of distribution. Under this distribution method shares of the Fund are
sold without a sales load being deducted at the time of purchase, so that the
full amount of an investor's purchase payment will be invested in shares
without any deduction for sales charges. Shares of the Fund may be subject to
a contingent deferred sales charge, payable to the Distributor, if redeemed
during the six years after their purchase. DWR compensates its account
executives by paying them, from its own funds, commissions for the sale of
the Fund's shares, currently a gross sales credit of up to 5% of the amount
sold and an annual residual commission of up to 0.25 of 1% of the current
value of the amount sold. The gross sales credit is a charge which reflects
commissions paid by DWR to its account executives and DWR's Fund associated
distribution-related expenses, including sales compensation, and overhead and
other branch office distribution-related expenses including: (a) the expenses
of operating DWR's branch offices in connection with the sale of Fund shares,
including lease costs, the salaries and employee benefits of operations and
sales support personnel, utility costs, communications costs and the costs of
stationery and supplies; (b) the costs of client sales seminars; (c) travel
expenses of mutual fund sales coordinators to promote the sale of Fund
shares; and (d) other expenses relating to branch promotion of Fund share
sales. Payments may also be made with respect to distribution
18
<PAGE>
expenses incurred in connection with the distribution of shares, including
personal services to shareholders with respect to holdings of such shares, of
an investment company whose assets are acquired by the Fund in a tax-free
reorganization.
The distribution fee that the Distributor receives from the Fund under the
Plan, in effect, offsets distribution expenses incurred under the Plan on
behalf of the Fund and opportunity costs, such as the gross sales credit and
an assumed interest charge thereon ("carrying charge"). In the Distributor's
reporting of distribution expenses to the Fund, such assumed interest
(computed at the "broker's call rate") has been calculated on the gross sales
credit as it is reduced by amounts received by the Distributor under the Plan
and any contingent deferred sales charges received by the Distributor upon
redemption of shares of the Fund. No other interest charge is included as a
distribution expense in the Distributor's calculation of distribution costs
for this purpose. The broker's call rate is the interest rate charged to
securities brokers on loans secured by exchange-listed securities.
At any given time, the expenses in distributing shares of the Fund may be
more or less than the total of (i) the payments made by the Fund pursuant to
the Plan and (ii) the proceeds of contingent deferred sales charges paid by
investors upon redemption of shares. Because there is no requirement under
the Plan that the Distributor be reimbursed for all expenses or any
requirement that the Plan be continued from year to year, this excess amount
does not constitute a liability of the Fund. Although there is no legal
obligation for the Fund to pay distribution expenses in excess of payments
made under the Plan and the proceeds of contingent deferred sales charges
paid by investors upon redemption of shares, if for any reason the Plan is
terminated, the Trustees will consider at that time the manner in which to
treat such expenses. Any cumulative expenses incurred, but not yet recovered
through distribution fees or contingent deferred sales charges, may or may
not be recovered through future distribution fees or contingent deferred
sales charges.
Under the Plan, the Distributor uses its best efforts in rendering
services to the Fund, but in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith,
gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations, the Distributor is
not liable to the Fund or any of its shareholders for any error of judgment
or mistake of law or for any act or omission or for any losses sustained by
the Fund or its shareholders.
The Plan will remain in effect until April 30, 1996, and will continue
from year to year thereafter, provided such continuance is approved annually
by a vote of the Trustees, including a majority of the Independent 12b-1
Trustees.
Any amendment to increase materially the maximum amount authorized to be
spent under the Plan must be approved by the shareholders of the Fund, and
all material amendments to the Plan must be approved by the Trustees in the
manner described above. The Plan may be terminated at any time, without
payment of any penalty, by vote of a majority of the Independent 12b-1
Trustees or by a vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the Fund (as defined in the Act) on not more than 30 days
written notice to any other party to the Plan. So long as the Plan is in
effect, the selection or nomination of the Independent Trustees is committed
to the discretion of the Independent Trustees.
No interested person of the Fund, nor any Trustee of the Fund who is not
an interested person of the Fund, as defined in the Act, has any direct or
indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan except to the extent
that DWR, InterCapital, the Distributor or the Manager or certain of their
employees, may be deemed to have such an interest as a result of benefits
derived from the successful operation of the Plan or as a result of receiving
a portion of the amounts expended thereunder by the Fund.
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
As stated in the Prospectus, short-term securities with remaining
maturities of sixty days or less at the time of purchase are valued at
amortized cost, unless the Trustees determine such does not reflect the
securities' market value, in which case these securities will be valued at
their fair value as determined by the Trustees. Other short-term debt
securities will be valued on a mark-to-market basis until such time as they
reach a remaining maturity of sixty days, whereupon they will be valued at
amortized cost using their value on the 61st day unless the Trustees
determine such does not reflect the securities' market value, in which case
these securities will be valued at their fair value as determined by the
Trustees. All other securities and other assets are valued at their fair
value as determined in good faith under procedures established by and under
the supervision of the Trustees.
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<PAGE>
The net asset value per share of the Fund is determined once daily at 4:00
p.m., New York time (or, on days when the New York Stock Exchange closes
prior to 4:00 p.m., at such earlier time), on each day that the New York
Stock Exchange is open by taking the value of all assets of the Fund,
subtracting its liabilities, dividing by the number of shares outstanding and
adjusting to the nearest cent. The New York Stock Exchange currently observes
the following holidays: New Year's Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday,
Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas
Day.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Upon the purchase of shares of the Fund, a Shareholder Investment Account
is opened for the investor on the books of the Fund and maintained by Dean
Witter Trust Company (the "Transfer Agent"). This is an open account in which
shares owned by the investor are credited by the Transfer Agent in lieu of
issuance of a share certificate. If a share certificate is desired, it must
be requested in writing for each transaction. Certificates are issued only
for full shares and may be redeposited in the account at any time. There is
no charge to the investor for issuance of a certificate. Whenever a
shareholder-instituted transaction takes place in the Shareholder Investment
Account, the shareholder will be mailed a confirmation of the transaction
from the Fund or from DWR or other selected broker-dealer.
Automatic Investment of Dividends and Distributions. As stated in the
Prospectus, all income dividends and capital gains distributions are
automatically paid in full and fractional shares of the Fund, unless the
shareholder requests that they be paid in cash. Each purchase of shares of
the Fund is made upon the condition that the Transfer Agent is thereby
automatically appointed as agent of the investor to receive all dividends and
capital gains distributions on shares owned by the investor. Such dividends
and distributions will be paid, at the net asset value per share, in shares
of the Fund (or in cash if the shareholder so requests) as of the close of
business on the record date. At any time an investor may request the Transfer
Agent, in writing, to have subsequent dividends and/or capital gains
distributions paid to him or her in cash rather than shares. To assure
sufficient time to process the change, such request should be received by the
Transfer Agent at least five business days prior to the record date of the
dividend or distribution. In the case of recently purchased shares for which
registration instructions have not been received on the record date, cash
payments will be made to DWR or the other selected broker-dealer, and which
will be forwarded to the shareholder, upon the receipt of proper
instructions.
Targeted Dividends.sm In states where it is legally permissible,
shareholders may also have all income dividends and capital gains
distributions automatically invested in shares of a TCW/DW Fund other than
TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust. Such investment will be made as described above
for automatic investment in shares of the Fund, at the net asset value per
share of the selected TCW/DW Fund as of the close of business on the payment
date of the dividend or distribution and will begin to earn dividends, if
any, in the selected TCW/DW Fund the next business day. To participate in the
Targeted Dividends program, shareholders should contact their DWR or other
selected broker-dealer account executive or the Transfer Agent. Shareholders
of the Fund must be shareholders of the TCW/DW Fund targeted to receive
investments from dividends at the time they enter the Targeted Dividends
program. Investors should review the prospectus of the targeted TCW/DW Fund
before entering the program.
EasyInvest.sm Shareholders may subscribe to EasyInvest, an automatic
purchase plan which provides for any amount from $100 to $5,000 to be
transferred automatically from a checking or savings account, on a
semi-monthly, monthly or quarterly basis, to the Transfer Agent for
investment in shares of the Fund. Shares purchased through EasyInvest will be
added to the shareholder's existing account at the net asset value calculated
the same business day the transfer of funds is effected. For further
information or to subscribe to EasyInvest, shareholders should contact their
DWR or other selected broker-dealer account executive or the Transfer Agent.
Investment of Dividends or Distributions Received in Cash. As discussed in
the Prospectus, any shareholder who receives a cash payment representing a
dividend or distribution may invest such dividend or distribution at the net
asset value per share, without the imposition of a contingent deferred sales
charge upon redemption, by returning the check or the proceeds to the
Transfer Agent within 30 days after the payment date. If the shareholder
returns the proceeds of a dividend or distribution, such funds must be
accompanied by a signed statement indicating that the proceeds constitute a
dividend or distribution to be invested. Such investment will be made at the
net asset value per share next determined after receipt of the check or
proceeds by the Transfer Agent.
20
<PAGE>
Systematic Withdrawal Plan. As discussed in the Prospectus, a systematic
withdrawal plan (the "Withdrawal Plan") is available for shareholders who own
or purchase shares of the Fund having a minimum value of $10,000 based upon
the then current net asset value. The Withdrawal Plan provides for monthly or
quarterly (March, June, September and December) checks in any dollar amount,
not less than $25, or in any whole percentage of the account balance, on an
annualized basis. Any applicable contingent deferred sales charge will be
imposed on shares redeemed under the Withdrawal Plan (see "Repurchases and
Redemptions--Contingent Deferred Sales Charge" in the Prospectus). Therefore,
any shareholder participating in the Withdrawal Plan will have sufficient
shares redeemed from his or her account so that the proceeds (net of any
applicable contingent deferred sales charge) to the shareholder will be the
designated monthly or quarterly amount.
The Transfer Agent acts as agent for the shareholder in tendering to the
Fund for redemption sufficient full and fractional shares to provide the
amount of the periodic withdrawal payment designated in the application. The
shares will be redeemed at their net asset value determined, at the
shareholder's option, on the tenth or twenty-fifth day (or next following
business day) of the relevant month or quarter and normally a check for the
proceeds will be mailed by the Transfer Agent, or amounts credited to a
shareholder's DWR or other selected broker-dealer brokerage account, within
five business days after the date of redemption. The Withdrawal Plan may be
terminated at any time by the Fund.
Withdrawal Plan payments should not be considered as dividends, yields or
income. If periodic withdrawal plan payments continuously exceed net
investment income and net capital gains, the shareholder's original
investment will be correspondingly reduced and ultimately exhausted.
Each withdrawal constitutes a redemption of shares and any gain or loss
realized must be recognized for federal income tax purposes. Although the
shareholder may make additional investments of $2,500 or more under the
Withdrawal Plan, withdrawals made concurrently with purchases of additional
shares may be inadvisable because of the contingent deferred sales charge
applicable to the redemption of shares purchased during the preceding six
years (see "Repurchases and Redemptions--Contingent Deferred Sales Charge").
Any shareholder who wishes to have payments under the Withdrawal Plan made
to a third party or sent to an address other than the one listed on the
account must send complete written instructions to the Transfer Agent to
enroll in the Withdrawal Plan. The shareholder's signature on such
instructions must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor acceptable to the
Transfer Agent (shareholders should contact the Transfer Agent for a
determination as to whether a particular institution is such an eligible
guarantor). A shareholder may, at any time, change the amount and interval of
withdrawal payments through his or her DWR or other selected broker-dealer
account executive or by written notification to the Transfer Agent. In
addition, the party and/or the address to which checks are mailed may be
changed by written notification to the Transfer Agent, with signature
guarantees required in the manner described above. The shareholder may also
terminate the Withdrawal Plan at any time by written notice to the Transfer
Agent. In the event of such termination, the account will be continued as a
regular shareholder investment account. The shareholder may also redeem all
or part of the shares held in the Withdrawal Plan account (see "Repurchases
and Redemptions" in the Prospectus) at any time. Shareholders wishing to
enroll in the Withdrawal Plan should contact their account executive or the
Transfer Agent.
Direct Investments through Transfer Agent. As discussed in the Prospectus,
a shareholder may make additional investments in Fund shares at any time by
sending a check in any amount, not less than $100, payable to TCW/DW Mid-Cap
Equity Trust, directly to the Fund's Transfer Agent. Such amounts will be
applied to the purchase of Fund shares at the net asset value per share next
computed after receipt of the check or purchase payment by the Transfer
Agent. The shares so purchased will be credited to the investor's account.
EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE
As discussed in the Prospectus, the Fund makes available to its
shareholders an Exchange Privilege whereby shareholders of the Fund may
exchange their shares for shares of other TCW/DW Funds sold with a contingent
deferred sales charge ("CDSC Funds"), for shares of TCW/DW North American
Government Income Trust, TCW/DW Income and Growth Fund and TCW/DW Balanced
Fund, and for shares of five money market funds for which InterCapital serves
as investment manager (the foregoing eight non-CDSC funds are hereinafter
collectively referred to as the "Exchange Funds"). Exchanges may be made
after the shares of the fund acquired by purchase (not by exchange or
dividend reinvestment) have been held for thirty days. There is no waiting
period
21
<PAGE>
for exchanges of shares acquired by exchange or dividend reinvestment. An
exchange will be treated for federal income tax purposes the same as a
repurchase or redemption of shares, on which the shareholder may realize a
capital gain or loss.
Shareholders utilizing the Fund's Exchange Privilege may subsequently
re-exchange such shares back to the Fund. However, no exchange privilege is
available between the Fund and any other fund managed by the Manager or
InterCapital, except for other TCW/DW Funds and the five money market funds
listed in the Prospectus.
Any new account established through the Exchange Privilege will have the
same registration and cash dividend or dividend reinvestment plan as the
present account, unless the Transfer Agent receives written notification to
the contrary. For telephone exchanges, the exact registration of the existing
account and the account number must be provided.
Any shares held in certificate form cannot be exchanged but must be
forwarded to the Transfer Agent and deposited into the shareholder's account
before being eligible for exchange. (Certificates mailed in for deposit
should not be endorsed.)
As described below, and in the Prospectus under the captions "Exchange
Privilege" and "Contingent Deferred Sales Charge," a contingent deferred
sales charge ("CDSC") may be imposed upon a redemption, depending on a number
of factors, including the number of years from the time of purchase until the
time of redemption or exchange ("holding period"). When shares of the Fund or
any other CDSC Fund are exchanged for shares of an Exchange Fund, the
exchange is executed at no charge to the shareholder, without the imposition
of the CDSC at the time of the exchange. During the period of time the
shareholder remains in the Exchange Fund (calculated from the last day of the
month in which the Exchange Fund shares were acquired), the holding period or
"year since purchase payment made" is frozen. When shares are redeemed out of
the Exchange Fund, they will be subject to a CDSC which would be based upon
the period of time the shareholder held shares in the Fund. However, in the
case of shares exchanged into an Exchange Fund, upon a redemption of shares
which results in a CDSC being imposed, a credit (not to exceed the amount of
the CDSC) will be given in an amount equal to the Exchange Fund 12b-1
distribution fees which are attributable to those shares. Shareholders
acquiring shares of an Exchange Fund pursuant to this exchange privilege may
exchange those shares back into the Fund from the Exchange Fund, with no
charge being imposed on such exchange. The holding period previously frozen
when shares were first exchanged for shares of an Exchange Fund resumes on
the last day of the month in which shares of a CDSC Fund are reacquired. A
CDSC is imposed only upon an ultimate redemption, based upon the time
(calculated as described above) the shareholder was invested in a CDSC Fund.
When shares initially purchased in a CDSC Fund are exchanged for shares of
an Exchange Fund, the date of purchase of the shares of the fund exchanged
into, for purposes of the CDSC upon redemption, will be the last day of the
month in which the shares being exchanged were originally purchased. In
allocating the purchase payments between funds for purposes of the CDSC the
amount which represents the current net asset value of shares at the time of
the exchange which were (i) purchased more than six years prior to the
exchange and (ii) originally acquired through reinvestment of dividends or
distributions (all such shares called "Free Shares") will be exchanged first.
After an exchange, all dividends earned on shares in the Exchange Fund will
be considered Free Shares. If the exchanged amount exceeds the value of such
Free Shares, an exchange is made, on a block-by-block basis, of non-Free
Shares held for the longest period of time. Shares equal to any appreciation
in the value of non-Free Shares exchanged will be treated as Free Shares, and
the amount of the purchase payments for the non-Free Shares of the fund
exchanged into will be equal to the lesser of (a) the purchase payments for,
or (b) the current net asset value of, the exchanged non-Free Shares. If an
exchange between funds would result in exchange of only part of a particular
block of non-Free Shares, then shares equal to any appreciation in the value
of the block (up to the amount of the exchange) will be treated as Free
Shares and exchanged first, and the purchase payment for that block will be
allocated on a pro rata basis between the non-Free Shares of that block to be
retained and the non-Free Shares to be exchanged. The prorated amount of such
purchase payment attributable to the retained non-Free Shares will remain as
the purchase payment for such shares, and the amount of purchase payment for
the exchanged non-Free Shares will be equal to the lesser of (a) the prorated
amount of the purchase payment for, or (b) the current net asset value of,
those exchanged non-Free Shares. Based upon the procedures described in the
Prospectus under the caption "Contingent Deferred Sales Charge," any
applicable CDSC will be imposed upon the ultimate redemption of shares of any
fund, regardless of the number of exchanges since those shares were
originally purchased.
22
<PAGE>
With respect to the redemption or repurchase of shares of the Fund, the
application of proceeds to the purchase of new shares in the Fund or any
other of the funds and the general administration of the Exchange Privilege,
the Transfer Agent acts as agent for the Distributor and for the
shareholder's selected broker-dealer, if any, in the performance of such
functions.
With respect to exchanges, redemptions or repurchases, the Transfer Agent
shall be liable for its own negligence and not for the default or negligence
of its correspondents or for losses in transit. The Fund shall not be liable
for any default or negligence of the Transfer Agent, the Distributor or any
selected broker-dealer.
The Distributor and any selected broker-dealer have authorized and
appointed the Transfer Agent to act as their agent in connection with the
application of proceeds of any redemption of Fund shares to the purchase of
shares of any other fund and the general administration of the Exchange
Privilege. No commission or discounts will be paid to the Distributor or any
selected broker-dealer for any transactions pursuant to this Exchange
Privilege.
Exchanges are subject to the minimum investment requirement and any other
conditions imposed by each fund. (The minimum initial investment is $5,000
for Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc., Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income
Trust, Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust and Dean Witter
California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust, although those funds may, at their
discretion, accept initial investments of as low as $1,000. The minimum
initial investment for Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust and for
all TCW/DW Funds is $1,000.) Upon exchange into an Exchange Fund, the shares
of that fund will be held in a special Exchange Privilege Account separately
from accounts of those shareholders who have acquired their shares directly
from that fund. As a result, certain services normally available to
shareholders of money market funds, including the check writing feature, will
not be available for funds held in that account.
The Fund, each of the other TCW/DW Funds and each of the money market
funds may limit the number of times this Exchange Privilege may be exercised
by any investor within a specified period of time. Also, the Exchange
Privilege may be terminated or revised at any time by the Fund and/or any of
the funds for which shares of the Fund have been exchanged, upon such notice
as may be required by applicable regulatory agencies (presently sixty days
for termination or material revision), provided that six months prior written
notice of termination will be given to the shareholders who hold shares of
Exchange Funds pursuant to this Exchange Privilege, and provided further that
the Exchange Privilege may be terminated or materially revised without notice
at times (a) when the New York Stock Exchange is closed for other than
customary weekends and holidays, (b) when trading on that Exchange is
restricted, (c) when an emergency exists as a result of which disposal by the
Fund of securities owned by it is not reasonably practicable or it is not
reasonably practicable for the Fund fairly to determine the value of its net
assets, (d) during any other period when the Securities and Exchange
Commission by order so permits (provided that applicable rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission shall govern as to
whether the conditions prescribed in (b) or (c) exist) or (e) if the Fund
would be unable to invest amounts effectively in accordance with its
investment objective, policies and restrictions.
The current prospectus for each fund describes its investment objective(s)
and policies, and shareholders should obtain a copy and examine it carefully
before investing. An exchange will be treated for federal income tax purposes
the same as a repurchase or redemption of shares, on which the shareholder
may realize a capital gain or loss. However, the ability to deduct capital
losses on an exchange may be limited in situations where there is an exchange
of shares within ninety days after the shares are purchased. The Exchange
Privilege is only available in states where an exchange may legally be made.
For further information regarding the Exchange Privilege, shareholders
should contact their DWR or other selected broker-dealer account executive or
the Transfer Agent.
REPURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Redemption. As stated in the Prospectus, shares of the Fund can be
redeemed for cash at any time at the net asset value per share next
determined; however, such redemption proceeds may be reduced by the amount of
any applicable contingent deferred sales charges (see below). If shares are
held in a shareholder's account without a share certificate, a written
request for redemption to the Fund's Transfer Agent at P.O. Box 983, Jersey
City, NJ 07303 is required. If certificates are held by the shareholder, the
shares may be redeemed by surrendering the
23
<PAGE>
certificates with a written request for redemption. The share certificate, or
an accompanying stock power, and the request for redemption, must be signed
by the shareholder or shareholders exactly as the shares are registered. Each
request for redemption, whether or not accompanied by a share certificate,
must be sent to the Fund's Transfer Agent, which will redeem the shares at
their net asset value next computed (see "Purchase of Fund Shares") after it
receives the request, and certificate, if any, in good order. Any redemption
request received after such computation will be redeemed at the next
determined net asset value. The term "good order" means that the share
certificate, if any, and request for redemption are properly signed,
accompanied by any documentation required by the Transfer Agent, and bear
signature guarantees when required by the Fund or the Transfer Agent. If
redemption is requested by a corporation, partnership, trust or fiduciary,
the Transfer Agent may require that written evidence of authority acceptable
to the Transfer Agent be submitted before such request is accepted.
Whether certificates are held by the shareholder or shares are held in a
shareholder's account, if the proceeds are to be paid to any person other
than the record owner, or if the proceeds are to be paid to a corporation
(other than the Distributor or a selected broker-dealer for the account of
the shareholder), partnership, trust or fiduciary, or sent to the shareholder
at an address other than the registered address, signatures must be
guaranteed by an eligible guarantor acceptable to the Transfer Agent
(shareholders should contact the Transfer Agent for a determination as to
whether a particular institution is such an eligible guarantor). A stock
power may be obtained from any dealer or commercial bank. The Fund may change
the signature guarantee requirements from time to time upon notice to
shareholders, which may be by means of a revised prospectus.
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge. As stated in the Prospectus, a
contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") will be imposed on any redemption
by an investor if after such redemption the current value of the investor's
shares of the Fund is less than the dollar amount of all payments by the
shareholder for the purchase of Fund shares during the preceding six years.
However, no CDSC will be imposed to the extent that the net asset value of
the shares redeemed does not exceed: (a) the current net asset value of
shares purchased more than six years prior to the redemption, plus (b) the
current net asset value of shares purchased through reinvestment of dividends
or distributions of the Fund or another TCW/DW Fund (see "Shareholder
Services--Targeted Dividends"), plus (c) increases in the net asset value of
the investor's shares above the total amount of payments for the purchase of
Fund shares made during the preceding six years. The CDSC will be paid to the
Distributor.
In determining the applicability of a CDSC to each redemption, the amount
which represents an increase in the net asset value of the investor's shares
above the amount of the total payments for the purchase of shares within the
last six years will be redeemed first. In the event the redemption amount
exceeds such increase in value, the next portion of the amount redeemed will
be the amount which represents the net asset value of the investor's shares
purchased more than six years prior to the redemption and/or shares purchased
through reinvestment of dividends or distributions. A portion of the amount
redeemed which exceeds an amount which represents both such increase in value
and the value of shares purchased more than six years prior to the redemption
and/or shares purchased through reinvestment of dividends or distributions
will be subject to a CDSC.
The amount of the CDSC, if any, will vary depending on the number of years
from the time of payment for the purchase of Fund shares until the time of
redemption of such shares. For purposes of determining the number of years
from the time of any payment for the purchase of shares, all payments made
during a month will be aggregated and deemed to have been made on the last
day of the month. The following table sets forth the rates of the CDSC:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CONTINGENT DEFERRED
YEAR SINCE SALES CHARGE AS A
PURCHASE PERCENTAGE OF AMOUNT
PAYMENT MADE REDEEMED
- -------------------------- -----------------------
<S> <C>
First ..................... 5.0%
Second .................... 4.0%
Third ..................... 3.0%
Fourth .................... 2.0%
Fifth ..................... 2.0%
Sixth ..................... 1.0%
None
Seventh and thereafter ...
</TABLE>
In determining the rate of the CDSC, it will be assumed that a redemption
is made of shares held by the investor for the longest period of time within
the applicable six-year period. This will result in any such CDSC
24
<PAGE>
being imposed at the lowest possible rate. Accordingly, shareholders may
redeem, without incurring any CDSC, amounts equal to any net increase in the
value of their shares above the amount of their purchase payments made within
the past six years and amounts equal to the current value of shares purchased
more than six years prior to the redemption and shares purchased through
reinvestment of dividends or distributions. The CDSC will be imposed, in
accordance with the table shown above, on any redemptions within six years of
purchase which are in excess of these amounts and which redemptions are not
(a) requested within one year of death or initial determination of disability
of a shareholder, or (b) made pursuant to certain taxable distributions from
retirement plans or retirement accounts, as described in the Prospectus.
Payment for Shares Repurchased or Redeemed. As discussed in the
Prospectus, payment for shares presented for repurchase or redemption will be
made by check within seven days after receipt by the Transfer Agent of the
certificate and/or written request in good order. The term good order means
that the share certificate, if any, and request for redemption are properly
signed, accompanied by any documentation required by the Transfer Agent, and
bear signature guarantees when required by the Fund or the Transfer Agent.
Such payment may be postponed or the right of redemption suspended at times
(a) when the New York Stock Exchange is closed for other than customary
weekends and holidays, (b) when trading on that Exchange is restricted, (c)
when an emergency exists as a result of which disposal by the Fund of
securities owned by it is not reasonably practicable or it is not reasonably
practicable for the Fund fairly to determine the value of its net assets, or
(d) during any other period when the Securities and Exchange Commission by
order so permits; provided that applicable rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission shall govern as to whether the conditions
prescribed in (b) or (c) exist. If the shares to be redeemed have recently
been purchased by check, payment of the redemption proceeds may be delayed
for the minimum time needed to verify that the check used for investment has
been honored (not more than fifteen days from the time of receipt of the
check by the Transfer Agent). Shareholders maintaining margin accounts with
DWR or another selected broker-dealer are referred to their account executive
regarding restrictions on redemption of shares of the Fund pledged in the
margin account.
Transfers of Shares. In the event a shareholder requests a transfer of any
shares to a new registration, such shares will be transferred without sales
charge at the time of transfer. With regard to the status of shares which are
either subject to the contingent deferred sales charge or free of such charge
(and with regard to the length of time shares subject to the charge have been
held), any transfer involving less than all of the shares in an account will
be made on a pro-rata basis (that is, by transferring shares in the same
proportion that the transferred shares bear to the total shares in the
account immediately prior to the transfer). The transferred shares will
continue to be subject to any applicable contingent deferred sales charge as
if they had not been so transferred.
Reinstatement Privilege. As discussed in the Prospectus, a shareholder who
has had his or her shares redeemed or repurchased and has not previously
exercised this reinstatement privilege may within thirty days after the date
of redemption or repurchase reinstate any portion or all of the proceeds of
such redemption or repurchase in shares of the Fund at the net asset value
next determined after a reinstatement request, together with such proceeds,
is received by the Transfer Agent.
Exercise of the reinstatement privilege will not affect the federal income
tax treatment of any gain or loss realized upon the redemption or repurchase,
except that if the redemption or repurchase resulted in a loss and
reinstatement is made in shares of the Fund, some or all of the loss,
depending on the amount reinstated, will not be allowed as a deduction for
federal income tax purposes, but will be applied to adjust the cost basis of
the shares acquired upon reinstatement.
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
As discussed in the Prospectus, the Fund will determine either to
distribute or to retain all or part of any net long-term capital gains in any
year for reinvestment. If any such gains are retained, the Fund will pay
federal income tax thereon, and shareholders will be required to include such
undistributed gains in their taxable income and will be able to claim their
share of the tax paid by the Fund as a credit against their individual
federal income tax. In addition, shareholders are entitled to increase their
tax basis of their investment by their pro rata share of the undistributed
gain net of the tax paid by the Fund on such gain.
25
<PAGE>
Gains or losses on sales of securities by the Fund will be long-term
capital gains or losses if the securities have been held by the Fund for more
than twelve months. Gains or losses on the sale of securities held for twelve
months or less will be short-term gains or losses.
Any dividend or capital gains distribution received by a shareholder from
any investment company will have the effect of reducing the net asset value
of the shareholder's stock in that company by the exact amount of the
dividend or capital gains distribution. Furthermore, capital gains
distributions and dividends are subject to federal income taxes. If the net
asset value of the shares should be reduced below a shareholder's cost as a
result of the payment of dividends or the distribution of realized net
long-term capital gains, such payment or distribution would be in part a
return of the shareholder's investment to the extent of such reduction below
the shareholder's cost, but nonetheless would be fully taxable at either
ordinary or capital gain rates. Therefore, an investor should consider the
tax implications of purchasing Fund shares immediately prior to a dividend or
distribution record date.
Shareholders are urged to consult their attorneys or tax advisers
regarding specific questions as to federal, state or local taxes.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
As discussed in the Prospectus, from time to time the Fund may quote its
"total return" in advertisements and sales literature. The Fund's "average
annual total return" represents an annualization of the Fund's total return
over a particular period (of a year or more) and is computed by finding the
annual percentage rate which will result in the ending redeemable value of a
hypothetical $1,000 investment made at the beginning of a one, five or ten
year period, or for the period from the date of commencement of the Fund's
operations, if shorter than any of the foregoing. The ending redeemable value
is reduced by any contingent deferred sales charge at the end of the one,
five or ten year or other period. For the purpose of this calculation, it is
assumed that all dividends and distributions are reinvested. The formula for
computing the average annual total return involves a percentage obtained by
dividing the ending redeemable value by the amount of the initial investment,
taking a root of the quotient (where the root is equivalent to the number of
years in the period) and subtracting 1 from the result.
In addition to the foregoing, the Fund may advertise its total return over
different periods of time by means of aggregate, year-by-year or other types
of total return figures. Such calculations may or may not reflect the
deduction of the contingent deferred sales charge which, if reflected, would
reduce the performance quoted. For example, the total return of the Fund may
be calculated in the manner described above, but without deduction for any
applicable contingent deferred sales charge.
In addition, the Fund may compute its aggregate total return for specified
periods by determining the aggregate percentage rate which will result in the
ending value of a hypothetical $1,000 investment made at the beginning of the
period. For the purpose of this calculation, it is assumed that all dividends
and distributions are reinvested. The formula for computing aggregate total
return involves a percentage obtained by dividing the ending value (without
the reduction for any contingent deferred sales charge) by the initial $1,000
investment and subtracting 1 from the result.
The Fund may also advertise the growth of hypothetical investments of
$10,000, $50,000 and $100,000 in shares of the Fund by adding 1 to the Fund's
aggregate total return to date (expressed as a decimal and without taking
into account the effect of any applicable CDSC) and multiplying by $10,000,
$50,000 or $100,000, as the case may be.
The Fund from time to time may also advertise its performance relative to
certain performance rankings and indexes compiled by independent
organizations.
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The shareholders of the Fund are entitled to a full vote for each full
share held. The Trustees were elected by InterCapital as the then sole
shareholder of the Fund prior to the public offering of the Fund's shares.
The Trustees themselves have the power to alter the number and the terms of
office of the Trustees, and they may at any time lengthen their own terms or
make their terms of unlimited duration and appoint their own successors,
26
<PAGE>
provided that always at least a majority of the Trustees has been elected by
the shareholders of the Fund. Under certain circumstances the Trustees may be
removed by action of the Trustees. The shareholders also have the right to
remove the Trustees following a meeting called for that purpose requested in
writing by the record holders of not less than ten percent of the Fund's
outstanding shares. The voting rights of shareholders are not cumulative, so
that holders of more than 50 percent of the shares voting can, if they
choose, elect all Trustees being selected, while the holders of the remaining
shares would be unable to elect any Trustees.
The Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees to authorize the creation of
additional series of shares (the proceeds of which would be invested in
separate, independently managed portfolios) and additional classes of shares
within any series (which would be used to distinguish among the rights of
different categories of shareholders, as might be required by future
regulations or other unforeseen circumstances). However, the Trustees have
not authorized any such additional series or classes of shares.
The Declaration of Trust provides that no Trustee, officer, employee or
agent of the Fund is liable to the Fund or to a shareholder, nor is any
Trustee, officer, employee or agent liable to any third persons in connection
with the affairs of the Fund, except as such liability may arise from his own
bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of
his duties. It also provides that all third persons shall look solely to the
Fund's property for satisfaction of claims arising in connection with the
affairs of the Fund. With the exceptions stated, the Declaration of Trust
provides that a Trustee, officer, employee or agent is entitled to be
indemnified against all liabilities in connection with the affairs of the
Fund.
The Fund is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of
beneficial interest. The Fund shall be of unlimited duration subject to the
provisions of the Declaration of Trust concerning termination by action of
the shareholders.
CUSTODIAN AND TRANSFER AGENT
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Bank of New York, 90 Washington Street, New York, New York 10286 is
the Custodian of the Fund's assets. Any of the Fund's cash balances with the
Custodian in excess of $100,000 are unprotected by federal deposit insurance.
Such balances may, at times, be substantial.
Dean Witter Trust Company, Harborside Financial Center, Plaza Two, Jersey
City, New Jersey 07311 is the Transfer Agent of the Fund's shares and
Dividend Disbursing Agent for payment of dividends and distributions on Fund
shares and Agent for shareholders under various investment plans described
herein. Dean Witter Trust Company is an affiliate of Dean Witter Services
Company Inc., the Fund's Manager, and of Dean Witter Distributors Inc., the
Fund's Distributor. As Transfer Agent and Dividend Disbursing Agent, Dean
Witter Trust Company's responsibilities include maintaining shareholder
accounts including providing subaccounting and recordkeeping services for
certain retirement accounts; disbursing cash dividends and reinvesting
dividends; processing account registration changes; handling purchase and
redemption transactions; mailing prospectuses and reports; mailing and
tabulating proxies; processing share certificate transactions; and
maintaining shareholder records and lists. For these services Dean Witter
Trust Company receives a per shareholder account fee.
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Price Waterhouse LLP serves as the independent accountants of the Fund.
The independent accountants are responsible for auditing the annual financial
statements of the Fund.
REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund will send to shareholders, at least semi-annually, reports
showing the Fund's portfolio and other information. An annual report
containing financial statements audited by independent accountants will be
sent to shareholders each year.
The Fund's fiscal year ends on May 31, 1996. The financial statements of
the Fund must be audited at least once a year by independent accountants
whose selection is made annually by the Fund's Board of Trustees.
27
<PAGE>
LEGAL COUNSEL
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sheldon Curtis, Esq., who is an officer and the General Counsel of the
Manager, is an officer and the General Counsel of the Fund.
EXPERTS
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Statement of Assets and Liabilities of the Fund included in this
Statement of Additional Information and incorporated by reference in the
Prospectus has been so included and incorporated in reliance on the report of
Price Waterhouse LLP, independent accountants, given on the authority of said
firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
This Statement of Additional Information and the Prospectus do not contain
all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement the Fund has
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The complete Registration
Statement may be obtained from the Securities and Exchange Commission upon
payment of the fee prescribed by the rules and regulations of the Commission.
28
<PAGE>
TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
To the Shareholder and Trustees of TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust
In our opinion, the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities presents
fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of TCW/DW Mid-Cap
Equity Trust (the "Fund") at December 4, 1995, in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles. This financial statement is the
responsibility of the Fund's management; our responsibility is to express an
opinion on this financial statement based on our audit. We conducted our
audit of this financial statement in accordance with generally accepted
auditing standards which require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statement is free of
material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence
supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statement, assessing
the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management,
and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that
our audit provides a reasonable basis for the opinion expressed above.
PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
1177 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
December 5, 1995
29
<PAGE>
TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AT DECEMBER 4, 1995
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
ASSETS:
Cash ................................................................................ $100,000
Deferred organizational expenses (Note 1) ........................................... 205,500
----------
Total Assets ...................................................................... 305,500
LIABILITIES:
Organizational expenses payable (Note 1) ............................................ 205,500
Commitments (Notes 1 and 2) .........................................................
----------
Net Assets ........................................................................ $100,000
==========
Net Asset Value Per Share (10,000 shares of beneficial interest outstanding;
unlimited
authorized shares of beneficial interest of $.01 par value) ......................... $ 10.00
----------
</TABLE>
NOTE 1--TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust (the "Fund") was organized as a
Massachusetts business trust on October 17, 1995. To date the Fund has had no
transactions other than those relating to organizational matters and the sale
of 10,000 shares of beneficial interest for $100,000 to Dean Witter
InterCapital Inc. (the "Manager"). The Fund is registered under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Act"), as a diversified,
open-end management investment company. Organizational expenses of the Fund
incurred prior to the offering of the Fund's shares will be paid by the
Manager. It is currently estimated that the Manager will incur and be
reimbursed by the Fund for approximately $205,500 in organizational expenses.
These expenses will be deferred and amortized by the Fund on the
straight-line method over a period not to exceed five years from the date of
commencement of the Fund's operations. In the event that at any time during
the five year period beginning with the date of the commencement of
operations the initial shares acquired by the Manager prior to such date are
redeemed, by any holder thereof, the redemption proceeds payable in respect
of such shares will be reduced by the pro rata share (based on the
proportionate share of the initial shares redeemed to the total number of
original shares outstanding at the time of redemption) of the then
unamortized deferred organizational expenses as of the date of such
redemption. In the event that the Fund liquidates before the deferred
organizational expenses are fully amortized, the Manager shall bear such
unamortized deferred organizational expenses.
NOTE 2--The Fund has entered into a management agreement with the Manager.
Certain officers and/or trustees of the Fund are officers and/or directors of
the Manager. The Fund has retained the Manager to manage the Fund's business
affairs, supervise the overall day-to-day operations of the Fund (other than
rendering investment advice) and provide all administrative services to the
Fund. Under the terms of the Management Agreement, the Manager maintains
certain of the Fund's books and records and furnishes, at its own expense,
such office space, facilities, equipment, supplies, clerical help and
bookkeeping and certain legal services as the Fund may reasonably require in
the conduct of its business, including the preparation of prospectuses,
statements of additional information, proxy statements and reports required
to be filed with federal and state securities commissions. In addition, the
Manager pays the salaries of all personnel, including officers of the Fund,
who are employees of the Manager. The Manager also bears the cost of the
Fund's telephone service, heat, light, power and other utilities.
As full compensation for the services and facilities furnished to the Fund
and expenses of the Fund incurred by the Manager, the Fund will pay the
Manager monthly compensation calculated daily by applying the annual rate of
0.60% to the daily net assets of the Fund determined as of the close of each
business day.
Pursuant to an investment advisory agreement (the "Advisory Agreement")
with TCW Funds Management, Inc. (the "Adviser") the Fund has retained the
Adviser to invest the Fund's assets, including the placing of orders for the
purchase and sale of portfolio securities. The Adviser obtains and evaluates
such information and advice relating to the economy, securities markets, and
specific securities as it considers necessary or useful to continuously
manage the assets of the Fund in a manner consistent with its investment
objective. In addition, the Adviser pays the salaries of all personnel,
including officers of the Fund, who are employees of the Adviser.
30
<PAGE>
As full compensation for the services and facilities furnished to the Fund
and expenses of the Fund assumed by the Adviser, the Fund pays the Adviser
monthly compensation calculated daily by applying the annual rate of 0.40% to
the daily net assets of the Fund determined as of the close of each business
day.
Shares of the Fund will be distributed by Dean Witter Distributors Inc.
(the "Distributor"), an affiliate of the Manager, during the initial and
continuous offering of the Fund's shares. The Fund has adopted a Plan of
Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Act ("the "Plan"). The Plan
provides that the Distributor will bear the expense of all promotional and
distribution related activities on behalf of the Fund, including the payment
of commissions for sales of the Fund's shares and incentive compensation to
and expenses of Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. ("DWR"), an affiliate of the
Manager, account executives and others who engage in or support distribution
of shares or who service shareholder accounts, including overhead and
telephone expenses; printing and distribution of prospectuses and reports
used in connection with the offering of the Fund's shares to other than
current shareholders; and preparation, printing and distribution of sales
literature and advertising materials. In addition, the Distributor may
utilize fees paid pursuant to the Plan to compensate DWR and others for their
opportunity costs in advancing such amounts, which compensation would be in
the form of a carrying charge on any unreimbursed distribution expenses
incurred.
To compensate the Distributor for the services it or any selected dealer
provides and for the expenses it bears under the Plan, the Fund will pay the
Distributor compensation accrued daily and payable monthly at the annual rate
of 1.00% of the lesser of; (a) the average daily aggregate gross sales of the
Fund's shares since the inception of the Fund (not including reinvestments of
dividends or capital gains distributions), less the average daily aggregate
net asset value of the Fund's shares redeemed since the Fund's inception upon
which a contingent deferred sales charge has been imposed or waived; or (b)
the Fund's average daily net assets.
Dean Witter Trust Company (the "Transfer Agent"), an affiliate of the
Manager and the Distributor, is the transfer agent of the Fund's shares,
dividend disbursing agent for payment of dividends and distributions on Fund
shares and agent for shareholders under various investment plans.
The Manager has undertaken to assume all Fund expenses (except for the
Plan fee, foreign taxes withheld and/or brokerage fees) and to waive the
compensation provided for in its Management Agreement and the Adviser has
undertaken to waive the compensation provided for in its Advisory Agreement,
until such time as the Fund had $50 million of net assets or until six months
from the date of commencement of the Fund's operations, whichever occurs
first.
31
<PAGE>
APPENDIX
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
RATINGS OF CORPORATE DEBT INSTRUMENTS
MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE INC. ("MOODY'S")
BOND RATINGS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
Aaa Bonds which are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality. They carry the smallest degree of investment risk
and are generally referred to as "gilt edge." Interest payments are protected by a large or by an exceptionally stable
margin and principal is secure. While the various protective elements are likely to change, such changes as can be
visualized are most unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong position of such issues.
Aa Bonds which are rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all standards. Together with the Aaa group they comprise
what are generally known as high grade bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds because margins of protection
may not be as large as in Aaa securities or fluctuation of protective elements may be of greater amplitude or there
may be other elements present which make the long-term risks appear somewhat larger than in Aaa securities.
A Bonds which are rated A possess many favorable investment attributes and are to be considered as upper medium grade
obligations. Factors giving security to principal and interest are considered adequate, but elements may be present
which suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future.
Baa Bonds which are rated Baa are considered as medium grade obligations; i.e., they are neither highly protected nor
poorly secured. Interest payments and principal security appear adequate for the present but certain protective elements
may be lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any great length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding
investment characteristics and in fact have speculative characteristics as well.
Bonds rated Aaa, Aa, A and Baa are considered investment grade bonds.
Ba Bonds which are rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements; their future cannot be considered as well assured.
Often the protection of interest and principal payments may be very moderate, and therefore not well safeguarded during
both good and bad times in the future. Uncertainty of position characterizes bonds in this class.
B Bonds which are rated B generally lack characteristics of the desirable investment. Assurance of interest and principal
payments or of maintenance of other terms of the contract over any long period of time may be small.
Caa Bonds which are rated Caa are of poor standing. Such issues may be in default or there may be present elements of
danger with respect to principal or interest.
Ca Bonds which are rated Ca present obligations which are speculative in a high degree. Such issues are often in default
or have other marked shortcomings.
C Bonds which are rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds, and issues so rated can be regarded as having extremely
poor prospects of ever attaining any real investment standing.
</TABLE>
Rating Refinements: Moody's may apply numerical modifiers, 1, 2, and 3 in
each generic rating classification from Aa through B in its municipal bond
rating system. The modifier 1 indicates that the security ranks in the higher
end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range
ranking; and a modifier 3 indicates that the issue ranks in the lower end if
its generic rating category.
COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS
Moody's Commercial Paper ratings are opinions of the ability to repay
punctually promissory obligations not having an original maturity in excess
of nine months. The ratings apply to Municipal Commercial Paper as well as
taxable Commercial Paper. Moody's employs the following three designations,
all judged to be investment grade, to indicate the relative repayment
capacity of rated issuers: Prime-1, Prime-2, Prime-3.
32
<PAGE>
Issuers rated Prime-1 have a superior capacity for repayment of short-term
promissory obligations. Issuers rated Prime-2 have a strong capacity for
repayment of short-term promissory obligations; and Issuers rated Prime-3
have an acceptable capacity for repayment of short-term promissory
obligations. Issuers rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime
rating categories.
STANDARD & POOR'S CORPORATION ("STANDARD & POOR'S")
BOND RATINGS
A Standard & Poor's bond rating is a current assessment of the
creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific obligation. This
assessment may take into consideration obligors such as guarantors, insurers,
or lessees.
The ratings are based on current information furnished by the issuer or
obtained by Standard & Poor's from other sources it considers reliable. The
ratings are based, in varying degrees, on the following considerations: (1)
likelihood of default-capacity and willingness of the obligor as to the
timely payment of interest and repayment of principal in accordance with the
terms of the obligation; (2) nature of and provisions of the obligation; and
(3) protection afforded by, and relative position of, the obligation in the
event of bankruptcy, reorganization or other arrangement under the laws of
bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors' rights.
Standard & Poor's does not perform an audit in connection with any rating
and may, on occasion, rely on unaudited financial information. The ratings
may be changed, suspended or withdrawn as a result of changes in, or
unavailability of, such information, or for other reasons.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
AAA Debt rated "AAA" has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor's. Capacity to pay interest and repay principal
is extremely strong.
AA Debt rated "AA" has a very strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal and differs from the highest-rated issues
only in small degree.
A Debt rated "A" has a strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal although they are somewhat more susceptible
to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than debt in higher-rated categories.
BBB Debt rated "BBB" is regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay interest and repay principal. Whereas it normally
exhibits adequate protection parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead
to a weakened capacity to pay interest and repay principal for debt in this category than for debt in higher-rated
categories.
Bonds rated AAA, AA, A and BBB are considered investment grade bonds.
BB Debt rated "BB" has less near-term vulnerability to default than other speculative grade debt. However, it faces major
ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial or economic conditions which could lead to inadequate
capacity or willingness to pay interest and repay principal.
B Debt rated "B" has a greater vulnerability to default but presently has the capacity to meet interest payments and
principal repayments. Adverse business, financial or economic conditions would likely impair capacity or willingness
to pay interest and repay principal.
CCC Debt rated "CCC" has a current identifiable vulnerability to default, and is dependent upon favorable business,
financial and economic conditions to meet timely payments of interest and repayments of principal. In the event of
adverse business, financial or economic conditions, it is not likely to have the capacity to pay interest and repay
principal.
CC The rating "CC" is typically applied to debt subordinated to senior debt which is assigned an actual or implied "CCC"
rating.
C The rating "C" is typically applied to debt subordinated to senior debt which is assigned an actual or implied "CCC-"
debt rating.
33
<PAGE>
Cl The rating "Cl" is reserved for income bonds on which no interest is being paid.
D Debt rated "D" is in payment default. The 'D' rating category is used when interest payments or principal payments
are not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless S&P believes that such payments
will be made during such grace period. The 'D' rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition if
debt service payments are jeopardized.
NR Indicates that no rating has been requested, that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating or that
Standard & Poor's does not rate a particular type of obligation as a matter of policy.
Bonds rated "BB", "B", "CCC", "CC" and "C" are regarded as having predominantly speculative characteristics with respect
to capacity to pay interest and repay principal. "BB" indicates the least degree of speculation and "C" the highest
degree of speculation. While such debt will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these are
outweighed by large uncertainties or major risk exposures to adverse conditions.
Plus (+) or minus (-): The rating from "AA" to "CCC" may be modified by the addition of a plus or minus sign to show
relative standing with the major ratings categories.
</TABLE>
COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS
Standard and Poor's commercial paper rating is a current assessment of the
likelihood of timely payment of debt having an original maturity of no more
than 365 days. The commercial paper rating is not a recommendation to
purchase or sell a security. The ratings are based upon current information
furnished by the issuer or obtained by S&P from other sources it considers
reliable. The ratings may be changed, suspended, or withdrawn as a result of
changes in or unavailability of such information. Ratings are graded into
group categories, ranging from "A" for the highest quality obligations to "D"
for the lowest. Ratings are applicable to both taxable and tax-exempt
commercial paper. The categories are as follows:
Issues assigned A ratings are regarded as having the greatest capacity for
timely payment. Issues in this category are further refined with the
designation 1, 2, and 3 to indicate the relative degree of safety.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
A-1 indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely payment is very strong.
A-2 indicates capacity for timely payment on issues with this designation is strong. However, the relative degree
of safety is not as overwhelming as for issues designated "A-1".
A-3 indicates a satisfactory capacity for timely payment. Obligations carrying this designation are, however, somewhat
more vulnerable to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances than obligations carrying the higher designations.
</TABLE>
34
TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST
PART C OTHER INFORMATION
Item 24. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(a) Financial Statements
(1) Financial statements included in the Prospectus
None.
(2) Financial statements included in the Statement of
Additional Information
None.
(3) Financial statements included in the Part C
None.
(b) Exhibits
Exhibit
Number Description
1. -- Declaration of Trust of Registrant*
2. -- By-Laws of Registrant*
3. -- None
5. -- Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between
Registrant and TCW Funds Management Inc.
6.(a) -- Form of Underwriting Agreement between
Registrant and Dean Witter Distributors Inc.
(b) -- Form of Distribution Agreement between Registrant
and Dean Witter Distributors Inc.
(c) -- Forms of Selected Dealer Agreement
7. -- None
8.(a) -- Form of Custodian Agreement between Registrant
and The Bank of New York
(b) -- Form of Transfer Agency and Services Agreement
between Registrant and Dean Witter Trust Company
9. -- Form of Management Agreement between Registrant
and Dean Witter Services Company Inc.
1
10.(a) -- Opinion of Sheldon Curtis, Esq.
(b) -- Opinion of Lane Altman & Owens, Massachusetts
Counsel
11. -- Consent of Independent Accountants
12. -- None
13. -- Investment Letter of Dean Witter InterCapital
Inc.
14. -- None
15. -- Form of Plan of Distribution between Registrant
and Dean Witter Distributors Inc.
16. -- Schedule for Computation of Performance
Quotations to be filed with first Post-Effective
Amendment
27. -- Financial Data Schedule
Other -- Powers of Attorney
- ---------------
* Filed in the Fund's initial Registration Statement on Form N-1A
as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October
25, 1995.
Item 25. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control With
Registrant.
Prior to the offering of its shares, the Registrant sold
10,000 of its shares of beneficial interest to Dean Witter
InterCapital Inc., a Delaware corporation. Dean Witter
InterCapital Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dean Witter,
Discover & Co. ("DWDC"), a publicly held Delaware corporation.
Item 26. Number of Holders of Securities.
(1) (2)
Number of Record Holders
Title of Class at December 4, 1995
Item 27. Indemnification.
Pursuant to Section 5.3 of the Registrant's Declaration of
Trust and under Section 4.8 of the Registrant's By-Laws, the
indemnification of the Registrant's trustees, officers, employees
and agents is permitted if it is determined that they acted under
the belief that their actions were in or not opposed to the best
interest of the Registrant, and, with respect to any criminal
proceeding, they had reasonable cause to believe their conduct was
not unlawful. In addition, indemnification is permitted only if it
is determined that the actions in question did not render them
liable by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross
2
negligence in the performance of their duties or by reason of
reckless disregard of their obligations and duties to the
Registrant. Trustees, officers, employees and agents will be
indemnified for the expense of litigation if it is determined that
they are entitled to indemnification against any liability
established in such litigation. The Registrant may also advance
money for these expenses provided that they give their undertakings
to repay the Registrant unless their conduct is later determined to
permit indemnification.
Pursuant to Section 5.2 of the Registrant's Declaration of
Trust and paragraph 8 of the Registrant's Management and Advisory
Agreements, none of the Manager, the Adviser or any trustee,
officer, employee or agent of the Registrant shall be liable for
any action or failure to act, except in the case of bad faith,
willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of
duties to the Registrant.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act") may be permitted to trustees,
officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the
foregoing provisions or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised
that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act
and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by
the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a trustee, officer,
or controlling person of the Registrant in connection with the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted
against the Registrant by such trustee, officer or controlling
person in connection with the shares being registered, the
Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of
appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification
by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act, and will be
governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
The Registrant hereby undertakes that it will apply the
indemnification provision of its by-laws in a manner consistent
with Release 11330 of the Securities and Exchange Commission under
the Investment Company Act of 1940, so long as the interpretation
of Sections 17(h) and 17(i) of such Act remains in effect.
Registrant, in conjunction with the Manager, Registrant's
Trustees, and other registered investment management companies
managed by the Manager, maintains insurance on behalf of any person
who is or was a Trustee, officer, employee, or agent of Registrant,
or who is or was serving at the request of Registrant as a trustee,
director, officer, employee or agent of another trust or
corporation, against any liability asserted against him and
incurred by him or arising out of his position. However, in no
event will Registrant maintain insurance to indemnify any such
3
person for any act for which Registrant itself is not permitted to
indemnify him.
Item 28. Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser.
The TCW Funds Management, Inc. (the "Adviser") is a 100%
owned subsidiary of The TCW Group, Inc., a Nevada corporation. The
Adviser presently serves as investment adviser to: (1) TCW Funds,
Inc., a diversified open-end management investment company, (2)
TCW Convertible Securities Fund, Inc., a diversified closed-end
management investment company; (3) TCW/DW Core Equity Trust, an
open-end, non-diversified management company, (4) TCW/DW North
American Government Income Trust, an open-end, non-diversified
management company, (5) TCW/DW Income and Growth Fund, an open-end,
non-diversified management company, (6) TCW/DW Latin American
Growth Fund, an open-end non-diversified management company, (7)
TCW/DW Small Cap Growth Fund, an open-end non-diversified
management company, (8) TCW/DW Term Trust 2000, a closed-end,
diversified management company, (9) TCW/DW Term Trust 2002, a
closed-end diversified management company, (10) TCW/DW Term Trust
2003, a closed-end diversified management company, (11) TCW/DW
Balanced Fund, an open-end, diversified management company, (12)
TCW/DW Emerging Markets Opportunities Trust, a closed-end, non-
diversified management company, and (13) TCW/DW Total
Return Trust, an open-end non-diversified management investment
company. The Adviser also serves as investment adviser or sub-
adviser to other investment companies, including foreign investment
companies. The list required by this Item 28 of the officers and
directors of the Adviser together with information as to any other
business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantive
nature engaged in by the Adviser and such officers and directors
during the past two years, is incorporated by reference to Form ADV
(File No. 801-29075) filed by the Adviser pursuant to the
Investment Advisers Act.
Item 29. Principal Underwriters.
(a) Dean Witter Distributors Inc. ("Distributors"), a Delaware
corporation, is the principal underwriter of the Registrant.
Distributors is also the principal underwriter of the following
investment companies:
(1) Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
(2) Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
(3) Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
(4) Dean Witter Retirement Series
(5) Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities Inc.
(6) Dean Witter Natural Resource Development Securities Inc.
(7) Dean Witter World Wide Investment Trust
4
(8) Dean Witter Capital Growth Securities
(9) Dean Witter Convertible Securities Trust
(10) Active Assets Tax-Free Trust
(11) Active Assets Money Trust
(12) Active Assets California Tax-Free Trust
(13) Active Assets Government Securities Trust
(14) Dean Witter Global Utilities Fund
(15) Dean Witter Federal Securities Trust
(16) Dean Witter U.S. Government Securities Trust
(17) Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc.
(18) Dean Witter New York Tax-Free Income Fund
(19) Dean Witter Tax-Exempt Securities Trust
(20) Dean Witter California Tax-Free Income Fund
(21) Dean Witter Managed Assets Trust
(22) Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust
(23) Dean Witter World Wide Income Trust
(24) Dean Witter Utilities Fund
(25) Dean Witter Strategist Fund
(26) Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust
(27) Dean Witter Intermediate Income Securities
(28) Prime Income Trust
(29) Dean Witter European Growth Fund Inc.
(30) Dean Witter Developing Growth Securities Trust
(31) Dean Witter Precious Metals and Minerals Trust
(32) Dean Witter Pacific Growth Fund Inc.
(33) Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal Series Trust
(34) Dean Witter Premier Income Trust
(35) Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust
(36) Dean Witter Diversified Income Trust
(37) Dean Witter Health Sciences Trust
(38) Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities
(39) Dean Witter American Value Fund
(40) Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust
(41) Dean Witter Global Short-Term Income Fund Inc.
(42) Dean Witter Variable Investment Series
(43) Dean Witter Value-Added Market Series
(44) Dean Witter Short-Term Bond Fund
(45) Dean Witter National Municipal Trust
(46) Dean Witter High Income Securities
(47) Dean Witter International SmallCap Fund
(48) Dean Witter Hawaii Municipal Trust
(49) Dean Witter Balanced Growth Fund
(50) Dean Witter Balanced Income Fund
(51) Dean Witter Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust
(52) Dean Witter Global Asset Allocation Fund
(53) Dean Witter Mid-Cap Growth Fund
(54) Dean Witter Capital Appreciation Fund
(55) Dean Witter Hawaii Municipal Trust
(56) Dean Witter Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust
(57) Dean Witter Information Fund
(1) TCW/DW Core Equity Trust
(2) TCW/DW North American Government Income Trust
5
(3) TCW/DW Latin American Growth Fund
(4) TCW/DW Income and Growth Fund
(5) TCW/DW Small Cap Growth Fund
(6) TCW/DW Balanced Fund
(7) TCW/DW Total Return Trust
(b) The following information is given regarding directors and officers
of Dean Witter Distributors Inc. ("Distributors"). The principal
address of Distributors is Two World Trade Center, New York, New York
10048.
Positions and
Office with Distributors
Name and the Registrant
Charles A. Fiumefreddo Chairman, Chief Executive
Officer and Director of
Distributors and Chairman,
Chief Executive Officer
and Trustee of the
Registrant.
Philip J. Purcell Director of Distributors.
Richard M. DeMartini Director of Distributors.
James F. Higgins Director of Distributors.
Thomas C. Schneider Executive Vice President, Chief
Financial Officer and Director
of Distributors.
Christine A. Edwards Executive Vice President,
Secretary, Chief Legal Officer
and Director of Distributors.
Robert Scanlan Executive Vice President of
Distributors and Vice President
of the Registrant.
David A. Hughey Executive Vice President and
Chief Administrative Officer
of Distributors and Vice
President of the Registrant.
Robert S. Giambrone Senior Vice President of
Distributors and Vice President
of the Registrant.
6
Positions and Office
with Distributors
Name and the Registrant
Sheldon Curtis Senior Vice President,
Assistant General Counsel and
Assistant Secretary of
Distributors and Vice President,
Secretary and General Counsel of
the Registrant.
Frederick K. Kubler Senior Vice President,
Assistant Secretary and Chief
Compliance Officer of
Distributors.
Michael T. Gregg Vice President and Assistant
Secretary of Distributors.
Edward C. Oelsner III Vice President of Distributors.
Samuel Wolcott III Vice President of Distributors.
Thomas F. Caloia Assistant Treasurer of
Distributors and Treasurer of
the Registrant.
Michael Interrante Assistant Treasurer of
Distributors.
Item 30. Location of Accounts and Records
All accounts, books and other documents required to be maintained
by Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Rules
thereunder are maintained by the Manager at its offices, except records
relating to holders of shares issued by the Registrant, which are
maintained by the Registrant's Transfer Agent, at its place of business
as shown in the prospectus.
Item 31. Management Services
Registrant is not a party to any such management-related service
contract.
7
Item 32. Undertakings
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to file a post-
effective amendment, using financial statements which need not be
audited, within four to six months from the effective date of the
Registrant's Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933.
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to comply with the
provisions of Section 16(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 with
regard to facilitating shareholder communications in the event the
requisite percentage of shareholders so requests, to the same extent as
if Registrant were subject to the provisions of that section.
8
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and
the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this
Amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York and the State
of New York on the 5th day of December, 1995.
TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST
By: /s/ Sheldon Curtis
Sheldon Curtis
Vice President and Secretary
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement has been signed
below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.
Signatures Title Date
(1) Principal Executive Officer Chairman, President,
Chief Executive
Officer and Trustee
By:/s/ Charles A. Fiumefreddo 12/05/95
-------------------------
Charles A. Fiumefreddo
(2) Principal Financial Officer Treasurer and Principal
Accounting Officer
By:/s/ Thomas F. Caloia 12/05/95
-------------------------
Thomas F. Caloia
(3) Majority of the Trustees Trustees
Charles A. Fiumefreddo (Chairman)
Richard M. DeMartini
By:/s/ Sheldon Curtis 12/05/95
-------------------------
Sheldon Curtis
Attorney-in-Fact
John C. Argue
Paul Kolton
John R. Haire
Manuel H. Johnson
Michael E. Nugent
John L. Schroeder
By:/s/ David M. Butowsky 12/05/95
-------------------------
David M. Butowsky
Attorney-in-Fact
Thomas E. Larkin, Jr.
Marc I. Stern
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
Number Description
1. -- Declaration of Trust of Registrant*
2. -- By-Laws of Registrant*
3. -- None
5. -- Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between
Registrant and TCW Funds Management Inc.
6.(a) -- Form of Underwriting Agreement between
Registrant and Dean Witter Distributors Inc.
(b) -- Form of Distribution Agreement between Registrant
and Dean Witter Distributors Inc.
(c) -- Forms of Selected Dealer Agreement
7. -- None
8.(a) -- Form of Custodian Agreement between Registrant
and The Bank of New York
(b) -- Form of Transfer Agency and Services Agreement
between Registrant and Dean Witter Trust Company
9. -- Form of Management Agreement between Registrant
and Dean Witter Services Company Inc.
10.(a) -- Opinion of Sheldon Curtis, Esq.
(b) -- Opinion of Lane Altman & Owens, Massachusetts
Counsel
11. -- Consent of Independent Accountants
12. -- None
13. -- Investment Letter of Dean Witter InterCapital
Inc.
14. -- None
15. -- Form of Plan of Distribution between Registrant
and Dean Witter Distributors Inc.
16. -- Schedule for Computation of Performance
Quotations to be filed with first Post-Effective
Amendment
27. -- Financial Data Schedule
Other -- Powers of Attorney
- ---------------
* Filed in the Fund's initial Registration Statement on Form N-1A
as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October
25, 1995.
<PAGE>
TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as of the th day of , 1995 by and between TCW/DW
Mid-Cap Equity Trust, an unincorporated business trust organized under the
laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (hereinafter called the "Fund"),
and TCW Funds Management, Inc., a California corporation (hereinafter called
the "Investment Adviser"):
WHEREAS, The Fund intends to engage in business as an open-end management
investment company and is registered as such under the Investment Company Act
of 1940, as amended (the "Act"); and
WHEREAS, The Investment Adviser is registered as an investment adviser
under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the "Advisers Act"), and engages
in the business of acting as investment adviser; and
WHEREAS, The Fund desires to retain the Investment Adviser to render
investment advisory services in the manner and on the terms and conditions
hereinafter set forth; and
WHEREAS, The Investment Adviser desires to be retained to perform services
on said terms and conditions;
Now, Therefore, this Agreement
W I T N E S S E T H:
that in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants hereinafter
contained, the Fund and the Investment Adviser agree as follows:
1. The Fund hereby retains the Investment Adviser to act as investment
adviser of the Fund and, subject to the supervision of the Trustees of the
Fund (the "Trustees"), to invest the Fund's assets as hereinafter set forth.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Investment Adviser
shall obtain and evaluate such information and advice relating to the
economy, securities and commodities markets and securities and commodities as
it deems necessary or useful to discharge its duties hereunder; shall
continuously invest the assets of the Fund in a manner consistent with the
investment objectives and policies of the Fund; shall determine the
securities and commodities to be purchased, sold or otherwise disposed of by
the Fund and the timing of such purchases, sales and dispositions; and shall
take such further action, including the placing of purchase and sale orders
on behalf of the Fund, as the Investment Adviser shall deem necessary or
appropriate. The Investment Adviser shall also furnish to or place at the
disposal of the Fund such of the information, evaluations, analyses and
opinions formulated or obtained by the Investment Adviser in the discharge of
its duties as the Fund may, from time to time, reasonably request.
2. The Investment Adviser shall, at its own expense, maintain such staff
and employ or retain such personnel and consult with such other persons as it
shall from time to time determine to be necessary or useful to the
performance of its obligations under this Agreement. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, the staff and personnel of the Investment
Adviser shall be deemed to include persons employed or otherwise retained by
the Investment Adviser to furnish statistical and other factual data, advice
regarding economic factors and trends, information with respect to technical
and scientific developments, and such other information, advice and
assistance as the Investment Adviser may desire. The Investment Adviser shall
provide the Fund's manager with such records and information as may
reasonably be required by the Fund's manager pursuant to its obligations
under its management agreement with the Fund to maintain the Fund's books and
records.
3. The Fund will, from time to time, furnish or otherwise make available
to the Investment Adviser such financial reports, proxy statements and other
information relating to the business and affairs of the Fund as the
Investment Adviser may reasonably require in order to discharge its duties
and obligations hereunder.
1
<PAGE>
4. The Investment Adviser shall bear the cost of rendering the investment
advisory services to be performed by it under this Agreement, and shall, at
its own expense, pay the compensation of its directors, officers and
employees, if any, who are also Trustees or officers of the Fund.
5. The Fund assumes and shall pay or cause to be paid all other expenses
of the Fund (except expenses borne by the Fund's manager pursuant to a
management agreement with the Fund), including without limitation: fees
pursuant to any management agreement into which the Fund may enter; fees
pursuant to any plan of distribution that the Fund may adopt; the charges and
expenses of any registrar, any custodian or depository appointed by the Fund
for the safekeeping of its cash, portfolio securities or commodities and
other property, and any stock transfer or dividend agent or agents appointed
by the Fund; brokers' commissions chargeable to the Fund in connection with
portfolio transactions to which the Fund is a party; all taxes, including
securities or commodities issuance and transfer taxes, and fees payable by
the Fund to federal, state or other governmental agencies; the cost and
expense of engraving or printing of certificates representing shares of the
Fund; all costs and expenses in connection with the registration and
maintenance of registration of the Fund and its shares with the Securities
and Exchange Commission and various states and other jurisdictions (including
filing fees and legal fees and disbursements of counsel and the costs and
expenses of preparation, printing (including typesetting) and distributing
prospectuses and statements of additional information for such purposes); all
expenses of shareholders' and Trustees' meetings and of preparing, printing
and mailing proxy statements and reports to shareholders; fees and travel
expenses of Trustees or members of any advisory board or committee who are
not employees of the Investment Adviser or the Fund's manager or any
corporate affiliate of either of them; all expenses incident to the payment
of any dividend or distribution program; charges and expenses of any outside
service used for pricing of the Fund's shares; charges and expenses of legal
counsel, including counsel to the Trustees of the Fund who are not interested
persons (as defined in the Act) of the Fund or the Investment Adviser or the
Fund's manager, and of independent accountants, in connection with any matter
relating to the Fund; membership dues of industry associations; interest
payable on Fund borrowings; postage; insurance premiums on property or
personnel (including officers and Trustees) of the Fund which inure to its
benefit; extraordinary expenses (including, but not limited to, legal claims
and liabilities and litigation costs and any indemnification related
thereto); and all other charges and costs of the Fund's operation unless
otherwise explicitly provided herein.
6. For the services to be rendered by the Investment Adviser, the Fund
shall pay to the Investment Adviser monthly compensation determined by
applying the annual rate of 0. % to the Fund's average daily net assets. Such
calculation shall be made by applying 1/365th of the annual rate to the
Fund's net assets each day determined as of the close of business on that day
or the last previous business day. If this Agreement becomes effective
subsequent to the first day of a month or shall terminate before the last day
of a month, compensation for that part of the month this Agreement is in
effect shall be prorated in a manner consistent with the calculation of the
fees as set forth above.
7. In the event the operating expenses of the Fund, including amounts
payable to the Investment Adviser pursuant to paragraph 6 hereof, for any
fiscal year ending on a date on which this Agreement is in effect, exceed the
expense limitations applicable to the Fund imposed by state securities laws
or regulations thereunder, as such limitations may be raised or lowered from
time to time, the Investment Adviser shall reduce its advisory fee to the
extent of 40% of such excess and, if and to the extent required by law,
pursuant to any such laws or regulations, will reimburse the Fund for 40% of
annual operating expenses in excess of any expense limitation that may be
applicable; provided, however, there shall be excluded from such expenses the
amount of any interest, taxes, distribution fees, brokerage commissions and
extraordinary expenses (including but not limited to legal claims and
liabilities and litigation costs and any indemnification related thereto)
paid or payable by the Fund. Such reduction, if any, shall be computed and
accrued weekly, shall be settled on a monthly basis, and shall be based upon
the expense limitation applicable to the Fund as at the end of the last
business day of the month. Should two or more such expense limitations be
applicable as at the end of the last full week of the month, that expense
limitation which results in the largest reduction in the Investment Adviser's
fee shall be applicable.
For purposes of this provision, should any applicable expense limitation
be based upon the gross income of the Fund, such gross income shall include,
but not be limited to, interest on debt securities in
2
<PAGE>
the Fund's portfolio accrued to and including the last day of the Fund's
fiscal year, and dividends declared on equity securities in the Fund's
portfolio, the record dates for which fall on or prior to the last day of
such fiscal year, but shall not include gains from the sale of securities.
8. The Investment Adviser will use its best efforts in its investment of
the Fund's assets, but in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith,
gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations hereunder, the
Investment Adviser shall not be liable to the Fund or any of its investors
for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any act or omission by the
Investment Adviser or for any losses sustained by the Fund or its investors.
The Adviser shall be indemnified by the Fund as an agent of the Fund in
accordance with the terms of Section 4.8 of the Fund's By-Laws.
9. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall prevent the Investment
Adviser or any affiliated person of the Investment Adviser from acting as
investment adviser or manager for any other person, firm or corporation
(including any other investment company), whether or not the investment
objectives or policies of any such other person, firm or corporation are
similar to those of the Fund, and shall not in any way bind or restrict the
Investment Adviser or any such affiliated person from buying, selling or
trading any securities or commodities for their own accounts or for the
account of others for whom the Investment Adviser or any such affiliated
person may be acting. Nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the
right of any Trustee, officer or employee of the Investment Adviser to engage
in any other business or to devote his time and attention in part to the
management or other aspects of any other business whether of a similar or
dissimilar nature.
10. This Agreement shall remain in effect until April 30, 1997 and from
year to year thereafter provided such continuance is approved at least
annually by the vote of holders of a majority, as defined in the Act, of the
outstanding voting securities of the Fund or by the Board of Trustees of the
Fund; provided that in either event such continuance is also approved
annually by the vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Fund who are not
parties to this Agreement or "interested persons" (as defined in the Act) of
any such party, which vote must be cast in person at a meeting called for the
purpose of voting on such approval; provided, however, that (a) the Fund may,
at any time and without the payment of any penalty, terminate this Agreement
upon thirty days' written notice to the Investment Adviser, either by
majority vote of the Trustees of the Fund or by the vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the Fund; (b) this Agreement shall
immediately terminate in the event of its assignment (to the extent required
by the Act and the rules thereunder) unless such automatic terminations shall
be prevented by an exemptive order of the Securities and Exchange Commission;
and (c) the Investment Adviser may terminate this Agreement without payment
of penalty on thirty days' written notice to the Fund. Any notice under this
Agreement shall be given in writing, addressed and delivered, or mailed
post-paid, to the other party at the principal office of such party.
11. This Agreement may be amended by the parties without the vote or
consent of the shareholders of the Fund to supply any omission, to cure,
correct or supplement any ambiguous, defective or inconsistent provision
hereof, or if they deem it necessary to conform this Agreement to the
requirements of applicable federal laws or regulations, but neither the Fund
nor the Investment Adviser shall be liable for failing to do so.
12. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the
State of New York and the applicable provisions of the Act. To the extent the
applicable law of the State of New York, or any of the provisions herein,
conflict with the applicable provisions of the Act, the Advisers Act or any
rules, regulations or orders of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the
latter shall control.
13. The Fund acknowledges that Trust Company of the West, an affiliate of
the Investment Adviser, owns its own name, initials and logo. The Fund agrees
to change its name at the request of the Investment Adviser if this Agreement
is terminated for any reason.
14. The Declaration of Trust establishing TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust,
dated October 16, 1995, a copy of which, together with all amendments thereto
(the "Declaration"), is on file in the office of the Secretary of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, provides that the name TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity
Trust refers to the Trustees under the Declaration collectively as Trustees,
but not as individuals or
3
<PAGE>
personally; and no Trustee, shareholder, officer, employee or agent of TCW/DW
Mid-Cap Equity Trust shall be held to any personal liability, nor shall
resort be had to their private property for the satisfaction of any
obligation or claim or otherwise, in connection with the affairs of said
TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust, but the Trust Estate only shall be liable.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and delivered this
Agreement on the day and year first above written in New York, New York.
TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST
By ...............................
Attest:
...........................................
TCW FUNDS MANAGEMENT, INC.
By ................................
Attest:
...........................................
By ................................
Attest:
...........................................
4
<PAGE>
TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST
SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST
$.01 PAR VALUE
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
, 1995
DEAN WITTER DISTRIBUTORS INC.
2 World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
Dear Sirs:
1. Introductory. TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust, an unincorporated business
trust organized under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts (the
"Fund"), proposes to sell, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, to you
(the "Underwriter") up to 10,000,000 shares of its shares of beneficial
interest, $.01 par value, subject to increase or decrease as provided in this
Agreement. Such shares are hereinafter referred to as the "Shares."
The Underwriter may sell such of the Shares purchased by it, as it may
elect, to dealers chosen by it (the "Selected Dealers"), at their net asset
value, reoffering by the Selected Dealers to the public at net asset value.
It is proposed that Dean Witter Services Company Inc. (the "Manager") will
act as manager for the Fund and that TCW Funds Management, Inc. (the
"Adviser") will act as adviser for the Fund.
2. Representation and Warranties of the Fund, the Manager and the
Adviser. (a) The Fund represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the
Underwriter that:
(i) A registration statement on Form N-1A, including a preliminary
prospectus, copies of which have heretofore been delivered to you, has
been carefully prepared by the Fund in conformity with the requirements of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), and the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), and the
published rules and regulations (the "Rules and Regulations") of the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") under such Acts, and
has been filed with the Commission under both such Acts; and the Fund has
so prepared and proposed so to file prior to the effective date under the
1933 Act of such registration statement an amendment to such registration
statement including the final form of prospectus and the statement of
additional information. Such registration statement, (including all
exhibits), as finally amended and supplemented at the time such
registration statement becomes effective under the 1933 Act, and the
prospectus and statement of additional information forming part of such
registration statement, or, if different in any respect, the prospectus in
the form first filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 497(c) under the
1933 Act, are herein respectively referred to as the "Registration
Statement" and the "Prospectus," and each preliminary prospectus is herein
referred to as a "Preliminary Prospectus." Reference to the Prospectus and
Preliminary Prospectus herein shall encompass both the prospectus and
statement of additional information.
(ii) The Commission has not issued any order preventing or suspending
the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, and, at its date of issue, each
Preliminary Prospectus conformed in all material respects with the
requirements of the 1933 Act and the Rules and Regulations thereunder and
did not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein in light of the circumstances under which they were
made not misleading; and, when the Registration Statement becomes
effective under the 1933 Act and at all times subsequent thereto up to and
including the Closing Date (as herein defined). The Registration Statement
and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, and the
Notification of Registration on Form N-8A will contain all material
statements and information required to be included therein by the 1933
Act, the 1940 Act and the Rules and Regulations thereunder and will
conform in all material respects to the requirements of the 1933 Act, the
1940 Act and the Rules and Regulations and will not include any
1
<PAGE>
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading; provided, however, that the foregoing representations,
warranties and agreements shall not apply to information contained in or
omitted from any Preliminary Prospectus or the Registration Statement or
the Prospectus or any such amendment or supplement in reliance upon, and
in conformity with, written information furnished to the Fund by or on
behalf of the Underwriter, or by or on behalf of the Manager or the
Adviser specifically for use in the preparation thereof.
(iii) The Statement of Assets and Liabilities of the Fund set forth in
the Statement of Additional Information fairly presents the financial
position of the Fund as of the date indicated and has been prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Price
Waterhouse, who have expressed their opinion on said Statement, are
independent accountants as required by the 1933 Act and Rules and
Regulations thereunder.
(iv) Subsequent to the dates as of which information is given in the
Registration Statement and Prospectus, and except as set forth or
contemplated in the Prospectus, the Fund has not incurred any material
liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, or entered into any
material transactions not in the ordinary course of business, and there
has not been any material adverse change in the financial position of the
Fund, or any change in the authorized or outstanding shares of common
stock of the Fund or any issuance of options to purchase shares of common
stock of the Fund.
(v) Except as set forth in the Prospectus, there is no action, suit or
proceeding before or by any court or governmental agency or body pending,
or to the knowledge of the Fund threatened, which might result in any
material adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise),
business or prospects of the Fund, or which would materially and adversely
affect its properties or assets.
(vi) The Fund has been duly established and is validly existing as an
unincorporated business trust under the laws of The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, with power and authority to own its property and conduct
its business as described in the Prospectus; the Fund is duly qualified to
do business in all jurisdictions in which the conduct of its business
requires such qualification; and the Fund has no subsidiaries.
(vii) The Fund is registered with the Commission under the 1940 Act as
an open-end non-diversified management investment company.
(viii) The Fund has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the
Registration Statement, and all outstanding shares of beneficial interest
of the Fund conform to the description thereof in the Prospectus and are
duly and validly authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable; and
the Shares, upon the issuance thereof in accordance with this Agreement,
will conform to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus, and
will be duly and validly authorized and issued, fully paid and
nonassessable (although shareholders of the Fund may be liable for certain
obligations of the Fund as set forth under the caption "Additional
Information" in the Prospectus).
(ix) The Fund has full legal right, power and authority to enter into
this Agreement, and the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the
Fund, the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated and
fulfillment of the terms hereof by the Fund will be in compliance with all
applicable legal requirements to which the Fund is subject and will not
conflict with the terms or provisions of any order of the Commission, the
Declaration of Trust or By-Laws of the Fund, or any agreement or
instrument to which the Fund is a party or by which it is bound.
(x) The Fund has adopted a Plan of Distribution (the "Plan") pursuant
to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Pursuant to Rule 12b-1, the Plan has
been approved by the Fund's sole shareholder and by the Trustees of the
Fund, including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons
of the Fund and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the
operation of the Plan, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose
of voting on such Plan.
(xi) The Fund has full legal right, power and authority to enter into
the Distribution Agreement, the Custodian Agreement, the Transfer Agency
and Service Agreement, the Management Agreement and the
2
<PAGE>
Advisory Agreement referred to in the Registration Statement and the
execution and delivery of the Distribution Agreement, Custodian Agreement,
the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement, Management Agreement and the
Advisory Agreement, the consummation of the transactions therein
contemplated and fulfillment of the terms thereof, will be in compliance
with all applicable legal requirements to which the Fund is subject and
will not conflict with the terms or provisions of any order of the
Commission, the Declaration of Trust or By-Laws of the Fund, or any
agreement or instrument to which the Fund is a party or by which it is
bound.
(b) The Manager represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Fund
that:
(i) The Manager has full legal right, power and authority to enter
into this Agreement and the Management Agreement, and the execution and
delivery of this Agreement and the Management Agreement, the consummation
of the transactions herein and therein contemplated and the fulfillment of
the terms hereof and thereof, will be in compliance with all applicable
legal requirements to which it is subject and will not conflict with the
terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, its articles of
incorporation or by-laws or any agreement or instrument to which it is a
party or by which it is bound.
(ii) The description of the Manager in the Registration Statement is
true and correct and does not contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; and is hereby
deemed to be furnished in writing to the Fund for the purposes of Section
2(a)(ii) hereof.
(c) The Adviser represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Fund
that:
(i) The Adviser is an investment adviser registered under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and is registered as an investment adviser
in such states as may be required for the operation of the Fund.
(ii) The Adviser has full legal right, power and authority to enter
into this Agreement and the Advisory Agreement, and the execution and
delivery of this Agreement and the Advisory Agreement, the consummation of
the transaction herein and therein contemplated and the fulfillment of the
terms hereof and thereof, will be in compliance with all applicable legal
requirements to which it is subject and will not conflict with the terms
or provisions of, or constitute a default under, its articles of
incorporation or by-laws or any agreement or instrument to which it is a
party or by which it is bound.
(iii) The description of the Adviser in the Registration Statement is
true and correct and does not contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; and is hereby
deemed to be furnished in writing to the Fund for the purposes of Section
2(a)(ii) hereof.
3. Purchase by, and Sale to, the Underwriter. The Fund agrees to sell to
the Underwriter, and upon the basis of the representations, warranties and
agreements herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, the Underwriter agrees to purchase from the Fund, up to 10,000,000
Shares (which number of Shares may be increased or decreased as provided
below), at a price of $10.00 per Share. It is understood and agreed that the
Underwriter may be compensated by the Fund for its services under this
Agreement in accordance with the provisions of the Plan.
The number of Shares which the Underwriter may purchase pursuant hereto
shall, upon written agreement between the Underwriter and the Fund not later
than 10:00 A.M., New York time, on the third business day preceding the
Closing Date (the "Notification Time"), be increased or decreased to such
greater or lesser number of Shares as the Fund and the Underwriter may agree
upon, in which case the number of Shares set forth in the preceding paragraph
shall for all purposes hereof be increased or decreased to such greater or
lesser number of Shares. The Underwriter shall, in any event, be entitled and
obligated to purchase only the number of Shares for which purchase orders
have been received by the Underwriter prior to the Notification Time.
The Fund is advised that the Underwriter proposes to make a public
offering of the Shares as soon after the Registration Statement shall have
become effective under the 1933 Act as it deems advisable, at the public
offering price and upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus.
4. Delivery and Payment. Delivery of the Shares or, at the election of the
Underwriter, non-negotiable share deposits receipts issued by the Dean Witter
Trust Company as transfer and dividend disbursing agent,
3
<PAGE>
acknowledging the deposit of the Shares ("deposit receipts") and payment
therefor, shall be made at 10:00 A.M., New York time, at the office of Dean
Witter Distributors Inc., Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048,
on such time and date as may be agreed upon between the Underwriter and the
Fund (such date and time being herein referred to as the "Closing Date"). The
place of delivery of the payment for the Shares may be varied by agreement
between the Underwriter and the Fund.
On the Closing Date, the certificates or deposit receipts for the Shares
which are subject to purchase orders received by the Underwriter prior to the
Notification Time (registered in such names and for such denominations as you
shall have requested in writing prior to the Closing Date), shall be
delivered by the Fund to the Underwriter for the account of the Underwriter,
against payment of the purchase price therefor by a certified or official
bank check or checks payable to the order of the Fund in New York Clearing
House funds. Such certificates or deposit receipts shall be made available
for checking and packaging at the New York office of Dean Witter Distributors
Inc. on or prior to the Closing Date.
On the Closing Date, the Underwriter agrees to purchase and pay for the
Shares for which it received purchase orders prior to the Notification Time
as specified above, provided that the Underwriter shall not have any
obligation to purchase and pay for any Shares as to which purchase orders are
not in effect on the Closing Date.
The Fund agrees to calculate and report to the Underwriter daily, upon
request, the net asset value of the Fund during the first 60 days after the
Closing Date.
5. Covenants and Agreements of the Fund. The Fund agrees with the
Underwriter that:
(i) The Fund will use its best efforts to cause the Registration
Statement to become effective under the 1933 Act, will advise the
Underwriter promptly as to the time at which the Registration Statement
becomes so effective, will advise the Underwriter promptly of the issuance
by the Commission of any stop order suspending such effectiveness of the
Registration Statement or of the institution of any proceedings for that
purpose, and will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such
stop order and to obtain as soon as possible the lifting thereof, if
issued. The Fund will advise the Underwriter promptly of any request by
the Commission for any amendment of or supplement to the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus or for additional information, and will not at
any time file any amendment to the Registration Statement or supplement to
the Prospectus which shall not have been submitted to the Underwriter a
reasonable time prior to the proposed filing thereof and to which the
Underwriter shall reasonably object in writing promptly following receipt
of such amendment or supplement or which is not in compliance with the
1933 Act, the 1940 Act or the Rules and Regulations thereto.
(ii) The Fund will prepare and file with the Commission, promptly
upon the request of the Underwriter, any amendments or supplements to the
Registration Statement which in the opinion of the Underwriter may be
necessary to enable the Underwriter to continue the distribution of the
Shares and will use its best efforts to cause the same to become effective
as promptly as possible.
(iii) If at any time after the effective date under the 1933 Act of
the Registration Statement when a prospectus relating to the Shares is
required to be delivered under the 1933 Act, any event relating to or
affecting the Fund occurs as a result of which the Prospectus or any other
prospectus as then in effect would include an untrue statement of a
material fact, or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the
statements therein in light of the circumstances under which they were
made not misleading, or if it is necessary at any time to amend the
Prospectus to comply with the 1933 Act, the Fund will promptly notify the
Underwriter thereof and will prepare an amended or supplemented prospectus
which will correct such statement or omission; and, in case the
Underwriter is required to deliver a prospectus relating to the Shares
nine months or more after such effective date of the Registration
Statement, the Fund upon the request of the Underwriter will prepare
promptly such prospectus or prospectuses as may be necessary to permit
compliance with the requirements of Section 10(a)(3) of the 1933 Act.
(iv) The Fund will deliver to the Underwriter, at or before the
Closing Date, two signed copies of the Registration Statement and all
amendments thereto including all financial statements and exhibits
thereto, and the Notification of Registration on Form N-8A filed by the
Fund pursuant to the 1940 Act and will deliver to the Underwriter such
number of copies of the Registration Statement, including such financial
4
<PAGE>
statements but without exhibits, and of all amendments thereto, as the
Underwriter may reasonably request. The Fund will deliver or mail to or
upon the order of the Underwriter, from time to time until the effective
date under the 1933 Act of the Registration Statement, as many copies of
any Preliminary Prospectus as the Underwriter may reasonably request. The
Fund will deliver or mail to or upon the order of the Underwriter on the
date of the initial public offering, and thereafter from time to time
during the period when delivery of a prospectus relating to the Shares is
required under the 1933 Act, as many copies of the Prospectus, in final
form or as thereafter amended or supplemented as the Underwriter may
reasonably request.
(v) As soon as is practicable after the effective date under the 1933
Act of the Registration Statement, the Fund will make generally available
to its security holders an earnings statement which will be in reasonable
detail (but which need not be audited) and will comply with Section 11(a)
of the 1933 Act, covering a period of at least twelve months beginning
after such effective date of the Registration Statement.
(vi) The Fund will cooperate with the Underwriter to enable the Shares
to be qualified for sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions
as the Underwriter may designate and at the request of the Underwriter
will make such applications and furnish such information as may be
required of it as the issuer of the Shares for that purpose; provided,
however, that the Fund shall not be required to qualify to do business or
to file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction.
The Fund will, from time to time, prepare and file such statements and
reports as are or may be required of it as the issuer of the Shares to
continue such qualifications in effect for so long a period as the
Underwriter may reasonably request for the distribution of the Shares.
(vii) The Fund will furnish to its shareholders annual reports
containing financial statements examined by independent accountants and
with semi-annual summary financial information which may be unaudited.
During the period of one year from the date hereof, the Fund will deliver
to the Underwriter, at Dean Witter Distributors Inc., Two World Trade
Center, New York, New York 10048, Attention: Law Department, (a) copies of
each annual report of the Fund to its shareholders, (b) as soon as they
are available, copies of any other reports (financial or other) which the
Fund shall publish or otherwise make available to any of its security
holders as such, and (c) as soon as they are available, copies of any
reports and financial statements furnished to or filed with the
Commission.
6. Payment of Expenses.
(a) The Fund will pay its organization expenses, which, for purposes of
this Agreement shall include: all costs and expenses in connection with the
establishment of the Fund and its qualification to do business in any state,
the qualification of Shares for sale under the Blue Sky or securities laws of
the several jurisdictions (including, without limitation, filing fees); the
preparation, printing and reproduction of the Declaration of Trust and
By-Laws of the Fund, this Agreement, the Distribution Agreement, the
Management Agreement, the Advisory Agreement, the Custodian Agreement, the
Transfer Agency and Service Agreement, the Plan and other documents in
quantities sufficient for filing under the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act and the
Blue Sky or securities laws of any jurisdiction; and filing fees and fees and
disbursements of counsel related to Blue Sky matters; all costs and expenses
in connection with printing any certificates representing the Shares; fees
and disbursements of counsel and independent accountants for the Fund and of
counsel for Trustees or Directors who are not interested persons of the Fund
or the Manager or Adviser; registration fees under the 1933 Act and the 1940
Act; any taxes on the issue and delivery of the Shares on the Closing Date to
the Underwriter and the fees of the Fund's transfer agent. Dean Witter
InterCapital Inc. ("InterCapital"), the corporate parent of the Manager, will
pay the organization expenses of the Fund incurred prior to the closing date
of the initial offering of the Fund's shares whether or not the amount of any
such expense is then ascertainable. The Fund will reimburse InterCapital for
such expenses not to exceed $250,000. Any balance of organization expenses
not paid by the Fund shall be paid by the Underwriter. In the event the
transactions contemplated hereunder are not consummated, the Underwriter will
pay all the organization expenses which the Fund would have paid if such
transactions were consummated. Whether or not the transactions contemplated
hereunder are consummated, the Underwriter will pay all expenses in
connection with the activity and travel of officers, Trustees and counsel for
the Fund and the cost of preparing and making sales presentations to the
personnel of the Underwriter, including costs of travel of officers and
Trustees of the Fund to locations where such presentations are made.
5
<PAGE>
(b) Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Underwriter will pay: its
internal expenses in connection with marketing and meetings, including
expenses of its own personnel and costs of travel of its personnel to the
locations where sales presentations to its personnel and to Selected Dealers
are made; all costs and expenses in connection with printing and distributing
the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Blue Sky Surveys in
quantities sufficient for offering and sale of the Shares by the Underwriter;
all costs in connection with the sale of Shares, including costs of
preparing, printing and distributing sales literature relating to the Shares,
all advertising and fees and expenses of public relations counsel; and fees
and expenses of legal counsel for the Underwriter (except in respect of
qualification of the Shares for sale under the Blue Sky or securities laws of
any jurisdiction).
7. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) The Fund shall indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriter and each
person, if any, who controls the Underwriter against any loss, liability,
claim, damage or expense (including the reasonable cost of investigating or
defending any alleged loss, liability, claim, damage or expense and
reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) arising by reason
of any person acquiring any Shares, which may be based upon the 1933 Act, or
on any other statute or at common law, on the ground that the Registration
Statement or related Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, as
from time to time amended and supplemented, or the annual or interim reports
to shareholders of the Fund, includes an untrue statement of a material fact
or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
in order to make the statements therein not misleading, unless such statement
or omission was made in reliance upon, and in conformity with, information
furnished to the Fund in connection therewith by or on behalf of the
Underwriter; provided, however, that in no case (i) is the indemnity of the
Fund in favor of the Underwriter and any such controlling persons to be
deemed to protect the Underwriter or any such controlling persons thereof
against any liability to the Fund or its security holders to which the
Underwriter or any such controlling persons would otherwise be subject by
reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the
performance of its duties or by reason of reckless disregard of its
obligations and duties under this Agreement; or (ii) is the Fund to be liable
under its indemnity agreement contained in this paragraph with respect to any
claim made against the Underwriter or any such controlling persons, unless
the Underwriter or any such controlling persons, as the case may be, shall
have notified the Fund in writing within a reasonable time after the summons
or other first legal process giving information of the nature of the claim
shall have been served upon the Underwriter or such controlling persons (or
after the Underwriter or such controlling persons shall have received notice
of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Fund of
any such claim shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to
the person against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of
its indemnity agreement contained in this paragraph. The Fund will be
entitled to participate at its own expense in the defense, or, if it so
elects, to assume the defense, of any suit brought to enforce any such
liability, but if the Fund elects to assume the defense, such defense shall
be conducted by counsel chosen by it and satisfactory to the Underwriter or
such controlling person or persons, defendant or defendants in the suit. In
the event the Fund elects to assume the defense of any such suit and retain
such counsel, the Underwriter or such controlling person or persons,
defendant or defendants in the suit, shall bear the fees and expenses of any
additional counsel retained by them, but, in case the Fund does not elect to
assume the defense of any such suit, it will reimburse the Underwriter or
such controlling person or persons, defendant or defendants in the suit, for
the reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by them. The Fund
shall promptly notify the Underwriter of the commencement of any litigation
or proceedings against it or any of its officers or trustees in connection
with the issuance or sale of the Shares.
(b)(i) The Underwriter shall indemnify and hold harmless the Fund and each
of its Trustees and officers and each person, if any, who controls the
Fund against any loss, liability, claim, damage, or expense described in
the foregoing indemnity contained in subsection (a) of this Section, but
only with respect to statements or omissions made in reliance upon, and in
conformity with, information furnished to the Fund in writing by or on
behalf of the Underwriter for use in connection with the Registration
Statement or related Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information,
as from time to time amended, or the annual or interim reports to
shareholders.
(ii) In case any action shall be brought against the Fund or any person
to be indemnified by this subsection 7(b) in respect of which indemnity
may be sought against the Underwriter, the Underwriter shall have the
rights and duties given to the Fund, and the Fund and each person so
indemnified shall have the rights and duties given to the Underwriter by
the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 7.
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<PAGE>
(c) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7 is unavailable
or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or
(b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses
(or actions in respect thereof) referred to herein, then each indemnifying
party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified
party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses
(or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to
reflect the relative benefits received by the Fund on the one hand and the
Underwriter on the other from the offering of the Shares. If, however, the
allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by
applicable law, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount
paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative
fault of the Fund on the one hand and the Underwriter on the other in
connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof), as
well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits
received by the Fund on the one hand and the Underwriter on the other shall
be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the
offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Fund bear to the total
compensation received by the Underwriter, in each case as set forth in the
Prospectus. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among
other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to
information supplied by the Fund or the Underwriter and the parties' relative
intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such statement or omission. The Fund and the Underwriter agree that
it would not be just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro
rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take into
account the equitable considerations referred to above. The amount paid or
payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above
shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by
such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such
claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (c), the Underwriter
shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by
which the total price at which the Shares distributed by it to the public
were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which it has
otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall
be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation.
(d) Nothing contained in this Section 7 shall be construed to provide for
indemnification or contribution in violation of Section 17(i) of the 1940
Act.
8. Survival of Indemnities, Warranties, etc. The respective indemnities,
covenants, agreements, representations, warranties, certificates and other
statements of the Fund, the Manager, the Adviser and the Underwriter, as set
forth in this Agreement or made by them, pursuant to this Agreement, shall
remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or
on behalf of the Underwriter, the Fund, the Manager, the Adviser, or any of
their officers or trustees or directors, or any controlling person, and shall
survive delivery of and payment for the Shares.
9. Conditions of Underwriter's Obligations. The obligations of the
Underwriter hereunder shall be subject to the accuracy of (except as
otherwise stated herein), as of the date hereof and on and as of the Closing
Date (except with respect to representations and warranties in respect of
each Preliminary Prospectus which are in each case as of its date of
issuance), the representations and warranties of the Manager and the Adviser
and the Fund and the compliance on and as of the Closing Date by the Fund and
the Manager and the Adviser with their respective covenants and agreements
herein contained and other provisions hereof to be satisfied at or prior to
the Closing Date and to the following additional conditions:
(i) The Registration Statement shall become effective under the 1933
Act not later than 5:00 P.M., New York time, on the day of this Agreement,
and no stop order suspending the effectiveness thereof shall have been
issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been initiated or,
to the knowledge of the Fund or the Underwriter, threatened by the
Commission, and any request for additional information on the part of the
Commission (to be included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus
or otherwise) shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction
of the Underwriter.
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<PAGE>
(ii) Prior to the Closing Date no event shall have occurred to cause
the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or any amendment or
supplement thereto, to contain an untrue statement of fact which, in the
opinion of the Underwriter, is material, or omit to state a fact which, in
the opinion of the Underwriter, is material and is required to be stated
therein or is necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.
(iii) Unless waived by the parties, the Underwriter shall have
received from Price Waterhouse a letter, dated the Closing Date,
confirming that they are independent accountants within the meaning of the
1933 Act, the 1940 Act and the Rules and Regulations, and stating in
effect that:
(a) In their opinion, the Statement of Assets and Liabilities
reported on by them and included in the Registration Statement
complies as to form in all material respects with the applicable
accounting requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act and the Rules
and Regulations; and
(b) On the basis of the procedures specified in their letter,
nothing has come to their attention which caused them to believe that,
except as set forth in or contemplated by the Prospectus, during the
period from the date on which the Fund's Registration Statement is
declared effective by the Commission under the 1933 Act to a specified
date not more than three business days prior to the delivery of such
letter, there was any change in the authorized or outstanding shares
of beneficial interest of the Fund or any creation of long-term debt
or short-term notes of the Fund or any decrease in the net asset value
per share of beneficial interest from that set forth in the Prospectus
or that the Fund did not have a net worth of at least $100,000.
(iv) The Underwriter shall have received from Lane & Altman,
Massachusetts counsel for the Fund, an opinion or opinions, dated the
Closing Day, to the following effect:
(a) The Fund has been duly established and is validly existing in
conformity with the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts as an
unincorporated business trust, has made all filings required to be
made by a business trust under the Massachusetts General Laws, and has
the power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business
as described in the Prospectus;
(b) The Fund has authorized shares of beneficial interest as set
forth in the Registration Statement, and all of the issued shares of
beneficial interest of the Fund, including the Shares, have been duly
paid and non-assessable; and the Shares conform to the description of
the shares of beneficial interest contained in the Prospectus; and
(c) As to all matters of Massachusetts law and the documents
described therein, the information set forth under the caption
"Additional Information" in the Prospectus and under the caption
"Description of Shares" in all material respects and fairly presents
the information required to be shown.
(v) Unless waived by the parties, the Underwriter shall have received
from the General Counsel of the Fund an opinion or opinions, dated the
Closing Date, to the following effect:
(a) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered
by the Fund;
(b) The Registration Statement has become effective under the 1933
Act; to the best knowledge of such counsel, no stop order suspending
the effectiveness thereof has been issued and no proceedings for that
or a similar purpose have been instituted or are pending or
contemplated by the Commission;
(c) The notification of registration under the 1940 Act and any
amendments or supplements thereto comply as to form in all material
respects with the requirements of the 1940 Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder;
(d) The Fund is registered with the Commission under the 1940 Act
as an open-end diversified management investment company;
(e) Such counsel is familiar with all contracts filed or
incorporated by reference as exhibits to the Registration Statement
and does not know of any contracts required to be so filed or
incorporated which are not so filed or incorporated;
8
<PAGE>
(f) The issuance of the Shares and the sale of the Shares in
accordance with this Agreement do not result in a breach or violation
of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under
any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement or other
agreement or instrument known to such counsel to which the Fund is a
party or by which the Fund is bound, or the Fund's Declaration of
Trust or By-Laws;
(g) The Distribution Agreement, the Custodian Agreement, the
Transfer Agency and Service Agreement, the Plan, the Management
Agreement and the Advisory Agreement referred to in the Registration
Statement have been duly authorized, pursuant to the requirements of
the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the 1940 Act and
executed and delivered by the Fund and each constitutes the valid and
binding obligation of the Fund in accordance with its terms;
(h) There are pending no legal or governmental proceedings known to
such counsel to which the Fund is a party or to which property of the
Fund may be subject other than as set forth in the Prospectus and, to
the best of the knowledge of such counsel, no such proceedings are
contemplated;
(i) No authorization, consent, approval, permit or license of, or
filing with, any governmental or public body is required to authorize,
or is required in connection with, the execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement or the issuance or sale of the Shares
hereunder, except as has been obtained under the 1933 Act and the 1940
Act or as may be required under the securities or Blue Sky laws of the
several states and;
(j) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as of the
effective date of the Registration Statement, appeared on their face
to be appropriately responsive in all material respects to the
requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act and the applicable Rules
and Regulations; such counsel does not believe that the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus, on such effective date, contained any
untrue statement of material fact or omitted to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading (except that such counsel shall express no
opinion as to the financial statements); the description in the
Registration Statement and Prospectus of contracts, other documents,
statutes, regulations and governmental proceeding is accurate in all
material respects and fairly present the information required to be
shown.
As to all matters of Massachusetts law, the General Counsel of the Fund
may rely upon the opinion or opinions delivered pursuant to paragraph (iv) of
this Section 9.
(vi) Unless waived by the parties, the Underwriter shall have received
from counsel to the Underwriter an opinion, dated the Closing Date, to the
following effect:
(a) The Underwriter has been duly organized and is a validly
existing corporation under the laws of the State of Delaware; and
(b) The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed
and delivered by the Underwriter and is a valid and legally binding
obligation of the Underwriter.
(vii) Unless waived by the parties, the Underwriter shall have
received from Counsel of the Adviser, an opinion, dated the Closing Date,
to the following effect:
(a) The Adviser has been duly organized and is a validly existing
corporation under the laws of the State of California with full power
and authority to transact business as the Adviser of the Fund as
contemplated by the Prospectus;
(b) The Advisory Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Adviser and is a valid and legally binding obligation
of the Adviser;
(c) The Adviser is registered as an investment adviser under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and is registered as an
investment adviser in such states as may be required for operation of
the Fund;
(d) The Adviser has full legal right, power and authority to enter
into the Advisory Agreement, and the execution and delivery of the
Advisory Agreement, the consummation of the transactions
9
<PAGE>
therein contemplated and fulfillment of the terms thereof will not
conflict with any applicable legal requirement by which the Adviser is
bound, nor will they conflict with the terms or provisions of, or
constitute a default under, its Certificate of Incorporation or
By-Laws or any agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by
which it is bound; and
(e) The description of the Adviser under the caption "The Fund and
its Management" in the Prospectus is true and correct and does not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to
make the statement therein not misleading.
(viii) Unless waived by the parties, the Underwriter shall have
received from the General Counsel of the Manager an opinion, dated the
Closing Date, to the following effect:
(a) The Manager has been duly organized and is a validly existing
corporation under the laws of the State of New Jersey with full power
and authority to transact business as the Manager of the Fund as
contemplated by the Prospectus;
(b) The Management Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Manager and is a valid and legally binding obligation
of the Manager;
(c) The Manager has full legal right, power and authority to enter
into the Management Agreement, and the execution and delivery of the
Management Agreement, the consummation of the transactions therein
contemplated and fulfillment of the terms thereof will not conflict
with any applicable legal requirement by which the Manager is bound,
nor will they conflict with the terms or provisions of, or constitute
a default under, its Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws or any
agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it is
bound; and
(d) The description of the Manager under the caption "The Fund and
its Management" in the Prospectus is true and correct and does not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to
make the statement therein not misleading.
(ix) Unless waived by the parties, the Underwriter shall have received
certificates, dated the Closing Date, of the President or other Executive
Officer competent to act on behalf of the Underwriter and the chief
financial or accounting officer of the Fund to the effect that:
(a) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement has been issued, and, to the best of the knowledge of the
signers after reasonable investigation, no proceedings for that
purpose have been instituted or are pending or contemplated under the
1933 Act;
(b) Neither any Preliminary Prospectus, as of its date, nor the
Registration Statement nor the Prospectus, nor any amendment or
supplement thereto, as of the time when the Registration Statement
became effective under the 1933 Act and at all time subsequent thereto
up to the delivery of such certificate, included any untrue statement
of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading;
(c) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is
given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Fund has
not incurred any material liabilities or obligations, direct or
contingent, nor entered into any material transaction, not in the
ordinary course of business, and there has not been any material
adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise), business,
prospects or results of operations of the Fund, or any change in the
capitalization of the Fund; and
(d) to the best of the knowledge of the signers after reasonable
investigation, the representations and warranties of the Fund, the
Manager and the Adviser, as the case may be, in this Agreement are
true and correct at and as of the Closing Date (except with respect to
representations and warranties in respect of each Preliminary
Prospectus which are in each case as of its date of issuance) and the
Fund, the Manager and the Adviser, as the case may be, have each
complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on
their respective parts to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the
Closing Date.
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<PAGE>
(x) The Fund, the Manager and the Adviser shall have furnished to the
Underwriter such additional certificates as the Underwriter may have
reasonably requested as to the accuracy, at and as of the Closing Date, of
the representations and warranties herein, as to the performance of their
obligations hereunder and as to other conditions concurrent and precedent
to the obligations of the Underwriter hereunder.
If any of the conditions hereinabove provided for in this Section shall
not have been fulfilled when and as required by this Agreement, this
Agreement may be terminated by the Underwriter by notifying the Fund of such
termination in writing or by telegram at or prior to the Closing Date, but
the Underwriter shall be entitled to waive any of such conditions.
10. Effective Date. This Agreement shall become effective at 11:00 A.M.,
New York time, on the first full business day following the effective date
under the 1933 Act of the Registration Statement, or at such earlier time
after such effective date of the Registration Statement as the Underwriter in
its discretion shall first release the Shares for offering to the public;
provided, however, that the provisions of Section 6 and 7 shall at all time
be effective. For the purpose of this Section 10, the Shares shall be deemed
to have been released to the public upon release by the Underwriter of the
publication of a newspaper advertisement relating to the Shares or upon
release of telegrams or letters offering the Shares for sale to securities
dealers, whichever shall first occur.
11. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated by the Fund at any time
before it becomes effective in accordance with Section 10 by notice from the
Fund to the Underwriter and may be terminated by the Underwriter at any time
before it becomes effective in accordance with Section 10 by notice from the
Underwriter to the Fund. In the event of any termination of this Agreement
under this or any other provision of this Agreement, there shall be no
liability of any party to this Agreement to any other party, other than as
provided in Sections 6 and 7.
This Agreement may be terminated after it becomes effective by the
Underwriter by notice to the Fund (i) if at or prior to the Closing Date
trading in securities on the New York or American Stock Exchanges shall have
been suspended or minimum or maximum price shall have been established on
either exchange, or a banking moratorium shall have been declared by State of
New York or United States authorities; (ii) if at or prior to the Closing
Date there shall have been an outbreak of hostilities between the United
States and any foreign power, or of any other insurrection or armed conflict
involving the United States which, in the judgment of the Underwriter, makes
it impracticable or inadvisable to offer or sell the Shares; (iii) if there
shall have been any material adverse development or prospective development
involving particularly the business of the Fund or the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, which in the judgment of the Underwriter,
makes it impracticable or inadvisable to offer or deliver the Shares on the
terms contemplated by the Prospectus; (iv) if there shall be any litigation,
pending or threatened, which in the judgment of the Underwriter makes it
impracticable or inadvisable to offer or deliver the Shares on the terms
contemplated by the Prospectus; or (v) if at or prior to the Closing Date
there has been a material adverse change in the levels of equity securities
prices as reflected by the recognized indices of such prices, as compared
with such levels available as of the date of this Agreement. Any such
termination shall be without liability of any party to any party except as
provided in Sections 6 and 7 hereof.
12. Notices. All communications hereunder shall be in writing and, if sent
to the Underwriter shall be mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to
you, at Dean Witter Distributors Inc., Two World Trade Center, New York, New
York 10048, or, if sent to the Fund, shall be mailed, delivered or
telegraphed and confirmed to TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust, Two World Trade
Center, New York, New York 10048, Attention: General Counsel, or, if sent to
the Manager shall be mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to Dean
Witter Services Company Inc., Two World Trade Center, New York, New York
10048, Attention: General Counsel, or if sent to the Adviser, shall be mailed
to 865 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, California 90017, Attention:
General Counsel.
13. Successors. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the Underwriter, the Fund, the Manager and the Adviser and their
respective successors and legal representatives. Nothing expressed or
mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any
person other than the persons mentioned in the preceding sentence any legal
or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement, or
any provisions herein contained, this Agreement and all conditions and
provisions hereof being intended to be and being for the sole and exclusive
benefit of such persons and for the benefit of no other
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person; except that the representations, warranties and indemnities of the
Fund, the Manager and the Adviser contained in this Agreement shall also be
for the benefit of the person or persons, if any, who control the Underwriter
within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act, their respective successors
and legal representatives, and the indemnities of the Underwriter shall also
be for the benefit of each Trustee of the Fund, each of the officers of the
Fund who has signed the Registration Statement and the Manager and the
Adviser and the person or persons, if any, who control the Fund, the Manager
and the Adviser within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act.
14. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
15. Personal Liability. The Declaration of Trust establishing TCW/DW
Mid-Cap Equity Trust, dated October 16, 1995, a copy of which, together with
all other amendments thereto ("Declaration"), is on file in the office of The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, provides that the name TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity
Trust refers to the Trustees under the Declaration collectively as Trustees,
but not as individuals or personally, and no Trustees, shareholder, officer,
employee or agent of TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust shall be held to any
personal liability, nor shall resort be had to their private property for the
satisfaction of any obligation or claim or otherwise, in connection with the
affairs of said TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust, but the Trust Estate only shall
be liable.
If the foregoing correctly sets forth our understanding, please indicate
your acceptance thereof in the space provided below for that purpose in a
counterpart of this letter, whereupon this letter and your acceptance in such
counterpart shall constitute a binding agreement between us.
Very truly yours,
TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST
By: ..............................
DEAN WITTER SERVICES COMPANY INC.,
as Manager
By: ..............................
TCW FUNDS MANAGEMENT, INC.,
as Adviser
By: ..............................
By: ..............................
Accepted and delivered in New York, New York
as of the date first above written.
DEAN WITTER DISTRIBUTORS INC.
By: ......................................
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TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as of this th of , 1995, between TCW/DW Mid-Cap
Equity Trust, an unincorporated business trust organized under the laws of
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (the "Fund" or "Trust"), and Dean Witter
Distributors Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Distributor");
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended (the "1940 Act"), as a non-diversified open-end investment company
and it is in the interest of the Fund to offer its shares for sale
continuously, and
WHEREAS, the Fund and the Distributor wish to enter into an agreement with
each other with respect to the continuous offering of the Fund's transferable
shares of beneficial interest, of $.01 par value ("Shares"), in order to
promote the growth of the Fund and facilitate the distribution of its shares.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:
SECTION 1. Appointment of the Distributor. (a) The Fund hereby appoints
the Distributor as the principal underwriter of the Fund to sell Shares to
the public on the terms set forth in this Agreement and the Fund's Prospectus
and the Distributor hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to act
hereunder. The Fund, during the term of this Agreement, shall sell Shares to
the Distributor upon the terms and conditions set forth herein.
(b) The Distributor agrees to purchase Shares, as principal for its own
account, from the Fund and to sell Shares as principal to investors, and
securities dealers, including Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. ("DWR"), an affiliate
of the Distributor, upon the terms described herein and in the Fund's
prospectus (the "Prospectus") and statement of additional information
included in the Fund's registration statement (the "Registration Statement")
most recently filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC") and effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "1933 Act"), and 1940 Act or as said Prospectus may be otherwise
amended or supplemented and filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 497 under the
1933 Act.
SECTION 2. Exclusive Nature of Duties. The Distributor shall be the
exclusive principal underwriter and distributor of the Trust, except that the
exclusive rights granted to the Distributor to sell the Shares shall not
apply to Shares issued by the Fund: (i) in connection with the merger or
consolidation of any other investment company or personal holding company
with the Fund or the acquisition by purchase or otherwise of all (or
substantially all) the assets or the outstanding shares of any such company
by the Fund; or (ii) pursuant to reinvestment of dividends or capital gains
distributions; or (iii) pursuant to the reinstatement privilege afforded
redeeming shareholders.
SECTION 3. Purchase of Shares from the Trust. (a) The Distributor shall
have the right to buy from the Trust the Shares needed, but not more than the
Shares needed (except for clerical errors in transmission), to fill
unconditional orders for Shares placed with the Distributor by investors and
securities dealers. The price which the Distributor shall pay for the Shares
so purchased from the Fund shall be the net asset value, determined as set
forth in the Prospectus.
(b) The shares are to be resold by the Distributor at the net asset value
per share, as set forth in the Prospectus to investors, or to securities
dealers of its choice, including DWR, who have entered into selected dealer
agreements with the Distributor pursuant to Section 7 ("Selected Dealers").
(c) The Fund shall have the right to suspend the sale of the Shares at
times when redemption is suspended pursuant to the conditions set forth in
Section 4(d) hereof. The Fund shall also have the right to suspend the sale
of the Shares if trading on the New York Stock Exchange shall have been
suspended, if a banking moratorium shall have been declared by federal or New
York authorities, or if there shall have been some other extraordinary event
which, in the judgment of the Fund, makes it impracticable to sell the
Shares.
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(d) The Fund, or any agent of the Fund designated in writing by the Fund,
shall be promptly advised of all purchase orders for Shares received by the
Distributor. Any order may be rejected by the Fund; provided, however, that
the Fund will not arbitrarily or without reasonable cause refuse to accept
orders for the purchase of Shares. The Distributor will confirm orders upon
their receipt, and the Fund (or its agent) upon receipt of payment therefor
and instructions will deliver share certificates for such Shares or a
statement confirming the issuance of Shares. Payment shall be made to the
Fund in New York Clearing House funds. The Distributor agrees to cause such
payment and such instructions to be delivered promptly to the Fund (or its
agent).
SECTION 4. Repurchase or Redemption of Shares. (a) Any of the outstanding
Shares may be tendered for redemption at any time, and the Fund agrees to
redeem the Shares so tendered in accordance with the applicable provisions
set forth in the Prospectus. The price to be paid to redeem the Shares shall
be equal to the net asset value determined as set forth in the Prospectus.
All payments by the Fund hereunder shall be made in the manner set forth
below.
The proceeds of any redemption of shares shall be paid by the Fund as
follows: (i) any applicable contingent deferred sales charge shall be paid to
the Distributor or to the Selected Dealer, or, when applicable, pursuant to
the Rules of Fair Practice of the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. ("NASD"), retained by the Fund and (ii) the balance shall be paid to the
redeeming shareholders, in each case in accordance with applicable provisions
of the Prospectus in New York Clearing House funds. The Distributor is
authorized to direct the Fund to pay directly to the Selected Dealer any
contingent deferred sales charges payable by the Fund to the Distributor in
respect of Shares sold by the Selected Dealer to the redeeming shareholders.
(b) The Distributor is authorized, as agent for the Fund, to repurchase
Shares, represented by a share certificate which is delivered to any office
of the Distributor in accordance with applicable provisions set forth in the
Prospectus. The Distributor shall promptly transmit to the transfer agent of
the Fund for redemption all Shares so delivered. The Distributor shall be
responsible for the accuracy of instructions transmitted to the Fund's
transfer agent in connection with all such repurchases.
(c) The Distributor is authorized, as agent for the Fund, to repurchase
Shares held in a shareholder's account with the Fund for which no share
certificate has been issued, upon the telephonic or telegraphic request of
the shareholder, or at the discretion of the Distributor. The Distributor
shall promptly transmit to the transfer agent of the Fund, for redemption,
all such orders for repurchase of shares. Payment for shares repurchased may
be made by the Fund to the Distributor for the account of the shareholder.
The Distributor shall be responsible for the accuracy of instructions
transmitted to the Fund's transfer agent in connection with all such
repurchases.
(d) Redemption of Shares or payment by the Fund may be suspended at times
when the New York Stock Exchange is closed, when trading on said Exchange is
restricted, when an emergency exists as a result of which disposal by the
Fund of securities owned by it is not reasonably practicable or it is not
reasonably practicable for the Fund fairly to determine the value of its net
assets, or during any other period when the Securities and Exchange
Commission, by order, so permits.
With respect to Shares tendered for redemption or repuchase by any
Selected Dealer on behalf of its customers, the Distributor is authorized to
instruct the transfer agent of the Trust to accept orders for redemption or
repurchase directly from the Selected Dealer on behalf of the Distributor and
to instruct the Trust to transmit payments for such redemptions and
repurchases directly to the Selected Dealer on
2
<PAGE>
behalf of the Distributor for the account of the shareholder. The Distributor
shall obtain from the Selected Dealer and maintain a record of such orders.
The Distributor is further authorized to obtain from the Trust; and shall
maintain, a record of payments made directly to the Selected Dealer on behalf
of the Distributor.
SECTION 5. Duties of the Fund. (a) The Fund shall furnish to the
Distributor copies of all information, financial statements and other papers
which the Distributor may reasonably request for use in connection with the
distribution of the Shares, including one certified copy, upon request by the
Distributor, of all financial statements prepared by the Fund and examined by
independent accountants. The Fund shall, at the expense of the Distributor,
make available to the Distributor such number of copies of the Prospectus as
the Distributor shall reasonably request.
(b) The Fund shall take, from time to time, but subject to the necessary
approval of its shareholders, all necessary action to fix the number of its
authorized Shares and to register Shares under the 1933 Act, to the end that
there will be available for sale such number of Shares as investors may
reasonably be expected to purchase.
(c) The Fund shall use its best efforts to qualify and maintain the
qualification of an appropriate number of the Shares for sale under the
securities laws of such states as the Distributor and the Fund may approve.
Any such qualification may be withheld, terminated or withdrawn by the Fund
at any time in its discretion. As provided in Section 8(c) hereof, the
expense of qualification and maintenance of qualification shall be borne by
the Fund. The Distributor shall furnish such information and other material
relating to its affairs and activities as may be required by the Fund in
connection with such qualification.
(d) The Fund shall, at the expense of the Distributor, furnish, in
reasonable quantities upon request by the Distributor, copies of annual and
interim reports of the Fund.
SECTION 6. Duties of the Distributor. (a) The Distributor shall sell
shares of the Trust through DWR and may sell shares through other securities
dealers and its own Account Executives, if any, and shall devote reasonable
time and effort to promote sales of the Shares, but shall not be obligated to
sell any specific number of Shares. The services of the Distributor hereunder
are not exclusive and it is understood that the Distributor may act as
principal underwriter for other registered investment companies. It is also
understood that Selected Dealers, including DWR, may also sell shares for
other registered investment companies.
(b) Neither the Distributor nor any Selected Dealer shall give any
information or make any representations, other than those contained in the
Registration Statement or related Prospectus and any sales literature
specifically approved by the Fund.
(c) The Distributor agrees that it will comply with the terms and
limitations of the Rules of Fair Practice of the NASD.
SECTION 7. Selected Dealers Agreements. (a) The Distributor shall have the
right to enter into selected dealers agreements with Selected Dealers for the
sale of Shares. In making agreements with Selected Dealers, the Distributor
shall act only as principal and not as agent for the Fund. Shares sold to
Selected Dealers shall be for resale by such dealers only at the public
offering price set forth in the Prospectus.
(b) Within the United States, the Distributor shall offer and sell Shares
only to such Selected Dealers as are members in good standing of the NASD.
(c) The Distributor shall adopt and follow procedures, as approved by the
Fund, for the confirmation of sales of Shares to investors and Selected
Dealers, the collection of amounts payable by investors and Selected Dealers
on such sales, and the cancellation of unsettled transactions, as may be
necessary to comply with the requirements of the NASD, as such requirements
may from time to time exist.
SECTION 8. Payment of Expenses. (a) The Distributor shall bear all
expenses incurred by it in connection with its duties and activities under
this Agreement including the payment to Selected Dealers of any sales
commissions service fees, and other expenses for sales of the Trust's shares
(except such
3
<PAGE>
expenses as are specifically undertaken herein by the Trust) incurred or paid
by Selected Dealers, including DWR. It is understood and agreed that, so long
as the Fund's Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act
continues in effect, any expenses incurred by the Distributor hereunder may
be paid from amounts the Distributor and any Selected Dealer are entitled to
receive from the Fund under such Plan. It is further understood and agreed
that expenses for which the Distributor and any Selected Dealer may be paid
under said Plan include opportunity costs, which may be calculated as a
carrying charge on the excess of distribution expenses, incurred by the
Distributor and/or the Selected Dealer over distribution revenues received by
each of them, respectively, under this Agreement.
(b) The Fund shall bear all costs and expenses of the Fund, including fees
and disbursements of legal counsel including counsel to the Trustees of the
Fund who are not interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund
or the Distributor, and independent accountants, in connection with the
preparation and filing of any required Registration Statements and
Prospectuses and all amendments and supplements thereto, and the expense of
preparing, printing, mailing and otherwise distributing prospectuses and
statements of additional information, annual or interim reports or proxy
materials to shareholders.
(c) The Fund shall bear the cost and expenses of qualification of the
Shares for sale, and, if necessary or advisable in connection therewith, of
qualifying the Fund as a broker or dealer, in such states of the United
States or other jurisdictions as shall be selected by the Fund and the
Distributor pursuant to Section 5(c) hereof and the cost and expenses payable
to each such state for continuing qualification therein until the Fund
decides to discontinue such qualification pursuant to Section 5(c) hereof.
SECTION 9. Indemnification. (a) The Fund shall indemnify and hold harmless
the Distributor and each person, if any, who controls the Distributor against
any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense (including the reasonable cost
of investigating or defending any alleged loss, liability, claim, damage or
expense and reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) arising
by reason of any person acquiring any Shares, which may be based upon the
1933 Act, or on any other statute or at common law, on the ground that the
Registration Statement or related Prospectus and Statements of Additional
Information, as from time to time amended and supplemented, or the annual or
interim reports to shareholders of the Fund, includes an untrue statement of
a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading,
unless such statement or omission was made in reliance upon, and in
conformity with, information furnished to the Fund in connection therewith by
or on behalf of the Distributor; provided, however, that in no case (i) is
the indemnity of the Fund in favor of the Distributor and any such
controlling persons to be deemed to protect the Distributor or any such
controlling persons thereof against any liability to the Fund or its security
holders to which the Distributor or any such controlling persons would
otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross
negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of reckless
disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement; or (ii) is the
Fund to be liable under its indemnity agreement contained in this paragraph
with respect to any claim made against the Distributor or any such
controlling persons, unless the Distributor or any such controlling persons,
as the case may be, shall have notified the Fund in writing within a
reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving
information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon the
Distributor or such controlling persons (or after the Distributor or such
controlling persons shall have received notice of such service on any
designated agent), but failure to notify the Fund of any such claim shall not
relieve it from any liability which it may have to the person against whom
such action is brought otherwise than on account of its indemnity agreement
contained in this paragraph. The Fund will be entitled to participate at its
own expense in the defense, or, if it so elects, to assume the defense, of
any suit brought to enforce any such liability, but if the Fund elects to
assume the defense, such defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by it
and satisfactory to the Distributor or such controlling person or persons,
defendant or defendants in the suit. In the event the Fund elects to assume
the defense of any such suit and retain such counsel, the Distributor or such
controlling person or persons, defendant or defendants in the suit, shall
bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by them, but,
in case the Fund does not elect to assume the defense of any such suit, it
will reimburse the Distributor
4
<PAGE>
or such controlling person or persons, defendant or defendants in the suit,
for the reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by them. The
Fund shall promptly notify the Distributor of the commencement of any
litigation or proceedings against it or any of its officers or trustees in
connection with the issuance or sale of the Shares.
(b) (i) The Distributor shall indemnify and hold harmless the Fund and
each of its Trustees and officers and each person, if any, who controls the
Fund against any loss, liability, claim, damage, or expense described in the
foregoing indemnity contained in subsection (a) of this Section, but only
with respect to statements or omissions made in reliance upon, and in
conformity with, information furnished to the Fund in writing by or on behalf
of the Distributor for use in connection with the Registration Statement or
related Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, as from time to
time amended, or the annual or interim reports to shareholders.
(ii) The Distributor shall indemnify and hold harmless the Trust and the
Trust's transfer agent, individually and in its capacity as the Trust's
transfer agent, from and against any claims, damages and liabilities which
arise as a result of actions taken pursuant to instructions from, or on
behalf of, the Distributor to: (1) redeem all or a part of shareholder
accounts in the Trust pursuant to subsection 4(c) hereof and pay the proceeds
to, or as directed by, the Distributor for the account of each shareholder
whose Shares are so redeemed; and (2) register Shares in the names of
investors, confirm the issuance thereof and receive payment therefor pursuant
to subsection 3(d).
(iii) In case any action shall be brought against the Fund or any person
so indemnified by this subsection 9(b) in respect of which indemnity may be
sought against the Distributor, the Distributor shall have the rights and
duties given to the Fund, and the Fund and each person so indemnified shall
have the rights and duties given to the Distributor by the provisions of
subsection (a) of this Section 9.
(c) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 9 is unavailable
or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or
(b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses
(or actions in respect thereof) referred to herein, then each indemnifiying
party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified
party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses
(or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to
reflect the relative benefits received by the Fund on the one hand and the
Distributor on the other from the offering of the Shares. If, however, the
allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by
applicable law, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount
paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative
fault of the Fund on the one hand and the Distributor on the other in
connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof), as
well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits
received by the Fund on the one hand and the Distributor on the other shall
be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the
offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Fund bear to the total
compensation received by the Distributor, in each case as set forth in the
Prospectus. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among
other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to
information supplied by the Fund or the Distributor and the parties' relative
intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such statement or omission. The Fund and the Distributor agree that
it would not be just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro
rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take into
account the equitable considerations referred to above. The amount paid or
payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above
shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by
such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such
claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (c), the Distributor
shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by
which the total price at which the Shares distributed by it to the public
were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which it has
otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall
be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation.
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<PAGE>
SECTION 10. Duration and Termination of this Agreement. This Agreement
shall become effective as of the date first above written and shall remain in
force until April 30, 1996, and thereafter, but only so long as such
continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (i) the Board of
Trustees of the Fund, or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the Fund, cast in person or by proxy, and (ii) a majority of
those Trustees who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of
any such party and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in this
Agreement or in the operation of the Fund's Rule 12b-1 Plan or in any
agreement related thereto, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose
of voting upon such approval.
This Agreement may be terminated at any time without the payment of any
penalty, by the Trustees of the Fund, by a majority of the Trustees of the
Fund who are not interested persons of the Fund and who have no direct or
indirect financial interest in this Agreement, or by vote of a majority of
the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, or by the Distributor, on
sixty days' written notice to the other party. This Agreement shall
automatically terminate in the event of its assignment.
The terms "vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities,"
"assignment" and "interested person," when used in this Agreement, shall have
the respective meanings specified in the 1940 Act.
SECTION 11. Amendments of this Agreement. This Agreement may be amended by
the parties only if such amendment is specifically approved by (i) the
Trustees of the Fund, or by the vote of a majority of outstanding voting
securities of the Fund, and (ii) a majority of those Trustees of the Fund who
are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of any such party and
who have no direct or indirect financial interest in this Agreement or in any
Agreement related to the Fund's Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1
under the 1940 Act, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of
voting on such approval.
SECTION 12. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance
with the law of the State of New York and the applicable provisions of the
1940 Act. To the extent the applicable law of the State of New York, or any
of the provisions herein, conflict with the applicable provisions of the 1940
Act, the latter shall control.
SECTION 13. Personal Liability. The Declaration of the Trust establishing
TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust, dated October 16, 1995, a copy of which,
together with all amendments thereto (the "Declaration"), is on file in the
office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, provides that
the name TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust refers to the Trustees under the
Declaration collectively as Trustees, but not as individuals or personally;
and no Trustee, shareholder, officer, employee or agent of TCW/DW Mid-Cap
Equity Trust shall be held to any personal liability, nor shall resort be had
to their private property for the satisfaction of any obligation or claim or
otherwise, in connection with the affairs of said TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity
Trust, but the Trust Estate only shall be liable.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and delivered this
Agreement as of the day and year first written in New York, New York.
TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST
By: ................................
DEAN WITTER DISTRIBUTORS INC.
By: ................................
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TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST
SELECTED DEALERS AGREEMENT
Gentlemen:
Dean Witter Distributors Inc. (the "Distributor") has a distribution
agreement (the "Distribution Agreement") with TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust, a
Massachusetts business trust (the "Fund"), pursuant to which it acts as the
Distributor for the sale of the Fund's shares of beneficial interest, par
value $0.01 per share (the "Shares"). Under the Distribution Agreement, the
Distributor has the right to distribute Shares for resale.
The Fund is an open-end management investment company registered under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the Shares being offered to
the public are registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. You
have received a copy of the Distribution Agreement between us and the Fund
and reference is made herein to certain provisions of such Distribution
Agreement. The terms used herein, including "Prospectus" and "Registration
Statement" of the Fund and "Selected Dealer" shall have the same meaning in
this Agreement as in the Distribution Agreement. As principal, we offer to
sell shares to you, as a Selected Dealer, upon the following terms and
conditions:
1. In all sales of Shares to the public you shall act as dealer for your
own account, and in no transaction shall you have any authority to act as
agent for the Fund, for us or for any other Selected Dealer.
2. Orders received from you will be accepted through us or on our behalf
only at the net asset value applicable to each order, as set forth in the
current Prospectus. The procedure relating to the handling of orders shall be
subject to instructions which we or the Fund shall forward from time to time
to you. All orders are subject to acceptance or rejection by the Distributor
or the Fund in the sole discretion of either.
3. You shall not place orders for any Shares unless you have already
received purchase orders for such Shares at the applicable net asset values
and subject to the terms hereof and of the Distribution Agreement and the
Prospectus. You agree that you will not offer or sell any of the Shares
except under circumstances that will result in compliance with the applicable
Federal and state securities laws and that in connection with sales and
offers to sell Shares you will furnish to each person to whom any such sale
or offer is made a copy of the Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented)
and will not furnish to any person any information relating to the Shares,
which is inconsistent in any respect with the information contained in the
Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented) or cause any advertisement to be
published by radio or television or in any newspaper or posted in any public
place or use any sales promotional material without our consent and the
consent of the Fund.
4. The Distributor will compensate you for sales of shares of the Fund and
personal services to Fund shareholders by paying you a sales charge and/or
other commissions, which may be in the form of a gross sales credit and/or an
annual residual commission and/or service fee, under the terms and in the
percentage amounts as may be in effect from time to time by the Distributor.
5. You shall not withhold placing orders received from your customers so
as to profit yourself as a result of such withholding; e.g., by a change in
the "net asset value" from that used in determining the offering price to
your customers.
6. If any Shares sold to you under the terms of this Agreement are
repurchased by us for the account of the Fund or are tendered for redemption
within seven business days after the date of the confirmation of the original
purchase by you, it is agreed that you shall forfeit your right to, and
refund to us, any commission received by you with respect to such Shares.
7. No person is authorized to make any representations concerning the
Shares or the Fund except those contained in the current Prospectus and in
such printed information subsequently issued by us or the Fund as information
supplemental to such Prospectus. In purchasing Shares through us you shall
rely solely on the representations contained in the Prospectus and
supplemental information above mentioned. Any printed information which we
furnish you other than the Prospectus and the Fund's periodic
1
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reports and proxy solicitation material are our sole responsibility and not
the responsibility of the Fund, and you agree that the Fund shall have no
liability or responsibility to you in these respects unless expressly assumed
in connection therewith.
8. You agree to deliver to each of the purchasers making purchases from
you a copy of the then current Prospectus at or prior to the time of offering
or sale and you agree thereafter to deliver to such purchasers copies of the
annual and interim reports and proxy solicitation materials of the Fund. You
further agree to endeavor to obtain proxies from such purchasers. Additional
copies of the Prospectus, annual or interim reports and proxy solicitation
materials of the Fund will be supplied to you in reasonable quantities upon
request.
9. We reserve the right in our discretion, without notice, to suspend
sales or withdraw the offering of Shares entirely. Each party hereto has the
right to cancel this agreement upon notice to the other party.
10. We reserve the right in our discretion, without notice, to suspend
sales or withdraw the offering of Shares entirely. Each party hereto has the
right to cancel this agreement upon notice to the other party.
11. We shall have full authority to take such action as we may deem
advisable in respect of all matters pertaining to the distribution and
redemption of Fund shares. We shall be under no liability to you except for
lack of good faith and for obligations expressly assumed by us herein.
Nothing contained in this paragraph is intended to operate as, and the
provisions of this paragraph shall not in any way whatsoever constitute, a
waiver by you of compliance with any provision of the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, or of the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission issued thereunder.
12. You represent that you are a member of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. and, with respect to any sales in the United States,
we both hereby agree to abide by the Rules of Fair Practice of such
Association.
13. Upon application to us, we will inform you as to the states in which
we believe the Shares have been qualified for sale under, or are exempt from
the requirements of, the respective securities laws of such states, but we
assume no responsibility or obligation as to your right to sell Shares in any
jurisdiction.
14. All communications to us should be sent to the address shown below.
Any notice to you shall be duly given if mailed or telegraphed to you at the
address specified by you below.
15. This Agreement shall become effective as of the date of your
acceptance hereof, provided that you return to us promptly a signed and dated
copy.
DEAN WITTER DISTRIBUTORS INC.
By ................................
(Authorized Signature)
Please return one signed copy
of this agreement to:
Dean Witter Distributors Inc.
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
Accepted:
Firm Name:................................
By: ......................................
Address: .................................
..........................................
Date: ....................................
2
<PAGE>
DEAN WITTER DISTRIBUTORS INC.
Gentlemen:
Dean Witter Distributors Inc. (the "Distributor") has a distribution
agreement (the "Distribution Agreement") with TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust, a
Massachusetts business trust (the "Fund"), pursuant to which it acts as the
Distributor for the sale of the Fund's shares of beneficial interest, par
value $0.01 per share (the "Shares"). Under the Distribution Agreement, the
Distributor has the right to distribute Shares for resale.
The Fund is an open-end management investment company registered under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the Shares being offered to
the public are registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. You
have received a copy of the Distribution Agreement between us and the Fund
and reference is made herein to certain provisions of such Distribution
Agreement. The terms used herein, including "Prospectus" and "Registration
Statement" of the Fund and "Selected Dealer" shall have the same meaning in
this Agreement as in the Distribution Agreement. As principal, we offer to
sell shares to your customers, upon the following terms and conditions:
1. In all sales of Shares to the public you shall act on behalf of your
customers, and in no transaction shall you have any authority to act as agent
for the Fund, for us or for any Selected Dealer.
2. Orders received from you will be accepted through us or on our behalf
only at the net asset value applicable to each order, as set forth in the
current Prospectus. The procedure relating to the handling of orders shall be
subject to instructions which we or the Fund shall forward from time to time
to you. All orders are subject to acceptance or rejection by the Distributor
or the Fund in the sole discretion of either.
3. You shall not place orders for any Shares unless you have already
received purchase orders for such Shares at the applicable net asset values
and subject to the terms hereof and of the Distribution Agreement and the
Prospectus. You agree that you will not offer or sell any of the Shares
except under circumstances that will result in compliance with the applicable
Federal and state securities laws and that in connection with sales and
offers to sell Shares you will furnish to each person to whom any such sale
or offer is made a copy of the Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented)
and will not furnish to any person any information relating to the Shares,
which is inconsistent in any respect with the information contained in the
Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented) or cause any advertisement to be
published by radio or television or in any newspaper or posted in any public
place or use any sales promotional material without our consent and the
consent of the Fund.
4. The Distributor will compensate you for sales of shares of the Fund and
personal services to Fund shareholders by paying you a sales charge and/or
other commission (which may be in the form of a gross sales credit and/or an
annual residual commission) and/or a service fee, under the terms as are set
forth in the Fund's Prospectus.
5. If any Shares sold to your customers under the terms of this Agreement
are repurchased by us for the account of the Fund or are tendered for
redemption within seven business days after the date of the confirmation of
the original purchase by you, it is agreed that you shall forfeit your right
to, and refund to us, any commission received by you with respect to such
Shares.
6. No person is authorized to make any representations concerning the
Shares or the Fund except those contained in the current Prospectus and in
such printed information subsequently issued by us or the Fund as information
supplemental to such Prospectus. In selling Shares, you shall rely solely on
the representations contained in the Prospectus and supplemental information
mentioned above. Any printed information which we furnish you other than the
Prospectus and the Fund's periodic reports and proxy solicitation material
are our sole responsibility and not the responsibility of the Fund, and you
agree that the Fund shall have no liability or responsibility to you in these
respects unless expressly assumed in connection therewith.
7. You agree to deliver to each of the purchasers making purchases a copy
of the then current Prospectus at or prior to the time of offering or sale,
and you agree thereafter to deliver to such purchasers
1
<PAGE>
copies of the annual and interim reports and proxy solicitation materials of
the Fund. You further agree to endeavor to obtain proxies from such
purchasers. Additional copies of the Prospectus, annual or interim reports
and proxy solicitation materials of the Fund will be supplied to you in
reasonable quantities upon request.
8. You are hereby authorized (i) to place orders directly with the Fund or
its agent for shares of the Fund to be sold by us subject to the applicable
terms and conditions governing the placement of orders for the purchase of
Fund shares, as set forth in the Distribution Agreement, and (ii) to tender
shares directly to the Fund or its agent for redemption subject to the
applicable terms and conditions set forth in the Distribution Agreement.
9. We reserve the right in our discretion, without notice, to suspend
sales or withdraw the offering of Shares entirely. Each party hereto has the
right to cancel this agreement upon notice to the other party.
10. I. You shall indemnify and hold harmless the Distributor, from and
against any claims, damages and liabilities which arise as a result of action
taken pursuant to instructions from you, or on your behalf to: a)(i) place
orders for Shares of the Fund with the Fund's transfer agent or direct the
transfer agent to receive instructions for the order of Shares, and (ii)
accept monies or direct that the transfer agent accept monies as payment for
the order of such Shares, all as contemplated by and in accordance with
Section 3 of the Distribution Agreement; b)(i) place orders for the
redemption of Shares of the Fund with the Fund's transfer agent or direct the
transfer agent to receive instruction for the redemption of Shares and (ii)
to pay redemption proceeds or to direct that the transfer agent pay
redemption proceeds in connection with orders for the redemption of Shares,
all as contemplated by and in accordance with Section 4 of the Distribution
Agreement; provided, however, that in no case, (i) is this indemnity in favor
of the Distributor and any such controlling persons to be deemed to protect
the Distributor or any such controlling persons thereof against any liability
to which the Distributor or any such controlling persons would otherwise be
subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in
the performance of its duties or by reason of reckless disregard of its
obligations and duties under this Agreement or the Distribution Agreement; or
(ii) are you to be liable under the indemnity agreement contained in this
paragraph with respect to any claim made against the Distributor or any such
controlling persons, unless the Distributor or any such controlling persons,
as the case may be, shall have notified you in writing within a reasonable
time after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the
nature of the claim shall have been served upon the Distributor or such
controlling persons (or after the Distributor or such controlling persons
shall have received notice of such service on any designated agent), but
failure to notify you of any such claim shall not relieve you from any
liability which you may have to the person against whom such action is
brought otherwise than on account of the indemnity agreement contained in
this paragraph. You will be entitled to participate at your own expense in
the defense, or, if you so elect, to assume the defense, of any suit brought
to enforce any such liability, but if you elect to assume the defense, such
defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by you and satisfactory to the
Distributor or such controlling person or persons, defendant or defendants in
the suit. In the event you elect to assume the defense of any such suit and
retain such counsel, the Distributor or such controlling person or persons,
defendant or defendants in the suit, shall bear the fees and expenses of any
additional counsel retained by them, but, in case you do not elect to assume
the defense of any such suit, you will reimburse the Distributor or such
controlling person or persons, defendant or defendants in the suit, for the
reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by them. You shall
promptly notify the Distributor of the commencement of any litigation or
proceedings against it or any of its officers or directors in connection with
the issuance or sale of the Shares.
II. If the indemnification provided for in this Section 10 is unavailable
or insufficient to hold harmless the Distributor, as provided above in
respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions
in respect thereof) referred to herein, then you shall contribute to the
amount paid or payable by the Distributor as a result of such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by you
on the one hand and the Distributor on the other from the offering of the
Shares. If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately preceding
sentence is not permitted by applicable law, then you shall contribute to
such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as
is appropriate to reflect not
2
<PAGE>
only such relative benefits but also your relative fault on the one hand and
the relative fault of the Distributor on the other, in connection with the
statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof), as well as any other
relevant equitable considerations. You and the Distributor agree that it
would not be just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata
allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take into
account the equitable considerations referred to above. The amount paid or
payable by the Distributor as a result of the losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above
shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by
the Distributor in connection with investigating or defending any such claim.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (II), you shall not be
required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total
price at which the Shares distributed by it to the public were offered to the
public exceeds the amount of any damages which it has otherwise been required
to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or
alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within
the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act of 1933 Act) shall be
entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation.
11. We shall have full authority to take such action as we may deem
advisable in respect of all matters pertaining to the distribution and
redemption of Fund shares. We shall be under no liability to you except for
lack of good faith and for obligations expressly assumed by us herein.
Nothing contained in this paragraph is intended to operate as, and the
provisions of this paragraph shall not in any way whatsoever constitute, a
waiver by you of compliance with any provision of the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, or of the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission issued thereunder.
12. You represent that you are a member of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. and, with respect to any sales in the United States,
we both hereby agree to abide by the Rules of Fair Practice of such
Association.
13. Upon application to us, we will inform you as to the states in which
we believe the Shares have been qualified for sale under, or are exempt from
the requirements of, the respective securities laws of such states, but we
assume no responsibility or obligation as to your right to sell Shares in any
jurisdiction.
14. All communications to us should be sent to the address shown below.
Any notice to you shall be duly given if mailed or telegraphed to you at the
address specified by you below.
15. This Agreement shall become effective as of the date of your
acceptance hereof, provided that you return to us promptly a signed and dated
copy.
DEAN WITTER DISTRIBUTORS INC.
By ................................
(Authorized Signature)
Please return one signed copy
of this agreement to:
Dean Witter Distributors Inc.
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
Accepted:
Firm Name:................................................................
By: ......................................................................
Address:..................................................................
..........................................................................
Date:.....................................................................
3
CUSTODY AGREEMENT
Agreement made as of this day of , 1995,
between TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST, a Massachusetts business
trust organized and existing under the laws of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, having its principal office and
place of business at 2 World Trade Center, New York, New York
10048 (hereinafter called the "Fund"), and THE BANK OF NEW
YORK, a New York corporation authorized to do a banking
business, having its principal office and place of business at
48 Wall Street, New York, New York 10286 (hereinafter called
the "Custodian").
W I T N E S S E T H :
that for and in consideration of the mutual promises
hereinafter set forth, the Fund and the Custodian agree as
follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Whenever used in this Agreement, the following words and
phrases, shall have the following meanings:
1. "Agreement" shall mean this Custody Agreement and
all Appendices and Certifications described in the Exhibits
delivered in connection herewith.
2. "Authorized Person" shall mean any person, whether
or not such person is an Officer or employee of the Fund, duly
authorized by the Board of Trustees of the Fund to give Oral
Instructions and Written Instructions on behalf of the Fund
and listed in the Certificate annexed hereto as Appendix A or
such other Certificate as may be received by the Custodian
from time to time, provided that each person who is designated
in any such Certificate as an "Officer of DWTC" shall be an
Authorized Person only for purposes of Articles XII and XIII
hereof.
3. "Book-Entry System" shall mean the Federal
Reserve/Treasury book-entry system for United States and
federal agency securities, its successor or successors and its
nominee or nominees.
4. "Call Option" shall mean an exchange traded option
with respect to Securities other than Index, Futures
Contracts, and Futures Contract Options entitling the holder,
upon timely exercise and payment of the exercise price, as
specified therein, to purchase from the writer thereof the
specified underlying instruments, currency, or Securities.
5. "Certificate" shall mean any notice, instruction, or
other instrument in writing, authorized or required by this
Agreement to be given to the Custodian which is actually
received (irrespective of constructive receipt) by the
Custodian and signed on behalf of the Fund by any two Offic-
ers. The term Certificate shall also include instructions by
the Fund to the Custodian communicated by a Terminal Link.
6. "Clearing Member" shall mean a registered
broker-dealer which is a clearing member under the rules of
O.C.C. and a member of a national securities exchange
qualified to act as a custodian for an investment company, or
any broker-dealer reasonably believed by the Custodian to be
such a clearing member.
7. "Collateral Account" shall mean a segregated account
so denominated which is specifically allocated to a Series and
pledged to the Custodian as security for, and in consideration
of, the Custodian's issuance of any Put Option guarantee let-
ter or similar document described in paragraph 8 of Article V
herein.
8. "Covered Call Option" shall mean an exchange traded
option entitling the holder, upon timely exercise and payment
of the exercise price, as specified therein, to purchase from
the writer thereof the specified underlying instruments, cur-
rency, or Securities (excluding Futures Contracts) which are
owned by the writer thereof.
9. "Depository" shall mean The Depository Trust Company
("DTC"), a clearing agency registered with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, its successor or successors and its
nominee or nominees. The term "Depository" shall further mean
and include any other person authorized to act as a depository
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, its successor or
successors and its nominee or nominees, specifically identi-
fied in a certified copy of a resolution of the Fund's Board
of Trustees specifically approving deposits therein by the
Custodian.
10. "Financial Futures Contract" shall mean the firm
commitment to buy or sell financial instruments on a U.S. com-
modities exchange or board of trade at a specified future time
at an agreed upon price.
11. "Futures Contract" shall mean a Financial Futures
Contract and/or Index Futures Contracts.
- 2 -
12. "Futures Contract Option" shall mean an option with
respect to a Futures Contract.
13. "Investment Company Act of 1940" shall mean the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and
regulations thereunder.
14. "Index Futures Contract" shall mean a bilateral
agreement pursuant to which the parties agree to take or make
delivery of an amount of cash equal to a specified dollar
amount times the difference between the value of a particular
index at the close of the last business day of the contract
and the price at which the futures contract is originally
struck.
15. "Index Option" shall mean an exchange traded option
entitling the holder, upon timely exercise, to receive an
amount of cash determined by reference to the difference
between the exercise price and the value of the index on the
date of exercise.
16. "Margin Account" shall mean a segregated account in
the name of a broker, dealer, futures commission merchant, or
a Clearing Member, or in the name of the Fund for the benefit
of a broker, dealer, futures commission merchant, or Clearing
Member, or otherwise, in accordance with an agreement between
the Fund, the Custodian and a broker, dealer, futures commis-
sion merchant or a Clearing Member (a "Margin Account Agree-
ment"), separate and distinct from the custody account, in
which certain Securities and/or money of the Fund shall be
deposited and withdrawn from time to time in connection with
such transactions as the Fund may from time to time
determine. Securities held in the Book-Entry System or a
Depository shall be deemed to have been deposited in, or
withdrawn from, a Margin Account upon the Custodian's effect-
ing an appropriate entry in its books and records.
17. "Money Market Security" shall mean all instruments
and obligations commonly known as a money market instruments,
where the purchase and sale of such securities normally
requires settlement in federal funds on the same day as such
purchase or sale, including, without limitation, certain
Reverse Repurchase Agreements, debt obligations issued or
guaranteed as to interest and/or principal by the government
of the United States or agencies or instrumentalities thereof,
any tax, bond or revenue anticipation note issued by any state
or municipal government or public authority, commercial paper,
certificates of deposit and bankers' acceptances, repurchase
agreements with respect to Securities and bank time deposits.
18. "O.C.C." shall mean the Options Clearing Corpora-
tion, a clearing agency registered under Section 17A of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, its successor or successors,
and its nominee or nominees.
- 3 -
19. "Officers" shall mean the President, any Vice
President, the Secretary, the Clerk, the Treasurer, the
Controller, any Assistant Secretary, any Assistant Clerk, any
Assistant Treasurer, and any other person or persons, whether
or not any such other person is an officer or employee of the
Fund, but in each case only if duly authorized by the Board of
Trustees of the Fund to execute any Certificate, instruction,
notice or other instrument on behalf of the Fund and listed in
the Certificate annexed hereto as Appendix B or such other
Certificate as may be received by the Custodian from time to
time; provided that each person who is designated in any such
Certificate as holding the position of "Officer of DWTC" shall
be an Officer only for purposes of Articles XII and XIII
hereof.
20. "Option" shall mean a Call Option, Covered Call Op-
tion, Index Option and/or a Put Option.
21. "Oral Instructions" shall mean verbal instructions
actually received (irrespective of constructive receipt) by
the Custodian from an Authorized Person or from a person
reasonably believed by the Custodian to be an Authorized
Person.
22. "Put Option" shall mean an exchange traded option
with respect to instruments, currency, or Securities other
than Index Options, Futures Contracts, and Futures Contract
Options entitling the holder, upon timely exercise and tender
of the specified underlying instruments, currency, or Securi-
ties, to sell such instruments, currency, or Securities to the
writer thereof for the exercise price.
23. "Reverse Repurchase Agreement" shall mean an agree-
ment pursuant to which the Fund sells Securities and agrees to
repurchase such Securities at a described or specified date
and price.
24. "Security" shall be deemed to include, without
limitation, Money Market Securities, Call Options, Put Op-
tions, Index Options, Index Futures Contracts, Index Futures
Contract Options, Financial Futures Contracts, Financial
Futures Contract Options, Reverse Repurchase Agreements, over
the counter options on Securities, common stocks and other
securities having characteristics similar to common stocks,
preferred stocks, debt obligations issued by state or
municipal governments and by public authorities, (including,
without limitation, general obligation bonds, revenue bonds,
industrial bonds and industrial development bonds), bonds,
debentures, notes, mortgages or other obligations, and any
certificates, receipts, warrants or other instruments
representing rights to receive, purchase, sell or subscribe
for the same, or evidencing or representing any other rights
or interest therein, or rights to any property or assets.
- 4 -
25. "Senior Security Account" shall mean an account
maintained and specifically allocated to a Series under the
terms of this Agreement as a segregated account, by recorda-
tion or otherwise, within the custody account in which certain
Securities and/or other assets of the Fund specifically al-
located to such Series shall be deposited and withdrawn from
time to time in accordance with Certificates received by the
Custodian in connection with such transactions as the Fund may
from time to time determine.
26. "Series" shall mean the various portfolios, if any,
of the Fund as described from time to time in the current and
effective prospectus for the Fund, except that if the Fund
does not have more than one portfolio, "Series" shall mean the
Fund or be ignored where a requirement would be imposed on the
Fund or the Custodian which is unnecessary if there is only
one portfolio.
27. "Shares" shall mean the shares of beneficial inter-
est of the Fund and its Series.
28. "Terminal Link" shall mean an electronic data
transmission link between the Fund and the Custodian requiring
in connection with each use of the Terminal Link the use of an
authorization code provided by the Custodian and at least two
access codes established by the Fund, provided, that the Fund
shall have delivered to the Custodian a Certificate
substantially in the form of Appendix C.
29. "Transfer Agent" shall mean TCW/DW Trust Company, a
New Jersey limited purpose trust company, its successors and
assigns.
30. "Transfer Agent Account" shall mean any account in
the name of the Transfer Agent maintained with The Bank of New
York pursuant to a Cash Management and Related Services Agree-
ment between The Bank of New York and the Transfer Agent.
31. "Written Instructions" shall mean written communica-
tions actually received (irrespective of constructive receipt)
by the Custodian from an Authorized Person or from a person
reasonably believed by the Custodian to be an Authorized
Person by telex or any other such system whereby the receiver
of such communications is able to verify by codes or otherwise
with a reasonable degree of certainty the identity of the
sender of such communication.
- 5 -
ARTICLE II
APPOINTMENT OF CUSTODIAN
1. The Fund hereby constitutes and appoints the
Custodian as custodian of the Securities and moneys at any
time owned by the Fund during the period of this Agreement.
2. The Custodian hereby accepts appointment as such
custodian and agrees to perform the duties thereof as
hereinafter set forth.
ARTICLE III
CUSTODY OF CASH AND SECURITIES
1. Except as otherwise provided in paragraph 7 of this
Article and in Article VIII, the Fund will deliver or cause to
be delivered to the Custodian all Securities and all moneys
owned by it, at any time during the period of this Agreement,
and shall specify with respect to such Securities and money
the Series to which the same are specifically allocated, and
the Custodian shall not be responsible for any Securities or
money not so delivered. The Custodian shall physically
segregate, keep and maintain the Securities of the Series
separate and apart from each other Series and from other as-
sets held by the Custodian. Except as otherwise expressly
provided in this Agreement, the Custodian will not be
responsible for any Securities and moneys not actually
received by it, unless the Custodian has been negligent or has
engaged in willful misconduct with respect thereto. The
Custodian will be entitled to reverse any credits of money
made on the Fund's behalf where such credits have been previ-
ously made and moneys are not finally collected, unless the
Custodian has been negligent or has engaged in willful
misconduct with respect thereto. The Fund shall deliver to the
Custodian a certified resolution of the Board of Trustees of
the Fund, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, ap-
proving, authorizing and instructing the Custodian on a
continuous and on-going basis to deposit in the Book-Entry
System all Securities eligible for deposit therein, regardless
of the Series to which the same are specifically allocated and
to utilize the Book-Entry System to the extent possible in
connection with its performance hereunder, including, without
limitation, in connection with settlements of purchases and
sales of Securities, loans of Securities and deliveries and
returns of Securities collateral. Prior to a deposit of
Securities specifically allocated to a Series in any
Depository, the Fund shall deliver to the Custodian a certi-
fied resolution of the Board of Trustees of the Fund,
substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, approving,
- 6 -
authorizing and instructing the Custodian on a continuous and
ongoing basis until instructed to the contrary by a
Certificate to deposit in such Depository all Securities
specifically allocated to such Series eligible for deposit
therein, and to utilize such Depository to the extent possible
with respect to such Securities in connection with its
performance hereunder, including, without limitation, in con-
nection with settlements of purchases and sales of Securities,
loans of Securities, and deliveries and returns of Securities
collateral. Securities and moneys deposited in either the
Book-Entry System or a Depository will be represented in ac-
counts which include only assets held by the Custodian for
customers, including, but not limited to, accounts in which
the Custodian acts in a fiduciary or representative capacity
and will be specifically allocated on the Custodian's books to
the separate account for the applicable Series. Prior to the
Custodian's accepting, utilizing and acting with respect to
Clearing Member confirmations for Options and transactions in
Options for a Series as provided in this Agreement, the
Custodian shall have received a certified resolution of the
Fund's Board of Trustees, substantially in the form of Exhibit
C hereto, approving, authorizing and instructing the Custodian
on a continuous and on-going basis, until instructed to the
contrary by a Certificate, to accept, utilize and act in ac-
cordance with such confirmations as provided in this Agreement
with respect to such Series. All securities are to be held or
disposed of by the Custodian for, and subject at all times to
the instructions of, the Fund pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement. The Custodian shall have no power or authority to
assign, hypothecate, pledge or otherwise dispose of any
Securities except as provided by the terms of this Agreement,
and shall have the sole power to release and deliver Securi-
ties held pursuant to this Agreement.
2. The Custodian shall establish and maintain separate
accounts, in the name of each Series, and shall credit to the
separate account for each Series all moneys received by it for
the account of the Fund with respect to such Series. Such
moneys will be held in such manner and account as the Fund and
the Custodian shall agree upon in writing from time to time.
Money credited to a separate account for a Series shall be
subject only to drafts, orders, or charges of the Custodian
pursuant to this Agreement and shall be disbursed by the
Custodian only:
(a) As hereinafter provided;
(b) Pursuant to Resolutions of the Fund's Board of
Trustees certified by an Officer and by the Secretary or As-
sistant Secretary of the Fund setting forth the name and ad-
dress of the person to whom the payment is to be made, the
Series account from which payment is to be made, the purpose
for which payment is to be made, and declaring such purpose to
be a proper corporate purpose; provided, however, that amounts
- 7 -
representing dividends or distributions with respect to
Shares shall be paid only to the Transfer Agent Account;
(c) In payment of the fees and in reimbursement of
the expenses and liabilities of the Custodian attributable to
such Series and authorized by this Agreement; or
(d) Pursuant to Certificates to pay interest,
taxes, management fees or operating expenses (including,
without limitation thereto, Board of Trustees' fees and
expenses, and fees for legal accounting and auditing
services), which Certificates set forth the name and address
of the person to whom payment is to be made, state the purpose
of such payment and designate the Series for whose account the
payment is to be made.
3. Promptly after the close of business on each day,
the Custodian shall furnish the Fund with confirmations and a
summary, on a per Series basis, of all transfers to or from
the account of the Fund for a Series, either hereunder or with
any co-custodian or subcustodian appointed in accordance with
this Agreement during said day. Where Securities are
transferred to the account of the Fund for a Series but held
in a Depository, the Custodian shall upon such transfer also
by book-entry or otherwise identify such Securities as
belonging to such Series in a fungible bulk of Securities
registered in the name of the Custodian (or its nominee) or
shown on the Custodian's account on the books of the
Book-Entry System or the Depository. At least monthly and
from time to time, the Custodian shall furnish the Fund with a
detailed statement, on a per Series basis, of the Securities
and moneys held under this Agreement for the Fund.
4. Except as otherwise provided in paragraph 7 of this
Article and in Article VIII, all Securities held by the
Custodian hereunder, which are issued or issuable only in
bearer form, except such Securities as are held in the
Book-Entry System, shall be held by the Custodian in that
form; all other Securities held hereunder may be registered in
the name of the Fund, in the name of any duly appointed
registered nominee of the Custodian as the Custodian may from
time to time determine, or in the name of the Book-Entry
System or a Depository or their successor or successors, or
their nominee or nominees. The Fund agrees to furnish to the
Custodian appropriate instruments to enable the Custodian to
hold or deliver in proper form for transfer, or to register in
the name of its registered nominee or in the name of the
Book-Entry System or a Depository any Securities which it may
hold hereunder and which may from time to time be registered
in the name of the Fund. The Custodian shall hold all such
Securities specifically allocated to a Series which are not
held in the Book-Entry System or in a Depository in a separate
account in the name of such Series physically segregated at
all times from those of any other person or persons.
- 8 -
5. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement and
unless otherwise instructed to the contrary by a Certificate,
the Custodian by itself, or through the use of the Book-Entry
System or a Depository with respect to Securities held
hereunder and therein deposited, shall with respect to all
Securities held for the Fund hereunder in accordance with
preceding paragraph 4:
(a) Promptly collect all income and dividends due
or payable;
(b) Promptly give notice to the Fund and promptly
present for payment and collect the amount of money or other
consideration payable upon such Securities which are called,
but only if either (i) the Custodian receives a written notice
of such call, or (ii) notice of such call appears in one or
more of the publications listed in Appendix D annexed hereto,
which may be amended at any time by the Custodian without the
prior consent of the Fund, provided the Custodian gives prior
notice of such amendment to the Fund;
(c) Promptly present for payment and collect for
the Fund's account the amount payable upon all Securities
which mature;
(d) Promptly surrender Securities in temporary form
in exchange for definitive Securities;
(e) Promptly execute, as custodian, any necessary
declarations or certificates of ownership under the Federal
Income Tax Laws or the laws or regulations of any other taxing
authority now or hereafter in effect;
(f) Hold directly, or through the Book-Entry System
or the Depository with respect to Securities therein
deposited, for the account of a Series, all rights and similar
securities issued with respect to any Securities held by the
Custodian for such Series hereunder; and
(g) Promptly deliver to the Fund all notices, prox-
ies, proxy soliciting materials, consents and other written
information (including, without limitation, notices of tender
offers and exchange offers, pendency of calls, maturities of
Securities and expiration of rights) relating to Securities
held pursuant to this Agreement which are actually received by
the Custodian, such proxies and other similar materials to be
executed by the registered holder (if Securities are
registered otherwise than in the name of the Fund), but
without indicating the manner in which proxies or consents are
to be voted.
6. Upon receipt of a Certificate and not otherwise, the
Custodian, directly or through the use of the Book-Entry
System or the Depository, shall:
- 9 -
(a) Promptly execute and deliver to such persons as
may be designated in such Certificate proxies, consents,
authorizations, and any other instruments whereby the author-
ity of the Fund as owner of any Securities held hereunder for
the Series specified in such Certificate may be exercised;
(b) Promptly deliver any Securities held hereunder
for the Series specified in such Certificate in exchange for
other Securities or cash issued or paid in connection with the
liquidation, reorganization, refinancing, merger,
consolidation or recapitalization of any corporation, or the
exercise of any right, warrant or conversion privilege and
receive and hold hereunder specifically allocated to such
Series any cash or other Securities received in exchange;
(c) Promptly deliver any Securities held hereunder
for the Series specified in such Certificate to any protective
committee, reorganization committee or other person in connec-
tion with the reorganization, refinancing, merger, consolida-
tion, recapitalization or sale of assets of any corporation,
and receive and hold hereunder specifically allocated to such
Series in exchange therefor such certificates of deposit,
interim receipts or other instruments or documents as may be
issued to it to evidence such delivery or such Securities as
may be issued upon such delivery; and
(d) Promptly present for payment and collect the
amount payable upon Securities which may be called as
specified in the Certificate.
7. Notwithstanding any provision elsewhere contained
herein, the Custodian shall not be required to obtain posses-
sion of any instrument or certificate representing any Futures
Contract, any Option, or any Futures Contract Option until
after it shall have determined, or shall have received a
Certificate from the Fund stating, that any such instruments
or certificates are available. The Fund shall deliver to the
Custodian such a Certificate no later than the business day
preceding the availability of any such instrument or
certificate. Prior to such availability, the Custodian shall
comply with Section 17(f) of the Investment Company Act of
1940 in connection with the purchase, sale, settlement, clos-
ing out or writing of Futures Contracts, Options, or Futures
Contract Options by making payments or deliveries specified in
Certificates in connection with any such purchase, sale,
writing, settlement or closing out upon its receipt from a
broker, dealer, or futures commission merchant of a statement
or confirmation reasonably believed by the Custodian to be in
the form customarily used by brokers, dealers, or future
commission merchants with respect to such Futures Contracts,
Options, or Futures Contract Options, as the case may be,
confirming that such Security is held by such broker, dealer
or futures commission merchant, in book-entry form or
otherwise, in the name of the Custodian (or any nominee of the
- 10 -
Custodian) as custodian for the Fund, provided, however, that
notwithstanding the foregoing, payments to or deliveries from
the Margin Account and payments with respect to Securities to
which a Margin Account relates, shall be made in accordance
with the terms and conditions of the Margin Account
Agreement. Whenever any such instruments or certificates are
available, the Custodian shall, notwithstanding any provision
in this Agreement to the contrary, make payment for any
Futures Contract, Option, or Futures Contract Option for which
such instruments or such certificates are available only
against the delivery to the Custodian of such instrument or
such certificate, and deliver any Futures Contract, Option or
Futures Contract Option for which such instruments or such
certificates are available only against receipt by the
Custodian of payment therefor. Any such instrument or
certificate delivered to the Custodian shall be held by the
Custodian hereunder in accordance with, and subject to, the
provisions of this Agreement.
ARTICLE IV
PURCHASE AND SALE OF INVESTMENTS OF THE FUND
OTHER THAN OPTIONS, FUTURES CONTRACTS AND
FUTURES CONTRACT OPTIONS
1. Promptly after each execution of a purchase of
Securities by the Fund, other than a purchase of an Option, a
Futures Contract, or a Futures Contract Option, the Fund shall
deliver to the Custodian (i) with respect to each purchase of
Securities which are not Money Market Securities, a
Certificate, and (ii) with respect to each purchase of Money
Market Securities, a Certificate, Oral Instructions or Writ-
ten Instructions, specifying with respect to each such
purchase: (a) the Series to which such Securities are to be
specifically allocated; (b) the name of the issuer and the
title of the Securities; (c) the number of shares or the
principal amount purchased and accrued interest, if any; (d)
the date of purchase and settlement; (e) the purchase price
per unit; (f) the total amount payable upon such purchase; (g)
the name of the person from whom or the broker through whom
the purchase was made, and the name of the clearing broker, if
any; and (h) the name of the broker to whom payment is to be
made. The Custodian shall, upon receipt of such Securities
purchased by or for the Fund, pay to the broker specified in
the Certificate out of the moneys held for the account of such
Series the total amount payable upon such purchase, provided
that the same conforms to the total amount payable as set
forth in such Certificate, Oral Instructions or Written
Instructions.
2. Promptly after each execution of a sale of Securi-
ties by the Fund, other than a sale of any Option, Futures
- 11 -
Contract, Futures Contract Option, or any Reverse Repurchase
Agreement, the Fund shall deliver such to the Custodian (i)
with respect to each sale of Securities which are not Money
Market Securities, a Certificate, and (ii) with respect to
each sale of Money Market Securities, a Certificate, Oral
Instructions or Written Instructions, specifying with respect
to each such sale: (a) the Series to which such Securities
were specifically allocated; (b) the name of the issuer and
the title of the Security; (c) the number of shares or
principal amount sold, and accrued interest, if any; (d) the
date of sale and settlement; (e) the sale price per unit; (f)
the total amount payable to the Fund upon such sale; (g) the
name of the broker through whom or the person to whom the sale
was made, and the name of the clearing broker, if any; and (h)
the name of the broker to whom the Securities are to be
delivered. On the settlement date, the Custodian shall
deliver the Securities specifically allocated to such Series
to the broker in accordance with generally accepted street
practices and as specified in the Certificate upon receipt of
the total amount payable to the Fund upon such sale, provided
that the same conforms to the total amount payable as set
forth in such Certificate, Oral Instructions or Written
Instructions.
ARTICLE V
OPTIONS
1. Promptly after each execution of a purchase of any
Option by the Fund other than a closing purchase transaction
the Fund shall deliver to the Custodian a Certificate specify-
ing with respect to each Option purchased: (a) the Series to
which such Option is specifically allocated; (b) the type of
Option (put or call); (c) the instrument, currency, or
Security underlying such Option and the number of Options, or
the name of the in the case of an Index Option, the index to
which such Option relates and the number of Index Options
purchased; (d) the expiration date; (e) the exercise price;
(f) the dates of purchase and settlement; (g) the total amount
payable by the Fund in connection with such purchase; and (h)
the name of the Clearing Member through whom such Option was
purchased. The Custodian shall pay, upon receipt of a Clear-
ing Member's statement confirming the purchase of such Option
held by such Clearing Member for the account of the Custodian
(or any duly appointed and registered nominee of the
Custodian) as custodian for the Fund, out of moneys held for
the account of the Series to which such Option is to be
specifically allocated, the total amount payable upon such
purchase to the Clearing Member through whom the purchase was
made, provided that the same conforms to the total amount pay-
able as set forth in such Certificate.
- 12 -
2. Promptly after the execution of a sale of any Option
purchased by the Fund, other than a closing sale transaction,
pursuant to paragraph 1 hereof, the Fund shall deliver to the
Custodian a Certificate specifying with respect to each such
sale: (a) the Series to which such Option was specifically
allocated; (b) the type of Option (put or call); (c) the
instrument, currency, or Security underlying such Option and
the number of Options, or the name of the issuer and the title
and number of shares subject to such Option or, in the case of
a Index Option, the index to which such Option relates and the
number of Index Options sold; (d) the date of sale; (e) the
sale price; (f) the date of settlement; (g) the total amount
payable to the Fund upon such sale; and (h) the name of the
Clearing Member through whom the sale was made. The Custodian
shall consent to the delivery of the Option sold by the Clear-
ing Member which previously supplied the confirmation
described in preceding paragraph 1 of this Article with
respect to such Option against payment to the Custodian of the
total amount payable to the Fund, provided that the same
conforms to the total amount payable as set forth in such
Certificate.
3. Promptly after the exercise by the Fund of any Call
Option purchased by the Fund pursuant to paragraph 1 hereof,
the Fund shall deliver to the Custodian a Certificate specify-
ing with respect to such Call Option: (a) the Series to which
such Call Option was specifically allocated; (b) the name of
the issuer and the title and number of shares subject to the
Call Option; (c) the expiration date; (d) the date of exercise
and settlement; (e) the exercise price per share; (f) the
total amount to be paid by the Fund upon such exercise; and
(g) the name of the Clearing Member through whom such Call
Option was exercised. The Custodian shall, upon receipt of
the Securities underlying the Call Option which was exercised,
pay out of the moneys held for the account of the Series to
which such Call Option was specifically allocated the total
amount payable to the Clearing Member through whom the Call
Option was exercised, provided that the same conforms to the
total amount payable as set forth in such Certificate.
4. Promptly after the exercise by the Fund of any Put
Option purchased by the Fund pursuant to paragraph 1 hereof,
the Fund shall deliver to the Custodian a Certificate specify-
ing with respect to such Put Option: (a) the Series to which
such Put Option was specifically allocated; (b) the name of
the issuer and the title and number of shares subject to the
Put Option; (c) the expiration date; (d) the date of exercise
and settlement; (e) the exercise price per share; (f) the
total amount to be paid to the Fund upon such exercise; and
(g) the name of the Clearing Member through whom such Put Op-
tion was exercised. The Custodian shall, upon receipt of the
amount payable upon the exercise of the Put Option, deliver or
direct a Depository to deliver the Securities specifically
- 13 -
allocated to such Series, provided the same conforms to the
amount payable to the Fund as set forth in such Certificate.
5. Promptly after the exercise by the Fund of any Index
Option purchased by the Fund pursuant to paragraph 1 hereof,
the Fund shall deliver to the Custodian a Certificate specify-
ing with respect to such Index Option: (a) the Series to
which such Index Option was specifically allocated; (b) the
type of Index Option (put or call); (c) the number of Options
being exercised; (d) the index to which such Option relates;
(e) the expiration date; (f) the exercise price; (g) the total
amount to be received by the Fund in connection with such
exercise; and (h) the Clearing Member from whom such payment
is to be received.
6. Whenever the Fund writes a Covered Call Option, the
Fund shall promptly deliver to the Custodian a Certificate
specifying with respect to such Covered Call Option: (a) the
Series for which such Covered Call Option was written; (b) the
name of the issuer and the title and number of shares for
which the Covered Call Option was written and which underlie
the same; (c) the expiration date; (d) the exercise price; (e)
the premium to be received by the Fund; (f) the date such
Covered Call Option was written; and (g) the name of the
Clearing Member through whom the premium is to be received.
The Custodian shall deliver or cause to be delivered, in
exchange for receipt of the premium specified in the
Certificate with respect to such Covered Call Option, such
receipts as are required in accordance with the customs
prevailing among Clearing Members dealing in Covered Call Op-
tions and shall impose, or direct a Depository to impose, upon
the underlying Securities specified in the Certificate
specifically allocated to such Series such restrictions as may
be required by such receipts. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Custodian has the right, upon prior written notification
to the Fund, at any time to refuse to issue any receipts for
Securities in the possession of the Custodian and not
deposited with a Depository underlying a Covered Call Option.
7. Whenever a Covered Call Option written by the Fund
and described in the preceding paragraph of this Article is
exercised, the Fund shall promptly deliver to the Custodian a
Certificate instructing the Custodian to deliver, or to direct
the Depository to deliver, the Securities subject to such
Covered Call Option and specifying: (a) the Series for which
such Covered Call Option was written; (b) the name of the is-
suer and the title and number of shares subject to the Covered
Call Option; (c) the Clearing Member to whom the underlying
Securities are to be delivered; and (d) the total amount pay-
able to the Fund upon such delivery. Upon the return and/or
cancellation of any receipts delivered pursuant to paragraph 6
of this Article, the Custodian shall deliver, or direct a
Depository to deliver, the underlying Securities as specified
- 14 -
in the Certificate against payment of the amount to be
received as set forth in such Certificate.
8. Whenever the Fund writes a Put Option, the Fund
shall promptly deliver to the Custodian a Certificate specify-
ing with respect to such Put Option: (a) the Series for which
such Put Option was written; (b) the name of the issuer and
the title and number of shares for which the Put Option is
written and which underlie the same; (c) the expiration date;
(d) the exercise price; (e) the premium to be received by the
Fund; (f) the date such Put Option is written; (g) the name of
the Clearing Member through whom the premium is to be received
and to whom a Put Option guarantee letter is to be delivered;
(h) the amount of cash, and/or the amount and kind of Securi-
ties, if any, specifically allocated to such Series to be
deposited in the Senior Security Account for such Series; and
(i) the amount of cash and/or the amount and kind of Securi-
ties specifically allocated to such Series to be deposited
into the Collateral Account for such Series. The Custodian
shall, after making the deposits into the Collateral Account
specified in the Certificate, issue a Put Option guarantee
letter substantially in the form utilized by the Custodian on
the date hereof, and deliver the same to the Clearing Member
specified in the Certificate against receipt of the premium
specified in said Certificate. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Custodian shall be under no obligation to issue any Put
Option guarantee letter or similar document if it is unable to
make any of the representations contained therein.
9. Whenever a Put Option written by the Fund and
described in the preceding paragraph is exercised, the Fund
shall promptly deliver to the Custodian a Certificate specify-
ing: (a) the Series to which such Put Option was written; (b)
the name of the issuer and title and number of shares subject
to the Put Option; (c) the Clearing Member from whom the
underlying Securities are to be received; (d) the total amount
payable by the Fund upon such delivery; (e) the amount of cash
and/or the amount and kind of Securities specifically al-
located to such Series to be withdrawn from the Collateral
Account for such Series and (f) the amount of cash and/or the
amount and kind of Securities, specifically allocated to such
Series, if any, to be withdrawn from the Senior Security Ac-
count. Upon the return and/or cancellation of any Put Option
guarantee letter or similar document issued by the Custodian
in connection with such Put Option, the Custodian shall pay
out of the moneys held for the account of the Series to which
such Put Option was specifically allocated the total amount
payable to the Clearing Member specified in the Certificate as
set forth in such Certificate, against delivery of such
Securities, and shall make the withdrawals specified in such
Certificate.
- 15 -
10. Whenever the Fund writes an Index Option, the Fund
shall promptly deliver to the Custodian a Certificate specify-
ing with respect to such Index Option: (a) the Series for
which such Index Option was written; (b) whether such Index
Option is a put or a call; (c) the number of options written;
(d) the index to which such Option relates; (e) the expiration
date; (f) the exercise price; (g) the Clearing Member through
whom such Option was written; (h) the premium to be received
by the Fund; (i) the amount of cash and/or the amount and kind
of Securities, if any, specifically allocated to such Series
to be deposited in the Senior Security Account for such
Series; (j) the amount of cash and/or the amount and kind of
Securities, if any, specifically allocated to such Series to
be deposited in the Collateral Account for such Series; and
(k) the amount of cash and/or the amount and kind of Securi-
ties, if any, specifically allocated to such Series to be
deposited in a Margin Account, and the name in which such ac-
count is to be or has been established. The Custodian shall,
upon receipt of the premium specified in the Certificate, make
the deposits, if any, into the Senior Security Account
specified in the Certificate, and either (1) deliver such
receipts, if any, which the Custodian has specifically agreed
to issue, which are in accordance with the customs prevailing
among Clearing Members in Index Options and make the deposits
into the Collateral Account specified in the Certificate, or
(2) make the deposits into the Margin Account specified in the
Certificate.
11. Whenever an Index Option written by the Fund and
described in the preceding paragraph of this Article is
exercised, the Fund shall promptly deliver to the Custodian a
Certificate specifying with respect to such Index Option: (a)
the Series for which such Index Option was written; (b) such
information as may be necessary to identify the Index Option
being exercised; (c) the Clearing Member through whom such
Index Option is being exercised; (d) the total amount payable
upon such exercise, and whether such amount is to be paid by
or to the Fund; (e) the amount of cash and/or amount and kind
of Securities, if any, to be withdrawn from the Margin
Account; and (f) the amount of cash and/or amount and kind of
Securities, if any, to be withdrawn from the Senior Security
Account for such Series; and the amount of cash and/or the
amount and kind of Securities, if any, to be withdrawn from
the Collateral Account for such Series. Upon the return
and/or cancellation of the receipt, if any, delivered pursuant
to the preceding paragraph of this Article, the Custodian
shall pay out of the moneys held for the account of the Series
to which such Stock Index Option was specifically allocated to
the Clearing Member specified in the Certificate the total
amount payable, if any, as specified therein.
12. Promptly after the execution of a purchase or sale
by the Fund of any Option identical to a previously written
Option described in paragraphs, 6, 8 or 10 of this Article in
- 16 -
a transaction expressly designated as a "Closing Purchase
Transaction" or a "Closing Sale Transaction", the Fund shall
promptly deliver to the Custodian a Certificate specifying
with respect to the Option being purchased: (a) that the
transaction is a Closing Purchase Transaction or a Closing
Sale Transaction; (b) the Series for which the Option was
written; (c) the instrument, currency, or Security subject to
the Option, or, in the case of an Index Option, the index to
which such Option relates and the number of Options held; (d)
the exercise price; (e) the premium to be paid by or the
amount to be paid to the Fund; (f) the expiration date; (g)
the type of Option (put or call); (h) the date of such
purchase or sale; (i) the name of the Clearing Member to whom
the premium is to be paid or from whom the amount is to be
received; and (j) the amount of cash and/or the amount and
kind of Securities, if any, to be withdrawn from the
Collateral Account, a specified Margin Account, or the Senior
Security Account for such Series. Upon the Custodian's
payment of the premium or receipt of the amount, as the case
may be, specified in the Certificate and the return and/or
cancellation of any receipt issued pursuant to paragraphs 6, 8
or 10 of this Article with respect to the Option being
liquidated through the Closing Purchase Transaction or the
Closing Sale Transaction, the Custodian shall remove, or
direct a Depository to remove, the previously imposed
restrictions on the Securities underlying the Call Option.
13. Upon the expiration, exercise or consummation of a
Closing Purchase Transaction with respect to any Option
purchased or written by the Fund and described in this
Article, the Custodian shall delete such Option from the
statements delivered to the Fund pursuant to paragraph 3
Article III herein, and upon the return and/or cancellation of
any receipts issued by the Custodian, shall make such
withdrawals from the Collateral Account, and the Margin Ac-
count and/or the Senior Security Account as may be specified
in a Certificate received in connection with such expiration,
exercise, or consummation.
14. Securities acquired by the Fund through the exercise
of an Option described in this Article shall be subject to
Article IV hereof.
ARTICLE VI
FUTURES CONTRACTS
1. Whenever the Fund shall enter into a Futures
Contract, the Fund shall deliver to the Custodian a
Certificate specifying with respect to such Futures Contract,
(or with respect to any number of identical Futures
Contract(s)): (a) the Series for which the Futures Contract
- 17 -
is being entered; (b) the category of Futures Contract (the
name of the underlying index or financial instrument); (c) the
number of identical Futures Contracts entered into; (d) the
delivery or settlement date of the Futures Contract(s); (e)
the date the Futures Contract(s) was (were) entered into and
the maturity date; (f) whether the Fund is buying (going long)
or selling (going short) such Futures Contract(s); (g) the
amount of cash and/or the amount and kind of Securities, if
any, to be deposited in the Senior Security Account for such
Series; (h) the name of the broker, dealer, or futures commis-
sion merchant through whom the Futures Contract was entered
into; and (i) the amount of fee or commission, if any, to be
paid and the name of the broker, dealer, or futures commission
merchant to whom such amount is to be paid. The Custodian
shall make the deposits, if any, to the Margin Account in ac-
cordance with the terms and conditions of the Margin Account
Agreement. The Custodian shall make payment out of the moneys
specifically allocated to such Series of the fee or commis-
sion, if any, specified in the Certificate and deposit in the
Senior Security Account for such Series the amount of cash
and/or the amount and kind of Securities specified in said
Certificate.
2. (a) Any variation margin payment or similar payment
required to be made by the Fund to a broker, dealer, or
futures commission merchant with respect to an outstanding
Futures Contract shall be made by the Custodian in accordance
with the terms and conditions of the Margin Account Agree-
ment.
(b) Any variation margin payment or similar payment
from a broker, dealer, or futures commission merchant to the
Fund with respect to an outstanding Futures Contract shall be
received and dealt with by the Custodian in accordance with
the terms and conditions of the Margin Account Agreement.
3. Whenever a Futures Contract held by the Custodian
hereunder is retained by the Fund until delivery or settlement
is made on such Futures Contract, the Fund shall deliver to
the Custodian prior to the delivery or settlement date a
Certificate specifying: (a) the Futures Contract and the
Series to which the same relates; (b) with respect to an Index
Futures Contract, the total cash settlement amount to be paid
or received, and with respect to a Financial Futures Contract,
the Securities and/or amount of cash to be delivered or
received; (c) the broker, dealer, or futures commission
merchant to or from whom payment or delivery is to be made or
received; and (d) the amount of cash and/or Securities to be
withdrawn from the Senior Security Account for such Series.
The Custodian shall make the payment or delivery specified in
the Certificate, and delete such Futures Contract from the
statements delivered to the Fund pursuant to paragraph 3 of
Article III herein.
- 18 -
4. Whenever the Fund shall enter into a Futures
Contract to offset a Futures Contract held by the Custodian
hereunder, the Fund shall deliver to the Custodian a
Certificate specifying: (a) the items of information required
in a Certificate described in paragraph 1 of this Article, and
(b) the Futures Contract being offset. The Custodian shall
make payment out of the money specifically allocated to such
Series of the fee or commission, if any, specified in the
Certificate and delete the Futures Contract being offset from
the statements delivered to the Fund pursuant to paragraph 3
of Article III herein, and make such withdrawals from the
Senior Security Account for such Series as may be specified in
such Certificate. The withdrawals, if any, to be made from
the Margin Account shall be made by the Custodian in ac-
cordance with the terms and conditions of the Margin Account
Agreement.
ARTICLE VII
FUTURES CONTRACT OPTIONS
1. Promptly after the execution of a purchase of any
Futures Contract Option by the Fund, the Fund shall deliver to
the Custodian a Certificate specifying with respect to such
Futures Contract Option: (a) the Series to which such Option
is specifically allocated; (b) the type of Futures Contract
Option (put or call); (c) the type of Futures Contract and
such other information as may be necessary to identify the
Futures Contract underlying the Futures Contract Option
purchased; (d) the expiration date; (e) the exercise price;
(f) the dates of purchase and settlement; (g) the amount of
premium to be paid by the Fund upon such purchase; (h) the
name of the broker or futures commission merchant through whom
such option was purchased; and (i) the name of the broker, or
futures commission merchant, to whom payment is to be made.
The Custodian shall pay out of the moneys specifically al-
located to such Series the total amount to be paid upon such
purchase to the broker or futures commissions merchant through
whom the purchase was made, provided that the same conforms to
the amount set forth in such Certificate.
2. Promptly after the execution of a sale of any
Futures Contract Option purchased by the Fund pursuant to
paragraph 1 hereof, the Fund shall deliver to the Custodian a
Certificate specifying with respect to each such sale: (a)
Series to which such Futures Contract Option was specifically
allocated; (b) the type of Future Contract Option (put or
call); (c) the type of Futures Contract and such other
information as may be necessary to identify the Futures
Contract underlying the Futures Contract Option; (d) the date
of sale; (e) the sale price; (f) the date of settlement; (g)
the total amount payable to the Fund upon such sale; and (h)
- 19 -
the name of the broker of futures commission merchant through
whom the sale was made. The Custodian shall consent to the
cancellation of the Futures Contract Option being closed
against payment to the Custodian of the total amount payable
to the Fund, provided the same conforms to the total amount
payable as set forth in such Certificate.
3. Whenever a Futures Contract Option purchased by the
Fund pursuant to paragraph 1 is exercised by the Fund, the
Fund shall promptly deliver to the Custodian a Certificate
specifying: (a) the Series to which such Futures Contract Op-
tion was specifically allocated; (b) the particular Futures
Contract Option (put or call) being exercised; (c) the type of
Futures Contract underlying the Futures Contract Option; (d)
the date of exercise; (e) the name of the broker or futures
commission merchant through whom the Futures Contract Option
is exercised; (f) the net total amount, if any, payable by the
Fund; (g) the amount, if any, to be received by the Fund; and
(h) the amount of cash and/or the amount and kind of Securi-
ties to be deposited in the Senior Security Account for such
Series. The Custodian shall make, out of the moneys and
Securities specifically allocated to such Series, the payments
of money, if any, and the deposits of Securities, if any, into
the Senior Security Account as specified in the Certificate.
The deposits, if any, to be made to the Margin Account shall
be made by the Custodian in accordance with the terms and
conditions of the Margin Account Agreement.
4. Whenever the Fund writes a Futures Contract Option,
the Fund shall promptly deliver to the Custodian a Certificate
specifying with respect to such Futures Contract Option: (a)
the Series for which such Futures Contract Option was written;
(b) the type of Futures Contract Option (put or call); (c) the
type of Futures Contract and such other information as may be
necessary to identify the Futures Contract underlying the
Futures Contract Option; (d) the expiration date; (e) the
exercise price; (f) the premium to be received by the Fund;
(g) the name of the broker or futures commission merchant
through whom the premium is to be received; and (h) the amount
of cash and/or the amount and kind of Securities, if any, to
be deposited in the Senior Security Account for such Series.
The Custodian shall, upon receipt of the premium specified in
the Certificate, make out of the moneys and Securities
specifically allocated to such Series the deposits into the
Senior Security Account, if any, as specified in the
Certificate. The deposits, if any, to be made to the Margin
Account shall be made by the Custodian in accordance with the
terms and conditions of the Margin Account Agreement.
5. Whenever a Futures Contract Option written by the
Fund which is a call is exercised, the Fund shall promptly
deliver to the Custodian a Certificate specifying: (a) the
Series to which such Futures Contract Option was specifically
allocated; (b) the particular Futures Contract Option
- 20 -
exercised; (c) the type of Futures Contract underlying the
Futures Contract Option; (d) the name of the broker or futures
commission merchant through whom such Futures Contract Option
was exercised; (e) the net total amount, if any, payable to
the Fund upon such exercise; (f) the net total amount, if any,
payable by the Fund upon such exercise; and (g) the amount of
cash and/or the amount and kind of Securities to be deposited
in the Senior Security Account for such Series. The Custodian
shall, upon its receipt of the net total amount payable to the
Fund, if any, specified in such Certificate make the payments,
if any, and the deposits, if any, into the Senior Security
Account as specified in the Certificate. The deposits, if any,
to be made to the Margin Account shall be made by the
Custodian in accordance with the terms and conditions of the
Margin Account Agreement.
6. Whenever a Futures Contract Option which is written
by the Fund and which is a put is exercised, the Fund shall
promptly deliver to the Custodian a Certificate specifying:
(a) the Series to which such Option was specifically al-
located; (b) the particular Futures Contract Option exercised;
(c) the type of Futures Contract underlying such Futures
Contract Option; (d) the name of the broker or futures commis-
sion merchant through whom such Futures Contract Option is
exercised; (e) the net total amount, if any, payable to the
Fund upon such exercise; (f) the net total amount, if any,
payable by the Fund upon such exercise; and (g) the amount and
kind of Securities and/or cash to be withdrawn from or
deposited in, the Senior Security Account for such Series, if
any. The Custodian shall, upon its receipt of the net total
amount payable to the Fund, if any, specified in the
Certificate, make out of the moneys and Securities
specifically allocated to such Series, the payments, if any,
and the deposits, if any, into the Senior Security Account as
specified in the Certificate. The deposits to and/or
withdrawals from the Margin Account, if any, shall be made by
the Custodian in accordance with the terms and conditions of
the Margin Account Agreement.
7. Promptly after the execution by the Fund of a
purchase of any Futures Contract Option identical to a previ-
ously written Futures Contract Option described in this
Article in order to liquidate its position as a writer of such
Futures Contract Option, the Fund shall deliver to the
Custodian a Certificate specifying with respect to the Futures
Contract Option being purchased: (a) the Series to which such
Option is specifically allocated; (b) that the transaction is
a closing transaction; (c) the type of Future Contract and
such other information as may be necessary to identify the
Futures Contract underlying the Futures Option Contract; (d)
the exercise price; (e) the premium to be paid by the Fund;
(f) the expiration date; (g) the name of the broker or futures
commission merchant to whom the premium is to be paid; and (h)
the amount of cash and/or the amount and kind of Securities,
- 21 -
if any, to be withdrawn from the Senior Security Account for
such Series. The Custodian shall effect the withdrawals from
the Senior Security Account specified in the Certificate. The
withdrawals, if any, to be made from the Margin Account shall
be made by the Custodian in accordance with the terms and
conditions of the Margin Account Agreement.
8. Upon the expiration, exercise, or consummation of a
closing transaction with respect to, any Futures Contract Op-
tion written or purchased by the Fund and described in this
Article, the Custodian shall (a) delete such Futures Contract
Option from the statements delivered to the Fund pursuant to
paragraph 3 of Article III herein and, (b) make such withdraw-
als from and/or in the case of an exercise such deposits into
the Senior Security Account as may be specified in a
Certificate. The deposits to and/or withdrawals from the
Margin Account, if any, shall be made by the Custodian in ac-
cordance with the terms and conditions of the Margin Account
Agreement.
9. Futures Contracts acquired by the Fund through the
exercise of a Futures Contract Option described in this
Article shall be subject to Article VI hereof.
ARTICLE VIII
SHORT SALES
1. Promptly after the execution of any short sales of
Securities by any Series of the Fund, the Fund shall deliver
to the Custodian a Certificate specifying: (a) the Series for
which such short sale was made; (b) the name of the issuer and
the title of the Security; (c) the number of shares or
principal amount sold, and accrued interest or dividends, if
any; (d) the dates of the sale and settlement; (e) the sale
price per unit; (f) the total amount credited to the Fund upon
such sale, if any, (g) the amount of cash and/or the amount
and kind of Securities, if any, which are to be deposited in a
Margin Account and the name in which such Margin Account has
been or is to be established; (h) the amount of cash and/or
the amount and kind of Securities, if any, to be deposited in
a Senior Security Account, and (i) the name of the broker
through whom such short sale was made. The Custodian shall
upon its receipt of a statement from such broker confirming
such sale and that the total amount credited to the Fund upon
such sale, if any, as specified in the Certificate is held by
such broker for the account of the Custodian (or any nominee
of the Custodian) as custodian of the Fund, issue a receipt or
make the deposits into the Margin Account and the Senior
Security Account specified in the Certificate.
- 22 -
2. Promptly after the execution of a purchase to
close-out any short sale of Securities, the Fund shall
promptly deliver to the Custodian a Certificate specifying
with respect to each such closing out: (a) the Series for
which such transaction is being made; (b) the name of the is-
suer and the title of the Security; (c) the number of shares
or the principal amount, and accrued interest or dividends, if
any, required to effect such closing-out to be delivered to
the broker; (d) the dates of closing-out and settlement; (e)
the purchase price per unit; (f) the net total amount payable
to the Fund upon such closing-out; (g) the net total amount
payable to the broker upon such closing-out; (h) the amount of
cash and the amount and kind of Securities to be withdrawn, if
any, from the Margin Account; (i) the amount of cash and/or
the amount and kind of Securities, if any, to be withdrawn
from the Senior Security Account; and (j) the name of the
broker through whom the Fund is effecting such closing-out.
The Custodian shall, upon receipt of the net total amount pay-
able to the Fund upon such closing-out, and the return and/or
cancellation of the receipts, if any, issued by the Custodian
with respect to the short sale being closed-out, pay out of
the moneys held for the account of the Fund to the broker the
net total amount payable to the broker, and make the withdraw-
als from the Margin Account and the Senior Security Account,
as the same are specified in the Certificate.
ARTICLE IX
REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS
1. Promptly after the Fund enters a Reverse Repurchase
Agreement with respect to Securities and money held by the
Custodian hereunder, the Fund shall deliver to the Custodian a
Certificate, or in the event such Reverse Repurchase Agreement
is a Money Market Security, a Certificate, Oral Instructions,
or Written Instructions specifying: (a) the Series for which
the Reverse Repurchase Agreement is entered; (b) the total
amount payable to the Fund in connection with such Reverse
Repurchase Agreement and specifically allocated to such
Series; (c) the broker, dealer, or financial institution with
whom the Reverse Repurchase Agreement is entered; (d) the
amount and kind of Securities to be delivered by the Fund to
such broker, dealer, or financial institution; (e) the date of
such Reverse Repurchase Agreement; and (f) the amount of cash
and/or the amount and kind of Securities, if any, specifically
allocated to such Series to be deposited in a Senior Security
Account for such Series in connection with such Reverse
Repurchase Agreement. The Custodian shall, upon receipt of
the total amount payable to the Fund specified in the
Certificate, Oral Instructions, or Written Instructions make
the delivery to the broker, dealer, or financial institution
and the deposits, if any, to the Senior Security Account,
- 23 -
specified in such Certificate, Oral Instructions, or Written
Instructions.
2. Upon the termination of a Reverse Repurchase Agree-
ment described in preceding paragraph 1 of this Article, the
Fund shall promptly deliver a Certificate or, in the event
such Reverse Repurchase Agreement is a Money Market Security,
a Certificate, Oral Instructions, or Written Instructions to
the Custodian specifying: (a) the Reverse Repurchase
Agreement being terminated and the Series for which same was
entered; (b) the total amount payable by the Fund in
connection with such termination; (c) the amount and kind of
Securities to be received by the Fund and specifically
allocated to such Series in connection with such termination;
(d) the date of termination; (e) the name of the broker,
dealer, or financial institution with whom the Reverse
Repurchase Agreement is to be terminated; and (f) the amount
of cash and/or the amount and kind of Securities to be
withdrawn from the Senior Securities Account for such Series.
The Custodian shall, upon receipt of the amount and kind of
Securities to be received by the Fund specified in the
Certificate, Oral Instructions, or Written Instructions, make
the payment to the broker, dealer, or financial institution
and the withdrawals, if any, from the Senior Security Account,
specified in such Certificate, Oral Instructions, or Written
Instructions.
3. The Certificates, Oral Instructions, or Written
Instructions described in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article
may with respect to any particular Reverse Repurchase Agree-
ment be combined and delivered to the Custodian at the time of
entering into such Reverse Repurchase Agreement.
ARTICLE X
LOANS OF PORTFOLIO SECURITIES OF THE FUND
1. Promptly after each loan of portfolio Securities
specifically allocated to a Series held by the Custodian
hereunder, the Fund shall deliver or cause to be delivered to
the Custodian a Certificate specifying with respect to each
such loan: (a) the Series to which the loaned Securities are
specifically allocated; (b) the name of the issuer and the
title of the Securities, (c) the number of shares or the
principal amount loaned, (d) the date of loan and delivery,
(e) the total amount to be delivered to the Custodian against
the loan of the Securities, including the amount of cash col-
lateral and the premium, if any, separately identified, and
(f) the name of the broker, dealer, or financial institution
to which the loan was made. The Custodian shall deliver the
Securities thus designated to the broker, dealer or financial
institution to which the loan was made upon receipt of the
- 24 -
total amount designated in the Certificate as to be delivered
against the loan of Securities. The Custodian may accept pay-
ment in connection with a delivery otherwise than through the
Book-Entry System or a Depository only in the form of a certi-
fied or bank cashier's check payable to the order of the Fund
or the Custodian drawn on New York Clearing House funds.
2. In connection with each termination of a loan of
Securities by the Fund, the Fund shall deliver or cause to be
delivered to the Custodian a Certificate specifying with
respect to each such loan termination and return of Securi-
ties: (a) the Series to which the loaned Securities are
specifically allocated; (b) the name of the issuer and the
title of the Securities to be returned, (c) the number of
shares or the principal amount to be returned, (d) the date of
termination, (e) the total amount to be delivered by the
Custodian (including the cash collateral for such Securities
minus any offsetting credits as described in said
Certificate), and (f) the name of the broker, dealer, or
financial institution from which the Securities will be
returned. The Custodian shall receive all Securities returned
from the broker, dealer, or financial institution to which
such Securities were loaned and upon receipt thereof shall
pay, out of the moneys held for the account of the Fund, the
total amount payable upon such return of Securities as set
forth in the Certificate.
ARTICLE XI
CONCERNING MARGIN ACCOUNTS, SENIOR SECURITY
ACCOUNTS, AND COLLATERAL ACCOUNTS
1. The Custodian shall establish a Senior Security Ac-
count and from time to time make such deposits thereto, or
withdrawals therefrom, as specified in a Certificate. Such
Certificate shall specify the Series for which such deposit or
withdrawal is to be made and the amount of cash and/or the
amount and kind of Securities specifically allocated to such
Series to be deposited in, or withdrawn from, such Senior
Security Account for such Series. In the event that the Fund
fails to specify in a Certificate the Series, the name of the
issuer, the title and the number of shares or the principal
amount of any particular Securities to be deposited by the
Custodian into, or withdrawn from, a Senior Securities Ac-
count, the Custodian shall be under no obligation to make any
such deposit or withdrawal and shall promptly notify the Fund
that no such deposit has been made.
2. The Custodian shall make deliveries or payments from
a Margin Account to the broker, dealer, futures commission
merchant or Clearing Member in whose name, or for whose
- 25 -
benefit, the account was established as specified in the
Margin Account Agreement.
3. Amounts received by the Custodian as payments or
distributions with respect to Securities deposited in any
Margin Account shall be dealt with in accordance with the
terms and conditions of the Margin Account Agreement.
4. The Custodian shall have a continuing lien and
security interest in and to any property at any time held by
the Custodian in any Collateral Account described herein. In
accordance with applicable law the Custodian may enforce its
lien and realize on any such property whenever the Custodian
has made payment or delivery pursuant to any Put Option
guarantee letter or similar document or any receipt issued
hereunder by the Custodian. In the event the Custodian should
realize on any such property net proceeds which are less than
the Custodian's obligations under any Put Option guarantee
letter or similar document or any receipt, such deficiency
shall be a debt owed the Custodian by the Fund within the
scope of Article XIV herein.
5. On each business day the Custodian shall furnish the
Fund with a statement with respect to each Margin Account in
which money or Securities are held specifying as of the close
of business on the previous business day: (a) the name of the
Margin Account; (b) the amount and kind of Securities held
therein; and (c) the amount of money held therein. The
Custodian shall make available upon request to any broker,
dealer, or futures commission merchant specified in the name
of a Margin Account a copy of the statement furnished the Fund
with respect to such Margin Account.
6. The Custodian shall establish a Collateral Account
and from time to time shall make such deposits thereto as may
be specified in a Certificate. Promptly after the close of
business on each business day in which cash and/or Securities
are maintained in a Collateral Account for any Series, the
Custodian shall furnish the Fund with a statement with respect
to such Collateral Account specifying the amount of cash
and/or the amount and kind of Securities held therein. No
later than the close of business next succeeding the delivery
to the Fund of such statement, the Fund shall furnish to the
Custodian a Certificate or Written Instructions specifying the
then market value of the Securities described in such state-
ment. In the event such then market value is indicated to be
less than the Custodian's obligation with respect to any
outstanding Put Option guarantee letter or similar document,
the Fund shall promptly specify in a Certificate the ad-
ditional cash and/or Securities to be deposited in such Col-
lateral Account to eliminate such deficiency.
- 26 -
ARTICLE XII
PAYMENT OF DIVIDENDS OR DISTRIBUTIONS
1. The Fund shall furnish to the Custodian a copy of
the resolution of the Board of Trustees of the Fund, certified
by the Secretary, the Clerk, any Assistant Secretary or any
Assistant Clerk, either (i) setting forth with respect to the
Series specified therein the date of the declaration of a
dividend or distribution, the date of payment thereof, the
record date as of which shareholders entitled to payment shall
be determined, the amount payable per Share of such Series to
the shareholders of record as of that date and the total
amount payable to the Dividend Agent and any sub-dividend
agent or co-dividend agent of the Fund on the payment date, or
(ii) authorizing with respect to the Series specified therein
and the declaration of dividends and distributions thereon the
Custodian to rely on Oral Instructions, Written Instructions,
or a Certificate setting forth the date of the declaration of
such dividend or distribution, the date of payment thereof,
the record date as of which shareholders entitled to payment
shall be determined, the amount payable per Share of such
Series to the shareholders of record as of that date and the
total amount payable to the Dividend Agent on the payment
date.
2. Upon the payment date specified in such resolution,
Oral Instructions, Written Instructions, or Certificate, as
the case may be, the Custodian shall pay to the Transfer Agent
Account out of the moneys held for the account of the Series
specified therein the total amount payable to the Dividend
Agent and any sub-dividend agent or co-dividend agent of the
Fund with respect to such Series.
ARTICLE XIII
SALE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES
1. Whenever the Fund shall sell any Shares, it shall
deliver or cause to be delivered, to the Custodian a
Certificate duly specifying:
(a) The Series, the number of Shares sold, trade
date, and price; and
(b) The amount of money to be received by the
Custodian for the sale of such Shares and specifically al-
located to the separate account in the name of such Series.
- 27 -
2. Upon receipt of such money from the Transfer Agent,
the Custodian shall credit such money to the separate account
in the name of the Series for which such money was received.
3. Upon issuance of any Shares of any Series the
Custodian shall pay, out of the money held for the account of
such Series, all original issue or other taxes required to be
paid by the Fund in connection with such issuance upon the
receipt of a Certificate specifying the amount to be paid.
4. Except as provided hereinafter, whenever the Fund
desires the Custodian to make payment out of the money held by
the Custodian hereunder in connection with a redemption of any
Shares, it shall furnish, or cause to be furnished, to the
Custodian a Certificate specifying:
(a) The number and Series of Shares redeemed; and
(b) The amount to be paid for such Shares.
5. Upon receipt of an advice from an Authorized Person
setting forth the Series and number of Shares received by the
Transfer Agent for redemption and that such Shares are in good
form for redemption, the Custodian shall make payment to the
Transfer Agent Account out of the moneys held in the separate
account in the name of the Series the total amount specified
in the Certificate issued pursuant to the foregoing paragraph
4 of this Article.
ARTICLE XIV
OVERDRAFTS OR INDEBTEDNESS
1. If the Custodian, should in its sole discretion
advance funds on behalf of any Series which results in an
overdraft because the moneys held by the Custodian in the
separate account for such Series shall be insufficient to pay
the total amount payable upon a purchase of Securities
specifically allocated to such Series, as set forth in a
Certificate, Oral Instructions, or Written Instructions or
which results in an overdraft in the separate account of such
Series for some other reason, or if the Fund is for any other
reason indebted to the Custodian with respect to a Series,
(except a borrowing for investment or for temporary or
emergency purposes using Securities as collateral pursuant to
a separate agreement and subject to the provisions of
paragraph 2 of this Article), such overdraft or indebtedness
shall be deemed to be a loan made by the Custodian to the Fund
for such Series payable on demand and shall bear interest from
the date incurred at a rate per annum (based on a 360-day year
for the actual number of days involved) equal to the Federal
- 28 -
Funds Rate plus 1/2%, such rate to be adjusted on the effec-
tive date of any change in such Federal Funds Rate but in no
event to be less than 6% per annum. In addition, the Fund
hereby agrees that the Custodian shall have a continuing lien
and security interest in the aggregate amount of such
overdrafts and indebtedness as may from time to time exist in
and to any property specifically allocated to such Series at
any time held by it for the benefit of such Series or in which
the Fund may have an interest which is then in the Custodian's
possession or control or in possession or control of any third
party acting in the Custodian's behalf. The Fund authorizes
the Custodian, in its sole discretion, at any time to charge
any such overdraft or indebtedness together with interest due
thereon against any money balance of account standing to such
Series' credit on the Custodian's books. In addition, the
Fund hereby covenants that on each Business Day on which
either it intends to enter a Reverse Repurchase Agreement and/
or otherwise borrow from a third party, or which next succeeds
a Business Day on which at the close of business the Fund had
outstanding a Reverse Repurchase Agreement or such a borrow-
ing, it shall prior to 9 a.m., New York City time, advise the
Custodian, in writing, of each such borrowing, shall specify
the Series to which the same relates, and shall not incur any
indebtedness, including pursuant to any Reverse Repurchase
Agreement, not so specified other than from the Custodian.
2. The Fund will cause to be delivered to the Custodian
by any bank (including, if the borrowing is pursuant to a
separate agreement, the Custodian) from which it borrows money
for investment or for temporary or emergency purposes using
Securities held by the Custodian hereunder as collateral for
such borrowings, a notice or undertaking in the form currently
employed by any such bank setting forth the amount which such
bank will loan to the Fund against delivery of a stated amount
of collateral. The Fund shall promptly deliver to the
Custodian a Certificate specifying with respect to each such
borrowing: (a) the Series to which such borrowing relates; (b)
the name of the bank, (c) the amount and terms of the borrow-
ing, which may be set forth by incorporating by reference an
attached promissory note, duly endorsed by the Fund, or other
loan agreement, (d) the time and date, if known, on which the
loan is to be entered into, (e) the date on which the loan
becomes due and payable, (f) the total amount payable to the
Fund on the borrowing date, (g) the market value of Securities
to be delivered as collateral for such loan, including the
name of the issuer, the title and the number of shares or the
principal amount of any particular Securities, and (h) a
statement specifying whether such loan is for investment
purposes or for temporary or emergency purposes and that such
loan is in conformance with the Investment Company Act of 1940
and the Fund's prospectus. The Custodian shall deliver on the
borrowing date specified in a Certificate the specified col-
lateral and the executed promissory note, if any, against
delivery by the lending bank of the total amount of the loan
- 29 -
payable, provided that the same conforms to the total amount
payable as set forth in the Certificate. The Custodian may,
at the option of the lending bank, keep such collateral in its
possession, but such collateral shall be subject to all rights
therein given the lending bank by virtue of any promissory
note or loan agreement. The Custodian shall deliver such
Securities as additional collateral as may be specified in a
Certificate to collateralize further any transaction described
in this paragraph. The Fund shall cause all Securities
released from collateral status to be returned directly to the
Custodian, and the Custodian shall receive from time to time
such return of collateral as may be tendered to it. In the
event that the Fund fails to specify in a Certificate the
Series, the name of the issuer, the title and number of shares
or the principal amount of any particular Securities to be
delivered as collateral by the Custodian, to any such bank,
the Custodian shall not be under any obligation to deliver any
Securities.
ARTICLE XV
CONCERNING THE CUSTODIAN
1. The Custodian shall use reasonable care in the
performance of its duties hereunder, and, except as
hereinafter provided, neither the Custodian nor its nominee
shall be liable for any loss or damage, including counsel
fees, resulting from its action or omission to act or
otherwise, either hereunder or under any Margin Account Agree-
ment, except for any such loss or damage arising out of its
own negligence, bad faith, or willful misconduct or that of
its officers, employees, or agents. The Custodian may, with
respect to questions of law arising hereunder or under any
Margin Account Agreement, apply for and obtain the advice and
opinion of counsel to the Fund, at the expense of the Fund, or
of its own counsel, at its own expense, and shall be fully
protected with respect to anything done or omitted by it in
good faith in conformity with such advice or opinion. The
Custodian shall be liable to the Fund for any loss or damage
resulting from the use of the Book-Entry System or any
Depository arising by reason of any negligence or willful
misconduct on the part of the Custodian or any of its
employees or agents.
2. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Custodian shall
be under no obligation to inquire into, and shall not be li-
able for:
(a) The validity (but not the authenticity) of the
issue of any Securities purchased, sold, or written by or for
the Fund, the legality of the purchase, sale or writing
thereof, or the propriety of the amount paid or received
- 30 -
therefor, as specified in a Certificate, Oral Instructions, or
Written Instructions;
(b) The legality of the sale or redemption of any
Shares, or the propriety of the amount to be received or paid
therefor, as specified in a Certificate;
(c) The legality of the declaration or payment of
any dividend by the Fund, as specified in a resolution,
Certificate, Oral Instructions, or Written Instructions;
(d) The legality of any borrowing by the Fund using
Securities as collateral;
(e) The legality of any loan of portfolio Securi-
ties, nor shall the Custodian be under any duty or obligation
to see to it that the cash collateral delivered to it by a
broker, dealer, or financial institution or held by it at any
time as a result of such loan of portfolio Securities of the
Fund is adequate collateral for the Fund against any loss it
might sustain as a result of such loan, except that this sub-
paragraph shall not excuse any liability the Custodian may
have for failing to act in accordance with Article X hereof or
any Certificate, Oral Instructions, or Written Instructions
given in accordance with this Agreement. The Custodian
specifically, but not by way of limitation, shall not be under
any duty or obligation periodically to check or notify the
Fund that the amount of such cash collateral held by it for
the Fund is sufficient collateral for the Fund, but such duty
or obligation shall be the sole responsibility of the Fund.
In addition, the Custodian shall be under no duty or obliga-
tion to see that any broker, dealer or financial institution
to which portfolio Securities of the Fund are lent pursuant to
Article X of this Agreement makes payment to it of any
dividends or interest which are payable to or for the account
of the Fund during the period of such loan or at the termina-
tion of such loan, provided, however, that the Custodian shall
promptly notify the Fund in the event that such dividends or
interest are not paid and received when due; or
(f) The sufficiency or value of any amounts of
money and/or Securities held in any Margin Account, Senior
Security Account or Collateral Account in connection with
transactions by the Fund, except that this subparagraph shall
not excuse any liability the Custodian may have for failing to
establish, maintain, make deposits to or withdrawals from such
accounts in accordance with this Agreement. In addition, the
Custodian shall be under no duty or obligation to see that any
broker, dealer, futures commission merchant or Clearing Member
makes payment to the Fund of any variation margin payment or
similar payment which the Fund may be entitled to receive from
such broker, dealer, futures commission merchant or Clearing
Member, to see that any payment received by the Custodian from
any broker, dealer, futures commission merchant or Clearing
- 31 -
Member is the amount the Fund is entitled to receive, or to
notify the Fund of the Custodian's receipt or non-receipt of
any such payment.
3. The Custodian shall not be liable for, or considered
to be the Custodian of, any money, whether or not represented
by any check, draft, or other instrument for the payment of
money, received by it on behalf of the Fund until the
Custodian actually receives such money directly or by the
final crediting of the account representing the Fund's inter-
est at the Book-Entry System or the Depository.
4. With respect to Securities held in a Depository,
except as otherwise provided in paragraph 5(b) of Article III
hereof, the Custodian shall have no responsibility and shall
not be liable for ascertaining or acting upon any calls,
conversions, exchange offers, tenders, interest rate changes
or similar matters relating to such Securities, unless the
Custodian shall have actually received timely notice from the
Depository in which such Securities are held. In no event
shall the Custodian have any responsibility or liability for
the failure of a Depository to collect, or for the late col-
lection or late crediting by a Depository of any amount pay-
able upon Securities deposited in a Depository which may
mature or be redeemed, retired, called or otherwise become
payable. However, upon receipt of a Certificate from the Fund
of an overdue amount on Securities held in a Depository the
Custodian shall make a claim against the Depository on behalf
of the Fund, except that the Custodian shall not be under any
obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any action suit
or proceeding in respect to any Securities held by a
Depository which in its opinion may involve it in expense or
liability, unless indemnity satisfactory to it against all
expense and liability be furnished as often as may be
required, or alternatively, the Fund shall be subrogated to
the rights of the Custodian with respect to such claim against
the Depository should it so request in a Certificate. This
paragraph shall not, however, excuse any failure by the
Custodian to act in accordance with a Certificate, Oral
Instructions, or Written Instructions given in accordance with
this Agreement.
5. The Custodian shall not be under any duty or obliga-
tion to take action to effect collection of any amount due to
the Fund from the Transfer Agent of the Fund nor to take any
action to effect payment or distribution by the Transfer Agent
of the Fund of any amount paid by the Custodian to the
Transfer Agent of the Fund in accordance with this Agreement.
6. The Custodian shall not be under any duty or obliga-
tion to take action to effect collection of any amount if the
Securities upon which such amount is payable are in default,
or if payment is refused after the Custodian has timely and
properly, in accordance with this Agreement, made due demand
- 32 -
or presentation, unless and until (i) it shall be directed to
take such action by a Certificate and (ii) it shall be assured
to its satisfaction of reimbursement of its costs and expenses
in connection with any such action, but the Custodian shall
have such a duty if the Securities were not in default on the
payable date and the Custodian failed to timely and properly
make such demand for payment and such failure is the reason
for the non-receipt of payment.
7. The Custodian may appoint one or more banking
institutions as subcustodian or subcustodians, or as
co-custodian or co-custodians including, but not limited to,
banking institutions located in foreign countries, of
Securities and moneys at any time owned by the Fund, upon such
terms and conditions as may be approved in a Certificate or
contained in an agreement executed by the Custodian, the Fund
and the appointed institution.
8.(a) The Custodian will use reasonable care with
respect to its obligations under this Agreement and the
safekeeping of Securities and moneys owned by the Fund. The
Custodian shall indemnify the Fund against and save the Fund
harmless from all liability, claims losses and demands
whatsoever, including attorney's fees, howsoever arising or
incurred as the result of the failure of a subcustodian which
is a banking institution located in a foreign country and
identified on Schedule A attached hereto (each, a
"Subcustodian") to exercise reasonable care with respect to
the safekeeping of such Securities and moneys to the same
extent that the Custodian would be liable to the Fund if the
Custodian were holding such securities and moneys in New York.
In the event of any loss to the Fund by reason of the failure
of the Custodian or a Subcustodian to utilize reasonable care,
the Custodian shall be liable to the Fund only to the extent
of the Fund's direct damages, to be determined based on the
market value of the securities and moneys which are the
subject of the loss at the date of discovery of such loss and
without reference to any special conditions or circumstances.
(b) The Custodian shall not be liable for any loss which
results from (i) the general risk of investing, or (ii)
investing or holding Securities and moneys in a particular
country including, but not limited to, losses resulting from
nationalization, expropriation or other governmental actions;
regulation of the banking or securities industry; currency
restrictions, devaluations or fluctuations; or market
conditions which prevent the orderly execution of securities
transactions or affect the value of Securities or moneys.
(c) Neither party shall be liable to the other for any
loss due to forces beyond its control including, but not
limited to, strikes or work stoppages, acts of war or
terrorism, insurrection, revolution, nuclear fusion, fission
or radiation, or acts of God.
- 33 -
9. The Custodian shall not be under any duty or obliga-
tion (a) to ascertain whether any Securities at any time
delivered to, or held by it, for the account of the Fund and
specifically allocated to a Series are such as properly may be
held by the Fund or such Series under the provisions of its
then current prospectus, or (b) to ascertain whether any
transactions by the Fund, whether or not involving the
Custodian, are such transactions as may properly be engaged in
by the Fund.
10. The Custodian shall be entitled to receive and the
Fund agrees to pay to the Custodian all reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses and such compensation as may be agreed
upon from time to time between the Custodian and the Fund.
The Custodian may charge such compensation, and any such
expenses with respect to a Series incurred by the Custodian in
the performance of its duties under this Agreement against any
money specifically allocated to such Series. The Custodian
shall also be entitled to charge against any money held by it
for the account of a Series the amount of any loss, damage,
liability or expense, including counsel fees, for which it
shall be entitled to reimbursement under the provisions of
this Agreement attributable to, or arising out of, its serving
as Custodian for such Series. The expenses for which the
Custodian shall be entitled to reimbursement hereunder shall
include, but are not limited to, the expenses of subcustodians
and foreign branches of the Custodian incurred in settling
outside of New York City transactions involving the purchase
and sale of Securities of the Fund. Notwithstanding the
foregoing or anything else contained in this Agreement to the
contrary, the Custodian shall, prior to effecting any charge
for compensation, expenses, or any overdraft or indebtedness
or interest thereon, submit an invoice therefor to the Fund.
11. The Custodian shall be entitled to rely upon any
Certificate, notice or other instrument in writing, Oral
Instructions, or Written Instructions received by the
Custodian and reasonably believed by the Custodian to be
genuine. The Fund agrees to forward to the Custodian a
Certificate or facsimile thereof confirming Oral Instructions
or Written Instructions in such manner so that such
Certificate or facsimile thereof is received by the Custodian,
whether by hand delivery, telecopier or other similar device,
or otherwise, by the close of business of the same day that
such Oral Instructions or Written Instructions are given to
the Custodian. The Fund agrees that the fact that such
confirming instructions are not received by the Custodian
shall in no way affect the validity of the transactions or
enforceability of the transactions thereby authorized by the
Fund. The Fund agrees that the Custodian shall incur no li-
ability to the Fund in acting upon Oral Instructions or Writ-
ten Instructions given to the Custodian hereunder concerning
such transactions provided such instructions reasonably appear
to have been received from an Authorized Person.
- 34 -
12. The Custodian shall be entitled to rely upon any
instrument, instruction or notice received by the Custodian
and reasonably believed by the Custodian to be given in ac-
cordance with the terms and conditions of any Margin Account
Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
the Custodian shall be under no duty to inquire into, and
shall not be liable for, the accuracy of any statements or
representations contained in any such instrument or other
notice including, without limitation, any specification of any
amount to be paid to a broker, dealer, futures commission
merchant or Clearing Member. This paragraph shall not excuse
any failure by the Custodian to have acted in accordance with
any Margin Agreement it has executed or any Certificate, Oral
Instructions, or Written Instructions given in accordance with
this Agreement.
13. The books and records pertaining to the Fund, as
described in Appendix E hereto, which are in the possession of
the Custodian shall be the property of the Fund. Such books
and records shall be prepared and maintained by the Custodian
as required by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended,
and other applicable securities laws and rules and regula-
tions. The Fund, or the Fund's authorized representatives,
shall have access to such books and records during the
Custodian's normal business hours. Upon the reasonable
request of the Fund, copies of any such books and records
shall be provided by the Custodian to the Fund or the Fund's
authorized representative, and the Fund shall reimburse the
Custodian its expenses of providing such copies. Upon reason-
able request of the Fund, the Custodian shall provide in hard
copy or on micro-film, whichever the Custodian elects, any
records included in any such delivery which are maintained by
the Custodian on a computer disc, or are similarly maintained,
and the Fund shall reimburse the Custodian for its expenses of
providing such hard copy or micro-film.
14. The Custodian shall provide the Fund with any report
obtained by the Custodian on the system of internal accounting
control of the Book-Entry System, each Depository or O.C.C.,
and with such reports on its own systems of internal account-
ing control as the Fund may reasonably request from time to
time.
15. The Custodian shall furnish upon request annually to
the Fund a letter prepared by the Custodian's accountants with
respect to the Custodian's internal systems and controls in
the form generally provided by the Custodian to other invest-
ment companies for which the Custodian acts as custodian.
16. The Fund agrees to indemnify the Custodian against
and save the Custodian harmless from all liability, claims,
losses and demands whatsoever, including attorney's fees,
howsoever arising out of, or related to, the Custodian's
performance of its obligations under this Agreement, except
- 35 -
for any such liability, claim, loss and demand arising out of
the Custodian's own negligence, bad faith, or willful
misconduct or that of its officers, employees, or agents.
17. Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Agree-
ment, the Custodian shall deliver and receive Securities, and
receipts with respect to such Securities, and shall make and
receive payments only in accordance with the customs prevail-
ing from time to time among brokers or dealers in such Securi-
ties and, except as may otherwise be provided by this
Agreement or as may be in accordance with such customs, shall
make payment for Securities only against delivery thereof and
deliveries of Securities only against payment therefor.
18. The Custodian shall have no duties or
responsibilities whatsoever except such duties and
responsibilities as are specifically set forth in this Agree-
ment, and no covenant or obligation shall be implied in this
Agreement against the Custodian.
ARTICLE XVI
TERMINATION
1. Except as provided in paragraph 3 of this Article,
this Agreement shall continue until terminated by either the
Custodian giving to the Fund, or the Fund giving to the
Custodian, a notice in writing specifying the date of such
termination, which date shall be not less than 60 days after
the date of the giving of such notice. In the event such
notice or a notice pursuant to paragraph 3 of this Article is
given by the Fund, it shall be accompanied by a copy of a
resolution of the Board of Trustees of the Fund, certified by
an Officer and the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the
Fund, electing to terminate this Agreement and designating a
successor custodian or custodians, each of which shall be
eligible to serve as a custodian for the securities of a
management investment company under the Investment Company Act
of 1940. In the event such notice is given by the Custodian,
the Fund shall, on or before the termination date, deliver to
the Custodian a copy of a resolution of the Board of Trustees
of the Fund, certified by the Secretary, the Clerk, any
Assistant Secretary or any Assistant Clerk, designating a
successor custodian or custodians. In the absence of such
designation by the Fund, the Custodian may designate a
successor custodian which shall be a bank or trust company
having not less than $2,000,000 aggregate capital, surplus and
undivided profits. Upon the date set forth in such notice
this Agreement shall terminate, and the Custodian shall upon
receipt of a notice of acceptance by the successor custodian
on that date deliver directly to the successor custodian all
Securities and moneys then owned by the Fund and held by it as
- 36 -
Custodian, after deducting all fees, expenses and other
amounts for the payment or reimbursement of which it shall
then be entitled.
2. If a successor custodian is not designated by the
Fund or the Custodian in accordance with the preceding
paragraph, the Fund shall upon the date specified in the
notice of termination of this Agreement and upon the delivery
by the Custodian of all Securities (other than Securities held
in the Book-Entry System which cannot be delivered to the
Fund) and moneys then owned by the Fund be deemed to be its
own custodian and the Custodian shall thereby be relieved of
all duties and responsibilities pursuant to this Agreement,
other than the duty with respect to Securities held in the
Book Entry System which cannot be delivered to the Fund to
hold such Securities hereunder in accordance with this Agree-
ment.
3. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fund may
terminate this Agreement upon the date specified in a written
notice in the event of the "Bankruptcy" of The Bank of New
York. As used in this subparagraph, the term "Bankruptcy"
shall mean The Bank of New York's making a general assignment,
arrangement or composition with or for the benefit of its
creditors, or instituting or having instituted against it a
proceeding seeking a judgment of insolvency or bankruptcy or
the entry of a order for relief under any applicable
bankruptcy law or any other relief under any bankruptcy or
insolvency law or other similar law affecting creditors'
rights, or if a petition is presented for the winding up or
liquidation of the party or a resolution is passed for its
winding up or liquidation, or it seeks, or becomes subject to,
the appointment of an administrator, receiver, trustee,
custodian or other similar official for it or for all or
substantially all of its assets or its taking any action in
furtherance or, or indicating its consent to approval of, or
acquiescence in, any of the foregoing.
ARTICLE XVII
TERMINAL LINK
1. At no time and under no circumstances shall the Fund
be obligated to have or utilize the Terminal Link, and the
provisions of this Article shall apply if, but only if, the
Fund in its sole and absolute discretion elects to utilize the
Terminal Link to transmit Certificates to and to receive
notices from the Custodian.
2. The parties hereto shall utilize the Terminal Link
only for the purpose of the Fund providing Certificates to the
Custodian and the Custodian providing notices to the Fund and
- 37 -
only after the Fund and the Custodian shall have established
access codes and internal safekeeping procedures to safeguard
and protect the confidentiality and availability of such
access codes. Each use of the Terminal Link by the Fund shall
constitute a representation and warranty that at least two
such access codes have been utilized and that such procedures
have been established.
3. Each party shall obtain and maintain at its own cost
and expense all equipment and services, including, but not
limited to communications services, necessary for it to
utilize the Terminal Link, and the other party shall not be
responsible for the reliability or availability of any such
equipment or services, except that the Custodian shall not pay
any communications costs of any line leased by the Fund, even
if such line is also used by the Custodian.
4. The Fund acknowledges that any data bases made
available as part of, or through the Terminal and any
proprietary data, software, processes, information and
documentation (other than any such which are or become part of
the public domain or are legally required to be made available
to the public) (collectively, the "Information"), are the
exclusive and confidential property of the Custodian. The
Fund shall, and shall cause others to which it discloses the
Information, to keep the Information confidential by using the
same care and discretion it uses with respect to its own
confidential property and trade secrets, and shall neither
make nor permit any disclosure without the express prior writ-
ten consent of the Custodian.
5. Upon termination of this Agreement for any reason,
each Fund shall return to the Custodian any and all copies of
the Information which are in the Fund's possession or under
its control, or which the Fund distributed to third parties.
The provisions of this Article shall not affect the copyright
status of any of the Information which may be copyrighted and
shall apply to all Information whether or not copyrighted.
6. The Custodian reserves the right to modify the
Terminal Link from time to time without notice to the Fund,
except that the Custodian shall give the Fund notice not less
than 75 days in advance of any modification which would
materially adversely affect the Fund's operation, and the Fund
agrees not to modify or attempt to modify the Terminal Link
without the Bank's prior written consent. The Fund
acknowledges that the Terminal Link is the property of the
Custodian and, accordingly, the Fund agrees that any
modifications to the Terminal Link, whether by the Fund or the
Custodian and whether with or without the Custodian's consent,
shall become the property of the Custodian.
7. Neither the Custodian nor any manufacturers and sup-
pliers it utilizes or the Fund utilizes in connection with the
- 38 -
Terminal Link makes any warranties or representations, express
or implied, in fact or in law, including but not limited to
warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular
purpose.
8. Each party will, and will cause its officers and
employees to, treat the user and authorization codes,
passwords and authentication keys applicable to Terminal Link
with extreme care. Each party hereby irrevocably authorizes
the other to act in accordance with and rely on Certificates
and notices received by it through the Terminal Link. Each
party acknowledges that it is its responsibility to assure
that only its authorized persons use the Terminal Link on its
behalf, and that a party shall not be responsible nor liable
for use of the Terminal Link on its behalf of the other party
by unauthorized persons except that the other party shall be
liable for such use thereof by unauthorized persons who have
obtained access thereto as a result of the bad faith or
willful misconduct of such party or any of its officers or
employees.
9. Notwithstanding anything else in this Agreement to
the contrary, neither party shall have any liability to the
other for any losses, damages, injuries, claims, costs or
expenses arising as a result of a delay, omission or error in
the transmission of a Certificate or notice by use of the
Terminal Link except for money damages for those suffered as
the result of the negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct
of such party or its officers, employees or agents in an
amount not exceeding for any incident $100,000, provided,
however, that a party shall have no liability under this
Section 9 if the other party fails to comply with the
provisions of Section 11.
10. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it
is hereby agreed that in no event shall either party or any
manufacturer or supplier of its computer equipment, software
or services relating to the Terminal Link be responsible for
any special, indirect, incidental or consequential damages
which the other party may incur or experience by reason of its
use of the Terminal Link even if such party, manufacturer or
supplier has been advised of the possibility of such damages,
nor with respect to the use of the Terminal Link shall either
party or any such manufacturer or supplier be liable for acts
of God, or with respect to the following to the extent beyond
such person's reasonable control: machine or computer
breakdown or malfunction, interruption or malfunction of
communication facilities, labor difficulties or any other
similar or dissimilar cause.
11. The Fund shall notify the Custodian of any errors,
omissions or interruptions in, or delay or unavailability of,
the Terminal Link as promptly as practicable, and in any event
within 24 hours after the earliest of (i) discovery thereof,
- 39 -
(ii) the business day on which discovery should have occurred
through the exercise of reasonable care and (iii) in the case
of any error, the date of actual receipt of the earliest
notice which reflects such error, it being agreed that
discovery and receipt of notice may only occur on a business
day. The Custodian shall promptly advise the Fund whenever the
Custodian learns of any errors, omissions or interruption in,
or delay or unavailability of, the Terminal Link.
12. Each party shall, as soon as practicable after its
receipt of a Certificate or of any notice transmitted by the
Terminal Link, verify to the other party by use of the
Terminal Link its receipt of such Certificate or notice, and
in the absence of such verification a party to whom a
Certificate or notice is sent shall not be liable for any
failure to act in accordance with such Certificate or notice,
and the sending party may not claim that such Certificate or
notice was received by the other.
ARTICLE XVIII
MISCELLANEOUS
1. Annexed hereto as Appendix A is a Certificate signed
by two of the present Officers of the Fund under its seal,
setting forth the names and the signatures of the present
Authorized Persons. The Fund agrees to furnish to the
Custodian a new Certificate in similar form in the event that
any such present Authorized Person ceases to be an Authorized
Person or in the event that other or additional Authorized
Persons are elected or appointed. Until such new Certificate
shall be received, the Custodian shall be entitled to rely and
to act upon Oral Instructions, Written Instructions, or
signatures of the present Authorized Persons as set forth in
the last delivered Certificate to the extent provided by this
Agreement.
2. Annexed hereto as Appendix B is a Certificate signed
by two of the present Officers of the Fund under its seal,
setting forth the names and the signatures of the present Of-
ficers of the Fund. The Fund agrees to furnish to the
Custodian a new Certificate in similar form in the event any
such present Officer ceases to be an Officer of the Fund, or
in the event that other or additional Officers are elected or
appointed. Until such new Certificate shall be received, the
Custodian shall be entitled to rely and to act upon the
signatures of the Officers as set forth in the last delivered
Certificate to the extent provided by this Agreement.
3. Any notice or other instrument in writing,
authorized or required by this Agreement to be given to the
Custodian, other than any Certificate or Written Instructions,
- 40 -
shall be sufficiently given if addressed to the Custodian and
mailed or delivered to it at its offices at 90 Washington
Street, New York, New York 10286, or at such other place as
the Custodian may from time to time designate in writing.
4. Any notice or other instrument in writing,
authorized or required by this Agreement to be given to the
Fund shall be sufficiently given if addressed to the Fund and
mailed or delivered to it at its office at the address for the
Fund first above written, or at such other place as the Fund
may from time to time designate in writing.
5. This Agreement may not be amended or modified in any
manner except by a written agreement executed by both parties
with the same formality as this Agreement and approved by a
resolution of the Board of Trustees of the Fund, except that
Appendices A and B may be amended unilaterally by the Fund
without such an approving resolution.
6. This Agreement shall extend to and shall be binding
upon the parties hereto, and their respective successors and
assigns; provided, however, that this Agreement shall not be
assignable by the Fund without the written consent of the
Custodian, or by the Custodian or The Bank of New York without
the written consent of the Fund, authorized or approved by a
resolution of the Fund's Board of Trustees. For purposes of
this paragraph, no merger, consolidation, or amalgamation of
the Custodian, The Bank of New York, or the Fund shall be
deemed to constitute an assignment of this Agreement.
7. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with
the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to
conflict of laws principles thereof. Each party hereby
consents to the jurisdiction of a state or federal court
situated in New York City, New York in connection with any
dispute arising hereunder and hereby waives its right to trial
by jury.
8. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original,
but such counterparts shall, together, constitute only one
instrument.
9. A copy of the Declaration of Trust of the Fund is on
file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
and notice is hereby given that this instrument is executed on
behalf of the Board of Trustees of the Fund as Trustees and
not individually and that the obligations of this instrument
are not binding upon any of the Trustees or shareholders
individually but are binding only upon the assets and property
of the Fund; provided, however, that the Declaration of Trust
of the Fund provides that the assets of a particular Series of
the Fund shall under no circumstances be charged with li-
abilities attributable to any other Series of the Fund and
- 41 -
that all persons extending credit to, or contracting with or
having any claim against a particular Series of the Fund shall
look only to the assets of that particular Series for payment
of such credit, contract or claim.
- 42 -
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Agreement to be executed by their respective Officers,
thereunto duly authorized and their respective seals to be
hereunto affixed, as of the day and year first above written.
TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY
TRUST
[SEAL] By:_______________________
Attest:
_______________________
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
[SEAL] By: /s/
_______________________
Attest:
/s/
_______________________
- 43 -
APPENDIX A
I, , President and I,
, of TCW/DW MID-CAP
EQUITY TRUST, a Massachusetts business trust (the "Fund"), do
hereby certify that:
The following individuals have been duly authorized by
the Board of Trustees of the Fund in conformity with the
Fund's Declaration of Trust and By-Laws to give Oral Instruc-
tions and Written Instructions on behalf of the Fund, except
that those persons designated as being an "Officer of DWTC"
shall be an Authorized Person only for purposes of Articles
XII and XIII. The signatures set forth opposite their
respective names are their true and correct signatures:
Name Position Signature
_________________ ________________ _________________
APPENDIX B
I, , President and I,
, of TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST, a
Massachusetts business trust (the "Fund"), do hereby certify
that:
The following individuals for whom a position other than
"Officer of DWTC" is specified serve in the following posi-
tions with the Fund and each has been duly elected or ap-
pointed by the Board of Trustees of the Fund to each such
position and qualified therefor in conformity with the Fund's
Declaration of Trust and By-Laws. With respect to the
following individuals for whom a position of "Officer of DWTC"
is specified, each such individual has been designated by a
resolution of the Board of Trustees of the Fund to be an
Officer for purposes of the Fund's Custody Agreement with The
Bank of New York, but only for purposes of Articles XII and
XIII thereof and a certified copy of such resolution is
attached hereto. The signatures of each individual below set
forth opposite their respective names are their true and
correct signatures:
Name Position Signature
____________________ ___________________ _________________
APPENDIX C
The undersigned, hereby
certifies that he or she is the duly elected and acting
of TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST (the "Fund"),
further certifies that the following resolutions were adopted
by the Board of Trustees of the Fund at a meeting duly held on
, 199 , at which a quorum at all times present and
that such resolutions have not been modified or rescinded and
are in full force an effect as of the date hereof.
RESOLVED, that The Bank New York, as Custodian pursuant
to a Custody Agreement between The Bank of New York and the
Fund dated as of , 199 (the "Custody Agree-
ment") is authorized and instructed on a continuous and ongo-
ing basis to act in accordance with, and to rely on instruc-
tions by the Fund to the Custodian communicated by a Terminal
Link as defined in the Custody Agreement.
RESOLVED, that the Fund shall establish access codes and
grant use of such access codes only to officers of the Fund as
defined in the Custody Agreement, and shall establish internal
safekeeping procedures to safeguard and protect the
confidentiality and availability of such access codes.
RESOLVED, that Officers of the Fund as defined in the
Custody Agreement shall, following the establishment of such
access codes and such internal safekeeping procedures, advise
the Custodian that the same have been established by deliver-
ing a Certificate, as defined in the Custody Agreement, and
the Custodian shall be entitled to rely upon such advice.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand in the seal of
TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST, as of the day of
, 1995.
------------------------------
APPENDIX D
I, Vincent M. Blazewicz, a Vice President with THE BANK
OF NEW YORK do hereby designate the following publications:
The Bond Buyer
Depository Trust Company Notices
Financial Daily Card Service
JJ Kenney Municipal Bond Service
London Financial Times
New York Times
Standard & Poor's Called Bond Record
Wall Street Journal
APPENDIX E
The following books and records pertaining to Fund shall
be prepared and maintained by the Custodian and shall be the
property of the Fund:
EXHIBIT A
CERTIFICATION
The undersigned, , hereby certifies
that he or she is the duly elected and acting of
, a Massachusetts business trust (the
"Fund"), and further certifies that the following resolution
was adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Fund at a meeting
duly held on , 199 , at which a quorum was at all
times present and that such resolution has not been modified
or rescinded and is in full force and effect as of the date
hereof.
RESOLVED, that The Bank of New York, as Custodian
pursuant to a Custody Agreement between The Bank of New
York and the Fund dated as of , 199 , (the
"Custody Agreement") is authorized and instructed on a
continuous and ongoing basis to deposit in the Book-Entry
System, as defined in the Custody Agreement, all securi-
ties eligible for deposit therein, regardless of the
Series to which the same are specifically allocated, and
to utilize the Book-Entry System to the extent possible
in connection with its performance thereunder, including,
without limitation, in connection with settlements of
purchases and sales of securities, loans of securities,
and deliveries and returns of securities collateral.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and the seal
of , as of the day of , 1995.
------------------------
[SEAL]
EXHIBIT B
CERTIFICATION
The undersigned, , hereby
certifies that he or she is the duly elected and acting
of , a Massachusetts business Trust
(the "Fund"), and further certifies that the following
resolution was adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Fund at
a meeting duly held on , 199 , at which a quorum
was at all times present and that such resolution has not been
modified or rescinded and is in full force and effect as of
the date hereof.
RESOLVED, that The Bank of New York, as Custodian
pursuant to a Custody Agreement between The Bank of New
York and the Fund dated as of , 199 , (the
"Custody Agreement") is authorized and instructed on a
continuous and ongoing basis until such time as it
receives a Certificate, as defined in the Custody Agree-
ment, to the contrary to deposit in The Depository Trust
Company ("DTC"), as a "Depository" as defined in the
Custody Agreement, all securities eligible for deposit
therein, regardless of the Series to which the same are
specifically allocated, and to utilize DTC to the extent
possible in connection with its performance thereunder,
including, without limitation, in connection with
settlements of purchases and sales of securities, loans
of securities, and deliveries and returns of securities
collateral.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and the
seal of , as of the day of , 1995.
------------------------
[SEAL]
EXHIBIT B-1
CERTIFICATION
The undersigned, , hereby
certifies that he or she is the duly elected and acting
of , a Massachusetts business
Trust (the "Fund"), and further certifies that the following
resolution was adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Fund at
a meeting duly held on , 199 , at which a quorum
was at all times present and that such resolution has not been
modified or rescinded and is in full force and effect as of
the date hereof.
RESOLVED, that The Bank of New York, as Custodian
pursuant to a Custody Agreement between The Bank of New
York and the Fund dated as of , 199 (the
"Custody Agreement") is authorized and instructed on a
continuous and ongoing basis until such time as it
receives a Certificate, as defined in the Custody Agree-
ment, to the contrary to deposit in the Participants
Trust Company as a Depository, as defined in the Custody
Agreement, all securities eligible for deposit therein,
regardless of the Series to which the same are
specifically allocated, and to utilize the Participants
Trust Company to the extent possible in connection with
its performance thereunder, including, without limita-
tion, in connection with settlements of purchases and
sales of securities, loans of securities, and deliveries
and returns of securities collateral.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and the
seal of , as of the day of ,
1995.
------------------------
[SEAL]
EXHIBIT C
CERTIFICATION
The undersigned, , hereby
certifies that he or she is the duly elected and acting
of , a Massachusetts business trust (the
"Fund"), and further certifies that the following resolution
was adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Fund at a meeting
duly held on , 199 , at which a quorum was at all
times present and that such resolution has not been modified
or rescinded and is in full force and effect as of the date
hereof.
RESOLVED, that The Bank of New York, as Custodian
pursuant to a Custody Agreement between The Bank of New
York and the Fund dated as of , 199 , (the
"Custody Agreement") is authorized and instructed on a
continuous and ongoing basis until such time as it
receives a Certificate, as defined in the Custody Agree-
ment, to the contrary, to accept, utilize and act with
respect to Clearing Member confirmations for Options and
transaction in Options, regardless of the Series to which
the same are specifically allocated, as such terms are
defined in the Custody Agreement, as provided in the
Custody Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and the
seal of , as of the day of , 1995.
------------------------
[SEAL]
SCHEDULE A
COUNTRY/MARKET SUBCUSTODIAN
Argentina The Bank of Boston
Australia ANZ Banking Group Limited
Austria Girocredit Bank AG
Bangladesh* Standard Chartered Bank
Belgium Banque Bruxelles Lambert
Botswana* Stanbic Bank Botswana Ltd.
Brazil The Bank of Boston
Canada Royal Trust/Royal Bank of Canada
Chile The Bank of Boston/Banco de Chile
China Standard Chartered Bank
Colombia Citibank, N.A.
Denmark Den Danske Bank
Euromarket CEDEL
Euroclear
First Chicago Clearing Centre
Finland Union Bank of Finland
France Banque Paribas/Credit Commercial de France
Germany Dresdner Bank A.G.
Ghana* Merchant Bank Ghana Ltd.
Greece Alpha Credit Bank
Hong Kong Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corp.
Indonesia Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corp.
Ireland Allied Irish Bank
Israel Israel Discount Bank
Italy Banca Commerciale Italiana
Japan Yasuda Trust & Banking Co., Ltd.
Korea Bank of Seoul
Luxembourg Kredietbank S.A.
Malaysia Hong Kong Bank Malaysia Berhad
Mexico Banco Nacional de Mexico (Banamex)
Netherlands Mees Pierson
New Zealand ANZ Banking Group Limited
Norway Den Norske Bank
SCHEDULE A
COUNTRY/MARKET SUBCUSTODIAN
Pakistan Standard Chartered Bank
Peru Citibank, N.A.
Philippines Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corp.
Poland Bank Handlowy w Warsawie
Portugal Banco Comercial Portugues
Singapore United Overseas Bank
South Africa Standard Bank of South Africa Limited
Spain Banco Bilbao Vizcaya
Sri Lanka Standard Chartered Bank
Sweden Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken
Switzerland Union Bank of Switzerland
Taiwan Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corp.
Thailand Siam Commercial Bank
Turkey Citibank, N.A.
United Kingdom The Bank of New York
United States The Bank of New York
Uruguay The Bank of Boston
Venezuela Citibank, N.A.
Zimbabwe* Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe Ltd.
- ---------------
*Not yet 17(f)5 compliant
AMENDED AND RESTATED
TRANSFER AGENCY AND SERVICE AGREEMENT
with
DEAN WITTER TRUST COMPANY
TCW/DW
[open-end]
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Article 1 Terms of Appointment; Duties of DWTC . . . 2
Article 2 Fees and Expenses. . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Article 3 Representations and Warranties of DWTC . . 7
Article 4 Representations and Warranties of the
Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Article 5 Duty of Care and Indemnification . . . . . 9
Article 6 Documents and Covenants of the Fund and
DWTC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Article 7 Duration and Termination of Agreement. . . 16
Article 8 Assignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Article 9 Affiliations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Article 10 Amendment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Article 11 Applicable Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Article 12 Miscellaneous. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Article 13 Merger of Agreement. . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Article 14 Personal Liability . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
-i-
AMENDED AND RESTATED TRANSFER AGENCY AND SERVICE AGREEMENT
AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT made as of the 1st
day of August, 1993 by and between each of the TCW/DW Funds
listed on the signature pages hereof, each of such Funds
acting severally on its own behalf and not jointly with any of
such other Funds (each such Fund hereinafter referred to as
the "Fund"), each such Fund having its principal office and
place of business at Two World Trade Center, New York, New
York, 10048, and DEAN WITTER TRUST COMPANY, a trust company
organized under the laws of New Jersey, having its principal
office and place of business at Harborside Financial Center,
Plaza Two, Jersey City, New Jersey 07311 ("DWTC").
WHEREAS, the Fund desires to appoint DWTC as its
transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent and shareholder
servicing agent and DWTC desires to accept such appointment;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual
covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
-1-
Article 1 Terms of Appointment; Duties of DWTC
1.1 Subject to the terms and conditions set
forth in this Agreement, the Fund hereby employs and appoints
DWTC to act as, and DWTC agrees to act as, the transfer agent
for each series and class of shares of the Fund, whether now
or hereafter authorized or issued ("Shares"), dividend
disbursing agent and shareholder servicing agent in connection
with any accumulation, open-account or similar plans provided
to the holders of such Shares ("Shareholders") and set out in
the currently effective prospectus and statement of additional
information ("prospectus") of the Fund, including without
limitation any periodic investment plan or periodic withdrawal
program.
1.2 DWTC agrees that it will perform the fol-
lowing services:
(a) In accordance with procedures established
from time to time by agreement between the Fund and DWTC, DWTC
shall:
(i) Receive for acceptance, orders for the
purchase of Shares, and promptly deliver payment and
appropriate documentation therefor to the custodian of the
assets of the Fund (the "Custodian");
-2-
(ii) Pursuant to purchase orders, issue the
appropriate number of Shares and issue certificates therefor
or hold such Shares in book form in the appropriate
Shareholder account;
(iii) Receive for acceptance redemption
requests and redemption directions and deliver the appropriate
documentation therefor to the Custodian;
(iv) At the appropriate time as and when it
receives monies paid to it by the Custodian with respect to
any redemption, pay over or cause to be paid over in the
appropriate manner such monies as instructed by the redeeming
Shareholders;
(v) Effect transfers of Shares by the
registered owners thereof upon receipt of appropriate
instructions;
(vi) Prepare and transmit payments for divi-
dends and distributions declared by the Fund;
(vii) Calculate any sales charges payable by
a Shareholder on purchases and/or redemptions of Shares of the
Fund as such charges may be reflected in the prospectus;
(viii) Maintain records of account for and
advise the Fund and its Shareholders as to the foregoing; and
-3-
(ix) Record the issuance of Shares of the Fund
and maintain pursuant to Rule 17Ad-10(e) under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 ("1934 Act") a record of the total number
of Shares of the Fund which are authorized, based upon data
provided to it by the Fund, and issued and outstanding. DWTC
shall also provide to the Fund on a regular basis the total
number of Shares which are authorized, issued and outstanding
and shall notify the Fund in case any proposed issue of Shares
by the Fund would result in an overissue. In case any issue
of Shares would result in an overissue, DWTC shall refuse to
issue such Shares and shall not countersign and issue any
certificates requested for such Shares. When recording the
issuance of Shares, DWTC shall have no obligation to take
cognizance of any Blue Sky laws relating to the issue of sale
of such Shares, which functions shall be the sole
responsibility of the Fund.
(b) In addition to and not in lieu of the
services set forth in the above paragraph (a), DWTC shall: (i)
perform all of the customary services of a transfer agent,
dividend disbursing agent and, as relevant, shareholder ser-
vicing agent in connection with dividend reinvestment,
accumulation, open-account or similar plans (including without
limitation any periodic investment plan or periodic withdrawal
program), including but not limited to, maintaining all
Shareholder accounts, preparing Shareholder meeting lists,
-4-
mailing proxies, receiving and tabulating proxies, mailing
shareholder reports and prospectuses to current Shareholders,
withholding taxes on U.S. resident and non-resident alien
accounts, preparing and filing appropriate forms required with
respect to dividends and distributions by federal tax
authorities for all Shareholders, preparing and mailing
confirmation forms and statements of account to Shareholders
for all purchases and redemptions of Shares and other confirm-
able transactions in Shareholder accounts, preparing and
mailing activity statements for Shareholders and providing
Shareholder account information; (ii) open any and all bank
accounts which may be necessary or appropriate in order to
provide the foregoing services; and (iii) provide a system
which will enable the Fund to monitor the total number of
Shares sold in each State or other jurisdiction.
(c) In addition, the Fund shall (i) identify
to DWTC in writing those transactions and assets to be treated
as exempt from Blue Sky reporting for each State and (ii)
verify the establishment of transactions for each State on the
system prior to activation and thereafter monitor the daily
activity for each State. The responsibility of DWTC for the
Fund's registration status under the Blue Sky or securities
laws of any State or other jurisdiction is solely limited to
the initial establishment of transactions subject to Blue Sky
compliance by the Fund and the reporting of such transactions
-5-
to the Fund as provided above and as agreed from time to time
by the Fund and DWTC.
(d) DWTC shall provide such additional
services and functions not specifically described herein as
may be mutually agreed between DWTC and the Fund. Procedures
applicable to such services may be established from time to
time by agreement between the Fund and DWTC.
Article 2 Fees and Expenses
2.1 For performance by DWTC pursuant to this
Agreement, each Fund agrees to pay DWTC an annual maintenance
fee for each Shareholder account and certain transactional
fees, if applicable, as set out in the respective fee schedule
attached hereto as Schedule A. Such fees and out-of-pocket
expenses and advances identified under Section 2.2 below may
be changed from time to time subject to mutual written
agreement between the Fund and DWTC.
2.2 In addition to the fees paid under Section
2.1 above, the Fund agrees to reimburse DWTC in connection
with the services rendered by DWTC hereunder. In addition,
any other expenses incurred by DWTC at the request or with the
consent of the Fund will be reimbursed by the Fund.
2.3 The Fund agrees to pay all fees and
reimbursable expenses within a reasonable period of time
-6-
following the mailing of the respective billing notice.
Postage for mailing of dividends, proxies, Fund reports and
other mailings to all Shareholder accounts shall be advanced
to DWTC by the Fund upon request prior to the mailing date of
such materials.
Article 3 Representations and Warranties of DWTC
DWTC represents and warrants to the Fund that:
3.1 It is a trust company duly organized and
existing and in good standing under the laws of New Jersey and
it is duly qualified to carry on its business in New Jersey.
3.2 It is and will remain registered with the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") as a Transfer
Agent pursuant to the requirements of Section 17A of the 1934
Act.
3.3 It is empowered under applicable laws and
by its charter and By-Laws to enter into and perform this
Agreement.
3.4 All requisite corporate proceedings have
been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this
Agreement.
3.5 It has and will continue to have access to
the necessary facilities, equipment and personnel to perform
its duties and obligations under this Agreement.
-7-
Article 4 Representations and Warranties of the Fund
The Fund represents and warrants to DWTC that:
4.1 It is a corporation duly organized and
existing and in good standing under the laws of Delaware or
Maryland or a trust duly organized and existing and in good
standing under the laws of Massachusetts, as the case may be.
4.2 It is empowered under applicable laws and
by its Articles of Incorporation or Declaration of Trust, as
the case may be, and under its By-Laws to enter into and
perform this Agreement.
4.3 All corporate proceedings necessary to
authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement have
been taken.
4.4 It is an investment company registered
with the SEC under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended (the "1940 Act").
4.5 A registration statement under the
Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act") is currently effective
and will remain effective, and appropriate state securities
law filings have been made and will continue to be made, with
respect to all Shares of the Fund being offered for sale.
Article 5 Duty of Care and Indemnification
-8-
5.1 DWTC shall not be responsible for, and the
Fund shall indemnify and hold DWTC harmless from and against,
any and all losses, damages, costs, charges, counsel fees,
payments, expenses and liability arising out of or
attributable to:
(a) All actions of DWTC or its agents or
subcontractors required to be taken pursuant to this
Agreement, provided that such actions are taken in good faith
and without negligence or willful misconduct.
(b) The Fund's refusal or failure to comply with
the terms of this Agreement, or which arise out of the Fund's
lack of good faith, negligence or willful misconduct or which
arise out of breach of any representation or warranty of the
Fund hereunder.
(c) The reliance on or use by DWTC or its agents or
subcontractors of information, records and documents which (i)
are received by DWTC or its agents or subcontractors and
furnished to it by or on behalf of the Fund, and (ii) have
been prepared and/or maintained by the Fund or any other
person or firm on behalf of the Fund.
(d) The reliance on, or the carrying out by DWTC or
its agents or subcontractors of, any instructions or requests
of the Fund.
-9-
(e) The offer or sale of Shares in violation of any
requirement under the federal securities laws or regulations
or the securities or Blue Sky laws of any State or other
jurisdiction that such Shares be registered in such State or
other jurisdiction or in violation of any stop order or other
determination or ruling by any federal agency or any State or
other jurisdiction with respect to the offer or sale of such
Shares in such State or other jurisdiction.
5.2 DWTC shall indemnify and hold the Fund
harmless from or against any and all losses, damages, costs,
charges, counsel fees, payments, expenses and liability
arising out of or attributable to any action or failure or
omission to act by DWTC as a result of the lack of good faith,
negligence or willful misconduct of DWTC, its officers,
employees or agents.
5.3 At any time, DWTC may apply to any officer
of the Fund for instructions, and may consult with legal
counsel to the Fund, with respect to any matter arising in
connection with the services to be performed by DWTC under
this Agreement, and DWTC and its agents or subcontractors
shall not be liable and shall be indemnified by the Fund for
any action taken or omitted by it in reliance upon such
instructions or upon the opinion of such counsel. DWTC, its
agents and subcontractors shall be protected and indemnified
-10-
in acting upon any paper or document furnished by or on behalf
of the Fund, reasonably believed to be genuine and to have
been signed by the proper person or persons, or upon any
instruction, information, data, records or documents provided
to DWTC or its agents or subcontractors by machine readable
input, telex, CRT data entry or other similar means authorized
by the Fund, and shall not be held to have notice of any
change of authority of any person, until receipt of written
notice thereof from the Fund. DWTC, its agents and
subcontractors shall also be protected and indemnified in
recognizing stock certificates which are reasonably believed
to bear the proper manual or facsimile signature of the
officers of the Fund, and the proper countersignature of any
former transfer agent or registrar, or of a co-transfer agent
or co-registrar.
5.4 In the event either party is unable to
perform its obligations under the terms of this Agreement
because of acts of God, strikes, equipment or transmission
failure or damage reasonably beyond its control, or other
causes reasonably beyond its control, such party shall not be
liable for damages to the other for any damages resulting from
such failure to perform or otherwise from such causes.
-11-
5.5 Neither party to this Agreement shall be
liable to the other party for consequential damages under any
provision of this Agreement or for any act or failure to act
hereunder.
5.6 In order that the indemnification
provisions contained in this Article 5 shall apply, upon the
assertion of a claim for which either party may be required to
indemnify the other, the party seeking indemnification shall
promptly notify the other party of such assertion, and shall
keep the other party advised with respect to all developments
concerning such claim. The party who may be required to
indemnify shall have the option to participate with the party
seeking indemnification in the defense of such claim. The
party seeking indemnification shall in no case confess any
claim or make any compromise in any case in which the other
party may be required to indemnify it except with the other
party's prior written consent.
Article 6 Documents and Covenants of the Fund and DWTC
6.1 The Fund shall promptly furnish to DWTC
the following:
(a) If a corporation:
(i) A certified copy of the resolution of the Board
of Directors of the Fund authorizing the appointment of DWTC
and the execution and delivery of this Agreement;
-12-
(ii) A certified copy of the Articles of
Incorporation and By-Laws of the Fund and all amendments
thereto;
(iii) Certified copies of each vote of the Board
of Directors designating persons authorized to give
instructions on behalf of the Fund and signature cards bearing
the signature of any officer of the Fund or any other person
authorized to sign written instructions on behalf of the Fund;
(iv) A specimen of the certificate for Shares of the
Fund in the form approved by the Board of Directors, with a
certificate of the Secretary of the Fund as to such approval;
(b) If a business trust:
(i) A certified copy of the resolution of the Board
of Trustees of the Fund authorizing the appointment of DWTC
and the execution and delivery of this Agreement;
(ii) A certified copy of the Declaration of Trust
and By-laws of the Fund and all amendments thereto;
(iii) Certified copies of each vote of the Board
of Trustees designating persons authorized to give
instructions on behalf of the Fund and signature cards bearing
the signature of any officer of the Fund or any other person
authorized to sign written instructions on behalf of the Fund;
-13-
(iv) A specimen of the certificate for Shares of the
Fund in the form approved by the Board of Trustees, with a
certificate of the Secretary of the Fund as to such approval;
(c) The current registration statements and any
amendments and supplements thereto filed with the SEC pursuant
to the requirements of the 1933 Act or the 1940 Act;
(d) All account application forms or other
documents relating to Shareholder accounts and/or relating to
any plan, program or service offered or to be offered by the
Fund; and
(e) Such other certificates, documents or opinions
as DWTC deems to be appropriate or necessary for the proper
performance of its duties.
6.2 DWTC hereby agrees to establish and
maintain facilities and procedures reasonably acceptable to
the Fund for safekeeping of Share certificates, check forms
and facsimile signature imprinting devices, if any; and for
the preparation or use, and for keeping account of, such
certificates, forms and devices.
6.3 DWTC shall prepare and keep records
relating to the services to be performed hereunder, in the
form and manner as it may deem advisable and as required by
applicable laws and regulations. To the extent required by
-14-
Section 31 of the 1940 Act, and the rules and regulations
thereunder, DWTC agrees that all such records prepared or
maintained by DWTC relating to the services performed by DWTC
hereunder are the property of the Fund and will be preserved,
maintained and made available in accordance with such Section
31 of the 1940 Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder,
and will be surrendered promptly to the Fund on and in
accordance with its request.
6.4 DWTC and the Fund agree that all books,
records, information and data pertaining to the business of
the other party which are exchanged or received pursuant to
the negotiation or the carrying out of this Agreement shall
remain confidential and shall not be voluntarily disclosed to
any other person except as may be required by law or with the
prior consent of DWTC and the Fund.
6.5 In case of any request or demands for the
inspection of the Shareholder records of the Fund, DWTC will
endeavor to notify the Fund and to secure instructions from an
authorized officer of the Fund as to such inspection. DWTC
reserves the right, however, to exhibit the Shareholder
records to any person whenever it is advised by its counsel
that it may be held liable for the failure to exhibit the
Shareholder records to such person.
-15-
Article 7 Duration and Termination of Agreement
7.1 This Agreement shall remain in full force
and effect until July 31, 1996 and from year-to-year
thereafter unless terminated by either party as provided in
Section 7.2 hereof.
7.2 This Agreement may be terminated by the
Fund on 60 days written notice, and by DWTC on 90 days written
notice, to the other party without payment of any penalty.
7.3 Should the Fund exercise its right to
terminate, all out-of-pocket expenses associated with the
movement of records and other materials will be borne by the
Fund. Additionally, DWTC reserves the right to charge for any
other reasonable fees and expenses associated with such
termination.
Article 8 Assignment
8.1 Except as provided in Section 8.3 below,
neither this Agreement nor any rights or obligations hereunder
may be assigned by either party without the written consent of
the other party.
8.2 This Agreement shall inure to the benefit
of and be binding upon the parties and their respective
permitted successors and assigns.
-16-
8.3 DWTC may, in its sole discretion and
without further consent by the Fund, subcontract, in whole or
in part, for the performance of its obligations and duties
hereunder with any person or entity including but not limited
to companies which are affiliated with DWTC; provided,
however, that such person or entity has and maintains the
qualifications, if any, required to perform such obligations
and duties, and that DWTC shall be as fully responsible to the
Fund for the acts and omissions of any agent or subcontractor
as it is for its own acts or omissions under this Agreement.
Article 9 Affiliations
9.1 DWTC may now or hereafter, without the
consent of or notice to the Fund, function as transfer agent
and/or shareholder servicing agent for any other investment
company registered with the SEC under the 1940 Act and for any
other issuer, including without limitation any investment
company whose adviser, administrator, sponsor or principal
underwriter is or may become affiliated with Dean Witter,
Discover & Co. or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries
or affiliates.
9.2 It is understood and agreed that the
Directors or Trustees (as the case may be), officers,
employees, agents and shareholders of the Fund, and the
directors, officers, employees, agents and shareholders of the
-17-
Fund's investment adviser and/or distributor, are or may be
interested in DWTC as directors, officers, employees, agents
and shareholders or otherwise, and that the directors,
officers, employees, agents and shareholders of DWTC may be
interested in the Fund as Directors or Trustees (as the case
may be), officers, employees, agents and shareholders or
otherwise, or in the investment adviser and/or distributor as
directors, officers, employees, agents, shareholders or
otherwise.
Article 10 Amendment
10.1 This Agreement may be amended or modified
by a written agreement executed by both parties and authorized
or approved by a resolution of the Board of Directors or the
Board of Trustees (as the case may be) of the Fund.
Article 11 Applicable Law
11.1 This Agreement shall be construed and the
provisions thereof interpreted under and in accordance with
the laws of the State of New York.
Article 12 Miscellaneous
12.1 In the event that one or more additional
investment companies managed or administered by Dean Witter
InterCapital Inc. or any of its affiliates ("Additional TCW/DW
Funds") desires to retain DWTC to act as transfer agent,
dividend disbursing agent and/or shareholder servicing agent,
-18-
and DWTC desires to render such services, such services shall
be provided pursuant to a letter agreement, substantially in
the form of Exhibit A hereto, between DWTC and each Additional
TCW/DW Fund.
12.2 In the event of an alleged loss or
destruction of any Share certificate, no new certificate shall
be issued in lieu thereof, unless there shall first be
furnished to DWTC an affidavit of loss or non-receipt by the
holder of Shares with respect to which a certificate has been
lost or destroyed, supported by an appropriate bond
satisfactory to DWTC and the Fund issued by a surety company
satisfactory to DWTC, except that DWTC may accept an affidavit
of loss and indemnity agreement executed by the registered
holder (or legal representative) without surety in such form
as DWTC deems appropriate indemnifying DWTC and the Fund for
the issuance of a replacement certificate, in cases where the
alleged loss is in the amount of $1000 or less.
12.3 In the event that any check or other order for
payment of money on the account of any Shareholder or new
investor is returned unpaid for any reason, DWTC will (a) give
prompt notification to the Fund's distributor ("Distributor")
(or to the Fund if the Fund acts as its own distributor) of
such non-payment; and (b) take such other action, including
imposition of a reasonable processing or handling fee, as DWTC
-19-
may, in its sole discretion, deem appropriate or as the Fund
and, if applicable, the Distributor may instruct DWTC.
12.4 Any notice or other instrument authorized or
required by this Agreement to be given in writing to the Fund
or to DWTC shall be sufficiently given if addressed to that
party and received by it at its office set forth below or at
such other place as it may from time to time designate in
writing.
To the Fund:
[Name of Fund]
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
Attention: General Counsel
To DWTC:
Dean Witter Trust Company
Harborside Financial Center
Plaza Two
Jersey City, New Jersey 07311
Attention: President
Article 13 Merger of Agreement
13.1 This Agreement constitutes the entire
agreement between the parties hereto and supersedes any prior
agreement with respect to the subject matter hereof whether
oral or written.
-20-
Article 14 Personal Liability
14.1 In the case of a Fund organized as a
Massachusetts business trust, a copy of the Declaration of
Trust of the Fund is on file with the Secretary of The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that
this instrument is executed on behalf of the Board of Trustees
of the Fund as Trustees and not individually and that the
obligations of this instrument are not binding upon any of the
Trustees or shareholders individually but are binding only
upon the assets and property of the Fund; provided, however,
that the Declaration of Trust of the Fund provides that the
assets of a particular Series of the Fund shall under no
circumstances be charged with liabilities attributable to any
other Series of the Fund and that all persons extending credit
to, or contracting with or having any claim against, a
particular Series of the Fund shall look only to the assets of
that particular Series for payment of such credit, contract or
claim.
f:\custody.tcw
-21-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused
this Amended and Restated Agreement to be executed in their
names and on their behalf by and through their duly authorized
officers, as of the day and year first above written.
(1) TCW/DW CORE EQUITY TRUST
(2) TCW/DW NORTH AMERICAN GOVERNMENT INCOME TRUST
(3) TCW/DW LATIN AMERICAN GROWTH FUND
(4) TCW/DW INCOME AND GROWTH FUND
(5) TCW/DW SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND
(6) TCW/DW BALANCED FUND
By:/s/ Sheldon Curtis
--------------------------------
Sheldon Curtis
Vice President and General Counsel
ATTEST:
/s/ Barry Fink
-----------------------------
Barry Fink
Assistant Secretary
DEAN WITTER TRUST COMPANY
By:/s/ Charles A. Fiumefreddo
--------------------------------
Charles A. Fiumefreddo
Chairman
ATTEST:
/s/ David A. Hughey
-----------------------------
David A. Hughey
Executive Vice President
f:\custody.tcw
-22-
Exhibit A
Dean Witter Trust Company
Harborside Financial Center
Plaza Two
Jersey City, NJ 07311
Gentlemen:
The undersigned, TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust, a
Massachusetts business trust (the "Fund"), desires to employ
and appoint Dean Witter Trust Company ("DWTC") to act as
transfer agent for each series and class of shares of the
Fund, whether now or hereafter authorized or issued
("Shares"), dividend disbursing agent and shareholder
servicing agent, registrar and agent in connection with any
accumulation, open-account or similar plan provided to the
holders of Shares, including without limitation any periodic
investment plan or periodic withdrawal plan.
The Fund hereby agrees that, in consideration for
the payment by the Fund to DWTC of fees as set out in the fee
schedule attached hereto as Schedule A, DWTC shall provide
such services to the Fund pursuant to the terms and conditions
set forth in the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement annexed
hereto, as if the Fund was a signatory thereto.
-23-
Please indicate DWTC's acceptance of employment and
appointment by the Fund in the capacities set forth above by
so indicating in the space provided below.
Very truly yours,
TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST
By:__________________________________
Sheldon Curtis
Vice President and General Counsel
ACCEPTED AND AGREED TO:
DEAN WITTER TRUST COMPANY
By:_______________________
Its:______________________
Date:_____________________
f:\custody.tcw
24
SCHEDULE A
Fund: TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust
Fees: (1) Annual maintenance fee of $11.50 per
shareholder account, payable monthly.
(2) A fee equal to 1/12 of the fee set forth
in (1) above, for providing Forms 1099 for
accounts closed during the year, payable
following the end of the calendar year.
(3) Out-of-pocket expenses in accordance with
Section 2.2 of the Agreement.
(4) Fees for additional services not set
forth in this Agreement shall be as negotiated
between the parties.
<PAGE>
TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST
MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as of the th day of , 1995 by and between TCW/DW
Mid-Cap Equity Trust, an unincorporated business trust organized under the
laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (hereinafter called the "Fund"),
and Dean Witter Services Company Inc., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter
called the "Manager"):
WHEREAS, The Fund intends to engage in business as an open-end management
investment company and is registered as such under the Investment Company Act
of 1940, as amended (the "Act"); and
WHEREAS, The Fund desires to retain the Manager to render services in the
manner and on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth; and
WHEREAS, The Manager desires to be retained to perform services on said
terms and conditions:
Now, Therefore, this Agreement
W I T N E S S E T H:
that in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants hereinafter
contained, the Fund and the Manager agree as follows:
1. The Fund hereby retains the Manager to act as manager of the Fund and,
subject to the supervision of the Trustees, to supervise the business affairs
of the Fund as hereinafter set forth. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, the Manager shall (i) manage the Fund's business affairs and
supervise the overall day-to-day operations of the Fund (other than rendering
investment advice); (ii) provide the Fund with full administrative services,
including the maintenance of certain books and records, such as journals,
ledger accounts and other records required under the Act, the notification to
the Fund's investment adviser of available funds for investment, the
reconciliation of account information and balances among the Fund's
custodian, transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent and the Fund's
investment adviser, and the calculation of the net asset value of the Fund's
shares; (iii) provide the Fund with the services of persons competent to
perform such supervisory, administrative and clerical functions as are
necessary to provide effective operation of the Fund; (iv) oversee the
performance of administrative and professional services rendered to the Fund
by others, including its custodian, transfer agent and dividend disbursing
agent, as well as accounting, auditing and other services; (v) provide the
Fund with adequate general office space and facilities; and (vi) oversee the
preparation and the printing of the periodic updating of the Fund's
registration statement and prospectus and statement of additional
information, tax returns, proxy statements, and reports to its shareholders
and the Securities and Exchange Commission.
2. The Manager shall, at its own expense, maintain such staff and employ
or retain such personnel and consult with such other persons as it shall from
time to time determine to be necessary or useful to the performance of its
obligations under this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, the staff and personnel of the Manager shall be deemed to include
persons employed or otherwise retained by the Manager to furnish services,
statistical and other factual data, information with respect to technical and
scientific developments, and such other information, advice and assistance as
the Manager may desire. The Manager shall, as agent for the Fund, maintain
the Fund's records and books of account (other than those maintained by the
Fund's transfer agent, registrar, custodian and other agencies). All such
books and records so maintained shall be the property of the Fund and, upon
request therefor, the Manager shall surrender to the Fund such of the books
and records so requested.
3. The Fund will, from time to time, furnish or otherwise make available
to the Manager such financial reports, proxy statements and other information
relating to the business and affairs of the Fund as the Manager may
reasonably require in order to discharge its duties and obligations
hereunder.
4. The Manager shall bear the cost of rendering the administrative
services to be performed by it under this Agreement, and shall, at its own
expense, pay the compensation of the Trustees, officers and
1
<PAGE>
employees, if any, of the Fund who are also directors, officers or employees
of the Manager, and provide such office space, facilities and equipment and
such clerical help and bookkeeping services as the Fund shall reasonably
require in the conduct of its business. The Manager shall also bear the cost
of telephone service, heat, light, power and other utilities provided to the
Fund.
5. The Fund assumes and shall pay or cause to be paid all other expenses
of the Fund (except expenses borne by the Fund's investment adviser pursuant
to an investment advisory agreement with the Fund), including without
limitation: fees pursuant to any investment advisory agreement into which the
Fund may enter; fees pursuant to any plan of distribution that the Fund may
adopt; the charges and expenses of any registrar, any custodian or depository
appointed by the Fund for the safekeeping of its cash, portfolio securities
or commodities and other property, and any stock transfer or dividend agent
or agents appointed by the Fund; brokers' commissions chargeable to the Fund
in connection with portfolio transactions to which the Fund is a party; all
taxes, including securities or commodities issuance and transfer taxes, and
fees payable by the Fund to federal, state or other governmental agencies;
the cost and expense of engraving or printing of certificates representing
shares of the Fund; all costs and expenses in connection with the
registration and maintenance of registration of the Fund and its shares with
the Securities and Exchange Commission and various states and other
jurisdictions (including filing fees and legal fees and disbursements of
counsel and the costs and expenses of preparing, printing, including
typesetting, and distributing prospectuses and statements of additional
information for such purposes); all expenses of shareholders' and Trustees'
meetings and of preparing, printing and mailing proxy statements and reports
to shareholders; fees and travel expenses of Trustees or members of any
advisory board or committee who are not employees of the Manager or the
Fund's investment adviser or any corporate affiliate of either of them; all
expenses incident to the payment of any dividend or distribution program;
charges and expenses of any outside service used for pricing of the Fund's
shares; charges and expenses of legal counsel, including counsel to the
Trustees of the Fund who are not interested persons (as defined in the Act)
of the Fund or the Manager or the Fund's investment adviser, and of
independent accountants, in connection with any matter relating to the Fund;
membership dues of industry associations; interest payable on Fund
borrowings; postage; insurance premiums on property or personnel (including
officers and Trustees) of the Fund which inure to its benefit; extraordinary
expenses (including, but not limited to, legal claims and liabilities and
litigation costs and any indemnification related thereto); and all other
charges and costs of the Fund's operation unless otherwise explicitly
provided herein.
6. For the services to be rendered, the facilities furnished, and the
expenses assumed by the Manager, the Fund shall pay to the Manager monthly
compensation determined by applying the annual rate of 0. % to the Fund's
average daily net assets. Such calculation shall be made by applying 1/365th
of the annual rate to the Fund's net assets each day determined as of the
close of business on that day or the last previous business day. If this
Agreement becomes effective subsequent to the first day of a month or shall
terminate before the last day of a month, compensation for that part of the
month this Agreement is in effect shall be prorated in a manner consistent
with the calculation of the fees as set forth above.
7. In the event the operating expenses of the Fund, including amounts
payable to the Manager pursuant to paragraph 6 hereof, for any fiscal year
ending on a date on which this Agreement is in effect, exceed the expense
limitations applicable to the Fund imposed by state securities laws or
regulations thereunder, as such limitations may be raised or lowered from
time to time, the Manager shall reduce its management fee to the extent of
60% of such excess and, if and to the extent required by law, pursuant to any
such laws or regulations, will reimburse the Fund for 60% of annual operating
expenses in excess of any expense limitation that may be applicable;
provided, however, there shall be excluded from such expenses the amount of
any interest, taxes, distribution fees, brokerage commissions and
extraordinary expenses (including but not limited to legal claims and
liabilities and litigation costs and any indemnification related thereto)
paid or payable by the Fund. Such reduction, if any, shall be computed and
accrued weekly, shall be settled on a monthly basis, and shall be based upon
the expense limitation applicable to the Fund as at the end of the last
business day of the month. Should two or more such expense limitations be
applicable as at the end of the last full week of the month, that expense
limitation which results in the largest reduction in the Manager's fee shall
be applicable.
2
<PAGE>
For purposes of this provision, should any applicable expense limitation
be based upon the gross income of the Fund, such gross income shall include,
but not be limited to, interest on debt securities in the Fund's portfolio
accrued to and including the last day of the Fund's fiscal year, and
dividends declared on equity securities in the Fund's portfolio, the record
dates for which fall on or prior to the last day of such fiscal year, but
shall not include gains from the sale of securities.
8. The Manager will use its best efforts in the management of the Fund,
but in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or
reckless disregard of its obligations hereunder, the Manager shall not be
liable to the Fund or any of its investors for any error of judgment or
mistake of law or for any act or omission by the Manager or for any losses
sustained by the Fund or its investors. The Manager shall be indemnified by
the Fund as an agent of the Fund in accordance with the terms of Section 4.8
of the Fund's By-laws.
9. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall prevent the Manager or any
affiliated person of the Manager from acting as manager for any other person,
firm or corporation. Nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the
right of any Trustee, officer or employee of the Manager to engage in any
other business or to devote his or her time and attention in part to the
management or other aspects of any other business whether of a similar or
dissimilar nature.
10. This Agreement shall remain in effect until April 30, 1997 and from
year to year thereafter provided such continuance is approved at least
annually by the Board of Trustees of the Fund; provided that such continuance
is also approved annually by a vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Fund
who are not parties to this Agreement or "interested persons" (as defined in
the Act) of any such party; provided, however, that the Fund, acting by
majority vote of the Trustees, or the Manager may, at any time and without
the payment of any penalty, terminate this Agreement upon thirty days'
written notice to the other party. Any notice under this Agreement shall be
given in writing, addressed and delivered, or mailed post-paid, to the other
party at the principal office of such party.
11. This Agreement may be amended or modified by the parties by a written
agreement executed by both parties and authorized or approved by a resolution
of the Board of Trustees of the Fund.
12. This Agreement may be assigned by either party with the written
consent of the other party.
13. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the
State of New York and the applicable provisions of the Act. To the extent the
applicable law of the State of New York, or any of the provisions herein,
conflicts with the applicable provisions of the Act, the latter shall
control.
14. The Fund acknowledges that the Manager owns its own name, initials and
logo. The Fund agrees to change its name at the request of the Manager if
this Agreement is terminated for any reason.
15. The Declaration of Trust establishing TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust,
dated October 16, 1995, a copy of which, together with all amendments thereto
(the "Declaration"), is on file in the office of the Secretary of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, provides that the name TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity
Trust refers to the Trustees under the Declaration collectively as Trustees,
but not as individuals or personally; and no Trustee, shareholder, officer,
employee or agent of TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust shall be held to any
personal liability, nor shall resort be had to their private property for the
satisfaction of any obligation or claim or otherwise, in connection with the
affairs of said TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust, but the Trust Estate only shall
be liable.
3
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and delivered this
Agreement as of the day and year first above written in New York, New York.
TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST
BY: ...............................
ATTEST:
...........................................
DEAN WITTER SERVICES COMPANY INC.
By: ..............................
Attest:
...........................................
4
TCW\DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST
December 6, 1995
TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
Dear Sirs:
With respect to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File
No. 33-63685) (the "Registration Statement") filed by TCW\DW Mid-
Cap Equity Trust, a Massachusetts business trust (the "Fund"), with
the Securities and Exchange Commission for the purpose of
registering under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, an
indefinite number of shares of Beneficial Interest of $0.01 par
value of the Fund (the "Shares"), I, as your counsel, have examined
such Fund records, certificates and other documents and reviewed
such questions of law as I have considered necessary or appropriate
for the purposes of this opinion, and on the basis of such
examination and review, I advise you that, in my opinion, proper
trust proceedings have been taken by the Fund so that the Shares
have been validly authorized; and when the Shares have been issued
and sold in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement
referred to in the Registration Statement, the Shares will be
validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
As to matters of Massachusetts law contained in the foregoing
opinion, I have relied upon the opinion of Lane & Altman, dated
December 6, 1995.
I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit
to the Registration Statement and to the reference to me under the
caption "Legal Counsel" in the Statement of Additional Information
forming a part of the Registration Statement. In giving this
consent, I do not thereby admit that I am within the category of
persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.
Very truly yours,
Sheldon Curtis
Vice President
and General Counsel
101 Federal Street Telephone
Lane Altman & Owens Boston, Massachusetts 617 345-9800
03210
Counsellors at Law Telefax
617 345-0400
Reference
December 6, 1995
Sheldon Curtis, Vice President
and General Counsel
Dean Witter InterCapital, Inc.
Two World Trade Center
New York, NY 10048
RE: TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Fund
Dear Sir:
We understand that the trustees (the "Trustees") of TCW/DW Mid-Cap
Equity Fund, a Massachusetts business trust (the "Trust"), intend, on or about
December 7, 1995, to cause to be filed on behalf of the Trust a Pre-effective
Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement No. 33-63685 (as amended, the
"Registration Statement") for the purpose of registering for sale Shares of
Beneficial Interest, $.01 par value, of the Trust (the "Shares"). We further
understand that the Shares will be issued and sold pursuant to an underwriting
agreement (the "Underwriting Agreement") and a distribution agreement (the
"Distribution Agreement") to be entered into between the Trust and Dean Witter
Distributors Inc.
You have requested that we act as special counsel to the Trust
regarding certain matters of Massachusetts law respecting the organization of
the Trust, and in such capacity we are furnishing you with this opinion.
The Trust is created under a written declaration of trust finally
executed and delivered in Boston, Massachusetts on October 17, 1995 (the "Trust
Agreement"). The Trustees (as defined in the Trust Agreement) have the powers
set forth in the Trust Agreement, subject to the terms, provisions and
conditions therein provided.
In connection with the opinions set forth herein, you and the Trust
have provided to us originals, copies or facsimile transmissions of, and we
have reviewed and relied upon, among other things: a copy of the Trust
Agreement; a form of the Underwriting and Distribution Agreements; and the
Registration Statement (including the exhibits thereto).
We have assumed that the by-laws filed as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement have been duly adopted by the Trustees. We have also reviewed and
relied upon certificates of the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts dated December 5, 1995 attesting to the valid existence and
corporate good standing of the Trust.
In rendering this opinion we have assumed, without independent
verification, (i) the due authority of all individuals signing in
representative capacities and the genuineness of signatures, (ii) the
authenticity, completeness and continued effectiveness of all documents or
copies furnished to us, (iii) that the resolutions provided have been duly
adopted by the Trustees, and (iv) that no amendments, agreements, resolutions
or actions have been approved, executed or adopted which would limit, supersede
or modify the items described above. We have also examined such questions of
law as we have concluded necessary or appropriate for purposes of the opinions
expressed below. Where documents are referred to in resolutions approved by the
Trustees, or in the Registration Statement, we assume such documents are the
same as in the most recent form provided to us, whether as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement, or otherwise. When any opinion set forth below relates
to the existence or standing of the Trust, such opinion is based entirely upon
and is limited by the items referred to above, and we understand that the
foregoing assumptions, limitations and qualifications are acceptable to you.
Based upon the foregoing, and with respect to Massachusetts law only
(except that no opinion is herein expressed with respect to compliance with the
Massachusetts Uniform Securities Act), to the extent that Massachusetts law may
be applicable, and without reference to the laws of any of the other several
states or of the United States of America, including State and Federal
securities laws, we are of the opinion that:
1. The Trust is a business trust with transferable shares, organized in
compliance with the requirements of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the
Trust Agreement is legal and valid.
2. The Shares to which the Registration Statement relates and which are
to be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, will be legally
and validly issued upon receipt by the Trust of consideration determined by the
Trustees in compliance with Article VI, Section 6.4 of the
Trust Agreement. We are further of the opinion that such Shares, when issued,
will be fully paid and non-assessable by the Trust.
We understand that you will rely on this opinion solely in connection
with your opinion to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an
Exhibit to the Registration Statement. We hereby consent to such use of this
opinion and we also consent to the filing of said opinion with the Securities
and Exchange Commission. In so consenting, we do not thereby admit to be within
the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.
Very truly yours.
LANE ALTMAN & OWENS
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
We hereby consent to the use in the Statement of Additional Information
constituting part of this Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A of our report dated December 5, 1995, relating to the
statement of assets and liabilities of TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust, which
appears in such Statement of Additional Information. We also consent to the
references to us under the headings "Independent Accountants" and "Experts" in
such Statement of Additional Information.
PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
1177 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York
December 5, 1995
DEAN WITTER INTERCAPITAL INC.
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
November 30, 1995
TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
Gentlemen:
We are purchasing from you today 10,000 shares of your beneficial
interest, of $0.01 par value, at a price of $10.00 per share, or an
aggregate price of $100,000 to provide the initial capital you require
pursuant to Section 14 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 in order to
make a public offering of your shares.
We hereby represent that we are acquiring said shares for investment
and not for distribution or resale to the public.
We hereby further represent that in the event we redeem such shares
prior to complete amortization by you of your organization expenses, the
amount we receive upon redemption may be reduced by the proportionate
amount which the total unamortized balance bears to the number of shares
being redeemed. For this purpose, the proportionate amount is based on the
ratio of the number of shares originally issued by you in connection with
the furnishing of the initial capital.
Very truly yours,
DEAN WITTER INTERCAPITAL INC.
By
--------------------------------
Charles A. Fiumefreddo
<PAGE>
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION PURSUANT TO RULE 12B-1
OF
TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST
WHEREAS, TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust (the "Fund") intends to engage in
business as an open-end mangement investment company and is registered as
such under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Fund desires to adopt a Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule
12b-1 under the Act, and the Trustees have determined that there is a
reasonable likelihood that adoption of the Plan of Distribution will benefit
the Fund and its shareholders; and
WHEREAS, the Fund and Dean Witter Distributors Inc. (the "Distributor")
have entered into a separate Distribution Agreement dated as of this date,
pursuant to which the Fund has employed the Distributor in such capacity
during the continuous offering of shares of the Fund.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Fund hereby adopts, and the Distributor hereby agrees
to the terms of, this Plan of Distribution (the "Plan") in accordance with
Rule 12b-1 under the Act on the following terms and conditions:
1. The Fund shall pay to the Distributor, as the distributor of securities
of which the Fund is the issuer, compensation for distribution of its shares
at the rate of the lesser of (i) % per annum of the average daily aggregate
sales of the shares of the Fund since its inception (not including
reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions from the Fund) less
the average daily aggregate net asset value of the shares of the Fund
redeemed since the Fund's inception upon which a contingent deferred sales
charge has been imposed or upon which such charge has been waived, or (ii)
% per annum of the Fund's average daily net assets. Such compensation shall
be calculated and accrued daily and paid monthly or at such other intervals
as the Trustees shall determine. The distributor may direct that all or any
part of the amounts receivable by it under this Plan be paid directly to Dean
Witter Reynolds Inc. ("DWR"), its affiliates or other broker-dealers who
provide distribution and/or shareholder services. All payments made hereunder
pursuant to the Plan shall be in accordance with the terms and limitations of
the Rules of Fair Practice of the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc.
2. The amount set forth in paragraph 1 of this Plan shall be paid for
services of the Distributor, DWR, its affiliates and other broker-dealers it
may select in connection with the distribution of the Fund's shares,
including personal services to shareholdes with respect to their holdings of
Fund shares, and may be spent by the Distributor, DWR, its affiliates and
such broker-dealers on any activities or expenses related to the distribution
of the Fund's shares or services to shareholders, including, but not limited
to: compensation to, and expenses of, account executives or other employees
of the Distributor, DWR, its affiliates or other broker-dealers; overhead and
other branch office distribution-related expenses and telephone expenses of
persons who engage in or support distribution of shares or who provide
personal services to shareholders; printing of prospectuses and reports for
other than existing shareholders; preparation, printing and distribution of
sales literature and advertising materials and opportunity costs in incurring
the foregoing expenses (which may be calculated as a carrying charge on the
excess of the distribution expenses incurred by the Distributor, DWR, its
affiliates or other broker-dealers over distribution revenues received by
them, such excess being hereinafter referred to as "carryover expenses"). The
overhead and other branch office distribution-related expenses referred to in
this paragraph 2 may include: (a) the expenses of operating the branch
offices of the Distribbutor or other broker-dealers, including DWR, in
connection with the sale of Fund shares, including lease costs,
communications costs and the costs of stationery and supplies; (b) the costs
of client sales seminars; (c) travel expenses of mutual fund sales
coordinators to promote the sale of the Fund shares; and (d) other expenses
relating to branch promotion of Fund sales. Payments may also be made with
respect to distribution expenses incurred in connection with the distribution
of shares, including personal services to shareholders with respect to
holdings of such shares, of an investment company whose assets are acquired
by the Fund in a tax-free reorganization, provided that carryover expenses as
a percentage of Fund assets will not be materially increased thereby.
3. This Plan shall not take effect until it has been approved by a vote of
at least a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund (as
defined in the Act).
4. This Plan shall not take effect until it has been approved, together
with any related agreements, by votes of a majority of the Board of Trustees
of the Fund and of the Trustees who are not "interested
1
<PAGE>
persons" of the Fund (as defined in the Act) and have no direct or indirect
financial interest in the operation of this Plan or any agreements related to
it (the "Rule 12b-1 Trustees"), cast in person at a meeting (or meetings )
called for the purpose of voting on this Plan and such related agreements.
5. This Plan shall continue in effect until April 30, 1996, and from year
to year thereafter, provided such continuance is specifically approved at
least annually in the manner provided for approval of this Plan in paragraph
4 hereof.
6. The Distributor shall provide to the Trustees of the Fund and the
Trustees shall review, at least quarterly, a written report of the amounts so
expended and the purposes for which such expenditures were made. In this
regard, the Trustees shall request the Distributor to specify such items of
expenses as the Trustees deem appropriate. The Trustees shall consider such
items as they deem relevant in making the determinations required by
paragraph 5 hereof.
7. This Plan may be terminated at any time by vote of a majority of the
Rule 12b-1 Trustees, or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the Fund. In the event of any such termination or in the event
of nonrenewal, the Fund shall have no obligation to pay expenses which have
been incurred by the Distributor, DWR, its affiliates or other broker-dealers
in excess of payments made by the Fund pursuant to this Plan. However, this
shall not preclude consideration by the Trustees of the manner in which such
excess expenses shall be treated.
8. This Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount the Fund
may spend for distribution provided in paragraph 1 hereof unless such
amendment is approved by a vote of at least a majority (as defined in the
Act) of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, and no material
amendment to the Plan shall be made unless approved in the manner provided
for approval in paragraph 4 hereof.
9. While this Plan is in effect, the selection and nomination of Trustees
who are not interested persons (as defined inthe Act) of the Fund shall be
committed to the discretion of the Trustees who are not interested persons.
10. The Fund shall preserve copies of this Plan and any related agreements
and all reports made pursuant to paragraph 6 hereof, for a period of not less
than six years from the date of this Plan, any such agreement or any such
report, as the case may be, the first two years in an easily accessible
place.
11. The Declaration of Trust establishing TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust,
dated October 16, 1995, a copy of which, together with all amendments thereto
(the "Declaration"), is on file in the office of the Secretary of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, provides that the name TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity
Trust refers to the Trustees under the Declaration collectively as Trustees
but not as individuals or personally; and no Trustee, shareholder, officer,
employee or agent of TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust shall be held to any
personal liability, nor shall resort be had to their private property for the
satisfaction of any obligation or claim or otherwise, in connection with the
affairs of said TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust, but the Trust Estate only shall
be liable.
2
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Fund and the Distributor have executed this Plan
of Distribution as of the day and year set forth below in New York, New York.
Date: , 1995
TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST
By ..................................
Attest:
.........................................
DEAN WITTER DISTRIBUTORS INC.
By ..................................
Attest:
.........................................
3
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 1
<NAME> TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAY-31-1996
<PERIOD-END> DEC-04-1995
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 0
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 0
<RECEIVABLES> 0
<ASSETS-OTHER> 305,500
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 305,500
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 205,500
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 205,500
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 100,000
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 10,000
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 0
<NET-ASSETS> 100,000
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 0
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 0
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 0
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 0
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 0
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 0
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 10,000
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 0
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 0
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 100,000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 0
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 10.00
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that Charles A. Fiumefreddo,
whose signature appears below, constitutes and appoints Sheldon
Curtis, Marilyn K. Cranney and Barry Fink, or any of them, his true
and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of
substitution among himself and each of the persons appointed
herein, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign any amendments to any registration statement of
TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST, and to file the same, with all
exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, as fully to all intents and
purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of
them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Dated: November 29, 1995
----------------------------
Charles A. Fiumefreddo
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that John R. Haire, whose
signature appears below, constitutes and appoints David M.
Butowsky, Ronald M. Feiman and Stuart M. Strauss, or any of them,
his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power
of substitution among himself and each of the persons appointed
herein, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign any amendments to any registration statement of
TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST, and to file the same, with all
exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, as fully to all intents and
purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of
them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Dated: November 29, 1995
----------------------------
John R. Haire
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that Manuel H. Johnson, whose
signature appears below, constitutes and appoints David M.
Butowsky, Ronald M. Feiman and Stuart M. Strauss, or any of them,
his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power
of substitution among himself and each of the persons appointed
herein, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign any amendments to any registration statement of
TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST, and to file the same, with all
exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, as fully to all intents and
purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of
them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Dated: November 29, 1995
----------------------------
Manuel H. Johnson
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that Paul Kolton, whose
signature appears below, constitutes and appoints David M.
Butowsky, Ronald M. Feiman and Stuart M. Strauss, or any of them,
his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power
of substitution among himself and each of the persons appointed
herein, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign any amendments to any registration statement of
TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST, and to file the same, with all
exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, as fully to all intents and
purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of
them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Dated: November 29, 1995
----------------------------
Paul Kolton
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that John L. Schroeder, whose
signature appears below, constitutes and appoints David M.
Butowsky, Ronald M. Feiman and Stuart M. Strauss, or any of them,
his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power
of substitution among himself and each of the persons appointed
herein, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign any amendments to any registration statement of
TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST, and to file the same, with all
exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, as fully to all intents and
purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of
them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Dated: November 29, 1995
----------------------------
John L. Schroeder
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that Michael E. Nugent, whose
signature appears below, constitutes and appoints David M.
Butowsky, Ronald M. Feiman and Stuart M. Strauss, or any of them,
his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power
of substitution among himself and each of the persons appointed
herein, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign any amendments to any registration statement of
TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST, and to file the same, with all
exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, as fully to all intents and
purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of
them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Dated: November 29, 1995
----------------------------
Michael E. Nugent
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that Richard M. DeMartini,
whose signature appears below, constitutes and appoints Sheldon
Curtis, Marilyn K. Cranney and Barry Fink, or any of them, his true
and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of
substitution among himself and each of the persons appointed
herein, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign any amendments to any registration statement of
TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST, and to file the same, with all
exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, as fully to all intents and
purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of
them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Dated: November 29, 1995
----------------------------
Richard M. DeMartini
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that John C. Argue, whose
signature appears below, constitutes and appoints David M.
Butowsky, Ronald M. Feiman and Stuart M. Strauss, or any of them,
his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power
of substitution among himself and each of the persons appointed
herein, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign any amendments to any registration statement of
TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST, and to file the same, with all
exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, as fully to all intents and
purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of
them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Dated: November 29, 1995
----------------------------
John C. Argue
