TCW DW MID CAP EQUITY TRUST, 485BPOS, 1999-03-26

TCW DW MID CAP EQUITY TRUST
485BPOS, 1999-03-26

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<PAGE>

AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MARCH 26, 1999
REGISTRATION NOS.: 33-63685
811-7377
==============================================================================

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

----------------

FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 [ ]
PRE-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. [ ]
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 6 [X]
AND/OR
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY
ACT OF 1940 [ ]
AMENDMENT NO. 7 [ ]

----------------

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

BARRY FINK, 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 Post-Effective Amendment becomes effective.
IT IS PROPOSED THAT THIS FILING WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE (CHECK APPROPRIATE BOX)

immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
----
X on March 29, 1999 pursuant to paragraph (b)
-----
60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)
----
on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a) of rule 485.
----

AMENDING THE PROSPECTUS AND UPDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

===============================================================================
<PAGE>

TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST

CROSS-REFERENCE SHEET

FORM N-1A

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ITEM CAPTION
- ------------------ -------------------------------------------------------
PART A PROSPECTUS
<S> <C> <C>
1. .......... Cover Page; Back Cover
2. .......... Investment Objective; Principal Investment
Strategies, Principal Risks, Past Performance
3. .......... Fees and Expenses
4. .......... Investment Objective; Additional Investment
Strategy Information; Additional Risk Information
5. .......... Not Applicable
6. .......... Fund Management
7. .......... Pricing Fund Shares; Buying and Selling Shares; How to
Exchange Shares; How to Sell Shares; Distributions;
Tax Consequences
8. .......... Share Class Arrangments
9. .......... Financial Highlights
</TABLE>

PART B STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Information required to be included in Part B is set forth under the
appropriate caption in Part B of this Registration Statement.

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>

PROSPECTUS - MARCH 29, 1999

TCW/DW

---------------------------------------------------------------------

MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST

A MUTUAL FUND THAT SEEKS LONG-TERM CAPITAL APPRECIATION

The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these
securities or passed upon the adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to
the contrary is a criminal offense.

<PAGE>

CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<S> <C>
The Fund Investment Objective ............................. 1
Principal Investment Strategies .................. 1
Principal Risks .................................. 1
Past Performance ................................. 2
Fees and Expenses ................................ 3
Additional Investment Strategy Information ....... 4
Additional Risk Information ...................... 4
Fund Management .................................. 6
Shareholder Information Pricing Fund Shares .............................. 7
How to Buy Shares ................................ 7
How to Exchange Shares ........................... 9
How to Sell Shares ............................... 10
Distributions .................................... 12
Tax Consequences ................................. 12
Share Class Arrangements ......................... 13
Financial Highlights ................................................. 20

This Prospectus contains important information about the Fund.
Please read it carefully and keep it for future reference.
</TABLE>

FUND CATEGORY
----------------
[X] GROWTH

[ ] Growth and Income

[ ] Income

[ ] Money Market

<PAGE>

THE FUND

[GRAPHIC OMITTED]

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
- --------------------------------------------------

TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust is a mutual fund that seeks long-term capital
appreciation. There is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve this objective.

[GRAPHIC OMITTED]

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
- ----------------------------------------------------------------

The Fund will normally invest at least 65% of its assets in a portfolio of
common stocks and other equity securities of medium-sized companies with market
capitalizations, at the time of purchase, within the capitalization range of the
companies comprising the Standard & Poor's Mid-Cap 400 Index, which
capitalization range is approximately between $268 million and $11.1 billion as
of January 27, 1999. The Fund's "Adviser," TCW Funds Management, Inc., invests
in companies that it believes exhibit superior earnings growth prospects and
attractive stock market valuations. The Adviser uses its proprietary research in
pursuing a "bottom-up" investment philosophy, which emphasizes individual
company selection. Quantitative and qualitative standards also will be used to
screen more than one thousand companies to provide a list of potential
investment securities. The Adviser then subjects the list of securities to a
fundamental analysis using a variety of criteria.

(sidebar)
CAPITAL APPRECIATION
An investment objective having the goal of selecting securities with the
potential to rise in value rather than pay out income.
(end sidebar)

Common stock is a share ownership or equity interest in a corporation. It may
or may not pay dividends, as some companies reinvest all of their profits back
into their businesses, while others pay out some of their profits to
shareholders as dividends.

In pursuing the Fund's investment objective, the Adviser has considerable
leeway in deciding which investments it buys, holds or sells on a day-to-day
basis -- and which trading strategies it uses. For example, the Adviser in its
discretion may determine to use some permitted trading strategies while not
using others. In addition to U.S. common stocks, the Fund may make other
investments. For more information about the Fund's investments, see the
"Additional Investment Strategy Information" section.

[GRAPHIC OMITTED]

PRINCIPAL RISKS
- -------------------------------------------
The Fund's share price will fluctuate with changes in the market value of the
Fund's portfolio securities. When you sell Fund shares, they may be worth less
than what you paid for them and, accordingly, you can lose money investing in
this Fund.

A principal risk of investing in the Fund is associated with its common stock
investments of medium-sized companies. In general, stock values fluctuate in
response to activities specific to the company as well as general market,
economic and political conditions. Stock prices can fluctuate widely in
response to these factors.

Investing in securities of medium-sized companies may involve greater risk than
is customarily associated with investing in more established companies. Often,
medium-sized companies and the industries in which they are focused are still
evolving, and they are more sensitive to changing market conditions than larger
companies in more established industries. Their securities may be more volatile
and have returns that vary, sometimes significantly, from the overall stock
market.

Shares of the Fund are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by
any bank, governmental entity, or the FDIC.

<PAGE>

[GRAPHIC OMITTED]

PAST PERFORMANCE
- ----------------------------------------------
The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the Fund's performance
history. The Fund's past performance does not indicate how the Fund will
perform in the future.

ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS -- CALENDAR YEARS

[THE NARRATIVE AND/OR TABULAR INFORMATION BELOW IS A FAIR AND
ACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF GRAPHIC OR IMAGE MATERIAL OMITTED FOR
THE PURPOSE OF EDGAR FILING.]

1996* 3.90%
1997 10.97%
1998 62.71%

* For the period February 27, 1996 through December 31, 1996.

The bar chart reflects the performance of Class B shares; the performance of
the other Classes will differ because the Classes have different ongoing fees.
The performance information in the bar chart does not reflect the deduction of
sales charges; if these amounts were reflected, returns would be less than
shown.

(sidebar)
ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS
This chart shows how the performance of the Fund's Class B shares has varied
from year to year over the life of the Fund.
(end sidebar)

(sidebar)
AVERAGE ANNUAL
TOTAL RETURNS
This table compares the Fund's average annual returns with those of a broad
measure of market performance over time. The Fund's returns include the maximum
applicable sales charge for each Class and assume you sold your shares at the
end of each period.
(end sidebar)

During the periods shown in the bar chart, the highest return for a calendar
quarter was 49.24% (quarter ended December 31, 1998) and the lowest return for
a calendar quarter was -21.17% (quarter ended March 31, 1997).

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS (FOR THE PERIODS ENDED THE 1998 CALENDAR YEAR)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PAST 1 YEAR LIFE OF FUND
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Class A 55.11% 42.30%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class B(1) 57.71% 24.07%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class C 61.53% 46.69%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class D 64.16% 48.16%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
S&P 400(2) 19.11% 22.76%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lipper Mid-Cap Funds Index(3) 13.92% 15.07%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

1 Prior to July 28, 1997, the Fund only issued Class B shares.
2 The Standard & Poor's (Registered Trademark) Mid-Cap 400 Index, a widely
recognized, unmanaged index of common stock prices. The performance of the
Index does not include expenses or fees, and should not be considered an
investment.
3 The Lipper Mid-Cap Funds Index is an equally-weighted performance index of
mid-cap funds. The Index is unmanaged and should not be considered an
investment.

<PAGE>

[GRAPHIC OMITTED]

FEES AND EXPENSES
- -----------------------------------------------

The Fund offers four Classes of shares: Classes A, B, C and D. Each Class has a
different combination of fees, expenses and other features. The table below
briefly describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold
shares of the Fund. The Fund does not charge account or exchange fees. See the
"Share Class Arrangements" section for further fee and expense information.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CLASS A CLASS B CLASS C CLASS D
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SHAREHOLDER FEES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on
purchases (as a percentage of offering price) 5.25%1 None None None
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a
percentage based on the lesser of the offering None2 5.00%3 1.00%4 None
price or net asset value at redemption)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Management and Advisory fee 1.00% 1.00% 1.00% 1.00%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.25% 0.90% 1.00% None
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other expenses 0.30% 0.30% 0.30% 0.30%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total annual Fund operating expenses 1.55% 2.20% 2.30% 1.30%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

1 Reduced for purchases of $25,000 and over.
2 Investments that are not subject to any sales charge at the time of purchase
are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") of 1.00% that will
be imposed on sales made within one year after purchase, except for certain
specific circumstances.
3 The CDSC is scaled down to 1.00% during the sixth year, reaching zero
thereafter. See "Share Class Arrangements" for a complete discussion of the
CDSC.
4 Only applicable to sales made within one year after purchase.

(sidebar)
SHAREHOLDER FEES

These fees are paid
directly from your
investment.
(end sidebar)

(sidebar)
ANNUAL FUND
OPERATING EXPENSES

These expenses are
deducted from the
Fund's assets and are
based on expenses paid
for the fiscal year ended
November 30, 1998.
(end sidebar)

EXAMPLE

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund
with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund, your investment has a
5% return each year, and the Fund's operating expenses remain the same.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, the tables below show your
costs at the end of each period based on these assumptions depending upon
whether or not you sell your shares at the end of each period.

<TABLE>
IF YOU SOLD YOUR SHARES: IF YOU HELD YOUR SHARES:
- ----------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
- ----------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
CLASS A $674 $989 $1325 $2274 $674 $989 $1325 $2274
- ----------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
CLASS B $725 $994 $1390 $2554 $225 $694 $1190 $2554
- ----------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
CLASS C $333 $718 $1230 $2636 $233 $718 $1230 $2636
- ----------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
CLASS D $132 $412 $713 $1568 $132 $412 $713 $1568
- ----------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

[GRAPHIC OMITTED]

ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY INFORMATION
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This section provides additional information concerning the Fund's principal
strategies.

COMMON STOCKS. As discussed in the "Principal Investment Strategies" section,
the Fund will normally invest at least 65% of its assets in a portfolio of
common stocks of medium-sized companies and other equity securities.

OTHER INVESTMENTS. The Fund also may invest up to 35% of its assets in equity
securities of small or large companies and investment grade fixed-income
securities. It also may invest up to 25% of its assets in foreign equity
securities (including depository receipts).

DEFENSIVE INVESTING. The Fund may take temporary "defensive" positions in
attempting to respond to adverse market conditions. The Fund may invest any
amount of its assets in cash or money market instruments in a defensive posture
when the Adviser believes it is advisable to do so. Although taking a defensive
posture is designed to protect the Fund from an anticipated market downturn, it
could have the effect of reducing the benefit from any upswing in the market.

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER. The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading of
portfolio securities to achieve its principal investment strategies. The
portfolio turnover rate is not expected to exceed 150% annually under normal
circumstances. A high turnover rate will increase Fund brokerage costs. It also
may increase the Fund's capital gains, which are passed along to Fund
shareholders as distributions. This, in turn, may increase your tax liability
as a Fund shareholder. See the sections on "Distributions" and "Tax
Consequences."

The percentage limitations relating to the composition of the Fund's portfolio
referenced in "Principal Investment Strategies" apply at the time the Fund
acquires an investment. Subsequent percentage changes that result from market
fluctuations or changes in assets will not require the Fund to sell any
portfolio security. The Fund may change its principal investment strategies
without shareholder approval; however, you would be notified of any changes.

[GRAPHIC OMITTED]

ADDITIONAL RISK INFORMATION
- -----------------------------------------------------------
As discussed in the "Principal Risks" section, a principal risk of investing in
the Fund is associated with its common stock investments, including the risks
associated with investments in securities of medium-sized companies. This
section provides additional information regarding the principal risks of
investing in the Fund.

SMALL COMPANIES. As with the Fund's investments in medium-sized companies, its
investments in the securities of small companies may involve greater risk than
is customarily associated with investing in more established companies. Small
companies in particular often have limited product lines, financial resources
and less experienced management. As a consequence, their securities may be more
volatile and have returns that vary, sometimes significantly, from the overall
stock market.

FIXED-INCOME SECURITIES. Principal risks of investing in the Fund are
associated with its fixed-income investments. All fixed-income securities, such
as corporate debt, are

<PAGE>

subject to two types of risk: credit risk and interest rate risk. Credit risk
refers to the possibility that the issuer of a security will be unable to make
interest payments and/or repay the principal on its debt.

Interest rate risk refers to fluctuations in the value of a fixed-income
security resulting from changes in the general level of interest rates. When
the general level of interest rates goes up, the price of most fixed-income
securities goes down. When the general level of interest rates goes down, the
price of most fixed-income securities goes up.

FOREIGN SECURITIES. The Fund's investments in foreign securities (including
depository receipts) involve risks that are in addition to the risks associated
with domestic securities. One additional risk is currency risk. While the price
of Fund shares is quoted in U.S. dollars, the Fund generally converts U.S.
dollars to a foreign market's local currency to purchase a security in that
market. If the value of that local currency falls relative to the U.S. dollar,
the U.S. dollar value of the foreign security will decrease. This is true even
if the foreign security's local price remains unchanged.

Foreign securities also have risks related to economic and political
developments abroad, including expropriations, confiscatory taxation, exchange
control regulation, limitations on the use or transfer of Fund assets and any
effects of foreign social, economic or political instability. Foreign
companies, in general, are not subject to the regulatory requirements of U.S.
companies and, as such, there may be less publicly available information about
these companies. Moreover, foreign accounting, auditing and financial reporting
standards generally are different from those applicable to U.S. companies.
Finally, in the event of a default of any foreign debt obligations, it may be
more difficult for the Fund to obtain or enforce a judgment against the issuers
of the securities.

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 U.S. counterparts.

Many European countries have adopted or are in the process of adopting a single
European currency, referred to as the "euro." The consequences of the euro
conversion for foreign exchange rates, interest rates and the value of European
securities the Fund may purchase are presently unclear. The consequences may
adversely affect the value and/or increase the volatility of securities held by
the Fund.

YEAR 2000. The Fund could be adversely affected if the computer systems
necessary for the efficient operation of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Services
Company Inc. (the "Manager"), the Adviser and the Fund's other service
providers, as well as the markets and individual and governmental issuers in
which the Fund invests do not properly process and calculate date-related
information from and after January 1, 2000. While year 2000-related computer
problems could have a negative effect on the Fund, the Manager, Adviser and
affiliates are working hard to avoid any problems and to obtain assurances from
their service providers that they are taking similar steps.

5
<PAGE>

[GRAPHIC OMITTED]

FUND MANAGEMENT
- ---------------------------------------------

The Fund has retained the Manager -- Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Services
Company Inc. -- to provide administrative services and manage its business
affairs (other than providing investment advice). The Fund has contracted with
the Adviser -- TCW Funds Management, Inc. -- to invest the Fund's assets,
including the placing of orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio
securities. The Manager is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley Dean
Witter Advisors Inc., which is in turn a wholly-owned subsidiary of Morgan
Stanley Dean Witter & Co., a preeminent global financial services firm that
maintains leading market positions in each of its three primary businesses:
securities, asset management and credit services. The Manager's main business
office is located at Two World Trade Center, New York, NY 10048.

(sidebar)
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER ADVISORS INC.

The Manager is a wholly owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Advisors
Inc., which is widely recognized as a leader in the mutual fund industry.
Together, the Manager and Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Advisors Inc. have more
than $126.2 billion in assets under management or administration as of February
28, 1999.
(end sidebar)

The Adviser, together with its affiliated companies, manages more than $55
billion primarily for institutional investors. The Adviser is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of The TCW Group, Inc. Its main business address is 865 South
Figueroa Street, Suite 1800, Los Angeles, California 90017.

Douglas S. Foreman, Group Managing Director of the Adviser, is the primary
portfolio manager of the Fund. He is assisted by Christopher J. Ainley,
Managing Director of the Adviser. Mr. Foreman and Mr. Ainley have been
portfolio managers with affiliated companies of The TCW Group since 1994.

The Fund pays the Manager and Adviser a monthly management or advisory fee as
full compensation for the services and facilities furnished to the Fund, and
for Fund expenses assumed by the Manager and Adviser. The fee is based on the
Fund's average daily net assets. For the fiscal year ended November 30, 1998
the Fund accrued aggregate total compensation to the Manager and the Adviser of
1.00% of the Fund's average daily net assets (0.60% to the Manager and 0.40% to
the Adviser).

In connection with the contemplated consolidation of the TCW/DW Funds with the
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds, the Fund's Board of Trustees has approved
changes to the Fund's management/advisory relationships. Specifically, the
Board has approved the appointment of the Manager as the new investment manager
to replace the Adviser. The Board also has approved the retention of the
Adviser as sub-advisor to the Fund. The result of the new arrangements would be
that the Manager would have overall responsibility for management of the Fund,
including supervisory responsibility over the Fund's investment programs, while
the Adviser would retain responsibility for investing the Fund's assets. The
Manager would continue to have responsibility for administrative services.
Under the new arrangements, the investment management fee rate that would be
paid by the Fund would be equal to the aggregate management/advisory fee rate
currently paid by the Fund. The Adviser would receive a sub-advisory fee paid
by the Manager equal to 0.40% of the Manager's fee. In order for the new
arrangements to be implemented, they must be approved by the Fund's
shareholders, who will be asked to approve the changes at a June 8, 1999
shareholders' meeting. Once shareholder approval is obtained, the new
arrangements would be effective as soon as practicable thereafter.

<PAGE>

SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

[GRAPHIC OMITTED]

PRICING FUND SHARES
- -------------------------------------------------
The price of Fund shares (excluding sales charges), called "net asset value,"
is based on the value of the Fund's portfolio securities. The net asset value
of each Class, however, will differ because the Classes have different ongoing
distribution fees.

The net asset value per share of the Fund is determined once daily at 4:00 p.m.
Eastern time, on each day that the New York Stock Exchange is open (or, on days
when the New York Stock Exchange closes prior to 4:00 p.m., at such earlier
time). Shares will not be priced on days that the New York Stock Exchange is
closed.

The value of the Fund's portfolio securities is based on the securities' market
price when available. When a market price is not readily available, including
circumstances under which the Adviser determines that a security's market price
is not accurate, a portfolio security is valued at its fair value, as
determined under procedures established by the Fund's Board of Trustees. In
these cases, the Fund's net asset value will reflect certain portfolio
securities' fair value rather than their market price.

An exception to the Fund's general policy of using market prices concerns its
short-term debt portfolio securities. Debt securities with remaining maturities
of sixty days or less at the time of purchase are valued at amortized cost.
However, if the cost does not reflect the securities' market value, these
securities will be valued at their fair value.

[GRAPHIC OMITTED]

HOW TO BUY SHARES
- -----------------------------------------------

You may open a new account to buy Fund shares or buy additional Fund shares for
an existing account by contacting your Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Financial
Advisor or other authorized financial representative. Your Financial Advisor
will assist you, step-by-step, with the procedures to invest in the Fund. You
may also purchase shares directly by calling the Fund's transfer agent and
requesting an application.

(sidebar)
CONTACTING A FINANCIAL ADVISOR

If you are new to the TCW/DW Funds family and would like to contact a Financial
Advisor, call (800) THE-DEAN for the telephone number of the Morgan Stanley
Dean Witter office nearest you. You may also access our office locator on our
Internet site at: www.deanwitter.com/funds
(end sidebar)

Because every investor has different immediate financial needs and long-term
investment goals, the Fund offers investors four Classes of shares: Classes A,
B, C and D. Class D shares are only offered to a limited group of investors.
Each Class of shares offers a distinct structure of sales charges, distribution
and service fees, and other features that are designed to address a variety of
needs. Your Financial Advisor or other authorized financial representative can
help you decide which Class may be most appropriate for you. When purchasing
Fund shares, you must specify which Class of shares you wish to purchase.

When you buy Fund shares, the shares are purchased at the next share price
calculated (less any applicable front-end sales charge for Class A shares)
after we receive your investment order in proper form. We reserve the right to
reject any order for the purchase of Fund shares.

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
MINIMUM INVESTMENT AMOUNTS
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MINIMUM INVESTMENT
------------- -----------
INVESTMENT OPTIONS INITIAL ADDITIONAL
<S> <C> <C> <C>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regular Accounts: $1,000 $100
Individual Retirement Accounts: Regular IRAs $1,000 $100
Education IRAs $500 $100
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EasyInvestSM (Automatically from your
checking or savings account or
Money Market Fund) $ 100* $100*
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

* Provided your schedule of investments totals $1,000 in twelve months.

(sidebar)
EASYINVEST(service mark)

A purchase plan that
allows you to transfer
money automatically
from your checking or
savings account or from
a Money Market Fund
on a semi-monthly,
monthly or quarterly
basis. Contact your
Morgan Stanley Dean
Witter Financial
Advisor for further
information about this
service.
(end sidebar)

There is no minimum investment amount if you purchase Fund shares through: (1)
the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Advisors' mutual fund asset allocation plan, or
(2) a program, approved by the Fund's distributor, in which you pay an
asset-based fee for advisory, administrative and/or brokerage services, or (3)
employer-sponsored employee benefit plan accounts.

INVESTMENT OPTIONS FOR CERTAIN INSTITUTIONAL AND OTHER INVESTORS/CLASS D
SHARES. To be eligible to purchase Class D shares, you must qualify under one
of the investor categories specified in the "Share Class Arrangements"
section of this Prospectus.

THREE DAY SETTLEMENT. Fund shares are sold through the Fund's distributor,
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Distributors Inc., on a normal three business day
basis; that is, your payment for Fund shares is due on the third business day
(settlement day) after you place a purchase order.

SUBSEQUENT INVESTMENTS SENT DIRECTLY TO THE FUND. In addition to buying
additional Fund shares for an existing account by contacting your Morgan
Stanley Dean Witter Financial Advisor, you may send a check directly to the
Fund. To buy additional shares in this manner:

o Write a "letter of instruction" to the Fund specifying the name(s) on the
account, the account number, the social security or tax identification
number, the Class of shares you wish to purchase and the investment amount
(which would include any applicable front-end sales charge). The letter must
be signed by the account owner(s).

o Make out a check for the total amount payable to: TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity
Trust.

o Mail the letter and check to Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Trust FSB at P.O. Box
1040, Jersey City, NJ 07303.

<PAGE>

[GRAPHIC OMITTED]

HOW TO EXCHANGE SHARES
- -------------------------------------------------------

PERMISSIBLE FUND EXCHANGES. You may exchange shares of any Class of the Fund
for the same Class of any other continuously offered TCW/DW Multi-Class Fund
advised by the Adviser and managed by the Manager, without the imposition of an
exchange fee. You may also exchange Fund shares, without the imposition of an
exchange fee, for shares of TCW/DW North American Government Income Trust, and
five Money Market Funds for which Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Advisors serves as
Investment Manager.

Exchanges may be made after shares of the Fund acquired by purchase have been
held for thirty days. There is no waiting period for exchanges of shares
acquired by exchange or dividend reinvestment. The current Prospectus for each
Fund describes its investment objective, policies and investment minimums and
should be read before investment.

EXCHANGE PROCEDURES. You can process an exchange by contacting your Morgan
Stanley Dean Witter Financial Advisor or other authorized financial
representative. Otherwise, you must forward an exchange privilege authorization
form to the Fund's transfer agent -- Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Trust FSB --
and then write the transfer agent or call (800) 869-NEWS to place an exchange
order. You can obtain an exchange privilege authorization form by contacting
your Financial Advisor or other authorized financial representative or by
calling (800) 869-NEWS. If you hold share certificates, no exchanges may be
processed until we have received all applicable share certificates.

An exchange to any Fund (except a Money Market Fund) is made on the basis of
the next calculated net asset values of the Funds involved after the exchange
instructions are accepted. When exchanging into a Money Market Fund, the Fund's
shares are sold at their next calculated net asset value and the Money Market
Fund's shares are purchased at their net asset value on the following business
day.

The Fund may terminate or revise the exchange privilege upon required notice.
Certain services normally available to shareholders of Money Market Funds,
including the check writing privilege, are not available for Money Market Fund
shares you acquire in an exchange.

TELEPHONE EXCHANGES. For your protection when calling Morgan Stanley Dean
Witter Trust FSB, we will employ reasonable procedures to confirm that exchange
instructions communicated over the telephone are genuine. These procedures may
include requiring various forms of personal identification such as name,
mailing address, social security or other tax identification number. Telephone
instructions also may be recorded.

Telephone instructions will be accepted if received by the Fund's transfer
agent between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, on any day the New York
Stock Exchange is open for business. 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 with the Fund in
the past.

9
<PAGE>

TAX CONSIDERATIONS OF EXCHANGES. If you exchange shares of the Fund for shares
of another Fund there are important tax considerations. For tax purposes, the
exchange out of the Fund is considered a sale of Fund shares -- and the
exchange into the other Fund is considered a purchase. As a result, you may
realize a capital gain or loss.

You should review the "Tax Consequences" section and consult your own tax
professional about the tax consequences of an exchange.

FREQUENT EXCHANGES. A pattern of frequent exchanges may result in the Fund
limiting or prohibiting, at its discretion, additional purchases and/or
exchanges. The Fund will notify you in advance of limiting your exchange
privileges.

CDSC CALCULATIONS ON EXCHANGES. See the "Share Class Arrangements" section of
this Prospectus for a further discussion of how applicable contingent deferred
sales charges (CDSCs) are calculated for shares of one Fund that are exchanged
for shares of another.

For further information regarding exchange privileges, you should contact your
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Financial Advisor or call (800) 869-NEWS.

[GRAPHIC OMITTED]

HOW TO SELL SHARES
- ------------------------------------------------

You can sell some or all of your Fund shares at any time. If you sell Class A,
Class B or Class C shares, your net sale proceeds are reduced by the amount of
any applicable CDSC. Your shares will be sold at the next price calculated
after we receive your order in proper form.

<TABLE>
<S> <C>
OPTIONS PROCEDURES
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact Your To sell your shares, simply call your Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Financial
Financial Advisor Advisor or other authorized financial representative.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[GRAPHIC OMITTED] Payment will be sent to the address to which the account is registered or
deposited in your brokerage account.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Letter You can also sell your shares by writing a "letter of instruction" that includes:
[GRAPHIC OMITTED] o your account number;
o the dollar amount or the number of shares you wish to sell;
o the Class of shares you wish to sell; and
o the signature of each owner as it appears on the account.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you are requesting payment to anyone other than the registered owner(s) or
that payment be sent to any address other than the address of the registered
owner(s) or pre-designated bank account, you will need a signature guarantee.
You can generally obtain a signature guarantee from a securities broker-dealer,
bank or credit union; a notary public cannot provide a signature guarantee.
Additional documentation may be required for shares held by a corporation,
partnership, trustee or executor.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mail the letter to Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Trust FSB at P.O. Box 983, Jersey
City, New Jersey 07303. If you hold share certificates, you must return the
certificates, along with the letter and any required additional documentation.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A check will be mailed to the name(s) and address in which the account is
registered, or otherwise according to your instructions.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<S> <C>
OPTIONS PROCEDURES
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Systematic If your investment in all of the TCW/DW Family of Funds has a total market
Withdrawal Plan value of at least $10,000, you may elect to withdraw amounts of $25 or more,
[GRAPHIC OMITTED] or in any whole percentage of a Fund's balance (provided the amount is at least
$25), on a monthly, quarterly, semi-annual basis, from any Fund with a balance
of at least $1,000. Each time you add a Fund to the plan, you must meet the
plan requirements.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amounts withdrawn are subject to any applicable CDSC. A CDSC may be
waived under certain circumstances. See the Class B waiver categories listed in
the "Share Class Arrangements" section of this Prospectus.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign up for the Systematic Withdrawal Plan, contact your Morgan Stanley
Dean Witter Financial Advisor or call (800) 869-NEWS. You may terminate or
suspend your plan at any time. Please remember that withdrawals from the
plan are sales of shares, not Fund "distributions," and ultimately may exhaust
your account balance. The Fund may terminate or revise the plan at any time.
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

(sidebar)
SYSTEMATIC
WITHDRAWAL PLAN

This plan allows you to
withdraw money
automatically from your
Fund account at regular
intervals. The service is
available to
shareholders whose
investments in all
TCW/DW Funds total
at least $10,000.
Contact your Morgan
Stanley Dean Witter
Financial Advisor for
more details.
(end sidebar)

PAYMENT FOR SOLD SHARES. After we receive your instruction to sell in proper
form, a check will be mailed to you within seven days, although we will attempt
to make payment within one business day. Payment may also be sent to your
brokerage account.

Payment may be postponed or the right to sell your shares suspended, however,
under unusual circumstances. If you request to sell shares that were recently
purchased by check, payment of the sale proceeds may be delayed for the minimum
time needed to verify that the check has been honored (not more than fifteen
days from the time we receive the check).

TAX CONSIDERATIONS. Normally, your sale of Fund shares is subject to federal
and state income tax. You should review the "Tax Consequences" section of this
Prospectus and consult your own tax professional about the tax consequences of
a sale.

REINSTATEMENT PRIVILEGE. If you sell Fund shares and have not previously
exercised the reinstatement privilege, you may, within 35 days after the date
of sale, invest any portion of the proceeds in the same Class of Fund shares at
their net asset value and receive a pro rata credit for any CDSC paid in
connection with the sale.

INVOLUNTARY SALES. The Fund reserves the right, on sixty days' notice, to sell
the shares of any shareholder (other than shares held in an IRA or 403(b)
Custodial Account) whose shares, due to sales by the shareholder, have a value
below $100, or in the case of an account opened through EasyInvestSM, if after
12 months the shareholder has invested less than $1,000 in the account.

However, before the Fund sells your shares in this manner, we will notify you
and allow you sixty days to make an additional investment in an amount that
will increase the value of your account to at least the required amount before
the sale is processed. No CDSC will be imposed on any involuntary sale.

MARGIN ACCOUNTS. Certain restrictions may apply to Fund shares pledged in
margin accounts with Dean Witter Reynolds or another authorized broker-dealer
of Fund shares. If you hold Fund shares in this manner, please contact your
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Financial Advisor or other authorized financial
representative for more details.

<PAGE>

[GRAPHIC OMITTED]

DISTRIBUTIONS
- ----------------------------------------
The Fund passes substantially all of its earnings from income and capital gains
along to its investors as "distributions." The Fund earns income from stocks
and interest from fixed-income investments. These amounts are passed along to
Fund shareholders as "income dividend distributions." The Fund realizes capital
gains whenever it sells securities for a higher price than it paid for them.
These amounts are passed along as "capital gain distributions."

(sidebar)
TARGETED DIVIDENDS(service mark)

You may select to have your Fund distributions automatically invested in other
Classes of Fund shares or Classes of another TCW/DW Fund that you own. Contact
your Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Financial Advisor for further information about
this service.
(end sidebar)

The Fund declares income dividends separately for each Class. Distributions
paid on Class A and Class D shares will be higher than for Class B and Class C
because distribution fees that Class B and Class C pay are higher. Normally,
income dividends are distributed to shareholders annually. Any capital gains
are distributed in December; if a second capital gain distribution is
necessary, it is paid in the following year. The Fund, however, may retain and
reinvest any long-term capital gains. The Fund may at times make payments from
sources other than income or capital gains that represent a return of a portion
of your investment.

Distributions are reinvested automatically in additional shares of the same
Class and automatically credited to your account, unless you request in writing
that all distributions be paid in cash. If you elect the cash option, the Fund
will mail a check to you no later than seven business days after the
distribution is declared. No interest will accrue on uncashed checks. If you
wish to change how your distributions are paid, your request should be received
by the Fund's transfer agent, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Trust FSB, at least
five business days prior to the record date of the distributions.

[GRAPHIC OMITTED]

TAX CONSEQUENCES
- ----------------------------------------------
As with any investment, you should consider how your Fund investment will be
taxed. The tax information in this Prospectus is provided as general
information. You should consult your own tax professional about the tax
consequences of an investment in the Fund.

Unless your investment in the Fund is through a tax-deferred retirement
account, such as a 401(k) plan or IRA, you need to be aware of the possible tax
consequences when:

o The Fund makes distributions; and

o You sell Fund shares, including an exchange to another Fund.

TAXES ON DISTRIBUTIONS. Your distributions are normally subject to federal and
state income tax when they are paid, whether you take them in cash or reinvest
them in Fund shares. A distribution also may be subject to local income tax.
Any income dividend distributions and any short-term capital gain distributions
are taxable to you as ordinary income. Any long-term capital gain distributions
are taxable as long-term capital gains, no matter how long you have owned
shares in the Fund.

Every January, you will be sent a statement (IRS Form 1099-DIV) showing the
taxable distributions paid to you in the previous year. The statement provides
full information on your dividends and capital gains for tax purposes.

<PAGE>

TAXES ON SALES. Your sale of Fund shares normally is subject to federal and
state income tax and may result in a taxable gain or loss to you. A sale also
may be subject to local income tax. Your exchange of Fund shares for shares of
another Fund is treated for tax purposes like a sale of your original shares
and a purchase of your new shares. Thus, the exchange may, like a sale, result
in a taxable gain or loss to you and will give you a new tax basis for your new
shares.

When you open your Fund account, you should provide your social security or tax
identification number on your investment application. By providing this
information, you will avoid being subject to a federal backup withholding tax
of 31% on taxable distributions and redemption proceeds. Any withheld amount
would be sent to the IRS as an advance tax payment.

[GRAPHIC OMITTED]

SHARE CLASS ARRANGEMENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------
The Fund offers several Classes of shares having different distribution
arrangements designed to provide you with different purchase options according
to your investment needs. Your Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Financial Advisor or
other authorized financial representative can help you decide which Class may
be appropriate for you.

The general public is offered three Classes: Class A shares, Class B shares and
Class C shares, which differ principally in terms of sales charges and ongoing
expenses. A fourth Class, Class D shares, is offered only to a limited category
of investors. Shares that you acquire through reinvested distributions will not
be subject to any front-end sales charge or CDSC -- contingent deferred sales
charge. Sales personnel may receive different compensation for selling each
Class of shares. The sales charges applicable to each Class provide for the
distribution financing of shares of that Class.

The chart below compares the sales charge and annual 12b-1 fee applicable to
each Class:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CLASS SALES CHARGE ANNUAL 12B-1FEE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
A Maximum 5.25% initial sales charge reduced for purchase of
$25,000 or more; shares sold without an initial sales charge are
generally subject to a 1.0% CDSC during the first year 0.25%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B Maximum 5.0% CDSC during the first year decreasing to 0%
after six years 1.0%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C 1.0% CDSC during the first year 1.0%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D None None
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

CLASS A SHARES Class A shares are sold at net asset value plus an initial sales
charge of up to 5.25%. The initial sales charge is reduced for purchases of
$25,000 or more according to the schedule below. Investments of $1 million or
more are not subject to an initial sales charge, but are generally subject to a
contingent deferred sales charge, or CDSC, of 1.0% on sales made within one
year after the last day of the month of purchase. The CDSC will be assessed in
the same manner and with the same CDSC waivers as with Class B shares. Class A
shares are also subject to a distribution (12b-1) fee of up to 0.25% of the
average daily net assets of the Class.

The offering price of Class A shares includes a sales charge (expressed as a
percentage of the offering price) on a single transaction as shown in the
following table:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FRONT-END SALES CHARGE
--------------------------------------------------
PERCENTAGE OF APPROXIMATE PERCENTAGE
AMOUNT OF SINGLE TRANSACTION PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE OF AMOUNT INVESTED
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Less than $25,000 5.25% 5.54%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$25,000 but less than $50,000 4.75% 4.99%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$50,000 but less than $100,000 4.00% 4.17%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$100,000 but less than $250,000 3.00% 3.09%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$250,000 but less than $1 million 2.00% 2.04%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$1 million and over 0 0
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

(sidebar)
FRONT-END SALES
CHARGE OR FSC

An initial sales charge
you pay when
purchasing Class A
shares that is based on
a percentage of the
offering price. The
percentage declines
based upon the dollar
value of Class A shares
you purchase. We offer
three ways to reduce
your Class A sales
charges -- the
Combined Purchase
Privilege, Right of
Accumulation and
Letter of Intent.
(end sidebar)

The reduced sales charge schedule is applicable to purchases of Class A shares
in a single transaction by:

o A single account (including an individual, trust or fiduciary account).

o Family member accounts (limited to husband, wife and children under the age
of 21).

o Pension, profit sharing or other employee benefit plans of companies and
their affiliates.

o Tax-exempt organizations.

o Groups organized for a purpose other than to buy mutual fund shares.

COMBINED PURCHASE PRIVILEGE. You also will have the benefit of reduced sales
charges by combining purchases of Class A shares of the Fund in a single
transaction with purchases of Class A shares of other TCW/DW Multi-Class Funds.

RIGHT OF ACCUMULATION. You also may benefit from a reduction of sales charges
if the cumulative net asset value of Class A shares of the Fund purchased in a
single transaction, together with shares of other TCW/DW Funds you currently
own which were previously purchased at a price including a front-end sales
charge (including shares acquired through reinvestment of distributions),
amounts to $25,000 or more. Also, if you have a cumulative net asset value of
all your Class A and Class D shares equal to at least $5 million (or $25
million for certain employee benefit plans), you are eligible to purchase Class
D shares of any TCW/DW Fund subject to the Fund's minimum initial investment
requirement.

14
<PAGE>

You must notify your Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Financial Advisor or other
authorized financial representative (or Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Trust FSB if
you purchase directly through the Fund), at the time a purchase order is
placed, that the purchase qualifies for the reduced charge under the Right of
Accumulation. Similar notification must be made in writing when an order is
placed by mail. The reduced sales charge will not be granted if: (i)
notification is not furnished at the time of the order; or (ii) a review of the
records of Dean Witter Reynolds or other authorized dealer of Fund shares or
the Fund's transfer agent does not confirm your represented holdings.

LETTER OF INTENT. The schedule of reduced sales charges for larger purchases
also will be available to you if you enter into a written "letter of intent." A
letter of intent provides for the purchase of Class A shares of the Fund or
other TCW/DW Multi-Class Funds. The initial purchase under a letter of intent
must be at least 5% of the stated investment goal. To determine the applicable
sales charge reduction, you may also include: (1) the cost of shares of other
TCW/DW Multi-Class Funds which were previously purchased at a price including a
front-end sales charge during the 90-day period prior to the distributor
receiving the letter of intent, and (2) the cost of shares of other Funds you
currently own acquired in exchange for shares of Funds purchased during that
period at a price including a front-end sales charge. You can obtain a letter
of intent by contacting your Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Financial Advisor or
other authorized financial representative, or by calling (800) 869-NEWS. If you
do not achieve the stated investment goal within the thirteen-month period, you
are required to pay the difference between the sales charges otherwise
applicable and sales charges actually paid.

OTHER FRONT-END SALES CHARGE WAIVERS. In addition to investments of $1 million
or more, your purchase of Class A shares is not subject to a front-end sales
charge (or a CDSC upon sale) if your account qualifies under one of the
following categories:

o A trust for which Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Trust FSB provides discretionary
trustee services.

o Persons participating in a fee-based investment program (subject to all of
its terms and conditions, including mandatory sale or transfer restrictions
on termination) approved by the Fund's distributor pursuant to which they
pay an asset-based fee for investment advisory, administrative and/or
brokerage services.

o Employer-sponsored employee benefit plans, whether or not qualified under the
Internal Revenue Code, for which Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Trust FSB serves
as trustee or Dean Witter Reynolds' Retirement Plan Services serves as
recordkeeper under a written Recordkeeping Services Agreement ("MSDW
Eligible Plans") which have at least 200 eligible employees.

o A MSDW Eligible Plan whose Class B shares have converted to Class A shares,
regardless of the plan's asset size or number of eligible employees.

o A client of a Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Financial Advisor who joined us from
another investment firm within six months prior to the date of purchase of
Fund shares, and you used the proceeds from the sale of shares of a
proprietary mutual fund of that Financial Advisor's previous firm that
imposed either a front-end or

15
<PAGE>

deferred sales charge to purchase Class A shares, provided that: (1) you sold
the shares not more than 60 days prior to the purchase of Fund shares, and (2)
the sale proceeds were maintained in the interim in cash or a money market
fund.

CLASS B SHARES Class B shares are offered at net asset value with no initial
sales charge but are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge, or CDSC, as
set forth in the table below. For the purpose of calculating the CDSC, shares
are deemed to have been purchased on the last day of the month during which
they were purchased.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR SINCE PURCHASE PAYMENT MADE CDSC AS A PERCENTAGE OF AMOUNT 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>

(sidebar)
CONTINGENT DEFERRED
SALES CHARGE OR CDSC

A fee you pay when you
sell shares of certain
TCW/DW Funds
purchased without an
initial sales charge. This
fee declines the longer
you hold your shares as
set forth in the table.
(end sidebar)

Each time you place an order to sell or exchange shares, shares with no CDSC
will be sold or exchanged first, then shares with the lowest CDSC will be sold
or exchanged next. For any shares subject to a CDSC, the CDSC will be assessed
on an amount equal to the lesser of the current market value or the cost of the
shares being sold.

CDSC WAIVERS. A CDSC, if otherwise applicable, will be waived in the case of:

o Sales of shares held at the time you die or become disabled (within the
definition in Section 72(m)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code which relates to
the ability to engage in gainful employment), if the shares are: (i)
registered either in your name (not a trust) or in the names of you and your
spouse as joint tenants with right of survivorship; or (ii) held in a
qualified corporate or self-employed retirement plan, IRA or 403(b)
Custodial Account, provided in either case that the sale is requested within
one year of your death or initial determination of disability.

o Sales in connection with the following retirement plan "distributions": (i)
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 591/2); (ii) distributions
from an IRA or 403(b) Custodial Account following attainment of age 591/2;
or (iii) a tax-free return of an excess IRA contribution (a "distribution"
does not include a direct transfer of IRA, 403(b) Custodial Account or
retirement plan assets to a successor custodian or trustee).

o Sales of shares held for you as a participant in a MSDW Eligible Plan.

o Sales of shares in connection with the Systematic Withdrawal Plan of up to
12% annually of the value of each Fund from which plan sales are made. The
percentage is determined on the date you establish the Systematic Withdrawal
Plan and based on the next calculated share price. You may have this CDSC
waiver applied in amounts up to 1% per month, 3% per quarter, 6%
semi-annually or 12% annually. Shares with no CDSC will be sold first,
followed by those with the lowest CDSC. As

<PAGE>

such, the waiver benefit will be reduced by the amount of your shares that are
not subject to a CDSC. If you suspend your participation in the plan, you may
later resume plan payments without requiring a new determination of the
account value for the 12% CDSC waiver.

All waivers will be granted only following the Distributor receiving
confirmation of your entitlement. If you believe you are eligible for a CDSC
waiver, please contact your Financial Advisor or call (800) 869-NEWS.

DISTRIBUTION FEE. Class B shares are subject to an annual 12b-1 fee of 1.0% of
the lesser of: (a) the average daily aggregate gross purchases by all
shareholders of the Fund's Class B 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 Class B shares sold by
all shareholders since the Fund's inception upon which a CDSC has been imposed
or waived, or (b) the average daily net assets of Class B.

CONVERSION FEATURE. After ten (10) years, Class B shares will convert
automatically to Class A shares of the Fund with no initial sales charge. The
ten year period runs from the last day of the month in which the shares were
purchased, or in the case of Class B shares acquired through an exchange, from
the last day of the month in which the original Class B shares were purchased;
the shares will convert to Class A shares based on their relative net asset
values in the month following the ten year period. At the same time, an equal
proportion of Class B shares acquired through automatically reinvested
distributions will convert to Class A shares on the same basis. (Class B shares
held before May 1, 1997, however, will convert to Class A shares in May 2007.)

In the case of Class B shares held in a MSDW Eligible Plan, the plan is treated
as a single investor and all Class B shares will convert to Class A shares on
the conversion date of the Class B shares of a TCW/DW Fund purchased by that
plan.

Currently, the Class B share conversion is not a taxable event; the conversion
feature may be cancelled if it is deemed a taxable event in the future by the
Internal Revenue Service.

If you exchange your Class B shares for shares of one of the five Money Market
Funds for which Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Advisors serves as Investment
Manager, TCW/DW Multi-Class Fund or TCW/DW North American Government Income
Trust, the holding period for conversion is frozen as of the last day of the
month of the exchange and resumes on the last day of the month you exchange
back into Class B shares.

EXCHANGING SHARES SUBJECT TO A CDSC. There are special considerations when you
exchange Fund shares that are subject to a CDSC. When determining the length of
time you held the shares and the corresponding CDSC rate, any period (starting
at the end of the month) during which you held shares of a fund that does not
charge a CDSC will not be counted. Thus, in effect the "holding period" for
purposes of calculating the CDSC is frozen upon exchanging into a fund that
does not charge a CDSC.

For example, if you held Class B shares of the Fund in a regular account for
one year, exchanged to Class B of another TCW/DW Multi-Class Fund for another
year, then sold your shares, a CDSC rate of 4% would be imposed on the shares
based on a two year

<PAGE>

holding period -- one year for each Fund. However, if you had exchanged the
shares of the Fund for a Money Market Fund (which does not charge a CDSC)
instead of the TCW/DW Multi-Class Fund, then sold your shares, a CDSC rate of
5% would be imposed on the shares based on a one year holding period. The one
year in the Money Market Fund would not be counted. Nevertheless, if shares
subject to a CDSC are exchanged for a Fund that does not charge a CDSC, you
will receive a credit when you sell the shares equal to the distribution
(12b-1) fees, if any, you paid on those shares while in that Fund up to the
amount of any applicable CDSC.

In addition, shares that are exchanged into or from a TCW/DW Multi-Class Fund
subject to a higher CDSC rate will be subject to the higher rate, even if the
shares are re-exchanged into a Fund with a lower CDSC rate.

CLASS C SHARES Class C shares are sold at net asset value with no initial sales
charge but are subject to a CDSC of 1.0% on sales made within one year after
the last day of the month of purchase. The CDSC will be assessed in the same
manner and with the same CDSC waivers as with Class B shares.

DISTRIBUTION FEE. Class C shares are subject to an annual distribution (12b-1)
fee of up to 1.0% of the average daily net assets of that Class. The Class C
shares' distribution fee may cause that Class to have higher expenses and pay
lower dividends than Class A or Class D shares. Unlike Class B shares, Class C
shares have no conversion feature and, accordingly, an investor that purchases
Class C shares may be subject to distribution (12b-1) fees applicable to Class
C shares for an indefinite period.

CLASS D SHARES Class D shares are offered without any sales charge on
purchases or sales and without any distribution (12b-1) fee. Class D shares are
offered only to investors meeting an initial investment minimum of $5 million
($25 million for MSDW Eligible Plans) and the following investor categories:

o Investors participating in Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Advisors' mutual fund
asset allocation program (subject to all of its terms and conditions,
including mandatory sale or transfer restrictions on termination) pursuant
to which they pay an asset-based fee.

o Certain unit investment trusts sponsored by Dean Witter Reynolds.

o Certain other open-end investment companies whose shares are distributed by
the Fund's distributor.

MEETING CLASS D ELIGIBILITY MINIMUMS. To meet the $5 million ($25 million for
MSDW Eligible Plans) initial investment to qualify to purchase Class D shares
you may combine: (1) purchases in a single transaction of Class D shares of the
Fund and other TCW/DW Multi-Class Funds and/or (2) previous purchases of Class
A shares of

<PAGE>

TCW/DW Multi-Class Funds, TCW/DW North American Government Income Trust and
five Money Market Funds advised by Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Advisors you
currently own.

NO SALES CHARGES FOR REINVESTED CASH DISTRIBUTIONS If you receive a cash
payment representing an income dividend or capital gain and you
reinvest that amount in the applicable Class of shares by returning the check
within 30 days of the payment date, the purchased shares would not be subject
to an initial sales charge or CDSC.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION (RULE 12B-1 FEES) The Fund has adopted a Plan of
Distribution in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act
of 1940 with respect to the distribution of Class A, Class B and Class C
shares. The Plan allows the Fund to pay distribution fees for the sale and
distribution of these shares. It also allows the Fund to pay for services to
shareholders of Class A, Class B and Class C shares. Because these fees are
paid out of the Fund's assets on an ongoing basis, over time these fees will
increase the cost of your investment in these Classes and may cost you more
than paying other types of sales charges.

<PAGE>

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund's
financial performance for the past 5 fiscal years of the Fund. Certain
information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total
returns in the table represent the rate an investor would have earned or lost
on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and
distributions).

This information has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, whose report,
along with the Fund's financial statements, is included in the annual report,
which is available upon request.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CLASS B
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR THE PERIOD
FOR THE YEAR FOR THE YEAR FEBRUARY 27, 1996*
ENDED ENDED THROUGH
NOVEMBER 30, 1998++ NOVEMBER 30, 1997**++ NOVEMBER 30, 1996
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
SELECTED PER SHARE DATA
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value, beginning of period $ 10.85 $ 10.92 $ 10.00
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income (loss) from Investment operations
Net investment income (0.26) (0.22) (0.13)
Net realized and unrealized gain 4.87 0.15 1.05
-------- -------- --------
Total income (loss) from investment
operations 4.61 (0.07) 0.92
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value, end of period $ 15.46 $ 10.85 $ 10.92
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL RETURN+ 42.49% (0.64)% 9.20%(1)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expenses 2.20%(3) 2.29% 2.28%(2)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net investment loss (2.05)%(3) (2.16)% (1.79)%(2)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets, end of period, in thousands $212,043 $174,412 $205,274
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portfolio turnover rate 52% 49% 25%(1)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

* Commencement of operations.
** Prior to July 28, 1997, the Fund issued one class of shares. All shares
of the Fund held prior to that date have been designated Class B shares.
++ The per share amounts were computed using an average number of shares
outstanding during the period.
+ Does not reflect the deduction of sales charge. Calculated based on the
net asset value as of the last business day of the period.
(1) Not annualized.
(2) Annualized.
(3) Reflects overall Fund ratios for investment income and non-class specific
expenses.

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CLASS A++
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR THE PERIOD
FOR THE YEAR JULY 28, 1997*
ENDED THROUGH
NOVEMBER 30, 1998 NOVEMBER 30, 1997
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
SELECTED PER SHARE DATA
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value, beginning of period $10.88 $10.85
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income from Investment operations
Net investment loss (0.18) (0.06)
Net realized and unrealized gain 4.90 0.09
------- --------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total income from investment operations 4.72 0.03
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value, end of period $15.60 $10.88
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL RETURN+ 43.38% 0.28%(1)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expenses 1.55%(3) 1.55%(2)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net investment loss (1.40)%(3) (1.46)%(2)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets, end of period, in thousands $1,107 $ 58
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portfolio turnover rate 52% 49%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CLASS C++
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SELECTED PER SHARE DATA
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Net asset value, beginning of period $10.85 $10.85
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income from Investment operations
Net investment loss (0.28) (0.08)
Net realized and unrealized gain 4.88 0.08
------- --------
Total income from investment operations 4.60 --
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value, end of period $15.45 $10.85
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL RETURN+ 42.27% 0.09%(1)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expenses 2.30%(3) 2.32%(2)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net investment loss (2.15)%(3) (2.22)%(2)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets, end of period, in thousands $712 $83
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portfolio turnover rate 52% 49%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

* The date shares were first issued.
++ The per share amounts were computed using an average number of shares
outstanding during the period.
+ Does not reflect the deduction of sales charge. Calculated based on the
net asset value as of the last business day of the period.
(1) Not annualized.
(2) Annualized.
(3) Reflects overall Fund ratios for investment income and non-class specific
expenses.

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CLASS D++
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR THE PERIOD
FOR THE YEAR JULY 28, 1997*
ENDED THROUGH
NOVEMBER 30, 1998 NOVEMBER 30, 1997
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
SELECTED PER SHARE DATA
Net asset value, beginning of period $10.89 $10.85
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income from Investment operations
Net investment loss (0.15) (0.05)
Net realized and unrealized gain 4.92 0.09
------- --------
Total income from investment operations 4.77 0.04
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value, end of period $15.66 $10.89
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL RETURN+ 43.80% 0.37%(1)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expenses 1.30%(3) 1.30%(2)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net investment loss (1.15)%(3) (1.19)%(2)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets, end of period, in thousands $15 $10
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portfolio turnover rate 52% 49%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

* The date shares were first issued.
++ The per share amounts were computed using an average number of shares
outstanding during the period.
+ Calculated based on the net asset value as of the last business day of
the period.
(1) Not annualized.
(2) Annualized.
(3) Reflects overall Fund ratios for investment income and non-class specific
expenses.

<PAGE>

NOTES

------------------------------------------------------------------------

<PAGE>

NOTES

------------------------------------------------------------------------

<PAGE>

TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST

Additional information about the Fund's investments is available in the Fund's
Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to Shareholders. In the Fund's Annual Report,
you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies
that significantly affected the Fund's performance during its last fiscal year.
The Fund's Statement of Additional Information also provides additional
information about the Fund. The Statement of Additional Information is
incorporated herein by reference (legally is part of this Prospectus). For a
free copy of any of these documents to request other information about the
Fund, or to make shareholder inquiries, please call:

(800) 869-NEWS

You also may obtain information about the Fund by calling your Morgan Stanley
Dean Witter Financial Advisor or by visiting our Internet site at:

WWW.DEANWITTER.COM/FUNDS

(sidebar)
TICKER SYMBOLS:

Class A: TMDAX
- ------------------
Class B: TMDBX
- ------------------
Class C: TMDCX
- ------------------
Class D: TMDDX
- ------------------
(end sidebar)

Information about the Fund (including the Statement of Additional Information)
can be viewed and copied at the Securities and Exchange Commission's Public
Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information about the Reference Room's
operations may be obtained by calling the SEC at (800) SEC-0330. Reports and
other information about the Fund are available on the SEC's Internet site
(www.sec.gov) and copies of this information may be obtained, upon payment of a
duplicating fee, by writing the Public Reference Section of the SEC,
Washington, DC 20549-6009.

(TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST; INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT FILE NO. 811-7377)

<PAGE>

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
TCW/DW MID-CAP
EQUITY TRUST

MARCH 29, 1999

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This Statement of Additional Information is not a Prospectus. The
Prospectus (dated March 29, 1999) for TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust may be
obtained without charge from the Fund at its address or telephone number listed
below or from Dean Witter Reynolds at any of its branch offices.

TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
(800) 869-NEWS

<PAGE>

TABLE OF CONTENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<TABLE>
<S> <C>
I. Fund History ................................................................... 4
II. Description of the Fund and Its Investments and Risks .......................... 4
A. Classification .......................................................... 4
B. Investment Strategies and Risks ......................................... 4
C. Fund Policies/Investment Restrictions ................................... 8
III. Management of the Fund ......................................................... 9
A. Board of Trustees ....................................................... 9
B. Management Information .................................................. 10
C. Compensation ............................................................ 14
IV. Control Persons and Principal Holders of Securities ............................ 16
V. Management, Investment Advice and Other Services ............................... 16
A. Manager ................................................................. 16
B. The Adviser ............................................................. 16
C. Principal Underwriter ................................................... 17
D. Services Provided by the Manager, the Adviser and Fund Expenses Paid by
Third Parties ......................................................... 17
E. Dealer Reallowances ..................................................... 18
F. Rule 12b-1 Plan ......................................................... 18
G. Other Service Providers ................................................. 22
VI. Brokerage Allocation and Other Practices ....................................... 23
A. Brokerage Transactions .................................................. 23
B. Commissions ............................................................. 23
C. Brokerage Selection ..................................................... 23
D. Directed Brokerage ...................................................... 24
E. Regular Broker-Dealers .................................................. 24
VII. Capital Stock and Other Securities ............................................. 24
VIII. Purchase, Redemption and Pricing of Shares ..................................... 25
A. Purchase/Redemption of Shares ........................................... 25
B. Offering Price .......................................................... 26
IX. Taxation of the Fund and Shareholders .......................................... 27
X. Underwriters ................................................................... 28
XI. Calculation of Performance Data ................................................ 29
XII. Financial Statements ........................................................... 30
</TABLE>

2
<PAGE>

GLOSSARY OF SELECTED DEFINED TERMS

The terms defined in this glossary are frequently used in this Statement
of Additional Information (other terms used occasionally are defined in the
text of the document).

"Adviser " -- TCW Funds Management, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of
TCW.

"Custodian " -- The Bank of New York.

"Dean Witter Reynolds " -- Dean Witter Reynolds Inc., a wholly-owned
broker-dealer subsidiary of MSDW.

"Distributor " -- Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Distributors Inc., a
wholly-owned broker-dealer subsidiary of MSDW.

"Financial Advisors " -- Morgan Stanley Dean Witter authorized financial
services representatives.

"Fund " -- TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust, a registered open-end investment
company.

"Independent Trustees " -- Trustees who are not "interested persons" (as
defined by the Investment Company Act) of the Fund.

"Manager " -- Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Services Company Inc., a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Advisors Inc. The Manager
may also be referred to as MSDW Services Company.

"Morgan Stanley & Co." -- Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, a
wholly-owned broker-dealer subsidiary of MSDW.

"Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds " -- Registered investment companies (i)
for which the MSDW Advisors serves as the investment advisor; and (ii) that
hold themselves out to investors as related companies for investment and
investor services.

"MSDW " -- Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co., a preeminent global financial
services firm.

"MSDW Advisors " -- Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Advisors, Inc., a
wholly-owned investment advisor subsidiary of MSDW.

"TCW " -- The TCW Group, Inc., a preeminent investment management and
investment advisory services firm.

"TCW/DW Funds " -- The registered investment companies managed by the
Manager and advised by the Adviser.

"Transfer Agent " -- Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Trust FSB, a wholly-owned
transfer agent subsidiary of MSDW.

"Trustees " -- The Board of Trustees of the Fund.

3
<PAGE>

I. FUND HISTORY
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Fund was organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
on October 17, 1995 as a Massachusetts business trust.

II. DESCRIPTION OF THE FUND AND ITS INVESTMENTS AND RISKS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A. CLASSIFICATION

The Fund is an open-end, diversified management investment company whose
investment objective is long-term capital appreciation.

B. INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS

The following discussion of the Fund's investment strategies and risks
should be read with the sections of the Fund's Prospectus titled "Principal
Investment Strategies," "Principal Risks," "Additional Investment Strategy
Information" and "Additional Risk Information."

CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES. The Fund may invest in fixed-income securities
which are 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, will 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. Convertible securities may be
purchased by the Fund at varying price levels above their investment values
and/or their conversion values in keeping with the Fund's objective.

MONEY MARKET SECURITIES. The Fund may invest in various money market
securities for cash management purposes or when assuming a temporary defensive
position, which among others may include commercial paper, bank acceptances,
bank obligations, corporate debt securities, certificates of deposit, U.S.
Government securities and obligations of savings institutions and repurchase
agreements. 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 and
bankers' acceptances) 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 to the extent below;

Eurodollar Certificates of Deposit. Eurodollar certificates of deposit
issued by foreign branches of domestic banks having total assets of $1 billion
or more;

Obligations of Savings Institutions. Certificates of deposit of savings
banks and savings and loan associations, having total assets of $1 billion or
more;

4
<PAGE>

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 federally insured by the Bank Insurance
Fund or the Savings Association Insurance Fund (each of which is administered
by the FDIC), limited to $100,000 principal amount per certificate and to 10%
or less of the Fund's total assets in all such obligations and in all illiquid
assets, in the aggregate;

Commercial Paper. Commercial paper rated within the two highest grades by
Standard & Poor's Corporation ("S&P") or the two highest grade by Moody's
Investor's Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or, if not rated, issued by a company
having an outstanding debt issue rated at least AA by S&P or Aa by Moody's; and

Repurchase Agreements. The Fund may invest in 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 serving as 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 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
this 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.

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 Manager subject
to procedures established by the Trustees. 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.

ZERO COUPON SECURITIES. A portion of the fixed-income securities purchased
by the Fund may be zero coupon securities. Such securities are purchased at a
discount from their face amount, giving the purchaser the right to receive
their full value at maturity. The interest earned on such securities is,
implicitly, automatically compounded and paid out at maturity. While such
compounding at a constant rate eliminates the risk of receiving lower yields
upon reinvestment of interest if prevailing interest rates decline, the owner
of a zero coupon security will be unable to participate in higher yields upon
reinvestment of interest received on interest-paying securities if prevailing
interest rates rise.

A zero coupon security pays no interest to its holder during its life.
Therefore, to the extent the Fund invests in zero coupon securities, it will
not receive current cash available for distribution to shareholders. In
addition, zero coupon securities are subject to substantially greater price
fluctuations during periods of changing prevailing interest rates than are
comparable securities which pay interest on a current basis. Current federal
tax law requires that a holder (such as the Fund) of a zero coupon security
accrue a portion of the discount at which the security was purchased as income
each year even though the Fund receives no interest payments in cash on the
security during the year.

5
<PAGE>

INVESTMENT IN REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS. The Fund may invest in real
estate investment trusts, which pool investors' funds for investments primarily
in commercial real estate properties. Investment in real estate investment
trusts may be the most practical available means for the Fund to invest in the
real estate industry (the Fund is prohibited from investing in real estate
directly). As a shareholder in a real estate investment trust, the Fund would
bear its ratable share of the real estate investment trust's expenses,
including its advisory and administration fees. At the same time the Fund would
continue to pay its own management fees, investment advisory fees and other
expenses, as a result of which the Fund and its shareholders in effect will be
absorbing duplicate levels of fees with respect to investments in real estate
investment trusts.

LENDING PORTFOLIO SECURITIES. The Fund may lend its portfolio securities
to brokers, dealers and other financial institutions, provided that the loans
are callable at any time by the Fund, and are at all times secured by cash or
cash equivalents, which are maintained in a segregated account pursuant to
applicable regulations and that are equal to at least 100% of the market value,
determined daily, of the loaned securities. The advantage of these 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 more
than 25% of the value of its total assets.

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 Fund's management 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.

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 the
rights if the matters involved would have a material effect on the Fund's
investment in the loaned securities. The Fund will pay reasonable finder's,
administrative and custodial fees in connection with a loan of its securities.

WHEN-ISSUED AND DELAYED DELIVERY SECURITIES AND FORWARD COMMITMENTS. 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 these
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
commitment. 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. 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.

At the time the Fund makes the commitment to purchase or sell securities
on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis, it 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, their value may be more
or less than the purchase or sale price. 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 its net
asset value. The Fund will also establish a segregated account on the Fund's
books in which it will continually maintain cash or cash equivalents or other
liquid portfolio securities equal in value to commitments to purchase
securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis.

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 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 that time,
the Fund will record the transaction

6
<PAGE>

and, in determining its net asset value, will reflect the value of the security
daily. At that time, the Fund will also establish a segregated account on the
Fund's books in which it will maintain cash or cash equivalents or other liquid
portfolio securities equal in value to recognized commitments for such
securities.

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. 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 sale.

PRIVATE PLACEMENTS AND RESTRICTED SECURITIES. The Fund may invest up to
15% of its net assets in securities which are subject to restrictions on resale
because they have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (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 these 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 the
securities for resale and the risk of substantial delays in effecting the
registration.

Rule 144A permits the Fund to sell restricted securities to qualified
institutional buyers without limitation. The Adviser, pursuant to procedures
adopted by the Trustees, will make a determination as to the liquidity of each
restricted security purchased by the Fund. If a restricted security is
determined to be "liquid," the security will not be included within the
category "illiquid securities," which under current policy may not exceed 15%
of the Fund's net assets. However, investing in Rule 144A securities could have
the effect of increasing the level of Fund illiquidity to the extent the Fund,
at a particular point in time, may be unable to find qualified institutional
buyers interested in purchasing such securities.

WARRANTS AND SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS. The Fund may acquire warrants and
subscription rights attached to other securities. 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. A
warrant is, in effect, an option to purchase equity securities at a specific
price, generally valid for a specific period of time, and has no voting rights,
pays no dividends and has no rights with respect to the corporation issuing it.

A subscription right is a privilege granted to existing shareholders of a
corporation to subscribe to shares of a new issue of common stock before it is
offered to the public. A subscription right normally has a life of two to four
weeks and a subscription price lower than the current market value of the
common stock. A subscription right is freely transferable. The Fund may invest
up to 5% of the value of its net assets in rights.

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

7
<PAGE>

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.

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 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.

YEAR 2000. The management services provided to the Fund by the Manager,
the investment advisory services provided to the Fund by the Adviser and the
services provided to shareholders by the Distributor and the Transfer Agent
depend on the smooth functioning of their computer systems. Many computer
software systems in use today cannot recognize the year 2000, but revert to
1900 or some other date, due to the manner in which dates were encoded and
calculated. That failure could have a negative impact on the handling of
securities trades, pricing and account services. The Manager, the Adviser, the
Distributor and the Transfer Agent have been actively working on necessary
changes to their own computer systems to prepare for the year 2000 and expect
that their systems will be adapted before that date, but there can be no
assurance that they will be successful, or that interaction with other
non-complying computer systems will not impair their services at that time.

In addition, it is possible that the markets for securities in which the
Fund invests may be detrimentally affected by computer failures throughout the
financial services industry beginning January 1, 2000. Improperly functioning
trading systems may result in settlement problems and liquidity issues. In
addition, corporate and governmental data processing errors may result in
production problems for individual companies and overall economic
uncertainties. Earnings of individual issuers will be affected by remediation
costs, which may be substantial and may be reported inconsistently in U.S. and
foreign financial statements. Accordingly, the Fund's investments may be
adversely affected.

C. FUND POLICIES/INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

The investment objective, policies and restrictions listed below have been
adopted by the Fund as fundamental policies. Under the Investment Company Act
of 1940 (the "Investment Company Act"), a fundamental policy may not be changed
without the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the
Fund. The Investment Company Act defines a majority 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. For purposes of the
following restrictions: (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 will:

1. Seek long-term capital appreciation.

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 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 or to cash equivalents.

8
<PAGE>

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 3
years of continuous operation. This restriction does not apply to any
obligation of the United States Government, its agencies or
instrumentalities.

5. Purchase securities of other investment companies, except in connection
with a merger, consolidation, reorganization or acquisition of assets.

6. 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.

7. 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
these programs.

8. Purchase or sell commodities or commodities contracts.

9. Borrow money, except that the Fund may borrow from a bank for temporary
or emergency purposes, in amounts not exceeding 5% of its total assets
(not including the amount borrowed).

10. Pledge its assets or assign or otherwise encumber them except to secure
permitted borrowings. 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.

11. Issue senior securities as defined in the Investment Company 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) borrowing money; or (d) lending portfolio securities.

12. Make loans of money or securities, except: (a) by the purchase of
portfolio securities; (b) by investment in repurchase agreements; or (c)
by lending its portfolio securities.

13. Make short sales of securities.

14. Purchase securities on margin, except for 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 or related options thereon is not considered the
purchase of a security on margin.

15. Engage in the underwriting of securities, except insofar as the Fund
may be deemed an underwriter under the Securities Act in disposing of a
portfolio security.

16. Invest for the purpose of exercising control or management of any
other issuer.

17. Purchase warrants if, as a result, the Fund would then have either more
than 5% of its net assets invested in warrants or more than 2% of its
net assets invested in warrants not listed on the New York or American
Stock Exchange.

18. Invest in options or futures contracts.

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.

III. MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A. BOARD OF TRUSTEES

The Board of Trustees of the Fund oversees the management of the Fund but
does not itself manage the Fund. The Trustees review various services provided
by or under the direction of the Adviser

9
<PAGE>

to ensure that the Fund's general investment policies and programs are properly
carried out. The Trustees also conduct their review of the Manager to ensure
that administrative services are provided to the Fund in a satisfactory manner.

Under state law, the duties of the Trustees are generally characterized as
a duty of loyalty and a duty of care. The duty of loyalty requires a Trustee to
exercise his or her powers in the interest of the Fund and not the Trustee's
own interest or the interest of another person or organization. A Trustee
satisfies his or her duty of care by acting in good faith with the care of an
ordinarily prudent person and in a manner the Trustee reasonably believes to be
in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders.

B. MANAGEMENT INFORMATION

TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS. The Board of the Fund consists of nine (9)
Trustees. These same individuals also serve as trustees for all of the TCW/DW
Funds. Five Trustees (56% of the total number) have no affiliation or business
connection with the Manager or Adviser or any of their affiliated persons and
do not own any stock or other securities issued by the Manager's parent
company, MSDW or the Adviser's parent company, TCW. These are the
"disinterested" or "independent" Trustees. The other four Trustees (the
"Management Trustees") are affiliated with the Manager or Adviser. Four of the
five Independent Trustees also serve as Independent Trustees of "Discover
Brokerage Index Series" a mutual fund for which the Manager is the investment
advisor. Four of the five Independent Trustees are also Independent Trustees of
the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds.

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 with the 85 Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds, the
11 TCW/DW Funds and Discover Brokerage Index Series are shown below.

10
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME, AGE, POSITION WITH FUND AND ADDRESS PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS DURING LAST FIVE YEARS
- ------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Charles A. Fiumefreddo* (65) .............. Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Trustee of
Chairman of the Board, President, the TCW/DW Funds; Chairman, Director or Trustee,
Chief Executive Officer and Trustee President and Chief Executive Officer of the Morgan
Two World Trade Center Stanley Dean Witter Funds; Trustee of Discover
New York, New York Brokerage Index Series; formerly Chairman, Chief
Executive Officer and Director of the Manager, the
Distributor and MSDW Advisors; Executive Vice
President and Director of Dean Witter Reynolds;
Chairman and Director of the Transfer Agent;
formerly Director and/or officer of various MSDW
subsidiaries (until June, 1998).
John R. Haire (74) ........................ Chairman of the Audit Committee and Trustee of
Trustee the TCW/DW Funds; Chairman of the Audit
Two World Trade Center Committee and Director or Trustee of the Morgan
New York, New York Stanley Dean Witter Funds; Chairman of the Audit
Committee and Trustee of Discover Brokerage
Index Series; formerly Chairman of the Independent
Directors or Trustees of the Morgan Stanley Dean
Witter Funds and the TCW/DW Funds (until June,
1998); formerly President, Council for Aid to
Education (1978-1989) and Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of Anchor Corporation, an
investment advisor (1964-1978).
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson (50) ................ Senior Partner, Johnson Smick International, Inc.,
Trustee a consulting firm; Co-Chairman and a founder of
c/o Johnson Smick International, Inc. the Group of Seven Council (G7C), an international
1133 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. economic commission; Trustee of the TCW/DW
Washington, D.C. Funds; Director or Trustee of the Morgan Stanley
Dean Witter Funds; Trustee of Discover Brokerage
Index Series; Director of NASDAQ, Greenwich
Capital Markets, Inc. (broker-dealer) and NVR, Inc.
(home construction); Chairman and Trustee of the
Financial Accounting Foundation (oversight
organization of the Financial Accounting Standards
Board); formerly Vice Chairman of the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System
(1986-1990) and Assistant Secretary of the U.S.
Treasury.
Thomas E. Larkin, Jr.* (59) ............... Executive Vice President and Director, TCW;
President and Trustee President and Director, Trust Company of the
865 South Figueroa Street West; Vice Chairman and Director of TCW Asset
Los Angeles, California Management Company; Vice Chairman and
Director of the Adviser; President and Director of
TCW Galileo Funds, Inc.; Senior Vice President of
TCW Convertible Securities Fund, Inc.; President
and Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds; Member of the
Board of Trustees of the University of Notre Dame;
Director of Los Angeles Orthopaedic Hospital
Foundation.
</TABLE>

11
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME, AGE, POSITION WITH FUND AND ADDRESS PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS DURING LAST FIVE YEARS
- ------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Michael E. Nugent (62) .................... General Partner, Triumph Capital, L.P., a private
Trustee investment partnership; Trustee of the TCW/DW
c/o Triumph Capital, L.P. Funds; Director or Trustee of the Morgan Stanley
237 Park Avenue Dean Witter Funds; Trustee of Discover Brokerage
New York, New York Index Series; formerly Vice President, Bankers
Trust Company and BT Capital Corporation
(1984-1988); Director of various business
organizations.
John L. Schroeder (68) .................... Retired; Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds; Director
Trustee or Trustee of the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
c/o Gordon Altman Butowsky Funds; Trustee of Discover Brokerage Index Series;
Weitzen Shalov & Wein Director of Citizens Utilities Company; formerly
Counsel to the Independent Trustees Executive Vice President and Chief Investment
114 West 47th Street Officer of the Home Insurance Company (August,
New York, New York 1991-September, 1995).
Marc I. Stern* (54) ....................... President and Director, TCW; Chairman and
Trustee Director of the Adviser; Vice Chairman and Director
865 South Figueroa Street of TCW Asset Management Company; Executive
Los Angeles, California Vice President and Director of Trust Company of
the West; Chairman and Director of the TCW
Galileo Funds, Inc.; Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds;
formerly President and Director of SunAmerica,
Inc. (financial services company) (1988-1990);
Director of Qualcomm, Incorporated (wireless
communications); director or trustee of various
not-for-profit organizations.
Barry Fink (44) ........................... Senior Vice President (since March, 1997),
Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel (since February,
Secretary and General Counsel 1997) and Director (since July, 1998) of the
Two World Trade Center Manager and MSDW Advisors; Senior Vice
New York, New York President (since March, 1997) and Assistant
Secretary and Assistant General Counsel (since
February, 1997) of the Distributor; Assistant
Secretary of Dean Witter Reynolds (since August,
1996); Vice President, Secretary and General
Counsel of the TCW/DW Funds and the Morgan
Stanley Dean Witter Funds (since February, 1997);
Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of
Discover Brokerage Index Series; previously First
Vice President (June, 1993-February, 1997), Vice
President and Assistant Secretary and Assistant
General Counsel of the Manager and MSDW
Advisors and Assistant Secretary of the TCW/DW
Funds and the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds.
Douglas S. Foreman (41) ................... Managing Director of the Adviser, Trust Company
Vice President of the West and TCW Asset Management Company
865 South Figueroa Street (since May, 1994); previously portfolio manager
Los Angeles, California with Putnam Investments.
Christopher J. Ainley (40) ................ Managing Director of the Adviser, Trust Company
Vice President of the West and TCW Asset Management Company
865 South Figueroa Street (since February, 1996); formerly Senior Vice
Los Angeles, California President of the Adviser, Trust Company of the
West and TCW Asset Management Company (May,
1994-February, 1996); previously portfolio manager
with Putnam Investments.
</TABLE>

12
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME, AGE, POSITION WITH FUND AND ADDRESS PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS DURING LAST FIVE YEARS
- ------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Thomas F. Caloia (53) ..................... First Vice President and Assistant Treasurer of the
Treasurer Manager and MSDW Advisors; Treasurer of the
Two World Trade Center TCW/DW Funds, the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
New York, New York Funds and Discover Brokerage Index Series.
</TABLE>

- ----------
* Denotes Trustees who are "interested persons" of the Fund as defined by the
Investment Company Act.

In addition, Mitchell M. Merin, President and Chief Operating Officer of
Asset Management of MSDW, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of
the Manager and MSDW Advisors, Chairman and Director of the Distributor and the
Transfer Agent, Executive Vice President and Director of Dean Witter Reynolds,
and Director of various MSDW subsidiaries, Ronald E. Robison, Executive Vice
President, Chief Administrative Officer and Director of the Manager and MSDW
Advisors and Robert S. Giambrone, Senior Vice President of the Manager, MSDW
Advisors, the Distributor and the Transfer Agent and Director of the Transfer
Agent are Vice Presidents of the Fund.

In addition, Frank Bruttomesso, Marilyn K. Cranney, Lou Anne D. Mclnnis,
Carsten Otto and Ruth Rossi, First Vice Presidents and Assistant General
Counsels of the Manager and MSDW Advisors, and Todd Lebo, Vice President and
Assistant General Counsel of the Manager and MSDW Advisors, are Assistant
Secretaries of the Fund.

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES AND THE COMMITTEES. Law and regulation establish both
general guidelines and specific duties for the Independent Trustees. The TCW/DW
Funds seek as Independent Trustees individuals of distinction and experience in
business and finance, government service or academia; these are people whose
advice and counsel are 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 the Funds make substantial demands
on their time. Indeed, by serving on the Funds' Boards, certain Trustees who
would otherwise be qualified and in demand to serve on bank boards would be
prohibited by law from doing so. All of the Independent Trustees serve as
members of the Audit Committee. Three of them also serve as members of the
Derivatives Committee. In addition, two of the Trustees, including one
Independent Trustee, serve as members of the Insurance Committee.

The Independent Trustees are 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
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. Each of the open-end TCW/DW Funds has a Rule 12b-1 plan.

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 the services; reviewing the
independence of the independent accountants; considering the range of audit and
non-audit fees; reviewing the adequacy of the Fund's system of internal
controls; and preparing and submitting Committee meeting minutes to the full
Board.

The Board of each Fund has a Derivatives Committee to approve parameters
for and monitor the activities of the Fund with respect to derivative
investments, if any, made by the Fund.

Finally, the Board of each Fund has formed an Insurance Committee to
review and monitor the insurance coverage maintained by the Fund.

ADVANTAGES OF HAVING SAME INDIVIDUALS AS INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES FOR TCW/DW
FUNDS. The Independent Trustees and the Funds' management believe that having
the same Independent Trustees

13
<PAGE>

for each of the TCW/DW Funds 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. They believe 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
possibility 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, 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, of
the caliber, experience and business acumen of the individuals who serve as
Independent Trustees of the TCW/DW Funds.

TRUSTEE AND OFFICER INDEMNIFICATION. The Fund's 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/her or its own bad faith, willful
misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his/her or its duties.
It also provides that all third persons shall look solely to the Fund 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 liability
in connection with the affairs of the Fund.

C. COMPENSATION

The Fund pays each Independent Trustee an annual fee of $2,800 plus a per
meeting fee of $200 for meetings of the Board of Trustees or Committees of the
Board of Trustees attended by the Trustee (the Fund pays the Chairman of the
Audit Committee an additional annual fee of $750 and pays the Chairman of the
Committee of the Independent Trustees an additional annual fee of $1,200). If a
Board meeting and a Committee meeting, or more than one Committee meeting, take
place on a single day, the Trustees are paid a single meeting fee by the Fund.
The Fund also reimburses 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, the
Adviser or an affiliated company receive no compensation or expense
reimbursement from the Fund for their services as Trustee. The Trustees of the
TCW/DW Funds do not have retirement or deferred compensation plans.

The following table illustrates the compensation that the Fund paid to its
Independent Trustees for the fiscal year ended November 30, 1998.

FUND COMPENSATION

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AGGREGATE
COMPENSATION
NAME OF INDEPENDENT TRUSTEE FROM THE FUND
- ------------------------------- --------------
<S> <C>
John C. Argue ................. $5,656
John R. Haire ................. 7,106
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson ......... 5,456
Michael E. Nugent ............. 5,456
John L. Schroeder ............. 5,656
</TABLE>

The following table illustrates the compensation paid to the Fund's
Independent Trustees for the calendar year ended December 31, 1998 for services
to the 11 TCW/DW Funds that were in operation at December 31, 1998, and, in the
case of Messrs. Haire, Johnson, Nugent and Schroeder, the 85 Morgan Stanley
Dean Witter Funds that were in operation at December 31, 1998; and, in the case
of Mr. Argue, TCW Galileo Funds, Inc. and TCW Convertible Securities Fund, Inc.
With respect to Messrs. Haire, Johnson, Nugent and Schroeder, the Morgan
Stanley Dean Witter Funds are included solely because of a limited exchange
privilege between various TCW/DW Funds and five Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Money Market Funds. With respect to Mr. Argue, TCW Galileo Funds, Inc. and TCW
Convertible

14
<PAGE>

Securities Fund, Inc. are included solely because the Fund's Adviser, TCW Funds
Management, Inc., also serves as Advisor to those investment companies. Mr.
Haire serves as Chairman of the Audit Committee of each Morgan Stanley Dean
Witter Fund and each TCW/DW Fund and, prior to June 1, 1998, also served as
Chairman of the Independent Directors or Trustees of those Funds.

CASH COMPENSATION FROM MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER FUNDS AND TCW/DW FUNDS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR SERVICE
FOR SERVICE AS CHAIRMAN TOTAL CASH
AS DIRECTOR OF INDEPENDENT FOR SERVICE COMPENSATION
OR TRUSTEE FOR SERVICE DIRECTORS/TRUSTEES AS CHAIRMAN FOR SERVICES
AND COMMITTEE AS TRUSTEE AND AUDIT OF INDEPENDENT TO 85
MEMBER OF 85 AND COMMITTEE COMMITTEES OF DIRECTORS/TRUSTEES MORGAN STANLEY
MORGAN STANLEY MEMBER OF 11 85 MORGAN AND AUDIT DEAN WITTER
NAME OF DEAN WITTER TCW/DW STANLEY DEAN COMMITTEES OF 11 FUNDS AND 11
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEE FUNDS FUNDS WITTER FUNDS TCW/DW FUNDS TCW/DW FUNDS
- --------------------------- ---------------- --------------- -------------------- -------------------- ---------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
John C. Argue ............. -- $62,331 -- -- $ 62,331
John R. Haire ............. $136,450 66,931 $101,338 $14,725 319,444
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson 128,400 62,331 -- -- 190,731
Michael E. Nugent ......... 132,450 62,131 -- -- 194,581
John L. Schroeder ......... 132,450 64,731 -- -- 197,181
</TABLE>

As of the date of this Statement of Additional Information, 56 of the
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds have adopted a retirement program under which
an Independent Trustee who retires after serving for at least five years (or
such lesser period as may be determined by the Board) as an Independent
Director or Trustee of any Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Fund that has adopted the
retirement program (each such Fund referred to as an "Adopting Fund" and each
such Trustee referred to as an "Eligible Trustee") is entitled to retirement
payments upon reaching the eligible retirement age (normally, after attaining
age 72). Annual payments are based upon length of service.

Currently, upon retirement, each Eligible Trustee is entitled to receive
from the Adopting Fund, commencing as of his or her retirement date and
continuing for the remainder of his or her life, an annual retirement benefit
(the "Regular Benefit") equal to 30.22% of his or her Eligible Compensation
plus 0.5036667% of such Eligible Compensation for each full month of service as
an Independent Director or Trustee of any Adopting Fund in excess of five years
up to a maximum of 60.44% after ten years of service. The foregoing percentages
may be changed by the Board.(1) "Eligible Compensation" is one-fifth of the
total compensation earned by such Eligible Trustee for service to the Adopting
Fund in the five year period prior to the date of the Eligible Trustee's
retirement. Benefits under the retirement program are not secured or funded by
the Adopting Funds.

The following table illustrates the retirement benefits accrued to Messrs.
Haire, Johnson, Nugent and Schroeder by the 55 Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Funds
for the year ended December 31, 1998, and the estimated retirement benefits for
the Independent Trustees, to commence upon their retirement, from the 55 Morgan
Stanley Dean Witter Funds as of December 31, 1998.

- ----------

(1) An Eligible Trustee may elect alternative payments of his or her
retirement benefits based upon the combined life expectancy of the
Eligible Trustee and his or her spouse on the date of such Eligible
Trustee's retirement. In addition, the Eligible Trustee may elect that
the surviving spouse's periodic payment of benefits will be equal to a
lower percentage of the periodic amount when both spouses were alive. The
amount estimated to be payable under this method, through the remainder
of the later of the lives of the Eligible Trustee and spouse, will be the
actuarial equivalent of the Regular Benefit.

15
<PAGE>

RETIREMENT BENEFITS FROM ALL MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER FUNDS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR ALL ADOPTING FUNDS
---------------------------------
ESTIMATED
CREDITED
YEARS ESTIMATED RETIREMENT BENEFITS ESTIMATED ANNUAL
OF SERVICE AT PERCENTAGE OF ACCRUED AS EXPENSES BENEFITS UPON RETIREMENT(2)
NAME OF RETIREMENT ELIGIBLE BY ALL FROM ALL
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEE (MAXIMUM 10) COMPENSATION ADOPTING FUNDS ADOPTING FUNDS
- --------------------------- --------------- --------------- --------------------- ----------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
John R. Haire ............. 10 60.44% $ (12,211)(3) $134,705
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson 10 60.44 14,047 52,250
Michael E. Nugent ......... 10 60.44 25,336 52,250
John L. Schroeder ......... 8 50.37 45,117 44,343
</TABLE>

- ----------

(2) Based on current levels of compensation. Amount of annual benefits also
varies depending on the Trustee's elections described in Footnote 1 on
page 15.

(3) This number reflects the effect of the extension of Mr. Haire's term as
Director or Trustee until May 1, 1999.

IV. CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The following persons owned 5% or more of the Class A Shares of the Fund
as of March 1, 1999: Reed A. Larson and Joyce A. Larson JT WROS, N7766 Hwy 26,
Watertown, WI 53094-9440 -- 10.690%; Blush & Co., P.O. Box 976, New York, NY
10268-0976 -- 7.983%; The following persons owned 5% or more of the Class C
Shares of the Fund as of March 1, 1999: Adam J. Gilburne, 5104 Greystone Way,
Birmingham, AL 35242-7200 -- 7.170%; The following persons owned 5% or more of
the Class D Shares of the Fund as of March 1, 1999: Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Advisors Inc., Attn: Maurice Bendrihem, Two World Trade Center, 73rd Floor, New
York, NY 10048-0203 -- 99.871%.

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% of the Fund's shares of
beneficial interest outstanding.

V. MANAGEMENT, INVESTMENT ADVICE AND OTHER SERVICES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A. MANAGER

The Manager to the Fund is Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Services Company, a
Delaware corporation, whose address is Two World Trade Center, New York, New
York 10048. The Manager is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley Dean
Witter Advisors Inc., a Delaware corporation. Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Advisors is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter & Co.
("MSDW"), a Delaware corporation. MSDW is a preeminent global financial
services firm that maintains leading market positions in each of its three
primary businesses: securities, asset management and credit services.

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. The Fund pays the Manager monthly compensation calculated daily by
applying the annual rate of 0.60% to the net assets of the Fund determined as
of the close of each business day. The management fee is allocated among the
Classes pro rata based on the net assets of the Fund attributable to each
Class. For the fiscal years ended November 30, 1996, 1997 and 1998, the Manager
accrued total compensation under the Management Agreement in the amounts of
$793,626, $1,081,715 and $1,085,682, respectively.

B. THE ADVISER

The Adviser to the Fund is TCW Funds Management, Inc., a wholly-owned
subsidiary of TCW, whose direct and indirect subsidiaries provide a variety of
trust, investment management and investment advisory services. The Adviser is
headquartered at 865 South Figueroa Street, Suite 1800, Los Angeles, California
90017.

16
<PAGE>

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 Fund pays the Adviser monthly compensation calculated daily by
applying the annual rate of 0.40% to the net assets of the Fund determined as
of the close of each business day. The advisory fee is allocated among the
Classes pro rata based on the net assets of the Fund attributable to each
Class. For the fiscal years ended November 30, 1996, 1997 and 1998, the Adviser
accrued total compensation under the Advisory Agreement in the amounts of
$529,084, $721,143 and $723,788, respectively.

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.

C. PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER

The Fund's principal underwriter is the Distributor (which has the same
address as the Manager). In this capacity, the Fund's shares are distributed by
the Distributor. The Distributor has entered into a Selected Dealer Agreement
with Dean Witter Reynolds, which through its own sales organization sells
shares of the Fund. In addition, the Distributor may enter into similar
agreements with other selected broker-dealers. The Distributor, a Delaware
corporation, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MSDW.

The Distributor bears all expenses it may incur in providing services
under the Distribution Agreement. These expenses include the payment of
commissions for sales of the Fund's shares and incentive compensation to
Financial Advisors. 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 and
pays filing fees in accordance with state securities laws.

The Fund and the Distributor have agreed to indemnify each other against
certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. 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.

D. SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE MANAGER, THE ADVISER AND FUND EXPENSES PAID BY
THIRD PARTIES

Under the terms of the Management Agreement, the Manager maintains certain
of the Fund's books and records and furnishes, at its own expense, the office
space, facilities, equipment, clerical help, bookkeeping and certain legal
services as the Fund may reasonably require in the conduct of its business,
including the preparation of prospectuses, 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
telephone service, heat, light, power and other utilities provided to the Fund.

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 any act or omission by the Manager or for any losses sustained by
the Fund or its investors.

The Management Agreement will remain in effect from year to year, provided
continuance of the Management Agreement is approved at least annually by the
vote of the holders of a majority, as defined

17
<PAGE>

in the Investment Company Act, of the outstanding shares of the Fund, or by the
Trustees; provided that in either event such continuance is approved annually
by the vote of a majority of the Trustees.

Under the terms of the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser invests the Fund's
assets, including placing 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.

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 provides that it will continue from year to year,
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,
will be paid by the Fund. These expenses will be allocated among the four
Classes of shares pro rata based on the net assets of the Fund attributable to
each Class, except as described below. Such expenses include, but are not
limited to: expenses of the Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1;
charges and expenses of any registrar, custodian, stock transfer and dividend
disbursing agent; brokerage commissions; taxes; engraving and printing 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 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); fees and expenses
of the Fund's 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. The 12b-1 fees relating
to a particular Class will be allocated directly to that Class. In addition,
other expenses associated with a particular Class (except advisory or custodial
fees) may be allocated directly to that Class, provided that such expenses are
reasonably identified as specifically attributable to that Class and the direct
allocation to that Class is approved by the Trustees.

E. DEALER REALLOWANCES

Upon notice to selected broker-dealers, the Distributor may reallow up to
the full applicable front-end sales charge during periods specified in such
notice. During periods when 90% or more of the sales charge is reallowed, such
selected broker-dealers may be deemed to be underwriters as that term is
defined in the Securities Act.

F. RULE 12B-1 PLAN

The Fund has adopted a Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under
the Investment Company Act (the "Plan") pursuant to which each Class, other
than Class D, pays the Distributor compensation

18
<PAGE>

accrued daily and payable monthly at the following annual rates: 0.25% and 1.0%
of the average daily net assets of Class A and Class C, respectively, and, with
respect to Class B, 1.0% of the lesser of: (a) the average daily aggregate
gross sales of the Fund's Class B shares since the inception of the Fund (not
including reinvestment of dividends or capital gains distributions), less the
average daily aggregate net asset value of the Fund's Class B 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 average
daily net assets of Class B shares.

The Distributor also receives the proceeds of front-end sales charges
("FSCs") and of contingent deferred sales charges ("CDSCs") 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 it and/or Dean Witter
Reynolds received the proceeds of CDSCs and FSCs, for the last three fiscal
years ended November 30, in approximate amounts as provided in the table below
(the Distributor did not retain any of these amounts).

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1998 1997 1996
------------------------ ------------------------ ----------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Class A .......... FSCs:(1) $ 15,552 FSCs:(1) $ 3,000 FSCs: N/A(2)
CDSCs: $ 0 CDSCs: $ 0 CDSCs: N/A(2)
Class B .......... CDSCs: $679,862 CDSCs: $946,000 CDSCs: $ 280,000(3)
Class C .......... CDSCs: $ 372 CDSCs: $ 0 CDSCs: N/A(2)
</TABLE>

- ----------

(1) FSCs apply to Class A only.

(2) This Class commenced operations on July 28, 1997.

(3) For the period February 27, 1996 (commencement of operations) through
November 30, 1996.

The Distributor has informed the Fund that the entire fee payable by Class
A and a portion of the fees payable by each of Class B and Class C each year
pursuant to the Plan equal to 0.25% of such Class' average daily net assets are
currently each characterized as a "service fee" under the Rules of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (of which the Distributor is a member).
The "service fee" is a payment made for personal service and/or the maintenance
of shareholder accounts. The remaining portion of the Plan fees payable by a
Class, if any, is characterized as an "asset-based sales charge" as such is
defined by the Rules of the Association.

Under the Plan and as required by Rule 12b-1, the Trustees receive and
review promptly after the end of each calendar quarter a written report
provided by the Distributor of the amounts expended under the Plan and the
purpose for which such expenditures were made. Class B shares of the Fund
accrued amounts payable to the Distributor under the Plan, during the fiscal
year ended November 30, 1998, of $1,616,961. This amount is equal to 0.90% of
the average daily net assets of Class B for the fiscal year and was calculated
pursuant to clause (a) of the compensation formula under the Plan. For the
fiscal year ended November 30, 1998, Class A and Class C shares of the Fund
accrued payments under the Plan amounting to $1,092 and $2,906, respectively,
which amounts are equal to 0.25% and 1.00% of the average daily net assets of
Class A and Class C, respectively, for the fiscal year.

The Plan was adopted in order to permit the implementation of the Fund's
method of distribution. Under this distribution method the Fund offers four
Classes, each with a different distribution arrangement.

With respect to Class A shares, Dean Witter Reynolds compensates its
Financial Advisors by paying them, from proceeds of the FSC, commissions for
the sale of Class A shares, currently a gross sales credit of up to 5.0% of the
amount sold (except as provided in the following sentence) and an annual
residual commission, currently a residual of up to 0.25% of the current value
of the respective accounts for which they are the Financial Advisors or dealers
of record in all cases. On orders of $1 million or more (for which no sales
charge was paid) or net asset value purchases by employer-sponsored employee
benefit plans, whether or not qualified under the Internal Revenue Code, for
which the Transfer Agent

19
<PAGE>

serves as Trustee or Dean Witter Reynolds Retirement Plan Services serves as
recordkeeper pursuant to a written Recordkeeping Services Agreement ("MSDW
Eligible Plans"), MSDW Advisors compensates Financial Advisors by paying them,
from its own funds, a gross sales credit of 1.0% of the amount sold.

With respect to Class B shares, Dean Witter Reynolds compensates its
Financial Advisors by paying them, from its own funds, commissions for the sale
of Class B shares, currently a gross sales credit of up to 5.0% of the amount
sold (except as provided in the following sentence) and an annual residual
commission, currently a residual of up to 0.25% of the current value (not
including reinvested dividends or distributions) of the amount sold in all
cases. In the case of Class B shares purchased on or after July 28, 1997 by
MSDW Eligible Plans, Dean Witter Reynolds compensates its Financial Advisors by
paying them, from its own funds, a gross sales credit of 3.0% of the amount
sold.

With respect to Class C shares, Dean Witter Reynolds compensates its
Financial Advisors by paying them, from its own funds, commissions for the sale
of Class C shares, currently a gross sales credit of up to 1.0% of the amount
sold and an annual residual commission, currently up to 1.0% of the current
value of the respective accounts for which they are the Financial Advisors of
record.

With respect to Class D shares other than shares held by participants in
MSDW Advisor's mutual fund asset allocation program, MSDW Advisors compensates
Dean Witter Reynolds' Financial Advisors by paying them, from its own funds,
commissions for the sale of Class D shares, currently a gross sales credit of
up to 1.0% of the amount sold. There is a chargeback of 100% of the amount paid
if the Class D shares are redeemed in the first year and a chargeback of 50% of
the amount paid if the Class D shares are redeemed in the second year after
purchase. The Manager also compensates Dean Witter Reynolds' Financial Advisors
by paying them, from its own funds, an annual residual commission, currently up
to 0.10% of the current value of the respective accounts for which they are the
Financial Advisors of record (not including accounts of participants in MSDW
Advisor's mutual fund asset allocation program).

The gross sales credit is a charge which reflects commissions paid by Dean
Witter Reynolds to its Financial Advisors and Dean Witter Reynolds'
Fund-associated distribution-related expenses, including sales compensation,
and overhead and other branch office distribution-related expenses including
(a) the expenses of operating Dean Witter Reynolds' 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 sales.

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, in the case of Class B shares, opportunity costs, such
as the gross sales credit and an assumed interest charge thereon ("carrying
charge"). In the Distributor's reporting of the distribution expenses to the
Fund, in the case of Class B shares, such assumed interest (computed at the
"broker's call rate") has been calculated on the gross 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 its 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.

The Fund is authorized to reimburse expenses incurred or to be incurred in
promoting the distribution of the Fund's Class A and Class C shares and in
servicing shareholder accounts. Reimbursement will be made through payments at
the end of each month. The amount of each monthly payment may in no event
exceed an amount equal to a payment at the annual rate of 0.25%, in the case of
Class A, and 1.0%, in the case of Class C, of the average net assets of the
respective Class during the month. No interest or other financing charges, if
any, incurred on any distribution expenses on behalf of Class A and Class C
will be reimbursable under the Plan. With respect to Class A, in the case of
all expenses other than expenses representing the service fee, and, with
respect to Class C, in the case of

20
<PAGE>

all expenses other than expenses representing a gross sales credit or a
residual to Financial Advisors and other authorized financial representatives,
such amounts shall be determined at the beginning of each calendar quarter by
the Trustees, including, a majority of the Independent Trustees. Expenses
representing the service fee (for Class A) or a gross sales credit or a
residual to Financial Advisors and other authorized financial representatives
(for Class C) may be reimbursed without prior determination. In the event that
the Distributor proposes that monies shall be reimbursed for other than such
expenses, then in making quarterly determinations of the amounts that may be
reimbursed by the Fund, the Distributor will provide and the Trustees will
review a quarterly budget of projected distribution expenses to be incurred on
behalf of the Fund, together with a report explaining the purposes and
anticipated benefits of incurring such expenses. The Trustees will determine
which particular expenses, and the portions thereof, that may be borne by the
Fund, and in making such a determination shall consider the scope of the
Distributor's commitment to promoting the distribution of the Fund's Class A
and Class C shares.

Each Class paid 100% of the amounts accrued under the Plan with respect to
that Class for the fiscal year ended November 30, 1998 to the Distributor. The
Distributor and Dean Witter Reynolds estimate that they have spent, pursuant to
the Plan, $15,417,031 on behalf of Class B since the inception of the Plan. It
is estimated that this amount was spent in approximately the following ways:
(i) 10.70% ($1,650,179)--advertising and promotional expenses; (ii) 0.72%
($111,402)--printing and mailing of prospectuses for distribution to other than
current shareholders; and (iii) 88.58% ($13,655,450)--other expenses, including
the gross sales credit and the carrying charge, of which 8.49% ($1,158,906)
represents carrying charges, 37.43% ($5,111,086) represents commission credits
to Dean Witter Reynolds branch offices and other selected broker-dealers for
payments of commissions to Financial Advisors and other authorized financial
representatives, and 54.08% ($7,385,458) represents overhead and other branch
office distribution-related expenses. The amounts accrued by Class A and Class
C for distribution during the fiscal year ended November 30, 1998 were for
expenses which relate to compensation of sales personnel and associated
overhead expenses.

In the case of Class B shares, at any given time, the expenses of
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 CDSCs
paid by investors upon redemption of shares. For example, if $1 million in
expenses in distributing Class B 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. The Distributor has advised the Fund that in
the case of Class B shares the excess distribution expenses, including the
carrying charge designed to approximate the opportunity costs incurred by Dean
Witter Reynolds which arise from it having advanced monies without having
received the amount of any sales charges imposed at the time of sale of the
Fund's Class B shares, totaled $8,805,273 as of November 30, 1998 (the end of
the Fund's fiscal year), which was equal to 4.15% of the net assets of Class B
on such date. Because there is no requirement under the Plan that the
Distributor be reimbursed for all distribution expenses with respect to Class B
shares 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 expenses incurred in excess of payments
made to the Distributor under the Plan and the proceeds of CDSCs 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 CDSCs, may or may not be recovered through future
distribution fees or CDSCs.

In the case of Class A and Class C shares, expenses incurred pursuant to
the Plan in any calendar year in excess of 0.25% or 1.0% of the average daily
net assets of Class A or Class C, respectively, will not be reimbursed by the
Fund through payments in any subsequent year, except that expenses representing
a gross sales commission credited to Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Financial
Advisors and other authorized financial representatives at the time of sale may
be reimbursed in the subsequent calendar year. The Distributor has advised the
Fund that unreimbursed expenses representing a gross sales commission credited
to Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Financial Advisors and other authorized financial
representatives at the time of sale totaled $3,174 in the case of Class C at
December 31, 1998

21
<PAGE>

(the end of the calendar year), which amount was equal to 0.29% of the net
assets of Class C on such date, and that there were no such expenses that may
be reimbursed in the subsequent year in the case of Class A on such date. No
interest or other financing charges will be incurred on any Class A or Class C
distribution expenses incurred by the Distributor under the Plan or on any
unreimbursed expenses due to the Distributor pursuant to the Plan.

No interested person of the Fund nor any Independent Trustee has any
direct financial interest in the operation of the Plan except to the extent
that the Distributor, the Manager, Dean Witter Reynolds, MSDW Advisors 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.

On an annual basis, the Trustees, including a majority of the Independent
Trustees, consider whether the Plan should be continued. Prior to approving the
last continuation of the Plan, the Trustees requested and received from the
Distributor and reviewed all the information which they deemed necessary to
arrive at an informed determination. In making their determination to continue
the Plan, the Trustees considered: (1) the Fund's experience under the Plan and
whether such experience indicates that the Plan is operating as anticipated;
(2) the benefits the Fund had obtained, was obtaining and would be likely to
obtain under the Plan, including that: (a) the Plan is essential in order to
give Fund investors a choice of alternatives for payment of distribution and
service charges and to enable the Fund to continue to grow and avoid a pattern
of net redemptions which, in turn, are essential for effective investment
management; and (b) without the compensation to individual brokers and the
reimbursement of distribution and account maintenance expenses of Dean Witter
Reynolds' branch offices made possible by the 12b-1 fees, Dean Witter Reynolds
could not establish and maintain an effective system for distribution,
servicing of Fund shareholders and maintenance of shareholder accounts; and (3)
what services had been provided and were continuing to be provided under the
Plan to the Fund and its shareholders. Based upon their review, the Trustees,
including each of the Independent Trustees, determined that continuation of the
Plan would be in the best interest of the Fund and would have a reasonable
likelihood of continuing to benefit the Fund and its shareholders. In the
Trustees' quarterly review of the Plan, they will consider its continued
appropriateness and the level of compensation provided therein.

The Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount to be spent
for the services described therein without approval by the shareholders of the
affected Class or Classes of the Fund, and all material amendments to the Plan
must also 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 Trustees or by a vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the Fund (as defined in the Investment Company
Act) on not more than thirty days' written notice to any other party to the
Plan. So long as the Plan is in effect, the election and nomination of
Independent Trustees shall be committed to the discretion of the Independent
Trustees.

G. OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS

(1) TRANSFER AGENT/DIVIDEND-PAYING AGENT

Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Trust FSB is the Transfer Agent for the Fund's
shares and the Dividend Disbursing Agent for payment of dividends and
distributions on Fund shares and Agent for shareholders under various
investment plans. The principal business address of the Transfer Agent is
Harborside Financial Center, Plaza Two, Jersey City, New Jersey 07311.

(2) CUSTODIAN AND INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

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.
These balances may, at times, be substantial.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, 1177 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New
York 10036, serves as the independent accountants of the Fund. The independent
accountants are responsible for auditing the annual financial statements of the
Fund.

22
<PAGE>

(3) AFFILIATED PERSONS

The Transfer Agent is an affiliate of the Manager, and of the Distributor.
As Transfer Agent and Dividend Disbursing Agent, the Transfer Agent's
responsibilities include maintaining shareholder 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, the Transfer Agent receives a per shareholder account fee from the
Fund.

VI. BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A. BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS

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. The Fund also expects that securities will 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. On occasion, the Fund may also purchase certain money market
instruments directly from an issuer, in which case no commissions or discounts
are paid.

During the period February 27, 1996 (commencement of operations) through
November 30, 1996, and for the fiscal years ended November 30, 1997 and 1998,
the Fund paid a total of $197,506, $170,759 and $88,027, respectively, in
brokerage commissions.

B. COMMISSIONS

Consistent with the policy described above, brokerage transactions in
securities listed on exchanges or admitted to unlisted trading privileges may
be effected through Dean Witter Reynolds, Morgan Stanley & Co. and other
affiliated brokers and dealers. In order for an affiliated broker or dealer to
effect any portfolio transactions on an exchange for the Fund, the commissions,
fees or other remuneration received by the affiliated broker or dealer 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 the affiliated broker or dealer 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 Trustees, including the Independent Trustees, have adopted procedures which
are reasonably designed to provide that any commissions, fees or other
remuneration paid to an affiliated broker or dealer are consistent with the
foregoing standard. The Fund does not reduce the management fee it pays to the
Manager by any amount of the brokerage commissions it may pay to an affiliated
broker or dealer.

During the fiscal years ended November 30, 1997 and 1998 there were no
brokerage fees paid to Dean Witter Reynolds. During the period June 1 through
November 30, 1997 and during the fiscal year ended November 30, 1998, the Fund
paid a total of $1,235 and $645, respectively, in brokerage commissions to
Morgan Stanley & Co., which broker-dealer became an affiliate of the Manager on
May 31, 1997 upon consummation of the merger of Dean Witter, Discover & Co.
with Morgan Stanley Group Inc. During the fiscal year ended November 30, 1998,
the brokerage commissions paid to Morgan Stanley & Co. represented
approximately 0.73% of the total brokerage commissions paid by the Fund for
this period and were paid on account of transactions having an aggregate dollar
value equal to approximately 0.93% of the aggregate dollar value of all
portfolio transactions of the Fund during the year for which commissions were
paid.

C. BROKERAGE SELECTION

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.

23
<PAGE>

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. These
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 the 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. The services may include, but are not
limited to, any one or more of the following: information as to the
availability of securities for purchase or sale; statistical or factual
information or opinions pertaining to investment; wire services; and appraisals
or evaluations of portfolio securities. 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.

The Adviser currently serves as investment advisor to a number of clients,
including other investment companies, and may in the future act as investment
advisor 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, various factors may be considered, including 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 investment commitments generally held and the opinions of the persons
responsible for managing the portfolios of the Fund and other client accounts.
In the case of certain initial and secondary public offerings, the Adviser
utilizes a pro rata allocation process based on the size of the funds involved
and the number of shares available from the public offering.

D. DIRECTED BROKERAGE

During the fiscal year ended November 30, 1998, the Fund paid $87,382 in
brokerage commissions in connection with transactions in the aggregate amount
of $45,585,903 to brokers because of research services provided.

E. REGULAR BROKER-DEALERS

During the fiscal year ended November 30, 1998, the Fund did not purchase
securities issued by brokers or dealers that were among the ten brokers or the
ten dealers that executed transactions for or with the Fund in the largest
dollar amounts during the year.

VII. CAPITAL STOCK AND OTHER SECURITIES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The shareholders of the Fund are entitled to a full vote for each full
share of beneficial interest held. The Fund is authorized to issue an unlimited
number of shares of beneficial interest. All shares of beneficial interest of
the Fund are of $0.01 par value and are equal as to earnings, assets and voting
privileges except that each Class will have exclusive voting privileges with
respect to matters relating to distribution expenses borne solely by such Class
or any other matter in which the interests of one Class differ from the
interests of any other Class. In addition, Class B shareholders will have the
right to vote on any proposed material increase in Class A's expenses, if such
proposal is submitted separately to Class A shareholders. Also, Class A, Class
B and Class C bear expenses related to the distribution of their respective
shares.

24
<PAGE>

The Fund's 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. The Trustees have not presently authorized any
such additional series or Classes of shares other than as set forth in the
Prospectus.

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 Investment Company Act or the Declaration of
Trust. Under certain circumstances, the Trustees may be removed by action of
the Trustees or by the shareholders.

Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of a business trust may, under
certain limited circumstances, be held personally liable as partners for the
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 notice of such Fund obligations include such disclaimer, and
provides for indemnification 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 limitations 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.

The Trustees themselves have the power to alter the number and the terms
of office of the Trustees (as provided for in the Declaration of Trust), and
they may at any time lengthen or shorten their own terms or make their terms of
unlimited duration and appoint their own successors, provided that always at
least a majority of the Trustees has been elected by the shareholders of the
Fund.

VIII. PURCHASE, REDEMPTION AND PRICING OF SHARES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A. PURCHASE/REDEMPTION OF SHARES

Information concerning how Fund shares are offered to the public (and how
they are redeemed and exchanged) is provided in the Fund's Prospectus.

TRANSFER AGENT AS AGENT. With respect to the redemption or repurchase of
Fund shares, the application of proceeds to the purchase of new shares in the
Fund or any other TCW/DW Multi-Class Fund, any shares of TCW/DW North American
Government Income Trust or any shares of five Morgan Stanley Dean Witter money
market funds and the general administration of the exchange privilege, the
Transfer Agent acts as agent for the Distributor and for the shareholder's
authorized 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 authorized
broker-dealer.

The Distributor and any authorized broker-dealer have 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 continuously TCW/DW Multi-Class Fund, any shares of TCW/DW North American
Government Income Trust or any shares of five Morgan Stanley Dean Witter money
market funds and the general administration of the exchange privilege. No
commission or discounts will be paid to the Distributor or any authorized
broker-dealer for any transaction pursuant to the exchange privilege.

TRANSFERS OF SHARES. In the event a shareholder requests a transfer of
Fund shares to a new registration, the 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 CDSC 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 CDSC as if they had not been so transferred.

25
<PAGE>

EXCHANGING SHARES OF CLASSES WITH A CDSC

When exchanging shares of a Class of the Fund that imposes a CDSC, shares
that are not subject to a CDSC because they were (i) purchased more than one
year ago (for Class A and Class C) or six years ago (for Class B) or (ii)
acquired through reinvestment of dividends or distributions (all such shares
referred to as "Free Shares") will be exchanged first. After exchanging such
Free Shares the shares subject to a CDSC that were held the longest will be
exchanged next. Shares purchased during the same month are deemed to be held
for the same length of time. (For shares held for the same length of time but
subject to different CDSC rates, the shares with the lower CDSC rate will be
exchanged first.) When exchanging shares subject to a CDSC, you should know
that the CDSC rate will be calculated on such exchanged shares based on the
lesser of: (a) the purchase price of those shares; or (b) their current net
asset value at the time of the exchange. Accordingly, any appreciation in value
on such exchanged shares are not subject to a CDSC. When exchanging a portion
of shares deemed to be held for the same length of time, shares representing
any appreciation in value (and therefore, such shares will not be subject to
any CDSC) will be exchanged first.

B. OFFERING PRICE

The Fund's Class B, Class C and Class D shares are offered at net asset
value per share and the Class A shares are offered at net asset value per share
plus any applicable FSC which is distributed among the Fund's Distributor, Dean
Witter Reynolds and other authorized dealers as described in Section "V.
Management, Investment Advice and Other Services--F. Rule 12b-1 Plan."

The price of Fund shares, called "net asset value," is based on the value
of the Fund's portfolio securities. Net asset value per share of each Class is
calculated by dividing the value of the portion of the Fund's securities and
other assets attributable to that Class, less the liabilities attributable to
that Class, by the number of shares of that Class outstanding. The assets of
each Class of shares are invested in a single portfolio. The net asset value of
each Class, however, will differ because the Classes have different ongoing
fees.

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
stock exchange is valued at its latest sale price on that exchange, prior to
the time when assets are valued; if there were no sales that day, the security
is valued at the latest bid price (in cases where a security is traded on more
than one exchange, the security is valued on the exchange designated as the
primary market pursuant to procedures adopted by the Trustees); 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 Fund's 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.

Short-term debt 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.

Certain of the Fund's portfolio securities may be valued by an outside
pricing service approved by the Fund's Trustees. The pricing service may
utilize 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
it believes is the fair valuation of the portfolio securities valued by such
pricing service.

Generally, trading in foreign securities, as well as corporate bonds, U.S.
Government securities and money market instruments, is substantially completed
each day at various times prior to the close of the New York Stock Exchange.
The values of such securities used in computing the net asset value of the
Fund's shares are determined as of such times. Foreign currency exchange rates
are also generally

26
<PAGE>

determined prior to the close of the New York Stock Exchange. Occasionally,
events which may affect the values of such securities and such exchange rates
may occur between the times at which they are determined and the close of the
New York Stock Exchange and will therefore not be reflected in the computation
of the Fund's net asset value. If events that may affect the value of such
securities occur during such period, then these securities may be valued at
their fair value as determined in good faith under procedures established by
and under the supervision of the Trustees.

IX. TAXATION OF THE FUND AND SHAREHOLDERS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Fund generally will make two basic types of distributions: ordinary
dividends and long-term capital gain distributions. These two types of
distributions are reported differently on a shareholder's income tax return and
they are also subject to different rates of tax. The tax treatment of the
investment activities of the Fund will affect the amount and timing and
character of the distributions made by the Fund. Tax issues relating to the
Fund are not generally a consideration for shareholders such as tax exempt
entities and tax-advantaged retirement vehicles such as an IRA or 401(k) plan.
Shareholders are urged to consult their own tax professionals regarding
specific questions as to federal, state or local taxes.

INVESTMENT COMPANY TAXATION. The Fund intends to remain qualified as a
regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986. As such, the Fund will not be subject to federal income tax on its net
investment income and capital gains, if any, to the extent that it distributes
such income and capital gains to its shareholders.

The Fund generally intends to distribute sufficient income and gains so
that the Fund will not pay corporate income tax on its earnings. The Fund also
generally intends to distribute to its shareholders in each calendar year a
sufficient amount of ordinary income and capital gains to avoid the imposition
of a 4% excise tax. However, the Fund may instead determine to retain all or
part of any net long-term capital gains in any year for reinvestment. In such
event, the Fund will pay federal income tax (and possibly excise tax) on such
retained gains.

Gains or losses on sales of securities by the Fund will be long-term
capital gains or losses if the securities have a tax holding period of more
than one year. Gains or losses on the sale of securities with a tax holding
period of one year or less will be short-term gains or losses.

Under certain tax rules, the Fund may be required to accrue a portion of
any discount at which certain securities are purchased as income each year even
though the Fund receives no payments in cash on the security during the year.
To the extent that the Fund invests in such securities, it would be required to
pay out such accrued discount as an income distribution in each year in order
to avoid taxation at the Fund level. Such distributions will be made from the
available cash of the Fund or by liquidation of portfolio securities if
necessary. If a distribution of cash necessitates the liquidation of portfolio
securities, the Adviser will select which securities to sell. The Fund may
realize a gain or loss from such sales. In the event the Fund realizes net
capital gains from such transactions, its shareholders may receive a larger
capital gain distribution, if any, than they would in the absence of such
transactions.

TAXATION OF DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS. Shareholders normally will have
to pay federal income taxes, and any state and/or local income taxes, on the
dividends and other distributions they receive from the Fund. Such dividends
and distributions, to the extent that they are derived from net investment
income or 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.

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 Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997
reduced the maximum tax on long-term capital gains applicable to individuals
from 28% to 20%.

Shareholders are generally taxed on any ordinary dividend or capital gain
distributions from the Fund in the year they are actually distributed. However,
if any such dividends or distributions are declared in October, November or
December and paid in January then such amounts will be treated for tax purposes
as received by the shareholders on December 31, to shareholders of record of
such month.

27
<PAGE>

Subject to certain exceptions, a corporate shareholder may be eligible for
a 70% dividends received deduction to the extent that the Fund earns and
distributes qualifying dividends from its investments. Distributions of net
capital gains by the Fund will not be eligible for the dividends received
deduction.

Shareholders who are not citizens or residents of the United States and
certain foreign entities may be subject to withholding of United States tax on
distributions made by the Fund of investment income and short term capital
gains.

After the end of each calendar year, shareholders will be sent full
information on their dividends and capital gain distributions for tax purposes,
including the portion taxable as ordinary income, the portion taxable as
long-term capital gains and the amount of any dividends eligible for the
federal dividends received deduction for corporations.

PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS AND EXCHANGES OF FUND SHARES. 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, such dividends and capital gains
distributions 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 long-term capital gains,
such payment or distribution would be in part a return of the shareholder's
investment but nonetheless would be taxable to the shareholder. Therefore, an
investor should consider the tax implications of purchasing Fund shares
immediately prior to a distribution record date.

In general, a sale of shares results in capital gain or loss, and for
individual shareholders, is taxable at a federal rate dependent upon the length
of time the shares were held. A redemption of a shareholder's Fund shares is
normally treated as a sale for tax purposes. Fund shares held for a period of
one year or less will, for tax purposes, generally result in short-term gains
or losses and those held for more than one year generally result in long-term
gain or loss. Any loss realized by shareholders upon a redemption of shares
within six months of the date of their purchase will be treated as a long-term
capital loss to the extent of any distributions of net long-term capital gains
with respect to such shares during the six-month period.

Gain or loss on the sale or redemption of shares in the Fund is measured
by the difference between the amount received and the tax basis of the shares.
Shareholders should keep records of investments made (including shares acquired
through reinvestment of dividends and distributions) so they can compute the
tax basis of their shares. Under certain circumstances a shareholder may
compute and use an average cost basis in determining the gain or loss on the
sale or redemption of shares.

Exchanges of Fund shares for shares of any other continuously offered
TCW/DW Multi-Class Fund, TCW/DW North American Government Income Trust or five
money market funds for which Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Advisors Inc. serves as
investment manager are also subject to similar tax treatment. Such an exchange
is treated for tax purposes as a sale of the original shares in the first fund,
followed by the purchase of shares in the second fund.

If a shareholder realizes a loss on the redemption or exchange of a fund's
shares and reinvests in that fund's shares within 30 days before or after the
redemption or exchange, the transactions may be subject to the "wash sale"
rules, resulting in a postponement of the recognition of such loss for tax
purposes.

X. UNDERWRITERS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Fund's shares are offered to the public on a continuous basis. The
Distributor, as the principal underwriter of the shares, has certain
obligations under the Distribution Agreement concerning the distribution of the
shares. These obligations and the compensation the Distributor receives are
described above in the sections titled "Principal Underwriter" and "Rule 12b-1
Plans".

28
<PAGE>

XI. CALCULATION OF PERFORMANCE DATA
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From time to time, the Fund may quote its "total return" in advertisements
and sales literature. These figures are computed separately for Class A, Class
B, Class C and Class D shares. The Fund's "average annual total return"
represents an annualization of the Fund's total return over a particular period
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 operations, if shorter than any of the foregoing. The ending
redeemable value is reduced by any contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") at
the end of the one, five, 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 (which in the case of Class A shares is reduced by the Class A
initial sales charge), 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. The average annual total returns for Class B for the one year period
ended November 30, 1998 and the date of inception through November 30, 1998
were 37.49% and 16.29%, respectively. The average annual total returns of Class
A for the fiscal year ended November 30, 1998 and for the period July 28, 1997
(inception of the Class) through November 30, 1998 were 35.85% and 25.92%,
respectively. The average annual total returns of Class C for the fiscal year
ended November 30, 1998 and for the period July 28, 1997 (inception of the
Class) through November 30, 1998 were 41.27% and 30.14%, respectively. The
average annual total returns of Class D for the fiscal year ended November 30,
1998 and for the period July 28, 1997 (inception of the Class) through November
30, 1998 were 43.80% and 31.46%, respectively.

In addition, the Fund may advertise its total return for each Class over
different periods of time by means of aggregate, average, year-by-year or other
types of total return figures. These calculations may or may not reflect the
imposition of the maximum front-end sales charge for Class A or the deduction
of the CDSC for each of Class B and Class C which, if reflected, would reduce
the performance quoted. For example, the average annual total return of the
Fund may be calculated in the manner described above, but without deduction for
any applicable sales charge. Based on this calculation, the average annual
total returns of Class B for the one year period ended November 30, 1998 and
the date of inception through November 30, 1998 through November 30, 1998 were
42.49% and 17.12%, respectively. Based on this calculation, the average annual
total returns of Class A for the fiscal year ended November 30, 1998 and for
the period July 28, 1997 through November 30, 1998 were 43.38% and 31.08%,
respectively, the average annual total returns of Class C for the fiscal year
ended November 30, 1998 and for the period July 28, 1997 through November 30,
1998 were 42.27% and 30.14%, respectively, and the average annual total returns
of Class D for the fiscal year ended November 30, 1998 and for the period July
28, 1997 through November 30, 1998 were 43.80% and 31.46%, respectively.

In addition, the Fund may compute its aggregate total return for each
Class 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 reduction for any sales charge) by the initial $1,000 investment
and subtracting 1 from the result. Based on the foregoing calculation, the
total returns for Class B for the one year period ended November 30, 1998 and
the date of inception through November 30, 1998 were 42.49% and 54.60%,
respectively. Based on the foregoing calculation, the total returns of Class A
for the fiscal year ended November 30, 1998 and for the period July 28, 1997
through November 30, 1998 were 43.38% and 43.78%, respectively, the total
returns of Class C for the fiscal year ended November 30, 1998 and for the
period July 28, 1997 through November 30, 1998 were 42.27% and 42.40%,
respectively, and the total returns of Class D for the fiscal year ended
November 30, 1998 and for the period July 28, 1997 through November 30, 1998
were 43.80% and 44.33%, respectively.

The Fund may also advertise the growth of hypothetical investments of
$10,000, $50,000 and $100,000 in each Class of shares of the Fund by adding 1
to the Fund's aggregate total return to date

29
<PAGE>

(expressed as a decimal and without taking into account the effect of any
applicable CDSC) and multiplying by $9,475, $48,000 and $97,000 in the case of
Class A (investments of $10,000, $50,000 and $100,000 adjusted for the initial
sales charge) or by $10,000, $50,000 and $100,000 in the case of each of Class
B, Class C and Class D, as the case may be. Investments of $10,000, $50,000 and
$100,000 in each Class at inception of the Class would have grown to the
following amounts at November 30, 1998:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
INVESTMENT AT INCEPTION OF:
INCEPTION -----------------------------------
CLASS DATE $10,000 $50,000 $100,000
- ----------------- ---------- --------- --------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Class A ......... 7/28/97 $13,623 $69,014 $139,467
Class B ......... 2/27/96 15,460 77,300 154,600
Class C ......... 7/28/97 14,240 71,200 142,400
Class D ......... 7/28/97 14,333 72,165 144,330
</TABLE>

The Fund from time to time may also advertise its performance relative to
certain performance rankings and indexes compiled by independent organizations.

XII. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

EXPERTS. The financial statements of the Fund for the fiscal year ended
November 30, 1998 included in this Statement of Additional Information and
incorporated by reference in the Prospectus have been so included and
incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP,
independent accountants, given on the authority of said firm as experts in
auditing and accounting.

* * * * *

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 SEC. The complete Registration Statement may be obtained from
the SEC.

<PAGE>

TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS November 30, 1998

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF
SHARES VALUE
- ----------------- -------------
<S> <C> <C>
COMMON STOCKS (98.4%)
Accident & Health Insurance (2.0%)
78,200 Hartford Life, Inc. (Class A) .......... $ 4,286,337
------------
Advertising (3.2%)
253,712 Outdoor Systems, Inc.* ................. 6,850,224
------------
Biotechnology (1.2%)
34,400 Biogen, Inc.* .......................... 2,610,100
------------
Books/Magazine (0.3%)
39,000 Playboy Enterprises, Inc.
(Class B)* ............................. 602,062
------------
Broadcast Media (9.9%)
152,000 Cablevision Systems Corp.
(Class A)* ............................. 6,289,000
171,800 Clear Channel Communications,
Inc.* .................................. 8,031,650
130,000 TCA Cable TV, Inc. ..................... 3,705,000
119,600 Westwood One, Inc.* .................... 3,139,500
------------
21,165,150
------------
Cable & Telecommunications (2.9%)
82,900 Global Crossing Ltd.* .................. 3,139,837
114,100 MetroNet Communications Corp.
(Class B) (Canada)* .................... 3,016,519
------------
6,156,356
------------
Casino/Gambling (1.0%)
139,800 Mirage Resorts, Inc.* .................. 2,079,525
------------
Computer Software (1.8%)
149,400 Cerner Corp.* .......................... 3,921,750
------------
Computer Software
& Services (8.6%)
55,200 Documentum, Inc.* ...................... 2,318,400
178,300 FORE Systems, Inc.* .................... 2,696,787
106,200 National Techteam, Inc.* ............... 716,850
56,300 Rational Software Corp.* ............... 1,277,306
333,600 Siebel Systems, Inc.* .................. 8,048,100
86,400 VeriSign, Inc.* ........................ 3,434,400
------------
18,491,843
------------
Diversified Commercial
Services (10.7%)
68,287 Apollo Group, Inc. (Class A)* .......... 2,202,256
121,250 Paychex, Inc. .......................... 6,032,187
133,800 Robert Half International, Inc.* ....... 6,288,600
275,500 Romac International, Inc.* ............. 3,839,781
209,700 Whittman-Hart, Inc.* ................... 4,613,400
------------
22,976,224
------------
Diversified Financial Services (1.6%)
93,000 Price (T. Rowe) Associates, Inc. ....... 3,324,750
------------
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF
SHARES VALUE
- ----------------- ------------
<S> <C> <C>
Electronic Components (2.5%)
103,300 Xilinx, Inc.* .......................... $ 5,242,475
------------
Electronics - Semiconductors/
Components (5.8%)
87,800 Altera Corp.* .......................... 4,307,688
147,600 Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.*........ 5,793,300
66,600 Microchip Technology, Inc.* ............ 2,318,513
------------
12,419,501
------------
Hospital/Nursing Management (2.3%)
230,287 Health Management Associates,
Inc. (Class A)* ........................ 4,994,349
------------
Household Furnishings &
Appliances (1.6%)
123,900 Restoration Hardware, Inc.* ............ 3,407,250
------------
Internet (26.8%)
72,100 Amazon.com, Inc.* ...................... 13,843,200
104,800 At Home Corp. (Series A)* .............. 6,091,500
53,300 Broadcast.com Inc.* .................... 3,517,800
141,200 E*TRADE Group, Inc.* ................... 3,812,400
56,500 eBay Inc.* ............................. 11,158,750
3,200 GeoCities* ............................. 96,200
97,500 Yahoo! Inc.* ........................... 18,713,906
------------
57,233,756
------------
Life Insurance (0.5%)
32,300 MONY Group Inc.* ....................... 999,281
------------
Medical Specialties (1.3%)
151,300 Safeskin Corp.* ........................ 2,865,244
------------
Oil & Gas Drilling (0.9%)
174,700 Precision Drilling Corp. (Canada)*...... 1,888,944
------------
Real Estate (0.4%)
48,000 CB Richard Ellis Services, Inc.* ....... 852,000
------------
Retail - Specialty (9.7%)
155,600 Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc.* ............... 4,852,775
141,200 Best Buy Co., Inc.* .................... 8,136,650
140,300 Corporate Express, Inc.* ............... 806,725
167,500 Just For Feet, Inc.* ................... 3,789,688
358,200 PetSmart, Inc.* ........................ 3,067,088
------------
20,652,926
------------
Retail - Specialty Apparel (1.2%)
104,800 Talbot's, Inc. (The) ................... 2,672,400
------------
Wireless Communication (2.2%)
207,300 American Tower Corp. (Class A)*......... 4,793,813
------------
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS
(Identified Cost $123,840,678).......... 210,486,260
------------
</TABLE>

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

31
<PAGE>

TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS November 30, 1998, continued

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS VALUE
- ----------- -------------
<S> <C> <C>
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENT (1.6%)
REPURCHASE AGREEMENT
$ 3,398 The Bank of New York 4.625%
due 12/01/98 (dated 11/30/98;
proceeds $3,398,551) (a)
(Identified Cost $3,398,114).......... $ 3,398,114
-------------
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
TOTAL INVESTMENTS
(Identified Cost $127,238,792) (b)..... 100.0% 213,884,374
LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF OTHER
ASSETS ................................ ( 0.0) (7,569)
----- -----------
NET ASSETS ............................ 100.0% $213,876,805
===== ============
</TABLE>

- --------------------------------
* Non-income producing security.
(a) Collateralized by $1,052,812 Student Loan Marketing Assoc. 5.057%
due 12/17/98 valued at $1,052,580; $1,740,000 U.S. Treasury Note
4.00% due 10/31/00 valued at $1,726,623 and $655,872 U.S. Treasury
Note 6.25% due 10/31/01 valued at $687,554.

(b) The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes approximates
identified cost. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is
$95,811,768 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is
$9,166,186, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of
$86,645,582.

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

32
<PAGE>

TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
November 30, 1998

<TABLE>
<S> <C>
ASSETS :
Investments in securities, at value
(identified cost $127,238,792).................................. $213,884,374
Receivable for:
Investments sold .............................................. 325,774
Shares of beneficial interest sold ............................ 185,611
Dividends ..................................................... 18,566
Deferred organizational expenses ................................. 74,115
Prepaid expenses ................................................. 40,983
------------
TOTAL ASSETS .................................................. 214,529,423
------------
LIABILITIES :
Payable for:
Shares of beneficial interest repurchased ..................... 271,355
Plan of distribution fee ...................................... 140,902
Management fee ................................................ 102,036
Investment advisory fee ....................................... 68,024
Investments purchased ......................................... 24,750
Accrued expenses ................................................. 45,551
------------
TOTAL LIABILITIES ............................................. 652,618
------------
NET ASSETS .................................................... $213,876,805
============
COMPOSITION OF NET ASSETS :
Paid-in-capital .................................................. $130,533,669
Net unrealized appreciation ...................................... 86,645,582
Accumulated net realized loss .................................... (3,302,446)
------------
NET ASSETS .................................................... $213,876,805
============
CLASS A SHARES :
Net Assets ....................................................... $ 1,107,296
Shares Outstanding (unlimited authorized, $.01 par value)......... 70,981
NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE ..................................... $ 15.60
============
MAXIMUM OFFERING PRICE PER SHARE,
(net asset value plus 5.54% of net asset value) ............. $ 16.46
============
CLASS B SHARES :
Net Assets ....................................................... $212,042,718
Shares Outstanding (unlimited authorized, $.01 par value)......... 13,717,791
NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE ..................................... $ 15.46
============
CLASS C SHARES :
Net Assets ....................................................... $ 712,341
Shares Outstanding (unlimited authorized, $.01 par value)......... 46,118
NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE ..................................... $ 15.45
============
CLASS D SHARES :
Net Assets ....................................................... $ 14,450
Shares Outstanding (unlimited authorized, $.01 par value)......... 923
NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE ..................................... $ 15.66
============
</TABLE>

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

33
<PAGE>

TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the year ended November 30, 1998

<TABLE>
<S> <C>
NET INVESTMENT LOSS :
INCOME
Dividends ......................................... $ 176,224
Interest .......................................... 102,687
------------
TOTAL INCOME ................................... 278,911
------------
EXPENSES
Plan of distribution fee (Class A shares) ......... 1,092
Plan of distribution fee (Class B shares) ......... 1,616,961
Plan of distribution fee (Class C shares) ......... 2,906
Management fee .................................... 1,085,682
Investment advisory fee ........................... 723,788
Transfer agent fees and expenses .................. 242,766
Registration fees ................................. 84,733
Shareholder reports and notices ................... 59,459
Professional fees ................................. 51,628
Organizational expenses ........................... 33,032
Custodian fees .................................... 32,366
Trustees' fees and expenses ....................... 31,640
Other ............................................. 11,845
------------
TOTAL EXPENSES ................................. 3,977,898
------------
NET INVESTMENT LOSS ............................ (3,698,987)
------------
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN :
Net realized gain ................................. 31,236,102
Net change in unrealized appreciation ............. 37,809,903
------------
NET GAIN ....................................... 69,046,005
------------
NET INCREASE ...................................... $ 65,347,018
============
</TABLE>

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

34
<PAGE>

TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE YEAR FOR THE YEAR
ENDED ENDED
NOVEMBER 30, 1998 NOVEMBER 30, 1997*
------------------- -------------------
<S> <C> <C>
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS :
OPERATIONS :
Net investment loss .................................. $ (3,698,987) $ (3,891,233)
Net realized gain (loss) ............................. 31,236,102 (22,962,571)
Net change in unrealized appreciation ................ 37,809,903 23,258,457
------------- -------------
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) ........................... 65,347,018 (3,595,347)
Net decrease from transactions in shares of beneficial
interest ........................................... (26,033,572) (27,115,386)
------------- -------------
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) ........................... 39,313,446 (30,710,733)
NET ASSETS :
Beginning of period .................................. 174,563,359 205,274,092
------------- -------------
END OF PERIOD ...................................... $ 213,876,805 $ 174,563,359
============= =============
</TABLE>

- ---------------------
* Class A, Class C and Class D shares were issued July 28, 1997.

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

35
<PAGE>

TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS November 30, 1998

1. ORGANIZATION AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES

TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust (the "Fund") is registered under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Act"), as a diversified, open-end
management investment company. The Fund's investment objective is to seek
long-term capital appreciation. The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by
investing primarily in equity securities, including common stocks and
securities convertible into common stock, issued by medium-sized companies. The
Fund was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on October 17, 1995 and
commenced operations on February 27, 1996. On July 28, 1997, the Fund commenced
offering three additional classes of shares, with the then current shares
designated as Class B shares.

The Fund offers Class A shares, Class B shares, Class C shares and Class D
shares. The four classes are substantially the same except that most Class A
shares are subject to a sales charge imposed at the time of purchase and some
Class A shares, and most Class B shares and Class C shares are subject to a
contingent deferred sales charge imposed on shares redeemed within one year,
six years and one year, respectively. Class D shares are not subject to a sales
charge. Additionally, Class A shares, Class B shares and Class C shares incur
distribution expenses.

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions
that affect the reported amounts and disclosures. Actual results could differ
from those estimates.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies:

A. VALUATION OF INVESTMENTS -- (1) an equity security listed or traded on the
New York, American or other domestic or foreign stock exchange is valued at its
latest sale price on that exchange prior to the time when assets are valued; if
there were no sales that day, the security is valued at the latest bid price
(in cases where securities are traded on more than one exchange, the securities
are valued on the exchange designated as the primary market pursuant to
procedures adopted by the Trustees); (2) all other portfolio securities for
which over-the-counter market quotations are readily available are valued at
the latest available bid price prior to the time of valuation; (3) when market
quotations are not readily available, including circumstances under which it is
determined by TCW Funds Management, Inc. (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 Trustees (valuation of
debt securities for which market quotations are not readily available may be
based upon current market prices of securities which are comparable in coupon,
rating and maturity or an appropriate matrix utilizing similar factors); and
(4) short-term debt securities having a maturity date of more than sixty days
at time of purchase are valued on a mark-to-market basis until sixty days prior
to

36
<PAGE>

TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS November 30, 1998, continued

maturity and thereafter at amortized cost based on their value on the 61st day.
Short-term debt securities having a maturity date of sixty days or less at the
time of purchase are valued at amortized cost.

B. ACCOUNTING FOR INVESTMENTS -- Security transactions are accounted for on the
trade date (date the order to buy or sell is executed). Realized gains and
losses on security transactions are determined by the identified cost method.
Dividend income and other distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date
except for certain dividends from foreign securities which are recorded as soon
as the Fund is informed after the ex-dividend date. Discounts are accreted over
the life of the respective securities. Interest income is accrued daily.

C. MULTIPLE CLASS ALLOCATIONS -- Investment income, expenses (other than
distribution fees), and realized and unrealized gains and losses are allocated
to each class of shares based upon the relative net asset value on the date
such items are recognized. Distribution fees are charged directly to the
respective class.

D. FEDERAL INCOME TAX STATUS -- It is the Fund's policy to comply with the
requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment
companies and to distribute all of its taxable income to its shareholders.
Accordingly, no federal income tax provision is required.

E. DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS -- The Fund records dividends
and distributions to its shareholders on the record date. The amount of
dividends and distributions from net investment income and net realized capital
gains are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations which
may differ from generally accepted accounting principles. These "book/tax"
differences are either considered temporary or permanent in nature. To the
extent these differences are permanent in nature, such amounts are reclassified
within the capital accounts based on their federal tax-basis treatment;
temporary differences do not require reclassification. Dividends and
distributions which exceed net investment income and net realized capital gains
for financial reporting purposes but not for tax purposes are reported as
dividends in excess of net investment income or distributions in excess of net
realized capital gains. To the extent they exceed net investment income and net
realized capital gains for tax purposes, they are reported as distributions of
paid-in-capital.

F. ORGANIZATIONAL EXPENSES -- Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Advisors Inc.,
formerly Dean Witter InterCapital Inc., an affiliate of Morgan Stanley Dean
Witter Services Co. Inc. (the "Manager"), paid the organizational expenses of
the Fund in the amount of approximately $165,000 which have been reimbursed for
the full amount thereof. Such expenses have been deferred and are being
amortized on the straight-line method over a period not to exceed five years
from the commencement of operations.

37
<PAGE>

TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS November 30, 1998, continued

2. MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT

Pursuant to a Management Agreement, the Fund pays the Manager a management fee,
accrued daily and payable monthly, by applying the annual rate of 0.60% to the
net assets of the Fund determined as of the close of each business day.

Under the terms of the Management Agreement, the Manager maintains certain of
the Fund's books and records and furnishes, at its own expense, office space,
facilities, equipment, clerical, bookkeeping and certain legal services and
pays the salaries of all personnel, including officers of the Fund who are
employees of the Manager. The Manager also bears the cost of telephone
services, heat, light, power and other utilities provided to the Fund.

3. INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT

Pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement, the Fund pays the Adviser an
advisory fee, accrued daily and payable monthly, by applying the annual rate of
0.40% to the net assets of the Fund determined as of the close of each business
day.

Under the terms of the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Fund has retained the
Adviser to invest the Fund's assets, including placing 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.

4. PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

Shares of the Fund are distributed by Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Distributors
Inc. (the "Distributor"), an affiliate of the Manager. The Fund has adopted a
Plan of Distribution (the "Plan") pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Act. The
Plan provides that the Fund will pay the Distributor a fee which is accrued
daily and paid monthly at the following annual rates: (i) Class A - up to 0.25%
of the average daily net assets of Class A; (ii) Class B - 1.0% of the lesser
of: (a) the average daily aggregate gross sales of the Class B shares since
inception of the Fund (not including reinvestment of dividend or capital gain
distributions) less the average net asset value of the Class B shares redeemed
since the Fund's inception upon which a contingent deferred sales charge has
been imposed or waived; or (b) the average daily net assets of Class B; and
(iii) Class C - up to 1.0% of the average daily net assets of Class C. In the
case of Class A shares, amounts paid under the Plan are paid to the Distributor
for services provided. In the case of Class B and Class C shares, amounts paid
under the Plan are paid to the Distributor for (1) services

38
<PAGE>

TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS November 30, 1998, continued

provided and the expenses borne by it and others in the distribution of the
shares of these Classes, including the payment of commissions for sales of
these Classes and incentive compensation to, and expenses of, Morgan Stanley
Dean Witter Financial Advisors and others who engage in or support distribution
of the shares or who service shareholder accounts, including overhead and
telephone expenses; (2) printing and distribution of prospectuses and reports
used in connection with the offering of these shares to other than current
shareholders; and (3) preparation, printing and distribution of sales
literature and advertising materials. In addition, the Distributor may utilize
fees paid pursuant to the Plan, in the case of Class B shares, to compensate
Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. ("DWR"), an affiliate of the Investment Manager and
Distributor, 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 expenses.

In the case of Class B shares, provided that the Plan continues in effect, any
cumulative expenses incurred by the Distributor but not yet recovered may be
recovered through the payment of future distribution fees from the Fund
pursuant to the Plan and contingent deferred sales charges paid by investors
upon redemption of Class B shares. 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. The Distributor has advised the Fund that such excess amounts,
including carrying charges, totaled $8,805,273 at November 30, 1998.

In the case of Class A shares and Class C shares, expenses incurred pursuant to
the Plan in any calendar year in excess of 0.25% or 1.0% of the average daily
net assets of Class A or Class C, respectively, will not be reimbursed by the
Fund through payments in any subsequent year, except that expenses representing
a gross sales credit to Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Financial Advisors or other
selected broker-dealer representatives may be reimbursed in the subsequent
calendar year. For the year ended November 30, 1998, the distribution fee was
accrued for Class A shares and Class C shares at the annual rate of 0.25% and
1.0%, respectively.

The Distributor has informed the Fund that for the year ended November 30,
1998, it received contingent deferred sales charges from certain redemptions of
the Fund's Class B shares and Class C shares of $679,862 and $372, respectively
and received $15,552 in front-end sales charges from sales of the Fund's Class
A shares. The respective shareholders pay such charges which are not an expense
of the Fund.

39
<PAGE>

TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS November 30, 1998, continued

5. SECURITY TRANSACTIONS AND TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

The cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of portfolio securities,
excluding short-term investments, for the year ended November 30, 1998
aggregated $92,856,026 and $125,265,184, respectively.

For the year ended November 30, 1998, the Fund incurred brokerage commissions
of $645 with Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc., an affliate of the Manager and
Distributor, for portfolio transactions executed on behalf of the Fund.

Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Trust FSB, an affiliate of the Manager and
Distributor, is the Fund's transfer agent. At November 30, 1998, the Fund had
transfer agent fees and expenses payable of approximately $1,000.

6. SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST

Transactions in shares of beneficial interest were as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE YEAR FOR THE YEAR
ENDED ENDED
NOVEMBER 30, 1998 NOVEMBER 30, 1997*
---------------------------------- ----------------------------------
SHARES AMOUNT SHARES AMOUNT
--------------- ---------------- --------------- ----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
CLASS A SHARES
Sold ............................ 70,760 $ 975,219 6,748 $ 74,233
Repurchased ..................... (5,127) (68,294) (1,400) (15,778)
------ ------------- ------ -------------
Net increase -- Class A ......... 65,633 906,925 5,348 58,455
------ ------------- ------ -------------
CLASS B SHARES
Sold ............................ 2,515,413 32,751,132 2,893,121 29,335,443
Repurchased ..................... (4,871,632) (60,224,693) (5,621,922) (56,605,744)
---------- ------------- ---------- -------------
Net decrease -- Class B ......... (2,356,219) (27,473,561) (2,728,801) (27,270,301)
---------- ------------- ---------- -------------
CLASS C SHARES
Sold ............................ 41,665 574,086 7,669 86,447
Repurchased ..................... (3,216) (41,022) -- --
---------- ------------- ---------- -------------
Net increase -- Class C ......... 38,449 533,064 7,669 86,447
---------- ------------- ---------- -------------
CLASS D SHARES
Sold ............................ -- -- 923 10,013
---------- ------------- ---------- -------------
Net decrease in Fund ............ (2,252,137) $ (26,033,572) (2,714,861) $ (27,115,386)
========== ============= ========== =============
</TABLE>

- ---------------
* For Class A, C and D, for the period July 28, 1997 (issue date) through
November 30, 1997.

40
<PAGE>

TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS November 30, 1998, continued

7. FEDERAL INCOME TAX STATUS

During the year ended November 30, 1998, the Fund utilized its net capital loss
carryover of approximately $34,462,000.

Capital losses incurred after October 31 ("post-October" losses) within the
taxable year are deemed to arise on the first business day of the Fund's next
taxable year. The Fund incurred and will elect to defer net capital losses of
approximately $3,106,000 during fiscal 1998.

As of November 30, 1998, the Fund had temporary book/tax differences
attributable to post-October losses and capital loss deferrals on wash sales
and permanent book/tax differences primarily attributable to a net operating
loss. To reflect reclassifications arising from the permanent differences,
paid-in-capital was charged and net investment loss was credited $3,698,987.

41
<PAGE>

TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Selected ratios and per share data for a share of beneficial interest
outstanding throughout the period:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE PERIOD
FOR THE YEAR FOR THE YEAR FEBRUARY 27, 1996*
ENDED ENDED THROUGH
NOVEMBER 30, 1998++ NOVEMBER 30, 1997**++ NOVEMBER 30, 1996
--------------------- ----------------------- -------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
CLASS B SHARES
SELECTED PER SHARE DATA
Net asset value, beginning of period ................... $ 10.85 $ 10.92 $ 10.00
---------- ---------- ----------
Income (loss) from investment operations:
Net investment loss ................................... (0.26) (0.22) (0.13)
Net realized and unrealized gain ...................... 4.87 0.15 1.05
---------- ---------- ----------
Total income (loss) from investment operations ......... 4.61 (0.07) 0.92
---------- ---------- ----------
Net asset value, end of period ......................... $ 15.46 $ 10.85 $ 10.92
========== ========== ==========
TOTAL RETURN+ .......................................... 42.49 % (0.64)% 9.20 %(1)
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS :
Expenses ............................................... 2.20 %(3) 2.29 % 2.28 %(2)
Net investment loss .................................... (2.05)%(3) (2.16)% (1.79)%(2)
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA :
Net assets, end of period, in thousands ................ $212,043 $174,412 $205,274
Portfolio turnover rate ................................ 52 % 49 % 25 %(1)
</TABLE>

- -------------
* Commencement of operations.
** Prior to July 28, 1997, the Fund issued one class of shares. All shares
of the Fund held prior to that date have been designated Class B shares.
++ The per share amounts were computed using an average number of shares
outstanding during the period.
+ Does not reflect the deduction of sales charge. Calculated based on the
net asset value as of the last business day of the period.
(1) Not annualized.
(2) Annualized.
(3) Reflects overall Fund ratios for investment income and non-class specific
expenses.

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

42
<PAGE>

TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS, continued

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE PERIOD
FOR THE YEAR JULY 28, 1997*
ENDED THROUGH
NOVEMBER 30, 1998 NOVEMBER 30, 1997
------------------- ------------------
<S> <C> <C>
CLASS A SHARES++
SELECTED PER SHARE DATA
Net asset value, beginning of period ............ $ 10.88 $ 10.85
------- -------
Income from investment operations:
Net investment loss ............................ (0.18) (0.06)
Net realized and unrealized gain ............... 4.90 0.09
------- -------
Total income from investment operations ......... 4.72 0.03
------- -------
Net asset value, end of period .................. $ 15.60 $ 10.88
======= =======
TOTAL RETURN+ ................................... 43.38 % 0.28 %(1)
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:
Expenses ........................................ 1.55 %(3) 1.55 %(2)
Net investment loss ............................. (1.40)%(3) (1.46)%(2)
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Net assets, end of period, in thousands ......... $1,107 $ 58
Portfolio turnover rate ......................... 52 % 49 %
CLASS C SHARES++
SELECTED PER SHARE DATA
Net asset value, beginning of period ............ $ 10.85 $ 10.85
------- -------
Income from investment operations:
Net investment loss ............................ (0.28) (0.08)
Net realized and unrealized gain ............... 4.88 0.08
------- -------
Total income from investment operations ......... 4.60 --
------- -------
Net asset value, end of period .................. $ 15.45 $ 10.85
======= =======
TOTAL RETURN+ ................................... 42.27 % 0.09 %(1)
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS :
Expenses ........................................ 2.30 %(3) 2.32 %(2)
Net investment loss ............................. (2.15)%(3) (2.22)%(2)
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Net assets, end of period, in thousands ......... $712 $83
Portfolio turnover rate ......................... 52 % 49 %
</TABLE>

- --------------
* The date shares were first issued.
++ The per share amounts were computed using an average number of shares
outstanding during the period.
+ Does not reflect the deduction of sales charge. Calculated based on the
net asset value as of the last business day of the period.
(1) Not annualized.
(2) Annualized.
(3) Reflects overall Fund ratios for investment income and non-class
specific expenses.

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
43
<PAGE>

TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS, continued

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FOR THE PERIOD
FOR THE YEAR JULY 28, 1997*
ENDED THROUGH
NOVEMBER 30, 1998 NOVEMBER 30, 1997
------------------- ------------------
<S> <C> <C>
CLASS D SHARES++
SELECTED PER SHARE DATA
Net asset value, beginning of period ............ $ 10.89 $ 10.85
------- -------
Income from investment operations:
Net investment loss ............................ (0.15) (0.05)
Net realized and unrealized gain ............... 4.92 0.09
------- -------
Total income from investment operations ......... 4.77 0.04
------- -------
Net asset value, end of period .................. $ 15.66 $ 10.89
======= =======
TOTAL RETURN+ ................................... 43.80 % 0.37 %(1)
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS :
Expenses ........................................ 1.30 %(3) 1.30 %(2)
Net investment loss ............................. (1.15)%(3) (1.19)%(2)
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Net assets, end of period, in thousands ......... $15 $10
Portfolio turnover rate ......................... 52 % 49 %
</TABLE>

- --------------
* The date shares were first issued.
++ The per share amounts were computed using an average number of shares
outstanding during the period.
+ Calculated based on the net asset value as of the last business day of
the period.
(1) Not annualized.
(2) Annualized.
(3) Reflects overall Fund ratios for investment income and non-class
specific expenses.

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
44
<PAGE>

TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

TO THE SHAREHOLDERS AND TRUSTEES
OF TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST

In our opinion, the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including
the portfolio of investments, and the related statements of operations and of
changes in net assets and the financial highlights present fairly, in all
material respects, the financial position of TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust (the
"Fund") at November 30, 1998, the results of its operations for the year then
ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period
then ended and the financial highlights for each of the periods presented, in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. These financial
statements and financial highlights (hereafter referred to as "financial
statements") are the responsibility of the Fund's management; our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on
our audits. We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance
with generally accepted auditing standards which require that we plan and
perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial
statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a
test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial
statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates
made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement
presentation. We believe that our audits, which included confirmation of
securities at November 30, 1998 by correspondence with the custodian and
brokers, provide a reasonable basis for
the opinion expressed above.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
1177 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
January 8, 1999

<PAGE>

TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST

PART C OTHER INFORMATION

Item 23. Exhibits
--------

2. Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Registrant dated
January 28, 1999.

10. Consent of Independent Accountants

14. Financial Data Schedules as of November 30, 1998

All other exhibits were previously filed via EDGAR and are hereby incorporated
by reference.

Item 24. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control With the Fund
-----------------------------------------------------------
None

Item 25. 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 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.
<PAGE>

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 person for any act for
which Registrant itself is not permitted to indemnify him.

Item 26. Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser.
----------------------------------------------------

The TCW Funds Management, Inc. ("TCW") is a 100% owned subsidiary of
The TCW Group, Inc., a Nevada corporation. TCW presently serves as investment
adviser to: (1) TCW/DW North American Government Income Trust, an open-end,
non-diversified management company; (2) TCW/DW Income and Growth Fund, an
open-end, non-diversified management company; (3) TCW/DW Latin American Growth
Fund, an open-end, non-diversified management company; (4) TCW/DW Small Cap
Growth Fund, an open-end non-diversified management company; (5) TCW/DW Term
Trust 2000, a closed-end, diversified management company; (6) TCW/DW Term Trust
2002, a closed-end diversified management company; (7) TCW/DW Term Trust 2003,
a closed-end diversified management company; (8) TCW/DW Emerging Markets
Opportunities Trust, an open-end, non-diversified management company; (9)
TCW/DW Total Return Trust, an open-end non-diversified management investment
company; (10) TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust, an open-end, diversified management
investment company; and (11) TCW/DW Global Telecom Trust, an open-end
diversified management investment company. TCW also serves as investment
adviser or sub-adviser to other investment companies, including foreign
investment companies. The list required by this Item 26 of the officers and
directors of TCW together with information as to any other business,
profession, vocation or employment of a substantive nature engaged in by TCW
and such officers and directors during the past two years, is incorporated by
reference to Form ADV (File No. 801-29075) filed by TCW pursuant to the
Investment Advisers Act.

Item 27. Principal Underwriters

(a) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Distributors Inc. ("MSDW Distributors"), a
Delaware corporation, is the principal underwriter of the Registrant. MSDW
Distributors is also the principal underwriter of the following investment
companies:

(1) Active Assets California Tax-Free Trust
(2) Active Assets Government Securities Trust
(3) Active Assets Money Trust
(4) Active Assets Tax-Free Trust
(5) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Aggressive Equity Fund
(6) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter American Value Fund
(7) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Balanced Growth Fund
(8) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Balanced Income Fund
(9) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust

<PAGE>

(10) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter California Tax-Free Income Fund
(11) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Capital Growth Securities
(12) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Competitive Edge Fund,
"Best Ideas Portfolio"
(13) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Convertible Securities Trust
(14) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Developing Growth Securities Trust
(15) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Diversified Income Trust
(16) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities Inc.
(17) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Equity Fund
(18) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter European Growth Fund Inc.
(19) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Federal Securities Trust
(20) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Financial Services Trust
(21) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Fund of Funds
(22) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities
(23) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Global Utilities Fund
(24) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Growth Fund
(25) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Hawaii Municipal Trust
(26) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Health Sciences Trust
(27) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc.
(28) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Income Builder Fund
(29) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Information Fund
(30) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Intermediate Income Securities
(31) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter International SmallCap Fund
(32) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Japan Fund
(33) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust
(34) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
(35) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Market Leader Trust
(36) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Mid-Cap Dividend Growth Securities
(37) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Mid-Cap Growth Fund
(38) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal Series Trust
(39) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Natural Resource Development
Securities Inc.
(40) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust
(41) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter New York Tax-Free Income Fund
(42) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Pacific Growth Fund Inc.
(43) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Precious Metals and Minerals Trust
(44) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Prime Income Trust
(45) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Real Estate Fund
(46) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter S&P 500 Index Fund
(47) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter S&P 500 Select Fund
(48) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Short-Term Bond Fund
(49) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust
(50) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Special Value Fund
(51) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Strategist Fund
(52) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Tax-Exempt Securities Trust
(53) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
(54) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust
(55) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter U.S. Government Securities Trust
(56) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Utilities Fund
(57) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Value-Added Market Series
(58) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Value Fund
(59) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Variable Investment Series

3
<PAGE>

(60) Morgan Stanley Dean Witter World Wide Income Trust
(1) TCW/DW Emerging Markets Opportunities Trust
(2) TCW/DW Global Telecom Trust
(3) TCW/DW Income and Growth
(4) TCW/DW Latin American Growth Fund
(5) TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust
(6) TCW/DW North American Government Income Trust
(7) TCW/DW Small Cap Growth Fund
(8) TCW/DW Total Return Trust

(b) The following information is given regarding directors and officers of
MSDW Distributors not listed in Item 26 above. The principal address of
MSDW Distributors is Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
POSITION AND OFFICE WITH DISTRIBUTORS
NAME AND THE REGISTRANT
- ---- ---------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Frank Bruttomesso Assistant Secretary of MSDW Distributors and Vice
President of the Registrant.

Thomas F. Caloia Assistant Treasurer of MSDW Distributors and
Treasurer of the Registrant.

Marilyn K. Cranney Assistant Secretary of MSDW Distributors and Vice
President of the Registrant.

Christine A. Edwards Director, Executive Vice President, Secretary, and
Chief Legal Officer of MSDW Distributors.

Barry Fink Senior Vice President, Assistant General Counsel and
Assistant Secretary of MSDW Distributors and Vice President,
Secretary and General Counsel of the Registrant.

Robert S. Giambrone Senior Vice President of MSDW Distributors and
Vice President of the Registrant.

Michael T. Gregg Vice President and Assistant Secretary of MSDW Distributors.

James F. Higgins Director of MSDW Distributors.

Michael Interrante Assistant Treasurer of MSDW Distributors.

John B. Kemp President of Distributors.

Frederick K. Kubler Senior Vice President, Assistant Secretary and Chief
Compliance Officer of MSDW Distributors.

Todd Lebo Assistant Secretary of MSDW Distributors and Vice
President of the Registrant.

4
<PAGE>

Lou Anne D. McInnis Assistant Secretary of MSDW Distributors and Vice
President of the Registrant.

Mitchell M. Merin Director, Chief Executive Officer of MSDW
Distributors and Vice President of the Registrant.

Carsten Otto Assistant Secretary of MSDW Distributors and Vice
President of the Registrant.

Philip J. Purcell Director of MSDW Distributors.

Ruth Rossi Assistant Secretary of MSDW Distributors and Vice
President of the Registrant.

John Schaeffer Director of MSDW Distributors.

Charles A. Vadala Senior Vice President and Financial Principal of
MSDW Distributors.
</TABLE>

Item 28. 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 Investment 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 29. Management Services
-------------------
Registrant is not a party to any such management-related service
contract.

Item 30. Undertakings
------------

None
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
----------

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the
Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of
the requirements for effectiveness of this Registration Statement pursuant to
Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused this
Post-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York
and State of New York on the 26th day of March, 1999.

TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST

By: /s/ Barry Fink
-----------------------
Barry Fink
Vice President and Secretary

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Post-Effective Amendment No. 6 has been signed below by the following persons
in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIGNATURES TITLE DATE
---------- ----- ----
<S> <C> <C>
(1) Principal Executive Officer President, Chief
Executive Officer,
Trustee and Chairman 3/26/99
By: /s/Charles A. Fiumefreddo
-------------------------
Charles A. Fiumefreddo

(2) Principal Financial Officer Treasurer and Principal
Accounting Officer

3/26/99

By: /s/Thomas F. Caloia
-------------------
Thomas F. Caloia

(3) Majority of the Trustees

Charles A. Fiumefreddo (Chairman)
Thomas E. Larkin, Jr.
Richard M. DeMartini
Marc. I. Stern

By: /s/Barry Fink 3/26/99
-------------
Barry Fink
Attorney-in-Fact

John C. Argue Michael E. Nugent
John R. Haire John L. Schroeder
Manuel H. Johnson

By: /s/David M. Butowsky 3/26/99
--------------------
David M. Butowsky
Attorney-in-Fact
</TABLE>

<PAGE>
TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST
EXHIBIT INDEX

2. Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Registrant dated
January 28, 1999.

10. Consent of Independent Accountants.

14. Financial Data Schedules as of November 30, 1998.

<PAGE>
BY-LAWS
OF
TCW/DW MID-CAP EQUITY TRUST
AMENDED AND RESTATED AS OF JANUARY 28, 1999

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS

The terms "Commission," "Declaration," "Distributor," "Investment
Adviser," "Majority Shareholder Vote," "1940 Act," "Shareholder," "Shares,"
"Transfer Agent," "Trust," "Trust Property," and "Trustees" have the
respective meanings given them in the Declaration of Trust of TCW/DW Mid-Cap
Equity Trust dated October 16, 1995, as amended from time to time.

ARTICLE II
OFFICES

SECTION 2.1. Principal Office. Until changed by the Trustees, the
principal office of the Trust in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts shall be
in the City of Boston, County of Suffolk.

SECTION 2.2. Other Offices. In addition to its principal office in the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Trust may have an office or offices in the
City of New York, State of New York, and at such other places within and
without the Commonwealth as the Trustees may from time to time designate or
the business of the Trust may require.

ARTICLE III
SHAREHOLDERS' MEETINGS

SECTION 3.1. Place of Meetings. Meetings of Shareholders shall be held at
such place, within or without the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as may be
designated from time to time by the Trustees.

SECTION 3.2. Meetings. Meetings of Shareholders of the Trust shall be held
whenever called by the Trustees or the President of the Trust and whenever
election of a Trustee or Trustees by Shareholders is required by the
provisions of Section 16(a) of the 1940 Act, for that purpose. Meetings of
Shareholders shall also be called by the Secretary upon the written request
of the holders of Shares entitled to vote as otherwise required by Section
16(c) of the 1940 Act and to the extent required by the corporate or business
statute of any state in which the Shares of the Trust are sold, as made
applicable to the Trust by the provisions of Section 2.3 of the Declaration.
Such request shall state the purpose or purposes of such meeting and the
matters proposed to be acted on thereat. Except to the extent otherwise
required by Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act, as made applicable to the Trust by
the provisions of Section 2.3 of the Declaration, the Secretary shall inform
such Shareholders of the reasonable estimated cost of preparing and mailing
such notice of the meeting, and upon payment to the Trust of such costs, the
Secretary shall give notice stating the purpose or purposes of the meeting to
all entitled to vote at such meeting. No meeting need be called upon the
request of the holders of Shares entitled to cast less than a majority of all
votes entitled to be cast at such meeting, to consider any matter which is
substantially the same as a matter voted upon at any meeting of Shareholders
held during the preceding twelve months.

SECTION 3.3. Notice of Meetings. Written or printed notice of every
Shareholders' meeting stating the place, date, and purpose or purposes
thereof, shall be given by the Secretary not less than ten (10) nor more than
ninety (90) days before such meeting to each Shareholder entitled to vote at
such meeting. Such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the
United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the Shareholder at his
address as it appears on the records of the Trust.

SECTION 3.4. Quorum and Adjournment of Meetings. Except as otherwise
provided by law, by the Declaration or by these By-Laws, at all meetings of
Shareholders, the holders of a majority of the Shares issued and outstanding
and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy,
shall be

1
<PAGE>
requisite and shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In
the absence of a quorum, the Shareholders present or represented by proxy and
entitled to vote thereat shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from
time to time. The Shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at
any meeting and entitled to vote thereat also shall have the power to adjourn
the meeting from time to time if the vote required to approve or reject any
proposal described in the original notice of such meeting is not obtained
(with proxies being voted for or against adjournment consistent with the
votes for and against the proposal for which the required vote has not been
obtained). The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Shares
then present in person or represented by proxy shall be required to adjourn
any meeting. Any adjourned meeting may be reconvened without further notice
or change in record date. At any reconvened meeting at which a quorum shall
be present, any business may be transacted that might have been transacted at
the meeting as originally called.

SECTION 3.5. Voting Rights, Proxies. At each meeting of Shareholders, each
holder of record of Shares entitled to vote thereat shall be entitled to one
vote in person or by proxy for each Share of beneficial interest of the Trust
and for the fractional portion of one vote for each fractional Share entitled
to vote so registered in his or her name on the records of the Trust on the
date fixed as the record date for the determination of Shareholders entitled
to vote at such meeting. Without limiting the manner in which a Shareholder
may authorize another person or persons to act for such Shareholder as proxy
pursuant hereto, the following shall constitute a valid means by which a
Shareholder may grant such authority:

(i) A Shareholder may execute a writing authorizing another person or
persons to act for such Shareholder as proxy. Execution may be
accomplished by the Shareholder or such Shareholder's authorized
officer, director, employee, attorney-in-fact or another agent signing
such writing or causing such person's signature to be affixed to such
writing by any reasonable means including, but not limited to, by
facsimile or telecopy signature. No written evidence of authority of a
Shareholder's authorized officer, director, employee, attorney-in-fact
or other agent shall be required; and

(ii) A Shareholder may authorize another person or persons to act for
such Shareholder as proxy by transmitting or authorizing the
transmission of a telegram or cablegram or by other means of
telephonic, electronic or computer transmission to the person who will
be the holder of the proxy or to a proxy solicitation firm, proxy
support service organization or like agent duly authorized by the
person who will be the holder of the proxy to receive such
transmission, provided that any such telegram or cablegram or other
means of telephonic, electronic or computer transmission must either
set forth or be submitted with information from which it can be
determined that the telegram, cablegram or other transmission was
authorized by the Shareholder.

No proxy shall be valid after eleven months from its date, unless otherwise
provided in the proxy. At all meetings of Shareholders, unless the voting is
conducted by inspectors, all questions relating to the qualification of
voters and the validity of proxies and the acceptance or rejection of votes
shall be decided by the chairman of the meeting. In determining whether a
telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission is valid, the chairman
or inspector, as the case may be, shall specify the information upon which he
or she relied. Pursuant to a resolution of a majority of the Trustees,
proxies may be solicited in the name of one or more Trustees or Officers of
the Trust. Proxy solicitations may be made in writing or by using telephonic
or other electronic solicitation procedures that include appropriate methods
of verifying the identity of the Shareholder and confirming any instructions
given thereby.

SECTION 3.6. Vote Required. Except as otherwise provided by law, by the
Declaration of Trust, or by these By-Laws, at each meeting of Shareholders at
which a quorum is present, all matters shall be decided by Majority
Shareholder Vote.

SECTION 3.7. Inspectors of Election. In advance of any meeting of
Shareholders, the Trustees may appoint Inspectors of Election to act at the
meeting or any adjournment thereof. If Inspectors of Election are not so
appointed, the chairman of any meeting of Shareholders may, and on the
request of any Shareholder or his proxy shall, appoint Inspectors of Election
of the meeting. In case any person appointed as Inspector fails to appear or
fails or refuses to act, the vacancy may be filled by appointment made by the
Trustees in advance of the convening of the meeting or at the meeting by the
person acting

2
<PAGE>
as chairman. The Inspectors of Election shall determine the number of Shares
outstanding, the Shares represented at the meeting, the existence of a
quorum, the authenticity, validity and effect of proxies, shall receive
votes, ballots or consents, shall hear and determine all challenges and
questions in any way arising in connection with the right to vote, shall
count and tabulate all votes or consents, determine the results, and do such
other acts as may be proper to conduct the election or vote with fairness to
all Shareholders. On request of the chairman of the meeting, or of any
Shareholder or his proxy, the Inspectors of Election shall make a report in
writing of any challenge or question or matter determined by them and shall
execute a certificate of any facts found by them.

SECTION 3.8. Inspection of Books and Records. Shareholders shall have such
rights and procedures of inspection of the books and records of the Trust as
are granted to Shareholders under Section 32 of the Business Corporation Law
of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

SECTION 3.9. Action by Shareholders Without Meeting. Except as otherwise
provided by law, the provisions of these By-Laws relating to notices and
meetings to the contrary notwithstanding, any action required or permitted to
be taken at any meeting of Shareholders may be taken without a meeting if a
majority of the Shareholders entitled to vote upon the action consent to the
action in writing and such consents are filed with the records of the Trust.
Such consent shall be treated for all purposes as a vote taken at a meeting
of Shareholders.

SECTION 3.10. Presence at Meetings. Presence at meetings of shareholders
requires physical attendance by the shareholder or his or her proxy at the
meeting site and does not encompass attendance by telephonic or other
electronic means.

ARTICLE IV
TRUSTEES

SECTION 4.1. Meetings of the Trustees. The Trustees may in their
discretion provide for regular or special meetings of the Trustees. Regular
meetings of the Trustees may be held at such time and place as shall be
determined from time to time by the Trustees without further notice. Special
meetings of the Trustees may be called at any time by the Chairman and shall
be called by the Chairman or the Secretary upon the written request of any
two (2) Trustees.

SECTION 4.2. Notice of Special Meetings. Written notice of special
meetings of the Trustees, stating the place, date and time thereof, shall be
given not less than two (2) days before such meeting to each Trustee,
personally, by telegram, by mail, or by leaving such notice at his place of
residence or usual place of business. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed
to be given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid,
directed to the Trustee at his address as it appears on the records of the
Trust. Subject to the provisions of the 1940 Act, notice or waiver of notice
need not specify the purpose of any special meeting.

SECTION 4.3. Telephone Meetings. Subject to the provisions of the 1940
Act, any Trustee, or any member or members of any committee designated by the
Trustees, may participate in a meeting of the Trustees, or any such
committee, as the case may be, by means of a conference telephone or similar
communications equipment if all persons participating in the meeting can hear
each other at the same time. Participation in a meeting by these means
constitutes presence in person at the meeting.

SECTION 4.4. Quorum, Voting and Adjournment of Meetings. At all meetings
of the Trustees, a majority of the Trustees shall be requisite to and shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If a quorum is present,
the affirmative vote of a majority of the Trustees present shall be the act
of the Trustees, unless the concurrence of a greater proportion is expressly
required for such action by law, the Declaration or these By-Laws. If at any
meeting of the Trustees there be less than a quorum present, the Trustees
present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice
other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall have been
obtained.

SECTION 4.5. Action by Trustees Without Meeting. The provisions of these
By-Laws covering notices and meetings to the contrary notwithstanding, and
except as required by law, any action required or permitted to be taken at
any meeting of the Trustees may be taken without a meeting if a consent in

3
<PAGE>
writing setting forth the action shall be signed by all of the Trustees
entitled to vote upon the action and such written consent is filed with the
minutes of proceedings of the Trustees.

SECTION 4.6. Expenses and Fees. Each Trustee may be allowed expenses, if
any, for attendance at each regular or special meeting of the Trustees, and
each Trustee who is not an officer or employee of the Trust or of its
investment manager or underwriter or of any corporate affiliate of any of
said persons shall receive for services rendered as a Trustee of the Trust
such compensation as may be fixed by the Trustees. Nothing herein contained
shall be construed to preclude any Trustee from serving the Trust in any
other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.

SECTION 4.7. Execution of Instruments and Documents and Signing of Checks
and Other Obligations and Transfers. All instruments, documents and other
papers shall be executed in the name and on behalf of the Trust and all
checks, notes, drafts and other obligations for the payment of money by the
Trust shall be signed, and all transfer of securities standing in the name of
the Trust shall be executed, by the Chairman, the President, any Vice
President or the Treasurer or by any one or more officers or agents of the
Trust as shall be designated for that purpose by vote of the Trustees;
notwithstanding the above, nothing in this Section 4.7 shall be deemed to
preclude the electronic authorization, by designated persons, of the Trust's
Custodian (as described herein in Section 9.1) to transfer assets of the
Trust, as provided for herein in Section 9.1.

SECTION 4.8. Indemnification of Trustees, Officers, Employees and
Agents. (a) The Trust shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is
threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending, or completed
action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Trust) by
reason of the fact that he is or was a Trustee, officer, employee, or agent
of the Trust. The indemnification shall be against expenses, including
attorneys' fees, judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement, actually
and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the action, suit, or
proceeding, if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed
to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust, and, with respect
to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his
conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by
judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or
its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person
did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be
in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust, and, with respect to
any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his
conduct was unlawful.

(b) The Trust shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is
threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action
or suit by or on behalf of the Trust to obtain a judgment or decree in its
favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a Trustee, officer, employee,
or agent of the Trust. The indemnification shall be against expenses,
including attorneys' fees actually and reasonably incurred by him in
connection with the defense or settlement of the action or suit, if he acted
in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed
to the best interests of the Trust; except that no indemnification shall be
made in respect of any claim, issue, or matter as to which the person has
been adjudged to be liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of
his duty to the Trust, except to the extent that the court in which the
action or suit was brought, or a court of equity in the county in which the
Trust has its principal office, determines upon application that, despite the
adjudication of liability but in view of all circumstances of the case, the
person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for those expenses
which the court shall deem proper, provided such Trustee, officer, employee
or agent is not adjudged to be liable by reason of his willful misfeasance,
bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in
the conduct of his office.

(c) To the extent that a Trustee, officer, employee, or agent of the Trust
has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit
or proceeding referred to in subsection (a) or (b) or in defense of any
claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses,
including attorneys' fees, actually and reasonably incurred by him in
connection therewith.

(d) (1) Unless a court orders otherwise, any indemnification under
subsections (a) or (b) of this section may be made by the Trust only as
authorized in the specific case after a determination that indemnification of
the Trustee, officer, employee, or agent is proper in the circumstances
because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in
subsections (a) or (b).

4
<PAGE>
(2) The determination shall be made:

(i) By the Trustees, by a majority vote of a quorum which consists of
Trustees who were not parties to the action, suit or proceeding; or

(ii) If the required quorum is not obtainable, or if a quorum of
disinterested Trustees so directs, by independent legal counsel in a
written opinion; or

(iii) By the Shareholders.

(3) Notwithstanding any provision of this Section 4.8, no person shall be
entitled to indemnification for any liability, whether or not there is an
adjudication of liability, arising by reason of willful misfeasance, bad
faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of duties as described in
Section 17(h) and (i) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 ("disabling
conduct"). A person shall be deemed not liable by reason of disabling
conduct if, either:

(i) a final decision on the merits is made by a court or other body
before whom the proceeding was brought that the person to be indemnified
("indemnitee") was not liable by reason of disabling conduct; or

(ii) in the absence of such a decision, a reasonable determination,
based upon a review of the facts, that the indemnitee was not liable by
reason of disabling conduct, is made by either--

(A) a majority of a quorum of Trustees who are neither "interested
persons" of the Trust, as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the
Investment Company Act of 1940, nor parties to the action, suit or
proceeding, or

(B) an independent legal counsel in a written opinion.

(e) Expenses, including attorneys' fees, incurred by a Trustee, officer,
employee or agent of the Trust in defending a civil or criminal action, suit
or proceeding may be paid by the Trust in advance of the final disposition
thereof if:

(1) authorized in the specific case by the Trustees; and

(2) the Trust receives an undertaking by or on behalf of the Trustee,
officer, employee or agent of the Trust to repay the advance if it is not
ultimately determined that such person is entitled to be indemnified by
the Trust; and

(3) either, (i) such person provides a security for his undertaking, or

(ii) the Trust is insured against losses by reason of any lawful
advances, or

(iii) a determination, based on a review of readily available facts,
that there is reason to believe that such person ultimately will be found
entitled to indemnification, is made by either--

(A) a majority of a quorum which consists of Trustees who are neither
"interested persons" of the Trust, as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of
the 1940 Act, nor parties to the action, suit or proceeding, or

(B) an independent legal counsel in a written opinion.

(f) The indemnification provided by this Section shall not be deemed
exclusive of any other rights to which a person may be entitled under any
by-law, agreement, vote of Shareholders or disinterested Trustees or
otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity and as to action in
another capacity while holding the office, and shall continue as to a person
who has ceased to be a Trustee, officer, employee, or agent and inure to the
benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such person; provided
that no person may satisfy any right of indemnity or reimbursement granted
herein or to which he may be otherwise entitled except out of the property of
the Trust, and no Shareholder shall be personally liable with respect to any
claim for indemnity or reimbursement or otherwise.

(g) The Trust may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person
who is or was a Trustee, officer, employee, or agent of the Trust, against
any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in

5
<PAGE>
any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such. However, in no event
will the Trust purchase insurance to indemnify any officer or Trustee against
liability for any act for which the Trust itself is not permitted to
indemnify him.

(h) Nothing contained in this Section shall be construed to protect any
Trustee or officer of the Trust against any liability to the Trust or to its
security holders to which he would otherwise be subject by reason of willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties
involved in the conduct of his office.

ARTICLE V
COMMITTEES

SECTION 5.1. Executive and Other Committees. The Trustees, by resolution
adopted by a majority of the Trustees, may designate an Executive Committee
and/or committees, each committee to consist of two (2) or more of the
Trustees of the Trust and may delegate to such committees, in the intervals
between meetings of the Trustees, any or all of the powers of the Trustees in
the management of the business and affairs of the Trust. In the absence of
any member of any such committee, the members thereof present at any meeting,
whether or not they constitute a quorum, may appoint a Trustee to act in
place of such absent member. Each such committee shall keep a record of its
proceedings.

The Executive Committee and any other committee shall fix its own rules or
procedure, but the presence of at least fifty percent (50%) of the members of
the whole committee shall in each case be necessary to constitute a quorum of
the committee and the affirmative vote of the majority of the members of the
committee present at the meeting shall be necessary to take action.

All actions of the Executive Committee shall be reported to the Trustees
at the meeting thereof next succeeding to the taking of such action.

SECTION 5.2. Advisory Committee. The Trustees may appoint an advisory
committee which shall be composed of persons who do not serve the Trust in
any other capacity and which shall have advisory functions with respect to
the investments of the Trust but which shall have no power to determine that
any security or other investment shall be purchased, sold or otherwise
disposed of by the Trust. The number of persons constituting any such
advisory committee shall be determined from time to time by the Trustees. The
members of any such advisory committee may receive compensation for their
services and may be allowed such fees and expenses for the attendance at
meetings as the Trustees may from time to time determine to be appropriate.

SECTION 5.3. Committee Action Without Meeting. The provisions of these
By-Laws covering notices and meetings to the contrary notwithstanding, and
except as required by law, any action required or permitted to be taken at
any meeting of any Committee of the Trustees appointed pursuant to Section
5.1 of these By-Laws may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing
setting forth the action shall be signed by all members of the Committee
entitled to vote upon the action and such written consent is filed with the
records of the proceedings of the Committee.

ARTICLE VI
OFFICERS

SECTION 6.1. Executive Officers. The executive officers of the Trust shall
be a Chairman, a President, one or more Vice Presidents, a Secretary and a
Treasurer. The Chairman shall be selected from among the Trustees but none of
the other executive officers need be a Trustee. Two or more offices, except
those of President and any Vice President, may be held by the same person,
but no officer shall execute, acknowledge or verify any instrument in more
than one capacity. The executive officers of the Trust shall be elected
annually by the Trustees and each executive officer so elected shall hold
office until his successor is elected and has qualified.

SECTION 6.2. Other Officers and Agents. The Trustees may also elect one or
more Assistant Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries and Assistant
Treasurers and may elect, or may delegate to the Chairman the power to
appoint, such other officers and agents as the Trustees shall at any time or
from time to time deem advisable.

6
<PAGE>
SECTION 6.3. Term and Removal and Vacancies. Each officer of the Trust
shall hold office until his successor is elected and has qualified. Any
officer or agent of the Trust may be removed by the Trustees whenever, in
their judgment, the best interests of the Trust will be served thereby, but
such removal shall be without prejudice to the contractual rights, if any, of
the person so removed.

SECTION 6.4. Compensation of Officers. The compensation of officers and
agents of the Trust shall be fixed by the Trustees, or by the Chairman to the
extent provided by the Trustees with respect to officers appointed by the
Chairman.

SECTION 6.5. Power and Duties. All officers and agents of the Trust, as
between themselves and the Trust, shall have such authority and perform such
duties in the management of the Trust as may be provided in or pursuant to
these By-Laws, or to the extent not so provided, as may be prescribed by the
Trustees; provided, that no rights of any third party shall be affected or
impaired by any such By-Law or resolution of the Trustees unless he has
knowledge thereof.

SECTION 6.6. The Chairman. (a) The Chairman shall be the chief executive
officer of the Trust; he shall preside at all meetings of the Shareholders
and of the Trustees; he shall have general and active management of the
business of the Trust, shall see that all orders and resolutions of the
Trustees are carried into effect, and, in connection therewith, shall be
authorized to delegate to the President or to one or more Vice Presidents
such of his powers and duties at such times and in such manner as he may deem
advisable; he shall be a signatory on all Annual and Semi-Annual Reports as
may be sent to shareholders, and he shall perform such other duties as the
Trustees may from time to time prescribe.

(b) In the absence of the Chairman, the Board shall determine who shall
preside at all meetings of the shareholders and the Board of Trustees.

SECTION 6.7. The President. The President shall perform such duties as the
Board of Trustees and the Chairman may from time to time prescribe.

SECTION 6.8. The Vice Presidents. The Vice Presidents shall be of such
number and shall have such titles as may be determined from time to time by
the Trustees. The Vice President, or, if there be more than one, the Vice
Presidents in the order of their seniority as may be determined from time to
time by the Trustees or the Chairman, shall, in the absence or disability of
the President, exercise the powers and perform the duties of the President,
and he or they shall perform such other duties as the Trustees or the
Chairman may from time to time prescribe.

SECTION 6.9. The Assistant Vice Presidents. The Assistant Vice President,
or, if there be more than one, the Assistant Vice Presidents, shall perform
such duties and have such powers as may be assigned them from time to time by
the Trustees or the Chairman.

SECTION 6.10. The Secretary. The Secretary shall attend all meetings of
the Trustees and all meetings of the Shareholders and record all the
proceedings of the meetings of the Shareholders and of the Trustees in a book
to be kept for that purpose, and shall perform like duties for the standing
committees when required. He shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all
meetings of the Shareholders and special meetings of the Trustees, and shall
perform such other duties and have such powers as the Trustees, or the
Chairman, may from time to time prescribe. He shall keep in safe custody the
seal of the Trust and affix or cause the same to be affixed to any instrument
requiring it, and, when so affixed, it shall be attested by his signature or
by the signature of an Assistant Secretary.

SECTION 6.11. The Assistant Secretaries. The Assistant Secretary, or, if
there be more than one, the Assistant Secretaries in the order determined by
the Trustees or the Chairman, shall, in the absence or disability of the
Secretary, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary and
shall perform such duties and have such other powers as the Trustees or the
Chairman may from time to time prescribe.

SECTION 6.12. The Treasurer. The Treasurer shall be the chief financial
officer of the Trust. He shall keep or cause to be kept full and accurate
accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Trust, and
he shall render to the Trustees and the Chairman, whenever any of them
require it, an account of his transactions as Treasurer and of the financial
condition of the Trust; and he shall perform such other duties as the
Trustees, or the Chairman, may from time to time prescribe.

7
<PAGE>
SECTION 6.13. The Assistant Treasurers. The Assistant Treasurer, or, if
there shall be more than one, the Assistant Treasurers in the order
determined by the Trustees or the Chairman, shall, in the absence or
disability of the Treasurer, perform the duties and exercise the powers of
the Treasurer and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers
as the Trustees, or the Chairman, may from time to time prescribe.

SECTION 6.14. Delegation of Duties. Whenever an officer is absent or
disabled, or whenever for any reason the Trustees may deem it desirable, the
Trustees may delegate the powers and duties of an officer or officers to any
other officer or officers or to any Trustee or Trustees.

ARTICLE VII
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

Subject to any applicable provisions of law and the Declaration, dividends
and distributions upon the Shares may be declared at such intervals as the
Trustees may determine, in cash, in securities or other property, or in
Shares, from any sources permitted by law, all as the Trustees shall from
time to time determine.

Inasmuch as the computation of net income and net profits from the sales
of securities or other properties for federal income tax purposes may vary
from the computation thereof on the records of the Trust, the Trustees shall
have power, in their discretion, to distribute as income dividends and as
capital gain distributions, respectively, amounts sufficient to enable the
Trust to avoid or reduce liability for federal income taxes.

ARTICLE VIII
CERTIFICATES OF SHARES

SECTION 8.1. Certificates of Shares. Certificates for Shares of each
series or class of Shares shall be in such form and of such design as the
Trustees shall approve, subject to the right of the Trustees to change such
form and design at any time or from time to time, and shall be entered in the
records of the Trust as they are issued. Each such certificate shall bear a
distinguishing number; shall exhibit the holder's name and certify the number
of full Shares owned by such holder; shall be signed by or in the name of the
Trust by the Chairman, the President, or a Vice President, and countersigned
by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or the Treasurer and an Assistant
Treasurer of the Trust; shall be sealed with the seal; and shall contain such
recitals as may be required by law. Where any certificate is signed by a
Transfer Agent or by a Registrar, the signature of such officers and the seal
may be facsimile, printed or engraved. The Trust may, at its option,
determine not to issue a certificate or certificates to evidence Shares owned
of record by any Shareholder.

In case any officer or officers who shall have signed, or whose facsimile
signature or signatures shall appear on, any such certificate or certificates
shall cease to be such officer or officers of the Trust, whether because of
death, resignation or otherwise, before such certificate or certificates
shall have been delivered by the Trust, such certificate or certificates
shall, nevertheless, be adopted by the Trust and be issued and delivered as
though the person or persons who signed such certificate or certificates or
whose facsimile signature or signatures shall appear therein had not ceased
to be such officer or officers of the Trust.

No certificate shall be issued for any share until such share is fully
paid.

SECTION 8.2. Lost, Stolen, Destroyed and Mutilated Certificates. The
Trustees may direct a new certificate or certificates to be issued in place
of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the Trust alleged to
have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon satisfactory proof of such loss,
theft, or destruction; and the Trustees may, in their discretion, require the
owner of the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or his legal
representative, to give to the Trust and to such Registrar, Transfer Agent
and/or Transfer Clerk as may be authorized or required to countersign such
new certificate or certificates, a bond in such sum and of such type as they
may direct, and with such surety or sureties, as they may direct, as
indemnity against any claim that may be against them or any of them on
account of or in connection with the alleged loss, theft or destruction of
any such certificate.

8
<PAGE>
ARTICLE IX
CUSTODIAN

SECTION 9.1. Appointment and Duties. The Trust shall at times employ a
bank or trust company having capital, surplus and undivided profits of at
least five million dollars ($5,000,000) as custodian with authority as its
agent, but subject to such restrictions, limitations and other requirements,
if any, as may be contained in these By-Laws and the 1940 Act:

(1) to receive and hold the securities owned by the Trust and deliver the
same upon written or electronically transmitted order;

(2) to receive and receipt for any moneys due to the Trust and deposit
the same in its own banking department or elsewhere as the Trustees may
direct;

(3) to disburse such funds upon orders or vouchers;

all upon such basis of compensation as may be agreed upon between the
Trustees and the custodian. If so directed by a Majority Shareholder Vote,
the custodian shall deliver and pay over all property of the Trust held by it
as specified in such vote.

The Trustees may also authorize the custodian to employ one or more
sub-custodians from time to time to perform such of the acts and services of
the custodian and upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon
between the custodian and such sub-custodian and approved by the Trustees.

SECTION 9.2. Central Certificate System. Subject to such rules,
regulations and orders as the Commission may adopt, the Trustees may direct
the custodian to deposit all or any part of the securities owned by the Trust
in a system for the central handling of securities established by a national
securities exchange or a national securities association registered with the
Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or such other person as
may be permitted by the Commission, or otherwise in accordance with the 1940
Act, pursuant to which system all securities of any particular class or
series of any issuer deposited within the system are treated as fungible and
may be transferred or pledged by bookkeeping entry without physical delivery
of such securities, provided that all such deposits shall be subject to
withdrawal only upon the order of the Trust.

ARTICLE X
WAIVER OF NOTICE

Whenever any notice of the time, place or purpose of any meeting of
Shareholders, Trustees, or of any committee is required to be given in
accordance with law or under the provisions of the Declaration or these
By-Laws, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons
entitled to such notice and filed with the records of the meeting, whether
before or after the holding thereof, or actual attendance at the meeting of
shareholders, Trustees or committee, as the case may be, in person, shall be
deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice to such person.

ARTICLE XI
MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 11.1. Location of Books and Records. The books and records of the
Trust may be kept outside the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at such place or
places as the Trustees may from time to time determine, except as otherwise
required by law.

SECTION 11.2. Record Date. The Trustees may fix in advance a date as the
record date for the purpose of determining the Shareholders entitled to (i)
receive notice of, or to vote at, any meeting of Shareholders, or (ii)
receive payment of any dividend or the allotment of any rights, or in order
to make a determination of Shareholders for any other proper purpose. The
record date, in any case, shall not be more than one hundred eighty (180)
days, and in the case of a meeting of Shareholders not less than ten (10)
days, prior to the date on which such meeting is to be held or the date on
which such other particular

9
<PAGE>
action requiring determination of Shareholders is to be taken, as the case
may be. In the case of a meeting of Shareholders, the meeting date set forth
in the notice to Shareholders accompanying the proxy statement shall be the
date used for purposes of calculating the 180 day or 10 day period, and any
adjourned meeting may be reconvened without a change in record date. In lieu
of fixing a record date, the Trustees may provide that the transfer books
shall be closed for a stated period but not to exceed, in any case, twenty
(20) days. If the transfer books are closed for the purpose of determining
Shareholders entitled to notice of a vote at a meeting of Shareholders, such
books shall be closed for at least ten (10) days immediately preceding the
meeting.

SECTION 11.3. Seal. The Trustees shall adopt a seal, which shall be in
such form and shall have such inscription thereon as the Trustees may from
time to time provide. The seal of the Trust may be affixed to any document,
and the seal and its attestation may be lithographed, engraved or otherwise
printed on any document with the same force and effect as if it had been
imprinted and attested manually in the same manner and with the same effect
as if done by a Massachusetts business corporation under Massachusetts law.

SECTION 11.4. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Trust shall end on such
date as the Trustees may by resolution specify, and the Trustees may by
resolution change such date for future fiscal years at any time and from time
to time.

SECTION 11.5. Orders for Payment of Money. All orders or instructions for
the payment of money of the Trust, and all notes or other evidences of
indebtedness issued in the name of the Trust, shall be signed by such officer
or officers or such other person or persons as the Trustees may from time to
time designate, or as may be specified in or pursuant to the agreement
between the Trust and the bank or trust company appointed as Custodian of the
securities and funds of the Trust.

ARTICLE XII
COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATIONS

The Trustees are hereby empowered to take such action as they may deem to
be necessary, desirable or appropriate so that the Trust is or shall be in
compliance with any federal or state statute, rule or regulation with which
compliance by the Trust is required.

ARTICLE XIII
AMENDMENTS

These By-Laws may be amended, altered, or repealed, or new By-Laws may be
adopted, (a) by a Majority Shareholder Vote, or (b) by the Trustees;
provided, however, that no By-Law may be amended, adopted or repealed by the
Trustees if such amendment, adoption or repeal requires, pursuant to law, the
Declaration, or these By-Laws, a vote of the Shareholders. The Trustees shall
in no event adopt By-Laws which are in conflict with the Declaration, and any
apparent inconsistency shall be construed in favor of the related provisions
in the Declaration.

ARTICLE XIV
DECLARATION OF TRUST

The Declaration of Trust establishing TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust, dated
October 16, 1995, a copy of which, together with all amendments thereto, 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.

<PAGE>

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

We hereby consent to the use in the Statement of Additional Information
constituting part of this Post-Effective Amendment No. 6 to the registration
statement on Form N-1A (the "Registration Statement") of our report dated
January 8, 1999, relating to the financial statements and financial highlights
of TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust, which appears in such Statement of Additional
Information, and to the incorporation by reference of our report into the
Prospectus which constitutes part of this Registration Statement. We also
consent to the references to us under the headings "Custodian and Independent
Accountants" and "Experts" in such Statement of Additional Information and to
the reference to us under the heading "Financial Highlights" in such Prospectus.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
1177 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
March 25, 1999

<PAGE>

<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 1
<NAME> Class A

<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> NOV-30-1998
<PERIOD-END> NOV-30-1998
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<NET-ASSETS> 1,107,296
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<EXPENSES-NET> 3,977,898
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (3,698,987)
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<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 65,347,018
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<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
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<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 70,760
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 5,127
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<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 4.90
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<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 15.60
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<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0

</TABLE>

<PAGE>

<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 2
<NAME> Class B

<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> NOV-30-1998
<PERIOD-END> NOV-30-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 127,238,792
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 213,884,374
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<TOTAL-ASSETS> 214,529,423
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 24,750
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 627,868
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 652,618
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 130,533,669
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 13,717,791
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 16,074,010
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<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 86,645,582
<NET-ASSETS> 212,042,718
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 176,224
<INTEREST-INCOME> 102,687
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 3,977,898
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (3,698,987)
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<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 65,347,018
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 2,515,413
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 4,871,632
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 39,313,446
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (34,538,548)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 1,809,470
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 3,977,898
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 180,202,384
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10.85
<PER-SHARE-NII> (0.26)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 4.87
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
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<EXPENSE-RATIO> 2.20
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0

</TABLE>

<PAGE>

<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 3
<NAME> Class C

<S> <C>
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<PERIOD-END> NOV-30-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 127,238,792
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<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 24,750
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 627,868
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 652,618
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 130,533,669
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 46,118
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 7,669
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (3,302,446)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 86,645,582
<NET-ASSETS> 712,341
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 176,224
<INTEREST-INCOME> 102,687
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 3,977,898
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (3,698,987)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 31,236,102
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 37,809,903
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 65,347,018
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 41,665
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 3,216
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
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<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (34,538,548)
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<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 1,809,470
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 3,977,898
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 290,567
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10.85
<PER-SHARE-NII> (.028)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 4.88
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 15.45
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 2.30
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0

</TABLE>

<PAGE>

<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 4
<NAME> Class D

<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> NOV-30-1998
<PERIOD-END> NOV-30-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 127,238,792
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 213,884,374
<RECEIVABLES> 529,951
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<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
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</TABLE>